"We Just Love Aiden"

This is how most parent-teacher conferences begin for me.

"We just love Aiden."

"Aiden is the sweetest boy."

"He gives the biggest hugs."

I have come to dread parent-teacher conferences. With Aiden's early developmental set backs with speech, followed by concerns about his space perception and attention span - leading to the discovery of his Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) being linked to his inner-ears, affecting balance, hearing and attention span. This is just always a tough thing. Sitting with his teachers, who see him often and know him well, and hearing that he's not quite where he needs to be, or something new is wrong. It's exhausting being that parent.

This year, things went a little differently.

After explaining to me how much they love Aiden, they began telling me about how much Aiden loves his Mommy. I find it difficult to be sharing this without tearing up a little, because that day, I really needed nothing more than to hear that, and it warms my heart to be able to share it with everyone else. Aiden talks about his Mommy, all day, every day at school. About painting and cooking and bowling and reading the Wizard of Oz and about what a terrible singer his Mommy is.

As per the usual, we went through his evaluation task by task. He can pick out all numbers 1-25 from random order and organize them. He has a mastery of writing his upper case letters and can pick them all out at random from memory. He writes his name, beautifully if you ask me. Aiden understands past tense, present tense, all of his verbs and adjectives agree with his nouns and subjects and proper nouns.

While his teachers are very aware of his *slight* obsession with the littler girl in the next class, they are in total agreement that he is a happy kid, with a positive outlook and a bright social demeanor. He especially loves to sing the peaches song to his teachers...

Peaches - Presidents of the United States

We sing this song while we cook at home and often while we eat - as it turns out, I do this terribly, he has only been sparing my feelings. 

After he drew and then cut out all of his shapes for his evaluation, he asked his teachers for more because they were too easy. One of my personal favorite tid-bits - after naming the colors for his teachers, they asked which is his favorite...the rainbow.

As far as his attention span goes - the diet is helping drastically. He has trouble following multiple directions at once but he is paying attention and he wants to learn, like a regular four year old boy.

Helping the banker count the money.

Helping Mommy organize promo stuff.

Waiting patiently while his ball rolls all the way to the end.

Happy kiddo.

The very next week in class, Aiden received an award for following all of the teachers' directions, right away. It was a noisy award and it gave Mommy a couple head aches, but for a good cause. 

The next day after that, he received another award. This one was a certificate which now hangs on our refrigerator. Aiden had his teachers in tears when he calmed and comforted a classmate who was upset.

My heart beams. For those of you who have read The Help, Aibileen nurtures the love and self esteem in Mae Mobley who is somewhat neglected by her own mother. Every night, and when on occasion Aiden claims that something is "all my fault," we tell each other, "Aiden is kind. Aiden is smart. Aiden is important."

When I heard what Aiden had done for one of his friends at school, I could almost imagine him telling his friend, "You are smart, you are kind, you are important."

It's easy for me to get so busy trying to take care of Aiden that I forget how much he does to take care of me - he feeds my soul with his silliness and he heals my heart with his love. So, I have started doing all sorts of things to help fill in the tiny places in his day where he might not know I am thinking about him with reminders of that.

I started off pretty rough.

But I have definitely gotten the hang of it!

No matter how crazy things get for the holidays, it's most important that Aiden knows I am thankful to have him and that there is no greater joy in my life than to see him turning into a boy that I respect and admire and love. From his waxed poetic vocabulary about boogers to the tiny little fuzzies between his toes that his stinky socks leave behind.

Some Silly Happenings

The last couple weeks have been full of priceless little moments that I haven't had a chance to share...for instance, Grandpa setting his juice down on the dinner table last night and Aiden methodically waiting til his back was turned to take off with it.

Or his insistence on going to the park even at 9:00 at night, and my giving in so that he might sleep a little longer in the morning.

And finally watching all of "Monster House" - even though some of us did it mostly from the kitchen...

And dancing around in Mommy's slippers...

And Mommy has been wrangled in some major afternoon construction projects:

Most importantly, we have been doing all-out-evening dance sessions together every evening.

Aiden's moves are pretty sweet.

Night of the Arts

Before Spring Break, which is this week for Aiden, Abiding Hope does a "Night of the Arts," where the kids' projects are on display and they perform what they have been learning in music class. Last month, Aiden's hoe-down performance didn't go well but what a difference a month makes.

This is Aiden's "God's Garden" artwork - hard to believe I let his hair get so long.

The first performance was all the kids - 2 year old class through kindergarten, with Aiden's class right in front! 

He sang along and did all the dance moves.

While flipping through the program I noticed that his class would be performing the "Eentsie-Weensie Spider." A couple weeks ago Aiden began singing this at home and I thought to myself, "Hmmm, he must have learned the "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" at school."

So we sang it in the car, we sang it at the dinner table, we sang it before bed, all the time, everywhere. BUT - he asked if we could change the words. So Aiden has been rehearsing "The Isty-Bitsy Monster," the "Isty-Bitsy Fish" and the "Itsy-Bitsy Choo-Choo." I felt terrible... but he performed just fine - he's in the grey/yellow/purple striped polo if you can't see him (and he keeps turning around if that helps).

