SMILE!

Something's missing around here!

What a cute smile! Love it!

Evan was so excited to get more money from the tooth fairy and now he has less teeth to brush!

Tiny Dancer

Chloe started ballet today and loved it! When we asked her if she wanted to go back next week she said, "I am definitely going back!" I have to say, I thought she was gorgeous in her ballet attire! I took ballet for several years and loved every second of it! In fact, I had dreams of being a ballerina at one time. Being in a dance studio definitely brings back good memories.

First Day, First Grade

Evan is loving first grade!! He has a wonderful teacher this year, Mrs. Rust. I took their picture together on the first day, but I didn't have the card in the camera! He is also absolutely thrilled that his best friend Carson is in his class. He has an old friend from preschool and a couple of others from his class last year, but he is also enjoying making new friends. They don't have ice cream this year, bummer, but he will settle for the cookies they sell on Fridays. He's doing great reading and we are trying to get back into the swing of things.

This is our busiest time of year and this year is no exception. Back to school means crazy times for this family.. homework, lesson plans, football, and lots of activities. Chloe started ballet this week and Evan will start fall baseball and soccer soon! It can all feel pretty crazy sometimes, but it's so much fun!

The Last Arrow

My dad (a great and wise man and one of my few readers) posted this poem in the comments of my last post. I'd read it before, but I have to admit it has much greater meaning now.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far;
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
~Khalil Gibran

And so it is with joy that I allowed the Archer to bend me today so that the last little arrow that I have been trusted with may be sent forth into the great wide world (preschool).

Isn't she the most adorable arrow you've ever seen?

She loves her teacher, Ms. April.

So, yes, it was with joy that I watched her proudly carry her little lunchbox into her room. It was with joy that I watched her greet her teacher happily and sit down at a table and begin playing. It was with joy that I kissed her goodbye with barely a glance from her. And it was with much joy that I hugged her tight at the end of the day today. Chloe had a wonderful first day of preschool. Not the first tear. Nothing but confidence. She has been sent forth into the world. Her first real step of independence. I know she will do great! It will be my ultimate joy to see God's plan unfold in her life.

Thank you, Daddy, for reminding me of my role as a parent. And now, even though I have to admit that the sadness is still buried deep down inside- the stone in the pit of my stomach and the lump in my throat even as I type this post, I will quote another wise man that my dad introduced me to as a young child:

"Yesterday is over my shoulder, so I can't look backward too long. There's just too much to see waiting in front of me and I don't think that I can go wrong."

~ The great Jimmy Buffett, my friends.

I love you, Chloe! I am so very proud of you today on your first day of preschool.

The Night Before Preschool

Any girl knows that before the first day of school, you must pick out your outfit and try it out to make sure it is perfect!

Lookin' Good! She's ready to go!