God bless my mom

The kids are back home. My mom took them all after the party on Saturday. That's right, you did not misread that. My mom took all the kids home, to Austin, after the party. We were home alone Saturday - Tuesday morning. My mom is a saint.

Steph and I went to Nobu on Saturday night. I got sick so Sunday we just vegged out. Enjoyed the silence. Monday I worked and Steph ran lots of errands and treated herself to a pedi. We did lawn work last night.

This morning, Steph and my mom met in West and did the hand-off.

Thank you, mom. It was the best thing you could have given us. :)

Perfect Celebration

So much has happened in the last few weeks but I haven't had the energy to sit down and devote good time to writing. It's been hard. That's really been the underlying theme of this year so far - hard. Steph and her family still struggle hourly with the passing of Bob. Soon enough, those hours will turn into days, but right now, it's still too fresh.

We split up last weekend - Steph took the boys to be with her family in The Woodlands and I took Gracie to Austin for Michelle's last dance contest of the year. It was a bittersweet time. It was a wonderful time with Gracie (we went to the carnival and ate pizza and sang Disney songs together and I savored every moment of daddy/daughter weekend), but we were not all together as a family. And being together as a family, we have been reminded constantly this year, is the foundation where everyone can rest. When you need support, when you need love, when you need joy, when you need rejuvination - family is it.

We had our closest friends and family over this weekend for the boys' 1st birthday. We wanted to honor all of those who have played an instrumental role in our lives over the last year. It was the perfect celebration.