Today I am so excited I get to go see Caitlyn in her first play, Zink! She has been rehearsing and the show opened Friday and I have seen none of it! I feel very detached. In the past when the kids participated in something I was always there. I saw all the rehearsals and went to all the shows but the truth is that with a nursing little one and an active two year old it is very hard for me to attend all these things. Also the truth is that Caitlyn does not need me at everything anymore. She is fourteen years old, almost fifteen and she is branching out. This is great and I am proud of her. But I am very excited to go see her show!

I also just realized that this will be the very first time that I leave Willy. He will be eleven months in two days and I know that it is okay for these three hours it is still a little tough for me. He will be home with daddy and I am sure they will be just fine without me. The bitter-sweetness of the statement stings … yes I want him to be fine and happy with dad and I want to go enjoy the show but the idea that he is already growing up makes cry (tears of joy and sadness).

What I just realized as I type this is that I have the same struggles with my oldest and my youngest children today. They are both growing up! Darn it! Where does the time go? Can we pause? Rewind?

I am off to enjoy my children, hope you have a wonderful day!

Today I share with you the following email that has circulated many times, I am sure that you have all read it but it always makes me chuckle a little and warms my heart that indeed there are other people out there scurrying around trying to keep up with the daily life! Here is my disclaimer: I mean no unkindness to men, I know that there are families that share and that there are families that could reverse the mom/dad roles here. I did not write it. But I do know a LOT of moms that can relate to this bedtime routine!

WHY I LOVE MOM!
Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed”.
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer,  ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.
Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.
Dad called out, “I thought you were going to bed.”
“I’m on my way,” she said.
She put some water into the dog’s dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.  She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV’s, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. “I’m going to bed”
And he did. Without another thought.
Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer?
Cause they are made for the long haul (and they can’t die sooner, they still have things to do!!!!)

Hope your day is wonderful!

What were you doing five years ago? Five years just does not seem too long but as I looked back at picture it seems like a lifetime ago. Here is a look at life around my life, five years ago!

Dan was still a goofball! But he had a mustache!

While waiting for Caitlyn at dance class, we would entertain ourselves by posing for pictures!

We started homeschooling!

Ally lost her first tooth!

And we still had cute kitties!

A couple things that I noticed: I was the mom to only half the children than I am now. We lived in our old huge house which was always just one project after another. My big kids look so little. Memories are so great!

And that was just in January 2005! Stay tuned next month for another flashback!

A magical Wednesday to you!