What a Difference a Year Makes...

for me, anyway :) I didn't cry on the first day of school this year! (or the 2nd, for that matter!!)

Yes, Bennett started FIRST GRADE on Thursday. It's hard to believe that he could possibly be in the first grade, but it's true.

We met his teacher on Wednesday. He had been telling me (and Gigi and Nana) that he was nervous about school starting. Just a little. He told Gigi he was nervous about getting bad grades (interesting, since last year he got many a frowny face without any apparent guilt...) I think he was more unsure of what to expect - and after meeting his teacher (who is so cute and great) and seeing the room, he was not nervous any more. It may have been the calculator that got him... that was what he chose to play with while I filled out the paperwork...

Here he is on the first day in our normal first-day-of-school picture spot...

Here he was on his first day of school (mother's day out) in 2004... (now that makes me want to cry!!) He's still just as cute :)

Please note that this year, he didn't have to use the kindergarten 'bag' so he got to choose his own backpack. Of course, we got... Starwars!!!

He was happy as he got out of the van - excited to start a nap-free day of school.

When I picked him up, he reported that it was a good day. He ate chicken nuggets for lunch. Did 'fitness type things' in PE. He didn't get to share his 'Me Stew' yet. He went to art and made a picture of him sitting on the couch (complete with pillows, a blanket, and Pavel's cabinet in the background). I can't wait to see that picture! They played outside of the playground (the playground was closed). And they read Junie B. Jones (which we don't really approve of, but it allowed us a teaching moment about how we can listen to those types of things, but not act that way...) And - he didn't have to take a nap...

First grade promises to be a great year!!

The more things change, the more things stay the same...

Well, it has been a whirl-wind couple of weeks... and it looks like the next week will be just the same. I want to make time stand still and delay the start of school for oh, say, another couple months.

We had a great time in Michigan last week. It was the first vacation in a VERY long time that I was not ready to come home. We really could have stayed for at least another week. I'll post a few pics in my next post...

Right now I'm thinking about Bennett. I always get a little sentimental as school starts, don't I? :) Here are a few pictures of him in Michigan. Brad's cousins, Ryan and Keith, own a landscaping business, and it is every boy's (big and little) dream come true. They have so many 'toys' that I think Bennett's eyes just about popped out of his head when he got the chance to see those BIG machines up close.

And actually DRIVE them...

There must be big machines like this in heaven for all the boys (again, regardless of age!!) to ride around on. Bennett was really a good dumper-operator (what do you call that big bucket in the front called??) He took it all very seriously :)

It reminds me of what seems like just yesterday - but it was really almost 5 years ago - when we visited Keith and Ryan's shop. Again, Bennett was so excited he could barely stand it. Just look at him...

At this point in his life, Bennett yelled 'UCK!! UCK!!' every time we saw a truck. He said it for EVERY truck. No matter how many we saw in a row. Seriously, as we drove around, I would sometimes think I was going to go crazy with how many times he said 'UCK!! UCK mommy!!'

I remember those times with such sweetness. He was (and still is!!) such a sweet boy. So much passion for life and new experiences. Ahhh. And then, when I think of what's still to come... wow! I'm so blessed to have the chance to be his mommy! (He tells me that he will always call me mommy. I told him that he might change his mind one day :)

Oh, and at least he's not too big to still fit in the bucket!!