My boys aren’t home tonight. Today, my brother came to pick them up and take them back to his house for some boys night out shenanigans.  Last weekend, they were at my MIL’s for overnight and a day at the lake. Prior to that, my mom’s house.  And it’s not just over nights – they did an adventure with Miss Molly the other night and were gone for hours!

It’s so nice to have people that we love and trust taking the boys on adventures and sleepovers. Now that they are older, it’s not as big of a deal.  I used to be so worried about them being away from me at night. What if they couldn’t sleep or had a bad dream? Would they remember to brush their teeth and pee?

Now, they apparently go to bed much easier away from home than they do at home! They go to bed on time, they brush their teeth, they use their manners.

Of course, I miss them and am so happy when they come home safely, but it’s <shifty eyes> kind of nice when they are away for a few hours or overnight! It’s not for any reason…I know they’re safe and happy, and we get some quiet down time. Tonight, we randomly went to dinner and then came home and watched tv together. Nothing fancy or exciting, just time together.

I’ll sleep better without them here, oddly, because they won’t be loud in their room(s) or waking me up because they need their covers fixed.

I’m not sure if this is what it was like before we had kids (don’t remember!), but since they’re only gone for a day at a time, I’m liking it!

I was working up in my office while the boys were playing with Miss Molly this morning when I heard the thundering footsteps pitter-patter of little feet on the stairs.

“Mom! MOM!! Look!! I have a loose tooth!” Matt exclaimed, with enthusiasm only an almost 6 year old can muster.

And I looked.  One of his bottom front teeth, LOOSE.  As in going to come out.  As in he’s about to lose his FIRST tooth.

In the name of all that is holy, STOP GROWING UP KID!!!

He hadn’t said anything, so I think it was *just* getting loose, but was pushed along by playing Sock-Em Boppers with his brother this morning.  Since it got loose so fast, Mike called the dentist and they want to see him tomorrow morning.  They want to make sure there’s no permanent damage.  Personally, I think they are being a wee too cautious, and while I know I don’t have to take him in, I’m kinda feeling guilty – like if I don’t there will be some sort of horrible damage.  But if I do, they are sure to say that it’s just a loose tooth.

In the meantime, he’s wiggling and moving it like mad and I still haven’t made this yet!!

Two nights before the end of school, Matt woke up yelling for me about an hour after he’d gone to bed. As per usual, I sprinted up to his room.

‘Mom! I need to do my birthday with my class and you can make cookies for me to take in!’

{me, staring at his like he’d sprouted another head} ‘Uh, okaaayy. But your birthday is in August…’

‘But we can celebrate it in school this week!!’

{me, backing away slowly} ‘Alright, I’ll talk to your teacher tomorrow’ and thinking dude, you seriously woke up to tell me that 2 days before the end of school?!

Come to find out, yes, they do encourage the kids to celebrate their birthdays with the class when it falls during non-school months. So, since Matt wanted to take cookies, cookies I would bake!

My original thought was a plate of cookies. Then I thought, why not individual bags. Then I thought, man, that’s boring!!  For some reason my mind went to those little cookie cups they sell at the cookie place at the mall – you know, cookies filled with frosting or chocolate?  Why not try to make those?!

I broke out the Googles and found that most people use pre-made cookie dough. Hmmm…well, since I had already made a double batch of homemade cookie dough, I guess I would wing it.

I whipped out my mini muffin pans and got to work.

1st batch = FAIL.  Over-filled the tins, so the cookie spilled over the edge.  2nd batch= semi-fail. Not quite done enough in the center. 3rd batch = SUCCESS!

The cookies baked, I let them cool and grabbed a can of vanilla frosting. Using a spoon, I filled them up and then threw some sprinkles on the top for a little pizazz.

Birthday treats a success!

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I can’t believe that Matt is done with Kindergarten. For some reason, this change is much more emotional for me – the step from preschool to kindergarten was a big one, but an easy one when it came down to it.  But the move from Kindergarten to 1st grade? Seems HUGE. Big kids are in grades. Big kids go to first grade!! How did he get so big, so fast?  It’s not that it’ll big a challenge or change for him – he’ll be in the same school and probably have at least half of his current class in his new class (only 2 Kindergarten teacher and only 2 1st grade teachers).  It will be easier for him – he already knows the lay of the land, lots of kids and the teachers.  But for me? For some reason, not so easy.

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We went in to get Matt on his last day and say goodbye to his teacher.  Although I was slightly unsure of her at the beginning of the year, I came to really enjoy and respect her.  She did right by my boy and for that I am thankful.  She understood his delicate nature, she let him learn at his own pace; she let him talk and be himself. She taught him well and he learned a lot from her.  She started to cry as he was saying goodbye to her and that broke my heart open a little wider.

Matt has changed a lot since the beginning of the year – he’s become less shy and a little more 5yo obnoxious. He wants to learn all the time. He’s reading at a 2nd grade level. The changes in his writing alone are amazing. He’s outgrowing his baby brother, just enough to make it feel like a knife in my heart.

The days of him running to me for hugs and cuddles are slipping away.  I’m glad I have all summer to try to hold on for just a little longer.