Lunch with the fireman

 

As I mentioned before Aidan has joined the scouts this year. The first graders are the "Tiger Den" and part of the Tiger Den requirements are to do something called "go and see its". These are basically field trips in the community to learn about the community and they have to complete a certain amount over the course of the year. This weekend they did a "go and see it" to the fire station. We bought the firemen lunch so we got to have lunch with them too! It was exciting and fun for the kids AND the adults ( have I mentioned that I LOVE a man in uniform. lol!) They were extremely nice and hospitable. Our kiddos learned a lot :)  I took some pictures but the ones I posted are basically the back of heads as I did not have permission from the other parents to post on the web.

 

At their Den meeting this week they made a card to present to the firemen. Presenting the thank you card.

 

 Aidan discussing "stop, drop, and roll" only he accidentally said "stop, dunk, and roll"

 Rolling around the floor with the firemen to demonstrate " stop, drop, and roll"

 He was REALLY into it.

 just because I think the firemen are cute.... Not really they are demonstrating the gear they have to wear.

 In full gear and getting ready to get attacked but some tigers....

 The thank you card we made....

 lunch with the firemen...

 Aidan is surprising me and actually eating pizza these days. He is still a really picky eater. I got tired of arguing with him in the morning about eating breakfast so I have been making him smoothies for the past 3 weeks. He drinks them with NO complaints! Score!

 This picture cracks me up because it reminds me of a duck and his ducklings. lol.

 The boys were so good and listening intently at everything he had to say. Here he was showing them their exercise room and talking to them about working out.

I love this picture of Aidan standing there listening with his hands in his pocket. :)

Feeling Blah

It is that time of year again. My favorite season of the year- fall. However, it's also the time of year when I feel homesick for West Virginia. Fall just isn't the same in California as it is in West Virginia. There are no brightly colored leaves, cool fall weather, big football games ( as far as I am concerned), or crispy leaves to step on. I also miss my family and friends back east. Don't get me wrong I LOVE San Diego, the ocean, the near perfect weather year round, the cloudless skies, etc.... and am so thankful but I just would like to have a weekend at "home". Just feeling blah today.

1st lost tooth

It finally happened! The moment that Aidan has been looking forward to for 2 years! The first lost tooth! He discovered a couple of weeks ago that he finally had a loose tooth. He wiggled, and wiggled, and wiggled it. However, that sucker stayed in there. He even wanted his dad to pull it but his dad said "No, its not ready." Finally yesterday at school it fell out. I have yet to get a straight story as to HOW it fell out. They gave him a cute tooth shaped necklace and locket at school to bring it home and the tooth fairy made her first trip to our house last night. She left 5 bucks and a letter congratulating him on his first lost tooth. :)

 

 

 

 locket from school....

 

 Aidan's tooth fairy pillow and my little pillow from when I was a kid. He put the tooth in the little pillow and then put it in the pocket.

He came running into our room before dawn with his "prize" so no pictures. He then promptly fell back asleep in our bed.

Cub Scouts

This year we are testing out some new activities, one of which is the Cub Scouts. Aidan was very excited to get his new uniform. He was in his first parade over the weekend He rode his new scooter that he bought with some birthday money from his Grandma Helen in Australia. Clinton was able to walk with him while I watched from the sidelines with friends. It was  90 degrees outside and he was a sweaty mess when he was done! When I went to wash his uniform he said " No don't wash my patches off!" Lol.! He has his first Den meeting tomorrow so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

 

 

 

 

All the scouts decorated their bikes and scooters

 This was when he first spotted me and his friend Connor!

 There he goes....

 sweaty mess...

 

1st day of 1st grade and 6 year old checkup

 

