But We Are Growing Up

 "Alexa, play instrumental lullabies" is said daily, for bedtime. I will miss that when you girls outgrow those sweet tunes. 

Today, we went dress shopping for Elementary Date Night next weekend. Farrah, your face gasped and you bent down adoring your dress in the mirror. I told you to spin, and you celebrated with such delight to see just how high your dress spun! Augusta, your little, beautiful face just shined when you put on your dress, and then you announced that you wanted all three dresses we had picked out. You love wearing dresses and you truly usually are wearing hand-me-downs, so I told you I'd buy you all three. You traded out the itchy one for a Paw Patrol Dino Rescue DVD though. Good choice, dear one. 

You both talk an awful lot, and sometimes it wears me out emotionally, but I will certainly miss that too. Farrah, you told me the whole day was your favorite, picking out the dresses and the rest of our trip home when I got you ice cream shakes at DQ on the way home, because I was in a good mood. I'll remember that. That really does make a trip a better time, when those you love are in a good mood. 

Our kids are growing up so much every day. Yet, Augusta, you declare almost every single day that you don't want to grow up. We may mention you can do something "when you get bigger," to which you are quick to respond with a frown and your head down and you say your infamous line, "but I don't want to grow up!" You tell us that if we say that, then you'll grow up, so you don't want us to say that. You know that your fourth birthday is coming up and you are so excited. You want a rainbow birthday cake with sprinkles and one unicorn candle on top. But you want to stay three years old, because you don't want to grow up. 

But baby, how beautiful you'll be as you continue to grow and learn. 

Every day is so entirely busy. From waking up early, feeding bottle lambs, checking on our three new chicks, getting everyone up and ready, to a full day at school, home for supper, a little play, hopefully a bath, a lot of times ball games of older siblings to watch, or to help at the farm, or take a ride somewhere on the farm in the side-by-side with Daddy, or some other after school event, to too-late bedtimes - life is passing us all by so quickly, and we are all growing up. 

Kaden is officially an adult. How did that even happen? He turned off his Life360 and Snapchat locations the day of his birthday. His mom took him to get a tattoo soon after. He finished his final basketball season and is beginning his very last baseball (and track) seasons. He is down to 28 school days left, ever. I designed graduation invites to print and mail out. It's happening all so quickly. 

Kylie is sweet sixteen and driving herself where she needs to go. She teared up the first time she was off on her very own. Our heart ached in ways too. It's all so crazy. I'll take every evening we are all together, and the kids are all playing, and conversations are everywhere in our house, because although we may not want to, we are all growing up.