So I’m happy to report that Howard LOVES school.

This is not a huge surprise given that he also loves grocery carts, Veggie Tales t-shirts and English peas.

Oh, and air.

We knew he’d be enthusiastic about preschool; we just didn’t know how he’d react to being at a new place. He was crazy about his Mother’s Day Out and talked about it all summer long, so we were a little bit afraid that he’d arrive at his new school, see that it wasn’t his old MDO and then commence with much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

But here’s what he did when the carpool person opened the door Wednesday morning: “GOOD MORNING! Are you going to take me to my class?”

So I’m pretty sure that he was fine.

I went to pick him up right before lunch, and while I had heard stories about how carpool pick-up can be rough for the first couple of weeks, I figured it couldn’t be too bad. In fact, I was so confident that I understood how pick-up worked that I didn’t even bother to look at the carpool map beforehand because GAH, Y’ALL – IT CAN’T BE THAT HARD.

Ahem.

And I will pause for a moment while you seasoned carpool professionals laugh at me.

It seems that there was a critical point in the carpool pick-up process when I should’ve turned and made a loop instead of continuing to go straight, and as a result of my navigational gaffe I ended up blocking a large line of cars that were trying to make their way out of the aforementioned loop.

So I created a bit of a bottleneck. Oh yes I did.

What’s even more embarrassing is that I really had no idea I was doing anything wrong. I was smiling and waving and LOOK, EVERYONE! I AM A COURTEOUS CARPOOL DRIVER! HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

And all the while a very long line of cars could not turn right, turn left or do the hokey pokey and turn themselves about. Thanks to, you know, me.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t merge into the traffic ahead of me, I couldn’t get out of the way, and I certainly couldn’t turn to the right, which is of course what I should have done to begin with, only I didn’t know that because of my previously mentioned failure to realize that CARPOOL MAPS, THEY ARE HANDY.

Finally, though, the traffic jam ahead of me started to move, and after I let, like, two hundred and forty nine cars have the right of way, I was able to merge into the proper carpool lane.

Never let it be said that I don’t know how to make a memorable first impression, my friends.

About fifteen minutes later, I pulled up in front of the school to get the little man. And I have to tell you: when I saw our child walk out of the school holding his teacher’s hand – just as confident and happy and cute as he could be – well, my heart splintered into a million bittersweet pieces. Before I even knew what hit me, I was wiping away the tears.

I love that boy.

After school we met my friend NK and her girls for lunch. NK is one of my closest friends; her older daughter and Alex have been buddies since they were babies. Last week we found out that they were going to be in the same class – and not only that, they have assigned seats next to each other. Alex doesn’t know anyone at New School, but having AC beside him makes him feel right at home. NK filled that exact same role in my life when we moved here seven years ago. God is faithful.

As we systematically demolished a round of chips and queso dip, Alex and AC told us all about the games they played on their first day of school. They talked about their story time, their playground time and their trip to the treasure chest. And as I listened to them, I wondered how in the world we managed to get from this:

to this:

in the span of what feels like just a few months?

By the way, here is where you can feel free to insert the cliche’ of your choice about how quickly time passes.

And sharing in these little lives? It gets sweeter every day.

Monk & Neagle are going on tour!

There are starting out with Bebo Norman and Shane & Shane in a few weeks – then finishing up with Mercy Me this fall.

You can check out all the cities and dates here.

I doubt it’s a shock that I have already put at least one of the dates on my calendar, secured tickets, and am presently trying to keep my enthusiasm at manageable, please-don’t-frighten-the-talent levels.

Because a restraining order probably wouldn’t add much fun to a music-filled evening.

D. recorded the Republican presidential debates last Sunday morning, and later that afternoon we sat down and watched every single minute.

Over the last week I’ve taken a little time to process it all, and I think I have some reactions that you probably haven’t found in the mainstream media.

And as a result of my reactions, I feel compelled to address what I feel is a critical, all-but-ignored issue during this presidential debate season: the Republican candidates’ hair.

ALL IN GOOD FUN, OF COURSE.

And let me be very clear about something: I am grateful to every single one of these men for being willing to serve his country in the most demanding job in the world. Even when I disagree with a political candidate, I have great respect his or her willingness to lead us. Oh yes I do.

But I still need to talk about this hair issue or else my head will explode. Because internets, I haven’t seen so many (ALLEGED) bad rugs since the last time I was in a low-end carpet warehouse.

It was shocking, really.

And while it is tempting to shy away from this topic because I generally try to steer clear of politics, I feel that I have to confront these issues head-on (pun TOTALLY intended). It’s a public service as much as anything else.

So let’s take a candidate-by-candidate look. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are from ABC.com – since, regrettably, my camera and I were not in Iowa for the debates.

And I’m going to say something nice about every candidate before I discuss his hair because I am Southern and I can’t help it.

Tom Tancredo

Nice thing: He got the only “awwwww” of the whole debate out of me when he said his greatest regret was that it took him thirty years to accept Christ as his Savior.

Hair thing: Typically salt and pepper hair tends to be a little more, um, blended. So we either have salt and a hairpiece OR salt and a smattering of Grecian Formula. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt by going with the latter. Mainly because of the Jesus thing.

