California Adventure

Debbie spent two weeks working hard on a business trip and was ready to be reunited with the men of the family.  The men of the family were really looking forward to some time with Debbie and a bit of relaxation.  

So it was that I took the two little men, boarded an airplane, and flew to see her.   

 Now, if you know Debbie at all you know that she cannot be within 100 miles of a Disney park without there.  So, we headed to Disneyland.  Itai must have said, "I can't believe we're really going to Disneyland" or "I can't believe we really are in Disneyland, can you?" a thousand times.  

 The weather was beautiful.  We enjoyed a lot of outside time.

 Itai became a pirate captain.

 We found some ghostly fun.

The boys loved and feared Splash Mountain.

 The weather was so beautiful.

 We spent some time with Debbie's parents.

 Did I mention how beautiful the weather was?  It felt so amazing!

 

 We found a place for the boys to be feral for a while.

 And oh, was the weather beautiful!

 We met a couple of real characters out there.

 We took in a show.

 

 We stopped by great-grandma's for a short visit.

 

 Hopefully she's recovered from it!

 And we hit the beach for some much needed R&R.  I'm thinking a small house not far from here sounds amazing right about now.

 And now that the plane has landed, the laundry is done, and the bags are put away, I guess it's time to get back to real life. It was so nice to spend some family time together with everyone.

Just Listening

Debbie has been gone on a business trip for about a week and a half.  She worries that the boys aren't missing her, but I have proof.

While I was making dinner a few nights ago the boys were playing upstairs.  I could hear Avi saying, "Daaaa-beeee!  Daaaa-beeee!"

Then, in a sweet voice I hear Itai say, "Avi, Debbie isn't here.  She's in California but she'll be back in about a week."

Case closed, your honor.

I just love these guys.

Come Here Often? I Don't!

To start with, the last semester of school was busy.  Like really, really busy.  Like Grand Central Station for presentations, assignments, presentations, tests, presentations, papers, and presentations.  (Can you tell we did a lot of presentations?)  

So, I neglected my blog, and my workout routines, and my sleep.  So, I apologize to all of you who have been waiting on pins and needles for the next blog post.  Well, it's here!

I was not asked to give a speech at graduation.  I'm not really surprised; I spoke more in class than I should have, I expressed my opinions pretty regularly, oh, and advanced standing students are like second class students.  

Nobody asked me for my opinion on the occasion of our graduation, but I've never been one to wait for an invitation.  If you allow me this indulgence, I'd like to share a few thoughts on graduation.

Not far from the classrooms that now sit empty is the Salt Lake City Library.  This building's architecture includes a staircase that climbs the entire length and height of the structure.  The staircase wraps around the building in a curve that takes the climber in a half circle and, if they are out of shape like me, leaves the climber short of breath.

At the top of the building is a panoramic view of Salt Lake City, and a a view of a small step.  This step has the words, "The End" facing one way with the words, "The Beginning" facing the other.  Once the person has climbed to the height of the building they see that the end of their path is really just the beginning 

Arriving at graduation and concluding all learning and education would be like arriving at the top of the library and ignoring what is under one's feet.  The journey must continue.

Each person at graduation today came with their own motivations and experiences and each has been supported by their own families, friends, and other support systems.  None of us could have accomplished this feat without their support, advice, forgiveness, and love.  I owe a great debt of gratitude to my wife and partner Deborah, my children, my entire family, and everyone else who stood by me during this time.

As we continue this journey from our education, to graduation, and beyond, let us remember the quote from Henry Haskins, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."  

Our potentials are great.  Not because of a degree, or specific experience but because of our determination to persevere, to care for others, and our belief that the world can be changed by those who dare believe it can be done.  As Tom Brokaw once said, "You are educated.  Your certification is in your degree.  You may think of it as the ticket to the good life.  Let me ask you to think of an alternative.  Think of it as your ticket to change the world."

