First Day of School

Well, like it or not, our summer came to a screeching halt on Tuesday. The doors to the school officially opened and the boys were actually excited to go back. In fact, this is the first year Isaac has been excited about school. No tears!! Yay!! It makes me feel better knowing I'm not sending him off a nervous wreck.

Here they are! Brotherly love!

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my big 6th grader. Oh my, doesn't even sound right to say that yet! Seriously, this boy was just a baby not long ago, and now he's entering his last year of elementary school. He's growing like a weed. He is as tall as me (ok, which isn't tall when you are my age, but it is kinda tall when you are 11...ha!) He's in a size 10 shoe after starting school in a size 7 last year! In fact, he's about to catch up with his daddy! If anyone knows how we can stop this growth and growing older process, please let me know! In all honesty, I have enjoyed every age and stage so far. Just can't believe how fast it has gone!

And then there's this lil guy. Isn't he cute?? He's a big 2nd grader this year and so excited that he gets to bring a water bottle to class with him this year. If that's all it takes to excite him, so be it. This was the first year it wasn't like trying to put a cat into the bath to get him to school. I was at such peace this year, knowing he was also. Isaac seems to be finally growing some and is really maturing before our eyes. Of course, being the baby we always tease him about putting a brick on his head to keep him from getting any bigger. :-)

And it has been so HOT, HOT, HOT this week! I think you can even "see" the humidity in the pics!

Let Me Hold You Longer

I came across this poem in the book I'm currently reading (book 4 of Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series). There is also a children's book by the same name that this poem is in. As a mom, it really touched my heart. We tend to remember the firsts of everything, but often don't even know when it's a "last" for our children. My boys are growing up way too fast. She wrote this for her son (in the story) who was getting married. Even though my boys aren't anywhere near that stage, it really got to me.  Hope it's meaningful to you as well!

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts.
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst. 
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips...
Last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip...
Last time when you had a binky stuck inside your mouth...
The last time that you crawled across the floor of this old house. 

Last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold,
Last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from the past,
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were the last? 

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade...
Last at bat in Little League, last colored paper made.. 
Last time that I tucked you in for one last midday nap...
Last time when you wore your beat-up Green Bay Packers cap. 

Last time you caught a frog in that old backyard pond...
Last time when you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn,
Silly scattered images to represent your past. 
Would I have taken pictures...if I'd known they were the last? 

The last dark night you slipped in bed and slept between us two,
When last I read to you of God or Horton Hears a Who!
Last time that I smelled your hair and prayed after your shower...
Last time that we held devotions in the evening hours. 

The last time you were M.J. in our games of give-and-go...
Last time that you made an angel in the melting snow.
I never even said good-bye to yesterdays long passed. 
Would I have marked the moments...if I'd known they were the last? 

Last piano lesson, and last soccer goal you kicked...
The last few weeks of middle school, last flowers that you picked.
Last time that you needed me for rides from here to there...
The last time that you spent the night with that old tattered bear.

Last time that I helped you with a math or spelling test,
Last time when I shouted your room was a mess. 
Time and life moved quicker, taking pieces of your past.
Would I have stretched the moments...if I'd known they were the last? 

The last time that you needed help with details of a dance...
Last time that you asked me for advice about romance. 
Last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams.
Last time that you wore a jersey for your high school team. 

I watched you grow and never noticed seasons as they passed.
I wish I could've frozen time, to hold on to your lasts.
For come tomorrow morning life will never be the same. 
You'll pledge forever to your girl, and she will take your name.

And I will watch you, knowing God has blessed you with this day.
I never would have wanted, Luke, to somehow make you stay. 
They say a son's a son until he takes for him a wife.
You're grown-up now;  it's time to go and start your brand new life. 

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss...
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed. 
I'll watch you leave and think how quickly childhood sped past.
Would I have held on longer....if I'd known it was your last?" 

Poem was quoted from the book, "Rejoice", by Karen Kingsbury.  Pages 209-210. 

Yellow Belts

They did it!! Court and Andrew got their yellow belts last week at class. They had to go to Robinson, IL for the test the Saturday before. And then wait until the next class to find out. They say the test for the orange belt, which is what they were testing on, is one of the harder ones because it combines movements from all the belts up to that point. And it had also been a rough week for Andrew health-wise. They weren't feeling confident about their test. So, they were excited to get to class and see the 3 yellow belts laying on the table, since they knew only 3 took that test. :)

Here is Court, going through the line shaking hands and getting his certificate.

Group shot of those who tested and passed this time around.