First Day of 5th Grade

Every year as August draws to a close, I wonder where the summer has gone. It's my busiest time of the year and before I know it, another summer has slipped away.

I might not even know the time had passed if it weren't for the notices from Wonder Boy's school that it's time to gather supplies and gear up for the first day of classes.

This year is a bit of a transition for Wonder boy, for all of us really. You see, this year Wonder Boy is in a new school. He's leaving behind the familiar halls of our neighborhood elementary school and walking through the doors of the area Intermediate School. He's going from 2 teachers covering all of his class material to a different teacher for each subject. He's got a locker to find and a combination to remember.

It's a lot of changes to tackle at once. But I have no doubt Wonder Boy will sail right through it.

It's not very obvious in these photos, but the Boy is as excited as he is nervous. Sure, there are a lot of changes to swallow, but there's a lot of independence that comes with those changes. And he's been ready for that for quite some time now.

I think the harder part will be for us ... remembering that he's not our elementary school kiddo any longer.

Somehow ... I don't think he'll let us forget.

Someone Press Pause, Please

There are days, like today for instance, where I would love to be able to stop (or at least slow down) time - for at least a little while.

Yes, I'm having one of those soppy mommy moments where I realize that right before my very eyes my boy is growing up.

And I'm not just talking about him getting physically taller, though he is doing that as well. It hasn't been like when he was small and would reach some major milestone that we could celebrate, call the grand parents and get excited. No, this seems more subtle than that.

I'm noticing little things - often it's something we no longer have to remind him to do; sometimes it's a genuine offer to help out and that moment when you realize it really would be a big help to have him join in; sometimes it's a look where he so reminds me of Wonder Dad; and other times it's sharing a moment together when I realize I'm just being myself, not just his "mom."

I don't know if any of this makes any sense, but I wanted to get it down before the moment slips away again.

Poor Sick Puppy

Our puppy princess is learning a tough lesson right now. She's learning that licking (or swallowing, I'm not sure which at present) a toad is not the best snack choice.

We'be been to the vet twice in the last 24 hours trying to get her tummy to stop its rumbling. And I think we've finally rounded that corner, but she sure did give us a scare. You can tell in this photo just how bad she must be feeling - not only by the sad droopy face, but by the fact that for the first time since she was a small pup, we don't have to restrain her from charging me when she see me with the camera.

Poor, poor puppy girl. Hopefully she will think twice before sampling the amphibians in the back yard next time. (One can hope, right?)