My eternal thanks to our family, friends, and supporters.  My heartfelt gratitude to our teachers, mentors and supervisors.  And my congratulations to my classmates.

Seven Heaven

Our little big boy had a birthday this week.

In keeping with our tradition, we really had more of birth-week celebration.

Rather than spend a lot of words describing our festivities, I'll just give you some pictures.  Enjoy!!

Happy birthday to this little guy who's so grown up!

An Answer

I was recently asked by our pediatrician whether it is difficult to have a two children on "such opposite ends."  I told her "Yes, but probably not for the reasons you'd think."  The thing is, it's really difficult question to answer.  First off, I'm not sure they are such opposites.  Yes, Itai is talkative, imaginative, funny and he's really smart, but I'm not sure that Avi isn't those things...except for talkative.

Other than that, the best I can do to answer her question is to give a day of our lives as an example.

It's 4:26 in the morning.  I slowly become aware of a sound.  In my sleepy daze I cannot place it, but gradually I recognize it as a child laughing hysterically.  I open my eyes to realize Avi's light is on.  He comes bounding into the room and jumps in the bed with me.  I'd like to sleep for another 5-10 hours, but that is not to be.  Itai will sleep for another two hours if left alone and I know it.  Avi keeps laughing.  I feel beleaguered by the continued hysteria over something I don't see or hear.  Frustrated, I decide to get out of bed.  In this moment it is difficult.

It is 4:32 and I am feeling frustrated and about to get out of bed.  Just before I get up Avi pulls my arm so I stretch it out.  He puts his head on it, then rolls over and cuddles up against me, giving me a big, warm hug.  I  change my mind about getting out of bed, for the moment at least.  Suddenly, Avi is quiet and very snuggly.  In this moment, it is not difficult.

It is 6:14 and I'm back downstairs after my shower.  As I sit on the couch next to Avi he says in that Avi specific accent, "Halllooo!"  He sits right next to me and rests his head on me.  I say hello back and he smiles at me before giving me another hug.  In this moment it is most decidedly not difficult.

It's 7:00 and I force Itai to get out of bed.  He looks a lot like I must have when Avi came into my bed.  His eyes struggle to open and he looks at me as if to ask why I have ruined his deep sleep.  I give him a hug and he says, "Abba, I love you the mostest."  In this moment it is not hard.

It's 4:00 p.m. and we are on our way to Avi's speech therapy appointment.  I mention that Avi's birthday is coming soon and we need to figure out what kind of present he would like for his birthday.  Itai reminds me, "Avi will be seven on his birthday."  I tell him, "Yes, he will be."  Itai asks me, "When Avi is seven, will he finally learn to speak."  I admit that I don't know, but tell him that Avi has already begun to speak and he'll probably get better and better at it.  In that moment it is difficult.

After speech is over we head home and get dinner ready.  Avi and Itai are starving and start circling the kitchen like sharks who have caught the scent of their favorite meal.  Itai as usual asks to help me, Avi sticks around to help out too, so long as there is something for him to snitch.  Dinner is over and as we start to put everything on the table we hear the garage door open.  Itai looks up and says, "Mommy's home!"  He runs to the door and throws it open.  Debbie comes into the house and gets a warm welcome from Itai.  Avi makes his way over and motions to be picked up.  Debbie obliges and he smiles as she holds him.  Even in her arms his legs are almost down to the floor.  He smiles deeply as she kisses his cheeks.  In this moment it is both difficult and very, very easy.

So the answer is complicated, but the truth is it is probably differently difficult, but no more difficult than it is for other families.

Through Itai's Eyes

Avi and Itai got cameras for Christmas (thanks Valerie!).  Avi hasn't been very interested in taking his own photos yet, but as soon as he does you'll get to see his artwork.

Itai on the other hand has been busily snapping pictures every second he can.  His camera was breifly lost and he could not have been more sad about it.  Once he found it again he started taking pictures like he never stopped.  So, here's a slice of Itai's world from his own perspective.