Twas two weeks before Christmas....

The last two weeks have been jam packed with Christmas fun.  So jam packed in fact, that I've barely had a moment to pause! ;)    This little town of ours seems to be inundated with flu's, strep throat and colds right now, and luckily, I was able to avoid it all until the busy-ness was done.   As soon as our "break" started?  It hit.   So now I sit here, snuggled up in a blanket, box of Kleenex in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other - trying to document all the fun of the past to weeks!  

Our Christmas season officially began early in December with the CES choir concert.  This year THREE of my kids were able to be a part of this choir, and that is definitely a first for me.   I was thrilled to get to watch them all.  

  Abby is sad that this is her last year as a part of this choir.  Jessica LOVES performing and sings her heart out.  Sam was thrilled to get the opportunity to join this year, though he was admittedly VERY disappointed to discover (on concert night) that he would have to wear blush and lipstick for the performance.   The whole time he kept coming to me and saying, "Mom, I'm very uncomfortable with this."  ;)   Bless his heart though, he did great, make-up and and all!!!

That same week, we were lucky to enjoy a visit from John's two sisters.   Sarah travelled up for a few days, and Rach and her family have been in Alberta for a couple of weeks so that little Maddax could receive some innovative treatment/rehabilitation.    It was great to see them each for a few days.  We ate lots, laughed lots (huge thanks to Uncle Brent for the laughs;) and my kids loved being able to follow their cute little cousins around.    One afternoon, everyone embarked on a gingerbread house making challenge and I must say, I love the way John's family always thinks big.   Like, ALWAYS!!!  This simple little activity soon became an EXPLOSION of glue guns, crackers, ice cream cones, icing and more candy then you could ever imagine.   I felt sick after, and I just watched!!!! haha.

A couple of years ago (on a beautiful boxing day morning) I snapped this photo of the temple and it's been a favourite of mine ever since.   Two weeks ago, I posted it on my Facebook page.  It has been shared over 130 times and without even trying, I sold 22 prints over the past two weeks.   My niece told me that a guest speaker from Calgary came and spoke to her seminary class this week and apparently he was using this photo as part of his lesson!  The interest in this picture has been a fun and unsuspecting surprise, which I'm sure won't last much longer;) haha

We've also been enjoying our monthly tradition of candle light dinners each night.  I swear it helps slow down our dinner time and I keep hoping it will encourage/produce more thoughtful manners at the table?   (Though the verdict is admittedly still out on that;)    It's a childhood tradition that I hope the kids love as much as I do!!!

This photo depicts some of the other December highlights so far:  

1.  Sam, Jess and Nate joined Dad outside yesterday and went cross country skiing around the neighbourhood.  They were skiing on nothing but hardback, but that didn't dampen their spirits!   Even Nate got the hang of it.    2.  Speaking of Nate- he's turned into quite the little cook extraordinaire.  He's learned how to pop microwave popcorn himself and as a result, pretty much eats an entire bag in-between each and every meal.  It's sad, really.   A parent should intervene.   3.   We've been playing LOTS of fun Christmas games with the kids, and I'm pretty sure Family Game Night has to happen every night now!    4.  Some friends of ours gave us Hot Chocolate this year as a gift, and so I've got a fun little Hot Chocolate Nook going on.  It makes me happy, and the kids (yes even Nate!) love being able to make their own "cup of chocolate" anytime they want!    (Our little Elf even enjoys it;)   

Yesterday the kids spend all afternoon watching Studio C episodes and decorating gingerbread cookies.   Sigh...it was such a mess.   WHY does Christmas have to be so MESSY!!!!  ;)

On Friday night, we were tempted to do our regular "Family Movie Night," but decided to switch it up a little.   Inspired by Aunt Sarah (who spent an evening reading with Sam) we decided to have a Family Reading Night.   We all made a cup of hot chocolate, Nate popped popcorn (of course!) and we each grabbed a book.  Sometimes we read to each other, other times we read to ourselves.   It was so delightful!!!   Of course, everything is more enjoyable when done while sitting by a Christmas tree.

Christmas is just half a week away!!!    

Hope it is a MERRY one for everyone we love!!

"Oh Martha, ...Oh CHRISTMAS!!!"

