How't that tasting, Jack?

It's amazing to me how music can just take you right back. Still to this day every time I hear Annie Lennox's song, Why I am immediately transported back to sixth grade. My best friend's (at the time :)) mother had just passed away. We would lay on her bed, stare at the ceiling and drown sorrows as we listened.

Today I was doing dishes, (yay!) and on came Adele's song Make you feel my love and I remembered, one year ago. . .

 I would listen to this song and feel so many emotions for my Jack. Such a random bouquet of emotions too; sadness, fear, love, hope, pride. I loved this baby so much; but I worried, would he be able to know and to feel of my love for him?

I played this song over and over again as I slowly indulged all of my emotions.

Hearing it today reminded me of those hard days, not in a factual remembering sense but more of an emotional remembering. I remember the feeling of how much my heart was literally hurting. Those same feelings came rushing back to me and it was strange; here they were but they were, how do I say?...out of place. Not in step with the emotions of my life as it is now.

The song played on as I finished up my dishes, washed Jack's hands off from his lunch and gave him a huge raspberry in his neck. As soon as my lips touched his neck he begins to giggle. Then once the vibrations of the raspberry spread he explodes into belly laughs. He is unable to contain his joy. Oh, how I want to bottle this moment.

He can feel my love.

Which, is going to be awesome for him, because there is mountains of it.

The man of the house.

This year for fathers day I got my crafty on.

I donned this shirt and the kids and I whipped up a delicious breakfast of pancakes and BACON. Bacon is capitalized due to it's paramount importance for Mr. Mead. A breakfast without bacon would have been a slap in the face. It's absence would have silently stated, "you're family hates you and is trying to ruin your life."

It's true.

Thankfully we negotiated that landmine and got the day off to a great start. Upon seeing me emerge in the morning the kids went crazy for my shirt. We showered Chad with breakfast, gifts and homemade cards. What gifts you may wonder? Only the worlds most amazing car sun screen money can buy! Six bucks at Costco no less!

. . .in my defense Chad did pick it up and say, "wow! this is just what I need."

I subtly took a mental note and a short few weeks later I made my man's dreams come true. Later in the day I made a chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake that rivaled the franchises Nothing Bundt Cakes chocolate chocolate chip cake. Probably most importantly I kept children at bay and didn't ask him to help with anything for an entire 12 hours!!!!

Upon the close of the day Mr. Mead announced that it was possibly the greatest fathers day in memory. This leads me to why I am posting about it here; so that next year when I put on a grungy shirt with a heart and a single letter a and forget the bacon he'll have this memory to cling to.

These photos have nothing to do with each other.

O and J

His first piggie.

Another one bites the dust; Mr. Mead has just extended his lease on piggies. Could the rider be any cuter?!

Double digits.

We continued the tradition of the crown against this birthday boys wishes. :(  He wore it for the photo and then immediately took it off and tried to hide it.

 For his tenth birthday we invited over his six best buddies and Luke's best buddy Pierce. We had a swim party at our house, Chad picked up two gigantic pizzas from Costco (which was completely eaten!), blew out candles on a bundt cake and then went to the bowling alley.

 Guess who won? This girl, much to the dismay of seven boys.

Owen had permagrin ear to ear the whole night. We celebrated him and the wonderful boy he is. He is quick to smile, has a kind and tender nature, is determined, genuinely wants to serve and choose the right. He's a great big brother who LOVES to laugh and tease... He loves chess, soccer, basketball and spending every free moment with friends. HE LOVES PEOPLE, people. We're loving seeing him grow and develop into such a sweet boy.

Row row row your boat.

We think this girl is awesome. She is loud, spirited, must always be wearing a dress or skirt and hates having her hair brushed. She has the whole family in the palm of her hand but she has a favorite to be sure.

Jackie.

A few months ago she announced that she was going to marry him. She often breathlessly says to him, "Jackie, marry me. Make me your wif. Kiss me Jackie, oh kiss me."

Then. . .she smothers him with kisses. And no, I do not watch soap operas. But, it does look like something she would have seen on one. And, yes, there is a video of it so that will make the wedding video fo sure.

That is all.