Just some stuff

Here are a few random photos from this past week. We took the boys to Party City and they got to try on costumes. Ethan is going to BEE a bumble bee. He's absolutely squishy-face adorable as a bee. Aden wanted to be a transformer, but I knew he wouldn't wear a mask. It turned out that the transformer costume he picked, which was marked half off, was missing the mask. So we got it for half off of half off ($5) and Aden doesn't have to wear a mask. Score for all of us. I wanted to maybe paint his face to complete the outfit, but he refuses to allow me to paint his face. He is completely against that. Sigh.

Ethan started sitting in a booster at the table too. Not every time, but sometimes. And when he does - he thinks he's pretty big stuff. Other new things... Ethan can now give high fives and plays peek a boo by hiding his eyes with his hands and letting you "find him."

The weather is wonderful lately, and you can find us outside! Here's Aden giving Ethan a quick ride.

Ethan is the king of all sidewalk chalk.

Aden wrote "I Love You"



So far so good!

Well, with two practices under our belt I'd say it's looking much better. Aden is participating and getting to know the team. His coach has lots of fun drills for him to try and he's been getting the hang of most of them. He's still a bit slower than the other boys and not as aggressive at all. But at least he's having fun.

It's pretty tough to get from work to their schools then up to the practice field, but we've got it figured out now, and I pack dinner in a cooler to take to work with me so that we're not stopping for fast food every time. The weather is getting SO nice, and Ethan is usually pretty happy to be outside. It is tough to keep him out of the middle of the rest of the boys. He wants to join in so badly.

Our game this week was cancelled due to rain, so we'll have two more practices before jumping into game day. I think God sent that rain just for Aden.

Funny thing about soccer...

It's fast.

We signed Aden up for soccer this fall season, following the end of baseball. The YMCA accidentally put him with the kindergarten league, then accidentally gave the coach my number with two numbers transposed, so we missed two practices and found out about game #1 two days before it occured. By this point, we decided just to leave Aden on the "big boy" team, as the YMCA sports specialist told me that the Tiny Tots league was learning to kick the ball in the goal, don't use your hands and don't kick your friends. The kindergarten league was more about learning to defend, score and dribble. That sounded more like where Aden needed to be.

So we show up on game day and there are boys nearly twice his size all over the field acting like tiny David Beckhams fighting for the ball, scoring, defending, shoving - you name it. These were not first timers! Aden was completely overwhelmed and sat on the bench the whole time. Which was actually a big accomplishment considering he actually just wanted to go home. He kept saying it was all "too fast."

So we had a dilemma: pull him and put him back in Tiny Tots? They had their first game already and he'd be coming in the middle on that season too. Nothing pointed to that option giving him more confidence. Pull him all together and put him back in next season? We'd missed the window for other sports and he's really been looking forward to doing things like this. So we kept him where he is. Trail by fire? Throwing him to the wolves?

Anyhow, what finally convinced us to keep him there is that they practice twice a week. Which gives him plenty of time to get to know the team in a slower environment and possibly learn some tricks that will give him confidence on the field. And when the Tiny Tots catch up to him, he's going to be one unstoppable machine!

Soooo.... on Mondays and Thursdays, I have to rush out of the office, drive an hour to get Ethan at his school, Aden at his, then drive another 45 minutes to the soccer field for an hour of practice (somewhere in there getting some food in for dinner - on the road.) Then 45 minutes back home. All through traffic. Then on Saturday mornings we get both boys around and all our gear up to the soccer field for game day.

But he's having a good time now - so it's so worth it.

A year

What a difference a year makes!

(September 2009)

(September 2010)

Plano Balloon Festival 2010!

On a whim, we decided to get a group together and go to the Plano Balloon Festival. We had gone last year and had such a great time that we thought we might try again this year. Because we went on a Friday after work, we got a pretty late start and didn't actually end up getting to the shuttle bus until 8:15ish - which was when the lighted balloons were supposed to take off.

The kids all loved riding the bus, and we found out that due to possible rain, the festival entry was free!

We got there just in time to see the balloons all lit up and it was beautiful. We got some nachos and then headed down to the kids area where they had inflatable slides, soccer games, face painting and more.

Even our good friends Courtney, Jason and Tia came with us. Aden is always happy to have Tia around.

The kids all stayed out way past their bedtimes but it was worth it - even though the balloons never ended up taking flight. I can't wait for next year!

(Peeking over the bus seat to see what everyone else was doing)

10:30 PM and everyone is still awake! (Not for long).

This child can EAT!

I'm not sure if this is a phase or if I need to start worrying, but Ethan is such an eater! He will finish off anything I give him, then ask for some of mine (or Aden's, or daddy's...) and then want more when that's finished. Even the teachers at his school make comments about how well he eats. It's insane! But he's also growing like crazy too, and maybe it will all balance out soon. Just thought I'd include this sweet mess of a photo. Lasagna and peas - what could be better?

My brave little guy

At Aden's 4 year well check, his doctor detected a heart murmur. Or at least she thought it might be one, so she referred us to a cardiologist for a second opinion. On the day of his appointment, mom came to help me with Ethan (thank goodness) and the four of us first went into a dark little room for a scan. Aden was so brave.

He let the nurse take scans for about 15 minutes but then right at the end he started getting a little nervous, which led to a few tears and then he just couldn't stop the crying.

They put us into a little waiting room after that, and while mom took Ethan for a stroller ride through the halls, I gave Aden a little pep talk. He seemed to be back on track, until another nurse came for him. We went into another room where they put stickers all over his chest and connected wires to the stickers and Aden lost his mind. He was screaming so loudly that another nurse popped her head in to see if our nurse needed help. I guess he was then rated a "problem child." Mom said she could hear Aden screaming on the other side of the building in the waiting room.

Once that was done, we went back into our little room to consult with the doctor. He gave us the good news that Aden does have a heart murmur, but that it's a perfectly normal one that does not require heart medication or restricting activities. He said Aden will probably grow out of it in a few years and there was nothing to worry about. I started crying right there in front of Aden and the doctor. Yikes. But it was just tears of relief. I wasn't worried, Aden is so healthy. But I guess hearing the confirmation was a huge relief.

What happens at Lola's...

What happens at Lola's, stays at Lola's comes home in diapers.

Labor Day 2010

We definitely did not spend Labor Day laboring. It was a hot weekend, so on Sunday we went to Lindsey's pool and splashed around. Mostly, there were water gun wars.

And baby style retaliation...

But there was also some relaxing.

On Monday, we got up early and met Lola for breakfast at the lake.

They have a nice little playground at the lake too. That was pretty fun.