Firsts...

His very first (and second) day of school.
He loved it.

He woke happy and eager.

Shut down for the first day photo

but perked up with a bit of prompting...

I planted this Rose of Sharon at our old place
practically on the day he was born.
We moved it (and split it into 4 plants)
and we will take some of this plant to each place we live.
And I hope we'll take many many first day photos
with it in the background.

His teacher is wonderful,
welcoming,
has great toys (according to Ben)
and sings every single day.

His class is diverse,
has 20 kids,
no crying screaming Junior Kindergartens
and is right next to my classroom.

On Day one, Thursday,
sweet Mrs. Y, a friend and colleague,
(and also the giver of the Rose of Sharon)
watched my class
so I could escort my sweet baby to the door.
So very glad I could do that.

On day 2 I was reading with a wee one near the door
and watched my big boy come out into the hall to get his snack.
Reaching up, unzipping, retrieving, zipping up,
then helping a shorter girl,
and then going back to class
with a new friend.
Wow.
Big and independent.

Friday after school we headed out to dudes
first piano lesson.
It was a blast!
A mama and me program
and mama might actually learn something
she's always wanted to learn!

We needed today, our mama day, to recover...
allergic conjunctivitis...not pink eye apparently...
has been plaguing mama.
Glad I'm not contagious
but still miserable.

To help with the "hay fever" symptoms

we headed out to the barn.

250 new bales of hay.
Forts, flying, fun, fun, fun!

Carrots for the horses,

a giant dinner
and early to bed.

His 5th September in my heart

Early in September, 2008, I received this...

by email.
After and long and painful staff meeting.
After a long and painful day.
Waiting.
For the phone to ring.
Waiting.
To become a mama.

5 minutes later (or a year that felt like 5 minutes)
it was the night before
mama went back to work.
My mama heart breaking
yet thankful for the 37 weeks we had together.

We stayed up late.
Swung around at the park.
Grabbed each and every available minute.
He was 1...and a bit.

Then suddenly 2 and a bit.

In a September when I was obviously too tired 

or too busy

or too...something...

to take many pictures.

Except at Mid Autumn Moon Festival.

My sweet smiling baby Ben.

Three and a bit.

Time moves swiftly.

Climbing and running and leaping his way

fearlessly into another year.

Still my sweet baby Ben.

And now he's 4.

His 5th September in my heart.

Don't call me baby mama...

call me Manh Nguyen. 

Or Ben.

Or Benjaminh Manh.

Or maybe you can call me baby when we cuddle.

Or we get married.

Okay?

And next week there will be school photos.
Of my sweet boy.
Junior Kindergarten.
As September takes on a whole new meaning.

Weekend Fun

My sweet boy took up golfing this weekend.

Loved it.

A bit of a hockey slapshot style.

Worked.

That's all that mattered.

Time...

Where has the summer gone?
66 or so mama days gone in the blink of an eye.

Little Manh wants to "retire",
like Auntie Carol and Auntie Barb
so we can have mama days forever and ever.
I hear you my sweet boy.

And kindergarten.
It's starting for the little dude
Thursday September 6th, 2012.
The day my baby begins big boy school.
Where have the last 4 years gone?


I am SO thankful we fall into a community
that has not gone to full day yet.
He's still little.
Next year is soon enough
to lose the lazy afternoons of lego building fun.

We are as ready as we can be.
We've got the indoor shoes,
the outdoor shoes,
the pirate backpack,
the snack container,
the batman insulated straw cup.

We have a back to school outfit,
a new shirt for day two,
a good attitude
and a growing ability
to say his teacher's name.

And we have 11 more sleeps.

If your pj's need washing...go swimming

Busy Cottage Time

Mama is at the library updating the blog.
With Auntie Carol.

Ben is at the cottage playing hero factory with Dre.
Auntie Kristen and Eva are making hotdogs.

Gramps and Nana and Uncle Bill are coming for dinner.
Uncle Matt arrives tonight for a few days.
And he's bringing Boomer.
We miss Boomer but hope he will not escape into the lake
and get a hotspot.

Colin, Tracy, Katie and Declan will pop by for a swim early this week.

Soooo much fun with lots of the people we love!

And the sun shines brightly.
Dude sleeps 12 or 13 hours every night.
Time to shift the sleep 9-9 or 10am to 8-8 or 7:30-7:30.

Enjoying life.
Except we'd like to erase the slivers from the marina bridge...all 7 of them in dude's left foot.
Such is life.

Summer fun...in photos