Haley & Chibi arrived this last week and it has been great to have them here. The boys are doing so good, the staff infection is pretty much gone on both of them and they are growing so fast.

Here are some new photos for everyone to enjoy.

January 21, 2009

To my grandsons:

Tyler and Dylan,

You are a miracle of life and I am blessed to have you in mine.  You are the cord that ties one generation to another.  You are a part of me and a part of the legacy of wonderful people who came before you.  You bear a history of which you may know very little, but a history that you now carry the torch.  You cannot change your history.  You can create your own future!

You are really a very special person.  You will have to learn for yourself how best to grow into the special person you already are.  You are perfect in every way.  You are also “imperfectly perfect.”  That is to say dear boys, “you are human.”  And it’s OK to be human.  The other choices aren’t very exciting.

Never loose that humanity.  Look to the outside world and try to make it better.  Reach outside yourselves to touch someone’s lives to make a better life for them.  Be kind. And from doing so, you will make the world a better place and you will become a better person for having done it.

And look inside yourself and find peace with who you are.  Be kind to yourself. Find inspiration in education, sports, music, art or whatever makes you feel good.  And try your BEST to feel good about yourself.  It may not always be an easy task, but don’t depend on other people to make you happy.  Be happy because you’re being the BEST person you can be at the time.   And give yourself plenty of time.

Make mistakes. It’s OK, but also learn from them.  But don’t make the same mistake twice.  That’s not learning; that’s being lazy.  There’s a time for being physically lazy, but try always to be mentally alert.  You won’t want to miss something!

And life is full of “some things”.  Things like birthdays, bike rides, baseball games, or even a “cool” dance.  Be artful.  I know something about that.  I pass on to you my passion for that creative energy.

When you read a book that can make you cry; when you laugh out loud at a play; or when you quietly contemplate the meaning of a piece of art, know that those are the “some things” in life that cannot be measured.  Those are the things that can only be experienced.

And try your BEST to experience it all.  Take risks, but know the best and the worse scenarios that can come out of that experience.  If you know both extremes, then you know what the possibilities are.  I wish you unlimited positive possibilities.

I wish you the possibilities of education, of travel and the challenge of mastering a skill.  And be skillful when you navigate these paths.  While the world will throw you challenges, none is more challenging than those goals you set for yourself.

And please, set noble goals for yourself.  Don’t sell yourself short.  If you do, you’re the one who’s doing the selling. You are capable of so much more than you know.

You will make money.  You will be handsome.  You will excel at whatever you do.  I already know that.  But I must tell you, there will be people who make more money, are better looking and seem to always get the brass ring.  Be happy for them and be happy for what you have.  Being jealous is a waste of energy.

Be energetic.  Be physical.  Use your body.  It’s the greatest instrument you have.  But don’t abuse it.  It is a gift that can be taken away at any time.  Use your time today as if you don’t have tomorrow.  When every tomorrow comes, be grateful for that day.

Here’s a big one. Try not to WORRY!  I’ve never been able to master this seemingly easy task.  I have faith that you may be able to tell me someday.  But don’t worry about it if you cannot.

Use humor.  Not the cutting kind of humor that makes fun of someone or something, rather be the kind of “funny” that makes people smile.  And do smile as often as you can.  Try your best to be charming, and not tedious.  No one ever heard of Prince Tedious.
Measure your life in the number of friends you make.  Realize as well that some friendships are for a reason, some for a season and some are forever. I wish you many forever friendships.  And some friendships will lead to love.

Love is the unmeasured quantum that joins humanity. It will someday join you to another human being.  You will find a partner in life.  Be true to yourself and find the person who deserves your love and to whom you can love unconditionally.  Don’t judge.  Don’t allow yourself to be judged.  Do love.

That’s a nice place to end my thoughts to you; on love.  One of my favorite quotes is from a move, “The Boy With Green Hair”.  I highly recommend it.  And so it goes:

“The greatest gift you’ll ever know is to love and to be loved in return.”

I have loved and have been loved.  For that I am grateful.

I hope you keep this letter and read it at different times in your life.  It is my gift to you.  I love you unconditionally.  You are my gift.  And for that, I am the most grateful.

Pops

Tomorrow is Dylan & Tyler’s one week Birthday They are growing so fast before we know it they will be walking and talking. Since we have been home we have discovered so many new things with our lovely family.

* Tyler can poop across an entire room, we should get him an award for the best pooper
* Sometimes a pee pee shower is in the forecast
* Dylan & Tyler have big beautiful smiles
* When Dylan sucks on a bottle you can see he might have Daddies dimples
* Pampers diapers seem to leak sometimes
* A changing table is an absolute necessity
* The boys could eat our entire house if it where made of milk and had a nipple
* Dylan & Tyler have the neck strength of a 1 month old baby
* Long nights are tiring but yet so fulfilling and loving
* Mommy is so beautiful and has been so amazing through everything
* Daddy has a new title of Mr. Mom and needs to watch some football
* Tyler & Dylan like to sleep with their hands above their heads
* There is no love like having your own family and raising children
* We have been using so much hand sanitizer that our skin is drying up, no germs for the boys
* Our family and friends have been so supportive through this and we are so grateful to have such loving people in our lives
* Tyler can fart louder than a bull horn
* There’s nothing that compares to the feeling we get when the boys smile
* Tyler’s belly button has already fallen off
* No jaundice for these boys, they are as pink as cotton candy

Thank you everyone for all your help we could not do it without our family and friends. We love you all so much and can’t wait for everyone to meet Dylan & Tyler.

Love Mom, Dad & The Boys