BIG NEWS-- I'm officially a professional student! It's been a week, and so far I am tearing up my kindergarten class. I haven't yet calculated my GPA, but it has to be about a million-billion. Of course, it helps that I gained a solid foundation over the summer. First, I went to an art camp, whose end-of session exhibition featured one of my masterpieces:

It's basically what Van Gogh would have painted if he had been an astronaut.

Then I spent a weekend toughening up with Uncle Wren on the mean streets of Avalon, New Jersey:

Working out with Daddy...

And learning how to swim. I think I'm well on my way to a Phelpsian physique. I've heard he barely eats anything just like me...

The final pre-kindergarten test was a rugged weekend at Graves Mountain Lodge in Virginia:

I hope hill-climbing is on the curriculum.

And before I knew it, it was time for the big day. Here I am with my sweet-a** backpack and lunchbox:

Here's my ride. Don't worry-- that's not a new brother, just a kid that mommy's been taking care of. I would have told you about something like that, notwithstanding how infrequently I've been posting these days.

And finally, we arrived:

Everyone had to get in on the photo op:

And then it was time for mom and dad to let go:

I think I saw Dad cry like a little baby, but I'm not sure.

More later,

Eli