Thirty Seven.

As we all know, I have a problem with aging. I am *sort-of* SAD to say that today I am thirty seven years old. What the ? How did it happen? Because I am no longer in my middle thirties, other things are happening. They are, in no particular order - 1. Eli is sixteen. 2. Emma is almost nine. 3. Tripp will be seven next week. 4. Dave's hip and jaw pop. 5. I wobble when I first walk in the morning. 6. It is harder to get out of the floor. 7. I fall asleep as soon as I sit still. Positive things are happening too - 1. I am comfortable with who I am. 2. I sometimes feel like an adult. 3. I am one step closer to being financially independant. :) 4. I got to spend one more year watching my kids grow. 5. I got to spend one more year married to the love of my life.

February is Gone?

Well, this month has passed by quickly. I didn't blog as much as I wanted. I am just busy.

We are in school, running wide open. Due to a lack of snow, we have not had any more snow days off. Lord, don't we need a break. I try to do housework on the weekends, but it is basketball season. So we have games on Saturday. And yesterday, along with that, was the father-daughter dance. Dave and Emma had a great time. I got to have a good date with Tripp, as well.

Eli's birthday is Tuesday. He will be sixteen. It is hard to believe I have been a mom for 16 years. Since he does not have his permit, he will not be getting a license any time soon. We are going to throw together a sleepover for him next weekend.

Year Six.

Emma,
It is hard to believe that seven years ago tomorrow, you were born. It just seems like yesterday that I found out that I was pregnant - that I was having a girl - that you would have your daddy's lips and your grandma's attitude. From the first day I saw you, I couldn't believe how sassy you were, how much you could cry in protest until I figured out what you wanted.

This year has been a year of change. I watched in awe as you shined during your "real" year of Kindergarten. I loved the way that you took care of Mallie at school. I thought it was so neat how you loved to do all of your homework, and you worked so hard to excel at everything that Mrs. Parsons threw at you. I was so proud to discover that you had a fourth grade reading level halfway into the year.

During year six, you have grown. You went from size 11 to size 1 in shoes. And boy, do you have alot of shoes. You also went from size 5 to 7 in clothes. Your hair has grown out. You no longer look so small or so young. I see you turning from my little girl to a young lady.

This year, I have watched the most miraculous transformation for our family ever. I watched you accept and love two sweet girls and call them "sister" without any hesitation. I love how you look up to them and how they care for you. I love how much you and your brothers have no bias toward anyone. I also love to watch how careful you are with Tripp as he started school and you moved up to first grade. Many times this year, I have sat at this computer doing my homework, and I listen as you read him a bedtime story. It makes me so happy to see how nurturing you are not only to Tripp, but to everyone else as well. I see that one day, you are going to be a loving, caring, detail oriented mother and wife.

I am amazed at how you love to learn. This past Sunday, during church services, I noticed that as you were writing the scriptures, you wanted to know what they meant. When I turned to Proverbs 31 and told you that we should all want to be like this, you nodded your head and took it in. While I am sad that another year has passed so quickly, I am so proud of how you are growing.

I love you,
Momma

Look at what happens when a boy crashes out.

After staying up ALL night, inhaling junk food,

and P A R T Y I N G all night long, Eli went down.

This was waaayyy after lunch.
Matthew gave him a stuffed pig to sleep with.

And shaving creamed his nose, for good measure.


Then, he got his toes painted a lovely shade of purple,

courtesy of Grandma.

Dad thought he would be great with a bucket on his head.

And lots of baby shampoo, too.

Grandma thought he would look better with a

custom Amish bonnet to adorn his head.

Matthew thought that he looked better with a few more pigs.

We woke him up, hoping he would cry. He didn't.

He went right back to sleep. All that for nothing.

Happy 13th Birthday, Eli. Sorry we enjoy torturing you..

But it is so much fun. You scream like a girl.

Love, Your Momma.

13!

My baby is 13 today.

I remember waiting all those months for him to be born. The anticipation of what he would look like, wondering if he will cry alot, and dreaming about how much fun it is going to be when I am a mommy. On the day he was born, it was a Wednesday morning at 8:27. The nurse handed this baby to me. I was his momma. He had little blonde hair. His ears were very tiny and so cute. He looked at me with those big blue eyes. He didn't cry. He just stared at me.

Happy Birthday Eli. I love you. What a blessing you are to me.