I came home to a very upset Bennett the other day.  He said, very serioulsy, "Mom.  I gotta talk to you. Alone.  Ummmm.... I found something in your dresser drawer."  Oh boy.  He grabbed my hand, lead me up the stairs, and gently pulled open the drawer.  And... there was Freddie.  (Not what you were expecting, right?) Freddie our Scout elf.  The elf that Santa sends to our home every year. Bennett was perplexed. What's Freddie doing in your sock drawer?  But more than the confusion, he was upset because he touched Freddie.  And, he knew that touch takes the magic away.

He didn't know what to do.  I said "Well, number one - QUIT DIGGING IN MY DRESSER DRAWERS, BENNETT."  And, then I told him it was "going to be fine", and that Freddie was "probably taking a nap".

The Boy slumped away - and twenty minutes later said, "Go look in your drawer, Mom.  I tried to fix it."  In my drawer, right next to the napping elf, was a 3 paragraph letter to Freddie - apologizing for the possible magic stealing.  Bennett explained that he was "just looking for stockings for a Paul Revere costume" (yeah, that's an entirely different story) and he "promised to not make a habit of digging through his mother's drawers".  He hoped Freddie would be able to return to the north pole - but questioned why he was even there in the first place.  Bennett went to bed that night, still feeling sad...

And he awoke to find my sock drawer empty, and socks strewn about the basement.  Resting delicately on the overturned drawer, was a note from Freddie - typed in teeny tiny elf sized print.  It said something like this:

Dear Bennett, thank you for the note.  I think you are old enough now to know a secret.  I make surprise visits to your house throughout the year - just to check in on you and your sister.  I hide myself away, and listen and observe.  I check to make sure you are speaking kindly, helping around the house - WITHOUT BEING ASKED (The Big Guy loves that one.), keeping your room clean and doing your studies.  I was doing one of my random checks, and snuggled up in your Mother's cozy drawer, and I fell right asleep!  Actually, I'm so glad you found me, because had you not, I am not certain I would have made in back in time for curfew.  Please know that I did not lose my magic.  And, I will be back - even if you don't see me!  So far, you and your sister are on the NICE LIST.  Keep it up, Kid.  Oh - and stay out of your Mother's drawers.  
                             Your favorite elf, 
                                          FREDDIE

Our super methodical, logical, scientific boy was relieved to know that the magic remained.  So was his Mother.

Sometimes, my favorite conversations are the ones with my boys - via text message and bitmoji.

After a two year hiatus, the Prose family is finally healthy enough to attend Easter festivities with the family!  Rose Lake Bound - with a some bunny on our mind...

 The eggs were dyed, the boats dropped in, and the egg and basket hunts complete. Traditions.

April 11, 2017 has been a day we marked on the calendar in September.  This day, has been a conversation in our house for months.  This day is the first grade concert - and Harper has been convincing herself that she can do it for weeks.  The last few nights, Harper cried herself to sleep because she was so nervous about the performance.  She has been practicing and singing all her songs to anyone who would listen, but when it comes to thinking about standing on those risers, in front of an audience, the tears start forming in her blue eyes.

Mrs. Mancini, our beloved music teacher, has been instrumental (pun intended) in developing positive self talk around the big show.  Harper has been repeating the mantra "I can do it, I know I can do it.  I'm just gonna look right at Mrs. Mancici, and no one else."  Words straight from her teacher's mouth.  She picked out her dress, straightened her shoes and selected the bow.  She took a deep breath, and that girl nailed it.

 Now who's eyes are filling with tears?

ORE Annual Art Show.  Props to Mrs. Olson.  She does an amazing job displaying art projects for each student in grades K-4. Yep, plural - projectS.  We couldn't miss this event, as the boy quickly reminded me it was his "last art show of elementary school".  Pretty sure we will hear that a lot in the coming weeks...

Remember the cartoon, The Jetsons?  The space age family that had a maid robot and flying cars?  Those Jetsons had all the latest technology that was quite unbelievable - including TVs that you could talk to people in real time.

It's real life now, people.  So glad we could visit with the Great One today, and wish her a very happy birthday.

B: Hey, Mom.  I got a great idea.  Give me your phone.
(Begrudgingly hands over the phone)

B:  Ok.  Now, make this your screensaver!!!  Bennett Prose, totally trapped in his mother's phone.

Me:  Ummmmmmm. No.

You are about to read about the best family vacation ever.  Spoiler alert - there are a lot of photos, and even more of "this is the best day ever" comments.  I know, it sounds a bit cliche - but it's for reals. This was the best vacation ever.  I am so grateful I got to see as Bennett entered the wonderful world of Harry Potter, and Grampy as he rode the best rollercoaster of his life.  To Harper transform into a princess, and Grammy experience 1960's space command a rocket launch.  I got to stand next to my sister as a dragon breathed fire over our heads, and hold hands with the Mister and share a smile as we watched our not-so-little littles experience all this magic.

They say that Disney World is full of magic, and they might be right.  We definitely did find some magic at that kingdom - but we also found it at Universal, and Clearwater Beach, and Kennedy Space, and Reunion Resort.  We found the magic at the pool and in the rental SUV.  It was like it followed us everywhere...  Or maybe we were casting the spells.  Being together - we were creating the  magic.