SO Busy!

Last weekend 7/16 was our Special Day Assembly (more about that later), the Monday after that (7/18) was our 12th wedding anniversary (and we still haven't been out to dinner yet, still too busy), Aidan starts swim class again next Monday. Next weekend is the District Convention. I have no idea whether I am coming or going.

So last weekend we went up to Salisbury for the SAD. Traveling with a schedule-oriented (aka "nap-dependant" or "bed-time inflexible") small person is always challenging, but we had a plan. Paul had read online that Salisbury was having a event called "Krazy Days" with sidewalk sales, facepainting, carriage rides, a bouncy house, a car show, free snacks and a bunch of other Boogie-friendly stuff. So our idea was to get him out of the car, let him do things he finds fun, and wear him out so he could sleep well, all in order to stack the deck for good behavior the next day. It was a good plan.

Paul and Aidan posed in front of "our" horse. The carriage ride was actually very nice.

Halfway back Aidan decided he was cold (blue snowcones will make you feel that way), so we sandwiched him to keep him warm.

Then we went to Christo's, got the boi-boi salad and pizza, his fav meal, and headed back to the hotel. But then the small person DID NOT SLEEP. He was up FOREVER, then he was up at 4:00, then decided to wake up for good at 6:30. This did not bode well for the behavior plan. (His normal bedtime is 8:30, then he sleeps until 7:30 or 8:00)

So this is first thing in the morning. He has a new Color Wonder pad and is eager to use it. He WANTED to sit down, which I found surprising (probably meant he was already getting tired)

This is early on in the lunch break. Decent behavior so far, getting a little silly.

This is later. Do you see the difference? Check out Mom's face! I was so hoping he would nap during the second session, but of course he didn't. My mom couldn't even convince him to close his eyes, much less sleep, and if Lola can't win, I won't even try. So he kept getting more and more difficult, poor thing.

And Paul was an attendant, so he got to miss most of this little drama. Thank goodness my parents were there and able to help. And to be fair, he wasn't being disruptive or anything. He just gets grumpy and impossible to please.

As soon as we got into the car the little man asked for his favorite Bible story (on CD). Here he is, 6 minutes into that CD..... It's enough to make me want to buy him an iPod, just for the purpose of getting him to nap and NOT lose his mind. Argh!

So with all this in mind, I have to start packing for the 3 day district convention. I have heard such great things about this convention, so I'm hoping this one will go well so I can listen!

Summer Time!

I've been letting Aidan use the camera lately. Sometimes the pictures are random, and sometimes they are really great - either way I like to see the world thru his eyes.

Self Portrait

IDK if this pic was of my food, my hand, or if it was a mistake

Pic of Mommy's whip

I was told to "stand down" (that means crouch or become his height, BTW) so he could take a picture of my face

I never know what will end up on my camera, but it usually interesting!

Summer means lots of things down here - Tourons, traffic, fresh tomatoes and Paul working so much I practically have to make an appointment to see him, just to name a few. We pretty much take it in stride. Today we took a moment to have some real family time and spent the day with my parents at the pool. Mom and Dad just had it repaired and converted over to saline, and Aidan is THRILLED. He spent most of the day climbing out and jumping in and climbing out and jumping in.... after a while, I was tired from watching him. Swimming lessons seem to be paying off - he's very good about being "safe" even though he can't swim yet. Knowing he can respect the rules helps my momma-paranoia, at least a little.

Chemical-free

I am inordinately proud of the fact that I made popcorn in a cast-iron skillet tonight. Not that it was hard, but this last year I have been trying to remove the processed food from our diets, all the way down to the commercial canned tomatoes (some cans are lined with plastic that contains BPA, which meant I canned endless quarts of tomatoes and marinara last fall). Maybe it's not necessary. But can you really argue that the chemicals, preservatives and words you can't pronounce and don't understand are GOOD for you?
I'm not a fanatic. We aren't vegetarian, we eat fast food sometimes. But the best-tasting food is REAL food, with minimal ingredients, eaten "close to the ground". And in my efforts to teach my son to eat real food, not to ruin his palate with processed sugar, salt and chemicals, I made all his baby food. Yes, it was alot of effort, but now he loves fruit and vegetables. In the grocery store, he asks, "Does this have big words?" when he wants something. "Big words" is his first question, not whether he can have it, because he knows if the answer is yes, it's going back on the shelf.
That sounds really strict, but I feel I'm protecting him, not depriving him. And what does it hurt?

Entertainment, or something like it

I haven't been to the symphony in five years. I love classical music, always have, and I refuse to defend it. Anyway, the last time I went, I was easily the youngest person there by about 20 years, except for the odd teenager whose forced attendance was obviously their grandparents' idea. So I was pleasantly surprised that a single ticket in Kenan auditorium can get you the lone seat right up front, beyond the front row, with no neighbors - Yes! And, apparently, that seat will always be my seat...
I've never invited Paul, as I assumed he would be bored. On New Year's Eve, while watching "Live from Lincoln center", I found out that I was right to leave him home - he is a hopeless philistine.
Here's some of his running commentary:
On seeing an oboe," Is that the thing they play on Star Wars?"
While watching the 1st Violinist jerk thru a rapid section, "What, does she have Touretts?"
At the close-ups of the pianist (who truly was pretentious to the point of being annoying), as his face was transformed by the music, "Is that his O-face? No, wait - he's holding in a fart."
And on, and on. I know he was mostly trying to make me laugh, but really!
So I will continue to leave him home. Maybe when Aidan gets a little older, I can drag him with me and break the cycle :)