First, it's Mark's 40th birthday. Happy Birthday, Darlin' ... and no matter how old you may be feeling, you're still a handsome hunk o' L-O-V-E!

Second, it's a deadline day for the book I'm working on. Yikes! Of course, the forces of the universe know this, so caused a day-long power cut yesterday, and today have my broadband connection not working. Sheeeesh. As if it's not stressful enough!

But number three on today's hit parade is the biggie: Sam has his first day at big kid school!

He'll only go for three days, as sort of an orientation period, and won't return until the beginning of the new school year in January ... but this is his first day, and it is at the real school.

Like with just about everything, he's been excited as all get out about the day. He helped me pack his backpack with snacks and lunch, picked out his best shorts and shirt, grabbed his new Crocs, combed his hair and helped me get Cj into the car for the short drive.

When we arrived, he was greeted with welcoming shouts of, 'Hi, Sam!' and smiled as we were lead to what will be his classroom.

It was pandemonium typical of any enclosed space full of kids, and although Sam looked a bit overwhelmed, he dealt with it.

"It's really noisy in here, Mom," he stated.

I exchanged info with his teacher, then asked his permission to take a photo or two to record the event. He was okay with the idea, but appeared to want that part of his ordeal over with fairly quickly. The same seemed the case with the motherly smootch.

"Would you like me to stay a while with you?" I asked.

"No. You can go now," he answered; then added, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll see you later."

Okay, then ...

Sigh...