First of Firsts

Adam, you were all dressed up in your new school clothes and excited to go! We were all up early on this Tuesday and you immediately wanted to get dressed. You said, “School starts today!” After getting dressed you ran over to grab your backpack and asked for help putting it on. School started at 9:00 and you put your backpack on around 7:10!


The three of us went outside around 8:00 to unwind some noticeable energy. We kicked around the soccer ball and took some pictures before it was time to go. Adam, you seemed very excited and I was worried that as we rode over, this excitement would dissipate.


You are going to pre-school a little bit early for your age, but Mom and I thought it would be a great learning and socialization experience for you. “New Beginnings” is the name of your school in York and Jessie is you teacher. This is the same place JD went. Mom and I truly trust and adore Jessie. We know that when we leave you’re in good hands.


We arrived at school at 9:00, Mom, JD and I dropped you off. You were immediately excited as you spied Lighting McQueen across the room. You were playing for about 10 minutes before it was time for Mom and I to leave. We said goodbye and you immediately latched on to me and wouldn’t let go! You cried for about two minutes and that was that! You had an excellent first day.


You’ve been to school now 5 times and Mom and I consistently say what a good move it was to send you. The teachers and parents adore you and you simply love to be in their company. You have started to learn colors, numbers, you went on a bear hunt, and yesterday Mom accompanied your crew to Apple Crest. An apple farm in North Hampton, NH. You had a blast! The trees are small enough where you can pick the apples right off the trees. They had a hayride, apple cider, and HUGE pumpkins.


JD was next off to school. JD shoved off on the Wednesday after Adam. JD, this year was really like old hat for you. You were more excited about your new clothes and seeing your friends than anything else. You hopped right on the Yellow Sub and off you went. I was sad to see you got this year (although clearly it was time!). You’ve had a great summer with your family and I knew you would miss being home. Mom spent tons of time with you, doing projects, hooking you up with your friends, and give you one on one time. You both made some nice strides and seeing you go was kind of a culmination of good things.


You have also been at school for three weeks. Mom touched base with your teacher, Ms Delong this week and she had some nice things to say. She said that you are the most well behaved boy she has in the class. She said that you’ve received numerous little awards for following directions, listening, ect. None of this you have told us!


Anyway, we know that it is very early in the year but Mom and I have talked many times about how well the school year has started off for you both. You each wake up in the morning and are on your way. I don’t expect you will always be this excited to get to school, so I’m making sure that I take notice of this at your young age.

Labor Day Weekend

Such a good summer we had. We traveled throughout New England quite a bit, saw many friends, both local and further away, and had some great quality family time.


Labor Day has come and gone and this year we spent it as we typically do, down in Massachusetts. Prior to shoving off to Mass, on Friday night we went to Chad and Cadens house for a cookout. JD and Adam, you both enjoyed playing on Caden’s new swing set, hunting for fairy houses, and blowing (spilling) bubbles that Chad picked up. We stayed pretty late into the night and had a great time. Lots of laughs as I recall.

This year, like last we had a cookout planned at Cauf’s house for Sunday and one at Nana’s on Saturday. Nana and Uncle Don have had an awful summer dealing with Gram and Grampy. Truly. Usually I do a good job of seeing the glass half full, but in the situation it’s difficult. Anyhow, we thought it would be nice for Nan if Meg and I and our families had a nice quiet Saturday together. The kids got along fantastic. This was the first time, now that Adam and Dave are getting older, that the adults could kind of just hang out and talk.


Asbury and Brick got along for the most part and Livy even warmed up to them at one point. She is fiercely afraid of dogs, not sure why, but she is. As is a good dog to get warmed up to, as he wouldn’t and probably couldn’t hurt a fly.


The next morning, Mom slept in and the three of us met Cauf and Riley at the playground at Oak Grove. We stayed here for a good chunk of time. You both created a game on the slide where one of you would stand over the slide and the other would slide through his legs. Riley even took part of this game a couple times. Cauf and I had a chance to catch up and make dumb jokes while you three did your thing.


Soon enough the afternoon arrived and people started to filter in to Cauf’s backyard. Dunph, Mikey, Kraby, Beniots, Lagos and others ‘arrived early, and we got to eating tips from the Meathouse. JD, you went off to play with Casey, Jamie and Bryan Kane, while Adam spent time with Riley, Noah and Jordan. This was yet another place where the parents are realizing that the kids can play with less supervision and stress than the prior year.


We ended the night here with a nice, solid listening session. You both had gone back to Nana’s to hit the rack, but the Cauf’s, Benoit’s, Mom and I, listened to Bruce and drank whisky well into the night. We took turns picking songs and there was quite a bit of dancing and singing to go around.


We arrived home early on Sunday and did a bunch of yard work. We had a nice weekend but were happy to be home. The week ahead was a big week for you both as school was about to begin.