Every year we set up the Christmas tree on November 11th.    (Unless we get a real tree and then we wait a couple of weeks but this year we didn't get a real tree, so November 11th it was, and now I'm just trying to make this the biggest run on sentence possible;)

The kids were SO stoked to get to use the Ridleys tree this year as ours is packed away.  (or perhaps we donated it to the Bargain Barn?)    

Abby made sure to crank up the Christmas tunes real loud, Nate had to get into his coziest jammies (in the middle of the afternoon;) and the kids all loved each other a little bit more the whole day long.   Setting up Christmas is seriously the happiest day in our home, in fact it can get downright cheezy!! 

I love getting the kids to bed and enjoying the soft glow of the Christmas lights with a snack that I've kept secret from them all day long good book and a blanket. 

  

I'm pretty sure that there is nothing better then this time of year!!

Now that Daddy's back!

It has been two weeks now since John's last volleyball tournament (which means I'm two weeks late with my journalling;) and we still get excited to wake up Saturday morning to the smell of one of Dad's breakfasts!!   The kids LOVE his hash browns and french toast and I just love that I can stay in bed a little later and smell it;)

Everyone is happier when Dad is around!!!

It was a good season though, and John had a lot of fun with his boys.   They improved so much throughout the season and I seriously feel as though John improved right along with them!   He always says he isn't a very experienced coach, but he's been doing this for six years now and he gets better and better each time.       To celebrate the end of a good season, we had his team over for a dinner (Cafe Rio) and a movie consisting of some of their highlights.   It was fun to see them interact with Joh and the kids were glad to get to be included.    

 Awesome group of Young Men right there, that's for sure!!!

Now that John is around a lot more, the kids have resumed their favourite winter pastime - 

Skating!!   

Not a single one of my kids are very accomplished skaters, but slowly (ever so slowly) they are improving.   We generally try to carve out time each weekend to get to the rink, but the kids would go every single day if we let them! 

Thoughts on Growing up...

My baby is 5.   Yes, that's right. 

 My baby.  FIVE!!

How did this happen?   Like, really, at what point did time start flying?  

One moment I was crying on a pew in sacrament meeting, juggling four kids under the each of 6, trying to remember my own name - LONGING for the day when my kids would be older, and the next moment - WHAM!!!   My baby is five.   

It's just not fair, that's all there is to it.   Nobody told me that I would look back and wish for those days back again.   Oh wait, yes they did, I just didn't believe them!! ;)

Well, I am here to say, it is all true!

On day you will look at your wee little babe and wish that he/she really was still your wee little babe.  You'll wish for the tantrums, the late nights, the feel sick cuddles, and the sticky fingers.  You'll want it all back, every last bit of it! 

Sigh...despite all of my recent pleading, this little guy is determined to grow up on me!

 He welcomed his 5th birthday wholeheartedly and made sure to tell everyone around him just what his expectations were for the day. 

(I tried to make our customary ghost cake with flaming eyes, but Nate didn't like the fire eyes, so out they came;)

John got home late late Saturday night, but Sunday was so busy with church stuff and attending Uncle Jordan's pornography seminar that we didn't actually get to celebrate John's birthday until Monday evening.    (Luckily, John handled it like a big boy;)  He sat all by himself at the table while we sang to him though, because all of the kids apparently had to act out the Happy Birthday song, they couldn't just sit there and sing to him.   haha.    

For the past few years, John has always gotten upset at me every time I say he's "almost forty." 

  I'm just really really thrilled that he is 39 and that now I really can say that this ol' man of mine is indeed - almost 40!!

Abby didn't celebrate a birthday this week or anything, but she did come home this week with a recipe from Home Ec class that she wanted to test out, which is a new milestone.  It was a recipe for baking powder biscuits and they were so delicious!  She made them from start to finish all by herself and she was proud as punch when we all ate them for dinner.   

She's really turning into a beautiful young woman and is so so helpful here at home.   She's cooking more and more meals and really has a love for baking.   

If there had to be a silver lining to watching my kids grow up, I'd say getting to enjoy fresh baked treats like this is one of them!!!

Halloween Highlights

Halloween made for a busy couple of days around here.   

