Cousins take DC

this week

Ice cream after first week at school

Labor Day with the Tafels

Granola from Nana

Heading to DC

Cousin love

Air and Space

Dinner with Tafels

Celebrating the end of the first week of school.  Special friends.  Wonderful memories.

Tea party on a rainy afternoon (after Berk's 2nd day of school)

CanCan lunch date with Nan on Berk's first day of kindergarten

First Day of Kindergarten!

Big day!  Today was Berkley's first day of kindergarten...how can that be?  

It began the night before...we baked healthy peanut butter cookies, we carefully selected his clothes and laid them out, we packed a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack.  Mommy made a heart shaped note for his lunch box and we all signed it.  The camera was out....and we felt ready.  

Early this morning I baked cinnamon rolls and brewed extra strong coffee.  Berk showered with his daddy (who was also leaving early for a trial in Virginia Beach) and dressed himself (Maddie snuck into his room at night and chewed through his new St. Christopher's belt.. we managed to recover).  By 7:15 we were taking the obligatory 'first day' pictures.  I woke up Nan and we were leaving by 7:30.  Traffic was horrible up Cary and through Three Chopt so we ended up getting there in the middle of carpool - known as late to Berk.  He wanted me to call the school to let them know he was running late and not to start anything fun without him.  When it was our turn in car pool, the teacher opened the door and Berk shot out and never looked back.  Even though I wanted to cry for thousands of reasons...because I miss him, because I am so proud of him, because he is so big, because he is so little, and because - could he please stop growing?... I didn't.   

He is so happy.  And I am happy for him.  And amazed by this little boy.  

Grow big, Berkley.  Grow strong.  Grow happy.  

Gramps

Look who came to visit me this weekend all the way from Culver, Indiana...

I love you, Gramps!  You are so special to me and such a support in my life.