Thanksgiving 2010

Today I will write about what I am "thankful" for not just because the holidays are upon us. Maddie has been perfecting her backbends, handstands and her "cheer" for competition coming up in Dec. I really think she is a natural. This morning she must have said "Mom, can you come watch me just for a minute" or Mom, can you spot me on this one try?" at least 5 times. I feel bad b/c mornings are so busy as it is and here she is set up in the living room doing her gym work and just wants me to sit and watch. She is truly proud of her accomplishments. She has proven to herself that practice and perserverance DO pay off! She had her conferences last week and her teacher said she is "the model student." He has a hard time not calling on her all the time b/c she is so engaging with every activity and raises her hand almost every time a question is asked. She wants to learn and always is helpful to others when they needs some extra attention. Ethan and I are so very proud of Maddie and I sometimes feel we expect so much from her but then again we know she can handle it.
I took her to see Beezus and Ramona on Sunday---just she and I. She had been reading the book and was almost finished with it. She said the book is better than the movie but that the movie was SOOO good. It of course had Selena Gomez in it who Maddie thinks is just "so pretty." I liked it b/c it had John Corbett from S*x and the City who was "Aidan" where our Aidan got his name from.
Now Aidan has been just growing so much this schoolyear already. He is no longer a little boy but growing into a young man. He still lets me kiss him on the lips. I say to him "oh what did you forget to give me today?" and he says "kiss" and puckers right up! I will take that little kiss for as long as I can. He has been playing MarioKart on the Wii throughout the days on as many opportunities as he can. I suppose he knows too that with practice comes perfection and he never fails to run to the bottom of the basement stairs to yell "I WON" He and I played basketball yesterday b/c the weather is simply amazing. He makes sure to get my balls for me when they go too far out into the grass. I ran into his parapro (Mrs DeHaan) for Mrs Van and she asked about Aidan and said she sees him here and there. She told me how she prayed for him and us and that we didn't even know it. We both were crying at this point. What great leaps he has made in the past 3 years!!!
Working on his letters and he can read "My Dog" which I saved to look back at years from now. I really don't think he can "read" it yet but with the pictures helping out he gets all the word right:)
So I am truly thankful for my absolute wonderful children. Ethan and I couldn't be more blessed!

Wish I Could Come

The kids were spending the night at Grandma Veldings and Ethan and I had "date night." It was decided that I would pick Maddie up at Grandma's the next morning at 9am to take her to my friend, Heather's, marathon race. She seemed anxious to go and I knew she could keep up with me if we had to run etc. Had our bag packed with some warm clothes as the temps would be in the 40's. Date night was wonderful and on our way home I called the kids to say goodnight to them. Maddie talked first and said they were laying in bed watching Wizards of Waverly Place--the new one. I asked if Aidan was asleep yet and she said no. She put him on the phone for me. "Hi honey" was what I said and he asked where we were, what we were doing right now and I told him. Then I told him Daddy would pick him up in the morning and he asked where Maddie and I would be. I explained we were going to watch a race. With a little bit of hesitation all he said was "wish I could come." Those words were all I needed to hear to make the decision that he was coming too. It might not be as "easy" as if it were just Maddie and I but sometimes "easy" is not what great memories are all about anyway.
The kids did great that day...the bickering really didn't start until we walked in the door on our way home:)

Home Sick

Now Maddie has always been one to "hear about it and get it." If there is someone with a cold 100 miles away and she knows about it, she will get herself into a tizzy and get sick right along with them. Monday morning came and though I had planned on going to work that day, Maddie came down into the bathroom and cried "Mommy please stay home with me today---I don't want to go to grandma's---I want YOU to stay home with me and take care of me." The words were all I needed to hear to make my decision. She needed me. How many times left are there when she will need me like this? I know she will always NEED me for many things but when a young child is sick, crying for their mom, well, that is short lived. We spent the day getting fluids down, picking up the prescription, looking at funny cards with songs in them---"Lollipop..." and we spent alot of time just listening to eachother---one on one. Aidan was not around to interrupt us, he was in school. Daddy was at work. We watched a movie together that she picked out, one that we both would enjoy...Twilight.
The next day she stayed home too and this time Aidan was with us and it was my "day off." She was well enough to fight with her brother and vice versa. They played Wii and both stayed in their jammies all day (b/c it was spirit week at school and it was jammy day too.)
One thing I didn't tell her was that because I stayed home on Monday from work there would not be a parent at her character award ceremony on TH. Grammy will be there with Aidan as she is presented this award from her teacher, Mr Wilkinson. Her daddy and I are so proud!!!!

Summertime=Backbends, Durro, and Sweaty Armpits

So summer began and our calendar was ready for action. What a packed summer it has been so far! Maddie and Aidan have been to L. Michigan 3 times already this year and at least 3 more times we will make it yet before summer is through. After almost a year of practicing, last week Maddie perfected (achieved) a backbend without any assistance. Horray!!! She was so proud of herself. About the same time Aidan was watching the X Games with Daddy and discovered MOTO. His words exactly "I am so going to do that when I get bigger." Ha---not if momma has anything to do with it! Thats dangerous stuff there!
Our trip to Pentwater in June ended in disaster as we sprang a major leak and had to leave after just 2 days---didn't even get to put our feet in the water or walk downtown. Very sad story. We sold it and the convertible to purchase a 1959 Durro camper that was manufactured in Alma, MI. We are still waiting on estimates for repairs/restorations. Next year we WILL be camping...
These hot, humid August days led us to a new discovery this year...Maddie needs to wear deodorant!!!! She is getting older and even though we joked about it, I know she is excited to wear it. She stated that "Lia and Anna wear it too."
Summer--is there anything better???

