Life is so full of bittersweet moments. Endings of chapters are the beginning of other chapters, but all we can do is just enjoy the book. The “moms” came for a visit this weekend and we had a blast! They drove here from Denver arriving Friday afternoon to be welcomed by 2 jumping and squealing toddlers, a baby with a birthday and 2 adults just wanting time with their mommy J We ate well, played hard, laughed lots and slept like rocks. I ended the weekend with a little reflection time after the guests left, lights went out and the kids when to sleep.
Saturday we woke up early to get to the zoo as soon as it opened in hopes to beat the heat as the temperatures had been in the triple digits for a couple weeks. We had a great time and even got to ride the boats for the first time which had been closed for the winter since we have been here. As the temperatures climbed we decided to come back home for a quick lunch and then a dip in the new pool, and when I say dip I mean a splash fest with three children. Just an inflatable pool but a large enough one to fit 5 people comfortably. 
The girls had a ball, the grandmas got in some good laughs and we all got some relief from the heat not to mention some quality fun time and good pictures. Kiddos took naps while BJ and his mom took a field trip to the golf warehouse and my mom and I looked for the debit card and car key I had lost (I know shocking I would lose those…like I have done so many times before this...think i need to put it back in the same spot everytime and not let the kids in my purse) After naps and fieldtrips we all had grilled chicken and asparagus for dinner and made the birthday boys cakes. 
Sunday was a bit mellower but fun all the same. Got up and headed to “Jesus’ House” (that’s what Bianca calls Church) and then came home for a birthday celebration. We had hot dogs and then opened presents. Like always he was showered with lots of great gifts and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. The girls were very helpful in the present opening and Gage loved all his new goodies and clothes. He is such a cute baby and looks so handsome in all his new outfits ;) After presents we did cake and had to help Gage “make a mess” but once he got the hang of it he did just fine on his own stuffing his face with chocolate cake. After cake it was a definite nap for all wee little ones! While napping BJ and his mom held down the fort so my mom and took an adventure to the mall for a pretzel pick up and firework shopping spree. When we got back we dined on Auntie Anne’s and enjoyed the down time. When kids woke up we started dinner, sloppy joes, and then got ready for fireworks! The neighbors must have spent a fortune, but we enjoyed the show while we participated in a pop its frenzy for the girls! Four fireflies were caught or as Bianca calls them “Fire lighting bugs” and put in a jar for viewing until we released them later. We then packed everyone in the cars and drove out to view some of the big ones. When we got home we lit off our fountains then headed to bed as children were beginning to expire.
Monday was a day of mixed emotions. Gage’s official birthday, yes a firecracker baby, our little Yankee Doodle Dandy, was full of smiles and posed for several pictures. We made waffles with strawberries and bacon for the moms before they hit the road. We so enjoyed having them here and were so sad to see them go. The rest of the morning was a bit lazy. We watched new movies that grandma had brought Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella, got dressed and took an early nap after lunch. The girls and I took a dip in the pool to cool off and pass the time before dinner and fireworks. BJ cooked up steak and corn on the grill for dinner and then we picked up before when went back outside to watch fireworks in the driveway. I also caved in a moment of desperation to find my debit card and car key deciding to dig through our trash. YUCK!!!! No debit card was found but the car key and pair of my mom’s earrings were recovered so it was not in vain. 
After kids had been put to bed and all the lights had been turned off I sat on the couch in the dark with the glows of the TV and the pops of firecrackers outside in the background and shed a few tears as I thought about how fast life seems to be passing me by. Gage turned one, and he is my last baby so it was a bittersweet day. It is the last 1st birthday I will get to throw for one my children. Bianca starts school in the fall (August 9th); it’s a hard to think about handing one of my most precious possessions to some stranger. I know she will be fine and will love it, but can’t help but feeling sad that fun chapters are come to a close. I have so enjoyed all the time I have had to watch her grow into the little busy bee she is now, it just went by way too fast. Soon Paisley and Gage will follow in her footsteps. My life is so full because of them and I can’t imagine how boring and unfulfilling my life would be without them. I am so blessed…SO BLESSED.
So as I close the 1st year chapter and open the toddler chapter for Gage, close the toddler chapter and open the preschool chapter for Bianca, enjoy Paisley’s mood swings, I relish the memories made and wait with anticipation for those to come.