Last week, the kids headed back to school. Christopher is now officially a 5th grader and Cate is a 2nd grader. Both have been having pretty smooth transitions into the school year. Christopher, in particular, is really beginning to show some maturity that comes with being one of the oldest kids at his school. Yesterday, he told me he actually changed seats because the people around him were talking too much. Mind you, these were two of his very best friends. But he recognized that they were off-task and he didn't want to do the same. Wow! He's also seeing how the math I had him work on all summer has helped him make a good transition academically -- he is able to keep up with the elders and it is giving him both confidence and a good look at why hard work helps you out in the end. A good transition, indeed.

A few photos from the first day of school. Don't you love the one of Cate with that LOOK. Imagine -- this is the look I get for trying to take my 7- year olds' picture. You can imagine what it will look like when she's a teenager. I'm going to be in so much trouble.