Pieces to a whole

Today was a busy day. We went to a new park, complete with a HUGE slide down the hill, a creek, and........ a merry-go-round. Yeah, I KNOW, they do still exist! Ben had a blast! The kids both took long afternoon naps and then Ben had his last swimming lesson. He was so amazingly good today, and super cuddly while enthralled by a Pirates game, that I took him out to catch lightning bugs.

Now, since 7:30 is the latest bedtime Ben has ever had, he doesn't get to experience seeing the moon very often. Either he's already asleep, or it's not high enough in the sky yet to see from his window. The very first thing he did when we went outside was scream in excitement that "look, the moon has it's piece back on" in this ADORABLE high pitch squeal. LOL!!! Since tonight the moon is almost full, and a week or so ago when he saw it last it was a sliver, he thought it was cool that it's missing piece was back on...... Does he have to grow up?

We had so much fun catching lightning bugs in his butterfly net, watching them light up, and then waving bye-bye to them as they flew away. When was the last time you just sat and watched the moon, or caught a lightning bug on a warm summer night? It's amazing to watch your children experience things for the first time. It's as if you get a second chance at childhood, but this time around you can't take it for granted.