Walking Kate to preschool this morning was amazing.  Mother nature seems to have realized it's September and the temperature was perfect.  75 degrees, no humidity, a crisp breeze, and bright sunlight.  Kate was excited and eager to head to "her school".  A familiar, happy, wonderful place that our entire family has grown to love since moving here.

Last year I was a ball of nerves - John was deployed, Connor was still a baby who napped right through when Kate was supposed to arrive, and I was a frazzled nightmare on her first day.  What saved me was our amazing cleaning lady who was okay with me leaving Connor napping in his crib while she worked so I could take Kate to school and snap a few pictures.

This year I had John holding my hand as we walked both kids across the neighborhood.  We even had Kate's godfather with us who was in town for his MBA graduation from William & Mary (congrats, Pete!).  After we dropped Kate off with her little friends from last year, we walked to a diner that we love and had a delicious breakfast.  I seriously cannot stress the difference between this year and last year.  If I can spin deployment in a positive light, it is that you truly learn to appreciate things when they are "just right"; not just complain about them when they aren't.

Kate was a happy girl this morning


"I want to play with puzzles, toys, and play with the big kids."