Back to school sadness

It is with great sadness
and with a heavy heart,
that i say
School start tomorrow.

Really i should feel sad
when they finish the school year .
But i am always so thrilled with the idea
of no schedule
and having them home
that i don't focus on them
finishing another year--
until it starts up again.

Then i can't help but think about
how quickly life is moving.
How they are getting older
more independent
more adult like
and how they will soon be moving on
to bigger and better things,
without me.
How our summers all together
are limited
How things are changing
and it fills my heart
with pangs of sadness.

Well i should clarify--
pangs of sadness for my older children--
because when it comes to the baby.....
honestly i will be counting the minutes till the bus comes
and will be doing the happy dance.
Sad but true.
I will have him for many more years--
he may be with me for life--
who knows?!

But i will miss the relaxed state of summer.
Making our own schedule
sleeping in because we can
and just having my kids around
to drive me crazy....

I like crazy....
and i will miss them like crazy.!

If there were no schools

to take the children away from home

part of the time,

the insane asylums

would be filled with mothers.

~Edgar W. Howe

Swimming at grandma's

We started the summer
at my mother in laws swimming.
And tonight we finished it there as well
Swimming.
I even got in the pool.
When was the last time i went swimming with my kids?
I could hardly remember.
I did get in at Gisela
but most of the time I have an aversion to water.
I don't like to be cold and wet
and then if it is not refreshing
what is the point?
Where the temperature is concerned
there is a real fine line for me.
But i did get in
and even got my head wet.
And now i have water in my ears
which is bugging me.
but it was fun
being goofy
and splashing around.

The baby amazed me!
He has never been afraid of the water
which scares me to death
but i saw hope
that he would/could learn how to swim.
He had on his life jacket
and this kid was kicking his legs
and moving his arms.
It was a HUGE milestone.
We did take off his jacket and worked with him,
it was so much fun to see the progress
he has made.
Now i have to figure out a pool
where he can continue to get in
and work the rest of the year--
so he won't forget everything he has learned.
That alone made getting in worth it.

back to school bags

This is but a smattering

(smattering?)

maybe i should say small sampling.

Any way you say it

This ain't all the bags!

The nice thing was that I didn't have to carry a single one of them.

That's what i had kids along for.

I was busy carrying my purse

which held the wallet

to pay for all that stuff.

And if you have seen my purse

you know that is not an easy feat unto itself.

I just wouldn't have felt right

making my boys carry my purse.

It just didn't have that man-bag look.

They were good sports and even went into

Bath and Body Works

but i think they would have drawn the line at the purse.

I had to do somethings for myself,

and that was my contribution.

My reason for being along.

I think back to school shopping
is worse than Christmas shopping.
Years ago i was able to do it by myself
as my children really didn't have an opinion
as to what they liked and disliked.
As they have gotten older
and their opinions more pronounced
those simple days are long gone.

I don't mind shopping with my kids
in fact i enjoy the time with them.
It is everyone elses kids,
the strollers,
and children wandering around
not watching where they are going
that bug me.
I don't like crowds
and yet that is what you are dealing with
when you wait till the last week before school.

And we won't even discuss the tight isles.

Having to squeeze around the store fixtures

it is enough to give you

claustrophobia and anxiety

but i reserved the anxiety filled moments

for when i had to pay.

I have learned not to take everyone on the same day.
It is far too crazy to shop for boys and girls together.
Someone ends up losing out.
So instead i do two days--
one with the girls
and one with the boys
(minus the baby since he still doesn't have much of an opinion)
some of my children are easy to shop for
since they are in uniforms.
It doesn't make for a very fun trip for them
but new clothes are new clothes.

Some adults have said that they just send their kids with money
and let them pick everything out.
I prefer to see for myself
what is available to them in the fashion department.
I want to see if i know my kids
likes and dislikes
like i think i do.
I enjoy our time together.
Just hanging out.
I was not real impressed with the styles
of girls clothes this year

I found easier success with the boys.

I did have to bring them together for a trip to VAN'S
It was my greatest deal of the day
SIX, yes 6 pairs of shoes
1 backpack
1 wallet to match the backpack
1 pair of shorts
1 pair of pants
4 happy children(priceless)
grand total spent at Vans
$130.00

If only these new clothes washed themselves....

