My Big Boy Gav

My Dearest Gavin, Gi-Gi, Geedge, Gi-Gi-Barcelona Bergman, Barci,

    At 7:48 a.m. April 25, 2008 you joined our family; a day our lives forever changed. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, at work I go into the O.R. room where you were born and give thanks for all God has given us.  I'm amazed two years have already passed.
     I think the name Gavin should have the meaning changed to feisty and spicy! God paired your spunky hair and personality perfectly.  Your desire for affection and desire to get your way are equally matched.  You will scream in protest smacking your hands on the ground and minutes later want to crawl in my lap for endless hugs and kisses.
     You adore your big brother, Harrison, and he adores you, too!  For a special birthday treat you and Harrison slept together in his bed.  After you both fell asleep I came in to check on you; you were snuggled close sleeping opposite of each other, with your head at his feet!  That captured you boys' personalities--very opposite, but also so compatible.  When we pick Harrison up from preschool he runs towards you on the playground to show you all there is to do.  He proudly walks with his arm around you telling everyone you're his baby broder.  My hope is for you both to continue to challenge and love each other as you do now.
       You have brought immense love and laughter to our family.  I truly can't wait to see what life has in store for you.  I know the trail you blaze will be all your own.
                                                                                             I'm so blessed to be your mom.

 

This is Toonces the cat, Gavin's birthday present. Toonces had been in the shelter for three months when we found him.  He was the rare cat who actually seemed to enjoy the affection from our two rambunctious children. Another male in the house.  Now it's 4:1.  Something's gotta give!

I Walked Into the Kitchen and Found This......

 Harrison told me he and Gavin wanted a snack.  And, since I was unavailable, he decided to do it himself.  I was impressed because he actually had gotten everything he needed for his snack--a plate, knife, cookies and, best of all, Nutella. Don't get me wrong, I know this doesn't qualify him for the gifted and talented program when he starts school.  But, I was surprised he pulled out everything needed before starting to make the snack and was carefully making Nutella and animal cookie sandwiches--even working hard to make sure the sandwiches were made of matching cookies (which, by the way, you haven't lived until you've tried one of these concoctions!).

He even made them for his little brother. 

Harrison had a hard time keeping up with demand!

Gavin, of course, had to try his hand at making sandwiches.  He isn't quite there yet.  Instead of getting frustrated he just started eating the Nutella out of the jar.  That's my boy.

Harrison-The Life Guru

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Harrison really says some profound things.  He is aware of others feelings, and if someone is upset, hurt, happy, or sad he will endlessly talk about it.  A couple of weeks ago I picked Harrison up from preschool, as we were driving home he told me, "it wasn't nice for you to yell at Daddy last night, he's your husband (no, not kidding, my four-year-old had to remind me who my husband is) and you shouldn't yell at him."  I acknowledged that he was right, I shouldn't have yelled, he said, "ya, and you shouldn't have thrown that towel at him, either."  "Ya, okay, Harrison, I shouldn't have thrown a towel at him, but it was only a dish towel."  "Mommy, you need to call Daddy and tell him you're sorry."  I embarrassingly called Steve to apologize.  Steve thoroughly enjoyed ribbing me, but I knew his time would come when Harrison, the life guru, would be correcting him.......

Today, Harrison overheard Steve having a heated discussion argument with our contractor, Jimmy.  When Steve came into the house, I told him that the kids heard the raised voices coming from outside.  Steve sat down with Harrison and talked to him about how it wasn't nice for him and Jimmy to yell each other.

A couple hours later

Harrison asked Steve to play some video games with him.  Steve happily obliged.  As Harrison was turning on the PlayStation he turned to Steve and said, "Daddy, sometimes you make good choices and sometimes you make bad choices.  And this is a good choice."

I personally think Harrison went a little easier on Steve than he did on me, but who's keeping track?

Steve's Biggest Regret

Steve loves buying gadgets, tools, appliances....anything that makes loud noises, has a lot of buttons, or is new and exciting.  Today he bought a long-awaited pressure washer.  He told me he was going to clean the house so it can be prepped for painting.  When I left him he was happily putting the machine together.  When I returned a few hours later I found this message 'pressure washed' into our driveway....

In case you can't read, it says "Greta, I made a mistake buying this"

Our house is forty-three years old. 

This is what forty-three years of dirt looks like. 

Dirt we didn't even know existed!  We thought we just had dark gray concrete.  Steve is sad knowing that now all of his free time will be spent painfully removing all this dirt.  Poor, poor Steve.  Perhaps I should inscribe a response in the concrete for him....any ideas?

Easter Blessings

Renew your spirit, refresh

Your soul,

Rejoice with all humankind.

Celebrate life everlasting.

Peace and wonder are

Yours to find.

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May the glory

and the promise

of this joyous time of year

Bring peace

and happiness to you

and those you hold most dear.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring

Dinsey On Ice

We were invited to Disney on Ice by my good pal, Nancy, and in trying to keep with my New Year's resolution of increasing our family outings I happily said "yes!" 

Steve was like the paparazzi continually throwing the camera in our faces. 

Oh, and that swanky little toy Gavin is holding? It cost almost as much

as our tickets!  

Our good friends, Nancy and Cruz, and our favorite

little girl, Ava.  (Look at the posing she does!)

Harrison and Ava have been the best of pals since they were little.  

It's so cute to watch them play together. 

 

Steve and Gavin with a little intermission wrestling. 

With my Bruisers there's never a bad time

for a little impromptu wrestling match. 

Steve admitted after the show he really wasn't looking forward to going (this wasn't a surprise for me, he's about as subtle as a freight train) but he said how much of a great time he had and how we really needed to do stuff like this more often!  Good friends, good family, good times-what more could you ask for?

Spring Fling

Spring is here and the Bruisers went out to celebrate!  We went to a park we've never been to before.  It's a beautiful park and so close to our house--a little embarrassing we've never gone before.  We had a late lunch under a shade tree and afterward took a little walk towards the river and found this awesome bridge!  It's a bridge of cable wire so it gives you that not-so-sturdy feeling as you walk across.  Gavin reluctantly held our hands, why does this child know no fear?!  But, if anyone's kid would fall off of this bridge it soo would be mine; so hands we held very tightly! 

I'm very thankful for days like this one.  We are so blessed.