Ready, Set, GO...

As if the little people in my household aren't just growing up in leaps and bounds, or so it seems. Life as a kindergartner is great - as I'm told. Aiden is making lots of new friends in his new classroom. He has girls on both sides of him at his table - Celia and Katie. I asked him last night if he thought the girls were pretty...and then there was silence with a hidden smile on Aiden's face. So, this is how it is going to be for the next 15+ yrs?

Aiden also made an astounding record this week (although still behind his daddy)...he managed to find himself in the principal's office on day 5 of kindergarten. Yes - you read that right - DAY 5. Apparently him and another little boy were "too busy playing" and ended up dropping their shorts peeing on the mulch on the playground! Remember back to my story at t-ball? I knew that was going to come back and haunt me one day - I just didn't think it was going to be quite so soon!! Let's just hope this visit was not the first of many.

Aiden has made his daddy very proud as he has conquered his bicycle. It took lots of convincing - I'm afraid that Aiden is not a big fan of things that don't come easily (reminds me of his daddy!). So, there were many tears as we tried for many weeks to get him to try to ride his bike. Finally we took him up to his school where there is a huge flat field of grass. It was amazing - without the fear of falling, the kid was off and running on his own on his first try! From that point on he has been obsessed, I mean OBSESSED about riding his bike - every single day. Which is great - until he crashed! Sunday night, with all the pomp and circumstance of having the neighbors watching and cheering, Aiden didn't quite turn his bike quick enough around the cul-de-sac and plowed into storm sewer. He flew over his handlebars putting a nice strawberry on his knee. Our fabulous neighbor, Colonel Waldron, put on his marine corp voice and made a man of my boy right in front of my eyes! It took him a few minutes, but he dried the tears and then got up to ride again - and he's been riding like crazy ever since!

Here is a quick clip of Aiden on the move!

From movies

Go Aiden GO!

And so it begins...

At 8:35 a.m., "A.B." Smith officially became a kindergartener.

Yesterday, following our return from a great weekend at the lake with the Smith family, we got the e-mail notifying us that Aiden would soon join the classroom of Mrs. Cline. Aiden knew a few kids in his classroom, both that live on our cul-de-sac and a few through playing soccer & t-ball this past year. He was quite excited.

We celebrated at the Ice Cream Social last night at school. The kids picked up their massive box of school supplies (we pre-order through school and avoid the store chaos), and then went back to check out their classrooms. Mrs. Cline was there to greet the students. Aiden checked out his cubby (#17) and his assigned seat at his circle table. Mrs. Cline seems like she will be a great teacher - we are very excited to see what this year has in store for us! Aiden was a little shy introducing himself to Mrs. Cline, but quickly warmed up with other boys in the classroom upon the discovery of all the new toys he will get to play with.

Tucking him into bed last night, it took a little arm twisting to read him The Kissing Hand. It is a great story about sending Chester the Raccoon off for his first day of school - mom gives him a kiss on his hand that he can keep there and remember how much she loves him all day long and likewise, Chester kisses his mom's hand so she can remember how much he loves her. At the end of the story, Aiden took one of the heart stickers and gave it to me to wear...oh, how I eat up these moments as they are becoming few and far between as my little boy is growing up and becoming ever so independent.

This morning went smoothly - Aiden was proudly carrying his new backpack showing it off to all of his friends. He also sported his new shoes, which he kept claiming said "nerf" on the back (was really nike). Oh well - as long as he thinks it is cool we are good! Here are a few of the kiddos from our cul-de-sac as we were preparing to leave:





We had a walking school bus to school, which was about 5 kindergartners and their parents that walked up to drop kids off. Aiden went to his classroom - no big deal - and quickly found two other boys that he played with building legos on the floor. I did get a quick hug AND KISS! before I left him...I will say - things got just slightly teary (mom only) at this point!

Parents of kindergartners went down to the BooHoo WooHoo coffee hour in the gym following drop off. The new principal, Mr. Sanders, was there to welcome all of the parents. He is new to Sunrise Point, but seemed like he will be a good role model for the kids and a great resource for the parents.

