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!!

Good Ole Summertime Part II

This summer is FLYING by!! How can school be just 3 weeks away?? We have been so busy having fun (most of the time) that it seems like I blinked and July is almost over. Wow...

So, I'm going to give you a chance to catch up on what we've been doing with a little picture diary... enjoy :)

Bennett has taken to swimming in all bodies of water - lakes included. Personally, I'm not a fan of brown water, so I have (thankfully) been able to avoid getting wet despite his new found love of lake swimming.

Bennett had taken on some mechanic work lately - he seems to be a natural. I did have to help him attach the muffler, but thankfully it attached with velco, which I am particularly good with.

We nurtured 10 caterpillars to butterflies and released the into our backyard. Apparently they didn't like our hospitality because we have yet to see any of them flying around the flowers in our back yard. I happen to think that is rude, seeing as I diligently saved them from Roger on more than one occasion. Oh well. We did learn a lot, I guess.

Sadie got a nice shave at the groomer. We thought that she liked it, but we were wrong. She 'thanked' us by peeing all over our bed. Nice. We rewarded her by buying her a new bed because Roger peed on her bed a few days earlier. Not sure why our animals are torturing us in this way. Any ideas? No? Do you know anyone who wants a dog or a cat? They are really cute. I promise.

Bennett lost another tooth (#3 if you are counting). I didn't think that it was ready to come out, but he pulled it, so I guess it was ready. He already had a nice gap between his top teeth, so there is a BIG gap there now. It's really cute, if you ask me :) The tooth fairy only brings $1 which doesn't elicit much excitement here - I guess Pa has spoiled him with those larger sums of money :)

We picked blackberries and made a cobbler.

Indiana Jones has been hanging around here quite a bit. (and I made him that satchel... isn't that cool? And doesn't that make be a runner for mom-of-the-year??)

I still love watching Bennett sleep. Isn't he sweet??

Last Sunday Brad made his preaching debut and Bennett was the Bible Bearer. Such a special day - I'm so proud of my boys!!

In addition to McWane, where Bennett learned his mechanic skills, we've been to the zoo and Alabama Adventure. The seals are still our favorite. We're not big fans of the new slow-moving zoo train.

This picture is for Gigi...

Bennett finally almost figured out how to steer the bumper cars after about 174 tight right circles...

As you can see, we've been having a really good time! The house is still a mess, but I'm just going to take care of that when school starts. I'm still holding out hope that maybe the house will clean itself. I'm just thankful for this time we've had together :)

How has your summer been??

cutiep

I've been lucky enough to photograph this little guy twice now... he's just starting sit up, and really is a doll. I had a hard time picking just 5 to show you!!

I can't wait to capture him when he's crawling :)

swimming, tomatoes, and cat claws

Lots of fun summertime stuff going on here... all in a lazy kind of way - and I'm loving it!!

Bennett is still a swimming fanatic

The boys have nurtured 4 tomato plants on the back porch for what seems like at least 3 years and they finally got the first ripe one last night (it's a yellow tomato!! Who'd have thought??)

And Roger has red, white and blue softpaws for the 4th.

You can't say we aren't a patriotic family!!!

And yes, he's still on the table!! How do I get him to stop doing that??

What's that you say?? I shouldn't be rewarding him by taking his picture?? Oh, ok....

we have a red stripe in the house!!!

Well, he did it! Bennett took his test today and earned his red stripe in Tae Kwon Do! He amazes me every time... such confidence and determination!! I'm so proud of him!!

Here he is getting his belt...

and here is his best pose...

Watch out! He's tough!!

This week has been a fun one. Bennett has been at the McWane Science Center camp learning about 'the science of super heroes'. He has come home with a handmade cape, mask, jet pack, and today a flying disk. I've been able to get a few details out of him, but mostly I just know that he had a GREAT time and that they had good food and snacks. Oh, and that they watched a Batman cartoon (which he isn't allowed to watch at home) and that he told his teacher that he wasn't allowed to watch that (but only after watching it for the first day :)

I'll leave you with this last picture of the week:

I spend time and effort on the unending laundry...

apparently for Roger to sleep on

(and yes, he's on the dining room table.

and no, he's NOT allowed to be up there.

and no, my rules don't stop him from doing whatever he wants to do...)

How'd we get so lucky???

Bennett tiptoed down the stairs this morning and tapped me to wake me up. As Brad pretended to be asleep, Bennett and I snuck into the kitchen and prepared breakfast in bed for Father's Day. Bennett had the menu all planned out: 3 pieces of french toast, cut half with syrup and white sugar (aka powdered sugar), waffles, pancakes, and eggs. After calculating the amount of time I had to cook, the number of eggs in the fridge, and the amount of food Brad could consume, we settled on french toast, an egg (mc)muffin sandwich, and hot chocolate. Bennett helped me at every step, even 'waking' Brad up to see if he wanted syrup or not. He wasn't quite sure of Brad's choice of peanut butter, so he got both :)

As Bennett climbed into bed with Brad (with his own breakfast, of course) I could see the love and admiration that he has for his daddy. They are an amazing pair. They do everything together. They swim. They camp. They spy. They garden. They read. They go to church. They talk on the phone. They play on the playground. Watching them together brings me so much joy.

Brad has blessed my life by being such a wonderful daddy. When I dreamt of being a mother, I never really thought all that much about what kind of a father I wanted my children to have. But God thought about it - and He sent Brad to be my partner in raising Bennett. Brad's love for Bennett is amazing. He took Bennett as a baby without any hesitation or fear. As I went through my post-partum ups and downs, he and Bennett bonded. And it was strong bond. Brad is a natural daddy. He never complains about spending time with Bennett or any of the duties that are involved in his care. He's nurturing. He's stern. He's fun and adventurous. He doesn't mind getting dirty - and he loves to give hugs and kisses. He gets down on the floor and plays. He tells good made-up stories. He snuggles at bedtime. He prays. He's everything I could have ever asked for for Bennett. Bennett and I are so lucky to have him.

June 2003

June 2009

Bennett is so lucky to have Brad as a daddy - and I'm so lucky to have him as my husband!! I praise God for how wonderfully He created Brad. Happy Father's Day!!