A Great Day and Brothers

We had a great day today. My sister-in-law and family were scheduled to visit us today. We love spending time with Aunt Natalie and her crew. They moved to Pennsylvania just after we arrived in the US which was taunting, but it has not changed our love for them or eagerness to see them. My kids were waiting at the door from the minute we got up today. When Aunt Natalie comes she brings five kids with her (otherwise known as her kids). Josiah, Esther, Miriam, Ezra and Silas are stair steps with my kids which means whether you look up or down there is a playmate. It is a blast.

Well, unexpectedly the day got even better. Natalie and I were sitting out in the backyard when we turned and saw a kid running around the side of the house very excitedly. Natalie made the comment that our neighbor-kid looked a lot like Joshua (who is our shared nephew - my sister's kid). I turned around to see the kid and screamed because it actually was Joshua. My sister had decided to drive in from St. Louis to surprise us and join in on the cousin time. She left her older two kids at home, but we thoroughly enjoyed the surprise (I love surprises) and the additional people.

My sister had the good idea of having Jack and Josiah come back to St. Louis with her for the evening - kind of a big boy sleepover amongst the older cousins. Jack was really keen to go for the night. Theo was not so keen. After some initial crying and claiming that life is not fair, he was pacified by a Lego playing with Mom and a Lego magazine.

Later that evening at dinner we were going around the table doing our highs and lows. Theo was very quick with his. He said his high was The Abbotts coming over and his low was Jack leaving.

It then dawned on me that Theo has slept in the same room as Jack since he was two years old and they have not missed a night together since they started sharing a room (except for the hospital stay when Jack swallowed the coin and Theo had the nasty asthma attack!). It was very natural for Theo to be missing Jack. He has asked me multiple times when Jack will be back tomorrow and has also said in a slightly melodramatic way 'Jack is the only person I like to play with.'

Thankfully not having Jack did not keep Theo up too long this evening:

The empty top bunk:

I love the fact that my boys love each other. I want to remember memories like this because I am not naive enough to think it will always feel this way. My prayer is that my kids will be deep friends their whole lives and am happy that my sister and sister-in-law make it so easy for me to model this to my kids.