What you can't know

Before you have kids, you really can't know how fast the time is going to go. Sure, people tell you all the time that time goes by in the blink of an eye when you have little ones, but you can't really understand it (even though you think you do). Maybe you've got an infant who needs to eat every 3 hours, and it's feeling that has been going on f-o-r-e-v-e-r and that it will continue to go on f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

The reality is that each stage goes by pretty much as soon as you get used to it. And then you turn around and your baby boy is nearly shoulder-high and getting taller every day, learning more and more about the world and his role in it. Your baby girl is a competent, spirited first grader. You stop and say to yourself "But they were just babies ten minutes ago!"

I know we're not perfect parents, but we do the best we can. Sure, we lose our tempers, we lack the patience we're asking for from our kids (irony!). But we always do the best we can to make the best decisions for our kids, who are such a gift to us. Time is so fleeting and it's not going to be long before they're grown.

I always say that I wish there were a way you could 'record' a day in your life at each age with your kids, so you can replay it and relive it. I know that those baby days would be even sweeter if I could get back to them with the full knowledge of how quickly they will pass. I look back at pictures of the kids when they were one and two...seems like so long ago! Thankfully, every age has its own special elements, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for these beautiful children of ours!

Picture of Determination

Our Amy can be so very determined when she wants to be. After taking a month off from tae kwon do (it was getting to be a fight every single class day, so we thought a little break would be helpful for all of us), she's back at it with a lot of energy. She's been working to earn the tips she needs to get from her green belt to her green stripe belt. This week was a review week and she earned the second of four needed tips on Wednesday, then the third of four during tonight's class. After class, she bravely went up and asked Instructor J.P. if she could test for her black tip (forms) – he said he couldn't test her then, but she could come back at 7:15 p.m. when there was a review time that was open to anyone.

Tod and Reed left this afternoon on their trip to Montana to celebrate Grandmother Holt's 100th birthday, and Amy was really excited to share her news with them. Tod taught her how to send texts on the iPhone a week or so ago, so she asked if she could send him a text. I said sure. She got busy typing...

Today Feb.9,2012 I got my  blue tip it is for KICKS I know that I will get my black tip. I even think i'll get before you get back form Montana.Love Amy.

We added a picture to tell the whole story.

We came home from Top Kick, she had a bowl of cereal for dinner, did her homework and back out the door we went for the practice session. She worked for about a half-hour, practicing her form with another girl and with Instructor Jeremy, and she was able to earn that coveted 4th tip. Here's her second text to Dad...

I went to the 7:15 practice class and instructor Jrmmy came and tested me on my Form and I earned my BLACK TIP!!! As you have noticed it is for FORMS I will graduate Feb.22,2012 at 5:15.

Success!

When this girl wants to do something, she does it. I am so very proud of the way she works hard to achieve her goals. What an amazing girl she is!