Last First Day of preschool

Smith and Addison started their 4 year old preschool today. With this, its the last "first" day of preschool. Next year, they'll be off to the "big" elementary school for kindergarten.

I can't really think about that now - this picture is already making me realize how quickly its going.

While I don't want them to grow up to fast, I do love spending time with them. I love the people they are, and I can't wait to see the people they will become. Except that I don't want them to grow up too fast. The eternal parenthood debate.

Free Comic Book Day 2012

Lets rewind - Its 1988. I was an 11 year old boy, and while my mother was shopping at Hamricks, I was allowed to walk down a few doors into the comic book store. I was instantly drawn to some Transformers back issues (I'd always been a fan of the cartoon and toys, so it was a no brainier I'd be drawn to the comics). I also bought the new issue that month, Transformers #41.And that simply, the comic book thing began for me. In my world, Transformers begat Fantastic Four, which begat The Avengers, which begat X-men, and so on.This comic book affair lasted well into high school (which would explain an awful lot about my high school experience, but that's an entirely different entry.)

Fast forward 3 years, and that Transformers comic book ended with issue #80. By then, I was firmly entranced in the comic book world, but Transformers had always remained my first love. The book was wrapped up quickly (they only had a few months to wrap the story up), and that was that. A few years later, I quit collecting comic books, which can certainly be attributed to  a discovery of girls and beer and a social life. 

Fast Forward: 21 YEARS. I'm a dad. A husband. Still a nerd, but not as overt as I once was. And I read on the internet - That old school Transformers series is picking up right where it left off - with issue 81 for a 20 issue run to 100 to finish out the saga (Same creative team - same continuity - its a fanboy's dream come true)  My 34 year old becomes a 14 year old and I know I will most definitely be partaking of this.  

A few months later, its announced that rather than starting with Transformers #81, the title will be featured on the yearly event of Free Comic Book Day. Issue #80.5 will be given away, for FREE. Then, I find out that I'm solo Dad for that weekend (Krissee on a well deserved girl's weekend). Of course Smith and Addison must visit their first comic book shop with me on this most glorious of occasions.

So this morning, after a yummy breakfast, we head to the "local" comic book shop (which just so happens to be 30 minutes away). But we got there. And in addition to the book which made me feel like a pubescent boy all over, Smith and Addison both got some free comics too! They got to read them on the way home, and I think they're fans now too!

We also to enjoy "downtown" Myrtle Beach, which includes this fountain that they thought was the coolest thing ever. 

Many thanks to the folks at Corsair Comics for making this experience so much fun for a 34 year old, and two 3 year olds!