On being #7

This is the picture of a 4 year old after biking in a state park for 3 hours, going to the beach for 2 1/2 hours, and swimming in a pond for an hour. Poor Tommy literally crawled into this chair yesterday afternoon and collapsed. It's amazing what this little boy does in a day, and what I take for granted.

With #1, and really, even #2 and #3, an hour or two at the park would be considered a 'big day out'. I bragged about teaching my toddlers to put away their clean laundry. Tommy could probably do the laundry if I asked him. When we are doing a family house clean, I think nothing of handing him a broom, and asking him to sweep off the porch, and know he will do a decent job of it too.

Our older kids weren't riding a 2 wheeler until they were 6 or 7 years old. Last year, our 4 year old got her Dad's wrench out of the toolbox herself and took her 3 year old brother's training wheels off, because "He's too big for these!" By that afternoon, he was riding it on his own. And now these two are riding on bike trails, following their older siblings for hours.

I love being in a place where they are all so independent. I love having no bottles, or strollers... being able to go places and do things without carrying anyone. But every once in a while, I remember how young they still are. And I am amazed by what they do.

The other day I asked Tommy if he wanted to run to the store. He looked at me very seriously with his big blue eyes, and said "but mom, I don't know how to drive."