"You Scared Me!"

Last night after putting all three gremlins to bed Jacob and I sat outside.  This is something we did often when we were dating and we still enjoy doing it now that we have been together for nearly 13 years. Something about the nighttime sky, the air, the quietness just makes it not only ideal but very romantic, in my opinion.  We sit and look at the stars and talk and just enjoy each other at the end of another crazy day. Instead of sitting on the patio we sat on our bench which is in front of the boys' window.

While sitting there together and enjoying the silence we suddenly heard Alex crying through the window.  I hurried inside to see what was going on.  Alex was sitting on Logan's foot locker and when he saw me he very angrily said, "Where were you?"  I said, "We are sitting outside."  He said, "I was going to tell daddy something and looked everywhere for you and couldn't find you."  Then, in a very stern tone, through tears, he snapped, "You scared me!"  I immediately reached for him and he fell into my arms and cried. I told him I was sorry and reassured him that we love him, his brother and sister too much to ever just leave them. He said, "I know that, but when I couldn't find you it just scared me."

We invited the boys to come sit outside with us.  Logan climbed onto Jacob's lap and Alex sat right beside me, holding my hand, his head resting on my shoulder. They looked at the night sky and asked questions about the stars, the clouds, the lights.  It was a very sweet moment. Jacob has a telescope and told the boys that maybe this weekend he would pull it out and they could use it.

We sat for a while and then, eventually, went back inside since it was nearly 10:00 and Jacob had to get up and go to work this morning.  I tucked the boys in and reminded them just how much I loved them and how happy they made me. As I was leaving the room I heard Alex say, "Mom?"  I stopped, turned and said, "What's up?"  He said, "I know you and daddy would never leave us."  I said, "Well, I'm glad you know that."  Logan said, "Yeah, we know you guys love us more than anyone else in the world." I said, "It's true."  Alex said, "I was just afraid that you were gone.  You know, like something happened or something."  I smiled and said, "You were afraid you would be left here raising your brother and sister?" Both boys started laughing and Alex said, "No!"

I love the closeness my little family has.  I love that Alex and Logan are best friends and that they adore their little sister.  I love that my big 8 and a 1/2 year old boy will still sit with me, hold my hand, and snuggle up to me. I love these kids. I love that they KNOW they are loved beyond what they could even imagine! I love my life--and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!