Movie Night

Well, nowadays (at least for a little while), my man Kevin is home on Friday nights, and with Tita's standing babysitting, we've started what I hope becomes a tradition. Movie night. At the Theater. Just us.

This week, we watched Gone Baby Gone. A painful study of self-justification when playing God, of missing children and lost parents, of choices with no good decisions. I knew this wasn't going to be a mood elevator when I read the review this afternoon. I think I'm beginning to wallow in my funk, guys, and it ain't pretty. In any case, this movie, a surprisingly well-crafted effort by Ben Affleck was true to it's promise to stir discussion about what is right and what is easy. I've enjoyed mine and Kevin's subsequent conversations as much as I liked sitting next to him in the dark, and communicating our fear, anger and sadness through our connected fingers. Here's to more time at home (and on dates) with my wonderful husband.

The rest of the weekend: home. With no plans. Hoping to shed some of my sadness and frustration.

The Best Gifts

Yesterday was Kevin's birthday. With him working at night, we tried to make the morning before school feel extra-special. Frantic shopping trips, midnight cake-baking, morning icing & sprinkling...picture flour in the hair...all unnecessary. Elliot gave his papa the simplest, most beautiful gift he would receive:

On Kevin's birthday morning, after hearing Ana and I discuss this special day many times, Elliot looked at him and said, "Happy Birthday."

Tears in cake, on rainbow-colored tissue changing its color...


Happy Birthday, Kevin! Your love inspires ALL of us to be our best selves.