She is growing up

I know the girls are growing up but every once in awhile I am confronted face-to-face with how much they are growing.  Today was one of those days.

Today was the eight grade formal. The dance that we have talked about for three years.

Destiny was asked by six different boys and thankfully, she opted to just go to the dance and hang out with friends.  It made this Mama's heart breathe a little bit easier.

She has no idea how beautiful she is.  Part of her beauty is that she is unaware of how many heads that she turns.   In every day clothing she is beautiful, dressed up tonight with her hair and makeup done, in a gorgeous but appropriate dress, she was breathtaking.

She was nervous getting out of the car.  Very timid and unsure of herself.  I joked with her that if I looked like she did I would be strutting it for all it was worth.  

She had a wonderful time with her friends.  She slow danced once with a boy (the school obviously felt that more than one slow dance was too many) and spent the rest of the time dancing with friends.  

After the dance, she wanted to go to Steak and Shake with friends and wanted me to go with her to meet her friends mom.  Obviously. I was thrilled that she wasn't too cool to be seen with her mother.  She walked in and every boy's head swiveled, one boy even told her how much he liked her dress.  

She is growing up and there is nothing I can do about it.  

First Day of School

Usually, I am ready for school to begin. To pick out new pencils and pens, binders and notebooks, new outfits and shoes. To watch them get on the bus and come home excited about new friends and new teachers.

Not this year. This year I wanted to hold onto summer just a little longer. The girls have had such a great summer this year. The little girls ( I guess I can't call them that much longer because Abby is now 11) went to a new camp that they loved. Destiny had her first job and while she didn't love every moment of being a mother's helper, she grew so much and I think matured. All the girls went to horse camp courtesy their grandparents. They spent time at White Water with friends and with us, the girls and I went to Pennsylvania to Blue Mtn. "my favorite place ever," they often say. Late nights, swims in the pool, ice cream cones, hanging out with friends. It was a wonderful summer and I wasn't ready to let it go yet.

I was also sad because this summer has brought changes. Dear friends moved and while they haven't moved all that far away, they are not at our school any longer. Their two older girls are the same ages as my two younger girls and they have been in class together and played soccer together and we miss them so much. Never so much as this week when we realized that we wouldn't be seeing them at Sneak a Peek or on the bus :) Love you Spencers!

I also wanted to hang on to summer because my first baby was headed to middle school. It seems like just yesterday that I watched her climb on the bus for kindergarten and now she is headed to middle school. This is also Destiny's last year of middle school and my baby, baby is in 3rd grade. Seriously, when did all this happen?

Time waits for no man though and especially not me. The song "Times to Remember has been bouncing around in my head, "These are the times to remember, cause they will not last forever. These are the day's to hold onto and we won't altho we'll want to." And hold onto them I will. Look out 2011-2012 here we come.

The only pic of all three girls together. The older two hadn't done their hair yet and were not thrilled that I made them take the photo.

Maddie Grace. 3rd grade.

My Booda

Maddie and her good friend Logan

The bus my baby crawled onto. Not only would she not let me take her to school and walk her to class. She wouldn't even let me walk her up to the bus stop. I had to snap this pic from afar

Abby Elizabeth. First day of 6th grade

My beautiful girl

Abby and her friend Sam

Destiny -8th grade

So pretty!

A Georgia Snowman

Day two and we are still homebound from the snow here in Georgia. The sled got a hole in it yesterday from the multitude of children using it so today was all about just playing in the snow. Destiny fancied herself creative and built her first snowman.

Destiny and "her man" (he almost resembles Flat Stanley)

Happy 14th Birthday Destiny

Dear Destiny,

You are 14 years old today. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that this tiny 8 year old girl walked into our life and forever changed it. I know that things are not always easy for you and I know you think that we are hard on you (and we are) but what you may not know is how much we love you. We want the best for you, not just now but for the rest of your life.

This year was a pivotal one in your life. You found a sport that you love and that you excelled in, cross country. You may not know it but I cried as I watched you cross the finish line in 8th place in your very first race. The look on your face was priceless. You have been blessed with wonderful coaches who have really worked with you this season and have cared about your development as a runner and as a person. You finished 8th in the Cobb County Middle School Championships!!

You were also diagnosed with Type I diabetes this year. A simple Dr's visit turned into a three day hospital stay and a whole new way of life. Suprisingly enough, you have adjusted well. Within two days you were giving your own injections, sticking your finer, counting carbs and keeping your log. I know it hasn't been easy but you have handled it far better than I ever could have imagined.

You are growing into a beautiful young lady and it scares Uncle Bud and I. The young man from down the street, Duncan, is enamored with you and it's easy to see why. I don't think you have any idea how beautiful you are.

