The Age of Happiness: 6 to 12-years-old

Summertime is over for my kids. They've traded in their bathing suits for school uniforms. It was one of the best summers yet. 6 amusement parks (Six Flags, Sea World, Happy Hallow, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Coney Island, and (my favorite) Fete Paradiso), 3 beaches, and a ton of cousin time. I don't think we could have done much more.

This NYMag article states parents are the happiest when their kids are between the ages of 6 and 12. I remember reading it 3 years ago and pining for the day my kids fell into that category. While my boys don't actually turn 6 for a few weeks, I can already see the light. No longer do we worry about them around the pool. They swim. No longer do we worry about them being monsters on an airplane. They sleep or watch shows the whole time. No longer do we worry if we want to take an afternoon nap. They'll leave us alone. They still have tantrums when things don't go their way, but who doesn't? I had one yesterday. They fight like all siblings do and it drives us bonkers. They're too loud in the morning. But the major things? Like going to bed a 8pm, being excited to be with us, and turning on Netflix by themselves in the morning? All that adds up after a while.  

Things are just starting to get good around here. We have to stay focused though. No more babies! My brats have never been so easy. But sometimes, especially now that I'm seeing the results of 6 years of hard work, it's tempting to take the plunge again. But no. I'll enjoy these next 6 years of happiness with Rob until we have an apartment full of teenagers. I can only imagine the amount of crap we'll have to deal with then. I just hope we'll finally have 2 bathrooms to help us get through it.  

 Keep reading to see more pictures of Owen taking the plunge in our friend's pool in San Jose (although my favorite one was taken on my iPhone and posted on Instagram) . . .