I guess each time i do the laundry

and pick up their (cute) shoes

it will give me a chance

to reflect on the memories we made while shopping together.

I am such a lucky mom!

HUGS and KISSES

Don't ya love a great big kiss?

In this case it was a Canadian Kiss.

While my children were in Canada they found their way to the Hershey Store

I can't blame them.
I mean really--
who can resist

a larger than life choclolate bar?

There were chocolate bars in the store that were the size of their heads.
When you have that much chocolate in your system you are bound to do things
that you would not normally do.
I guess in Canada public displays of affection are OK.
My conservative children even got in the act.
They were very involved with giving hugs
to a KISS.
I guess i can't be upset that they were involved with KISSES in Canada
I mean how cute is that

The other day she even gave me a hug and kiss in public.
It is amazing the emotions that come out
when you are buying stuff and spending money on them.
It took me by surprise but...
Atleast i know that she appreciated it.

Beautiful Birthday

For my daughters birthday
she wanted to take a group of friends up to Gisela

It kinda works into the last HOORAH of the summer.
I gave up going to lunch with my girlfriends
for this pleasure.
I was the driver and got to be the official photographer.
It was a fun time
but it makes me realize
that i am not as young as i used to be.

Last year i lost my cell phone while i was there.
this year i left it in the car.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Highlight of the day....
my dear sweet daughter--
thanked me for taking them.
"It was really fun mommy--
thanks for taking me and my friends"
that statement alone made missing lunch worth it.
i doubt there will be many more birthdays
that i will be so involved with
i am glad that i was there to document this one.

Gotta love and appreciate AZ
for the beauty that it does posses

Officially scarred

It's official.
She official.
At 11:20 this AM
my daughter officially became an adult.
Where have the last 18 years gone?
Light speed I say!
Or maybe it is warp speed?
What really is the difference?
Could someone please explain that to me?
Whatever the difference--
lets just say it went really
FAST!

For my daughters birthday
we spent the day talking her off the ledge.
Literally!!!
Most of the time you spend talking someone away from the edge--and yet here we were encouraging her to get near it.

(she is the stick person that kinda blends in with the rocks)
She spent many the minute at the edge--looking down.
willing her legs to take that final leap of faith.

I am not saying that she was lacking in faith but her physical fears were much stronger
Her friends

kept

telling her

"Every

one
is
doing
it"

and

for some

reason

that

statement

didn't seem

to help

But then again her friends were going
higher

and higher


and

falling


Farther..






and




Farther..










and





Farther..

and still emerged with a smile--
just to do it a few more times.

Let's face it.
I am glad to know
that she will not follow her friends off a cliff
just cuz "everyone" is doing it.

But i did want her to
face her fears
and be able to defeat them.


Instead
she opted
for a less
intimidating
lower ledge

to leap off of

and found great success in it--

somehow
it was
far less
intimidating
than the
cliff
that was
twice as high

Notice
where
she is at
in relation
to the rest
of the
crazy
teenagers?!
she also ventured off the rock slide.

while still high up
there is something about sliding
that just seems
safer
easier

You don't have to feel your legs shaking as you go off the edge.

She did attempt the higher ledge again
and her friends were patient with her
strangers were patient with her
all were giving her words of encouragement
willing to hold her hand
stand beside her.
Wanting her to succeed.
Wanting to cheer for her...
They were patient...
real patient....
as she would walk to the edge
stand for awhile
and then walk away
only to repeat this process in a few more minutes...
many more times.
After the passing of MUCH time

She finally did take that leap of faith

and is still alive to talk about it

The canyon erupted with loud cheers and clapping.
I am not sure if she will ever do it again.
But i am proud of her
Today and Everyday
But especially proud
for facing those fears
and overcoming them.

Onto the next challenge.....

picking a college
talk about scary

I need your wisdom

I need you my cyber friends.

Of any day to come out of the framework this is it.

It is dire--

{well not actually dire}

but it is important.!

Child #1

is turning 18.

I am having a hard time putting my head around that fact.

i swear it was only yesterday that i was bringing her home.

