Rambling

It happens every time my kids have a birthday.  I reminisce about the time that they came into the world and changed my life.  I look back at my blog (well as far back as it goes anyway) and I miss that regular blogging.  The thing is, we did a lot more together stuff then.  They were home with me all day.  We had friends to hang out with at our beck-and-call.  There were fewer of us, so those play dates didn't amount to a dozen people in one house :).  Now, Brooklyn and Mason are gone as much as they are home, I feel like.  And, when they're home, I feel like I'm not here.  So, what is there to blog about?  Julianne and I playing Lego cops and robbers?  She and I watching a Disney movie (if I get to choose) and a Lego Star Wars movie (if she chooses)?  Yep. Those are the things we do.  But I don't generally take a picture.  If I do, it's on my phone and I still have a 'dumb' phone (a.k.a NOT a smart phone).  However, these are just all excuses.  I travel through each day doing much the same things over and over.  Some days I'm home with Julianne and she plays while I clean.  Some days I drop Julianne off at the babysitter and go to school for a day.  (Some days I enjoy that and some days not so much.)  Each day Brooklyn and Mason go off to school and become a little bigger and a little smarter.  Sometimes I remember to go meet the bus and sometimes I miss it entirely. 
Each day, Julianne does something that makes me laugh.  A week ago, she came in from outside (playing with the bigger kids) and said, "I have a new boyfriend, mom.  We just met".  I answered with, "Oh really?  What's his name?"  Her reply, "I don't know, we just met".  True to form while outside the next day, her new "boyfriend" came over (he's the older brother of one of the kids that plays with Brooklyn) and she immediately parked her bike and commenced following him around.  Of course it didn't last, but I got a good chuckle out of it.  She also frequently says something to the effect of, "Last night while I was prayering....".  Prayering.  Seriously.  The kid cracks me up. 
 I could also blog of our school growing pains.  Brooklyn struggled with this last move.  She hadn't really cared before.  Mason is testing the waters with things he learns from his friends (lying has been a fun game....).  A lot of the time, I don't know the right thing to say for them.  That scares me.  I know what I want for them.  I know what I expect of them.  But sometimes (most times), I don't know how to get that across to them.  Some days I feel like we're doing okay and some days I hope they don't have a traumatic childhood.  Plus, the school year is almost over!  Less than two weeks and Mason will be done with Kindergarten!  How is that possible? And Brooklyn is more than half-way done with her elementary school career.  When did they get so old?  But, I am so proud of them.  They have made significant progress in school.  They have made friends (even if it freaks me out that I don't know those friends or their parents).  And, they have loved (and fought with) each other.  Julianne starts asking at about 2:30 when the kids will be home (they get home at 4). Brooklyn and Mason come in the door and if they don't see her, ask where she is. 
Mason comes home and the first words out of his mouth generally consist of, "Hi mom.  Can I change my pants?" (I make him wear Levi's to school), "Can I have a snack? What's for dinner" all before he gets his backpack off.  It's endearing and frustrating all at the same time. 
Brooklyn will be 9 in a little more than a week.  NINE! I can't believe it.  Each milestone seems to be more significant than the last.  It's a little freaky how I see myself in her.  How I remember doing things that she does and being interested in things that catch her eye.  A couple weeks ago, I straightened her hair for church and looked in the mirror only to realize she really is a mini-me.  I've always known she is.  People have been saying it for 9 years, but to have it staring me in the face was something else entirely.  She is mine.  And I love her.  I love them all so much some days it overwhelms me.  I hope I can teach them to be good people.  I hope they learn how to make good decisions from me.  I hope I don't screw something up for them.  I hope they look back with fondness to their childhood.  Next week, as she turns nine, I hope that she remembers that she is special and that we love her.  More than we can ever express to her (them) that we do. Hopefully they just know.