Jess now officially turned 11. She nearly cried when we gave her a Nintento DS lite. She tends to become addicted to video games so she thought we'd never buy her one. Needless to say she was thrilled with the present. I didn't see her much on her birthday. She went to school, I picked her up and went to the park with the kids thinking that would be fun for a bit. She played her DS the whole time while Taylor and D.J. enjoyed the park. Then I brought her to the High School to wait for football practice to end so she could go to youth group with Dave. She brought a chocolate cake I made for her the night before and her friends brought her little presents. She came home just in time to go to bed for the night. I promised her a party though and we need to get on that. I lose all momentum after the birthday passes.
D.J. has transitioned into his new school year finally. He had his first panic attack this year when I walked him to class and he decided at the last minute that he didn't want to go. He said "Mom, I don't know what's wrong with me, I feel weird!" While he was crying and laying on the ground. After that day I came up with a new goodbye system. We give hugs and kisses in the car and then he gets out and blows me kisses. One day he said he would blow me 700! Once in a while he would ask me to walk him but I had to stay strong. All this last week I've only gotten maybe 5 kisses blown at me. He has worried about being on time so he doesn't miss PE and races down the sidewalk to class. I'm glad the emotional tug is over in the morning but maybe am a little sad that my last child has crossed this bridge to "big kid land". It really struck me hard this morning when he took communion in Church. He was sitting next to me and I was asking him questions to see if he understood. He seemed to have a good grasp on why we take communion. I flashed back to another blond haired child at that same age sitting next to me taking communion. Today that child was one over from me with red hair, braces, and high heels! Some days I feel so old! (and tired thinking back on all these years of parenting... there are so many left to go!)
Jessica is playing flag football now. She is the only girl on the team but really loves it. Taylor went on her first all day hike with girl scouts. I was so proud of her! The rest of us stayed home and slept in. (they hiked out here at the ranch) Nicole loves High School and is fitting in well. She's practicing with her drama class for Les Miserable, whew! Our kids are growing faster and faster every day! How is it that time flies by so quickly as you get older? If anyone has any theories or scientific evidence about this let me know!
