1st day of 1st Grade

New year, new school, new teacher, new friends and lots of fun!

Hunter started first grade last week.  Wow, that is even hard to type, much less say it out loud. 

It's like I blinked and he's all grown up.  But I am happy to report the only tears shed were mine, the only fears needed to overcome were mine, and the only one who wanted to hang on just a little longer was me!

Hunter was so excited to start school you would have thought that he was a seasoned pro!  This is his first year in a big school, let alone a school that houses Kindergartner's through 12th grade.  A very diverse group of kids so I thought he might be a little intimidated.  Boy was I wrong.  He got right up in the morning, made his breakfast request, french toast and turkey bacon, with a little powder Sugar and a cold glass of milk.  Got dressed and it was out the door.  He ran down the sidewalk to get to the car and as soon as we pulled into our parking spot he so casually says "Okay, bye Mom"!  What???  No first day anxiety at all.  "Can I walk you inside" I ask?  "Okay" he replies. As we get to the door I asked him to turn and look at me and again "Okay, bye Mom"!  A little stunned I asked if he remembered where his classroom was, he thought for a minute... Ummm, you better help me find it Mommy.  i took him to his class room and he darted inside as if he had done it a thousand times before.  He sat down with the kids and stood there wondering how it all happened.  How or when did my little baby grow into an independent boy.  I know that is so good, but there was a little part of me that still longed for the sound of him asking me to hold his hand, and feeling him squeeze just a little harder as if to say Mommy I need you. 

I left the room and headed to my car I was so proud, and sad, and happy all at the same time.  I couldn't wait until school was over.

He did great, and loves school.

"Bear" Bottoms and Yellowstone

I took Hunter on a End of Summer trip to Bear World and Yellowstone.

He loved every part of it and said the trip was too short.  He got to do a lot of things that he has been anxious to do for some time. 

1. See a big Daddy Elk

2. See real live Bears

3. Woodland animal spotting

and the biggie... Learn to jump into the pool and go underwater with NO WATER WINGS and as a bonus he mustered up enough courage to swim underwater with no water wings.  I'm so proud and so is he.

It was perfect weather and everything went very smoothly.  However I didn't get to go souvenir shopping.  What is it with boys and their intense hatred for shopping???

And for some reason I could only get pictures of the Bear's bums????  I'll keep the details short because Lord know I posted enough pictures.  Enjoy, there are a lot of them.

Happy Birthday Grandma Helen Melon

We celebrated this lovely ladies 39th or was it 42nd or could it have been her 77th or maybe her 88th birthday a few weekends ago at Market Street.

To any of you who may not know who Helen is, I will briefly share our history.

I met Helen about 8 years ago when she started working for the same company as I do.  She was thrown into a Sales Summit that I had put on in San Diego just a short time after starting with the company.  She didn't really know anyone, and there she was traveling with a bunch of people who had already had a strong acquaintance with  everyone there.  I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and unable to really participate in all of the socializing that was going on due to my condition, and Helen was one of the few to hang out and shop around with me while others were getting their drink on!  From that time her quiet generosity and  friendship would show up at moments when I least expected it.  A teddy bear on my desk for my little peanut growing inside of me, and a baby photo cube another time.  Little kindnesses that she never ever did take credit for, but eventually I found her out. :)

Many years have passed and she has been my constant friend and support system, very much the mother figure I so desperately miss and need.  And more importantly, her and her husband, Grandpa Phil, have adopted my little boy and been the grandparents Hunter hasn't had.  They are there for everything no matter what.  They love us without prejudice and without conditions, as if we were their own. 

Hunter once was talking about his Grandma's with Helen and I'd like to sum up the conversation;

Hunter:  Helen I have 3 Grandma's

Helen:  You do?

Hunter: Yes, I have one Grandma that lives far from my house that I don't get to see very much. She is my Daddy's Mom.  And then I have my Grandma Sandy, and she died and lives in Heaven but I can't see her. She is my Mommy's mom.  And then I have you.  How are you my Grandma?

Helen:  Well I believe that your Grandma Sandy sent me to you.  To love you and to spend time with you, because she couldn't be here.

 Helen is a rare gem with such a giving heart and not just to Hunter and I , but to anyone around her in need.  I have been a witness to her mad dash to the department store to get shoes for a little one who she had overheard the parents had fallen on hard times, and anonymously mailed them to their home.  Winter coats she had bought for someone that just couldn't afford one. The list goes on and on....

Helen you are quite remarkable and have filled my heart and life with so much joy and happiness.  You're example pushes me to be kinder and more charitable and giving. I believe that you were sent us, and our blessing have been so great.

I hope you had a fabulous 92nd birthday (see you're not the only one that can age you by leaps and bounds :) but certainly the only woman I have EVER know to say that she is older than she really is.  Another little quirk I just love you for :) )

Happy Birthday, we love you!