Fine Young Men

Recently, Riece and I spent several hours helping some friends move.  I busied myself with loading furniture into the moving truck, packing boxes and cleaning.  Riece busied himself with entertaining our friends' small children, guiding them through helpful tasks.  He gently directed, redirected, and encouraged.

Riece and I would both giggle at our our friend's young son, Isaiah as he would lavishly compliment each of us ladies who had shown up to help.  Whenever I carried a box past Isaiah, he'd say, "Ms. Mel, you are so pretty!"   By the afternoon, the compliment shifted, ever so slightly, to "Ms. Mel, someday you will be so pretty!" sending Riece and I into fits of laughter.  Apparently sweat and I don't get along. 

During our brief pizza break, two friends commented about how deep Riece's voice became in just a couple weeks.  There was no cracking, wavering, squeaking, or squawking.   It was with a sigh that I agreed, having noticed that morning that he was needing to shave again. And he was suddenly eye-level with me.  He went from little boy to young man overnight, it seems.

Candy Canes and Consequences

My plans for Family Night included candle-lit fondue dinner (a first for the boys) followed by touring the area  Christmas light gazing, sipping cocoa from travel mugs, and eating candy canes and while caroling to Christmas music.    'Oohing and aahing' at homes swathed in twinkling color ranks as one of our favorite family traditions.

Our home boasts humble white twinkle lights.  Peaceful.  Clean.  Simple.  The boys beg for color lights and I gently explain that my life is full of color thus the peaceful white lights help me keep my sanity.  They roll their eyes and continue begging.

This particular evening was to be a surprise. Each element was quietly planned and supplies were ready.  Veggies and meat were ready to be sliced.  Mugs for hot cocoa were washed.  Candy canes and cookies were set out.  Unfortunately the rascals decided to misbehave.  A lot.