Until then, John and I both are appreciating and enjoying every second we can get with our big B people. They are both such great kids, we can hardly believe it. I was So worried about the teenage years and here I am surprised that it is going so fantastically well! (Still keeping my fingers crossed though. It is an emotionally charged, full of potential pitfalls, period of life. )
It is also full of possibilities, potentials and promise. And so many feelings of parental pride.
Last night Britton kept Bailey and made sure she had such a great time that Bailey couldn't wait to see her again as soon as she woke up. Britt took her down and fed her breakfast. Luckily she didn't cry when Britt left for school, she cuddled up to me but there have been other mornings like this where she did cry. She appreciates so much having such a fantastic big sister, when Britton isn't too busy with her very full life. Thus the overly effusive title. (The Brittunia loves to be with her friends, be very involved in a sport, shop, and get her homework done...in that order) And she loves to be a help. Yesterday she sent in her application to work with a group that in turn tutors disadvantaged children, serves in a soup kitchen and other needs. This is a little risky, we had to sign medical waviers and John and I needed to research it a little so that she felt she needed to express to us her strong desire to do this. And...She is thinking of becoming an Elementary school teacher as her career. I think she would be inexpressibly amazing at that. What a difference she will make in her little corner of the world,.. in fact, I think she already does. (I really need to post her Jamaican missions trip photos from this past summer!...okay. I rounded them up and here they are. I think they speak for themselves...)
Back to The point of this post....
I see memories being made and a bond that will last even when Bailey has to go most of her growing up years as an only child. This Fall, our family dynamic will be different, will change, Britton and Bailey will be the only children at home and then the next year...well, I hope the Big B's will come home very often and visit.
To think of the future makes me so sad and so excited for them at the same time. And I want to freeze every sweet moment of this time left, while I can.

Sweet, Precious Sisters
Now that his collar bone has healed, he is spending every spare moment snowboarding.
We have scheduled a family 'Cruise' vacation for Spring Break so we can all be together for what John and I hope will be one of those 'Times of our Lives'.





































































































































































































































