Ice Skating part 2

We had an unexpected visit this weekend and it was great!  I think I've said this before but as an adult I have the ability to talk, text, email and otherwise communicate with those that I care about but who live far away.  I have the ability to miss, love, remember and compartmentalize my emotions and feelings. A tiny tot does not.  So when Anders arrived on Friday evening... Espen was DELIGHTED.  He squeals.  He jumps.  He hugs & kisses.  He wants every second to be spent in the same space as close as possible.  He loves his Anders and I forget that he doesn't have a way to understand the empty space he feels when he is left behind time after time.  Monday after a visit is always a hard one.  Espen loves fiercely and suddenly the recipient of that love is missing.  But the joy (for both of them) is amazing.  They are lucky that fate brought all of us together....

And that love can been seen when we went ice skating all 4 of us this weekend.  What a blast we had!!  Even Doug got on the ice for the very first time.  May have ended badly but he tried.  And the utter joy and trust on Espen's face tell it all.  He has incredible balance and stamina.  He started on the double blades this day and soon it was decided he'd try single blades.  And he managed to do it!  I think he is a very skilled little guy!  He was able to put the single bladed skates on and instead of falling all over himself, he made every attempt to skate like Anders... He skated for nearly the entire 2 hours.... and then cried when it was time to leave.  So it looks like Santa needs to find some skates...

It was a wonderful day!  We had so much fun together.  But come Monday I have to figure out how to keep my little guy busy and occupied so that he can ease his mind away from how much he misses "my Anders"....  he has been left behind again and he just doesn't understand WHY...