Heavy Heart

Unfortunately things in life aren't always happy. This has been one of the saddest weeks of my life. My dearest friend's 3.5 year old nephew died earlier this week. I am so sad and have shed so many tears for his family.

1st day of school

Yesterday was Bryce's first day of first grade. He loved it! As much as I was looking forward to him going to school I was sad that he was gone all day. I missed him terribly in the afternoon. Natalie and I kind of didn't know what to do with ourselves. We are so used to having him around. But all that matters is that he had a great first day and second day, too.

First day pose

Walking to his "Cottage" classroom

Natalie's in love

We went to storytime at the library with Christine and her kids. When we left Natalie said bye to Benjamin, but he wasn't paying attention to her. She got upset and wouldn't leave until he gave her a hug. She even chased him down the sidewalk to get him to hug her. Then when they hugged it was so cute. They gripped each other tight. I think Natalie loves her BenBen. I just wish I had a camera handy. Here's a pic of them together from the 4th of July.

pictures

I love this picture of my son. It's my favorite right now.

I also want to thank Christine for taking this awesome picture of my son.

Last year I read an article in a parenting magazine about taking your child's picture in the same grown-up outfit every year. The article used a bathing suit from I belive the 1950s. I decided to do this with Natalie using my wedding dress.

Here she is last year at age 2 and this year at 3.

She has more hair now!

aww wonderful summer evening

The temperature was finally below 100 today! Woohoo. The news said it hasn't been below 100 since July 17. I Hate the heat. I hate Cold more than the Heat, but this 100+ temps have been killer.

Anyway, the evening turned out to be fantastic. The kids and I went over to the Apples park and they played with Benjamin and Emily while Christine and I chatted. It didn't matter that we had spent nearly all day together. Somehow we never run out of things to say. It's amazing really. We go on and on and on and on. :)

Bryce read most of Great Day for Up this evening. Yay! There was no way he could have read that much at the end of May so he's come a long way in just a couple of months.

A new beginning...

Bryce starts school in a week. He's going to be in 1st grade. How did that happen? That's the grade I taught. When did he get to be so big?

He'll be going to another new school. He's been to 2 schools already-1 for preK and 1 for kindergarten. Hopefully, this will be the last new school until junior high.

I think I am ready for him to go back to school. I am sure it will be an adjustment for us all. He'll be gone all day long for the first time. It will be just me and Natalie all day for the first time.

He read most of Go Dog Go to me the other day. I think he's ready for school, too.