Carson is 8!

Carson and Laiken always have such a hard time waiting for their summer birthdays. Most of their friends have birthdays during the school year and my kids hate being the youngest in their classes. I can't imagine what it is going to be like in high school when they are last to get their drivers' licenses! With my September birthday, I was always one of the oldest in my class and I loved it, so I do understand why it must be frustrating to wait. A few weeks ago, the wait ended for Carson and he turned 8 on July 7.

Carson celebrated this year with his dinner of choice, Chili's, and then cake and ice cream at our house on the night of the 7th. Then, on the 8th, Farrel took Carson, Laiken, Jake, and Dylan to the Rangers game to round out the big event.

Carson got a Wii for his birthday and some games to go with it. Here is a video of him opening up the game he wanted most. When is the last time you opened a gift that had you this excited?

So, Carson is 8 now and a big boy for his age. Sometimes, I forget that he is only 8 and I am too hard on him. He is such a sweet kid who can and always has been able to read my moods better than Laiken does. He is energetic and curious and, at times, mischievous. He loves practical jokes and a good laugh. I worry a lot about how well I am doing raising my boys. I try to imagine what their future wives will think about the job I did. And then just imagining my sons married makes my heart hurt a little. Carson used to cry when he had to be separated from me. He was content standing with me in the kitchen or helping me fold laundry just to be near me. Those days are gone. He is busy with other things and I can barely get him to stop long enough to give me a decent hug. The big affections will return someday for another girl, but the days when I was the center of his world are gone. That's normal, I know, but I'm just not sure how it happened so fast and I'm a little sad that I didn't stop to fully appreciate the time when he was all mine.