Happy Birthday Levi Bobaroni

It doesn't seem that long ago that my boy was in preschool.

The teacher asked him for his middle name and he piped up,

"BOBARONI!"

So fast forward a day or a couple thousand, now he's taller and way smarter than me and his boots are like giant trees growing up from the hard wood floors! 

HE is fourteen today!!!

he IS fourteen today!!!

he is FOURTEEN today!!!

he is fourteen TODAY!!!

This sweet boy is a lot like his daddy; quiet and full of intensity,

loyal beyond belief.

If the world could have a touch of the compassion that he holds inside his heart, it would be a much gentler place.

Happy Birthday,

 Levi Bobaroni!!

You are an amazing big brother and incredibly special son.

Insane Day!!!!!

Busy weekend month ahead
wondering how it filled up so fast
thinkin about it makes me
 just a little batty bizarre cracked crazed crazy cuckoo daft demented derailed deranged fatuous frenzied impractical irrational irresponsible loony mad maniacal mental moonstruck nuts nutty preposterous psychopathic psychotic rabid raging raving schizophrenic screwy senseless unhinged unsettled wild

aah feelin bedda already.

S*A*T*U*R*D*A*Y*

(clap,clap)

Totally Fantastic.

Spent the morning ALONE with Levi

(that never happens)

We went shopping for some new glasses

and wandered around Wally World.

Josi (the angel child) stayed home taking care of Milo and Elsa and when we got back she had even cleaned the house.

Later we picked up a friend of Josi's and spent part of the

afternoon tie dying. 

I had never done it before,

 what a blast!

You can buy a kit of 3 colors with dispenser bottles and rubber bands for less than $10 bucks.

If you don't think you have enough rubber bands, just stop buy the local grocery store and a cool chick that works there will give you a handful.

(Judy u rock!!!)

Finished off the day playing under the trees with Milo's new set of construction tractors that his big bro brought him from town.  We built a road and watched Elsa sample dirt and twigs.

If I could bottle the love I felt today, I would.  I would open it when I am older and greyer, and just bask in that familiar aroma of my children.

To Levi, Josi, Milo and Elsa:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

— Mother Teresa

Getting even.

Five tips for torturing teens:

• Offer to chaperon dances with hair like this:

• Beat them over and over playing BS card game by using slight of hand magic tricks

• Text them self portraits like this one:
   

• Take away cell phone and change wallpaper to this one:

• Hug them and kiss them and squeeze them over and over and over. (this one doesn't really count cuz they are just pretending that they don't love it)

The All American Boy

Levi recently penned the following essay for a contest and won second place.  What is wonderful is that he's the most patriotic person I know.  Enjoy!

Does Patriotism Still Matter?

These past few days I have really began to realize how much patriotism matters.  If it weren't for some patriotic, ordinary men who wanted their own country with their own elected government, we wouldn't be living in the United States of America right now.  In every war we have had patriots risk and sometimes lose their lives to protect us.  But that's not enough.  They need to have patriots here, in their homeland, because if there aren't any patriots here, how can our soldiers fight for us?   How can they protect something that doesn't care about them, about their lives, about the quality of their families' lives?  The people who would burn the flag our soldiers fight for just to make a point.

Patriots are the ones keeping this country together.  They do little things like telling a child to take his hat off and put his hand over his heart when saying the Pledge of Allegiance or when hearing the National Anthem.   They speak out when politicians want to violate our amendments.  They show people what their rights mean and how they can exercise them.  They send the troops care packages and show them that maybe they aren't throwing their lives away meaninglessly, that they are fighting for a good cause for people who are grateful. Do you realize the pain the troops endure?  They have watched brothers die in agony, but they keep fighting and sometimes dying.  But when they die, they die with their boots on and hopefully knowing that they won't be booed as they are carried out of that airplane.

Yes! Patriotism does matter!  In fact, I think we have the obligation of respecting Old Glory, flying high in the sky, watching over us and protecting us.  We have the responsibility to support the troops fighting for us.  If we don't, who will?