I was visiting my RISD roommate – the great photographer/artist/Texas gentleman, David Stence, and  Jackie, his wife /partner/robot creator. My 5 year old Jackson was with me, and at dinner, he asked where their menorah was to light the candles for Hanukkah. Not having one, Jackie got these little toy animals that hold birthday candles and set them up for him.  Jackson then lit the candles and said the Hanukkah prayer in Hebrew. I posted only that picture, with no caption, the next day as we were all reeling from the news in Newtown. Got the most response ever to a picture of mine online. ( The Hanukah prayer story continues. I told it to a friend the next day in Dallas and he asked Jackson to recite the prayer, which Jackson did. He then asked Jackson what it meant. Jackson said, “It means you cannot eat until you finish the prayer!”)

It was a glorious sunny wonderful August in Boulder.

We ate like kings (and queens) on the bounties of summer. We came out for a 2 week vacation and never left.   We lived both bigger and smaller in our new home.   Huge vistas and mountains.    Thick rich grass in the backyard under the kickball bases.  Swimming almost everyday- in all the new public pools.   Folk festival in Lyons and the up the street at Chataqua and Red Rocks for music.  Sunflower Farm and a dozen new playgrounds. Gluton free haunts.   Mostly – just the Lange family -plus embracing the miracle recovery that is my brother Andrew.

Summer finally ended in grand fashion on Saturday when we went over to the CU quad only blocks from our house to see President Obama.   Jackson and I went up to the barrier and waited for about 90 minutes.  Some of the time leaning on the fence.  Most of the time on my shoulders.   It all built up. Crowds, Security (which Jackson loved – especially the sharpshooters).  Then Obama came bounding out and went within feet of us like he was launched out of a canon.  Jackson cheered and waved his sign.  Obama was just so full of good energy and smiles.    It was thrilling.   The boys played in the back of the crowd as Stephie and I tried to take in the speech.   It was a glorious sunny day.   We were all taken in.  The Lange family.

Jackson introduces us all.  “I am Jackson.  Our mommy is Stephie.   Our Daddy is George.  The baby is Asher.  We are called the LANGE family.”

Asher started hugging me….patting my back and whispering, “I miss you Daddy” – even when I was not going anywhere.

August ran out.  September arrived.   On Labor Day everyone took me to the Denver airport for a trip back to NY.

I was back to work.

Then I was back home in Boulder….with the Lange family.

Every morning this past August,  Asher has woke up in Boulder before everyone else.   He came into our bedroom, and before anyone could open their eyes, we would ask Asher, “What kind of day do we have?”  Everyday Asher would peek under the blind and yell out, “Sunny.”   And every morning he was right.

Forget about thinking. These are periphery pictures. Taking on the run. A blink. A turn. My hands are so full, the moments gone so fast.  Until I look in the little change pocket of my jeans when I get home.   The pocket is stuffed with little treasures, cold sand and prize tickets from the arcade.

We are going to Newport for Mother’s Day.   As Stephie was putting Jackson to bed tonight, he realized we were all going to be sharing a big room and began screaming with delight.  Then he and Stephie burst out laughing so hard at the thought of the whole Lange family in one room!

That was the sound of our house at bedtime.
for Stephie, and our mothers, and all the incredible mothers in the world….

Love to all.

It has been a crazy spring.  Summer promises alot of mud and shedding the training wheels.  We will pick up the traction.  Might shed the shoes, too.

Jackson is Jackson.

Albeit a skinnier version these past weeks.

Suddenly ravenous as his stomach is gets back on track.

Gratefully normalized with all bodily functions (oh all we take for granted)

His snack of choice on his new diet is hummus and rice cakes….and he is slowly turning into one.

We went fishing today. It was a beautiful spring day.

Jackson has a sidearmed cast that is pretty impressive.

He left the worms to me.

Jackson and I took Asher to his 18 month check up.

I am sure you remember yours.

There were no tootsie pops.

We took some pictures before the Dr. came in, while Asher was posing on the scale.

21 pounds.

Came back for a deep nap we all had a hard time waking up from, then lit the grill.

Tomorrow Jackson is going to Shabbat at school in the morning, his first time back in weeks.

We will all sing together.