Sweet Home Alabama

Erik had the best idea to stop in Tuscaloosa on our way home from Florida!  I was so excited to show the kids where we lived for 2 years, and where my love for Alabama began!  Since school is still out, it was kind of a ghost town, but we showed them Bryant Denny, the Coliseum, and got some gear from one of the stores on the strip!  When we went to the Coliseum, one of the basketball players was just leaving and let us in to see the new training room and sneak a peek of the gymnastics gym!  The kids thought it was so cool!

Our 15th Anniversary

Erik and I both had to work on our anniversary.  We went out to dinner a few days before our actual anniversary, but unfortunately Erik got food poisoning!  On our anniversary, we came home from work around our usual 7:00.  We were greeted in the garage by Caleb and Mila.  They were both dressed up!  They told us that they had been planning a special date night for us to celebrate our anniversary!  With my Mom's help, they decorated the kitchen and made us dinner and dessert!  It was so sweet!!  They told us that we had to change into "date night" clothes to get ready for our dinner!  Then they led us downstairs to the kitchen and waited on us.  

This year the traditional gifts are crystal and ruby.  It was hard for me to find a gift for Erik, but I finally came up with some Ohio State stadium coasters.  I taped a packet of Crystal Light to the top of them and wrote, "I hope by now it's crystal clear how much I love you!"  I also found a Buckeyes necklace that has a red ruby crystal on it!  He did great with my annual rose that was made up of crystals and a Waterford crystal vase!

The Truth

While tucking Caleb into bed last night he asked me, "Is Santa real?"  I couldn't believe that he just asked me that, but then again they did watch The Guardians during the day.  That movie is about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.  I ran and made sure that Mila was asleep and told Erik what he had just asked me. Erik asked me if I was going to tell him and I said I would follow Caleb's lead. 

I came back and asked him what made him question that.  He said that it was something he'd been thinking about for a long time now. I told him that I actually thought that he would have asked me this question sooner because he's so inquisitive!  I asked him what Christmas was all about. I told him that Christmas is about love and giving and spreading joy. He added that it's about Jesus.  My smart boy!  I agreed with him and said yes!

I told him that Erik and I are Santa and that now he knows the secret about Christmas magic. He nodded and said that that is what he had thought for a while now, but he still wanted to believe. I told him that it's OK to still believe in Santa! I still believe in Santa, because I believe in the magic of Christmas. 

He then asked me about the Easter Bunny and I told him, "yes we were responsible for creating all that magic as well." He told me that he thought the Tooth Fairy was real because how else could he get a dollar covered in glitter!?  After thinking for a few more minutes he asked me if that was also me and I told him yes. He told me that the one time he received a dollar folded into a heart was pretty sweet! 

I made him promise that he wouldn't tell Mila or any of his cousins until the time was right. Now he gets to help us with all of the holiday magic, which he was pretty excited about.  He told me that he had wanted to ask me this for a while but he didn't have the courage to ask. I told him that he could ask me about anything and that we could always talk about anything. He told me he knew that and thanked me. 

He said, "Mom were you dreading the day that I would ask you this?"  I told him that it makes me a little sad because it's another sign that he's growing up.  It changes the holiday dynamic a little, but I'm also glad to have another helper!!

He asked me, "Mom, when I was born, did the doctors hand me to you and say now you are Santa?"  I laughed and I told him that we had known before that.  He then gave me a big hug and told me that I was the best mom that any kid could ask for.  He also said I don't have to work so hard to create the magic!! It was honestly one of the best conversations we've ever had!  He asked if there were any other major secrets that he didn't know about.  I told him that he knows the truth about Santa and where babies come from, so he is pretty much set!

4th of July

We swayed from our typical 4th of July traditions and headed to Indiana to spend the weekend with Erik's extended family!  I LOVE when we are all together!!  Almost everyone was able to make it and it was a blast!  All of us Moms agreed that it would be fun to coordinate the kids' outfits and ended up tie dying shirts for ourselves as well!

We arrived at Joe and Ally's house at 2am, so everyone was already sleeping.  When I woke up and walking out of the guest room, I was greeted by Matthew who said, "I'm so excited you guys are here!"  Followed immediately by, "when can we wake up Caleb to show him my Dino Field Guide Book?"  He is adorable!

All of the kiddos, no matter how old they are get along so well!  With ours being the oldest, I'm so proud of how they interact with all of the younger ones!  They truly love hanging out with them!  It was so much fun hanging out together all weekend!!  We can't wait for the next family get together!