September 11, 2011 Dear X Boys,

Dear X Boys,
Tonight you slept in separate beds.  You've been sharing a queen-sized mattress that sat on the floor ever since I was too exhausted to lift Alex into his crib about two years ago.  We moved into the new house a couple weeks ago and you two shared a blow up mattress while we waited for your beds to be built.

You both took quickly to having your own bed.  I laid with Max while mama lay next to Alex.  You both were fine.

Me?  I'm glad you have a place of your own.  Yet I miss peeking in at night and seeing the two of you lying together.

9/11 mattresses, sleeping apart

disney on ice - buying stuff

Ted - showing him the house "He said he likes it"

10/16 - parent mtg. abintra - alex social

10/22 dressing for titans game - got my football chones

10/22 better to be tired because your challenged then tired because you're bored. -- john tuturro

10/26 doesn't like being on big playground; rough;they call me small; make funny faces at them

10/27 scinece center buy something; but i don't have any money

10/30 Am I eccentric or just wearing a funny hat? tom waites

11/3 didn't call me max at swimming.

11/4 guy at post office "They remind me of two boys I used to know"

We choose to give hback to cmty because it's esier than being part of a community - Anderson Williams

11/9 He's funny. I mean, he's comedian funny.

11/10 - recovered videos "I got my little boys back"

Septemebr 6, 2011 Dear Mr. Pampers,

Dear Mr. Pampers,
I hope that I'm soon done with you.

I set a goal ages ago to get Alex out of diapers by the time I turned 50 -- January 5.

To be fair, I figured this date was a bit optimistic.  This would mean he'd be trAlained at least five month faster than is brother.

Then again, Alex decided on his own that he wanted to stop wearing diapers on the first day of school -- which was also his third birthday, August 23.  Thus, we have a fighting chance.  He still wears diapers at night.  But he's done with day diapers.

August 13, 2011 Dear Crystal Ball,

Dear Crystal Ball,
Today Alex told me he wanted to be a soccer player and an astronaut. Of course it reminded me my childhood when I wanted to be a baseball player and an astronaut. Eventually I grew out of that stage and decided I was going to be a basketball player or the President. Then later it was Congressman or writer. And then somehow I moved to Nashville and eventually traded journalism in for the restaurant business. Now I'm about to turn 50 and find myself thinking of what could have been and what there is still time left to do.


I look at my boys and hear their dreams and wonder how long I'll be around to see their minds change, their interests form and the forks in the road lead them other places.

I don't want to see my life pass before my eyes.

I want a crystal ball to tell me what happens to my boys.