John left Thursday night (Oct 30th) for a four day trip to a tournament in Edmonton so as a result - we postponed his birthday;)   Despite that though, there was still lots and lots to celebrate:

1.   Last Halloween with a Preschooler.    

Yup!  It seems this is the last time one of my kids will ever wear this delightful spidey hat home from school.     They've each had their turn with it, and they've all been equally adorable!  Nate almost broke my heart last Thursday afternoon when he clamored off the bus, proudly showing it off.   Sigh....it's almost enough to want another future preschooler!   ...but not quite;)

2. For Family Home Evening we did the annual pumpkin carving.  Each of the kids got to chose and design their own pumpkins, which turned out great! 

 (I watched from a distance as John got his hands dirty for this one.   Everything is easier when he is around;)   I loved sitting back and enjoying the glowing jack o'lanterns!

3. The kids all chose their own costumes this year (and paid for them themselves too;) so it should not have surprised me what they all ended up going as.   

Abby knew the moment she saw this bacon suit that this is what she wanted to be.    I'm pretty sure that Abby loves bacon so much that if she could marry it, she would.   She's been known to eat an entire pack on her own, she has bacon flavored bath soap, and throws "um...bacon..." into random conversations.   She's all kinds o' crazy, this one, and no other costume would have suited her as well.  

Sam went as Gandalf, which for him, was a dream come true!   He's only ever seen the first half hour of the first movie (right up to when Frodo leaves the shire;) but it was all Sam needed to be able to impersonate Gandalf to a tee!    Phrases such as, "You shall not pass!"  "A wizard is never late..."  and "Fool of a took!" were things we'd hear every time the costume was on.   

Jessica went as the cutest little Granny EVER!  Both at our ward party as well as the entire Halloween day - she managed to stay in character the whole time!   She walked to school shuffling her feet, doubled over with her cane;  when she had to write her spelling test instead of putting her name at the top - she wrote "old Granny;" and apparently she struggled during gym class because everyone else was running, and she just couldn't quite keep up!   haha

I LOVE this kid!!!

Nate's costume was a total copout this year, as it was the first thing he saw at Extra Foods and I didn't have the energy/ resistance/ backbone to refuse him.  Luckily, it was 40% off so that is how I justified it;)   He insisted on wearing the cheap plastic mask which sorta took away from the cuteness of the costume (in my opinion) but such is life.   This is a 5 year old who obviously got his way this halloween;)    

Because John was away, and because we'd cancelled his Birthday, the kids ate supper in about 2 minutes flat and were out the door!   It was a GORGEOUS evening especially considering it was the last day of October.    17 degrees, not a bit of wind...the kids were trick or treating without coats for most of the evening!     

They came home a couple of hours later, bags FULL of candy and halloween goodies.   As a kid, the best part of trick or treating for me was always when I got to take inventory afterwards, dumping it all out, sorting and arranging it all! 

 I'd have to say the best part about trick or treating for me now though,  is the hour after the kids go to bed when I get to snack on all my favorite treats- and they never have a clue;)

Best part about it - hands down!!!

Halloween Party

Abby came to me one day, in the middle of October and announced to me that she was "having a party" and needed to fill me in on the plans.    I had to admire her approach.  She didn't ask me IF she could have a party, yet came to me with a well thought out plan, making it virtually impossible for me to refuse.  I had to laugh as she opened up her journal to a page titled "The PLOT of my party" that consisted of every last detail.  Naturally, I changed a few of her details due to the fact that they were wildly unrealistic nor were they safe but for the most part, I chose to honor this little plan of hers.   

So, one week before Halloween, Abby had 15 friends from school over, costumes and all!

They spent the night: eating, decorating cookies, delivering the cookies/playing commando, eating some more, dancing, playing mafia and (once John came home that night from his tournament) they all climbed onto big school bus John had brought home for a late night tour of the town and screaming at the top of their lungs!    

Oh my it was loud.

I didn't actually realize how loud a group of girls like this could be!;)

Thankfully, John did make it home for the last bit of the party and managed to entertain them by spitting grapes high into the air and then catching them again.    In case you were wondering, the only thing worse than 15 screaming girls is 15 girls spitting grapes in the air and missing every one of them!  (Just kidding- there is nothing bad about 15 girls.  Honest!)

Abby had a great time with her friends and I enjoyed getting to know some of these kids she spends a large chunk of her days with.    

I may just let her do it again one day!

...maybe.

Thanksgiving and beyond

Thanksgiving weekend was a beautiful weekend.   It provided a few days reprieve from school, schedules, and volleyball, and gave us all some much needed time - together.   

