The REAL New Year

My long absence is due to the plethora of happy dancing.

First off, Lou got better very quickly after changing medications. We had a great last week of summer vacation. There were playdates, slurpees, and general fun things that took place.

In fact the whole summer was fantastic. The weather was mainly good, with a few heatwaves thrown in. We had a kickin' BBQ to celebrate 40th birthdays (mine and Husband's), my brother came to visit for a few days, we went to the cabin, took a road trip and had Mr. C here.

Dee matured right before my eyes - walking to the park by himself, making friends at the playground program and asking questions about s-e-x (which is thankfully not related the time he spent at the playground!) . He discovered that spending time by himself is a good thing. "It's nice to just be with yourself, Mom" he told me.

It was the first summer in a long time that I didn't feel frazzled. This is partly because I no longer work from home. I had no clients that I had to be available to, no phone that I had to answer and no email that had to be written. The bigger part of it I think though, is having children that are just that much older. I don't have to worry that someone will put a marble up his nose, or a finger in a light socket. They play well together (when they aren't fighting, which isn't that often or that drawn out thank goodness). They play games together or with us.

And now that fall is here and all the regular activities are starting it feels like the real "new Year". I see how much they've changed since June. I see a confidence and self-assuredness. I see boys who don't want a big, effusive good-bye when I drop them off at school. I hear real things about their days and not just "I played with so-and-so at recess". Subtle humor is making its way into conversation. I see boys who are developing and growing at an alarming rate - my babies aren't babies anymore.

I really love and like these people that I've been given. Life is good.