Meet Isabel

This is Isabel and she and her family could use our help. Isabel has just been diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 5. It started out as the flu and just progressed from there. I am putting this on my blog asking that anyone who reads this please check out Isabel's website www.helpisabel.us and help in any way you can.

It is a parents worst nightmare, to have to watch their children suffer, and I pray to whatever forces are at work above that I never have to. But if I did, I know that I have friends who would be there to support us every step of they way.

Thank you for reading this and thank you for any help you can give.

Random Morgan pictures

Asleep at lunch

A few holiday pictures

and a few more

Mason and his cousin Jovanni


Jojo bean and Amy


The cousins

Thankful

I am profoundly thankful for the life that I have and I often wonder how I came to be so lucky. I was having a conversation with a woman named Ann yesterday, who is a doula and massage therapist, among other things, and we were having a wonderful conversation about life. About how it is that we end up where we are. Her belief is that we choose our parents, that we pick them for the lessons they will teach us and the life they will provide for us. Wolf and I talked about that very thing when we were working on getting pregnant (not that we had to work hard since it only took one try both times). We felt that when the child we were meant to have was ready to come to us, it would. And just like I feel that Wolf completes me, I feel my boys complete us. We are a team, a good, strong solid team that has its ups and downs, but will always triumph.

I wonder every day if I'm a good mother. I used to think that that was what I was put on this earth to do, to birth two boys, these two boys. But I am often terrified that I will somehow fail them, that I am not a patient enough, calm enough, gentle enough mother for them. And then, as I type this, Mason comes walking quietly out of his room with a big shy smile on his beautiful face, knowing he should be sleeping, and climbs up in to my arms as I meet him halfway across the floor. "I just had to come out and tell you that you are warm and cozy and fresh, mamabear." Which can only be topped by his closing argument of "how did I get so lucky to have the best mom in the world?"

My heart swells and my chest aches. He is a good boy, a kind and gentle, good hearted boy and although we can only take partial credit, as parents, it makes me feel a little bit better, a little less guilty about my bad parenting skills. At least until tomorrow.

The boys first trip to snow

And more snow.....

End of the old, in with the new....

There are years when I feel the need to go out and celebrate and there are years when simply being with my family is all the excitement I need. This year was the latter.

Last night was spent quietly at home, safe and cozy. We put the kids to bed at their usual time then my mom, wolf and I sat down to a yummy feast fit for an army. We had lobster tail, shrimp, smoked oysters, a variety of cheeses, hummus, etc. It was wonderful. And when we were stuffed beyond reason, we looked at the plates and it looked like nothing had been touched! Leftovers, yeah. While we were gorging, we watched Jet Li's Fearless and enjoyed each other's company. Mom retired around 10:30 and Wolf and I quietly and happily brought in the new year together.

It's hard to want to think of unhappy memories when you are trying to bring in a new year that you hope will be filled with happiness and good things, but I took a moment last night to remember all the people that were lost this year, and other years. I particularly thought of our friend James Walsh, who passed away on New Years Eve 9 years ago. My heart still aches when I think of him and I hope that he knows that he is still remembered and loved. I hope the same for all the other people who are no longer with us. I hope that they are at peace and that they too know they are loved.

We never know what the new year is going to bring. Hell, we never know what each new day is going to bring. But I hope that the majority of them are full of life, love and happiness, balanced by some sadness and frustration. Not that any of us wants those last things but they are a part of life and help remind us that life is unpredictable and should be lived to the fullest.

So to all my family and friends I wish you a year where dreams come true, wishes come true and life is lived. I love you all.

Time to ring in a yet another new year.....

They tell you and tell you that time flies as you get older but until you experience it you really have no idea just HOW fast it flies. I look at my beautiful boys every day and every day they are different. I was trying to come to terms, just this morning, with the fact that Mason is going to be 4 soon. 4! I can remember the minute he was born. Now he is this brilliant, talented, wonderfully sweet and amazingly independent little man.

And Morgan, my sweet littlest man, is trying so hard to talk, to express himself and make himself heard. His adoration of his big brother is something to see. He is the little mimic and does whatever Mason does. His latest thing is to go over to Mason's little potty, lift the lid, sit down and say "Poop." He isn't quite there yet but I'm sure he will be soon.

This Christmas was so much fun because both boys were able to enjoy it. We had a fantastic christmas eve with my sister, Brandy, her husband Kerry and my nephew Jovanni and our mom. Traditionally our christmas eve's dinner consists of a variety of snacks, set out on the table to be eaten at our leisure. We talk, we mingle, we drink and we keep the boys from destroying the house. It's a great time.

Christmas morning is a small affair, with just Wolf, me, the boys and my mom. We open stockings, eat breakfast then dive into the huge pile under the tree. This year I must say, and my mom agrees, that we got the perfect tree, as you can see from the picture posted. There were so many presents that we could have used 2 trees but we managed. The boys had a blast and it was just so much fun watching them open their presents, although it is going to take us some time to dig ourselves out from under the pile of stuff that we now have acquired. Ah, such is the design of christmas, no?

Then in the afternoon, Wolf's dad came over and he and Wolf created an absolutely fantastic meal. The table, set up in what was once Wolf's office area, was set for my mom, Cynthia, Pop, the four of us and Pop's good friend Bill. We stuffed ourselves to bursting, played scrabble, ate some dessert and relished in the sense of warmth and family that we shared.

Our warmest wishes to you and your families during this holiday season. And may your dreams for the new year come true.

Much love.....

Freedom

Two brothers......

having.....

a little fun!

All Hallow's Eve

Having a great time

All dressed up

Candy? What candy? This is a bouncy ball, Mama.

The Schuster Clan

Halloween Preparation

It's a collaborative effort

Nana feeding Mason the guts. Ewwwww!