So sorry--

i kinda got lost down memory lane there for a moment.

This is what i need from you.

If this was your child

(we shall pretend this is, my oh so wise friends)

what word/s of advice

would you give this new adult.

What has helped shape you as an adult?

I figure it is never to late

to give advice

and maybe she will take it

if she knows it didn't come from me.

After all the advice i would give her

IS.......

Always take your mom's advice.

I think that about sums it up--

thanks for your support!

Time out doesn't work for teenagers

What was i saying
about being a bit sad about sending my kids off to school?
After today i am ready.!
Why is it sooooooo painful
and frustrating
trying to raise your teenager
to become a responsible adult?

Remember when time out used to work?
What is time out for an almost adult--
who is being rude and behaving poorly?
I am trying to help them in this transition to adulthood
I want my children to be independent--
and capable of making choices
and behaving in an adult manner.
They want the independence on one hand
and then in the next moment
they are wanting you to smooth everything out for them.
I want them to make their own choices--
I try to direct them--
give them encouragement--
use my life lesson wisdom
when i know they are floundering
and yet.......
the theme song for this time in my life is
HOLD ME CLOSE....
LET ME GO.!
and on those moments
i am more than willing.
Here's the door,
figure it out.
I have a feeling
that this is going to be a
LOOOOOOONG year.
Anyone know a good therapist?

Time flies-father in training

I am looking at this upcoming week and feeling

Overwhelmed

and a bit sad.

We only have this week to get life in order

before i send off my brood

to school.

My children have lamented.......

[and i have to concur]

Where has this summer gone?

We have some back to school shopping to do

Several doctors appointments

including an ortho appointment

to get braces on daughter #2.

We need to schedule senior pictures

and get my oldest certified to watch my youngest.

Now that she will be 18

her little brother will become her part time job.

It will be nice for her

to get paid for all the things she already does for him.

I must say though

all of my kids are amazing with their little brother

{he does try all of our patience at times}

but he is such a blessing to our family!

He is training my kids

to be good mothers and fathers in the future.

Just today i saw a glimpse of fatherhood

with my 11 year old.

We are lucky to sit in front of a family at church

that has twins

and they are willing to share their babies with us.

All of my kids love to hold these cuties.

It is a good thing there are two babies

since sharing is already an issue.

So today my pre teen,

goofy

(sometimes smelly)

boy

was holding the little baby girl.

She was standing on his lap

and they were making eye contact.

I was sitting next to him

so I was privy to the conversation that took place

it went something like this

"Averie, you are such a cutie

You look so pretty in your dress

Do you know what your dress says?

It says "Be Happy"

Are you happy Averie"

This conversation went on for several minutes

And of course the whole time Averie is giving him

her cute smile

and batting her eyes.

And my boy was lapping it up.

What a tender moment

to see that rough and tough exterior

peeled away

and to catch a glimpse

of the father he will someday be

Caring,

Loving,

Dotting.

In gives me hope

that he will turn out OK

That he will grow out of the silliness

that he sometimes possesses.

I know one thing fore sure

That as my oldest turns 18 this week

and becomes an "official" adult

time really does move fast

and before i know it

my goofy little boy

will be holding one of his own.

I can wait for that day--

We have a few milestones to cross off the list

before that happens.

But today...

He was a father in training.

The ODDS are against you

I know some amazing women who are not married.!?

I often sit in disbelief
WONDERING---
WHY?

I have received a new knowledge
and am seeing first hand
what my girls will be up against.

Upon returning from EFY
my children informed me
that in their group of 34 kids
10 were of the male persuasion
and the remaining 24 were girls.
Now for my daughter her odds were even less--
since one of those boys was her brother

EWWWEEE.

So for my son
the numbers worked in his favor,
but for my daughters
I am seeing that they will have their work cut out for them.

I hope that no matter what their future holds,
that they will continue to grow
and become amazing woman,
regardless of their situation.

I am thankful for those women that i know
that have set such a good example.
That have touched the lives of kids.
That continue to grow and improve themselves.

That are amazing.!
They are an example to me.

They inspire me to be better

It is something we all should be working at

regardless of the ODDS.