growing up.

Over the past few years, the "busy-ness" of life seems to have made time fly... and my kids grew up before my eyes. When I glance at them as we run out the door in the mornings I get stopped in my tracks ... they are growing up so quickly and are changing so fast.... and I think I'm so busy with the day to day grind of working and running a household that I often look forward to the day's end and crashing in bed rather than savoring these fleeting moments. I need to slow down...

Justin is 14 and is in the 8th grade. Last year he decided (on what seemed to be a whim to his mom) to run for student body president of his middle school. To my shock and amazement, he won! I love how he teaches me lessons of confidence and determination. He is a good student and a good leader. He loves playing basketball, texting, Facebook, and friends. He cares about other's feelings and tries to make those around him happy. 

Mitchel is 12 and is a 7th grader. He is adjusting to middle school and is a good student. He is my go-to chore boy as he is good with his hands and is a hard worker.  He had a little lawn mowing business over the summer and mowed about 4 lawns a week, earning some nice cash much to the jealousy of his siblings.  He is creative and also my inventor. This often leads to messes which can put his mom over the edge, but I trying to exercise patience as he creates and explodes things around the house. He loves basketball, music, the outdoors, and playing games. 

Ashley is 10 and is a 5th grader. She is a ray of sunshine and is always smiling. People are always communing on her "sweetness" and its true. She is as nice as they come. She is little miss creative and loves to draw and do anything involving arts and crafts. She loves Taylor Swift, dancing, clothes and friends. She giggles a lot and is constantly thinking of and doing nice things for other people. 

Coleman is 7 and is in the first grade. He is definitely the baby of the family and is perfecting his attention seeking behaviors. He is a good reader and loves his teacher at school. He is cheerful and is constantly making me laugh. He is more care-free than the other 3 combined. My other kids are perfectionists when it comes to school...not Coleman. He is known to say things like, "I'll just tell my teacher I'm gonna turn that homework in late. " or when we totally spaced studying for spelling one week, Coleman gets in the car after school and casually says, " oh man, I don't think I got a single word right!" The other kids would have been in tears and feared failure of the entire grade. He loves playing with Ashley, all electronic devices, and getting snacks from the gas station up the road. 

I have mentioned before my visions of motherhood stopped around Kindergarten. I knew how to parent those babies and toddlers. It was as natural to me as breathing. I am in a totally new world, but I find I am getting in a groove and am learning to love it. I see young moms with baby carriers and diaper bags and I am not one bit sad it is not me. I will always love holding my friend's newborns, but, I am so content with my 4 and the phase of life we are in. It's new and exciting and frightful all at the same time. I'm grateful for good kids who teach me so much each day. I love how they love me, are quick to forgive and quick to trust. I love that we are attending "real" basketball games, youth temple trips, late nights with friends, and that everyone can bathe themselves!  SO grateful for these wonderful kids and the opportunity I have to be their mom.