Worth the Wait

The quick-moving snowstorm that hit North Carolina last Wednesday meant a treacherous commute home early that afternoon followed by two snow days that provided for lots of quality time with the kids.

Graham had never experienced snow until this winter. We've had two winter storms, and he's been ecstatic when given the chance to play in the snow.

It took three years, but it was worth the wait.

Erica pregnant with Graham.

Erica and Graham three years later.

We used the most recent storm to show how things change over time. The first photo is from the winter Erica was pregnant with Graham; the second photo marks the passage of three years time.

Graham was enamored with the second round of snow fall on Thursday. He climbed up on the bath tub to look out the window at it.

By Friday, we were able to brave the remaining ice on the roads for a family lunch at Chick Fil-A. Graham received the first of his Valentine's Day gifts - Superman chocolates and Disney stickers. Aubrey received her gift, too, which she put to use immediately, as you can see in the photo below.

My Valentine

We neglected to get a Valentine's Day card for Graham. It became clear as Erica and I exchanged our own cards that he wanted one, too. I dropped by Target after dinner and purchased a card for him along with some baseball cards. I could tell from his reaction that he liked them. I learned just how much he valued the cards prior to bedtime when he had me lock them in the fire safe.

We drove to Raleigh on Saturday. Faced, yet again, with a long wait at the Flying Biscuit Cafe, we traveled up the road to Simply Crepes for what turned out to be a delicious breakfast. Erica has wanted to visit Simply Crepes ever since I took the job at Ravenscroft, which is a mile or so down the road from the restaurant.

It took several months, but it was worth the wait.

After a late breakfast, we drove around Raleigh exploring neighborhoods in case we decide to move there. It made for a long afternoon. Graham took full advantage of his freedom from the back seat of the car when we stopped by a mall in Raleigh. He spent time on almost all of the kiddie rides, no matter whether we had paid for them to move or not. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

He has a special affinity for motorcycles lately. I had a hard time getting him to do anything except the motorcycle game at the bowling alley a couple of weeks ago. He rode the motorcycle at the mall as well. Given the wave you see below (presumably to his admiring fans), he felt like some kind of superstar.

Come Sunday, Erica finally had the chance to spend kid-free time away from the house. Graham decided on "Quiet Time" rather than a nap, which left me to rock Aubrey to sleep and earn quiet time of my own.

It wasn't long before Graham emerged from his room and knocked on our bedroom door. I answered his knock and discovered him with his puppy guitar ready to perform. He put on quite the show.

Then another.

And another.

It appeared that Graham's many curtain calls would curtail both of our quiet time. However, things indeed became quiet a short while later. Too quiet. My investigation revealed one tired little boy sacked out on the floor.

It took several minutes until I truly had quiet time, but it was worth the wait.