Overall - things went great today. I walked Aiden back home after school - and he reported how much he liked his new class AND the strawberry milk they served in the cafeteria! We are also busy looking for a gingerbread man that Chef Tony cooked and lost at school...not sure exactly where he is going to turn up! Check out the pics from Aiden's first school lunch:



I am really looking forward to this year ahead. I am SO proud of the little man that Aiden is becoming - I have lots of faith that he will be successful in his new school, and it will be a wonderful experience for him.

Go Sunrise Point Elementary Patriots!

Notes to a Kindergarten Teacher on the First Day of School

This is a poem a friend sent to me that was written by Anne Ridilla Troy, which I thought was lovely, and was modified by me for my Aiden:

This is the child who was in my thoughts
Long before he was in my womb.
He was named before he was conceived.

This is the child on whose birthday I wept
Because I realized that babies don't keep
And that someday he would begin his journey of growing up
Which to me starts through the entry of kindergarten.

Well, now that day has come.

I've changed his diapers and changed his sheets.
I’ve read him goodnight stories and sung lullabies.

I've been his teacher, his disciplinarian,
His buddy, his confidant and his albatross.

I've seen his first attempts at rolling over.
I've seen him waddle clumsily when learning to walk.
I've waited anxiously for his first word.
And now he uses his logic to outreason and correct me.

I've watched him gaze at the world in amazement.
I've watched him lasso that world in his play.
I've watched him create forts.
Invent his own lightsabers,
and dress up like his favorite superheros.

I've watched him embrace his boyhood in this world.

Now you'll be part-time watcher
Part-time keeper.

Please watch him carefully.
Please keep him well
And please, please help keep that
Sense of wonder in his gaze,
That creativeness and inventiveness in his work.

I know to you he is just one of many
And you don't know him very well.

But I know that he calls hamburgers "hamgebers"
And that he easily frustrates, but often perseveres,
And that he acts tough,
But is really very soft and sensitive on the inside.

And to me, he is one of not so many.

He is my firstborn.
he is the answer to our prayers
And he was in my heart even before he was in my womb.

Aiden's Mom

Oh boy, changes are a coming...

Is it August already? The summer has flown by, and now the times of change are upon the Smith household.

At the beginning of this month, we moved Kieran to a new daycare facility - Small Beginnings. The change was for many reasons, but ultimately we think that this change will be a good one for him. So far so good!

During the same time, Aiden went to go stay with Gram & Papa for the week. He had a blast watching movies, playing Wii...and also heading down to Stockton lake with the extended Lindemann family. He played with some of my other cousins, jumping off the boat 100+ times, AND even had his first tubing experience (probably a good thing I wasn't there to immediately gray out my hair from the stress!).

This week I am playing taxi as Aiden is enjoying his first sports camp. He's got a few friends in his group...and is having tons of fun learning new things. I can't wait to see him out on the soccer fields again this fall. If you thought he had talent before, you better watch out now for AB Smith!!! (btw...AB is Aiden's self-chosen official sports nickname - though if you ask him what the B stands for, he shrugs his shoulders, to which Chris responds - BIG knucklehead!!! It will be interesting to see what he chooses to go by in kindergarten in the next few weeks.)

As we wrap up the summer, we are preparing for the send-off to kindergarten beginning next Wednesday. Wow...here I am celebrating my 32nd birthday, and all I can think about is Aiden heading to school in less than a week...I think I am going back to that place where my hair is graying out!! :) I think Aiden is ready, excited, and looking forward to this journey we are about to embark on...much unlike his mother who is dragging behind kicking and screaming!!

A Walk To Remember

As a parent, you really get to sit back and watch as your kids change and grow right before your eyes. Anyone who has had kids, I know, has experienced those moments where you think to yourself you never want to forget little things your kids have done. But, certainly, as life passes us all by, new memories are created and sometimes the old ones become more and more difficult to remember.

My point to this is, there have been a few moments like this lately that I just wanted to document in an attempt to preserve them and the little people my boys are becoming.

This past weekend Aiden was quite proud that he captured a roly poly. He brought him over to show both Chris and I and was ever so gently holding him in his hands. Well...I think in his attempt to care for the roly poly, he accidentally squished it. I know that boys will be boys and they do these kinds of things, but I actually do think Aiden didn't mean to, because in his softest voice he looked down at the roly poly and said "I'm sorry". It was just so sincere - I hope someone special appreciates his sensitivity someday.