We drove out to Waterton one evening with a crock pot of hot fajita casserole and our fishing rods.   

There is nothing I enjoy more than a warm meal while in the mountains, and this evening in the mountains was spectacular!  The trees were full of rich autumn leaves, the temperature was well above normal for this time of year, and wildlife was everywhere.   This Bighorn even tried to join us for dinner!!!

After we ate, we went down to driftwood bay so that Sam could fish.  Nate surprised us by learning how to cast all on his own.    John spent all summer fishing with Sam,  Nate must have decided it was time to join in the fun;)  I did what I always do when John fishes with the kids - took pictures.   (And a couple of them were were about as cooperative as always;)   It was a perfect evening!!

The rest of the weekend was spent working in the yard, both at our house and at Max's.  John helped Max shred and till the gardens.  I prepared the flower beds for winter and we mowed the lawn one.last.time, and by the time Monday came, when all of that work was done - we prepared a Turkey Dinner.   Yummm!!!   

It was sort of a team effort between Max and I, with him doing the Turkey and Stuffing, and me doing everything else.  (I'm no dummy, he cooks it best!:)   We invited a dear sweet couple from our ward to join us and the kids (primarily Jessica) worked hard to set the table and make everything as fancy as possible.   

 This past weekend the kids and I travelled to Medicine Hat to watch John's volleyball team compete in a tournament.    We were able to see two of his games on Friday night which they won!!  The kids had fun watching John coach, and I had fun trying to navigate my way around a city I've never been to before.  (I was being sarcastic with that last bit there.  I swear I got lost no less than fifty hundred times!;)     On Saturday morning, we checked out of the hotel, wished John luck with his second half of the tourney, and journeyed on to Rolling Hills where we were able to be a part of Chaim's baptism and my newest nephew's baby blessing!   Unfortunately, this was the ONLY photo that I bothered to take during that entire event!  

Well, that's not true ....I also got THIS one:

Sadly, neither picture really helps to document the awesomeness of this day.    I guess all I can do is try my best to describe it:    Chaim was excited to be getting baptized,  Remy was adorable, I enjoyed seeing all of my family, and my kids loved seeing all of their cousins!    Sam had been asked to give one of the talks, and despite the fact that he was super nervous about it, he did a GREAT job!   I was proud of him because he wrote it himself and despite my efforts to edit and revise it, he really tried to keep it his own.     Once the baptism was over, and we'd all stuffed ourselves with delicious food, we got to go walk through Crystal and Jeremy's absolutely beautiful new home!  It was absolutely stunning and we're looking forward to future family get togethers at their place.

We also spent hours the past week re-organizing our lego.  Sam has accumulated quite a large collection of it over the years, and we spent way too much time sorting it all into color coordinated compartments.    It was a big job, but it has done lots to re ignite their interest in it all.  They've been building things ever since!    I loved this temple that Jessica created the other day.  

She built it after we'd gotten home from a great weekend together and after we'd been with many of our loved ones.   Love the message behind it, and I LOVE that her little heart feels this way!

Family is what I am Thankful for, most of all!!!

Photos and then some...

Man, it's been a long while since I updated this little online journal of mine.   (For the record, my personal journal that sits by my bed has an inch of dust on it too;)   A lot has happened since the beginning of September, yet I actually can hardly remember any thing to share.   Weird.   

I'll do my best:

*  The kids have been in school for over a month already and it still seems like a new routine to me.   The kids seem to be experiencing a little bit of shock as well, gauging from the number of times they  hurriedly rush out the door each morning leaving agendas, lunches and school supplies behind;)  I keep telling them that if they forget their stuff, I will NOT bail them out and bring it to them, but gosh darn it, I always cave.  I'm such a softy;)

* Nate started preschool this year and attends twice a week and he LOVES it!   His good friend Gray is in his class and he gets snack time,  so really, precious little else matters.   He starts each day by crawling into my bed and cautiously asking, "Mom?  Is today a church day?  Or a school day?"   There is always a palpable tension in the air as he awaits my response.   Luckily, we have 4 other days of the week that are completely neutral to him;)   I'm enjoying having Nate at school as well, though I imagined myself being much more productive then I have been.   Don't tell John (because I desperately want him to think I'm "wonder woman") but more often than not, as soon as Nate goes to school I find myself sucked into aimlessly perusing facebook, or watching some lame movie on Netflix.)   It seriously makes me sad to think of all the time I've wasted, and I've determined that it is the result of having no sense of purpose.   Without my kids around, what is there to do?    

