sunshine found ...

Dear Mack,

You've spent the entire day happy and oh how this makes your mama even happier.  Your brother left today for a big trip with your two older cousins and you got "left behind."  We didn't think you were quite ready to be away from us for an extended amount of time, and certainly not out of the country.  Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about your brother being away for 8 days, but I wasn't about to admit that to him or anyone else.

We went to town this morning right after he left and picked out a movie at the redbox machine at the grocery store for surprise #1.  The best part was, there was no arguing about what movie to choose and you've watched it over an over again without Mason giving you grief.  It was the best $1.20 I spent all day.  Thankfully, you are easy to please and are pretty content at keeping yourself entertained - I just hope it lasts for the next 7 days - Lord willing.

While dad and I pulled back tarps and loaded the flatbed late this morning, you worked on the dairy barn catastrophe collecting nails from the boards scattered all around.  Papa Roy and Papa Gary would be proud of your skills with a hammer and your joy in "saving" old nails to use again.

There's a lot about life at 6 that is wonderful about you.  Your freckles, your super long eyelashes, they way your chin jets out when you're serious, your crazy untamed hair, your expressive eyes, and even the way you are determined to pound the life out of ice and boards and nails with any hammer you can get your hands on. Luckily your pounding didn't pound a hole through the trough tonight. That wouldn't have been so wonderful.

Thank you for smiling today and not shedding one tear about your brother being gone.  I wasn't sure how the initial separation was going to go, but redbox and Crayola saved the day.  Who would have guessed that crayons that draw on windows would be worth gold in the eyes of you?!

Loving the flowers you drew just for me on this cold, but beautiful day in December, 

Your Mama