Like everyone else, the boys have been very tired holed up inside in this very cold winter. We have now officially started a countdown to spring...and Aiden's birthday...and did I mention Halloween and Christmas?

Aiden has caught a recent case of "the wants". Ever since Christmas, he is very aware that there are times that he gets lots and lots of toys. And somehow there is always just something a little bit better that he doesn't already have. However, I would say the endless stream of Star Wars figures that are in the play room, in his room, in my bathtub, and YES, even in my bed that would prove otherwise. And did I also mention the stream of toys that pile up on the floor to/from school each day. How to deal with the never ending dilemma...

On another note, I have to say how incredibly proud I am of Aiden's recent accomplishments in the pool. At the beginning of the year, Aiden started a swim class, which the teacher moved him up quickly to the next level of class. For starters, this is the 2ND swim class that Aiden has ever taken. That is why is was much to my surprise that the class he moved up to only swims in the deep end of the pool - and without assistance! For weeks on end we had many many tears, and I believe that Aiden was truly scared of swimming in the pool. As his mother, I will have to say that it is incredibly hard to push your child through something they don't enjoy because you know that it is good for them. I nearly left in tears myself after that first lesson. However, we worked with him on the weekends and practiced - and for the first time last night Aiden was very brave and conquered the pool without any tears at all! To make it even better, he is like a fish! My little boy can swim all the way from the deep end to the shallow completely unassisted. It is such a cool thing to watch him make this great transformation.

As for Kieran, he has recently been the crux of the household, waking Chris and I up at endless hours of the evening. True to toddler form, we have not been able to figure out exactly why this is happening, but when Kieran wakes up he is up and ready to play...not tired - it's full tilt boogy time. So, we are hoping this phase ends quickly as we walk around with bags under our eyes. Kieran, on the other hand, has not missed a beat. He is learning how to play as a little boy - using the barstools as his "garage" for his construction trucks just last night. He is also spitting out many words these days - "car", "truck", "more". He also loves to point to the different parts of his body, and his favorite is to show off his "bee" (belly-button). He's also filled with many faces, and often will do whatever he can to get a laugh - especially at the dinner table. I predict he is going to be the funny man of this family.

Check out what we have been up to:

Kindergarten already?

So Chris and I embarked on the beginning of a journey last night that is about ready to fast forward the next 18 years. In our school district, they pull all parents together for a preview of the school year to come in an evening called Kindergarten Roundup. Oddly, this year they just had the parents attend this first session - they must know from past experience that it takes parents MUCH longer to prepare for this day than it does the kids. So, we got a babysitter and sat with 100 some parents in the library of our soon to be elementary school learning about the different types of programs they offer, meeting the administrative staff and teachers, ways to get involved in the school, etc.

I was doing alright until the school counselor read off a poem that in short told us parents not to push our kids too quickly because the road ahead is long and steady and how they are still just little people with little hearts that have so much learning to do. At that time it was like it all hit me at once - that my little Aiden was going to start school learning how to read and write, make new friends and go through all of the stages of growing up. And, while he still has so much learning to do, how little he still seems to me and how it feels just like yesterday that he came home from the hospital and learning how to walk and talk. Surely we can't be ready for all of this just yet? It took everything in that moment that I could do to pull myself back together, but I can only imagine what it is going to be like this fall when I drop him off for his first day of kindergarten.

I guess that is why they must give us parents so much time to prepare...

Sports & Girls

OK, so I'll be the first one to admit that growing up in the Smith household is difficult. Namely - we are the ONLY Jayhawk fans in our family (minus Gram & Papa who sway on occasion, primarily when the Hawks are on a winning streak!). However, since birth we have done everything possible to brainwash our boys to sport their crimson and blue. Aiden has already been to a KU football and basketball game (and did I mention that he just so happened to spill his sprite all over the K-State fan sitting in front of us...still laughing about that one!). We also deck them out in KU gear - particularly after a big win! And, Aiden also has a KU blanket he sleeps under each night and a KU sign hanging above his bed to give him sweet "hawkish" dreams. Which is why it is only that I can call on my ornery Lindemann roots that I do not understand that anytime a KU game is on tv, Aiden ALWAYS cheers for the other team! Now Aiden does have some very bad Tiger influences from many of his grandparents and aunts, who along the years have tried to teach Aiden that Jayhawks resemble rubber chickens and the like, so you can understand why he is not quite sure where to put his allegiance (I guess he's not old enough to figure out where his college fund is coming from!).

That is where my boss comes into play. My child is SO spoiled that at 4 years old he knows exactly what Starbucks is. To all mothers - do not introduce your children to chocolate milk, and do not let your children know that Starbucks SERVES chocolate milk. I realize that I could simply just say "no", but seriously, how can I feel good about myself while I am sipping my delicious skinny vanilla latte with a drooling thirsty pre-k'er in the back seat! And not to make things worse, but my boss further encourages the spoiling by bringing back the occasional Starbucks chocolate milk for me to take home to Aiden. Needless to say, Mr. Troy is far FAR up on Aiden's list of favorite people. So last week after the KU/K-State stompage, Mr. Troy was asking if Aiden enjoyed the game, which I had to sheepishly respond that Aiden was cheering for none other than the Wildcats. Upon hearing such blasphemy, Mr. Troy said that unless Aiden would change his ways and become a true Jayhawker, the chocolate milk supply was going to get cut off! Needless to say, Aiden was LOUDLY cheering for the Jayhawks against Nebraska this past Saturday and is now saying "Tigers, who?" I guess it is true that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach!

Speaking of sports, what a great Superbowl that we got to share with many of our high school friends last night. Aiden & Kieran had a fantastic time munching on all of the treats they normally do not get to eat - Aiden taking fist fulls of M&Ms. However, I think the highlight of his evening was when he asked our friend Jeff to play Star Wars with him. In surprise, Jeff's 7 yr old daughter eagerly said - "I LOVE Star Wars, can I be Princess Leia?" I seriously thought Aiden was going to get down and propose right there...