Signs of the times

See this lone mini-matchbox car? 

Its a sign of the times around here... the babies are growing up, and that means growing out of things. 

My boys haven't played with these cars in years. We had bins full of cars and now we are down to this one last mini and a handful of regular sized matchbox cars which are gathered into a play purse of all things. 

These are the boys represented. 

Nate had a dinosaur collection, he WAS a dinosaur much of the time. He knew the names of them all too. 

Jacob was our cars and trucks little boy. I don't know what year he got this Darth Vader on a motorcycle, but that was a big deal! 

So I have these toys floating around that we do not need anymore and I have to remember that I will still have my memories even if I get rid of the toys! And I am not prolonging their childhood by keeping them around! They are growing up! And really it is wonderful to watch them continue to grow in health and maturity, they boys are growing in to young men. And I am so thankful! Its what you want them to do, but my heart grieves for their childhood at the same exact moment!

Piles of books and no baby or toddler in my lap! 

A bin full of cast off toys, baby dolls, cars, baby bags and blankets. Odds and ends of years gone by!

At least the Legos persevere! 

They get on a Lego kick every now and then and everyone builds. Even Daddy! (Not Mommy though, but I get to exclaim over the creations!)

I don't really know how to wrap this one up, its been floating around in my head as I eyed that last surviving mini, not knowing what to do with it and remembering fondly, its glory days!

I think I am going to start a bin of things to save for someday when I am the Gramma. And here is a kicker for ya, if Nate follows in our footsteps, we could be grandparents in less than 10 years! I was 23 when he was born and he is 15! Now, that is some weird, wild stuff, Ed!

Stay tuned...

Girls Time.

Tea with the Princesses was last Saturday! We had fun, as every year, but did have a sober moment of thinking of how much fun it would be if our grandmas, aunties, and girls cousins were able to be with us! Above pic, posing with Rapunzel's hair hanging down from the tower. 

Phoebe as Belle.

Ellie as Ariel.

This little 'sand dig' is one of Phoebe's favorites. They spent about ten minutes digging in this box of sand for treasures. Shells, buttons, etc. I thought we had outgrown sandboxes, but maybe not...?!

I love when my babies have not outgrown things! Ellie is often displaying attitudes and actions of adolescence (which I admit, I had to look up for exact meaning, that being; the growing up stage between puberty and adulthood) which I must say has sent me to my knees already, but still other times we get sweet glimpses of her sweet, fun nature. And this is what I got to see at the Tea with the Princesses. She was thoughtful, playful, kind, gentle and nurturing. Thank You, Lord. Things for me to treasure in my heart and gives me hope that we will not just survive her teen years, but walk through them together, I pray.