No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! And Yes, I'm still working on my blog! It's taking me far longer than I anticipated. I have over 30 new posts! So sit tight, and then WATCH OUT! There's lots of work going on over here!!!
Aidan recently started singing the ABC song. It's really cute the way he emphasizes certain letters. This is actually the first song he's ever sung by himself. He also can sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Coconut Song. I have yet to get them on video. Enjoy!
We're on week 4 of Soccer and it was also picture day. We originally scheduled to have pictures the previous week, but I had them switch it to the 28th because our coach was going to be out of town. We arrived at the field at 11:45 and had our pictures taken around 12:10. They did individuals first. I called up each kid one by one and they sat there on the bench with their little soccer ball and smiled for the camera, so cute! And then there's my son. The very last one to get called up for his picture. He DID NOT want to have his picture taken. He threw the ball on the floor everytime they tried to set it beside him. Then he started whining for the cute little blonde on our team, Victoria. Apparently he wanted her to sit beside him (is this really starting at this age??). After we got her to sit on the bench beside him, he still would not hold the ball or smile for the camera. I told the photographer to forget it and just take a picture. Even if they are of him crying, I still wanted one, and I will put it in a button and wear it proudly! I think a screaming picture for his first season of soccer is totally appropriate! Don't you know, the minute he put the camera down Aidan started to sit on the bench, holding the ball with a huge smile on his face...little stinker!
Next was the team picture. They had me sit on one side next to Aidan, who had to sit next to Victoria of course, and then put the coach on the other end next to his son. Aidan was perfectly fine for that picture...I can't wait to see them!
Directly after pictures we headed over to the fields for our 12:15 practice. Aidan kicked the ball a couple of times. We waited a good 5-10 minutes (in toddler time that is an eternity) for a referee to show up, but no one ever did, so we started the game anyways. The game was much of the usual...laying on the grass, sitting on the bench, running over to my parents for snacks, circling the field aimlessly. Nothing new. And when the game was over, Aidan quickly lined up to run through the "tunnel", it's his favorite part. Right along side his other favorite part, the after game juice and snack! Here's hoping next week's 11:30 game is a little more eventful!
Well, actually I'm trying to do a Tri! I have been toying with the idea of entering in the Fitness Challenge Triathlon in Naples on June 7th. But the other day, I actually registered, so it's official now. The good thing is that it's not a full triathlon. It is in reverse order and includes a 3.1 mile run, 9.3 mile bike and then a 1/4 mile swim. I'm really excited about it. It was totally what I needed to get me back in my groove. I was a little burnt out with the running.
My BIG goal is to be able to do the Athletes for a Cure FULL triathlon in Orlando on September 20th. It supports prostate cancer and includes, in this order, a 1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, and a 6 mile run. After I watched the following video (sobbing of course), I was totally hooked!
Team Winter- 2008 Athletes for a Cure Triathlon from Athletes for a Cure on Vimeo.
So far the training is going great! I love all of the events. My favorite and most challenging is the swimming. The breathing is really what has been difficult, especially figuring out how often to take a breath. If I wait too many strokes, then I get winded. Usually I go for a night swim by myself or with a friend in the community pool. There is something very serene and relaxing about night swimming. And then the best part is afterwards when I take a dip in the hot tub!
Last weekend I ran 2.5 miles at 8:00, by 9:15 I was on the bike with my friend Jill. We met up with Leah and Scott and then rode a little over 12 miles. Later on in the day, after my family and Leah's family had all finished eating lunch and waiting for it to stop raining, we headed to the pool and swam a bunch of laps. A perfect Sunday (well in my book at least, I'm sure Glenn would have preferred to sit and watch sports all day).
Here's some pictures of a Girls Night Swim I went to. Totally a great night! I love me a girls night...minus the calories :)
Yes, you read it right. That my friends is a full, complete sentence, and it came from Aidan's mouth without a single coax or correction from me! I pretty much fell over when I heard him say it, and it surely fell into the category of "blogworthy". It's been mentioned several times throughout my blog that Aidan's speech is a little slacking. But I'm so proud to announce that he is progressing. I've really been working on it lately. Normally he would say something like "mommy, juice". And I would say "Do you want some juice"? he would reply with "Yes". Now I make him ask me using a complete sentence. Sometimes he'll say it, but most times he gets frustrated. I've come to the conclusion that he's just lazy. So for now I'll just continue to work with him. I'm positive he will continue to get better with his speech.
I'm in the process of starting a little list to the side of my blog that has all the sentences Aidan has said recently. It's going to serve as my little progress report. It's easy to forget how fast kids do and say things, so hopefully this will help me keep track...if I remember to enter them in!
You know what I'm talking about, don't you? The infamous, unending question of "WHY"? Surprisingly, it's Rylan who has started asking me this question. Well, it's actually not a surprise at all. Right now Rylan has surpassed Aidan in the speech department. Aidan's getting better though!
I can't remember the topic that Rylan was aksing me, "Why" about. But I know that it didn't take me but 3 "Whys" before I reverted to "Because I said so". As the day went on, he got worse. Asking why after everything I said. In a way, I'm excited about this little milestone, but man, it can get REALLY Annoying at times!
After the park, I went home and put the boys down for a nap. After nap time, we drove over GCTC to the Fire Pit Restaurant and met up with my sisters for a late lunch, and of course a green beer! The boys love them some Aunt Roxy and Aunt Messa! When we were finished eating I let the boys run around the little play area for a bit.
Glenn's Aunt Carol is probably one of my favorites. She's down-to-earch, straight forward, and just plain "keeps it real". Her no-fluff, no-nonsense attitude strikes me and I feel like we see eye to eye on a lot of issues. in a way she reminds me of my mom.
We were over her house after Grandma's 80th birthday party, just hanging out. As we were getting ready to leave, we buckled the boys in and turned on their "The Bee Movie" DVD. She laughed as she jokingly said "wow, kids nowadays are stimulated all the time. When we were kids we had to count trees and play hangman in the car". I certainly wasn't offended by this comment, but it got me thinking. It's true! Kids are being stimulated all the time, maybe even overstimulated! Are we doing our kids an injustice by never allowing them a moment to let their minds wonder and come up with other creative ways to entertain themselves? The next week I didn't use the DVD player in the car. I like to think that maybe it got their creative juices flowing. They're a little too young for hangman, but I'd be happy if they started counting trees!
So Thank You Aunt Carol-For indirectly enlightening me. I appreciate you!
We had another 1:45 pm soccer game this week. After last weeks disappointing experience, I already knew what I would be in for. Glenn and Rylan didn't come. They were at Grandma Putland's 80th birthday celebration at the clubhouse. We decided that I would take Aidan to his game because I'm the team mom and had to be there.
This week we were scheduled to play Jake's team (Aidan's buddy from way back). On the way to the game I was practically force feeding him just to keep him awake. At the game, Aidan for the most part, sat on the bench, layed on the grass, ate some snacks and drank his juice. This time I wasn't upset, rather, I laughed as Aidan, Jake and Carly all were doing something else other than playing soccer. They still are so freaking cute.
