We have had my husband’s three kids for a majority of the summer (a couple of short trips back to BM house, but mostly here.) This is their last week and today is the last day I have them home with me by myself. At the beginning of the summer I wondered how I would feel when I reached today. I wondered if I would be sad or ready to pack their bags and drop them off. Over the summer I have had my moments when I was ready to give up and send them packing (which I of course didn't do-I was just frustrated.) However on this Friday, August 6th...I am going to miss them. Hell I miss them right now and they are here.

My 3 going on 4 year old SS is busy dressing up his new "pillow pet" in his knight cape from Halloween and he proudly keeps showing me that he also folded up all the clothes he lovingly removed from the dresser (which were already folded of course). Plus he calls to me every 20 minutes to say "I'm going to the potty!" It is repetition and it is nothing new but it is still little kid noises and he is proud to show ME what he can do.

The 2 year old runs in, covers his eyes, yells boo, and runs off. (Sigh.) When he got up this morning he almost bounded out of bed when he saw me. I'm not going to see that for a long time. It is going to be back to every other weekend and I've made myself tear up thinking about it.

My SD is at her grandma’s house (cousins are in town visiting), but she will be home this afternoon and I can’t wait. It has been too quiet around here without her bossing her brothers around and running in to show me how great she looks in her Rapunzel dress. I will even miss when she used my paint brushes to apply lotion to her brothers. (Note to self: Also go check when they’ve been “too” quiet for more than 10 minutes.)

Anyway I just wanted to blog and let everyone know that while sometimes it feels like too much (I have had my moments for sure!) in my case the good times definitely outweigh the bad. I love them and my SS just came in and said “You know what?” so of course I said “What?” and he said “I love you!” and he blew me a kiss. I can’t get moments better than that.

So goodbye to the summer and hello to every other weekend. Now it is time to look forward to this weekend for our mini-vacation and I will try to enjoy every second and just hug them whenever I get a chance. Life is short and times can get crazy, but we have to live in the moment and forget all the bull. Love the kids and you know what? They will love you back.