A-I-R-S.

A-I-R-S: "Earth."

It helps if you know he usually pronounces Earth like "hearse" without an H. He drew Earth (that would be the swirly ball at the top), sounded out how he thought it was spelled, wrote it down and called me to come see. I was very proud.

A boy and his tree ....

My eldest, on moving:

"Mama, when we go to a new house will our tree come with us?"

"No, sweetie, it has to stay with this house. I will miss it, too."

"But can we take it with us? Please? Please, Mama? Can we?"

This was said so wistfully my heart broke a little. And I realized I want to take it with us, too.