Well...now Sterling's summer is officially over. He started school today. That's not the only thing that's over...Elementary School is a thing of the past for him because he started Junior High today....I don't know if I'm ready for this....he is growing up too fast.It seems like yesterday that it was Ben starting 7th grade...and now he's 27, married and Sophie Belle's daddy.
Above is Sterling in one of the apple trees in our backyard. He is doing his traditional "THE THINKER" pose that he usually does everytime I try to take his picture ...(he thinks it will be funny to have a bunch of pictures with the same pose and this is his chosen favorite) ....he's a typical 12 year old...he likes to tease his Mom.
I know I'm gonna love this picture forever...even with the thinker pose...a kid should always like climbing trees, don't you think?
Last week I was in my studio which overlooks the backyard and saw him on the swings with a few of his buddies. I thought I would capture some of his summer on film.I asked him if I could take a few pics for his scrapbook pages...and the posing begins.
It's really hard to get a serious picture of Sterling because he is rarely serious!
Obviously he has outgrown our slide...he thinks it's funny to use it anyway...anything for a laugh.
I caught him by suprise on this one...no silly grin.
See what I mean about the posing?
And the silly faces?
He's jumping here but you can't tell because I didn't get his feet in...too tall for the camera...really too tall for a 12 year old - he's 5 foot 8.
This is Matt and Mark...two of the six 12 year olds that regularly hangout at our house on a daily basis.
They decided to join in the photo session.
Good friends are a good thing.
Crazy friends are even better.
They're ALL too big for the swings...I think that's kind of sad...these 3 have been buds since 3rd grade and I can remember back then watching them play in the backyard through my studio window, they fit on the swings then... ...big sigh.
Don't get me wrong...it's exciting to watch them grow up but remember, I've been through this before with Ben and I now know that as I am watching Sterling grow up....I'm also watching the end of his childhood....sad but true.I enjoy having Sterlings friends here but now it's the end of summer and I must say I'm looking forward to having the house to myself during the day...which means a little peace and quiet.
No loud video games...
No deafening electric guitar playing...
No running up and down the stairs and in and out of the house about 50 times per hour...
No air soft gun wars with all of the battle gear left everywhere...
No basketballs banging against the garage door...
No tents, tables, chairs & yes quilts strewn all over the back yard for huts
No bikes piled up behind my car...
No girls screaming because the boys are teasing them...
and I might actually have some food left in my freezer, fridge and pantry at the end of the day.
All that's good right?....I'm still a little sad.
What a great post! I feel your happy reflective sadness. I'm so glad that we have memories and pictures and grand children. Thanks for your phone message too. It brightened my day today when I listened to it on the school playground :)
ReplyDeleteI love your description of Sterling. A typical 12 year old. If he's into posing, it will probably last quite a few years. I think you're fortunate to have the experience of an older child because then you can appreciate (or not!) each stage that they go through. I feel your pain too. My youngest is 16 (Sean) and he went through his terrible moody 15th year and is finally back to normal. Hallelujah! Now I can begin enjoying the stages again! I saw my boys in Sterling, and that brought back great memories. 12 year old boys are the best!
ReplyDeleteHi Lori .... I know how you feel .... I'm sad too .... today is the second to last first day of school for my 16 year old baby ..... junior year here he comes ..... (quiet house here I come!)...... anyhow, it really does feel like it was just last year that I was dragging my older son (now in his second year of college) up to the bus stop for the first day of kindergarten ... and here I am today hauling my younger son up off the sofa , away from the tv, to "GET MOVING" so he doesn't miss the bus to start his junior year of high school ......YIKES !!!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest is a Junior in High School and the house is so quiet with only her home. I know what you mean about them growing up.
ReplyDeleteCherish every precious moment! My first born is 31 and has his own home, the middle child just turned 29 and lives on his own, the only one still home is my 16 year old baby! I still wish I could go back and hold them when they were little...but it is fun to be able to discuss current events, books and movies etc. with them now that they are men.
ReplyDeleteLori he is a cutie!
ReplyDeleteMy middle son is 11 so I know all about the posing and cheesy grins when you try to take a picture.
I am so with you on being done with video games now that summer is over WOO HOO!
Still it is hard to drop them off at school, sniff sniff
....OH Lori.....I'm teary-eyed!!
ReplyDeleteOooooh, what a nice post! Congrats to Sterling starting Jr. High. A big milestone (for you both!). I loved your "Good friends are a good thing. Crazy friends are even better." and the photos to go with it!
ReplyDeleteMy oldest son just turned 29 and a family of his own too... my youngest just about to start jr. college... it goes way too fast - and your "no" could have been mine... now it's my "wish" list. xoxom
Wonderful pictures Lori and such a handsome boy! They grow up so fast ... keep enjoying him my dear :)
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed the photos of Sterling and his pals. It's nice to see young people having so much fun, and hamming it up for the camera.
ReplyDeleteI do feel for you watching your little boy grow up so quickly. It must be a bitter sweet moment in your life.
Lori, what a wonderful post! The pictures of Sterling are so cute. I so enjoy your posts about your children - you thoroughly enjoy your family. And to have a little granddaughter, too, how wonderful. Enjoy, Lori! Carol
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. They grow up so fast. I try to take lots of mental as well as actual photos. It's all gone in a blink of an eye.
ReplyDeleteOh boys, you can always could on them to make a day interesting. I know it probably way to quiet at your house today.
ReplyDeleteMy boys loved to climb trees too.
Sterling is so handsome...the girls will be flocking around soon. What great photo memories. Enjoy the quiet house...it's a good thing too.
ReplyDeletePat
Thanks for visiting my blog Lori and leaving such a lovely comment!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures make me laugh. He reminds me so much of my 14 year old. It really is such a great age to be 12-14. No responsibilities, no worries. It doesn't get much easier than that. Mine is going through the voice change thing! Now that is crazy after 7 girls. We've not been through that before, thats for sure. And I don't have brothers. So it is weird sometimes to have a boy in the house.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! Lori, I feel your sadness/happiness...been thru that with my two. Wishing you lots of good memories in Jr High Sterling! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute son you have! I remember when my son was that age..he's on his mission now!
ReplyDeleteI love the posing! I have one son that is a camera hound and the other doesn't like having his picture taken. Kids are a lot of fun and I miss having young ones around.
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