Tuesday Tunes 69: Stolen

I am feeling so down today.  Stressed out.  Tired.  Worn out.

Anyway, the weather is finally getting warmer, sunnier and less snowy.  That should help a bit.

Also, my new class at Women of Heart is going REALLY well.  I thought I would take a break from Beth Moore.  So, I am taking a course about our Identity in Christ.  So far it has challenged me to change some of my bad habits to more godly habits and to rekindle those dreams that I may have pushed down because of life's circumstances.  Daring to dream again is an amazing thing.  I think I have stopped dreaming for myself.  I am a stay-at-home mom.  What dreams can I possibly acheive in this position?  Anyway, I will keep you updated...

The other news is that we have registered Aidan in soccer for the spring.  He is going to do the skills option (2 practices a week with no games) and then they have 2 Fun Festivals (mini tournament things)!  He is quite excited.

Emma has been having a tough time lately.  She has been crying and clingy at Preschool and also bedtime.  So strange.  I guess she is just having a moment in her development.  It's okay.  I am sure it will pass.

As it is Tuesday, I thought I would post a video for today.  Here's a song that has been going through my head lately...Enjoy!

Kidlet Update

Yes, it is that time again...Time for another episode of "Aidan and Emma's Update"!! The blog-isode that you just can't miss...especially if you are a grandparent or an aunt!!

Emma:

Well, she is addicted to watching "The Letter Factory" by Leap Frog. She LOVES it and wants to watch at least once a day. I don't mind because she is really beginning to learn her letters. That video is amazing!! I should be a sales rep for it since I always plug how good it is. It really is amazing.

She is also really beginning to pick-up the songs from Promiseland. She is now in the Little Lambs room (2 year olds) and they do a story, some songs and a craft. She comes home singing them, which is soooo cute. (Especially when she sings "hawewuya"...It is too adorable!)

She has my personality for the most part. She is not as high strung as I can be (enter Aidan) but she is very stubborn and wants everything done her way. She walks to the beat of a different drum, too, which is really cute to watch. I am thinking that she is a good mixture of both Mommy and Daddy (musically speaking), since she has perfect rhythm (enter Jonathan) and she LOVES to sing, too.

She has started to play on the computer while sitting on Mommy's lap. Yes, at 2 1/2. That's about the age Aidan started, too. What a different generation than even my generation. I learned how to use computers in elementary school playing on those really old Apple IIe computers...With floppy disks...

Aidan:

Well, Aidan is into science right now. Anything to do with weather, space, tornadoes, volcanoes...He loves figuring out how things work and learning new things. He loves learning. (I predict either a career in education or performing!)

Yes, he is our little performer. Give him an audience and there is no stopping him. I mean, he blabbers on about things that don't make any sense, but to him it all makes perfect sense.

He is LOVING Kindergarten right now. He has made some good friends, especially Ashley. He likes the fact that he has to be so independent. (And that there are no bullies in his class like last year!!)

He has been an excellent helper for Mommy. He's been helping out with Maggie and Emma when Mommy gets a bit busy. He likes it, I think because it makes him feel all grown up. I like it, too. It shows how mature he is.

We had his Parent Teacher interview last week and the teacher praised him about how wonderful he was. (Of course she did ask about his temper...We all know that about Aidan!! I wonder where he gets that from....) Anyway, he is doing so well so far.

------------------

I am blessed to have such good children. I mean, I know they have their moments. Even I have mine!! But overall they are great children and I should be so thankful for them being in my life. What a gift from God!! What an awesome responsibility.

Now if only I could pass over the teenage years....

My Kindergartener

Well, he did it and he loved it. He made some friends, did a craft, ate snack. He said they even made a "real" circle for circle time. (As opposed to Preschool, where they just randomly sat around the teacher's chair!) As soon as he found his spot at one of the tables and sat down, he told Daddy he could leave. He also asked the boy next to him if they could be friends. He was fine. First day down. Only 12+ more years to go!!

A Quick Update

Aidan with Patches(the Preschool bear) at the park yesterday


On the slide

Trying to get the kids to look at the camera at the same time...Not quite!

Emma and Patches.

I just wanted to fill you in with an update on the kids.

Emma has been sleeping quite well in her big girl bed. She is doing so well with it!! I knew she was ready. I just wasn't sure if we were!!

She is not doing so well at swimming, though. She cried for the first 15 minutes after getting in the water. She did not like the water too much. After that, though, she did do some floats, even one for the teacher who she is totally afraid of!!

Aidan, on the other hand, is doing AWESOME!! He is so excited to do his lessons and even put his head under the water on Saturday (which he has never done). We are very proud.

That's all. My parents are in Toronto for my Dad's 6th month check-up. Hopefully everything goes alright.

Have a wonderful Monday...if that's possible!

A Saturday Blogthingy: Medieval Job and She's Okay

We have been having some internet issues the past few days. I totally forgot to do a Top Ten yesterday. Sorry, everyone!

