looking through and playing with old pictures

makes me realize just how much my boys have been changing over the years.. yeah i mean there is the obvious'ness that they are getting bigger each year and growing more each year.. but i dont think its until you pull out that baby photo that was taken 16 years ago that you think *wow was he ever that small?* or the time that you find that photo of your child doing something only a toddler could imagine up and you realize that, that very toddler is now going into the 3rd grade!! that the babies you brought home from the hospital, so helpless and new.. are now running around and talking and playing and doing everything a child should be doing..
i hope that i am raising my boys right, teaching them to be good husbands and fathers, showing them down the right paths.. hoping.. heck i know i am ~
it amazes me how much you see online.. kids the same age as my oldest looking for the next party and planning on how much they can drink and to me its just *sad* yes *sad* because my sons biggest concern is *can i take my boat out tomorrow* or *im going fishing tonight* .. his biggest worry isnt getting a drivers license.. his main concern is getting his shell fish license so that he can spend the summer clamming in the sound with his *uncle* chris..
and you know what? i love the fact that he is keeping his youth.. i love the fact that all of my boys are keeping their childhood and that they are above all PROUD to be who they are.
i sat in the dinning room the other day listening to them all giggle and laugh together and have a good time.. i smiled at ron and he smiled back and you know it was the best hour.. so bedtime was pushed back.. but it was worth it that night to hear them having fun playing..
i watch little ron with owen and i know .. yes i know that he is going to be an awesome dad. sure he was intimidated by the size of his new baby brother when he was first born but now, he is as comfortable as anyone.. picking him up and holding him, playing with him etc.

i would love to have just one more bitty baby.. one more to complete our family that we have always dreamed of.. but you know if that never happens, i know how lucky i am and i thank the stars for the boys i have..