Moving Ahead

It was with delight I wrote down today's date in my journal:  August 31st is one of my favorite days because it's the last day of August.  Here in Texas August is never fun, but this year we've set record temps nearly every single day.  It won't actually be any cooler tomorrow on September 1, but there's hope that fall is coming, and that's enough for me.  

It was also Caiden's birthday yesterday, and I've been dreading it the entire month.  He turned 10, and it's a milestone for us, being our oldest child.  I'm not really looking forward to my kids growing up!  I love them the way they are, and although logically I realize I might feel differently another decade from now, right now I can't fathom it.  

He wasn't sad at all, and we celebrated with great fanfare:  morning birthday party with smoothies, muffins, and all his gifts.  In late afternoon my husband picked us up and took us out for a Fancy Fondue Dinner.  The kids were in heaven--cheese, meat, and chocolate in an abundance!  We went around the table to talk about Caiden's gifts, strengths, and just what we plain love about him.  It was a long, fun dinner, and we came home to set up the tent we got him.  All three slept in it and, unlike true camping, actually slept in past normal!

(At dinner)

While my husband set up the tent, one of our dogs chased a skunk and got sprayed, so we sent him outside to stay until the smell fades, and then I realized water had leaked inside the boys' bedroom into their window seat.  I stayed up til nearly midnight washing wet dress-up clothes and sleeping bags, bleaching the window seat, and pulling up carpet.  I went to bed so tired that I didn't even have time to be sad that my firstborn had turned 10!

So today we're moving on.  He's fully 10, and happy to be so, and I can't really be sad that he's growing up since he's such a terrific young man!  Well, a little sad.

August 2011