Luuuuucy, I mean Liiiiisa, what have you done?

A few months ago I started thinking about the idea of having a blog. It was during a time when I was really missing my boys & I came to the realization that life as I knew it was probably never going to be the same again. All those years of "sameness" that used to drive me crazy (homework, soccer practices, laundry) are gone now....everything is new & I'm not liking it so much. The holidays were a perfect example...the 4 of us have always gone to a tree farm together to pick out & cut down our "perfect tree" with lots of laughter & many pictures being taken for the family scrapbook. Not this year....Boy #2 stayed in Cinci until 4 days before Christmas to be with his GF & my husband, aka Mr. Man, was swamped with activities at the church that needed the "sound man." So Boy #1 & I went......just the two of us. It was very bittersweet, as I'm finding many things are these days. It was wonderful to have some time alone with #1-he is growing up into such an incredible, young man. He has amazed me every single day that he's been home from school! I wish I had his drive & determination! Sorry, proud Mama moment getting in the way of blogging! And, no, I am not crying now, although I'm sure there'll be lots of that as the blog posts go along. Decorating the tree, always a family event, was completed this year by Mr. Man & me, alone, no children. Another end of an era. I know, I know, I keep telling myself how lucky I am.....we were all home together on Christmas & we were blessed to have my Mom, Dad, & sister with us. I guess I am a creature of habit. I worked hard as a mom to create traditions for our family, and now.....it just feels like they are going by the wayside. I'm trying really hard not to have a continuous pity party for myself. I will take whatever time with my boys, whenever I can get it! I'm proud of both of them. We've worked all their lives to teach them to be strong & independent, so why can't I celebrate that that's exactly what they've become? But where does that leave me?