Boys getting older and moving up.

My boys left recently with my in-laws to go back to the USA for seven weeks this summer.  I will be joining them after I get back from my trip with my partner to mainland Europe. It will be 11 years since I have been back to my home in Napoli, Italia where I grew up twice for a total of 6 years.  As much as I cannot wait to go back home and that I hope it does not go by too fast, I am really looking forward to seeing my boys again in three weeks.  We have had to be apart in different countries or continents four times over the last seven years, and it does not get easier. Things can be quite loud at home when you are raising two boys, but after about 4 hours of silence it has been too quiet.  I miss them so much.  Going to look back over their last week here in England and highlight the best parts of our time together.

As you might remember we went bowling in May for my 5 year old's birthday party.  We had a great time and the boys have been wanting to go back ever since.  They got that chance while Bob and Sue were here and the boys got to show off their bowling skills.  Ronan brought his a game and his competitiveness and really showed us up.   Its been crazy to see how much they have been growing up over this year so far.   Both boys have really pushed forward in their reading for one thing. Maddox went from not reading at all in August to now he can read from chapter books. After finishing our latest Harry Potter book, both boys were in need for summer reading.  We used their gift certificates from school to get them some great choice reading about dragons and samurai.  The boys are also moving on up in their groups at bible class over at our church.  This past sunday was their last day until they get in September. Maddox will be moving into Ronan's class and Ronan will be moving up to the next class.  They are both excited about the move up.  I signed us up for a church retreat for when we get back and I hope they will have fun on the weekend trip.  We saw the baby ducklings on our walk home and the boys were telling me how big they think they will be when we get back.  It has been fun watching them get bigger since our first time finding the babies.  

The last day the boys were here we went to the store so I could get them proper hats for the hot summer awaiting them in the USA where temperatures have been in the 100's (F).  They look really cute in them, but they look so much older when they wear them. It does not help that I gave them hair cuts before they left for the summer. Ronan maintained his style, but Maddox wanted a big change. He wanted batman shaved into the back of his head. We might try that this summer.  When I asked Maddox what he wanted he said he wanted hair 'like Ronan' and when I use my 'hot thing that makes it straight'.  So we went shorter to help keep his curly hair maintained.  The boy has a lot of hair so I basically took it short on sides and back and on the top I did not really take off any length, just took out a lot of weight.  So hes got a lighter and more trendy look. Which makes him look older.

I let the boys sleep in our room on their last night and it was hard to sleep with listening to them sleep so sweetly next to me.  I even woke up before my alarm set for 0430.  It was hard to get up, but I wanted to make sure I made them a proper breakfast.  The boys were dressed in the outfits I laid out and finished with their breakfast before their Papa even woke up. I definitely take from my dad with getting ready in the morning.  With the extra time I took the boys outside to take some last photos before I see them again. They were so cute for it being so early in the morning.  I think Ronan took it hardest when they drove away, and I basically almost threw up outside for all my neighbours to see after they left.  I think the anxiety just really drove the nausea.  Luckily I ended up feeling better in a few hours. But my heart still hurts. I miss my boys so much.  With having them apart before, I really do not like nor want to have to be apart from them ever again.  3 weeks.  I can do this.  Ronan and Maddox, mummy loves you so way much! 

xx

B.

Bowling with my boys.
#bowling
http://instagr.am/p/NEZMwRIkyU/

Bowling Bros 

#bowling 

http://instagr.am/p/NEozXqIk9n/

My boys just finished reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. Their reward?
Getting to see the film for the first time and Ive promised butterbeer.
#butterbeer #harrypotter #book #read
http://instagr.am/p/M_ZCVLokyd/

My partner and I at dinner tonight.
http://instagr.am/p/NCRzbsokzW/

My boys with their chapter books for Summer reading.
#book #read #summer #dragon #samuraihttp://instagr.am/p/NGpmxmIk1U/

Fresh flowers decorate the arch of the church this morning.
#church #lindfield #door #flowers #arch #allsaints http://instagr.am/p/NGZuLhok_V

Secret! Today I noticed a filled in stairway in church.
#history #church #lindfield #allsaints #stairs #hidden #secret #arch #old http://instagr.am/p/NGkixsokzA/

Peach rose bush in Lindfield 

#rose #peach #roses #lindfield #cloud 

http://instagr.am/p/NGjg27okyh/

Watching the ducklings after church
#ducks #church #allsaints #lindfield http://instagr.am/p/NHvMTcIk3e/

My OCD has paid off. In the process of organizing one giant box of legos
into several easy to categories, we located the missing Sonic Screwdriver.
#sonicscrewdriver #doctorwho #tardis #lego #OCDhttp://instagr.am/p/NIyod_ok4l/

Classy. My sons drinking milk from the 'fancy' glasses.http://instagr.am/p/NI-Misok7k/

Taught my boys how to wear their new hats from River Island.
#riverisland #hiphop #hat #summer #boyshttp://instagr.am/p/NJQjBsokx-/

