Mama, I love you.

In the morning,

in the afternoon,

in the evening

and 

even when you are

so sick

and so cranky.

I love you always mama.

Awww, sweet boy.

I love you too!

Mid Autumn Moon

Tomorrow night we head out for a bit of
Mid Autumn Moon Fun
Part 2.
And I have not even posted about part one yet!

We were invited out to the local Island by ferry
to celebrate under the moon 2 weeks ago.

Friends,

fun,
parachutes

and lanterns...

or "rainbow fishing".

Ferry rides,

lake views
and lovely company.

More photos from Part 2

coming your way soon...

If you die...

My sweet sweet boy.
So full of questions, morning til night, day after day.
here is a sample from the last few weeks...

Mama, if there is a black line on the globe showing the equator
why isn't there a black line painted right on the earth?

Mama, when people drive cars in South America
why don't they fall out of their cars?

followed closely by a long conversation and then ...

Do you think Ms. P in the library has books about gravity?
Will the pictures to help me understand?
Gravity is tricky because it is invisible.

Mama, what do you think Auntie Carol does at home all the time?
Do you think she is lonely and misses us?

Followed closely by a long conversation and then ...

Mama, I think I'm done Kindergarten now.
Can I retire?

Mama, when I looked in the water at the cottage with my eyes open
I didn't see any chains.
Why do scientists say the lakes are full of chains?
Why don't they just say the lakes are full of hungry herbivores and carnivores?
And predators and prey?
That makes more sense.

And yesterday in the car?
A doozy.

Mama, if you die who will I ask the big questions?

(Just saying...playing in the barn is NOT good for mama's eyes.  or nose.  or breathing.  or apparently, her hair.)

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.