School started for us a few weeks ago. It was such a different experience than last year as last year was just a sea of unknowns. Last year was our first year of Montessori at a new school and I was just unsure if we were making the right choice. I felt in my heart that the school was good but wasn't sure how Aidan would do in a Montessori setting. Fast forward one year.... This year I ran the whole range of emotions. I woke up happy and singing to the tune of " Its the most wonderful time of the year" ( kind of like that Target commercial last year where the mom is taking the kids back to school shopping. lol!) I was excited and so was Aidan! As I dropped him off I felt a sense of pride wash over me. He is no longer dropped off at the front door and has to cross the crosswalk by himself. This is kind of a big deal for him and just shows that he is becoming more and more independent and doesn't need ole mom as much anymore. *sniff* As I watched him cross the crosswalk by himself and walk himself to his classroom I began to tear up a little ( nothing like the boo hoo's of last year but tear up none the less). I was happy that he was met with hugs of familiar faces ( no less than hugs from 3 different people :) ) I know that he is in a great school where people know and love him. I know that he will be well looked after and that he will be safe. This in itself is worth its weight in gold. I think it is important to feel confident in the place where your child will be for 6 1/2 hours  a day. I think it is important to feel confident in the adults that are there molding his mind!. I love that he is in a small setting and that virtually all the teachers know him by name. This is comforting.

 

 I  also love that when I had a near panic attack a few weeks before school started  I was able to call the director of the school on her cell phone and she was able to talk me off of the ledge. lol.. I was a little uneasy about this year because it is a big move up for Aidan. He is now in a classroom with 49 other kids grades 1 through 3. There are 5 teachers in the room but I was still concerned that he would be overlooked. He has gone from being one of the oldest kids to being one of the youngest. I was also concerned with the classroom itself. They demolished the building that was to be his room because they are building a brand new building. However it turns out the room he is in now is better than the one that was demolished.

 

So far so good and he comes home from school every day happy and exhausted. I have had 1 mini conference so far with his teacher just to check in to see if he is transitioning ok. She is amazing and has a son that is adopted too! She understands some of Aidan's sensory challenges so I couldn't ask for a better placement!

 

This past week we also had Aidan's 6 year old check up. Everything looks great. He is now 48 1/2 inches tall and weighs 46 pounds. He is in the 92% for height and 50% for weight. At least the boy is consistent. These are the percentiles he has been in since he was born. :)

 

When I grow up I want to be a celebrity! 1st day of 1st grade

 New lunch box for 1st grade

 1st day of preschool, 1st day of kindergarten, and 1st day of 1st grade

 crossing the crosswalk.

Aidans 6th Beyblade/Science birthday blowout!

Aidan is known to start planning his birthday parties 6 months in advance. He decides the theme, where he wants to have it, and the guest list. This year he decided on a Beyblade theme and to also do some Science experiments! I had my work cut out for me but I LOVE planning parties so it was a fun challenge for me. His teacher Jennifer does entertainment at birthday parties as a side business so of course we had to have her there! I told her my ideas and she did a great job entertaining the kids. They all just love her.

 

 

This was the day before his birthday and the last day of Vacation Bible School. I let him open his presents early. He is REALLY into Monopoly these days and was wanting Monopoly Millionaire. He also ended up purchasing 2 other Monopoly games with the money he got for his birthday.

 

 His first Super Soaker Water gun...

 We had his birthday party at a park. Here is the cupcake tower I made.

 and the Beyblade Fast Fuel also know as water.

 Here are the Battle Rules I came up with. Each child was given a VIP Pass for " Aidans Beyblade Birthday". Each time the kids battled best out of 3 and the winner got a sticker on the back of their lanyard. The person with the most stickers at the end of the party was the "Beyblade Champion"

 Aidans personalized birthday shirt. It has a beyblade on it. He is 6 and I STILL can't get away from the personalized shirts. I can't help it. I think they are so cute!

 For those of you who don't know.... These are Beyblades. They are basically spinning tops that come with a launcher. The last one to stop spinning wins the battle.

 Jennifer was the referee during the party...

 I had 3 practice arenas set up where kids could play and practice at anytime and 2 official "battle arenas" where they could battle and win stickers.

 Next the mad scientist made an appearance for some mad science

 I believe this was the exploding soda bottle...

 Yep. Exploding Soda. Everywhere!

 More Science....

 Look how engaged the kids are..... Is it any wonder I love our school and teachers so much.

 back to battling. Even the littlist guests were into it

 Making goop...

 Time to sing....

 Blue icing!

 Boys are so gross. lol

 Beyblade Pinata. It was kind of a dud....

 It was the kind that the kids take turns pulling the strings to pull it open. Aidan went first, and then 2 year old Avery went next and the piñata opened right up!

I

 The Official Beyblade Champion! He was so proud of that tiny trophy! :)

 Aidan and Jennifer. What a great party!

 Aidan and his best buddy Connor.