Sigh....I may have to consider getting myself a job of sorts;)    

*  John is in full Volleyball mode.   He has practices Monday-Thursday evenings and then attends tournaments most Friday and Saturdays.    And by "most" I mean that there are three weekends between September and mid November when he doesn't.   I use to think that should warrant a little sympathy for me, but sadly I've found that when I do start to whine about this - few people actually ever give a care! haha.    The season is going well though and he's learning lots about coaching in the process.  We're hoping for some wins!   

*  I've been kept busy the last little while taking pictures.   I've been approached by a couple families lately to take their family photos, and though it has been enjoyable, it definitely stresses me out.   It's a challenge to orchestrate groups of people and I'm always reminded in these moments of how little I actually know.   It's much much easier to stick to photographing inanimate objects.   Like Rocks...and trees;)      I've tried to gather a few photos during trips to Waterton as well.    Jessica and I drove out there last weekend for the Wildlife festival and had the most perfect day EVER!   We took pictures, painted with watercolors up by the hotel overlooking the park,  ate dinner together at sums, and attended a presentation on the cougar at Falls Theatre.  It was pretty glorious, and this little doll was such a fun buddy to have along!

*  This past Sunday I received a huge shock, when as soon as I walked in the church, my Bishop informed me that my brother in law Kendall had just been called to be a Bishop of another ward.   Well...let me correct that.  I wasn't "shocked' as in I wondered how that could happen, because really Kendall is one of the wisest and most thoughtful people I know, but I was just really really surprised.   

I was so surprised, it was all I could think about during my own Sunday meetings, and by the time Sunday school rolled around, I'd managed to connect with them to try and take a few family photos.   You know- to commemorate just one last Sunday TOGETHER!! haha.   

They are such a great family!

Well, that is pretty much it!  

There is an upcoming plebiscite in which all town members will be asked our opinion on four important questions pertaining to some town bylaws, one of which being whether or not we think Alcohol should be allowed to be sold within the town.   (Did you know that currently it can not be sold here?  Well, it can't.)    The debate and conversation around this plebiscite has been very charged, and at times quite rude and unproductive as both sides have tried to convince others of their view point.   Our little town has even made the news a couple of times!   John and I have generally stayed out of the conversation, though I find myself staying up way to late reading all of the nasty arguments that ensue on Facebook over this.   It's like a bad movie I can't seem to walk out of.   I'm glad the election is on Monday, because really, following the whole debate is going to lead me to drink if I'm not careful!!!   (disclaimer: just kidding.  It won't.  I was just attempting to be funny;)     I love this little town, and really I am hoping and praying that we'll all be able to focus on the wonderful things about it again sometime very soon.  

Okay, NOW that is pretty much it.

Let's hope it's not another 5 weeks before I update again.   

(Please don't be surprised though if it is;)

Happy October!!!

It's a Wrap! (End of Summer Recap)

Well, we managed to survive the week.  The first week of school!!!

The busyness actually began for John last week as he had to start showing up a few days before the students and volleyball tryouts began right around then too.   It was a sad couple of days for me as I realized the end of our summertime was drawing near.

The last couple of weeks were pretty superb for us as we tried to take in all the nearby favourite summer places.    The mini chuck wagon races...late afternoon stops at Dave's for fries or ice-cream...and lazy day walks down to the creek in search of snakes and fossils.   Sigh...excuse me while I reminisce for a while;)

One thing that I'm slightly disappointed about is that we only made it down to Glacier once in August.   ONCE!!!   Ive got a long list of hikes that I want to do in Glacier (Rainbow Falls, Garden Wall, and I've heard of a Chalet deep in Glacier that you have to hike into...) but this year, we settled for our much loved stroll to Lake Josephine for some fishing.   Of course the kids always have to stop at the "elephant tree" for some pictures;)    John hiked up with the dingy and the kids ventured out a little further then they have before, and Grandpa was the fisher of the day, catching more then anyone else did!!  

