Gwen's special day

Gwen turned six last week. Six seems much older than five, more than five seemed older than four. Maybe that's just my denial talking. She had a great birthday weekend. Saturday morning, we took her rapelling all by herself. She got to try out the new harness we just got the girls. Is it not the cutest thing you've ever seen? She loved being the center of our attention and we loved spending that time with just her. (One kid is really easy to keep track of!)

We went to The Olive Garden for lunch. Every other year, the girls get a friend party & on the no-party years, they get to choose the restaurant they want to go out to eat at. (I love the non-party years.) Gwen chose Dairy Queen when she turned four, so her tastes are definitely maturing. Her Grandparents and Aunt Maury came with us. We did a little shopping in the big city before heading home. We went to one of my favorite stores, Ross. The store Ross, not my little brother Ross. Once Maryann asked me where I got a mirror in my house & was so confused when I said Ross. Why would my little brother be giving me a large ornate mirror? Anyway, I love that store. I found these shoes (Merrells) for under $20! Maury found some really fun shoes too. (Fun until she fell & broke her foot wearing them, but that's another story.) My girls wanted to get these little numbers, but somehow they didn't get their way. Then we went home for cake and ice cream and presents. Maury made Gwen's cake while we were rapelling. It turned out so cute. I am not very good at cute birthday cakes and always feel bad about myself after each attempt, so thank you Maury!!!

Sunday was Gwen's actual birthday and it was a little more low-key. It was filled with meetings, naps, and home teachers. I stole a few moments that evening to hold Gwen and tell her about our first day together six years ago. I told her how I held her and smelled her and how she slept and cooed. She fit so snuggly in my arms then. Sunday night while we cuddled on the couch, her legs hanging off my lap, I thought what millions of mother before me, and millions more after me, will think, how fleeting childhood is, how precious. How little time I really have to teach and shape and love my beautiful daughters before they are grown and making decisions and families on their own. What a responsibility parenthood is! These short years are so vital to the health and happines of our children; it is worth any and every sacrifice to put them first, because they won't always be so little and teachable. There will be time later for work, a career even, for school, a graduate degree possibly, for developing talents, for more socializing than just playdates. Right now, I am happy to be home this morning, listening to Gwen & Cate play in the other room, doing their breakfast dishes, teaching them to do laundry. This afternoon, we'll pick up Bethany from school and go grocery shopping and I'll try to soak up every second of our time together. I don't have any romanticized memories of my babies; it was dang hard work, and I keep enjoying them more and more the older they get. I just don't wanna miss a thing.