We're Back In The Saddle Again!

School has begun in Claremont, and that means that Eric is at the high school from early morn to late afternoon. Maria has switched her 50/50 job share days, and now is teaching 1st grade on Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other Wednesday. Zac is now in the 2nd grade and Claire is a Kindergartener! Luke will be going to the Early Childhood Center Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and he will spend Tuesdays with Grandpa Butch and Grandma RoRo. These two aging phenoms will be walking Zac and Claire to school and pushing Luke in the stroller on many days.

The first day we all hit the sidewalk for the trek to school, and it was already super hot. Butch took Zac to his classroom, and Luke and I took Claire to her room. She has the same super teacher that Zac had. How nice! Claire, of course, could not eat breakfast because she was so excited and anxious about this new experience. When we got to school and I asked if she had any questions, she replied that she wanted to know what she was supposed to do if her tooth came out on the playground at recess? Zac, in a very matter of fact manner, informed her that the teacher would take her to the office and they would take care of her. Claire seemed satisfied with that answer.

There were only about 200 million parents and grandparents at school to see their "preciousnesses" go in their classrooms for the first day. As Luke and I checked out Claire's classroom, I noticed that one mother was videotaping and taking still shots at the same time. That's quite a feat! Butch reported that when the teacher told the 2nd graders to select the seat where they wished to sit, Zac went right over to the grouping of desks near the teacher's desk, sat down, put his books in his desk, and turned down offers from friends to move to other locations in the room.

Yes, Butch and I answered Maria's quick call at recess to see how things had gone. Butch made a solo run in the afternoon to pick Zac and Claire up, while I stayed with a sleeping Luke. It wasn't long before two smiling, happy kids came in the door with ice cream from 21 Choices. Grandpa Butch is a good man! :-) All reports were good and everyone - both children and adults - were happy campers! Life is good indeed!

Dining Out With Friends

To me one of life's biggest treats is dining out with friends. It's fun to relax in a special place that we've chosen and enjoy good conversation over/around/above good food. In the deepest sense, the food doesn't matter. What is important is the connection and the caring and the genuine desire to spend time together. Today I'm getting to experience that twice. How spectacular!

Happy 49th Anniversary, Butch!

On August 18th we will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary. We will also celebrate the fact that we have known each other since the 5th grade. To share almost all your life with someone is special indeed. We'll look at pictures of when we got married, we've already talked to Mark, we'll spend time with Maria and Eric and the kids, we'll do something just for the two of us, and we'll smile when we think of all of the fantastic times. We'll hold close in our hearts those who aren't here to share this special day with us. Happy anniversary, Butch! I love you "all the much."

In Celebration of Claire

Today would have been Claire's 44th birthday. In this picture from childhood friend Jenny that she posted a while ago on Facebook, Claire is the one sitting on the basketball.

First thing this morning we got an email from Wendy. That really touched our hearts. Then we found that Wendy had posted on Facebook, and the responses from other friends were heart-warming and simply beautiful. We miss Claire and all of the love and gifts that she shared with all of us. We celebrate the fact that in a most meaningful way she lives on not only in our hearts and minds, but also in the lives of the girls who are named after her. It means so much to be in touch with all of these Claire's either directly or through their families.

This afternoon we saw the youngest Claire - our granddaughter - who came over with her family to swim and have dinner. Yes, she had on a princess dress. I hope that sometime she'll have a chance to wear one to Kindergarten this year. Princesses seem to bloom where ever they're planted.