Milestones

I'm learning quickly that milestone moments in your children's lives as they grow older can make your heart swell with pride and skip a beat as well as make your eyes leak! These moments are so different from their earlier milestones of rolling over, learning to walk and losing their first tooth. While those earlier milestones were just as joyous as these recent ones, somehow they were different.  They weren't quite as heart stopping.

In the span of the last two weeks, Ace and I have had a few of these heart stopping, eye leaking milestone moments with our boys.  The first was Carter living out every little boy's dream of hitting an over the fence homerun.  Holy Moly, what a moment!  I have always vowed not to be "that mom". You know, the one who jumps up and down and screams hysterically at sporting events.  Ummm...I may have failed miserably and become "that mom" jumping up and down screaming behind the fence at home plate as Carter made his way around the bases with his mile-wide grin.  I guess that's a mother's prerogative! Now Carter gets to have his homeroom on replay in his head anytime he wants. 

This past weekend was Austin's turn for milestone moments. On Friday, he spiffed himself up and drove to his final 8th grade dance. He's definitely counting down the days to the end of his middle school career.  Me, not so much. High school hardly seems possible. My leaky eyes caught me by surprise as I was driving home and thinking about the reality of the situation.  Time with your kids really does fly by.

On Sunday, Austin felt the love of 22 family members as he was confirmed at church. What a blessing to experience him taking that step in confirming his faith. Watching him take communion for the first time was just a little bit surreal. My mama heart sure is full these days.  If time would just slow down a bit, I might be able to handle it a bit better. 

Thankfully Ace and I are surrounded by some pretty amazing, if not crazy, family and friends as we move along in this parenting journey with our children!

A month to celebrate

I'm not celebrating the weather this month, that's for sure! It has wreaked havoc on many things, Carter's family birthday celebration that never was, being one of them. However, it is a month of family birthdays which makes for some special times in February.

My brother and Carter got to celebrate early in the month. Aaron and dad get to celebrate towards the end of the month. Nephew Braden gets to kick off March 1 celebrating his special day.  WOWZA...that's a lot of birthdays in a short amount of time!  

Aaron decided to pick out his own gift this year, which was just fine by me!  He decided we were all going to Blue Man Group on his actual birthday.  I must say, he picked out a great gift for himself.  We had a terrific time and each of us thought the show ended way too soon!

Thanks Ace for treating us all to a fun night of celebrating YOU!

Heart Palpitations

Ace and I just came home from a parent meeting for high school registration. H.I.G.H. S.C.H.O.O.L. Oh my heavens!  We were treated to a panel of nearly everyone they thought it necessary to hear from: counselors, reps from each academic department, plus reps from each elective area, and of course the principal.  However, one key group was missing.

The paramedics.

Yes.  The paramedics.  I was nearly in need of them tonight. I have walked into the high school plenty of times during the last couple of years as part of my job in the district. Silly me has always been focused on my job while I was there and it's never really hit me like it did tonight that all too soon my son will be in high school. Other people's children grow up...not mine.

My heart started beating quickly enough when the whole program started and it dawned on me that in a few short months, Ace and I will have a high school student. It was crazy enough trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this was actually happening and then one of the counselors had the nerve to talk about college requirements. Aye aye aye! If ever there was a need for a quick medical visit, that was it!

Yes, these people send children through the high school and off to college each and every year and it seems so natural to them. Well...it sure didn't seem natural to me to be thinking about that already with my son.  I'm still getting used to the idea that we no longer have children in elementary school.  They are both safely housed with me at the middle school and I like it that way.

Please don't let it change.  Please don't let my babies continue to grow up!

Happy Birthday Carter

Yes...it's been awhile since I've graced you with my presence on the blog.  I'm so sorry about that.  Life seems to be crazy busy, but this is a moment in time I just can't let pass without acknowledgment.

Today marks twelve years for Carter.  It's his golden birthday. How in the world it that possible?  I know people tell you to enjoy each day as time really does fly.  Sometimes in the midst of this parenting gig, you have no idea of the time whizzing right past.  It makes me want to go back and soak up some of those precious innocent days when he was two! TWO I say, NOT twelve!

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying him at this age when the pre-teen disposition doesn't show up! But look at this face...

I just want to go back in time and snuggle up this little boy of mine! However, I simply have to accept the fact that he's growing up and choosing to hang with his friends at youth group tonight and mom will simply get to sneak in a little twelve year old Carter time when he gets home.

Happy 12th birthday Carter!

Welcome 2014

The Clayberg family wishes you all the best in 2014.  Fresh, new beginnings are always great.  It's a time to reflect and a time to plan for improvements in body, mind and soul.  It's a time to re-prioritize, which is exactly what I intend to do while spending a quiet, lazy day at home with all of my guys!

Cheers to you!

Back in the saddle again

Oh boy was it good to watch Carter in action on the basketball court today!  It's been since September 22 that he's been able to participate in sports. During the first half of his first football game of the season he went in for a tackle and took a helmet to his shin and ankle. He ended up with a bruised shin bone and a nasty sprained ankle with some torn ligaments thrown in for good measure.  An entire missed season of football, crutches, a boot, many hours of physical therapy, and a now a snazzy little brace has him back in action.  See that little grin?  He's definitely happy to be back at it!

And boy oh boy was he ready for some action!  It's a tough pill for him to swallow to sit on the sidelines and simply watch his teammates in action.  Today was the first tourney of the basketball season and his team ended with a 3rd place finish and had a decent showing.  More importantly, the brace held up well and the ankle was feeling pretty good after three games in one day!

So, tis the season for some bleacher butt!

Who's child is he anyway?

I always used to joke that when Austin came to the middle school I might need to go back to using my maiden name.  Well, I might have been a bit premature in my thinking. I believe now with Carter’s arrival to the middle school it might be the more appropriate time to make the switch!  Who knew?

It’s only taken the first 10 weeks of school, but apparently Carter is letting his true personality shine through.  In the brief email exchange with one of his teachers, these things have been relayed to me over the past week:

Lisa, please tell Carter thank you for entertaining us with his opera singing in study hall.  (Ummm...excuse me?  Opera singing? Apparently it was Tiny Tim and Tip Toe Through the Tulips! ...and to think he didn’t even sign up for chorus this year!)

Just yesterday…

When a teacher asked Carter if he knew he was a clown, his response was, “Have you met my mom?”  (WHAT!  This child is killing me!  He totally takes after his father, and I’m the one getting thrown under the bus!)

Thank goodness he has amazing teachers who each have a great sense of humor...and mad teaching skills to boot!