Father Daughter

Papa and Sarah at Father Daughter Dance

Sarah 5th Birthday Opens Gifts

Thanks To Grandma And Grandpa For The Gifts!

Sarah's New Word

... is "ginormous". She says "everyone" uses it, and uses it to describe anything big.

A Place For Pirates

The scene: A park in NY state wine country, next to an ice cream stand:

Sarah (talking in low voice): Papa - can I ask you something in private?

Papa: Sure!

Sarah (low voice): Is this a place where pirates come?

Papa: I don't know ... Why?

Sarah (low voice): Because I saw some people wearing one of those things like a pirate. (moves hand over head to suggest a headwrap)

Later, we go over to the headwrap-wearing biker guy.

Papa: My daughter asked me if this was a place where pirates come, since she saw people wearing pirate-like clothes.

Sarah (eyes wide, to biker): Not you! Not you!

Sarah Talking To Really Nice Biker Guy, Who Was Taking A Picture
Of Stephen's Ice Cream Face To Send To His Sister

Stephen's Ice Cream Face

First Day Of School!

Both kids were ready for school and wearing their backpacks one hour early.

Sarah and Stephen came down the stairs, smiling.

Sarah: I'm so excited!

Stephen: I so excited!

Outside The School Before We Walked In

We took them in and sat with them for breakfast.

A 3rd-grade girl sat down by us at the table and struck up conversation, assuring us that she had had Stephen's teacher previously and that she was "really nice." (All of the kids that we saw seemed happy, well-behaved, and having fun.)

At Breakfast. Stephen Looking A Bit Tired.
Girl Was Across The Table

When the time came to go with their teachers, both separated well. The teacher took Stephen by the hand, and he looked up at her with big, trusting eyes. Sarah was biting her nails and looked nervous, even as excited as she was. Nobody cried, not even Mama (surprising).

Sarah Nibbling Her Nails

After school:

Papa: Stephen, what did you do today at school?

Stephen: I play, and play, and play, and play ... And they give us DINNER!

Mama: What did you eat?

Stephen: Two cookies. Two cookies, and cheese.

Going To Ohio!

We are excited to be able to go visit Ohio and see Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Bo and some friends.

It's been up around 116F in Scottsdale for several weeks now and the Ohio summer beckons, too. Grandma told us to pack sweatshirts because it's been kind of chilly!

We have a big list of things that we want to do when we are in town, but none more important than spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa is now 73 or so and has lived longer than anyone in his recent family heritage, and we always worry about what visit will be his last. But we are hopeful that his recent heart device will help him live many years to come.

Spider

It's raining out and Papa, Sarah, and Stephen step outside to enjoy some light raindrops.

Stephen: Why the spider no coming out? Where the spider?

(Referring, of course, to the Itsy Bitsy Spider song.)