D's first day of school ever (with his best girl by his side!):Never mind that it's just joy school...that his hair stayed uncombed...that his mom is this week's teacher.  This boy was full-on excited.  Convinced that he'd (finally!) hit the big league.  Honored to sidle up to Aidan this afternoon to tackle homework in tandem. 

I'm mostly convinced that I'm not ready for him to ever leave for real.  So this is the perfect slow start for the two of us...he, completely ignorant of the real thing...me, completely unready to truly let go (or is it be let go?).  

I cracked up when Mandi related London's driving over concern:  "I don't even know where my classroom is.  What if I get lost?"    

I love these littles.

Sold for $175! 

(thanks to all who bid for their generosity..I wasn't sure what to expect, but am so happy with the contribution to such a worthwhile cause)

The cake bidding got intense between two ladies I love...one I admire from afar and one from my very own neck of the woods (or "near Mexico", as she says on her blog).  Me with my friend Melissa:

at a D-backs game a few weeks back (after Eric took a horrible picture & we decided to do our own).

Melissa is zany & fun and I can't wait to create a cake that will do her own creativity justice.

My heart has nearly burst reading through the generous posts and auctions over the past few days.  This tribute from HogieWogie touched me most.  And spurred me to my knees in Gratitude.  Because we simply must hold on to the good of every day.  

Best wishes & love to the Nielsons, their family, their friends, and all who have been touched by this cause. 

This is how it works:

The cake you bid on must be for an occasion within the next six months (Christmas or Halloween parties, anniversaries, birthdays, New Years celebration, bridal or baby shower, anything you want to celebrate!).

The auction starts now.

Leave a comment that indicates your bid.

Only bid in dollar increments.

The bidding will end on Sunday at 7:00 PM.

Keep checking back to make sure no one outbids you.

If you know someone who might like this, please send them this way!

100% of the proceeds for this bid will go to the Stephanie and Christian Recovery Fund. Of course you are bidding on a very cool cake, but you are really donating to medical and household maintenance for the Nielson family.

To check out more of my cakes visit my cake gallery.

To check out more Nie day auctions (they are ASTOUNDING!) visit Design Mom.

To check out one of my favorite Nie posts click here. 

To donate any amount directly to the fund click here.

the credit for this one goes to Shanon.  She gave me a Customized Baby File Box like this when I had Aidan, and I thought it was super clever.  Every first-time mother needs some organizing help. 

I bought this file box at Target for $10.  And glued on these chipboard letters (I've done letter stickers before, too).

printed tabs in a cute font.

and called it good.

pants-optional backyard soccer.

(you should have seen me & Jim)

(who were - of course - fully covered)

These boys live for this kind of action.  But Aidan did get frustrated when Jim turned the fun into training to defend an *actual* goal, or practice in dribbling an *actual* basketball. 

"Don't tell me things.  I just want to play."

But when we finally said it was time to go inside, Aidan knew precisely what button to push.  "Dad, I'm ready for more instruction." 

He actually said "instruction".

So - of course - they got to nudey about a bit more.