I am amazed at how quickly the rest of February is flying by once Valentine’s Day has passed.  We have little league practices gearing up to 4 days a week.  Conference notices coming home to schedule those.  Meeting for all in-coming 6th graders to the Junior High School, and choosing electives and classes.

Wow, this is the time of year when organization skills come in super handy.  Speaking of 6th grade.  This is the last year that we are attending our current elementary school.  I have spent 14 years at our school, walked many miles of hallways, have had the pleasure of knowing 3 principals, sitting on the PTO Board, heading up fundraisers, being a classroom parent, volunteering in the office and even taken a turn at lunch duty, yes whistle and all

Now I am really noticing the days moving quickly as our youngest Faith is preparing for her next journey.  She is so smart, and so excited.  She is “crossing her t’s and dotting her I’s”, with every form that comes home.  Always having paperwork filled out for me and just needing my signature.  She is such a take charge kind of gal.  In fact, so much so that she has applied for Yearbook over at the Junior High and only 6 in-coming lower classmates are chosen. I have no doubt that she would be one of them and very surprised if she was not.

Last night saying goodnight was another “special” hold on to moment (you know, the times when you catch a word or phrase from your child and add it to the ”never forget” hard-drive in our brains),  when Faith told me how excited she was to go to school the next day and get to enter her elective choices into the computer for the next school year and how she has already counted down the months until she starts the 6th grade.  “Whoa”, “slow down my angel, one day at a time”.

I love when Faith leaves me her art work. I never get to see it until it is completed, like any artist she is very secretive about her work until ready to unveil it.

Study habits are so important, especially while being involved in sports. I am so thankful that Noah and Faith have developed these skills and are always very good about keeping up with their grades and work.  I guess it has taken me some time also, as I was so eager to help our oldest (now 21) and I would do everything for him.  Lesson learned here, the kids just need structure and rules and setting up in the kitchen together as family sure makes it fun.

Mango loves being with the fam while we are hanging out.

Yesterday evening as we were making dinner and doing homework, it had started to hail.  The most amazing noise as it just hit against the windows and sky-lights upstairs.  Running out doors without event thinking to “bundle” up was the moment.  Hearing Noah and Faith laugh and giggle, while thinking how cool it was that these pellets of ice rain were just coming down.  That is a memory, a small one, but a memory.

I know I am able to work from home, but I still need to balance and schedule along with staying organized.  Staying home and working does not mean there is not a house to run and schedules to make, meals to prep, in fact shop and do that wisely.  AM I away from the home like many moms?  No, but we can ALL still establish good foundations for our children, we CAN be healthy and happy by making the choices we do. Let’s get back to the root of family and what it means. Unplug the devices while together, prep meals ahead of time on weekends or days off and freeze them. Use calendars and organizational tools.

It goes by so quickly, and more so as we continue forward with technology and so forth.  Step back and take those moments, watch and listen.  Grab the books and read them, just sit and talk OR just listen.  Everything will still be there, we aren’t missing out on anything, but we can miss out on the most important things and those are the one’s right in front of us.