When Your Babies Are Growing Up Too Fast

In less than 24 hours my baby will turn 8 years old. I am not sure why it sounds so old to me but I really feel like it is all happening so fast. She has changed so much in the last year and seems so much more grown up this year than last. I still call her Little One though and I am guessing I will when she is 20, but she just isn't so little anymore. This year she started soccer, has scored a goal and is this fastest one on her team. She is in the Third Grade Honor Chorus at her school, is taking a beginning music class at school and came in 17th place out of about 65 kids ages 1-12 at the annual Megan's Wings Run last Saturday. She calls people on the phone, can do most of her homework by herself and is getting good grades. She likes to cook, play with the dogs, draw and try everything, but she still holds my hand when we walk to school and sits on my lap.
My big baby has really changed this year too and is now 11 1/2 and beautiful. She tried out for the volleyball team this week at her middle school and had her first heartbreaking disappointment when she didn't make it. She started gymnastics last month and has been making all sorts of new friends. She keeps her room clean! She just seems so much more mature this year than last year and is working harder this year at school than ever before. I'm actually very proud of her and believe that she is growing into a wonderful young lady but I miss her needing me. It is such a fine balancing act that you have to do as a parent. You want them to be independent and confident but still protect them. You want them to be able to handle things on their own and are proud of them when they do but a little disappointed that you're not quite as important anymore. Oh well. Tomorrow is Heather's birthday and Cheyanne's will come up before I know it. My babies are growing up.

Fantastic Weekend!

Writewood from top of Park Ave.

This morning's sunrise

Things have been pretty busy here over the last month and Todd and I hadn't had to much time to ourselves until this weekend. Both of the girls had plans for the weekend Cheyanne went to Encinittas with her BFF Collette and Heather spent the weekend at Grandma & Papa's. Todd and I had a blast just getting to hang out together. Saturday we spent the day with our friends Harold and Laura and then went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner (yummy!). Then we came home and just sat out on the porch talking and listening to some old tunes. Sunday we woke up early and headed up to Writewood (only a 15 min. drive :)) and hit the shops, walked around, looked at the scenery and had a nice lunch. We came home and had a nice romantic walk up our dirt road picking up the big rocks that got uncovered by our last rain and getting them out of the road, then we BBQ's and played a few rounds of darts until about 11:30 and then hit the sack. I know it doesn't seem like to much of a weekend but between Todd's softball practice, band practice, Cheyanne's gymnastics, Heather's soccer practice and games, me going to the ranch and homework, housework, school and work it felt wonderful to just hang out with my BFF. Love you baby- had a great time.