We had a busy day yesterday. We went to a friend's house for lunch and a playdate. It was fun until Emma decided to fall down the stairs. Yes, the full set. I grabbed her about 3 stairs up from the hardwood floor. I held her for like 2 seconds and then she wanted down. There was no blood or broken limbs. (Luckily my friend's stairs are carpeted!) I will keep you posted on the bruises, which I am sure there will be. Emma seems fine. Mommy, on the other hand, is traumatized for life.

We are finally getting warmer temperatures. This is a nice break, since we have been in the deep freeze for the past week. Perhaps spring is on its way!

I went to a meeting on Wednesday night to save the women's creative writing newsletter. That's the one where my poem was published last spring. There were only 3 of us there. (A fourth one had a prior commitment, but is willing to do a job!) Please pray for me. I don't have time to be the Editor in Chief. I do want to be involved somehow. I just want to follow God's plan for this. Listen to His voice!

Anyway, I thought a light blogthingy would be in order! Have a wonderful day.

You Are a Playwright

You are a highly literate wordsmith. You love both reading and writing. You are also a natural storyteller. You can turn a mediocre anecdote into a riveting tale. You find people and all aspects of life fascinating. No topic is off limits for you. In modern times, you would make a good filmmaker or novelist.

What's Your Medieval Profession?

Aidan and Emma Update: Clifford

It has been a long couple of days. I am exhausted just thinking about it.

The election went fine, except for those few people who do not read their voter cards and show up at the wrong place. Also, there are those that did not read the other mail that told them to bring ID, with their current address on it. A few disgruntled people, that's all. I just smiled the whole time. (I am still catching up on my housework, though. I don't know how people do it who work full-time!)

The kidlets were fine for Grandpa, but Emma did not sleep. She is really trying to give up her afternoon nap. (I hear it goes away quicker with the second!) I am not ready for that, though.

Yesterday was Apple day at Preschool so Aidan had to take an apple to school. They made applesauce, but it was too hot to eat. They will eat it tomorrow. He had a wonderful time.

Then in the afternoon we went to my Mom's school because she was having Clifford the big red dog visit. He always comes when my Mom has her book fair in the library. Emma absolutely loved Clifford. She followed him around the whole school and kept saying to him, "Walk Clifford. Walk. Come on, Clifford. Come on."

Aidan spent the time in the Kindergarten classroom. He used to visit last year during Center time. Yesterday he spent the entire afternoon in the ECS class. Mrs. Phil said he did really well and is totally ready for school. I was so proud of him and he seemed really happy to be able to go.

Aidan is trying to read, as well. He was trying to read the sides of Jenny's glasses on Saturday. He was sounding out the letters. And he can tell any words that rhyme together, which shows readiness for reading. I am buying him a few levelled readers at the book fair for Christmas, so we can start reading together.

Emma is also talking up a storm. It is really cute.

Well, I think that is all for now. We are all resting today. It is going to be a crazy weekend again...Jonathan is playing drums on Friday and Saturday at a youth conference. So we won't see him until Sunday. (Pretty much!!) Ahhh, the life of a drum-widow!

Aidan and Emma Update: Help!! I have a Terrible Two!!

It seemed like a dream the past month and a half. Aidan had stopped having quite so many temper tantrums and screaming fits. Emma has always been easy going. I felt a lot happier and way less stressed!! That was until this week.

Emma has decided to enter into the terrible twos early. (She's now 1 1/2.) Girls do mature faster than boys, so I should have been prepared. I have done this before. I should remember, but it is funny what you forget between kids. Now she has started screaming, yelling and crying when she doesn't get her way. Tears roll down her cheeks and she has even hit me a few times. (She had her first time out because of it!!) It is amazing to me that as one begins to calm down, the other one starts up!! What's with that???

Emma now has 2 of her 4 molars. The other two are starting to push through, as well. She had her 18 month shots last Friday, which went alright. She was a little grumpy, but nothing that Advil won't help.

Emma and I have also been attending Gymboree class on Monday mornings while Aidan is at Preschool. It is a lot of fun and Emma tries something new everytime she goes. She even started to sing the songs last time and continue to sing them as we walked to the car. She's so cute!!

Aidan has been in Preschool for 3 weeks and is loving it. He walks into class, puts up his name and then says, "Bye, Mommy. Have fun without me because I am in school now!" He has to be reminded to give me a kiss before I leave. It is amazing what a year will do, I suppose.

He has matured a lot in the last little while, too. Not big things, but the little things. (I.e. not freaking out for 20 minutes; not crying when his milk spills; not complaining about noise so much...) This has been a relief to everyone, I think. He is growing up and I am trying to let him...it is hard for a Mommy, though! And to think this time next year he will have finished his first month of Kindergarten.

Right now we are all watching Sesame Street and the kids are wearing their Halloween costumes. (Aidan is being a dragon and Emma is going to be Tigger - all costumes they have worn before!) At least I get to save some money that way this year. Jonathan and I are trying to save up enough to go to Vegas in the new year.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day. It is a beautiful day here.