This year is bitter sweet. As I’ve mentioned before, our oldest son will graduate from high school. Where he will go to college next year is uncertain, but he has big plans. I can’t imagine what it will be like as a family of three. Dinners will be much quieter. There will be less laundry and fewer groceries to buy. He will be missed, but we are all very excited for his next phase in life. Over the year I’ve noticed our boys growing closer. They are both in high school now and ride to school together each morning. I hope their friendship continues and that they can always reach out one another. There have been so many moments this year that have caught my attention. I really am trying to take it all in knowing how quickly senior year flies.
Here is a little flipagram I put together. I sent it as a group text to Mr. and the boys. Thanks for letting me share.
I cried! That is so sweet. I have to do that for my daughter. She will be graduating from UNC-G in May and I found your blog around the time she started there. I was trying to find a way to fill all of the time I had on my hands with two children out of the nest. We are 4 hours away in the mountains of WNC. I only have one at home now and he is 15:) Thanking God every day for every moment with him. Love your blog and can't wait to see the stripes! I had been looking for striped wallpaper to put in our stairwell and/or dining room just this weekend!
Thanks for the sweet comment! Yes, enjoy every moment :). Best of luck to your daughter!
This made me cry. So exciting to watch your children grow up and become awesome people. But totally happens too fast I bet. Off to go spoon-feed my 3.5 year old oatmeal because she's asked and now I'm sad she won't soon. 🙂
It is so true Julia! They eventually stop asking for those little things and you miss it.
This was so sweet!
http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com
i haven't even watched it yet and am already crying.
Thanks Rene for sharing such a "sweet spot" of your family! I love following your blog and pinterest, but it is so wonderful to connect on a personal level! As a Mom of four, keep cherishing the sweet spots, as they continue to grace your life, even as adults! My middle son graduates from UNCC this year and my youngest is a sophomore there…this flipagram of yours is awesome, now to wipe my tears and get one put together of my boys!! Oh…and can't wait for the stripes!
Stacey,
Thank you for commenting! Here's to many more sweet spots!
P.S. Mom and still cry when we say good-bye and we only live 30 miles from each other :).
Oh goodness so very bittersweet (and I thought sending my oldest off the kindergarten was hard). I love when you share moments about your boys. I have two little guys and dream of them always being friends (I was an only child so I hope my ideas are too unrealistic). Yesterday morning I walked into the playroom to see my 6 year old reading a book to my 3 year old. It was such a perfect moment. I'm so glad that those sweet moments don't end, just change. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Oh I remember catching mine reading to each other. Yes, those moments still happen, only differently. Each new step is challenging even when you know they are more than prepared.
P.S. I too am an only child. Would love to have a brother or sister to call friend.
Oh my Renee…such a sweet gesture to your boys. I have twin boys who just turned 12 this past December and try to take in every day as I see their youth slipping away! Both boys have reached my "chin" when I hug them and it hit me that someday I will be looking up to them! 🙂 My how time flies….really where does it go? This made me cry hysterically! I savor every minute with them and try not to think of them leaving the nest yet (even though it is on my mind all the time)! Thank you for sharing 😉
Oh what a precious post and such fabulous pictures of your boys. Love it. Hugs, Marty
Aw, I can imagine how bittersweet this year is! My girls will be a freshman and a senior at the same time {in 3 years, thankfully} – I think about them going to high school together and my big girl helping her sister.
May you continue to enjoy your moments!
xo~Jill
Renee- this is just lovely. What a sweet family and what a beautiful tribute. As a family of three, and mom to a 17 month old boy, I somehow wonder how on earth we would manage with another baby?? But then I see something like this and I think that at one point in time you must have thought the same thing. And you managed beautifully. I will enjoy every moment and if we are blessed with another, I will cherish that too (at least I'll try and remind myself of that during the 3am feedings!).
PS- I love your blog, it is chock full of inspiration!
Great idea! My son is 10 months and he is already growing up way too fast. Thanks for sharing and reminding me that the blessings are in the small and simple things in life 🙂
I know exactly how you feel. I have two boys that are three years apart. They are 27 and 24 now…:( They didn't get along AT ALL when they were younger but like you said as they got older they started getting closer. My "moment" was when the oldest was leaving for college and we were walking him to his truck to say goodbye his brother walked up to him and they shook hands. I can't even type that without crying. I had never seen them shake hands before. A sign of mutual love and respect for each other. Now…years later they are the very best of friends! They do everything together. I feel blessed and it seems that you are very blessed also.
