Time Flys

Okay . . .so where did the last year go??? For that matter where did the past 5 years go???? I already miss them. I miss the little girl who fought me "tooth and nail" when I wanted her to wear a certain outfit. Now, she tells me what to wear! I miss my little boy who had his fort under his loft bed surrounded by blanket walls doing his secret James Bond stuff with his walkie-talkies. Now, he is seriously thinking of college majors that will help him get into the CIA. He keeps telling me he only has four years of high school and then he needs his life planned out! Where did the time go . . . no I'm not losing my memory yet - it is just I cannot believe that these years have gone by so quickly. So to update you . . . Justin is 14 now, in the 8th grade, ASB President of his school, and has the lead in this year's musical "Bugsy". He is in the singing/performing/competition all men's group "Showmen" and the school's show/concert mixed choir, "Showcase" and takes voice lessons. He is in all honors classes, except one and getting all As and Bs. He is ice skating and hopes to join a hockey team soon! Keeps this chauffeur hopping. Andrea is 12 and in the 7th grade. She is extremely social - for you teachers out there - you know what that means! She loves, loves, loves, her friends and talking to them. She finally has become the fashionista, however a fickle one. I can attest to that each time I look in her closet and see clothes she has had for months - still with tags on them. She has discovered "favorite stores"- and it is not Target. Most of her favs are at the mall. She is a good student and loves school. She, too takes voice lessons, and is in the show/concert choir. She loves that her brother is the school President - she claims it has made her very popular this year!She has done a little "mommy assisting babysitting" and plans to do more - which will come in handy as her fashion shopping becomes increasingly more expensive! They still fight, love and can't stand live without each other. Everyone says this is normal! Next time I will include pics! I promise!

Five Months and Four Colds Later . . .

How can five months go so fast???  The summer flew by with a fabulous trip to Cancun in June, friends visiting from Colorado in July, and August in San Diego.  School came quicker than I could believe, but they were both ready for it.

This year Andrea started middle school and attends the same one Justin goes to.  She is also my little spy as my very handsome 7th grade son is quite the thing with the girls.  Now, all you men out there are thinking "Go, Justin!", while all the moms are thinking "Whoa, Justin!".  So like I said Andrea keeps track of things for me!!!   Anyway they both love school, their classes and teachers!

They are both in musical performing groups at school. Justin's group is the "Show Men" and Andrea is part of the girls group called "Show Time".  These groups take this singing and dancing very seriously and the groups compete all over the state.  They will be performing at Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, just to name a few of their performance venues.  So . . .this momma is off to dance lessons and singing lessons three afternoons after school, running to the dance store for jazz shoes, tap shoes, ballet schoes and who knew there are even shoes called character shoes -then on to trying on costumes, etc., etc., etc.  Whew . . . oh yeah and then there is homework. Justin is in all honors classes and Andrea is taking 7 periods of academics this year, and those teachers love to pile on the work, so we are not having regular bedtimes, which is why we probably all have colds!!!!!

More later . . .when we get over the sniffles!

More Than Blessed

This morning as we pulled out of our driveway to go to school and work I looked back at our house.  I made the comment that we are blessed.  Justin retorted with "Mom we are more than blessed!  I can't think of the word for it - but we are!"
It made me think of all that we have - not just materially - that being the least of all! 
Justin is right - We are more than blessed!!

Loves It!

Justin loves going to Middle School - maybe a little too much!   He's telling me about all of the cute girls that are helping him with his locker, hmmmmm . . .This mom is definitely not ready for this! 
Honestly, he loves going from class to class, he was placed in the "Fast Pace" classes - which means he will be super busy with school work and really be challenged (Yahoo!), and next year Andrea will join him there! 
This could be a good thing - as they love to "tell" on each other- so I'll always know what they are doing!!!!

TODAY . . .

Today my Justin became a Middle Schooler . . .
Today Justin transitioned from the K-6 Elementary School to what use to be Jr. High . .
Today Justin got not one, but two lockers for the first time . . .
Today Justin dressed out for PE for the first time . . .
Today Justin goes to 6 different teachers for six different subjects . . .
Today was a tough day for his mom . .  and dad . . .
Today I saw lots of kids that MUST be tons older than my little boy . . .
Today I was not ready to see my little boy go off with an eighth grader to get the tour . .
Today I will pick him up this afternoon and pray that he had a great first day!

7 - 11 or Happy Birthday, Andrea!

No, not the name of the local convenience store, but the time span in which we have had Andrea. 

She came to us as a little 7 year old just beginning 2nd grade, wearing bows in her hair, still playing with dolls, coloring in coloring books, and watching Vegi-Tales! 

As of yesterday she is now 11 years old.  Gone are the days of hair bows, instead we went to beauty shop and had her hair straightened, her favorite toy is her IPod Touch, and her coloring books have been replaced by beautifully written-in journals and well . . .Vegi Tales DVDs have been replaced with movies such as Courageous and Joyful Noise. 

Yes, my baby girl is growing into quite a young woman -  just 4'2" when she came to us - she measured in last week at the Dr. office at 4'11and 3/4" - just a smidge under 5' tall! 

She is beautiful, articulate, compassionate, and has a real servant's heart!  (Last night, at her birthday party, she was feeding my little developmentally disabled brother ice cream cake, so that he didn't miss out on the dessert!)

It is a joy and a challenge everyday to see her grow up so quickly!  My only regret is that we did not get her sooner! Happy Birthday, Cupcake , , ,Sweet Pea . . .Cutie Pie . . . and all those other names you still let me call you!!!!

What A Kid!!!

Justin went to school today with a note for his new principal.  Not from me . . .  He started the school down the street from our house and although I know he is looking for new friends and ways to fit in at his new school - I don't think this letter to the principal was one of them.  It is just Justin's heart!
He proposed that the whole school begin collecting the pink Yoplait lids to send in for donations to Susan G. Komen Research!  He offered to pay for the flyers (of course we will do them in our office), to collect, count, and send in the lids, and lastly to give the class who collects the most lids an ice cream party - out of his own money!  He mentioned in his note that this would show how much the kids care about important causes and would also show what a great school and community it is!
I'll be anxious to hear the principal's response!
What a KID! And he's mine!