Bittersweet

Yesterday, I was out with my boys. It was a very hectic, busy day. I had tests to administer, the boys had a dentist appointment and Emily had a speech appointment. Just as we were about to leave, the speech therapist called to say that she was sick and was not taking any appointments. Bad for Emily, good for me. So, the girls got to stay home and I took the boys. After the dentist, Owen already had a play date arranged so we went to lunch and then took him to his friend's house. Lunch was great, we discussed everthing from Miss California to concentration camps. Ian was just sitting there taking it all in. After we dropped Owen off, we replayed the same conversation - just on a 6 year old level. I just cannot get over the fact of how much he continues to surprise me. I remember clearly the day I realized Owen would rather grow up to be Ryan than me. Don't get me wrong, that is what I want, it is just different to have that change of power. However, the thing I noticed is Owen had no other competition. He wanted to be Ryan. Ian on the other hand, has Owen and Ryan. Don't get me wrong, my boys have a traditional love/hate relationship I assmume most brothers have. Yet, there is a very clear sense of mutual affection. Ian in some ways, already sees himself as Owen's peer and is often very good at it. Then, he can make a comment, ask a question, want to play with something and it makes you go "that's right, he is only six." I loved yesterday; I loved seeing my baby as he is, seeing the hints of the young man he is deciding to be. It was bittersweet.

Just to give a sample of the transformation I am seeing, these pictures were from a few weeks ago. Several years ago, we started sometimes giving the gift of time as a birthday present rather than a gift. Ian remembers Owen doing this for a special friend and he wanted to give the same to his friend. Ian loves Adventure Landing. He had his 3rd birthday party there because that was the age you had to be in order to ride the go-carts. He made everyone of his guests sit on the bleachers as he took his first victory lap around the track. He smiled and waved "look at me - I am big enough!" So, Emily and I took Ian and his fellow-old soul Issac to adventure landing for a day of minature golf, laser tag, video games and of course, go-carts.




An intense game of minature golf.


Ian saying go "faster, faster"


Isaac, hilariously screaming.