nice day at the zoo in the midst of heartache

It's normal to be stepping in snow on Wednesday, then at the zoo in flip flops on Sunday, right?  #onlyinoklahoma

David has been working like crazy lately, so I was happy for him to take an afternoon for himself today and play golf.  I took the wee ones to the zoo, and it was very crowded, but great fun!

Sad that I think it is totally normal now that my son refuses to leave the house sans marti gras beads?

I told my mom that Braley seemed to be with his people while with the goats.  I think he was a goat in a previous life.  Or a goat herder, perhaps.

He said, "heyo goat!"

And started kissing them.   Yes.  Disgusting.  But I thought it was so Braley, so instead of telling him, "gross, STOP!"... I photographed it.  mother of the year.

"HEYO GOOOAAAT!"

My parents spend February and March in Alaska every year, but had to make an abrupt return home today due to a devastating death.  My brother's best friend since they were in kindergarten, like a brother to me, son to my parents, close friend of my husband - passed very suddenly early Thursday morning.  Shocked and devastated, we are trying to understand how this 31 year old husband, father to a 5 year old, 4 year old, and new baby, friend, son - could be taken.   His wife did not deserve to lose her young husband like this.  And this is nothing 3 little children should have to live through.

As a mother to three very small children myself, the thought of facing the world without my partner and best friend is much too painful a thought for me to even consider.  And yet this girl, whom I have called friend for many years now, is having to accept this as her new reality.  I keep thinking about all the stupid things I have gotten mad at David for.  I close my eyes to go to sleep at night, and suddenly I am at their pool, as we spent so many days in the summers, and he is there, throwing his girls in the air.  Then it really hits me how final death is.  

A painful reminder to try and make the best of every single day you are given.