Thoughts on two kids in middle school

I don't spend a lot of time recording my thoughts here anymore... it's become more of a digital scrapbook of family vacations, and I'm still behind on those.

But this morning, I sent Gryffin off to a camp for 6th graders at his middle school. It's just a little morning event to help them feel more prepared before orientation and then the start back to school next week. And for such a small event, it's got me reeling with so many thoughts and bittersweet emotions:

Joy that both my kids (who are thick as thieves) will have this golden year together at the same school.

Excitement for their new adventure launching into a fresh school year.

Anxiety about how they'll fit in, and whether they'll have friends to sit with at the lunch table.

Melancholy that they're slipping through my fingers and growing up so dang fast.

I love having them all to myself over the summer, and all the fuzzy warm memories we create as a family when routine ends and we seek out new travel adventures (California and Colorado this year--my old home states), enjoy lazy mornings and lots of slumber parties in the living room, and learn incredible life skills (we worked this summer on scout merit badges... I think they're working toward a record in the number of merit badges earned over a summer--it's been a blast). That's pretty much summed up our summer.

It's been glorious soaking in this time together.

And it's hard to let that go.

It's hard to watch kids grow up, even as they get to be more and more fun with each stage and blossom into such incredible people who I'm so proud to call my children.

Because I feel like I'm in the thick of the golden years of my life, and I know these years are short. I love being their mom with all my heart. And yet my goal as their mom is to prepare them for life... which means working myself out of this job.

It's the hardest and most significant work I'll ever do, raising these two humans entrusted by Heaven to my care.

Here's to yet another step toward working myself out of my favorite job: Here's to the beginning of middle school.

Seaside with Neighbors

Our spring break tradition has been to head out on a trip with two neighbor families with kids around the same ages as ours. This time we all washed up on the beach in Seaside, FL and rented a cute little cottage in this adorable little town.

This was our cozy home for a week. (A link to where we stayed--Changes in Attitude Cottage--is HERE. Each cottage had its own cute name.)

 The kids drew numbers to see which parental units got the best room upstairs with its own balcony. Lorelei, who tends to always be lucky, chose the winning number for us. :)

 This was the balcony off our room. Gorgeous.

We cooked a lot of our own meals and each family was responsible for one dinner.

 And spent many late nights having deep discussions and playing games.

 I got to snuggle up these kids.

We did some ocean-themed face paints.

And the kids shared a bunk room that was supposed to look like this...

But generally looked like this. Tee hee.

We were less than a block away from the beach and spent most our lazy days there. 

I think we went through three of these rafts... even ordered a replacement on Amazon with same-day delivery.

 And these shovels we brought along were a huge hit, too.

 The grown-up gang.

 We'd break for lunches...

 And go straight back to the Gulf.

 One morning we took a bike tour of gorgeous Seaside. It was one of my favorite memories as we explored idyllic lanes rich in Southern charm.

 I was shopping and heard a friend I used to work with suddenly call my name! Small world. :)

 Seaside is where the Truman Show was filmed... you might recognize a few places from the movie...

Food trucks galore lined their big grassy town square. We never pass up crepes!

 More gorgeous views of the town... this is looking down from the beach toward our street... the roof of our house is on the left, peeking out behind that yellow house.

 Pensacola was our street.

 And just behind our cottage were little lanes connecting each block--a fun cut-through for exploring the huddled homes.

 Love the pastel colors--so beachy!

 The Truman house.

A very foggy day at the beach.

 Love him.

 The men.

 And the boy.

 The day we destroyed one raft.

 Toward the end of our trip, we took a few family photos near the gorgeous beach.

Most of the pics have Gryffin making this face.

 The gang, minus Gryffy.

 Kisses for Lorelei.

Captured a grin. And that's a wrap on Seaside Spring Break 2019.