My boys

Last week the boys went on a preschool fieldtrip to a bounce-house place. Search and Destroy are a year apart in school, so they are in separate classes. When they got home I asked them about their trip and who they played with. I was surprised but not shocked to hear that they played with each other and not with their friends. After all, the are used to each other, and comfortable with each other. And... they LOVE each other! I find myself reflecting lately on how grateful I am that these two are such good friends and have so much fun together.

Although, it hasn't always been this way.

The first two years of mothering for me were so hard. I wondered what I had gotten myself into and I wondered if I would ever want kids again. Destroy was a very challenging child and it was that much harder when Search was born. Isn't it funny how none of the pictures I took when they were young summed up those years? If I had only taken pictures of Destroy sitting on Search or pulling his hair... or being the unnaturally young defiant child that he was, then I would be able to convey my thoughts through pictures. But, no, just like you, I mostly take pictures of the good times.There were moments when they were nice to each other. Like, once a week :) But overall, I thought there was no hope in friendship for these two.Yes, you can see how much Search adored his big brother back then. I mean come on? Who doesn't like the choke-hold? But when we moved to Indiana, things drastically changed. Up until we moved the kids had tons of friends right outside their door (gotta love student housing). Why play with your brother when you can play with your friends? Outside. Any time of year, I might add. (This single digit weather is making me miss the 70's of So Cal about now).But when we moved, they only had each other. They quickly learned how much fun they could have with each other and they fell into a groove. Now the two are inseparable. I mean, they don't even go over to friends' houses without one another. They do EVERYTHING together. Including: wrestling, rockin' out to Green Day and Jimmy Eat World (their new favorite, dancing to rock music), and even peeing together. They think it's hillarious. I just roll my eyes and remind myself that they are boys.The love to cuddle with each other, especially while watching movies. I often hear one telling the other how much he loves him. It melts my heart. They comfort each other, they stand up for each other (like against the big bad parents), and they encourage each other.

They love to be creative together and they engage in imaginative during play most of their playtime. I love hearing the things they come up with and play together.I think the best thing about boys is that they can forgive and forget. Just like all other siblings, these guys have their share of quarrels. But, 3 minutes later it's over, and they just go on playing like they were before. I'm so grateful for these two. I love that they love each other so much. Let's pray that it continues when they get older!

Now, another boy. The question is... do we have another baby a year and a half later (because at this point I think a girl is out of the question :) so he can have a buddy too? Am I willing to go through two years of hell again? Maybe the second time around would be different. I guess we'll wait and see!