Etching

The boys keep having these moments where I feel I have to hurry and grab a camera. I've stopped putting both cameras away - it's just too hard to pull them out of the case when I need it on a moments notice.

Yesterday I was out in back yard and had McKay on my lap. It was a perfect day - the weather here has been beautiful. Gavin ran by as a blur on the new sidewalk pushing his lawnmower in the hat that Papa Robinson gave him. My first instinct was "Where's the camera?" I decided that it was just too much work to run and grab it and besides, it probably wouldn't make a great picture anyway.

He went back and forth like that several times and I just sat there watching. The more I think about it, it's moments like these that I just need to carefully etch into my memory. Not just sights, but sounds, thoughts, and feelings. I'm sure that I won't be able to remember them all, but these happy thoughts seriously make me smile. And even laugh out loud. I am certain that someday when we are older and alone in our house I will be sitting across from Brian at the table saying, "Remember when..." and then fill in the blank with something like Gavin speeding down the path with his lawnmower.

Or better yet, remember the speed in which he goes down the same path on his little trike without using the pedals at all.

Or the way Gavin runs. Arms and elbows going side to side. It just isn't in his genes. Sorry, bud.

Or maybe like today, when McKay was on my lap on the bench on the front porch. Gavin was inside sleeping and the little dude and I were having our one-on-one time. We were visiting, like we do, and he tilted his head back three different times to look at me. His eyes held mine for a moment and then he went back to observing his surroundings. Melts my heart. I love those eyes. And that smile.

Or when Gavin, all on his own, recently put his back up to one of our aspen trees and started bouncing his knees to scratch his back singing, "Look for the bear necessities the simple bear necessities." When he saw me laughing, he laughed the best laugh I've ever heard and really amped it up. That's what you do when you know you're funny.

But I'm soaking it in. Trying not to forget. Taking a mental picture. Knowing that this time with these sweet boys at these ages won't last forever. Enjoying the ordinary days.