Alex Starts School

This week, Alex started pre-school and I have to say, it went surprisingly well. Unlike Catherine who just walks into any situation without looking back, Alex is an observer who likes to hang out a bit before participating. Well, he certainly fooled me. After telling me all morning that he wanted me to stay with him and that he didn't want to go to school, his teachers said he had a smile on his face the whole morning and he participated. Alex told me he had so much fun and again, unlike Catherine who I have to sometimes drag information out of, Alex told me all about his day. It was very sweet. He couldn't wait to tell Catherine that he went to school just like her and as soon as she came off the bus, she asked him how it went.
Otherwise, things here just continue to get busier. Catherine started real soccer. On Fridays (after our trip to Guilford), Catherine has practice which is run by these guys from Britain who do serious drills. Then on Saturdays, the Dads coach the games. Dave is one of Catherine's coaches and I think he had more fun than her. The practice and the game wore her out (granted, it was like 100 degrees those 2 days). I always have to remind myself that she does not have the stamina of a normal 5 year old. Nevertheless, it is very cute and Alex is right there trying to get on the field.

One final note, I purposely posted today, 9/11. It is amazing how I can remember that day so vividly 6 years ago. And this year, unlike other anniversaries, 9/11 is a Tuesday. I remember it was my first day back at work after mine and Dave's bike trip through Austria. It was an absolutely picture perfect day, not a cloud on the sky, which made me feel good as I had to fly down to Florida on business that evening. Then, Dave called me to tell me that an airplane hit the WTC. My father-in-law worked in the WTC and Dave wanted me to look out my window and tell him which Tower was hit (I worked on the 50th floor of a building that had an unobstructed view of southern Manhattan). Everything after that was just controlled chaos. And just as some of us were trying to decide if we should leave the office, the North Tower fell right before our eyes. It was very surreal. I will never forget the remainder of the day. I knew my father-in-law was okay. Ironically, he was the only one who was able to get through to me. I had no idea where Dave was (he worked downtown at the time). I walked back up to our apartment with a friend (and thousands of others) and listened as fighter jets flew overhead. Again, all very surreal and something I hope we never experience again. So many of the people who responded to the WTC are developing blood cancers and just today, there was an article in the paper about how the EPA has grossly underestimated the reach of the poisons that spread throughout the air in those days. It has always been my own little theory that Catherine's leukemia is a result of 9/11. I didn't know I was pregnant with her - I was probably about 6 weeks along. Something tells me that I will never know if my theory is true.
So once again, I end one of my posts on a down note (I really need to change that practice). I am going to finally post some new pix of the kids so that should make up for it.