Kambree's Family Shower

Hosted at Aunt Kammy's with help from Aunt Sarah, Devree & Rylee

Cute little cousins holding chickens....

Kambree's Endowment

Musings Regarding My Empiter Nest.......

Today we registered Austin for classes at Snow. 

I think he's really going to go this year.

Which is a good thing. He's still very undecided on serving a mission and is working a ton of hours to put away money for tuition. He will have it all next pay check. 

He needs to live on his own and make new friends and memories.Experience college life.  I am excited for him. I am a little sad for me. 

Today when I was emailing the college to try and get him into a math class that was full, I was pretending to be him.  I told him I'm sure he doesn't want the school to think he's a mama's boy. To which my almost six foot, 205 pound son with a beard replied, "But I am a mama's boy." Then he explained something like, "I DO want to go to school but it's just nicer if you help me figure all this out." (When I said WE registered Austin for classes - I meant that literally.)

Kambree is getting married in less than two weeks. She and Cameron will be managing a hotel in Manti. It's a great opportunity for them to live rent free and make a little money but it will tie them down. They were told to NOT plan on coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am happy for their opportunity but I would by lying it I didn't tell you I almost started crying when I heard about the holiday situation. 

I realize full well I am not losing my daughter, that I'm gaining a great son in law but I also realize that my nest is getting emptier. 

Three left home.

Three.

Such a small number. 

And I'll only have three for one more year and then my Devree will be ready to fly. She'll be a  senior in the fall and already has one leg dangling out of the nest.

Alex is almost as tall as me now and I just recently noticed how much armpit hair he has. When did this happen? He's only been home four years. He should be FOUR! Not almost 15 with hairy armpits!

He tells me he loves me all the time but the other day he was saying "Why do I love you so much mom?" Then he had a thoughtful pause and said, "I know, it's because you are my REAL mom." I'm not sure where this came from but I reassured him that yes, I am his real mom. (And yes, it made my eyes water - he's such a sweet loving kid - I've complained enough about him on this blog that I do need to give him credit where credit is due.)

He's such a big help - always willing to mow the lawn and fix things. He put Devree's car back together with instructions from James after it was disassembled while she experienced a week of living as a "roommate". He is working at scout camp this year and was awarded the position of "Master Crafstman" based on his blueprint drawing of a bread box.  So far he has worked every day and then he and Devree left for Trek yesterday. It's good for him to be busy, and it's good to miss him - rather than him moping around the house with nothing to do all summer. But I do miss his cute face.

Rylee has been my biggest help with planning this wedding. She is my right arm. Last week she was mistaken for the BRIDE when we went into Wal-mart to print out Kambree's registry. That should give you a clue as to how she does NOT look 13. ((Gulp))

She made the most fabulous cheese cake this week, she is quite the baker - which is everyone elses saving grace since I gave up grains and refined sugars six months ago. It's just torture for me.  She's already working on her honors English assignment for next fall. (Did I mention she got a 4.0 her entire 7th grade year - that does deserve a mention in this blog.) 

 So my only not-so-little birdies left are Alex and Ry and they're stretching their wings getting ready and within five years, I'll be left with my 3600 square foot nest, with six bedrooms - all empty except the master. 

Am I ready for this?

I always thought I'd look forward to it. Finally, no one to mess up what I've cleaned, no mounds of laundry, no huge grocery bill, no more waiting up at night for kids to get home, friends coming and going, silly internet videos, piano playing, trampoline jumping, snap chatting,  beat boxing, dance practicing, carpooling, homework cramming, doors slamming, boxing, nail painting, video playing, midnight cookie making etc.

Just peace. Tranquility. James and I can eat when we want, do what we want, watch our own big screen TV without reserving the family room or kicking kids and friends out. 

We can listen to OUR music. Stop tripping over shoes, backpacks and long boards. Not wonder how the drywall got dinged, who ate all the fruit, where certain personal belongings (tools for James, clothing for me)  are that our children love to steal borrow, register and maintain a fleet of vehicles, cook for an army and run out of hot water due to everyone showering in the morning.

I keep trying to picture what kind of Grandma I'll be? Gram-ma Wendy? Granny W?
Even more pressing, I wonder what kind of mother in law I'll be? Will I drive my new children insane? I am a bit of a control freak. It's endearing to those that love me (right?) but what if they don't find it so? What if they (gulp) don't like me? Roll their eyes when they see my name on their caller ID? Yell, "It's YOUR mom - YOU answer it!" 

I don't want to be that mom (in law).

I'm not sure I want to be this mom, this mom with the emptier nest.... 

James asked me if we should adopt a few more a month or so ago?

I almost fell off my chair.

He took it back in the next breath. 

Of course I had to think on it.
For awhile.

But I'm not feeling it. 

I dig down deep and try to listen to my heart of hearts. 

Are there more children? 

I knew with such a fierce conviction when we adopted Alex just like I did when I had Devree and -  despite James protest -  knew we needed to have another baby - our Rylee.  

But I'm getting nothing. 

Nothing.
Empty.

Emptier nest.......

Kambree's Ward Shower

Hosted at Amy Walton's with the assistance of Jan Rytting and Ronda Trujillo

Funniest gift? 

Not Tonight PJ's from Sarah Hill

ATV/Motorcycling Camping Trip!

Austin checking out (and later shooting) Cameron's gun:

Making S'mores:

And of course just eating.....

Morning time and the boys sleeping under the stars:

And this one in a tent:

My favorite form of recreation:

Made a 32 mile round trip - this is me at my turn around at a little gas station in the city of Joseph. 

Mom and I on the ATV....

Sitting on the porch at the gas station enjoying an ice cream cone:

Cameron & Kambree: 

Checking out the quilt store and trying out the handmade broom:

Me photo bombing Kam & Cam:

Alex and the ATV:

Michelle and Kylee

Alex and me:

James and I

 Grandma scaring Ry with her furry blanket:

Me:

Packed up and waiting for the RV's to be hooked up:

Best of cousins:

Our whole family:

The Hartshorns:

Dad & Mom

The ride home.....