Happy birthday Matisse and Julien!

7 and 8.

My cute little blonde-haired boys are officially 7 and 8. Julien celebrated 7-hood last Saturday, and Matisse turns 8 today.

It’s been such a joy watching them grow up over the last five years. When Dustin and I first met, they were still babies! And now they’re boys. Beautiful, smart, curious, loving boys. We’ve grown so close (especially over the last year), and my heart overflows with love for them. They may not have come from my womb, but I love them as if they did.

Julien-Luc, you are just a bright ray of light and love. Everything in life is simply a fun adventure for you. You make me and your daddy laugh so much all the time. Your little giggle is one of my favorite sounds.

Matisse, you have grown so much in the last year, and I’m so proud of the insightful, caring boy you’re becoming. You have so much love and compassion for all living things, and your enthusiasm and curiosity for life is inspiring. You are such a beautiful boy – inside and out.

These boys have taught me so much about what it means to love and parent. I’ve gained so much patience and selflessness since they’ve been in my life, and I’m so grateful for the new things I learn from them every day. I’m so thankful for how spiritual the boys are. They’re so interested in meditation, crystals, and auras. They meditate on the regular, and they love watching Spirit Science. Pretty cool!

The first time I met them, Dustin had invited me on a play-date to Deming Park shortly after our first date – a ritual I later found out was the norm for girls he was trying to court. 😉 When I walked onto the playground, he was there at the swings, pushing both boys. The boys were so beautiful, happily swinging away. They greeted me with smiles and giggles. I was immediately in love.

We spent the afternoon gallivanting through the park – swinging, playing, investigating nature. When it came time to leave, Julien came running from the other side of the playground and jumped right into my arms. He threw his arms around my neck and squeezed tight for a moment. My heart melted. Even though I was still in denial of being madly in love with Dustin, I was admittedly head over heels for these little boys.

And I still am.

We’ve been through a lot together, and I’m so grateful for it all. I had no idea that day at Deming Park of all the love these boys would bring into my life. (Or that we’d move halfway across the country and start our lives over with them.) But it’s all a part of the plan.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would say the one thing I am most grateful for this year is the love Dustin and I share with these two boys. We’re creating a wonderful life together. Life has truly blessed us.

And now, a barrage of pictures to travel down memory lane… 🙂