Drew is in second grade which is the first year students can join his school's Chess Club. This morning was Drew's very first day of Chess Club and he played one game against a third-grader and won!

The picture is of our chess set that the boys play on. I had a couple of cheapo chess sets collected through the years and had always wanted a really nice set since I was a kid. Drew started playing about two years ago and so last year I finally splerged on a really nice set. There are an infinite combination of chess board and piece types, sizes and materials. After looking at all the options for a couple of months, I finally picked out a mahogany and maple board that is 17"x17"x.5" with 1.75" inch squares. The pieces are a classic Staunton design with a 3" king made of boxwood and ebonized boxwood, hand carved knights, all weighted with felt covered bottoms. The set came with two extra queens and a mahogany box for storage of the pieces. Having played with the set for over a year now, I believe it is the perfect definitive chess set.

Today was the first day of school: first day of second grade for Drew, first day of kindergarten for Will, first day in a new school for Will and first day the boys go to the same school together.

Landon joins his schoolmate brothers.

The brothers walking to school while the littlest one enjoys a ride.

Drew is ready to rock the second grade. Is there anything better than brand new school supplies?

Will was very excited this morning when he arrived because he got his very first "worksheet"!

Today, Will graduated from Saint Benedict's preschool program. We couldn't be more pleased with the program. All of the teachers are absolutely wonderful and Will and Drew both made great progress in their studies during their year there.

During the ceremony, besides performing a myriad of songs, each child was given a profession along with a short recitation which they had to say aloud from memory all by themselves in front of all the parents and relatives. Will had been selected to be a veterinarian and he said the following:

A vet is what I want to be for all God's animals I truly love.

I'll take good care of them and send them on their way.

The proud graduate! Next year Will and Drew will be going to the same school and Mama will get a two year break from back and forth chauffeuring.

We debated whether to pull Drew out of school for Will's graduation. In the end, family triumphed over education. I don't think the half day Drew missed will have much of an impact. It was important that we all celebrated Will's graduation together.

Will starred in his very first play today, his pre-school's Christmas play. He got to be one of the three shepherds that visits the newborn Jesus.

Will took his role very seriously.

Each shepherd carried a staff, or a "cane" according to Will.

Here the shepherds are traveling to see the newborn King.

The shepherds are at the manger with Mary and Joseph kneeling and the three kings on the right.

Will on the right continuing his shy, quiet, demure, well-behaved manner. I think we'll try putting a shepherd costume on him at home.

Today was Will's first ever day of school. It is a perfect start consisting of just three half-days of pre-school a week. We were completely amazed at everything Drew learned when he went through the same program two years ago. Will is very excited and has been looking forward to going to school for a long time.

Landon will have to do some adjusting as his two big brothers are now both in school. Compare Drew's first day of pre-school two years ago.

Today is Drew's first day of first grade. It will be a rough one-day week. It was so humid out that most of the photos were too blurry to use. The house-temp camera immediately fogged up when exposed to the humid muggy morning air.

All ready to walk to school. Everyday Will and Landon trudge along with Drew and Mama to and from Drew's school without complaint.

Despite there being one more week left of school, Drew's Pre-K class had its graduation ceremony yesterday. It was a wonderful ceremony filled with all kinds of songs and demonstrations of the things his class had learned. Most impressive was how each child, even the shyest and most quiet, took their turn to speak, alone, in front of all the assembled family and friends.

Drew was very insistent that Will be in included in his photo.

(Maybe another one for kindergarten, do grade school and middle school have their own too, high school, college, grad school...times three...only about 17 more graduations to go!)

Recently, Drew had Crazy Hat Day at school. We don't have too many "crazy" hats, or at least not one Drew wanted to wear. So, Drew wore one of his favorite hats in a crazy way. Will was more than happy to wear his hat too.

Two week ago, Drew started his first day of school...preschool/pre-k at St. Benedict. It's just three days a week for four and one-half hours. There are only eleven kids in his class and two teachers. We didn't originally intend to sign Drew up for preschool but it's been increasingly hard to challenge him and keep him from being bored around the house. We figured we'd sign Drew up at the brand new school that was just built within walking distance from our house, Jefferson Elementary, but there wasn't enough demand for a half-day program as all the parents want to put their preschoolers in full-day classes. How sad. So, Mary looked into all the private and parochial schools and we determined the preschool that happened to be offered by our church provided the best option. Drew picked out a Buzz Lightyear backpack to take with him to school.

Will wanted to be just like his big brother and put on his little backpack to take Drew to school.

At school, getting ready to go inside. Oh how they grow up so fast.