Teenager

The teenage years are upon us.  I am not sure when we got this old!  Seriously, I am not old enough to have a teenager or at least I do not feel old enough.  Time sure does fly when you are having fun!  I keep getting asked, in almost a hushed tone, how is it having a teenager?  Want to know how having a teenager is?  It is awesome!  I love the sense of humor that has developed over the years.  I love that we can talk about whatever is on our minds.  I love being Facebook friends and sitting next to each other having conversations on FB while we both are laughing.  I love that we can have a date night and not worry about the kid being home alone.  Most of all, I just love my kid!  I love all of them, but so far I am loving having a teenager. 

Happy December!

Happy December!  So far no snow, which is a big bummer.  Still it is December and it should be a really good month. 

My bff of over 20 years is visiting this weekend.  He's actually here for a NFL game with his son, but they are staying at our place so it counts as a visit.  Funny enough he and my sweet husband have never met!  We've been married almost 14 years and he's never met one of my best friends ever.  They've met now and get along fine, so life is good.

I am having surgery on my left foot in a couple weeks.  Doesn't seem like a "really good month" thing, but I am hoping it is.  If all goes as expected the surgery will greatly reduce, if not elimate, the constant pain I am having in that foot.  So a good thing. 

My sister is coming to visit!  She is coming out for a few days after I have surgery to help out with the kids.  I am so excited!  I love her lots and miss her.  The kids are all really excited to see her also.  She won't be here long, but I'll take anything I can get. 
Disney on Ice is this week.  I can't wait to go and share in the magic of the show with my kids.  It will be a great night spent together as a family.

Christmas is coming!  We'll be getting our Christmas tree this weekend.  I love watching the kids all fan out to find the perfect tree.  The discussions about which one is best and why.  The smell of the pine and just the beauty it brings to my home.  It will be fabulous.

I will be wrapping presents soon.  I love wrapping up the presents to put under the tree.  The excitement that comes with the unwrapping.  The tape, the bows, the tags, the paper are all just so much fun.  Yes, I did just say that tape was fun!

Christmas Eve is always spent at my mom and step-dad's house with the family.  We eat yummy food, we put up the nativity while my step-dad reads from the scriptures, we sing Christmas carols until we can't sing anymore.  I love Christmas Eve at my parents!  Then we will head home where the Christmas jammies will be opened.

Christmas is Christmas.  It is wonderful and magical.  Full of love and wonder.  The Spirit that surrounds it is amazing.

Last, but not least by any means, is Archer's birthday.  That boy will be a teenager!

So HAPPY DECEMBER!  It is going to be a really great month!  I hope yours is too.

That Dreaded Age

Archer is hitting that stage of life dreaded by all parents.....puberty.  He even referred to himself as a "tween" today.  I keep hearing that he is going to turn into a monster.  That he'll hit a complete 180 and stop being the sweet, caring, loving boy that he is.  Please say it isn't true!  Having been there, I know that puberty does mess a kid up to a point.  Major life changes always has an impact.  I just don't think that it has to completely change who a person is.  Fundamentally Archer has always been the same kid.  Since the day he was born he was that sweet, kind, lovable little boy who loves books and running.  I honestly don't know what I'd do if he lost that, even for a time. 

I talked to my mom about this the other day.  She is in the one I turn to whenever I'm just not sure, she is my rock.  She said that my siblings and I (all 7 of us) had our moments, but that none of us changed majorly from who we were before.  Hope!  I am going to cling to my mom's words, as they are not what I seem to hear from most everyone else. 

So here's to the next stage of life.  That dreaded age.  The tween/teenage years.  Honestly I'm looking forward to it.  I know that there will be those days where I'm not going to love it, but we'll get through it like we do everything else...together.