Firsties

My little boy went to his first day of kindergarten today.  (sniff.)  

He was pumped!  He was also under the impression that his class would be entirely peopled by kids from his preschool class, and that they were going to play on the ipads all day.  Try as I might to prepare him for something more resembling reality, his enthusiasm was undaunted by my warnings.  

Knowing his disapproval for anything resembling a surprise, I wondered how this would all go.

However, when I arrived to gather him home, he was all smiles.
Mom.  Kindergarten. was. Awesome!!
And then, "Can I go to kindergarten again tomorrow?"

I assured him that he would be returning tomorrow, and he screamed,  "YES!!!"  

I guess maybe it was all familiar faces and ipads after all.  

We asked what they did today, and he explained that they had recess, and more recess.

Did you learn anything?, we asked.  

"Yeah... we learned about coloring."

Perfect.  Private school tuition for recess and coloring. 

It's gonna be a good year.  ;)

And this sweet thing was convinced that he too was going to kindergarten this morning.

He was not the least bit impressed to end up stuck back in the boring old 3 year old class.

Lame!

Although, now that I think about it... recess and coloring.  

He was practically in Kindergarten after all. 

In Which We Roadtrip to the West...

I went to a CME conference in the Rockies!  I took my family along because I'm generous like that.  :)  And we had our own little Congo Reunion!

We spent the week with our Sunny Day Friends and their family, as the mama bear of their family also went to this conference with me.

The kids had a great time.  Eli didn't seem to remember them necessarily, but it took him about 10 seconds til he was their best friend anyway.  Raya of course didn't remember them either, but she let their girls rub her cheeks and hug her and otherwise get all kinds of inside her personal space, and she didn't mind one bit!

It was so fun to see the girls again!  And our friends were every part as fun as they were in captivity.  :)

A quick stop at Bass Pro to look around.

And lots and lots more driving

Some other travelers

Finally made it to our lodge!

New/Old Friends

Silly Girls

Conquerors of the Big Rock

I spent too much time here...

While my family was here.

But I still got to see a lot of Awesomeness

We took the kids on a Hike

While the Papas fished.

Enjoying the ride

The highlight of this hike?  Horse Apples.

So Funny.

(If you're a little boy.)

Conquered more big rocks.

More Lovely Views.

The Master Hikers

Finally found the Lake!

where we were visited by a hungry little chipmunk friend

Headed back!

I carried him on my back quite a bit of the way out there.

He started off the way back very tired and whining with every step.

and when Amber took a turn piggybacking, he fell asleep.

But I was afraid he would fall off of there like that.

So I carried him all the way back... sleeping.

But this guy was a natural hiker!

Never complained once in 5 miles.

Just "Mom, I don't think my legs can run very fast anymore." at the end of the trail.

Raya rested from her tough journey as well.

(And had randomly bit Val in the back part way there!)

The Sleep Apnea Guy.

He snoozed through every lecture.

Snored on occasion.

Made it to the top of the mountain!

And saw some critters on the way down. 

Happy Friends. 

Fishing Successes! 

Love for Auntie Amber!

And then we drove (and drove and drove and drove) toward home.