JOY- It's all about the little things...: October 2012

End of Summer = Outdoor Fun

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

We had such a fun afternoon at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. Thanks to my Dad for taking his grandsons there for the first time! I am looking forward to making this an annual tradition... just another full-circle moment for me, as an ex-Dorney Park ticket seller circa 1999. :O) Here are a few shots I was able to take that day. Enjoy- we certainly did!

Magic- looking at his Pops. <3

He chose to ride the bench with his Aunt Alli instead of a horse!

Halloween time at the park

Big boys riding the Snoopy rides all by themselves. :)

Gavin is unphased by the scary dinos- he knows his Pops will protect him!

From Dino-impersonators to Editorial-pirates, my boys are truly so well-rounded. :)

Aidanisms

He's 4.5 years old now... and they're only getting better. :)

One night while we ate pizza, I put Batman on (which I rarely do). In it there was a girl and I asked him if she was one of Batman's friends. He told me no, that she was his GIRLfriend. I questioned him further and asked what he meant by girlfriend. He very matter-of-factly responded that it was because "she kissed him." and continued eating his pizza.

HOW DOES HE KNOW THIS??

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September 14, 2012
While riding home from school, I asked him what the best part of his day was, what he learned today, if he made any new friends, etc. In an annoyed tone of voice, he said, "Mommy, why do you always ask me the same questions every day?!" To which I replied, "Excuuuuse me! I ask you because I love you and miss you and want to know all about your day. Why, does that bother you?" Aidan answered, very matter-of-factly, "Yes. It is silly, and annoying."

Jaw-drop. September 14, 2012. The first time my kid told me I was annoying.

If I can't get details out of him at 4 and a half, then there is really no hope for when he is older!!!

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- "Mommy, I like you. You're pretty. You're prettier than other mommies."

- "Mommy, sometimes I don't like eating breakfast because it makes my peepee itch."

Me: "You're cool, dude."
Aidan: "I'm not cool! I'm not a toy!"
Me:"You don't have to be a toy to be cool, silly. If you aren't cool, then how would you describe yourself??"
Aidan: "Lucky."

Aidan goes to school!

I can't believe the time has come. Our firstborn is offically a preschooler. And he was so ready, and so excited. When I asked him if he was nervous or scared about anything the night before, he immediately answered, "No!" When I asked him what he was most excited about going to preschool, he answered, "Making new friends." But what response I enjoyed the most was when I asked him if he wanted to make new friends that were girls or boys. Again, he answered instantly, saying, "I already have Ophia, Aubrey and Claire for girlfriends. No little boy should have more than that." !!!!! :) That's my boy.

When Aidan was at school that first morning, Gavin apparently laid on the floor in Grandma and Grandpa's foyer, occasionally looking up and sullenly asking, "Aidan? Aidan?" It was heartbreaking how much he missed his big brother! And while Aidan was very excited to go that first day, he also had a few sad times as he adjusted to his new setting. His complaints consisted of it "being too noisy and crowded there" to "missing me a lot" and the kids on the bus laughing at his sheepy pillow. :( But he is doing great now! And his teacher, Mrs. Knight, says he is very sweet and a helpful student every day. :)

I feel like I will blink, and we will be filling out college applications. But for now, I will enjoy the artwork he comes home with every day, and hearing him sing "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" to himself while on the potty. =o)

Soccer!

As you may recall, Aidan experienced his first taste of soccer with the Kirkaroo program last spring. Well, he is movin' on up and is now a member of Team California in their Soccer Tots program which started in early Sept. He especially likes that Daddy is his coach, and has been enjoying practices every Thursday and "games" every Saturday. It did start off a bit hairy, with Aidan crying for most of his first practice every time someone else took the ball, etc. But we are happy to report he quickly grew a tough skin and has been thriving ever since!

Here are some pictures of his first "one-on-one" practice with Daddy, then his first practice with his team, and then his first game. :)