Now onto the funnies...right around 4th of July weekend, we were at Gram & Papa's house and Gram asked Aiden if he wanted to bowl on the Wii. Aiden's response, "No Gram, first I'm going to play this game and then I'm going to go out to play baseball and then it will be time for lunch." Gram's response, "You are just like your mother...always a planner." To further show how much Aiden is becoming like me, we were busy cleaning out the garage this past weekend and Aiden was helping me to put away the juice boxes into the fridge. There were 4 varieties of juice...and before putting them away Aiden looks to me and asks "what kind of pattern should we put these away in Mom?" Oh boy...:)

Kieran is quite the opposite, although I think he has embraced my more crazy side. He will often do anything for a laugh - and I think his mere presence has caused our serious Aiden to erupt in more laughter since his arrival. He's also busy learning new words every day. One of my recent favorites is when I reach for him and ask "Mommy hold you?" he nods and says "Achoo".

And, finally, some of you may have already read this on Chris's blog, but I just wanted to include on here for memories sake. Chris asked Aiden a series of questions inspired by our friend Francie's blog, which went as follows:

1. What is your favorite book?
A: Ironman

2. What is your favorite movie?
A: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

3. What is your favorite food?
A: Grilled Cheese and grapes.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
A: Ben Ten.

5. How do you like being five years old?
A: Kinda good. Depends on if I have big boys beat me up.

6. What is your favorite color?
A: Blue.

7. Who is your favorite superhero?
A: Batman.

8. What is your favorite song?
A: The Imperial March from Star Wars (Darth Vader's theme)

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Tall MU Player (at this point he runs across the room, stands there for a second and runs back. I ask him what was wrong and he told me he needed a "fart break".)

10. What is your least favorite food?
A: Chicken

11. What do you want to do when you're five? (What are your goals for the year?)
A: Skateboard (Now he runs to the bathroom, poop break)

12. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?
A: Go downstairs and watch a movie.

13. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
A: Go to the pool.

14. What is your favorite thing to do with your buddies?
A: Run around and play.

15. What is something Mommy always says to you?
A: Go upstairs and get to bed.

16. What is something Daddy always says to you?
A: Eat your breakfast. (Apparently we don't deal well with his pokiness)

17. Where is your favorite place to go?
A: Florida

18. What makes you laugh?
A: Funny jokes. Sometimes when people do funny things that I laugh so hard and fall down on the floor.

19. What is your nickname?
A: AB.

20. What is your favorite toy?
A: Nerf blaster guns.

21. What makes you sad?
A: When somebody hurts my feelings and pushes me. And when people say "I'm not your friend".

22. If Spider-Man and The Hulk fought each other, who would win?
A: Probably Hulk because he's stronger and tougher. *pause* Probably Spiderman cuz he shoots a web. If Ironman and Wolverine fought, Ironman would win because he has more powerful weapons.

My little Firecrackers

Our 4th of July celebrations (yes, with an "s") turned out to be quite good this year. We began the long weekend at Megan's house with all of the Kammert family. Aiden discovered Uncle Charlie's play station in the basement, which was near impossible to get him away from when it was time for the fireworks display. Kieran actually stayed up well past his bedtime and didn't even flinch at the loud booms and lights up in the sky (no surprise there!). It was probably a good thing that everyone slept in until about 8:30 the next morning!

On Sunday, we had our annual block party. We are truly spoiled...this party is literally in our backyard, and the boys get to enjoy a bounce house. Another neighbor is a local deejay (Marc O'Leary - great job!) and he passes out candy to the kids and has lots of entertainment that he coordinates with them - water balloon toss, chicken dance, etc. Every year our family has a blast and good eats. Unfortunately the weather wrapped things up around 8:30. However, we actually got a few fireworks this year and even let Aiden light a few (with supervision of course!). He had a blast (literally) and thought he was such a big kid.

Here are a few pictures that captured the fun of this weekend:

Future Predictions

At Aiden's preschool graduation, his teachers had voted him to grow up to be the future's tallest NBA basketball player. This got a little conversation started at home. I think Mom and Dad would call it like this:

Aiden - Future movie critic (specializing in Sci-Fi and Action films)

Kieran - Future roller coaster engineer (be prepared to bounce, go upside down, the more crazy the better!)