But my gut tells me that there’s some sort of adhesive involved in his hairdo. And it truly saddens me.

Mitt Romney

Nice thing: He was completely in control throughout the debate – articulate and dignified – and judging by the fact that he won the Iowa straw poll, his performance must have impressed voters.

Hair thing: There’s no doubt that Governor Romney has a full head of his own hair, but it’s too fixed for my taste. If I can see defined layers in a man’s hair, I start to worry that he spends more time in the salon than I do. And I just feel that any potential leader of the free world probably has more important things to worry about than having his layers sculpted. Call me crazy.

Ron Paul

Nice thing: He was no-nonsense and outspoken in the debates. Absolutely nothing about his performance seemed calculated, and for that reason alone he was a breath of fresh political air.

Hair thing: It’s all his, baby. He’s gray and he owns it. No complaints from me. Because, you know, I’m sure that of all the post-election feedback Dr. Paul received, his utmost concern was FORGET THE POLLS – WHAT DID BOOMAMA THINK OF MY HAIR?

John McCain

Nice thing: Any way you slice it, this man is a patriot, a real-live American hero.

Hair thing: Well done, Senator McCain. Your hair is natural, age appropriate, and it doesn’t distract from your message. Which, frankly, can hardly be said for some of the other candidates.

Like, for instance…

Duncan Hunter

Nice thing: It was obvious that he is passionately supportive of our troops in Iraq. And he also made some good points about why he thinks it makes sense to finish what we started over there.

Hair thing: Oh, bless his heart. It’s the hair that time forgot – very Robert Wagner as Jonathan Hart circa 1982. And the fact that it looks like he has pulled one part of the hairpiece down to the side of his face – so that he gets some fake hair / real hair blending – just makes for a situation that would drive any professional hairdresser to tears.

My advice? Lose the (ALLEGED) rug. One good Iowa wind, and that puppy is gonna set sail for a cornfield.

Mike Huckabee

Nice thing: He came across as the quintessential nice guy, completely down-to-earth and approachable. He was grandfatherly, almost – in sort of a Ronald Reagan way. Only younger.

Hair thing: I spent a considerable portion of the debate trying to figure out if he was wearing a toupee’ or not. I don’t think he was – I think his hair was just super-shellacked – but if I had been in Iowa, I would have moved heaven and earth to touch his head so that I could get a definitive answer.

And then I would’ve promptly been escorted to jail.

Sam Brownback

Nice thing: His comments made it clear that his family is his heart and soul. And he is crystal-clear about his stance on some of the bigger issues, which is increasingly unusual in the era of sound bites.

Hair thing: All I could think was that his hair looked like he had rolled it. Especially in the front. And while certainly I don’t believe that he rolled it, I do believe that his advisors should tell him to cut it, because he’s walking a fine almost-televangelist-‘do line. And you know, a little pouf on the top is fine for a televangelist. It puts him one inch closer to heaven. But on a Presidential candidate? Not so much.

Tommy Thompson
photo from cnn.com

Nice thing: Governor Thompson had some great insight into the state of health care and why he feels America gets it wrong. He’s a common sense kind of guy, it seems, and I appreciate that.

Hair thing: I couldn’t help but wonder if a small bird landed on his head and decided to rest there for the debate’s entirety.

A bird which may or may not have been three to four shades darker than his natural hair color.

I’m just sayin’.

Rudy Giuliani

Nice thing: He was surprisingly well-spoken, and he oh-so-naturally utilized specific, relevant examples from his time as mayor of NYC.

Hair thing: Mr. Giuliani wins my Best Hair Prize. Which technically doesn’t exist, but if I had one, I would absolutely give it to him. There were no attempts to cover up the balding or the gray, and the hint of a buzz cut was fun and practical.

Also: his tie was SMOKIN’.

So. I think that about covers it.

And I have no doubt that Americans will pull together and go to great lengths to help these candidates discover hairstyles that are on the cutting edge. I mean, I certainly don’t want to split hairs, but I do believe that we need to be vigilant, and I for one plan to go over future debate hairstyle trends with a fine-toothed comb.

(As a brief aside, I would just like to say that, after almost two years of blogging, I’ve never written a more pun-laden paragraph than the previous one.)

(And for some reason, that makes me strangely proud.)

Well, Alex has the croup.

Perhaps you’ve heard his stunning impersonation of a seal the last two nights between the hours of midnight and 4 AM.

REALLY? ME, TOO!

So, D. has gone to church all by his lonesome, the sick boy and I are home, and I have set a couple of lofty goals for myself: 1) deciding whether or not to try Flickr 2) cooking something and 3) making sure I have showered by late afternoon so that I can go to church at 6.

Ambitious, aren’t I?

And OH! OH! I’m also going to try to bake a cake – because Mama has given me permission to share her pound cake recipe with the internets. I have two sticks of butter and five eggs coming up to room temperature as I type this. I am understandably thrilled.

This next week is going to be super busy for us for lots of reasons, with Alex starting preschool at the top of the list. Honestly, I don’t have any words to explain my feelings about HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY BE TIME FOR THIS, but last week I ran across a picture I took of the little man back in the spring, and I think it says everything I can’t.

He’s just getting so big.