We did a lot of fishing this summer.   My favourite time fishing was when John and I were alone at Wall lake.   I've discovered though that I don't really care for it much when others are around.  Too many people to see me tangle up the line, I suppose;)   For that reason, when we go as a family, I'm usually perfectly happy to sit back and watch John coach the kids through it all.    ...usually;)

Another highlight this summer has been the gardens.   Our poor gardens definitely didn't receive the love and care that they normally would during a less hectic summer, but thanks to a wet spring and HOT summer - they have flourished nonetheless!  On this particular day we all went over and helped Grandpa with his beans.    Fresh Green Beans are the BEST!!!

At some point during the last week of summer, Jewel and Kendall slipped away for a weekend and her kids were able to come stay at our place.   These cousins get along so well and I rarely had to pay attention to any of them the whole weekend long!   We took them out to St.Mary's and Walley's Beach one afternoon and I'm glad we did.  For some reason, NOONE else was at either place and we had the entire beach to ourselves.   It was warm.  It was quiet.  It was so soothing!

Another thing we had to do one.last.time was steal out to Waterton for another attempt at fishing.  Sam has been determined to catch himself another whitefish, and we knew there likely wouldn't be another family trip out here until winter!   (Though, I'm already planning my own trip out as I type this.  It involves an afternoon of photographing fall leaves and lunch at the Prince of Whales!  It'll be so dreamy;)      ...ANYWAYS, we had a picnic supper, Sam serenaded us with his ukulele, and then I took the girls for ice-cream while Sam and John rowed far out onto Upper Waterton Lake to fish.   

At one point we could see them rowing right up to the edge of the lake, way far ahead of us, and it looked almost as though there was a bear walking along the shore right by them.   I pulled out my camera and zoomed in for a better look and sure enough, there was a bear eating along the shore, and Sam and John were just feet away from it watching.    I was so mad!!!!  Not so much because of the safety of it, but more because I was jealous that I wasn't in that boat!   That would have made for some great pictures!   At 8:00 we all made our way to the Falls Theatre for a presentation on flooding in waterton.    That may sound boring, but the presentations were definitely a highlight for the kids this year, and we tried to go to as many as we could.   

And what would summer be without Swimming lessons!!! 

Our pool renovations were completed by late spring, and for the first time ever we opted for a family pass.  I'm so glad we did, because these kids swam any time we didn't have something else going on.    They each passed their levels, but Sam and Abby were able to pass off two levels in one session because they flew through the curriculum so fast.   (And because their lifeguard/teacher was AWESOME!)   Abby was so proud to finish the week with a Level 7 badge and has her sights set on becoming a lifeguard herself in a few years.     Sam (as the picture may appear) fine tuned his "walking on water" technique, and also LOVED meeting up with his school friends each day at the pool.    Jessica of course has continued to love everything about the whole world, and swimming was no exception.  Nate however really surprised me.   Like, really!  For as long as this kid has existed he has never been a fan of pools.  ...or of getting wet in general.   This year he did a complete 180 and morphed into a complete and absolute FISH!!!  Though he is still nervous around the diving board, he no longer fears anything else.   Mission Accomplished!!!

This time of year is always a fun time as we get to turn our focus to our yard and gardens.  One evening, Max came over for dinner with a hundred pounds of apples in tow.  I'm not exaggerating either.   There were so.many.APPLES!!!   I knew I didn't have the time to process them in any way, but we couldn't let these delicious morsels go to waste, so we packed up 18 individual bags of apples and delivered them to friends and families that we know.   It was the most random night of deliveries ever, but the kids enjoyed it!!  haha

I snapped this photo on labor day morning as it marked the last laid back, lazy morning breakfast of the summer.    Sigh....we've sure had our fill of John's awesome cheesy hash browns!!!!    Bring on the cold cereal and hectic mornings.  haha

And finally, the only back to school photo I was able to get.    It's so telling of each of my kids' personalities I get a kick out of it every time I see it.  This is what happens every time I ask the kids to "smile" and I'm convinced that they have made a united pact together to never.ever look at the camera nicely;)    Abby however is just dripping with Junior High attitude and my thoughts and energy have shifted a lot as I begin to consider how I will possibly help her navigate through the next few years.   

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time, you know?  Just stop it in it's tracks.   

It would appear that things just keep marching on whether I want it to or not.   Summers come and go much too quickly now.  The kids are getting much too tall, much too fast.  I guess all I can really do is try my best to keep up!!!