Pinch me...

Hans and Zach, sporting their backpacks on the first day of Kinder and 3rd Grade, Aug 24, 2009


Elle, first day of Fifth Grade, Aug 24, 2009


I'm feeling a little like Macaulay Culkin...I'm Home Alone! Hans is proudly sitting in his Kinder classroom, and Elle is in with her new "Learning Community/LC" at Wilkerson Intermediate. I'm listening to the morning news and drinking coffee!

Hans' first day success is largely due to Elle, and our neighbor Zach. For some reason, Hans is choosing not to respond to most of my enthusiastic pronouncements that Kindergarten is going to be so cool. I finally realized I needed to recruit help from the next generation. Kevin was already out the door to work early this morning for a staff meeting, so, Elle got Hans cheerfully dressed, I tried to feed him a hearty breakfast. Then, Zach, our 8 year old neighbor from across the street, volunteered his morning to be Hans' special buddy. He ensured Hans took all his meds, brushed his teeth and they were out the door. Getting all of these steps done with Hans by 7:40 am has been freaking me out all summer! Zach rolled in as the little miracle we needed. How sweet. Zach told me he figured he would make himself available for at least the next few weeks. The boys told silly fart jokes all the way to school, which I joyfully ignored, and Zach and Elle marched Hans right into his classroom. I hung back in the hall, lest Hans get one look at me and think better of it all.

So, school, Day One, is going okay, so far, so good! Thank Goodness, and thank you for sending Hans all the cool school vibes. Keep 'em coming for a few weeks. I am hoping this is not all too good to be true!!!

Oh, on the soccer front, we made it through our first tournament. The girls didn't chalk up a win, but they look like a great group, and I think all they need is a chance to work together for a few weeks and things will come together for them. We had a teammate break her arm, and the little trooper came back out to the field to cheer the rest of us on for game two. At least our losses allowed us to head home early Sunday. We were able to do some lunch shopping, and I had time to cook a real meal:)

Love, Lara

I am thinking so much about all the "angel" moms I know. These big milestone days have got to be tough to face with our their gorgeous little one to dote over. I'm sending my love...Vickie, Charon, Theresa, Joyce, Michele, Leigh Ann, Leah, Paige, Kerri, Bernie, Becky, Shelly, and all of you who have lost a child and might be having tough moments today.