Love the Ones You're With

February was only 28 days long this month, but I swear we packed enough into those four weeks to fill a year.  A day short of Valentine's day Miles and I took off for a weekend in New Mexico with my college roomie and her triplets.  Carter was invited along but he has perfect attendance at school and didn't want to miss a day.  I left behind some V-day treats, ensured the frozen food supply, made sure our Amazon Prime credit card info was up to date, and left the boys to fend for themselves.

Miles and I spent a night in Medford, hopped up out of bed at 5am and jumped aboard two planes.  Greeting us in Albuquerque were Kendra and her three beautiful almost two year olds.  Miles was quite the travel companion and did really well all through our visit.  His worst moments came post gummy worms at a yogurt place, and I don't really think that counts.  I wish I was half the mom Kendra is.  Her patience, easygoing nature, and schedule make for parenting genius.  I got to see her husband Micah for a bit and we were both appreciative of the night on the town he provided us with.  It was genuinely heartwarming to watch our friendship pick up right where it left off.  You know you're pretty well off, when the toughest parts of your mini vacay are pushing triplets in one stroller at 6,000 feet on a run.  One hell of a workout.  We were mommy warriors.  We ran, went to the zoo, an aquarium, botanical garden, outdoor mall (with really bad drivers), an REI garage sale (save yourselves), and even out to brunch AT A RESTAURANT.  Olympic distance triathlons have nothing on that business.

Better than the trip itself was the time spent one on one with Miles.  That kid is an AMAZING traveler.  Not only did he get TWO sets of wings, but he never complained, didn't cry once, and enjoyed free rides on my rolling suitcase.

Valentine's Day was spent without my other two true loves, but I was able to love the ones I was with.  The day after we returned I took both boys on a run and bike ride.  Love this view.  .  .

Love Grows

When Bradley and I got married I struggled with what to engrave on his wedding ring.  My mom helped me come up with the phrase "Love Grows".  Being 20 years old, I basically associated this term with his love of gardening.  Ten years later, it rings true a million fold.  Your love for your partner or your children grows.  In growth we can change, but in essence we grow.  When you get married, you can't imagine loving anyone more than your husband or wife, but then you have a child.  You can't imagine loving anything more, and then you have another child.

Sometimes I tell my boys and Bradley that I love them, but simply saying "I love you", doesn't seem to justify how truly deeply I care about them.  Our love pours over into our pets too.  Last weekend Maggie went to doggie heaven.  We got Maggie when Bradley and I had only been dating a couple of months.  She's seen us through many twists and turns of life and has always shown nothing but undeterred love.  Except when I went on a run and didn't take her.  Then she went to my nightstand, took my glasses, gobbled them up, and spit them into several pieces.  She was an excellent friend and companion to all of us and we truly miss her every day.

This week Carter received three awards at school (Citizen of the Month, 100 days of perfect attendance, and Scholastic Achievement) and was also a part of the homecoming royalty at the high school.  My love for this kid runs deep.  Pride and love.  He does the right thing time and time again.

Miles has felt a bit left out this week, and my love for him grows as I see more and more of his personality.  This week he stepped out of the car at the end of the driveway, took a deep breath, and said, "Mom, it smells like crap!".  "What did you say Miles?"  "You know mom, those things we caught at the ocean?".  "Oh, crab Miles.  You thought it smelled like crab."  "That's what I said mom, crap, it smells like crap".  I don't know if I love more the fact that I totally could assume he would smart off and say what I think he said, or that he so innocently mispronounced the word.  As Carter got dressed up for homecoming, Miles joined in the fun too.

It seems so timely to speak of love during the week we celebrate Saint Valentine.  What could the world accomplish if we all believed that love grows?  Plant the seed, and grow the love.