My Kids...

While Phil and I were in Baltimore we all (by all I mean, me, Phil, Cole, and Avery :)) went to a nice lunch, we ordered Tapas and had Sangria. The view was beautiful, over looking the harbor, the air had the nice fall crisp smell, the Sangria's were full of fruit, and the Tapas were glorious and smelled amazing! Can you picture it? Doesn't it sound like an amazing time? Well, add in a screaming, antsy, impatient toddler that is refusing to eat his food, and wanting your food, a 7 week old crying, fussing, and wanting to be bounced, rocked and walked around, and the wind blowing around every napkin we had.. Not so great huh?

No relaxing and enjoying our food and drinks were happening at that lunch! We barely survived the lunch, we were one hot mess of a family if you were watching us.

I had major anxiety during the lunch and wanted to scream, I looked around and was extremely jealous of so many people just sitting there socializing, slowly eating their Tapas, sipping their Sangria, holding the napkin in their lap, and laughing. Why couldn't that be us? Why did I have to scarf down my Tapas and chug my sangria and not enjoy the 30 flavors of different fruit? I wanted to scream. Then I got this overwhelming feeling of how blessed I am. I realized that within time, that will be Phil and I. That within time, it will ONLY be Phil and I. My kids are growing up right in front of my very eyes, and at that moment I was wishing it away. That in 15/20 years, Phil and I will be those people enjoying our sangria, slowly eating our Tapas, and looking at another family with kids, standing while eating, balancing their meals while holding an apple, stroller and napkin in the other hand, and I will be longing for that moment again. I will miss the smell of a newborn and leaning down kissing my baby girls head. I will miss trying to wipe off a sticky little boys hand and the napkin sticking to it.

That moment made me realize to enjoy these crazy, rushing moments. Phil and I only get a few years of this craziness, and before with know it - we will be begging our kids to come to dinner with us, but they will be too busy going to soccer games, date nights, movies, parties, college, or too busy with their own family.....

These moments, these crazy, fast paced moments that feel like they will NEVER end-- are amazing, and I will enjoy it! I will smile through it, and I will never look off to other couples and wish it was us, because I love this craziness, and it will soon be gone.....And maybe, just maybe those couples are wishing they were us!

I am so blessed, and so very lucky. Our trip to Baltimore gave me new meaning and view to my life. I can't explain it, and did a crappy job writing it out above. But I hope you get my point :) That soon, these crazy moments will be a distant memory, and I don't want to regret that I took it all for granite. Someday, I am goings to miss these moments... My kids are growing up... Its sad, but also so very rewarding!