"There are some things you just can't love enough." ~ Cooper, age 10

The last five days were spent immersed in my boys. I took them up north last Wednesday and we were joined by EA on Friday late afternoon. Wednesday was spent at Hartwick pines; learning of logging and days gone by while we walked among the trees. We went swimming at Lake Michigan, climbed dunes and hiked ski hills. We went rafting in the Sturgeon River (a few days before Kid Rock was to show up says local legend) and we walked around Harbor Springs oooohing and ahhhing over the big yachts in port. We ate ice cream (sorbet for Jackson who happily reported to every ice cream shop "I'm lactose intolerant; do you have anything without dairy?") a lot and even ate homemade donuts from our favorite donut shop in town. We watched the sun set over the big water and cheered with strangers as another day was brought to its end. We slept in and I worked and we planned each day as it unfolded. We spent hours on the beach and played and laughed in the "huge" waves. We watched two artists paint the horizon from atop a dune.

We visited the book shop of one of the boy's favorite authors - Johnathan Rand, author of "Michigan Chillers", "American Chillers" and "Freddie Fernortner the Fearless First Grader"- only to find out he would be there a few days later signing autographs and talking with kids. We came back. They got books signed for them personally and one a piece for their class to donate this year. They loved seeing him in person and for me it was an inspiration to see a man who has reached national acclaim for his writing - and made a career out of it. He was gracious and kind with the boys - all the kids in the store and there were a lot!

Saturday night was a surprise as Cooper offered to stay home from going out to dinner to watch his brothers so EA and I could go out to eat. We took him up on it, went up the road (back to the harbor to ooohh and aaahhh at more boats and soak up the sunshine and summertime atmosphere of the marina). We walked around town, held hands and talked. EA was relaxed - good to see and something we haven't seen much of lately. I talked to my mom on the phone and she said "You sound very calm." and I was. I was peaceful and happy and if I could have stayed there forever I would have.

Back at home, I am inundated with laundry and have a stack of bills to pay and both soccer and football camp to prepare for tomorrow. I have a small job "interview" tomorrow for another "how to" content site and 25 cards to write to meet my deadline. I have an article to re-write that I don't think needs re-writing but some editor somewhere disagrees. We needed groceries and soap. The car needed vacuuming and vacation needed to be put away. I found myself getting stressed - those small inpatients sneaking back in with the boys.

So here I am, downloading photos and writing it all down so I can remember what it felt like to just be with them. To really be with my boys together with no interruptions and no intrusions. To enjoy their company and to laugh at their jokes. To take the time to understand the argument rather than telling them to abruptly "figure it out." To listen to them as they discovered new places and remembered old favorites. While we sat the first night at a secluded beach, watching the sun begin its descent into its temporary watery grave the clouds gave way to a little big of sun. Not a lot, just enough to remind you he was there - you know, a little bit of Jas Shine. Cooper looked at me with sand in his hands, his teeth chattering just a bit from the cool night air hitting his skin damp from the lake and said "There are some things you just can't love enough." I told him "I know." and am certain that someday he will understand what he said truly means.