Stalone

I haven't spoke to him since our good bye on Sunday. Sometimes I get really worried when I don't hear back from missed calls or texts. I know they're probably just really busy... it doesn't stop one from thinking of the worst though.

I think rather than do anything else, I'd prefer to have a thumb war & arm wrestle battle today. He's watched Over The Top way too many times and always knows how to bring it back for the shake down.





I miss him...

Good Bye

It's time for another good bye. Alden bid his little friend Teagan farewell. It was adorable. They told one another that they will be friends forever and that when they are not with one another, they miss each other. Haha.

This thing, good bye, it makes my stomach turn and my hands shake. I don't know when it will be that I get to see him next, it's usually never more than a month... sometimes two. Still, not knowing is the scariest feeling I've ever had to deal with. At this point I'm at a loss at why I am not here, with him. I thought I was doing something noble, something good for his future... this fact is starting to unravel and may actually not be so absolute.

Coming to and end

This trip has been absolutely perfect. We've done nothing but everything that matters; park days, baseball days, homework everyday, reading more than we ever have and books fit for older little boys, bored games, craft days, long walks, forts, epic battles, hiking, cooking in, FAMILY hangouts and endless adventures. I do not want to leave!

Avenues Street Fair

We went to the street fair in the avenues today. Alden and Teagan had their faces painted, ate free cotton candy and had an all around good time.

Farmers Market

We did our best to get out of the house early in the AM to hit up the Farmers Market in downtown SLC. Jen and Key bought a plethora of local produce. Alden and Teagan ate fruit samples and had balloon animals/swords made.

Serious conversations of tiny minds...

Alden: Dad, can I ask you something?
Me: Sure Alden, you can ask me anything.
Alden: What do you want me to be when I grow up?
Me: Haha. Well, I want you to be whatever you want to be.
Alden: But Dad, where do you want me to work.

I'm laughing a good one right now but trying really hard to contain composure as I can tell he's dead serious and not taking the laughter well.

Me: I want you to work, or for that matter not work, wherever you're happy.
Alden: Dad... can I tell you where I want to work?
Me: Yes, please do.
Alden: I want to work at the Toy Store.
Me: The Toy Store, huh? Haha. Now, why's that?
Alden: I want to work at the Toy Store because I love to look at Toys all day long.
Me: That's makes pretty good sense. I think that's a pretty fantastic idea.
Alden: Dad?
Me: Yes?
Alden: Can I tell you where else I want to work?
Me: Of course!
Alden: I want to work at the Baseball Park, not the small one, the big one. I want to work in the Baseball Park and play Baseball when I get big. I want to work in the Toy Store and I want to play Baseball in the Baseball Park. Can I do those things?

Things just went from being way too hilarious to getting all choked up and feeling incredibly proud that this imaginative little boy is ours...

Me: Yes, you better believe that you can do those things. You can do anything you want.
Alden: I love you Dad.
Me: I love you too, Pipsqueek.

KINDERGARTEN

Holy smokes!

I can't believe he is already starting school. His Mom worked some sort of sorcery and got him into the nicest grade school I've ever been in. He loves his teacher to death and has already made 5 friends in his first week. He's all about doing his homework and tells me in detail at the end of everyday about all the awesome things he learned in class.

The main purpose of me coming to town this week was so that I could be a part of this tremendous step in his move into the kid realm. I think this is where I need to grasp the arms of my chair and realize tomorrow he will be in Highschool, kissing birds and getting into trouble. Sheeesh.

I'm so proud of this little man.

Baseball!

Today was the last Bees game of the season. Alden, Jen, Teagan, Todd and I made sure to be a part of it. The game itself was awful and I didn't end up watching much of it. Instead, I played a mean game of catch with Alden, watched him climb trees, took him on the train and played in the playground. Epic.

Labor Day

There's this spot in Draper that Candace and I used to hike to. There is a couple of hidden waterfalls, just small ones... a neat little rock overhang and lots of tiny creatures. Jen, Alden and I decided to add this spot to our list of places to be today. I packed us a tasty lunch and we set off.

Park Day Best Day

Alden and I wandered over to Fairmont tonight for a climbing adventure. He's gotten so sooo good at the monkey bars, it's insane. There was, however, a point at which he fell off straight onto his chest and the side of his face. He was super bummed and had to cry it out for a few minutes. We talked it over and he had decided to not give up and to give it one more go around. Well, obviously he did it not once but at least a dozen more times. He was proud, he flexed one off.





LOOK AT THESE HOPS!