School is ending, and it's bittersweet.

Last night as I lay in bed, I got to thinking about the kids and summer. Then I got hit over the head with an "ah ha" moment, and realized these last 5 days of school are the last 5 days that Nicholas and Samantha will ever be in the same school.

Next year Nicholas will spread his wings and fly off to middle school, he'll go from being an Eagle, to becoming a baby Falcon 6th Grader. Middle school is a scary place. I so wish that it was "Jr. High", which is what I attended. 7th and 8th. It seems more manageable.

As I watched the kids interact with their friends at the bus stop, I became a little nostalgic. It feels like just yesterday, Nicholas climbed aboard those super tall scary steps, and the bus driver called him the wrong name. Just yesterday, he wore that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle backpack that was half the size of him. Just 2 years ago this fall, Samantha joined her big brother on the bus that would take her to "his" school, that would prepare her for life. I have heard it best said that Kindergarten teaches you how to "do" life, and 1st grade teaches you how to "do" school. I would agree with that. These school years are fleeting. The older they get, the faster the years seem to go by.

If I let my mind wander to much, I start to have anxiety attacks. We'll be having our third (and last) baby in the fall. It will also be the beginning of a new chapter in the Cook household, a chapter of fresh beginnings, kids at two different schools, and a baby at home. I am sure that I will appreciate the "at home" years of 1-5 much more with this being our last baby. Knowing now, what I wish I would have known then, that these years are so fleeting. For when the baby begins kindergarten, we will also have a middle schooler (again) and Nicholas will be a SENIOR in high school.

The only constant thing is change. You just gotta learn to roll with the punches, and make sweet memories along the way.