Life Is Easier...

... than years ago.  I'm not trying to jinx our great life, but recently we've done a few things that reminded me of having younger children.

Went to Nickelcade for Dave's, Nick's birthdays and Father's Day:

We played Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and it brought back memories of the hours I spent, pretending I knew how to play with Ted. He seemed to enjoy my company so I didn't mind.

So glad I don't need to worry about too many video games warping our boys' brains now - they survived!

And birthday parties are easier than before. We had a policy that the kids could invite as many friends as they were years old. Wow, those parties were a production! Now we just buy their gifts from Amazon Wish Lists - so easy!

  Nick asked for a thing called "Dyna Flex Power Ball. Dave's dazzled.

And everybody's happy, even if it's not their birthday. Remember the old days when 

the non-birthday child got a party favor?

And shopping!  The girls and I went clothes shopping for our upcoming trip.  Dressing rooms:

    So I remembered shopping with them before. Maggie earned the award for most particular shopper. We laugh about how I would say "let's just buy it" if she showed the slightest interest in something. Rachel wasn't as fussy but as most teenagers, they both wanted the coolest (and more expensive) fashion.

   Now they're amazingly frugal and modest and all those other good things moms adore about their daughters!

  And the long-distance children post wonderful pictures of their adventures. I never worry about them getting into mischief when they're away from home.

For more detail, go to Elise's fabulous blog:    Telised         She is a master!

    So life does get easier and the hours and worry I spent with the children was so worth it. There's nothing better to me than enjoying them!