School Days, Sad Days

I wasn't really emotional when Caleb started school, he was so ready to be there, or too sad when the others started as my hands were full with babies at home. However, this year was hard to see them off to school.

This was our busiest summer ever with four kids in activities and camps and vacations, I often felt like I was running ragged and thought occasionally of the quiet days when they would all be in school. I'll admit, I may have longed for those quiet school days. However, as time drew closer it started to hit me... I was going to have a high schooler and my lunch date and Starbucks buddy was going to be in Kindergarten.

As I drove Caleb home from High School orientation on Tuesday, I started to cry. It's all going too fast. Before I know it, he'll be gone. They'll all be gone. Suddenly, I wanted time to stand still, maybe even turn the clock back. Because Caleb is such a kind young man, he comforted me, which to be honest made me feel sadder. I wished he were still little and we were still crawling around on the floor of our apartment (on the lovely green shag carpet). Him having just learned how to crawl and wanting to race around the apartment chasing me or me chasing him. To be able to pick him up in my arms and snuggle him and his cute baby smell. There's not a chance I'd be able to pick up this football playing Freshman any more.

This made it so much harder to see Ethan off on the bus that day. He was so excited and ready and gave a quick wave and was gone. I managed to hold it together until I walked in the house and fell to the carpet and cried like the baby I wish they all were. Luckily I have Winston to lick away all my tears. So then I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. I had over eight hours until they would be home and I needed to fill every last minute of it.

I need to cherish more of every moment I can with these children, knowing that they'll be grown and gone before I know it. I'll hold them a little tighter. Listen more attentively to them telling me about their days. Soak up every minute I can with them. And hope and pray I've taught them what they REALLY need to know.


I was so emotional that I didn't get pictures of everyone before they left for school (doesn't help that Declan is gone by 6:45 and I drop Caleb off at seminary at 5:55am every morning and don't see him until football practice is over at 6pm - he's gone 12 hours a day - is that supposed to break me in for when he'll be off in college, because all it really does is make me want to vomit)



Madison arriving home from school.



My sweet little boy, Ethan arriving home from his very first day of school. He was tuckered out, but informed us that everything was "AWESOME" at school.

Celebrating Declan

Declan turned 12 in August on the same day that Grandma and Grandpa arrived in Wausau for a visit. Declan is a huge steak lover so we headed off to one of his favorite restaurants "Texas Roadhouse" to celebrate his big day.



Ethan may have celebrated a little too hard!

(don't worry, that's not Miller Lite that EB's drinking, but locally brewed Point Root Beer - one of Ethan's true loves in life)

Declan is an all-american boy who loves nothing more than a great big steak on his plate. He had a big smile on his face the entire time he worked on his New York Strip Steak of which he ate every bite. Don't be fooled by this kids size - he eats enough to feed five people with. A 16oz steak is merely a snack for this boy.

In addition to going out for Steak, Declan received some rather nice gits. A new iHome pad for his iPod, some cool new skull candy earphones for his iPod, the Discovery Channels Sharkweek DVD set (he is fascinated by this series and has gotten Ethan hooked on it too), some candy, and .... because he is an all-american boy - he wanted a new gun. He has a couple of actual guns, and an airsoft gun already, but he had his eye on a awesome new airsoft rifle that we ordered online.

He was ordained a Deacon at church the following Sunday and last week I was able to sit and watch Steve, Caleb and Declan pass the sacrament together. It was so special! I couldn't help but reminded of how it only seemed like a moment ago that we moved to Wausau (Declan was 3) and on our first Sunday in church, Declan was sat there winking at Holly and Heidi Beck (who were in College and High School at the time). He's such a player still!

Unfortunately, time flies. We realized that when Ethan turns 12 Caleb won't be able to pass the sacrament with his brothers and Dad because he'll be half way through his mission. Some days, I wish time would slow down just a little and I could have more time to cherish with these special kids.

In the meantime, Declan will keep us laughing, crying, loving, possibly threatening to kill him occasionally, but most of all cherishing the special young man he has become.