Too cute to miss out on

Holly is giving away a box of adorable cute pumpkins. Go check it out here.

A New Chapter

August 2004

In August of 2004 Sam started pre-k, and after a few weeks decided he liked school. Today was Sam's sixth first day of school. He started fourth grade. It's his last year of elementary school. He is part of the "biggest kids at school" group. Watching him leave for school this morning was hard. How is he growing up so fast and how can I stop it? How do I only have nine years left until he graduates from high school. The past nine years have flown by. How do I make the next nine years slow down?

And Benjamin . . . how did he get to be so wise, so confident, so funny? Just yesterday he was a tiny little boy, and now he's in second grade. Next year he'll be at school all by himself. How is it possible that my little Benjamin is big enough to even be in school?

I'm so excited for the boys. They both have great teachers and they have great friends. They are going to have a fantastic year. Still, I can't help but notice the quiet in the house this afternoon. I don't have to break up any fights or broker any peace treaties, but I also don't have my buddies to hang out with. I don't have Sam to show me what cool things he just invented or Benjamin to share some odd fact he just read. It's the first day of school and I miss them already.

It's going to be a long year.

The Nature of the Beasts

Having Sam and Nicholas together is like having a lion and tiger together. Both frightfully strong willed and stubborn. Both eager to fight and assert dominance. And even though Sam is five and a half years older that Nicholas, we can never really be sure who will win the match. Nicholas got the point this time, and we all got a good laugh.

(Nicholas is the one wielding the water gun and Sam is the one trying to escape.)

I can't believe it's that time again

Last Friday was Eliana's second birthday. It's hard to believe that in two years, our beautiful little princess has grown from this
to this.

Round four of the terrible two's.

Bring. It. On.