End of School Year 2010

Maddie said to me this morning "I don't think I'm able to go even a week without seeing Mr. Fischer." Yes, this has been her favorite teacher so far. She also said that "the classroom is looking so bare now that the kids are bringing home all their "work" from the past schoolyear." I told her he is cleaning out to make room for his new 2nd graders in the fall. I think she was about ready to cry:(

Aidan of course is anxious to be home for an extended period of time. He likes school while he is there but loves being at home playing with his Legos and matchbox cars etc or playing basketball with Daddy:)

Field Trip to Tunnel Park, Holland MI

It was Maddies (raindate) 2nd grade field trip to Tunnel Park. The weather was not looking promising as we arrived at the school to get our chaperone placement. The kids were excited and Aidan, Grandma Velding and I were wondering how long before we got there that we would have to turn around and leave before the threatening storms arrived. Immediately after the onload of buses and nearly 200 2nd grade students, we started up the stairs to get a view of our beautiful Lake Michigan. The caution rope was up and we made our way up slowly. Only after many hands were covered in it did we realize the caution sign was up b/c of wet paint! That did not damper our spirits and Tunnel Park proved to be a hidden jewel. The view was gorgeous, the Lake was cold but quiet and the sand dune provided so much fun for the kids and adults alike. Grandma watched Aidan climb up the down and run down it only about 30 times and Maddie and Savannah Bronkema had so much fun as "best buddies." We ate our packed lunches and visited with new baby Olivia Fischer. It was all too soon when the time arrived to head home. The rain left us alone to enjoy a wonderful field trip to Tunnel Park!

Aidans Field Trip with Daddy

Ethan is attending a field trip with Aidans class today. He is riding the bus as a chaperone and will be responsible for a handful of kids at the Childrens Museum downtown where the destination is. Aidan is very excited to have Daddy there as usually it is me or a grandparent because Daddy usually has to work. He took a personal day for this and a few other things but this obviously is a big deal. So when I was getting ready to leave this morning Ethan and Aidan were weedwacking together. Ethan with his "real" toy and Aidan with his goggles and "real to him" toy. I told Aidan to have fun today and I can't wait to hear about it when I get home. I wonder if Aidan is going to mind sharing Ethan with some other kids from his class. I guess I will find out later today!

Growing Up

Ethan and I wanted to surprise the kids yesterday when they got off the bus. We got their bathing suits and towels all ready. A snack was available for them as soon as they got in the house. The sprinkler was all set. It was a beautiful, 80 degree day and running in the sprinkler is just one of those childhood pleasures.
They both got off the bus and the first thing Maddie asks is if she can go play with her friends. No sprinkler for her. Aidan is left watching his sister walk the road to the Millers house down around the bend. I ask him if he would like to go in the sprinkler and his reply is "nah." He hops on his bike and waits at the end of the driveway hoping a "friend" passes by. It happens and Aidan has his friend, Matthew, to play with too. Noone wanted to go in the sprinkler today. No too long ago this would have been a huge hit. I have to accept the fact that my kids are growing up and I am not too happy about it. Maybe today will be a sprinkler day---I can keep my fingers crossed!

Its Always Mother's Day

Came in the door after grocery shopping last night and the kids come running, not necessarily because they are so happy to see me, they know I usually have a little "surprise" for them most times. Aidan's first question is "what did you bring home for me?" I tell him "lots of food." He is not amused. Maddie quickly tells me she has another Mother's Day gift for me and pulls it out of her backpack. It was a little photo book that she made in school and she was so proud of it. Her smile is always so big and she is a genuinely happy girl. I was extremely touched by the gift and told her so. Now back to Aidan, he continued to rummage through the Meijer bags only to find lots of food, like I said. I told him I would look for his "surprise." Both of them were given goggles for bathtime and swimming in the next month or so. They put those goggles on and looked so silly it made Ethan and I laugh so hard. Mothers Day is everyday and I am so happy to be their MOM!

Mornings

This morning Ethan had to leave early to tutor. Now if the kids sleep in (which happens oh so infrequently) they are in great moods in the morning. Funny how the kids moods set the tone for the day. Maddie was up by 6:45 and requested pancakes for breakfast (fav) and shortly thereafter Aidan gets up and quietly announces "good morning" to the both of us and starts with his breakfast. I enjoy feeding my kids. They sit at their stools and I stand across from them and we talk about what the day has in store for us. Sometimes neither of them are anxious for school that day and other days both of them are excited. As we near the end of the school year I must say we are all looking forward to the "break" in routines a little bit.
Maddie was telling me how she doesn't think its fair that her friend, Heather, got 3 zuu zoo pets and didn't have to pay for them and how Aidan got his even though he didn't pay for his yet either. I told he is earning his through chores and doing extra work with his letters and numbers. I tell her often that life isn't fair.
Aidan starts to complain that his belly hurts and I remind him that tomorrow he goes to Grammy's and can rest there but if he stayed home from school he would have to stay in bed (couch) and not be allowed to play. He thinks that through and doesn't say much more about his belly.
At the bus stop both kids hug and kiss me and off they go onto the bus. They grow up way too fast! Luckily those kisses are still available for their "momma" even in front of the neighbors. I know my time is limited!!!