First and Foremost...

This post is sponsored by a series of firsts...

It's that time of year when we begin new schedules -- New routines -- New chapters of books both literally and otherwise.

This big man of ours is starting the first grade.  It's such a milestone.  Huge. 

It's the end of those Pre-k and Kinder years where there's more play than rigorous learning.  It's the start of his true education.  He is going to do so well, but man... it ain't easy sending off a piece of your heart into the world for longer stretches of time.  He chose his threads, the contents of his lunchbox, and together we snapped on a lucky rabbit's foot to the zipper of his back pack.

No surprise - he rocked it!

On day two, he brought home a certificate from his sweet teacher as proof.

This is the start of a friendship between brothers.

Boone is getting "so damn awesome" as my little Ace Face said the other day.  :)  After I snorted Diet Coke out of my nose, I smiled.  My little man who likes to push limits, try new things, and talk like one of the big boys... (sigh) will soon be coaching a little protege.

Sans language - I hope.

This is the beginning of a career doing stunts.

My little Dax Man is an X-Gamer.  He is constantly popping wheelies, riding curbs, jumping off the neighbor's ramp.  PLUS, he has started combing his own hair in this style:  It's called "dragon hair" if you ask him.  And if you ask Ace to describe it he might be inclined to say, "It's so damn awesome."

Oh Boys.

This is not the first time Boone has crawled into a tight spot... 

 Or bathed in my big sink after a particularly messy meal...

Or baffled his mama in the evening light walking around on those teeny, tiny legs of his.

This is the first time I've been asked if I've ever caught a "double grasshopper". 

"What do you mean?"  I reply.

"You know, when there are two grasshoppers stuck together?"

Oh boys.

And this is not the first time I can barely narrow down the images of our life.  Our regular days with these little humans are magical to me.  And so, so fleeting.

 "Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.  Let me learn from you, love you, bless you, before you depart.  Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.  Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so."

The first of many normal school days ahead of us. 

Lucky us.