November 7th has come and gone for us. It was, as it has been for the 5 years prior to this, both wonderful and painful.
The wonderful of course very much out weights the painful and for that I'm incredibly grateful. Still, I allowed myself a small, reminiscent cry in the early morning hours, doing what I always do when I think of the sons I'll never watch grow; I imagine the "what if's".
This year our family day was chaotic and fun. We started the day with waffles (our new favourite breakfast...well Dwayne's and mine anyway). We then had our family photos taken and I'm so excited to see them. Olivia wanted to see a few after our photographer took her picture and the few we saw over her shoulder looked great.
Later that day we checked into the Mountain Retreat hotel for some ... WATERSLIDING!!!
For the 1st little bit we thought it was going to be a complete waste of a hotel room. Livy wasn't overly keen on hitting the slide, she was more interested in the warm hot tube (still, can't complain that she may be a heat seeker like I am). After a bit of coercing we had her up the slide with both Dwayne and I. Then just before packing it in for the afternoon Dwayne let her go down alone with me at the bottom a couple of times.
Payton even had a go at it in my lap for which I think she had mixed feelings about.
Later that evening we were joined by Livy and Payton's cousins and much to my surprise Livy headed the charge and was up and down the stairs/slide all on her own.
It was a wonderful day even though a part of me realized that our older daughter just took one more step towards independence and not 'needing' us. I little piece of my heart broke as she cut one more cord that makes us her 'everything' and the stark realization that she's growing up...man, even typing this I'm getting teary eyed thinking she'll be moving away from home soon. Ok, talking myself down from the ledge. "She's only 3!!"
Bit I digress. Today was wonderful. And I'm so incredibly content to have these two beautiful girls in my life. I'm grateful for the love that fills our lives. Everyday we remember that love, today is the day we celebrate that love.
Can't wait to see what we have in store for next year.
