Some Things Change. Some Things Stay the Same.

I've mentioned here before that my boys go to a year-round school. It's a great schedule for us with hot, hot Southern summers and my husband working from home. (You can read more about why we love year-round schooling here.)

This past Monday, Jack and Max started FIRST and SECOND grade!

OH MY WORD!

How can it be?

I've been packing up the bins that I keep in the kitchen that hold the year's worth of school papers, projects, and momentos I want to save and setting up the new bins that will hold this year's set of treasures and thinking about how much Jack and Max have changed this year.

Yes, physically - with the natural progression of time.

But, more so in spirit. Both of them developed a confidence and security this year that...

Well...

It looks just like this:

A friend asked me the other day if Lincoln would have a hard time with them leaving for school without him, again.

(Do you remember what happened last year? Oh, it broke my heart.)

I immediately uttered, "Oh no. He's used to it by now. He'll be fine."

As I closed the door behind me after sending Jack and Max off for their first day of school, what I saw on the steps told me I was wrong.

Some things change: Insecure little boys grow into confident ones.

But, some things stay the same:

Little brothers will always long to share new adventures with their big ones.