If I could only freeze time ...

Over the past week I have had this thought many times.  I have had several things happen that made we want to stop time and stop my kids from getting bigger.   Maybe not a screeching halt (although that would be OK too).  But at least a slow down.  I know we all think this way.  It is just what has been on my mind a lot recently. 

I took my daughter shopping for school clothes.   I had some really great ideas about what would be adorable for the first day of school.  Unfortunately for me, E had some ideas of her own.  She is 6 1/2 years old now.  She has her own sense of style.  Last year I picked out a cute little dress with puppies on it for her first day of school.  She loves (still does) puppies.  It was so cute with a matching barrettes, socks and dog purse. 

I figured out pretty quick that I won't be getting away with this this year.  I thought that a cute jean dress would be nice.  E did not agree.  She told me that she is the only one that wears dresses. Don't get me wrong.  I don't dress her in uncomfortable dressy things to go to school.  They are usually cotton dresses with leggings underneath.  Pretty comfortable stuff.  Just not her style.

I still got the jean dress.  I know that it won't be picked the first day but I am sure that she can wear it day 2 or 3, right?  I will put up pictures Monday of her first outfit.  Spoiler alert - it is jean shorts with a t-shirt and vest.  The t-shirt is sparkly and has bright pink butterflies bows.  Betcha can't wait to see it now! 

I am trying not to squelch her creativity or personality.  As long as what she wants to wear is modest, I have learned to let her go.  Even if it is jean shorts with a bright pink sparkly butterflies bow t-shirt and vest on the first day of school.  Oh, I can't wait until next year when all this stuff doesn't matter!!  :-)

My son C also broke my heart a little today.   By that I mean that he made me gasp and think "oh no, please, stop growing up!" as I fanned my eyes to stop from crying.   He needed to get a folder for school.  He had a plain blue one picked out when I happened to see what I thought was a cool Star Wars folder.  He said, "Nah, I'll just go with the blue one."  Which we all know meant ... "Of course not mom!  I am waaaay to old for a Star Wars folder!  Geesh, I am 8 1/2!!"

So, once again I am so thankful that we will be homeschooling all 3 kiddos next year.  I don't want to miss a minute!!  And I won't have to see the look in this picture again!  Isn't it heartbreaking.  Thankfully, no one took a picture of the sad momma on the other end of the camera lens.  Even worse.

(This picture was taken last year on the first day of school.  B is now homeschooled!!  Much happier face on our first day this year!! )