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| Miles is just about too big for this mini 4-wheeler |
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| Alice on the boat with Captain Grandpa Sam. |
Our summer has been filled with fun in the sun and making the most of the warm weather. We have had several mini get-a-ways these last few months. One especially memorable trip was our venture to Nebraska to see the solar eclipse. We had such a fun adventure and great visits with family. We initially planned to watch the eclipse in Kearney but soon found out that a big chunk of the Marshall family was going to be in North Platte at Aunt Beth's place. So we decided to make the trek there.
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| Testing out our eclipse glasses. |
Nana Linda just happened to be in Kearney and we stayed with her for the first two nights. We visited Grandma Irma and had lunch with her. Then the day of the eclipse we made our way to North Platte. All the while hoping that the sky would stay clear and cloud free. We got our wish and had a wonderful time with Grammie Julie, Aunt Carlos, Aunt Beth and a couple of cousins. Although Alice missed a good part of the totality because she was in the bathroom. Have Aaron tell you the story some time.
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| Aaron and Miles waiting for the total eclipse. |
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| Jen, Miles, and Aunt Carlos with our stylin eclipse glasses. |
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| Aaron and Jen, sun worshipers |
Miles started Kindergarten in August. Now, I've heard lots of moms say they cried when they dropped their kids off at school for the first day. I honestly didn't think that would be me. I am not one to get too emotional over these milestones. Or at least that is what I tell myself. I often want to experience the moment and not lament too much that the kids are "growing up too fast". I love experiencing these things as a mom. So it came as a complete surprise to me when I broke down after I dropped Miles off at school that first day.
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| My goofballs on the first day of Kindergarten and Pre-K |
We live about a block from Miles's school, so I walk him to school every morning. We arrived a bit early on the first day, hung up his back pack, put his lunch in his cubby and looked for his desk. There was a lot of chaos on that first day, parents jostling around dropping off kids, and he was pretty clingy. I figured he would be but then I looked down and he was wiping tears from his eyes.
That was it. I was melting. I had a hard time keeping it together and Miles wouldn't let me go. I looked up and the teacher was busy with helping other kids and the teacher's aid was no help. Then I saw the school counselor there. Miles had met him over the summer at a camp he went to so he knew him and he was a familiar face in the classroom. I kind of gave him this look like "help me!". He was great. He came over and took Miles's hand and helped him find his desk. I was so grateful.
Then on the walk home the tears flowed freely and the whole rest of the day I was crying over my computer as I worked. I guess it just goes to show that motherhood is full of emotional moments, even when you don't expect them to be.
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| Face painting at the Jimmy block party. |
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| Summer fun at the park, Alice found the mud. |
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| Telling my story about my "free" dog at the ArtSpark opening. |