After their first performance, they did "This Little Light of Mine" and played along to the music with hand made tambourines - I have a video of this but am sort of hesitant to post it because my son's enthusiasm, while greatly enjoyed by myself, was not appreciated by the boy directly in front of his tambourine. 

Once each class performed they all gathered on the stage again, and Aiden took the very front of the whole big bunch, I was so proud I could cry!

He did all the dance moves and even took to leading the group like a conductor!

To see the video of Aiden front and center performing - see facebook!

I Was Here

When I leave this world, I'll leave no regretsLeave something to remember, so they won't forget
I was hereI lived, I lovedI was hereI did, I've done, everything that I wantedAnd it was more than I thought it would beI will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here

I want to say I lived each day, until I dieAnd know that I meant something in, somebody's lifeThe hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leaveThat I made a difference, and this world will see

I just want them to knowThat I gave my all, did my bestBrought someone to hapinessLeft this world a little better just because
I was here

having a day....

I am blaming the weather on everything that goes wrong this week. Just because Labor Day was two days ago doesn't mean that Winter has to start right now does it?

While I had an awesome 3 days off work, going back to the routine is really hard. Especially since we won't be taking any more office holidays until Thanksgiving -- that seems far far away.

Anyway, even though it was difficult, I got myself moving yesterday. However, my motivation was delayed when I discovered that I couldn't plug my iPhone into my car radio. This is really not the end of the world. I use my iPod generally except when I want to hear my favorite song which is on the phone. Ugh. I didn't want to force the chord to plug in so I left it alone and went to work with out my morning jam session.

At work I decided I should call the "Schmapple" store and ask about it. Funny story - you can't actually talk to anyone on the phone and if you want to bring your shit in to have it looked at you need to make an appointment. In order to make an appointment, you have to go online. Once online, I tried to make an appointment and discovered in order to make an appointment online you must be using a Safari Internet browser. So I downloaded that, then I got all caught up in this mess about some sort of "One on One Membership Plan" -- really? I could have gone to the store and hit someone over the head with my shoe by now for all this work.

I got myself an appointment and went in at lunch. Of course they were late for my appointment. And when I told the technician that I couldn't plug anything into my iPhone he said to me, "Why not??"

....


.....


Really?


.....


REALLY!!!

 I didn't go to iPhone college....If I knew why, do you think I would have brought it in here?? Perhaps they thought I was doing them some sort of public service - I broke my phone and knew how to fix it but just wanted to make sure they knew too, so I brought it in to explain it.

Are you freaking kidding me!

Anyway, the guy shines a flashlight in my phone and says, "You broke a piece of your chord off in there, if you take it up the street to the watch store they will have the tools to get it out." This seemed to make sense. Since the Schmapple Store runs on dreams and miracles of course they don't have tools.

So I walked up the street to the watch store. Of course the little guy in the watch store was so old that he couldn't even open his eyes. He looked at my iPhone and said, I can't fix this. Well no shit you can't fix it Captain Obvious, you are a watch repairman.

When I got back to work, I checked the chord that I seem to have broken - it is still fully intact. The people at the Schmapple Store smoke crack!

I hate everything about this company and it's product and it's persnickety, snooty attitude.

And I hate the rain.

But I sure love my Bubba.

He was having a day yesterday also - after a long, fun weekend at the lake he was way over tired. He didn't want to go to  bed at all.

This trend has been showing its face more and more regularly recently. So I decided that it is time to revamp our routine. We need to get back to a good schedule.

So last night, there was no TV after bath - new rule. Instead we had a snuggled up story time. And instead of holding him when he threw a fit, I made a deal with him that if he laid down in bed, I would lay down on the floor where he could see me.

We both laid down, we both crashed.

Music Makes the World Go 'Round

Recently, I've been getting lots of music recommendations and even happening upon some pretty good stuff on my own.I have always been an avid music listener and these days, it seems like I have a song to describe every day - a life soundtrack.

Some of my new favorites include: Audra Mae, Cary Brothers, Maxwell, Colin Hay, and Marc Broussard - to name a few...

I've also been getting a great deal of live music in these days as well. I have officially been to every Lightleaks show (there have only been two) and cheered on my cousin very enthusiastically. Check his stuff out at: play+record

My sister and I went to see him at the Walnut Room downtown last week - the location which requires you to drive through Five Points that is....

Me and Bre waiting for the show to start

Bre and Chris 

Me and Jeff after the show

When we saw them the first time it was for Battle of the Band: Global Dance Festival and they came in 3rd, so close to playing Red Rocks! That was downtown also and there were so many bands playing that no one really got to do sound-checks and every band just had to throw their best stuff out there. I may be biased but I thought they sounded awesome anyway, and at the Walnut Room they sounded even better. I couldn't be more proud!

So the Lightleaks show was Thursday night and then there was a big group of us who went to see Tim McGraw with Luke Bryan and The Band Perry on Friday night - I am astonished how versatile my tastes have grown to be...

