Children grow up...

Today, for the first time ever, all of the Smiths rode their own bikes on a family bike ride.  Everett still has training wheels but I have not had to push him and help him along as much, so today I said we should try for a family bike ride around the block.  We all got on our own bikes and when we got around the block everyone was doing great, so we kept going!  It was simply awesome.  I brought up the rear and occasionally had to hop down from my bike and give Everett a push, but he did great all by himself.  Madeleine and Lee kept circling back to check on us and they had fun leading the pack.

Everett will start kindergarten in the fall and is becoming more independent every day.  One day last week he didn't want me to tuck him in at night, but I told him he had no say in the matter :)  Children grow up so fast.  And I could not be prouder of my Madeleine and my Everett. 

It seems to me that growing up for a child and letting go for a parent is the process of family life.