Another sad goodbye, and some new beginnings

This is Benjamin being held by Great-Grandpa Mullen (last August). Great-Grandpa went to be with the Lord on Friday. He was a really special member of Chris's family, and I'm glad I had the chance to know him, too. Matthew and Jamie got to visit him just a few weeks ago when they were in PA with Chris.

We haven't explained this passing too them yet, but we will as soon as we know the arrangements for the funeral service. (Chris will go - the boys are too little and it's too far to go for all of right now.)

While the death of a beloved pet (Twinkie) isn't the same as loosing Great-Grandpa, this is a lot for a 4 1/2 year old and an almost 6 year old to process. Hopefully, we will be able to explain this part of the cycle of life to them in a way that makes sense. I don't think Jamie truly understands yet that Twinkie isn't coming back.

On a happier note, Matthew is off to a great start in first grade. Here's the happy little scholar with his brand-new backpack. He's been so excited about the backpack that he wears it around the house at times!

He's getting to be such a big boy! We are planning his sixth birthday (a Cars theme) and he even picked out his present today - a shiny new red two-wheeler! We may start teaching him to ride it before his birthday, but right now it's at the Cary Toys R Us, waiting to be assembled. He does have his new bike helmut and knee/elbow pad set already, and he willingly suited up in his gear.

If Skippy could talk, he'd probably have no comments about all the happenings this weekend except to simply as Jamie to stop trying to sit on him and Benjamin not to grab fistfuls of fur.