Time in a Bottle

This morning I am singing Jim Croce songs in my head. If I could save time in a bottle... Wouldn't we all like to do that? Time is getting away from me. Life is getting away from me. The boys are starting their 6th week of school already tomorrow. It is hard to believe it, but I know I am going to blink and Christmas will be here.

Dawson is doing fabulous in first grade. Actually so much better than I expected. I knew we had a terrific teacher when she was Colton's, but each kid is different, so I was a little worried, but she has not disappointed. The other day the principal even told me he couldn't believe how awesome he was doing when he popped into class for something. He is really starting to want to read and is trying to sound things out everywhere. Yesterday we went to the movies and in the middle of it, he turned to the sign and goes e x i t...exit. It reminds me of when Colton learned to read and we pulled into Fry's and as we were walking up he goes, "Fry's Food and DRUG! Mom, we can't shop here, it has drugs." So in the parking lot we had the illegal drugs vs. over the counter and prescription talk. It was funny. This year I feel like I don't have as many funny stories for Dawson, but I know they are there. The other day, someone reminded me about the bloody nose story from last year. As his class was walking to lunch, a kid in the hall was trying to stop his bloody nose. Dawson passed by, leaned over and said, "you have to stop picking your nose before it starts to bleed." Words of wisdom there. This year he is doing his regular things like telling the teacher he doesn't want her sticker when she asks him to read the sight words for the week. He's not shy. He knows what will work as a bribe and what won't.

Colton's year isn't going quite as well, but it's not bad either. He got a very interesting class which is making it hard. I was in between a couple of teachers and I knew one was going to be better academically and one was going to be better for his heart. I went with the one who was more mothering and there have been days I have been so thankful for her, but sometimes I wish he was challenged a little bit more. I have faith it will all work out though. He is on the cross country team and loving it. They practice every morning at 6:15am and so far it hasn't bothered him one bit. Tomorrow night he starts soccer too and while I will be exhausted, I am sure he will be in heaven just running around.

James went on his coveted antelope hunt and was successful. It is hard to believe he was drawn the first year he put in and got his antelope on opening morning. I was so happy for him. It was funny when it was all done, he got depressed the same way he does on Christmas night. There is so much prep and hype that when it is all over, he is bummed.

Liberty is still alive. She has eaten money, destroyed a new roll of paper towels so that it looked like it snowed, dug more holes to China than I can count, kept me up in the middle of the night, cost me more than a Disneyland trip and yet she is still here. The boys love her. Truth be told, I do too. I think she is going to be an awesome family dog when she is done being a puppy.

Life just passes by and I feel like each day, I take for granted the moments and the memories. Dawson got his first character cash, Colton ran a mile in 8 minutes 40 seconds, Liberty lost her baby teeth. In 6 months, I won't remember that. But they are the very moments that make my life what it is. The very moments I am so thankful for. If only I could save time in a bottle.