38 years. 3 children. 1 wife. Millions of snow flakes.
One simple, ordinary moment that will last a lifetime.

we are all poets
rhyming and reasoning our way through each day
making sense of what does not
finding beauty in the ordinary
finding rhythm in the chaos
we hear the noise and discern the laugh
we see the horrible and find the remarkable
we write them in our hearts
and carry them with us till one day
the poetry will emerge

This is my best. This is the best I can give you after a day of walking the cold and windy streets of New York City, after a day of sounds and sights of music and lights, after a day of sitting still; sitting still through the Nutcracker, sitting still on the 45 minute train ride out and the 45 minute train ride in and sitting still in the smelly taxi, after being on my best behavior all day. This is the very best I can muster and I can tell from the look on your face this isn’t good enough. You want my best? I will give you my best. I will reach a new pitch with my scream, I will make my cries lyrical and I will create a rhythmic thunder with my feet. I will orchestrate a perfectly synchronized meltdown and finish with a grand collapse.

Cut, sanded, painted and decal-ed our block of wood has become Lightning Strike. With lucky number 7 affixed to the hood we have high hopes to be the fastest in the Derby. All twelve cars lined up showcases the creativity and handiwork of the boys, and their parents. Parents, siblings and the scouts line the front row, cameras at the ready, prepared for 26 heats to determine the winner.

Race after race the boys show the best sportsmanship imaginable, cheering and congratulating the winner of each heat.

While Lucas won many heats overall Lightning did not come before Thunder.

The results

Lucas and Lightning Strike

The man at the five and dime was right when he traded these binoculars for my two hello kitty stickers, crumpled drawing and used princess band aid. He told me I’d see rainbows. I saw red when Lucas came after me for stealing his last fried wonton. I saw orange when I caught my Mommy and Daddy kissing. I saw yellow when I was using all my might to pull the cracker, I won three times against my Mommy. I saw green when I ran around outside pretending to fly. I saw blue when I sat in my grandpa’s lap and watched TV. I saw purple when I watched my silly family play silly charades, it made me giggle. I saw black when I stared at the end of my Mommy’s camera and I saw white when I looked deep into the lens and saw her staring back at me.

12 decorated cookies, 11 kids charading, 10 ladies leaping, 9 ladies dancing, 8 kids-a-churning, 7 gingerbread houses, 6 kids-a-playing, 5 hangovers, 4 pounds of cheese, 3 bloody marys, 2 2014 glasses, and 1 regretted promise to do a triathlon

The Gold’s Eggnog and Ice Cream Party

Sarah & Ian’s party

We love Angie for hosting us every year!

Papa & Nana

Lola & The Guerreros

Amy’s Cupcakes and Cocktails

The Dell’Orto Holiday party

Gingerbread House Decorating

Christmas Day

Gatsby Party

New Years Eve at the Scotts

New Years Eve at the Trucksess’

Own your dreams
Own your regrets
Own your hips, your thighs, your gut
Own your laugh lines
Own your insecurities
Own your strength
Own your vulnerability
Own your gratitude
Own your silliness
Own your somber
Own your moodiness
Own your contentment
Own it all
Or no one else will

When Penny comes home from school she runs right into my office and proudly shares the crafts and drawings she made that day. When showing me this drawing she told me everyone that went for a boat ride: Penny, Oliver, Lucas and Daddy. When I asked where was I she said “You are the boat”.