Keepin it Real

Here is a video of my boys playing today.  Drew is under the weather, but still his happy-self.  Evan is displaying his awesome big brother skills, but then follows it up with a visit from his mischevious side.  A perfect demonstration of our daily life. Right now, Christmas letters are pouring in.  Blogs are telling beautiful family holiday stories.  Facebook posts are doing the same.  And for a minute there, I think to myself, wow, everyone else has the perfect life.  People just must sit around by the fire roasting chestnuts, while embracing and having a sing-a-long with Christmas carols.  So what's wrong with us?  Sure we do the same thing, that's easy.  What 3 year old doesn't like to cuddle and sing songs?  But we don't do it all the time.  For as many times as we do something amazing that I will remember forever, we do something not so amazing.  I pop in a video and check my facebook page.  Or I pop in a video and cook dinner and (silently) groan when Evan asks to help me in the kitchen, just wishing he would watch his video and give Mama some quiet time.  So while, we may look like a sweet little family of four (at least I hope we look like that, maybe we aren't fooling anyone after all!!!) there's alot more going on here, other than skipping around the house holding hands and belting out "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer".  Just keeping it real.  Like I said, stuff like that definitely comes naturally and is easy when you have two adorable boys.  The real challenge will be if we are still doing it in 10-12 years from now.  And let me tell you, I think we will be.  I know we will be.  Perhaps, minus the skipping and singing part.  Not sure teenage boys would be into that.  Anyway, Merry Christmas.  Gonna go drink Eggnog and look at old family photos in front of the Christmas Tree Gonna go fold some laundry.