Us girls waiting for the show to start

We didn't get there in time to see The Band Perry but Luke Bryan was getting started right when we found seats - he made the night for me.

While it was still light out and I was groovin to Luke I couldn't help but think about how much bigger Fiddler's Green seemed when I was younger. I know that's an obvious statement, but I remember thinking it could hold a million people. I was also doing so pretty awesome country-concerts-with-my-mama-reminiscing. 

Luke made the night for me - Rain Makes Wiskey!

When Tim McGraw started, he did a couple songs from the center general admission section of the amphitheater.

Opening with Somethin Like That

Working the crowd 

 When he made his way to the stage he introduced the Dance Hall Doctors - and if you know anything about Tim you would agree his best album was Tim McGraw and the Dance Hall Doctors - well if you're me you think so anyway... But this was a very pleasant surprise because those guys can really kill it.

We also found out that the entire tour he's doing right now is for Sirius Satellite Radio so we got to hear pretty much every hit he's ever had!

The music in my life these days has been extremely inspiring, I just hope it keeps on playin'

While I was away...

Aiden kept his dad and his grandparents very busy at the lake. I tried to squeeze in as much time with him as I could Sunday and Monday; I really missed that little guy!

It was pretty close to bed time for the Bub by the time we were reunited but I got in lots of hugs and kisses. Not only were Aiden and I reunited, but so were Erik and Steve. He's home for a couple weeks and we plan to squeeze him in as much as possible too. After Aiden went to bed we spent some time on the deck sharing beers and listening to Erik's stories - some sad, some funny.

When we went to the beach fire, Erik was noticing that even after years and years (and miles and miles) - some things just never change. Same party, different people. I usually try to just sit back and relax at the lake, most of the time I am decently sober too, so I know exactly what he means. I just kinda watch it all come and go and smile for the memories, giggle at the drama, and squish the sand in my toes.

The 4th of July was pretty low key for us...

A funny discussion between Aiden and Papa about the water fall:

After playing around on the deck we splashed on the beach for a little bit.

In case you don't understand what is happening here:

Since I stopped at The Lake on the way home from Nebraska, we didn't have a ride home. Luckily, Aiden was planning to stay a couple extra days with Papa and Grandma so there was only 3 of us that needed a ride. And we crammed into the back of a car together. *Note: the ice cream machine at Stubs was broken, how un-American for this to happen on the 4th, and if you ask me all week why I am in a bad mood - this explains it*

When we got home, I went with Randalicious to Crown Hill. I never blogged about it but I made my first trip in May so this was my second visit. For whatever reason, this time was harder. I think it was something my silly dad said when he laid the flowers down between his parents, "You two be good and share now!" It was funny and sweet and sad and I just felt so immensely full of longing for them both. On the way home Randalicious was asking about Erik and how long he was in town and other odds and ends and I just kept tearing up. It's so important to realize what we have while we have it, and to surround ourselves only with what we love passionately, and to appreciate every day and every breath. That night, the three of us went a little towards the edge of Littleton to sit on a Chile's patio and watch the various fireworks shows.

Since Aiden was away for the evening Steve, Erik and I went to see Super 8 after dinner. Well, if you asked them, I dragged them kicking and screaming (because they hated it!) but I loved it! It reminded me a lot of ET  and it was visually spectacular. The music was beautiful too, there were a few moments where I was tearing up a little bit and didn't know whether it was because of the movie or the music. Splendid!

Heading back to work on Tuesday was rough. I was tired and it was busy and I just wanted to go back to bed. Fortunately I picked up speed a bit by the end of the day and was more my chipper self in time for dinner with the family for Grammie's birthday. As per usual, the best thing to eat at Armadillo is dessert, so we had plenty of it. And then Steve and I went off on another adventure.

This time, we wanted to see Bad Teacher but had like an hour to kill before the movie started so we thought we would catch a preview of the new Transformers movie, ya know, just to decide if we wanted it on our Netflix list....We got totally sucked in! It wasn't Oscar worthy by any means, but I doubt Cameron Diaz was either so it all evens out. We were just to lazy to get up and go to the movie that we actually went to the theater to see! Poor Aiden, something tells me he has years of parental embarrassment ahead of him...

A Mommy Thing

Betcha Can't Guess Who it is...

Somebody's Hero

She's never pulled anyone from a burning building
She's never rocked Central Park to a half a million fans, screamin out her name
She's never hit a shot to win the game

She's never left her footprints on the moon
She's never made a solo, hot-air balloon ride, around the world
No, she's just your everyday, average girl

She's somebody's hero
A hero to her baby with a skinned up knee
A little kiss is all he needs
The Keeper of The Cheerios
The voice that brings Snow White to life
Bedtime stories every night
And that smile lets her know
She's somebody's hero

She gets a check every week, she's a nine to five-er

She's also a waiter, a cook, and a taxi driver

For years to come, there at home, until the day her boy is grown

Givin all her love to him is her life's ambition
Someday soon she knows she'll miss him
But not today, those are tears of joy running down her face

It hurts to let your babies go
When they look back she'll know
She's somebody's hero