A Special Day

I was, in spite of my usual self, 15 minutes early as I pulled out of the drive.

We get there with PLENTY of time to spare.
So I assume.
I'm lugging a diaper bag, another heavy bag holding our incredibly ancient video camera and a 10 month old on my hip.
I was the crazy lady rushing through the parking lot pleading with her 3 yr. old.
At first I was playful. Joyful, even! :)
"Hussle Muscle!"
"I'm gonna beat you!"
"Pick up those feet!"
"Marching. Marching. We Are Marching!"
You get the idea.
And then as the weight of my load and the sun mercilessly beginning to cook me, causing me to sweat buckets and lose my "perfectly coifed hair", my catchy tunes and phrases went from kind and patient plees to ugly threats.
{imagine my teeth clenched} "Joshua. James. If you do not hurry up and get up here and walk by me I am going to be SO mad at you."
"Jooooosh! Ruuuuun! Uggghhhh!"
"Coooooome! Ooooooooon!"
It didn't matter.
The back row had 3 empty seats waiting for us.

I will tell you briefly the tender moment between a son & his Mother.

I spot him immediately.
He patiently scans the large room.
Not ever assuming that his loving Mother would be late to his own graduation and she'd be standing on the chairs in the VERY BACK ROW!
Finally. Our eyes meet.
I want to shout his name. I'm waving my arms and my flags (aka: flabby arms) are whippin' like crazy. I'm smiling as BIG as I can, hoping he can read my face and everything I WISH I could scream across to him.
"I love you, son. Mommy is SO proud of you. You are wonderful & beautiful. Oh! I love you!"
But all I can do is smile huge and wave, standing on the chairs in the back row.
Have I mentioned yet that I'm on the BACK ROW!?

And then I see it. He reads my face. I know he does. I can FEEL it!
He very tenderly but excitedly begins blowing his precious, priceless kisses straight at me!
Those same kisses that he's promised to save for only me until he marries!
Seriously folks.
I am not ashamed to tell you that right then and there,
standing on those teeny tiny wobbly chairs in the BACK ROW of that small cafeteria,
a sound came out of my throat and I began to cry.
Me. Crying. In a room full of people. I was mortified and yet I didn't care at all!
(It's another story for another time but he recently added his Mama to "The List!")


The little celebrities sang some songs, their names were called by their loving teachers, they shook their principal's hand and received their Kindergarten Graduation Diplomas.

I was a bonafide member of the paparazzi today as the flahes from our point & shoot cameras competed for "NUMBER ONE FAN/PARENT" status!

My little celebrity with Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Flores.
I haven't determined if the "Angry Joshy" in this shot is a continuation of the mean mommy threats in the parking lot, or because I demanded he stop what he was doing and smile for a camera. I'm thinking it was probably both.
But who are we kidding? When aren't Joshy's settings on a low simmer?
As her, self-proclaimed, protector Jaxon proudly escorted Luci Jo everywhere.
He introduced her to anyone and everyone who would care to listen long enough,
as "my sweet baby sister Luci." {pronounced woo-see}


Then we appropriately celebrated by ditching school early, a miniature couponing trip* and playing for a good 2 hours at Chik-fil-A with one another!
Joshy cheered up! Apparently all he needed was some hugs, attention and food!
Home and responsibility was demanding my attention so we bid farewell to our little private play quarters and headed home.

It all went downhill from there.
The boys were being such ... such ... BOYS!
Growling! Punching! Fighting! Snarling! Biting! Kicking! Teasing! Wrestling!

After everyone, including myself, was tired of listening to me yell and whine about my boys being boys we ended up outside.
We stayed there until Eric came home.

Ahhhh. Join me as I sigh. Relief.


A Special Day, indeed.

*In case you cared, and I know most of you don't, but I don't really care, it's my blog and I can brag if I want to ...
I scored 2 FREE full-size Banana Boat Sunscreens! It really WAS a magically special day!