Thankfully you are still my jeans and t-shirt girl with no makeup. Not sure what we are going to do when all that changes. Maybe lock you in the closet for the next five years or so?

We celebrated your birthday at On the Border with the best friends that we have, the Hockman's, Eady's, Harris's, Drowns and Peterson's. You got embarrassed being the center of attention but at the same time loved every minute of it.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl. We love you.

New clothing

Jeff and Michelle

Tony and Tracy

Cortni and James

Abby, Savannah, and Destiny

Maddie Grace

Abby posing as usual

The Harris and Eady boys

Bob and Laurie

Your turquoise and brown cake

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you

They misunderstood and put 17 candles on your cake. Your not there quite yet!!

Loving the new family tradition of the birthday hat.

Cortni told you if you were going to wear the hat, you had to "own" the hat and wear it with style!

Top Ten

Tonight was the Cobb County Middle School Cross Country Championships.

She crossed the finish line in 9th place. A top ten finish for her first year in cross country. What a first season!

First Day of School

Like it or not, prepared or not, today was the first day of school. It's only August 5 for goodness sake. When I grew up the earliest I ever went back to school was September 5th. Here we are sending them back during the best swimming weather!

I only had to call them once this morning and they were up and dressed, brushing their hair and making themselves beautiful. We somehow managed to get ready and out the door on time.

Official first day of school group picture 2010-2011. Destiny 7th grade,

Abby 5th grade, and Maddie 2nd grade

Abby. My fashionista

Maddie, my sporty girl. GO JACKETS!!

Destiny, my "I don't have to leave for school for another hour and 15 minutes,

what am I doing out here,?" girl.

Abby in front of Ms. Stubbs, 2nd grade class. She was not nervous at all this year.

Abby told me I couldn't walk her to her class and she didn't even want to kiss me (but she did because I threatened to chase her down the hall if she didn't) so I snuck down the hall to just get a picture of her new classroom door and flag. Her friend's mom found me and took my camera to go in and get a pic of her in her new class. She said, "Isn't that my camera?" Is my mom out in the hall?" Wasn't it yesterday that my mom was embarassing me and now I am able to do the same for her.

School's out for summer!!!!

Our last week of school was so hectic and busy. It began with Maddie's first ever soccer tournament. Her team (Spain) played their hearts out. We played two games on Saturday and a game on Sunday. We lost our first game and won our 2nd game on Saturday and then lost our game on Sunday. Thankfully the girls had a great time playing and were not too disappointed that we didn't make it to the finals. Maddie played almost every moment of the last two games. She was exhausted.

Mid-way through the week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 4th grade award ceremony. Abby received an award for all "A" honor roll and her surprise award was that she got a perfect score on her Reading standardized testing for the state. She was one of only two perfect scores in her school. So proud of my girl!!

Abby and the best 4th grade teacher in the entire world.

This was the girl's on the 1st day of school for the 2009-2010 year

This was the girl's on the last day of school for the 2009-2010 year. They grew so much and look so much older. Sob

Every year on the last day of school I pick the girls up and then take them for ice cream. Here we are at Brewster's for our annual ice cream cone.

Sisters and Friends

I had a moment yesterday that took my breath away. We were at soccer practice and Maddie was taking a water break. All three girls were clustered around me talking at once with me and with each other. There was chaos and confusion and love and warmth. They were teasing each other and smiling and laughing and loving.

I think every parent has moments where they wonder if they are doing it right? Am I doing what is best for my kids or are they going to need years of therapy later? Some days I am convinced we should just set aside the therapy money now. But then in moments like today, I think we did something right. They genuinely love each other.

There are of course, those moments when I have to separate them before their words wound each other (thankfully, they rarely if ever get physical with each other). But for the most part, left to their own devices they play well together and laugh often. Maddie and Abby played in the pouring down rain last week, stomping through puddles and sliding in the mud. Destiny and Abby bond through the shared chore of the dreaded dishes and it does my heart good to hear encouraging words come out of their mouths toward each other. Maddie and Destiny share a room (well, sort of) and share the same messy tendencies and hear the same lectures from me on putting their things away.

It’s different for me because while I have stepbrothers and stepsisters, we didn’t grow up in the same house. I don’t always get people’s bonds with their siblings and the stuff that they are willing to put up with. The stories that my co-worker’s tell about their siblings and the relationships make me go, “Really?’ On the other hand, when I see a tight bond and an obvious love between siblings then I think “Ah, that’s what I want for my kids.” To consider each other as their own best friends, to know that there is always someone that is rooting for them, someone who has their back and loves them no matter what.