The Kids--2 1/2 years later

Sometimes I wonder what the boys are thinking or feeling or how they are doing without their dad around. It saddens me to see that they are adjusting to life without them and living the "new normal". But then something takes me by surprize. My remembrance day post from 2010 stated how J mentioned his dad in his daily journal writing. Now almost a year later, he wrote almost the identical thing. The word they had for their journal was "remember", the same as a year ago. The sentence he chose to write with that word was "I remember my dad died when I was almost 6".
Then tonight R's Beaver Scout group went to visit the local fire station. The firemen were asking the boys questions with regards to safety and asked "Has anyone called 9-1-1?". R puts up his hand and says "yah". Fireman: "you called 911?"
R: "My dad.."
Fireman: "Your dad called 911?"
R: "My dad died"
Fireman:"Oh, I"m sorry".
I was standing there with about 5 other parents, all of whom did not know our situation. As the fireman carried on with the conversation, my eyes started to well up but I managed to maintain my composure and carry on. It just shocked me a little bit how it just came out and yet being so young, he didn't even think twice about what he was saying..it was just a part of him.