A Rare Moment

Saturday was a rare moment for me....actually ended up, somehow, with all three of my babies in the van with me to go out shopping for clothes. Sounds silly for me to think this so awesome but I haven't had everyone in the car with me in a while and in the old days, me and my three kiddos were always hanging together, homeschooling, field trips, shopping, out to lunch, etc, while dad was at work. It was an every day thing for years and years....after Grant graduated last year, I think we have all been in the car together ONCE! Then there was yesterday....I'm sentimental...but other than the debates Grant loves to have about politics and religion, it was so fun. Felt like old times hanging with my kiddos, driving around running errands. Got everyone clothes for this coming weekend for Ashley's graduation and open house. Feeling very sentimental about that too....can't believe how fast I have two of my babies grown up and out! Way too fast.....

Write about the Peaceful Times Too

Just to be fair, I thought I'd actually pop on when the aliens let my kids come and visit. You know, I shouldn't always write about the horrible parts of raising teens. Sometimes there are good times still, like the old days.

Grant calls me last night and says to scratch his old plan of not returning to school this fall (which had soooo disappointed us - nothing good ever comes of taking time off from college, not in my opinion anyway). Now he's going to go ahead and keep going. Yeah!

You know, you can't make these kids do anything. You can tell them to please learn from your 40 years of wisdom. They want to figure things out themselves. And I get that, I do. I remember wanting to make my own way. I mean, I completly left the state at 18 years old and moved myself to Colorado. Loved being on my own in my OWN town. Loved buying my car byself and getting myself a job and paying my own bills. I get it. But it sure would be nice if they did listen a bit. Well, maybe he did since he's going to keep going.

Ashley is mellowing with graduation nearing. I remember getting nuts as it came around. It made me stressed out. Ashley seems to be taking it all in stride. That makes things a lot easier on mom, for sure! She layed down in bed with me this past week too...hadn't done that in months...was very nice....short cuddle. So sad those are pretty much gone but I understand they have to be. She's pretty much a grown up after all as is Grant. Just sad they're gone.

Blake has stepped back in to the public schools and tested beyond his grade after a year back home. Perfect! yeah! He had dropped considerably after two years at public school (6th and 7th) compared to his first six years of schooling at home. That's why we pulled him to get him back on track and he is. Tested post high school in vocabulary and comprehension, 10th grade in language arts, ready for 9th in math even when there was still six weeks of school left. I feel very good about having pulled him and gotten him back on track. At the end of 7th they were going to hold him back!

Well, anyway, thought I should post good news too!

More Prom Pics

PROM 2009
Grand Ledge High School

Tonight both Grand and Ashley went to the Grand Ledge prom. Ashley took her boyfriend of four months and Grant took his girlfriend who is still in high school.



We followed them around tonight to meet friends and take pics. I'm so glad they got to go to one prom together. Loved the photo op of them together. Here are a few pics.

A blast from the past....found an old poem I wrote for my son Grant just before he turned 10. It is published on another site I used to write for way back in 2000. And now he is 18 years old!!! This brought tears to my eyes....
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Poem for my Firstborn on the ache of his growing up

Jul 09 '00



I decided that I would like to share with you a special poem that I wrote for my first born child, a son. He is soon to be 10 years old and I just can not figure out where the years went. It was just yesterday that I nursed him at my breast and kissed his baby sweet belly while counting his chubby toes. Now, he is running off to be with his friends, playing big boy sports, and hunting with his dad. He still will cuddle with me on occaision but these times are begining to get farther and farther between. It really breaks my heart. I know I have raised a very happy and confident son and his moving away from me and into the world is the right thing but it still hurts, as I am sure all of you who have gone through this know. Here is the poem that I wrote for him a few months ago.

Swaying back and forth
Me and my baby
Hugging and holding my firstborn
Under my heart
Remembering
When you were inside
Under my heart
And I was swaying back and forth
Dreaming of you
And what you would be
Now here you stand
Getting so tall and grown up
No longer my baby
Now my little man
And I ask you
If you remember
Remember the way I would sway with you
Before you were born
And when you were a baby
And you say "Yes"
You remember
You say "This feels real mom"
And my heart melts feeling you sway with me
Back and forth
Under my heart
Then you look up at me and smile
"Love you mom" you say
Then your gone
Down the road with your friends
And I stand there watching you
As I sway back and forth
Empty arms knowing how few times are left
To hold you under my heart
Swaying back and forth

The time really is short. My mother tried to tell me this and I didn't believe her when I had a screaming two year old and newborn. Now they are almost 10 and almost 9 and I long for the two sweet babies to hug and hold. I had a third baby much later and his time flew even faster. I hardly remember his babyhood at all. It went so fast. So cherish the days that you have, even when you feel you are at your wits end. It is all over very quickly and you too will find yourself swaying back and forth with empty arms.