2.5 Years...Hmmm...

So, it seems that all of my family and friends have jumped back into updating their blogs, starting new blogs, etc.  Not sure that I'll become more consistent, but since my last posting was December 2008, I can AT LEAST post a little something to show we're still here 2.5 years later.  LOL!

It's amazing to me how much my kids continually grow - I've been thinking about that a lot lately.  And surprisingly, how much I have forgotten what it was like when they were tiny - babies and toddlers.  That makes me sad a little bit, until I realize how wonderful it is to have full relationships with growing kids - being able to communicate easily, share thoughts, connect, build memories, etc.  Families are a true blessing, and I'm grateful every single day for mine - we are a great team.  Carina will be starting her Senior year of high school in the Fall, and bringing Gabe along as a Freshman (scary times - am I really THAT old?  Ummm, don't answer that...).  Brittan will be in 7th grade, and Derek will be in 4th.  And the following Fall we'll have a college Freshman, a high school sophomore, an 8th grader, and a 5th grader.  We will have moved from having kids in three schools, to having kids in FOUR.  Makes me giggle.

One thing I love the most is how much our family laughs.  And usually over the most ridiculous things...inside jokes, something silly on YouTube, a funny commercial (our new favorite being the new Walmart commercial where the little girls are rubbing beauty cream all over their grandpa's head while he's sleeping), or funny voices each person seems to have adopted.  I hope that when my kids leave home, that one of the things they look back on and remember is that their mom was fun and that we laughed a lot, and that I was always available to talk.  I think that just about everyone needs to find more things to laugh and smile about, and we all need to make time to just let our kids talk and know we are there for them.  Every single day, one on one.  Those are by far my most favorite times with my kids.

My morning is passing me by, and I am in need of a jog, especially in this fabulous breeze.  I almost went yesterday, but my ipod wasn't charged.  How sad is that?  That it's impossible for me to run without music in my ears?  But it's true - it all of a sudden doesn't become enjoyable or refreshing, but a really hard job that I have to do.  Not worth it - definitely need the music.  Ha ha!