Ronan. Your smile melts my heart.
#ronan #hat #hiphop #batman #smilehttp://instagr.am/p/NJgMJook5I/

Maddox. He looks older with that chocolate mustache.
#hat #maddox #max #hiphop #mustache #costa #son http://instagr.am/p/NJgZmfok5P/

Maddox and I painted our nails. He chose rockstar grey
and I chose a matte orange-y pink.
#nails #colour #pink #orange #grey #hands http://instagr.am/p/NJ0Q2Bok0L/

Loop plaits
#hair #hairstyle #plaits #braidhttp://instagr.am/p/NEsrUqIkwM/

My son twirls his hair when he reads.
#socute #hair #read #book #boy #twirl http://instagr.am/p/NJ-_ohIk61/

Last night with my boys at the pub before their flight back to the USA.
#raisingboys #pub #food #dinner #family @ryana_official http://instagr.am/p/NMTuJuokwW

My son making sure no one eats his mushrooms. 

Dont worry, Papa doesnt like them. 

#food #mushrooms #pub #son 

http://instagr.am/p/NMYvz_okzp/

Desserts are stressed spelled backwards.
#pub #dessert #food #etonmess http://instagr.am/p/NMcgJ0ok12/

Gave Maddox a haircut at midnight. Now we are whispering
stories before we fall asleep. Early flight tomorrow.
#hairstyle #haircut #maddox #max #shorthttp://instagr.am/p/NM2XdLIk2C/

The boys found one of my necklaces, and since its a rarity
that I wear gold I let Max have it.He looks so grown up.
 #chain #gold #maddox #max #hat #hiphop #boy #sonhttp://instagr.am/p/NNxPo_Ik2K/

Amazing how awake my boys were at 0500 for a photo op.
Took these right before they left for the airport.
#raisingboys #son #hat #hiphop #shaka #hilife #peace #smile #boy http://instagr.am/p/NN0M1QIk2w/

I have never seen so much of my dad (RIP) in Maddox than today.
I wish had photos of him at Maddox age to compare.
#dad #son #grandson #expression #photobooth #genes #maddox #max http://instagr.am/p/NOCtTjIk5z/

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS

@the_bonnierose on Twitte · via Twitter

• Just awoken from a dream about Dad. He had sent me a care package and it had just arrived in the post. I wish there was mail services between here and Heaven.
• Second time seeing this film. First time I bawled like a baby in the theatre because De Niro's character reminds me ... http://t.co/6k0fIXm7
• After beating ME3, going back through the games starting with the first one. http://t.co/Mm0mU3nC @GetGlue #MassEffect
• Living vicariously through @SethGreen this week while his Instagram feed shows photos from @Comic_Con #SDCC #SDCC2012
• Finally watched the big episode about Sam Ax's fate. Michael & Fiona are my favourite tv couple.
• Boys and I read this last year and found the movie on lovefilm today. We are discussing how cool it would be to live in a tree house. The film makes us miss island life on Hawaii.
• I love that the Hill's Whitney Port is a judge this season.
• Wearing my Deanna Troi shirt to dinner with Magners and @ryanA_official #nextgeneration #startrek #nerd #cidre http://t.co/pAhm88rJ
• Gearing up for London 2012 by introducing my boys to a film from my childhood. Belly laughs galore!
• Jessica Biel to play Viper in yhe next Wolverine film...awesome! #wolverine #comics
• "That's right, Kenny. The babysitter is dead.'' Im pretty sure my sister, Zoë, and I could quote the whole film.
• Woah it is the Doctor in Lego form at #SDCC #doctorwho #SDCC2012 #cosplay http://t.co/ZKfMiG2n
• Madonna may be 53, but she does not look a day over 35 @MadonnaWorld #Madonna #MDNAParis #MDNATourhttp://t.co/bHF2KdJZ http://t.co/umJP3QA3
• ‎4 Reasons I wish I could have gone to ComicCon: @Bourdain @GroovyBruce @sethgreen @mattsmith_dw TY to those who posted pics #SDCC #SDCC2012
• I have some down time and wanted to shoot. But out of apples and oranges and the store closed 30min ago. :( #selfportraitchallenge2012
• TKMaxx has a lot of surf wear...a lot of Billabong. Makes me forget Im living in the UK and its raining. #beach #surf #tkmaxx #billabong
• Found a pink Hello Kitty espresso maker. #hellokitty #espresso #coffee #pink #purple #tkmaxxhttp://t.co/LKtJcoZD
• It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
• Photo: Preview of my latest self portrait entitled ‘Orange Crate’. #selfportrait #self #orange #oranges...http://t.co/o2n2hH0J
• The back of my FIL's shirt. I miss Haleiwa. #hawaii #haleiwa #shirt #turtle #honu #alohahttp://t.co/pNU3urrn
• Their suitcase packed, their outfit laid out, & carryon ready. Let my boys sleep in my room. Want to stay up & listen to them sleep. Peace.
• Just said goodbye to my boys. :( They left with inlaws for 7 wks in the USA. Safe drive & safe flight. Mummy misses u.http://t.co/nAUl6AmJ