Nadia

"Come here the tickle monster is going to get you!" I scream out chasing Asad and Aries. The two 7-year-olds yelp and giggle as I chase them around our small living room. Catching up to Asad, I lift him up and start tickling him.

"The tickle monster got you," I play along tickling Asad as Aries takes time to find a hiding spot.

"Mom!" Asad laughs louder while squirming. I put him down and he scurries away.

"Hmm, where is Aries?" I think out loud knowing exactly where Aries is. His favorite hiding spot is in the closet, in his room that he shares with his twin brother.

"Aries" I taunt walking into their rooms; I hear my boys whisper inside the closet.

"Oh, I guess he's not in here," I act and pretend to walk away.

"Boo!" Suddenly I open the closet causing Asad and Aries to laugh and squeal.

"I got you" I pick Aries up and tickle him while Asad falls to the ground laughing.

"Honey, food is ready!" My husband shouts from the kitchen.

"Food is ready! Let's go," I put Aries down and we head to the kitchen. My husband, Jakub, is putting napkins into a picnic basket when we enter the kitchen.

"Ready?" I ask as he turns to look at me with our two boys right beside me.

"Ready," He repeats back at me and I give him a quick hug and a kiss on the check before I grab our picnic basket. The boys run out to put on their shoes while we grab the blankets. Once everyone is ready we head outside pilling into the car. The beautiful weather in Paris makes me think back to Syria's March weather. My husband drives us to the park and I grab our stuff. Asad and Aries run out heading to the playground already goofing around.

"Under the shade?" My husband asks and I nod pointing to a spot on the open field. I grab the basket following my husband to the shade. We lay our blanket down putting rocks to help stay and unload our basket.

"Asad, Aries!" I call out which cause my boys to stop playing and run toward us.

"What beautiful boys we have," Jakub comments and I couldn't agree more.

As the boys take a seat we gave them their plates filled with turkey sandwiches and Lebanese rice. Our bread and hummus to the side.

"Mom where were you born?" Aries asks while munching down on his sandwich.

"I was born in Syria," I respond grabbing some hummus.

"What about you, dad?" Aries continued taking a bite into his sandwich.

"I was born in Iran," Jakub responded unfazed of how curious his boys were.

"Where was I born?" Asad questioned stuffing his mouth with rice.

"You both were born here in France," I answered.

"Can we go visit where you were born?" Aries asked.

"I don't think so," Jakub answered for me while still eating.

"Are you excited that both of you are turning 8 this month?" My husband asks and our boys happily respond with yes's.

After eating, the boys run back to the playground.
I lay my head on Jakub's lap as he pulls out a book.
"What should we read today?" I ask while looking up at him.

"Lord of the Flies," Jakub runs his fingers through my hair as he opens the book. He always had a love for British literature.

While he reads out loud I study his features, never getting enough of him. He's glasses hang low on his nose as he scrunches his nose trying to push them up. I lift my hand pushing his glasses up for him and laugh.

"Thank you," he smiles while continuing to read out loud. His curly hair hangs low past his ears seeing he hasn't cut it in a while. Although the book is covering my view of his eyes, I know his deep brown color from memory. I place my hands on my stomach enjoying the moment. His deep voice reads with the breeze while his hair dances with it. I'm deeply in love with this man.