Graduation (aka "Bring the Kleenex")

Today our youngest graduates from senior kindergarten.  For the past couple of weeks I have been coming to terms with a)my last child is growing up and b)my last child is growing up.  Lots of tears over this.  As he grows up, it cements the fact that the child bearing years of my life are officially done.  There will not be any more babies in the house.  Of course, we did decide this 6 years ago after Ben was born.  But now it seems so...final.  I am in fact, aging.  I didn't want to admit it.  My husband struggled with turning 40 last year but I happily did not.  40 was fabulous!  41 however, is a different story. I am now officially launched into my forties...not just at the edge of them!  I asked my kids yesterday if they would consider staying the age they are - not growing up.  They both agreed that that was not possible - they are in fact growing up.  So I felt it necessary to remind my daughter that she wasn't allowed to date until she is 30!  Keep on laughing!  

Dinner with the Ladies

Our annual ladies dinner - what a great night!  The women in my family are truly amazing.  We are a pillar of strength - and we lean on each other.  Really.  This isn't just lip service.  I am in awe when we are together - we laugh, sometimes we cry, we hug alot and we listen.  We share ideas.  We talk.  We love each other.  Thank you to all you wonderful ladies - I love you all.

An Ahh-Haa Moment

I met a friend yesterday for coffee.  It was your typical coffee chit-chat - until my friend was talking about a great book she had read.  It was a parenting book and she told me that she doesn't talk about this one to too many mommies as it is a bit "heavy".  One of the main ideas that she took away from this book is to live in the moment.  You know how we all are so busy in our lives, and we are living in the next moment instead of enjoying this one that were currently in?  That is why we are so surprised when all of a sudden our children are 1, then 10, then bam-o, they are adults with their own lives, children, spouses, houses.  How does this happen?  Live in the moment.  Love in the moment.  Laugh in the moment.  Cry in the moment.  Ahh-haa.  That was a moment for me.

This morning while walking the kids to school, I practised not looking ahead to the next thing on my to-do list.  I held my son's hand and really felt it.  Warm, strong, small - wonderful.  I am wonder-filled.

Here I Am!

I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile now...I imagine that I will be great at it.  That my stories will make people laugh or cry - but really, I'm blogging for me.  Daily events that I would like to record, maybe someone will read them or maybe not.  Maybe I'll have an "ah-hahh" moment - like the ones  Oprah is always talking about.  This is going to be great!  Welcome to Adventure Mommy!