The littlest monkey boy, age 6-1/2 (because half-years are important, you know!), started reading his first chapter book tonight: “The Knight at Dawn,” from Mary Pope Osborne’s “Magic Tree House” series. I guess it’s time to box up the “baby” books to give away to the church nursery!

I’m proud of him but still a wee bit melancholy. It is a joy watching each of the boys reach various milestones in their development, but there’s something different about the last one reaching the same milestones. It’s a moment in time that will never be repeated.