You have me crying and I barely had a sip of coffee. I love this. I just love all of those moments that are caught on camera and in your heart. Such a darling family. . . handsome, sweet boys. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Can you imagine my twin boys are Juniors in College and going to be 21 in February. It's a rite of passage to let them go, to welcome them home and then let them go again.
More memories to come. Photos too.
pve
Beautiful…loved it. I bet they did cry – I cried 😉 Handsome boys & I know you're so proud of them. Good luck to your oldest on his big plans. Your boys will do great because they know how much they're loved.
Tears streaming down my face. So touching, and what a beautiful tribute to your family.
As a mom to two girls, I am also feeling the lightening speed of time these days. Your video is beautiful.
What a beautiful family.. I feel your growing pains here! My eldest is now at college and the middle is also graduating this year and hasn't decided where she will go as of yet.. it really hit me over Christmas that time is flying by and we cant stop it. But I guess we can cherish it for what it is .. and enjoy the memories we will always have!
OMG!! Just came across your blog and don't know anything about your family but I cried like a baby. What a beautiful family you have. Now I'm going to go thru your older posts. Hope you don't make me cry again.
Love this! As others have said, brought tears to my eyes. My baby is 14… how can that be? Cliche I know, but they grow up so fast. It's lovely and bittersweet. Thanks so much for sharing this, I'm off to create one for our family.
I can relate to what you're going through…my oldest is a senior this year and you just want to hold on to all the moments you have with them! Life will definitely be different with him gone in the fall, but thankfully he won't be too far away (just an hour). Elle
So sweet, Rene. I already have anxiety about those days and I'm still 9 years away. Praying for a great year of transition for all of you!
(And, I cannot handle that song. It gets me every time.)
How beautiful! What a lovely family. I have two boys too (8 and 5), and I hope they will be best friends forever. I feel like it is my mission to be sure they remain together and will always look out for each other.
Rene!!! You've got me crying too. Bittersweet for sure. Your boys remind me of my nephews (on my husbands side) they were freshman and senior last year and are so close. Tom certainly misses his big brother (who is at Wake Forest now) but they remain very close and BFFs. Hugs to you – enjoy it all 🙂 I know you always do.
Well I wish I had my tissues nearby for that! What a beautiful idea and such special moments to capture! It is clear to see you have done an amazing job raising your boys so far!! 🙂
I know how you feel. Daughter number two is in the middle of Senior year. I'm already in a funk about her leaving. Cherish the hours. Time simply goes too fast.
-Trish
I am just a couple of years ahead of you. My oldest is a sophomore in college and my youngest in his junior year of high school. They too are best friends…and I too get choked up with emotion just thinking about it. These years are the perfect definition of bitter-sweet.
Ohmygoodness!!!!! I follow you on instagram and new your blog (which I LOVE by the way!!!)…and just popped over and pushed play….sheesh Louise!!! Tears are a flown' ….I too, have two boys…8 and 11 but man oh man the time is flying 🙁 I will be in your shoes all too soon! Thanks for sharing!!! Heartwrencher!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You made my heart full with all of your sweet comments! Thank you for being so supportive! XO
Rene, you have me crying at my kitchen counter right now!!!! What a big year for you – I can't imagine, but it will be here for me in a few short years. Thank you for sharing and reminding me to take notice of the little moments that add up to some of the best years of our life. Enjoy all of it and best wishes on the very exciting journey that lays ahead for your son. What a beautiful family, and life together, you have. xxoo
Rene I so know how you feel. Senior years were so hard for me too. Mine are now 30, 26 and 26 and it's STILL hard to let go. All I can say is enjoy each moment, and I know you are already doing that. xoxo
Oh goodness….tears for me. Watching that I am reminded how time does indeed fly by. Seriously I remember when my sisters kids were so young and now they have graduated from college with jobs. Enjoy this last year and I am sure we will all be here when he goes off to college to help pull your through:)
Oh my goodness……..tears all over my keyboard! My 9 year old will be 10 soon and he's already almost the same height. It goes too fast!
Oh my gosh, Jack is only 8 weeks old and this post makes me want another boy already! Enjoy your time as a family of 4 over the next few months!
Rene, that is so precious!! You have so much to be proud of… Thank you so much for sharing.
I was going to comment a few days ago but I was a blubbering mess, I'm back and composed! 🙂 I still have a few years to go, but our close neighbors have two boys that I've known since they were babies, one a senior this year. Watching them go through all of these same emotions is making me realize how little time I left, the thought has me in tears again. : ( Your video is priceless!
How Beautiful!! It is so true that it all flies by so quickly! Too funny, because I recently blogged about the same issue in our house as my oldest just turned 13! And that song! Love it…but it gets me every time! Thanks for sharing!