Bliss

I slowly closed my eyes as I felt my fingers curl themselves ever so slightly around the bar in front of me. Even with them closed, I could sense the bright red color that, for tonight at least, signified my freedom. It had been forever, it seemed. I allowed myself one small step forward as I listened for the tiny squeak that I knew would inevitably accompany the turn of the wheels. Most of the time that noise would annoy me along with a million other aspects of this errand, but tonight... no... tonight I would allow that noise to be my background music. I would allow it to lull me into a false sense of time, allow it to carry me senselessly up and down the isles. I knew by heart that my first stop would be that beloved dollar section. Oh, how many times had I urged myself to pass by, knowing that my small shopping partner would never allow me to exit without something in stow? But this errand was different. I was alone this time. Blessedly child-free. When was the last time I'd been able to visit this wonderful world of red and white without dodging the toy section and hurrying through the rows of bliss only to grab and get through the check-out lane without any tantrums or mishaps? How long had it been? As I aimlessly wandered up and down every isle in the store I knew that my time here would be ending soon. I knew that I must return, and I knew then, just as I know now, that tomorrow I will surely awake and wonder if it was all just a dream...

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

It's way past due, but we're back in Albuquerque now and I realized that (along with just about everything else) I haven't posted any pictures of Noah's birthday. I've got to make one quick shout-out to my sister-in-law, Stephanie, who at the very last minute made Noah what will most likely be the coolest cake he will probably ever have. Seriously people, I'm not sure what's cuter: the cake that looks so freakin' real that Noah actually cried when we "broke his truck", or this kid of mine that is so dang adorable! You decide:

How totally appropriate is this shirt?

The wheels were rice crispies covered in fondant. Noah was okay with eating those, but freaked out so bad when we cut into the actual cake that I couldn't even get any photos. He is still talking about that cake today. Life could not possibly be any more clear than when looking at it through the eyes of a 3 year old. Happy Birthday Noah!!!