pen pal

This is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to a far-away friend.  I thought I would share...

"We are beginning to look ahead to the start of school.  I am feeling very anxious about things; I don't know why.  I even had a few nightmares last night, both related to school.  David was starting Kindergarten all over again, and I lost James in the school office.  Bizarre, I know!  What a relief to wake up and realize that everyone was home safe!  

The kids are growing at an amazing pace.  David seems so much older these days.  He is really progressing in the piano, which is fun to watch, even if we fight during every minute of practice time.  He has also definitely outgrown his old bicycle.  No matter how much we raise the seat, his knees are at his chest.  We keep suggesting that he should ask Santa for a new bike, but he insists that all he wants are Legos.  James is also growing.  We are putting him in preschool this coming year and he is REALLY excited.  He just wants so badly to be as big as David.  Today I gave him David's old bicycle helmet and he was so happy!  You would have thought it was brand new.

Ruth is DRAMA.  She is so tough these days.  Just as James has departed his terrible toddler years, Ruth has stepped right in.  Patience is my main goal these days.  The glimmer of hope is that her tantrums last for less than 5 minutes, unlike the marathon tantrums that James used to throw.  I have also noticed that Joseph has a difficult time disciplining her, which is never the case with the boys. He just can't seem to tell her no.  Hopefully, we won't have a little diva on our hands!"