That's a Wrap on Romney's 2nd Decade

Well, now she's 20. It happened - I'm down to one teenager! And I have a confession. Since I'm writing this so far after it happened....I can't actually remember very well what we did for Romney's big Two-Oh.  I had to call her and ask her. Birthdays are a little different when you're older! She reminded me that she had to work that day and it was kind of low-key, plus she had a friend party on a different day. 

We met up in the evening and went to a Vietnamese place for dinner called Little Saigon over in Sugarhouse. So super delicious. I got pho and drank every last drop. And then back to our house for treats, presents, and a movie. And...it was kind of late for a movie so instead we watched Parks and Recreation. 

Gifts? Lets see. I gave her a new little backpack because she likes stealing mine. Emma gave her a cute little fried egg stuffy made by Jelly Cat and also a pair of earrings. I'm dying a little bit. I can't remember what else!

Despite the very low-key birthday, it is always delightful to celebrate our Romney Ann. She's just so fun and pleasant and supportive and wise. She loves being with us, she loves going on drives and getting drinks and chatting about all of the things, and helping me pick clothing out. She has been working so hard - she started a couple of new jobs over the summer, first at Great Harvest and then with the local school district working in their after care program. I thought she'd hate it (probably due to the times I had to substitute teach at the elementary school and despised it) but instead she's thriving. She's taking care of herself and in a super lovely positive relationship with the most wonderful boy. I'm just so proud of her. 

Last Day First Day

Summer (finally) started drawing to a close. The sad part of this was that Emma's job at This is the Place had to wrap up. Emma had the most delightful summer working there - she of course made so many friends and had such a great time learning the music and performing dances and songs all day long. I am very sorry to admit that I meant to go see her all summer long and just didn't make it until her very last day. I felt bad about that but also was so so glad I was there to see her last day. It was so fun! The songs they sing are just so charming and funny, plus the dances and Emma also gets to play her violin a little. I know she really wants to go back next year. And maybe this Christmas too. We were both a little teary as we walked out of the park.

 

The very next day was Emma's first day of school - she is now a JUNIOR. I find this to be completely bizarre. I....don't even know what to say. She's not allowed to be this old. 

 

She is taking a theater class for the first time, which is funny because theater is her LIFE. She is bummed out because her madrigals class and orchestra class are scheduled at the exact same time - for a while she tried to kind of do both and just jump back and forth. Shockingly enough, that did not work out. She has picked madrigals and hopes to take orchestra again next year. She's in drivers ed and she and I are driving a lot together, which is, you know, just...delightful. Actually she's doing a great job but it's always nerve-wracking. She gets less mad at me than the other two did. She just laughs at me when I clutch the door handle or push on my imaginary brake. Sweet girl. The thing that helps us the most is listening to all the musicals we love on shuffle and singing along. 

Love my girl so much.

Little Bird Leaves the Nest

 How can someone who looks like this...

...tell me that she's all grown up and moving out of my house?

Not possible. But somehow it happened. 

Way back in the spring Romney let us know that she had friends moving into a house together and she was going to be part of it. To be totally honest, Troy and I weren't too sure about it. Mostly because we didn't want Romney having to earn and spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars every month when she could live at home for free. But she was determined (which is exactly like her, by the way) and for several months she and her bestie Anna and the other two roommates planned and planned and planned. They had so much fun preparing, and they did a lot of shopping. Romney became an absolute master of finding deals on Facebook Marketplace. 

Then late in July the girls began moving into the house. Romney's room is in the basement, which at first seemed a little dank and grim, but she did a fantastic job making her room into her home. Although the downside is that it's in the basement, the upside is that it's by far the biggest bedroom in the house. Romney was able to create a little bedroom side and a living room side with a couch (from FM) and a TV (from us). She collected all sorts of artwork and lamps and furniture and got it all set up. And it was really cute.

We had a really special family experience then. There is something we do in our church called dedicating a space. When we build new church buildings or temples, a blessing is said over the space to make it sacred. We often do it when we move into new homes as well. And Romney wanted her room to be dedicated. So Chase gave a special prayer to ask for a blessing on Romney's room. It was really lovely to kneel together in a family circle and ask that this new home for Romney would be a positive place, and safe, and happy. And welcoming. I'm so grateful for moments like those. 

And you know, it's been a great place. Yes, Romney has to work hard to earn the money to live there. And she loves it. She loves her roommates, she loves taking care of herself, making food, grocery shopping, all of the things. We like to say that she's loving playing house. But really she's not playing. She's just getting started and she's doing a great job. I'm so proud of her.

Here are my three darlings, spending an evening without Troy and me, just playing games and enjoying time together. Fills up my heart.

Ok and what do you think happened pretty much the minute that Romney moved out? Of course the other two had to switch rooms. Troy and I had always said that if we had three kids in the house, the two girls would share the big room and Chase would get the small. But with only two kids in the house, the older kid would get to choose. And as much as Chase loved the brand new little bedroom we fixed up for him, he wanted to be in the big room to be with his lizard Omnom. The switch was arduous but also fun to get everything fresh and clean and give the kids their own spaces.

The best part of all is that Romney's house is five minutes away, right by Emma's high school. She can hang out there after school if I can't pick her up yet, and we get time with Romney all the time. It is even sweeter to me now when the five of us are together.

Life is good. Having kids grow up is a little stinky, but also miraculous and wonderful.