Fun with Cousins

Little Lila in 2014 with "Jones" & "Freddie"

Jeremy's cousin Carrie has a daughter named Lila, who'll be 7 in May.

Carrie was expecting her when Jeremy and I met, and she was just a baby at our wedding. I've had a soft spot in my heart for her ever since the boys were babies, and she named her twin dolls "Jones" and "Freddie" in their honor.

Little Lila never ceases to be so sweet to the boys, and even on those times when they've completely ignored her or had no idea how to respond to her adorable shows of friendship, she's continued to sprint up to see them anytime they show up in the same place.

I will never, ever forget this about her, and I will ALWAYS love her for it.

Yesterday was no different. The boys and I walked in to Uncle Ronnie's funeral, and Lila was there before we could even take a seat on a pew in the front of the church. While we drove to the graveside services, the boys and I decided it'd be a great idea to invite Lila to join us in today's planned viewing of "Peter Rabbit."

Jones asked her as we walked into the family dinner after the burial. I added to his invitation, "... if you're available." Her face got as bright as her beautiful blonde hair, as she said, "I'm available!" Later, after I'd arranged everything with Carrie, I told Lila, "Guess what: you get to go with us tomorrow!" She spontaneously wrapped her arms around my waist in excitement.

I cannot get over how precious this child is.

To be honest, I think her kindness to the boys means even more to me, because I know the kind of relationship her mama and their daddy had as children. Carrie and Jeremy were the babies of the Boone girls and grew up as thick as thieves. The specialness of this second-generation relationship is not at all lost on me - especially as my boys don't have too many other cousins close in age to theirs.

So off we went today.

On our way to pick her up, we reminded the boys that not only is Lila our guest - she's also a lady, and ladies go first. Apparently, they took it to heart - at least, Jones did. As we left Carrie's place, Jones yelled to Carrie, "Don't worry! We'll take care of her!" and when we got out of the car at the Carolina Theatre, Jones said, "Ladies first" and let Lila climb out before him. I was confused, though, as he immediately sprinted ahead of her when we walked to the building. "If ladies are first, then why did you run ahead?" I asked. Jones said, "So I can get the door for her."

Well, then.

All three kids did great watching what was an absolutely ADORABLE movie. Jeremy pointed out that I may have enjoyed it even more than they did, which is entirely possible, because James Corden. Come on.

Lila chose McDonald's for lunch after the movie, and then we dropped her off at "Antcy's" house (which is how the boys say "Aunt Nancy"). It was a wonderful way to spend a morning and the first of many more that I hope we'll be spending with little Miss Lila.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day has come and gone; hopefully, Jones and Freddie are well aware of how very much they are loved - not just today, but EVERY day.

Our celebrations actually started on Saturday. Like last year, we did a Valentine's Dinner at Ruth's Chris. Jeremy had told the boys on their way to church Wednesday (I had to be at the Peace Center) that we were having a special dinner and not to tell me, because it was a surprise. They kept the secret - mostly.

I'd try to guess where we were going, and they wouldn't budge - until Jones told me it was like the Blue Rooster. "Ruth's Chris?" I asked. "Yes. That's it. Ruth's Chris."

Freddie is a significantly tougher nut to crack. I am filing this information away to use to my advantage in future "secret" situations.

Dinner was great, as it usually is at Ruth's Chris. Jones discovered that the butter left over on his bread plate was the PERFECT consistency for rubbing, like a lotion, all over his face. Maybe I should try that on my wrinkly forehead?

When we got back from dinner, we gave the boys their presents - mostly because there was no way in the world I could wait any longer to give Freddie the football uniform we'd gotten him. For weeks now, he's asked about a hundred times a day to watch the "Cat movie" on my phone, which is actually a 45 second ad on Amazon for these kid-sized football uniforms. I ordered him the uniform and have to say - he reacted with the exact level of excitement I'd have expected.

Jones got a bucket of dinosaurs and a blow-up T-Rex. In the weeks since Christmas, he's had sudden-onset dinosaur obsession. Since we didn't have any dinosaur toys, Valentine's Day was the perfect opportunity to stock our coffers with some pre-historic creatures. Jones responded is typical, explosively grateful way, which is one of the things I love the most about him.

He named the T-Rex "John" and parked
him right beside the door to his room. 

watching "Paddington," a new favorite, on Netflix

I think their gifts were a hit. Walking in to church on Sunday, I noticed Jones clasping something in the chest of his vest. Turns out, he was sneaking his pterodactyl ("Jack") in. We ended up making a nest for Jack on the church pew between us.

Freddie's had his uniform on pretty much non-stop, too. On Thursday when I went in to get him dressed for school, he was already halfway there - wearing his "Cat pants" and asking if he could wear his helmet. When I said he couldn't, he asked me to bring it with him when I picked him up, and the first thing he said to me when I pulled into the carpool line was, "Did you bring my helmet?"

Of course, Little Man.

Freddie was very excited about his Spider-Man
valentines, but he was NO so sure about GIVING
all of those pencils away. He really
wanted to keep them all for himself.

On Valentine's Day itself, I had the exciting privilege of hosting Freddie's class party (like I hosted Jones's for Thanksgiving). I sure do love his teacher and their little school. When I went in to wave at Jones in his class, he gave me a half-smirk and a tiny little wave and went about his business. Mrs. Janet noticed and said, "THAT'S a big change!" and we both agreed that our little boy is growing up. After school, we met Jeremy for lunch at Bogart's. The boys had a ball going through their bags of school Valentines, and I was very excited to show off the locket they'd given me. While they were in school, I'd gotten pictures printed and put into the locket. For as much as they like to look at and open it, I'll be lucky if this thing lasts until Easter!

Another thing I did on Valentine's Day was to officially apply to Haywood Christian Academy. Hopefully, we'll hear soon whether or not they've been admitted. It was amazing the peace I felt as I dropped off the check to pay their application fees. I'm really excited to join the HCA family for as long as we are there - maybe it'll just be a year, maybe it'll be more. Still, as I dropped the check off at the Upper School campus, the peace with which I did it was not lost on me. I am grateful that God has led us there, and that He's made a way for us to pay for it. 

That nite, we went to church. Jones had his Catechism class; Freddie had his bi-weekly brawl (and I mean that in a good way; they wrestle but have a ball together) with Brice, and I watched Week Two of a four-week video series on marriage presented by Paul David Tripp. I missed Week One, but Jeremy loved it, and after seeing Week Two, I can sure see why. When I picked the boys up, Freddie said he wanted to take a picture with Reagan. He sure does love Miss Reagan. So we took some pictures - Jones didn't want to be in them - and then we headed home with hearts in our eyes after a wonderful, eventful Valentine's Week.

The week ended with Jones saying to me, "Next time, I want you to get me a locket with you and Daddy in it. Den, I will wear it ev'ry day." 

Talk about hearts in our eyes. 

So thankful for these sweet little boys God gave us.