Getting Older

I turned 34 on Monday.  It didn't bother me much except when Atley reminded me that I was now older than Jesus, or when I read an article about a recently conducted survey stating that 33 is the age when people are the most happy.  I wish someone would have shared that piece of information sooner maybe I would have tried to enjoy it a little more.

The boys were constantly making me something for my birthday, another card, another drawing, carrot cake,

 a fleet of Lego Chickens that are now perched in my kitchen window,

or modern art as Atley termed his gift when I asked him what it was! 

 Each new gift brought with it another mess for me to clean up but I didn't mind, their hearts were in the right place. The truth is my age doesn't grade on me, I still feel like a teenager although the tell tale wrinkles beginning to appear near my eyes or the grey hair that I religiously dye might speak something differently. What has me a little depressed is my kid's getting older.

Atley will be 8 years old in 3 weeks and Harley Belle will be 2 in two days. Nash just went to kindergarten orientation and I thought I might have a panic attack just thinking of him leaving the nest for 7 hours a day this fall. I want to keep each of them in the safe little cocoon that is our home, but they don't seem to like that idea as much as I do. 

Shortly after kindergarten orientation Nash got sick. I had to take him to the doctor which he fears more than anything.  I promised him he could buy anything he wanted at the grocery store next door if he was brave at the doctor.  I wouldn't exactly call him brave but he didn't run out of the room screaming.  Not feeling well, he was still excited to be pushing the little green shopping cart through the aisles of the grocery store.  Harley and I kept a safe distance while he filled up his cart with his favorite treats, donuts, lunchables, milk, and Nesquick.  The best part was hearing him sing at the top of his lungs as he trudged his little cart up and down the aisles. He was belting Taylor Swift the whole time:

Drop everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain (he actually says boring lame instead of pouring rain)

Kiss me on the sidewalk

Take away the pain

I see sparks fly

Whenever you smile!!

People were cracking up all around us. He was completely oblivious.  He just kept singing along, happy to be him and I was so happy he was mine.

My kids are each uniquely special to me.  Atley is a skinny bundle of nervous energy too smart for his own good.   Nash is my cuddly, husky, sly sweet talker, with an east coast accent that will melt your heart. Harley Belle knows she is the princess. She is sassy, tough, and full of personality.  They are each optimisitc about life and the world around them. I want to be able to protect them so that they can forever have that youthful optimism.  I love them all so much and am so lucky that they call me mom!