Eight, seven, six,.... blast off!  The Tigers and I are eagerly counting down until Summer vacation.  We're still loving our Traditional Calendar year.  The end-of-the-year testing is complete.  Now, I think I am having MommyTesting, the year-end activities have us rolling with activity.  Book Fest, Picnic, along with the regularly scheduled Book and A Bite, and on.  The activities are many but it's their maturity that's got me thinking. 

Admittedly, as busy as it feels, I am a bit nostalgic that another year has passed.  So many milestones have passed just this year with the Tigers.  About the time they turned seven, they both lost their front teeth.  It's a whole different look.  They're becoming computer wizards.  Writing stories.  Building NASA approved rockets with their Legos.  My girlfriends know this is huge.  There was the day when I thought we had a problem.  Legos didn't engage them for the hours that my friends children did.  Now, the Tigers disappear for a bit and emerge with an amazing creation. 

The shoes, the clothes.  We've had many a morn when a frustrated seven year old declares, "These are pulling me."  "These are 'baby.'"  We're not ahead on the growth chart or showing signs of catching up to my Daddy's, their Poppy's, 6 foot 5 inches or anything.  We're talking Shirt size 8-10 here.  Shoe Size 2.  Pants 7.  It's just that Carolina Mama is still struggling with walking into the Big Boys section of the store instead of the Toddler section.  Maybe it's the fact that Tiger B read and set the new Automatic Coffee Pot himself, after I attempted, :)  that have me missing my 'babies.' 

Throughout raising twins, Mountain Man and I have always cheered each other on when we succeed ever so slightly with the boys.  This works, we must remember.  Just this past weekend, after a rigorous fun swim at the pool, we were back home and something was amiss.  The house was quiet.  After a panicked search, to my delight, the Tigers were both reading separately in different parts of the house.  I paused to cherish the moment.  Automatically, I encouraged Mountain Man, "Great job, steering them to their quiet time and reading."  (often they want to overrule us with one more game of "jets," "firefighters," etc. You get the idea)  To my complete surprise, Mountain Man replied, "Oh, they just split up on their own and started reading."  "Split up... did I hear correctly."  :) 

 It's been a milestone year in many ways.  And I hear Summer vacation lends a whole other maturity block.  Can someone slow this down?! 

Warmly,

Carolina Mama

http://carolinamama1.blogspot.com