Halloween

Someone's getting older and isn't so enchanted with dressing up for Halloween anymore which makes me a bit sad. But looking back, he was never really into wearing costumes. I remember when he was about four years old, he used to run around the house with his plastic swords and bow and arrows inside the back of his shirts. Ask him what he wanted to wear for Halloween though and the answer was always, "I don't know." Was this his last year for trick-or-treating? I guess I have to stop thinking of him as a little boy now?

She really shines in whatever she wears. I was extremely happy that she agreed with me to not wear a princess costume for the 4th year in a row! Plus, this is totally her. She loves ladybugs. Every spring when they suddenly appear she gets so excited when we find them in our garden.

I think they had a good time trick-or-treating this year. We were at CH and spent about 30 minutes roaming the streets. I'm glad my kids aren't crazy wanting to have their buckets filled to the brim with candy. It was just enough.

First Week

Today was the first Family Friday in Mia's class and we got this! I love this picture! Mia's hair looks super-long because of the shadow behind her :)

She's doing well so far. She's met a few friends already and I got to meet those friends' Moms today. I think she's excited to be going to school because during the afternoons she'll tell me, "I want to go back to school!"

Aidan is without a doubt doing well too. His first report is due today, but it was really easy since it's all about himself. He says his teacher is funny and he's made friends with the other two 5th grade boys in his class. I'm sure he misses being with his old classmates but he still gets to play with them during lunchtime.

First week is almost over. I'm sure we can look forward to doing actual schoolwork very soon!

Aidan Aidan Aidan

2.14.10

I Love Them

y silly and beautiful babies.

I Really Have To Put Away The Laundry

I took this just before I drove him to school this morning. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's his longer hair but he's changed on me again somehow. Notice the stacked sweatbands (that he got from his school's fundraiser), The Diary of A Wimpy Kid in his hands. He's adjusted well to his new school.



She's ready to go again after missing three days of school (due to our vacation and then getting sick). She was so happy this morning and even woke up early.



I'm slightly obsessed with BIGBANG. I found them on Youtube when Iwas looking up the Wonder Girls. How is it that I can love their songs when I can't even understand a word of what they're saying???!!

I'm Still Here

Pip is curled up between my arms as I'm typing :)

Life has been busy and I've been neglecting to write even though so many things have happened since my last post.

Aidan started 4th grade three weeks ago. New school, new friends to make. All of us were excited about this and it would have been a fabulous beginning if I hadn't written down the wrong start date. Yes, he missed his first day of school. I agonized that night, hoping that everything would still fall into place...and surprisingly it did. While we were waiting for the school's doors to open, we met a Mom and her son who also missed the first day. He was in the same grade as Aidan and in the same class. Instant friends. They even sit next to each other in the classroom.

Aidan has adjusted really well. He has a few other friends he talks about. Once a week he stays after school for Chess Masters - a chess-playing club. He's been doing well with his homework too so I have nothing to worry about with him. He's still on his way to finishing his black-belt tests for taekwondo. He starts soccer next week. I couldn't have asked for a more well-rounded boy.

I enrolled Mia in Tiny Tots at the YMCA and that begins next month. She'll be going to preschool every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for three hours a day. I know she'll have fun because she just loves to be around other people and especially other kids.

Speaking of other kids, Mia has been going to My Gym every Friday and for the past three weeks a certain boy has become attached to her. At a certain point during classes the kids are separated into groups and he always asks to be with her. Last week they were picked to be in different groups and the boy got upset. So upset that he just sat there and pouted and he didn't want to listen to the teacher. It was surprising because he's one of the more well-behaved boys in class. His Mom pulled him out and gave him a little talk. After that he was fine and he and Mia got together during free-play. My girl...already causing trouble for the boys.

Happy 9th Birthday, Aidan!!

Disneyland. Splash Mountain, Astro Blasters, the arcade, Astro Orbiter, The Tiki Room, the crazy Indiana Jones ride. Tiring, fun. The chimichanga was good.



"Let me make a wish!" You can't beat me in a staring contest but you made me laugh out loud with this one. What a party!



You are one of the best things in our lives and we really love you so so much. We are extremely proud of you and what you've accomplished so far. We have no doubt that you'll do just as well, if not even better, on your ninth year.



We hope you had lots of fun!

ooxxoxOOOXXOoXoXOOxxxx,
Daddy, Mommy, and Mia

Knott's Berry Farm

Finally Outside

I can't believe how warm it is in the middle of January. I'm hoping this is just temporary. I don't think I can handle coming from such a short winter and jumping straight into summer already. What's worse are the Santa Ana winds constantly blowing through our area. Even though it has been nice and sunny we couldn't go outside. We were stuck inside for four days! But thankfully today we got a reprieve.



Mia reigned over the backyard in her castle. For about ten minutes she stood there and sang a song only she could understand. It was full of emotion though with lots of gestures and pretty poses. I told her today that I might have found a dance class for her to go to and she got so excited.





Aidan was very willing to be my model today and I love these shots! His face is so sweet.



They worked off some more energy jumping off our little wall. A few months ago I had asked Mia to do this and she wouldn't. She was too scared to even stand up. But now she had no hesitation.



My little birdie can fly.

A New Favorite

We went to Jacob Reyes' birthday party yesterday and got to bowl. We decided it was so much fun that we had to go again and so we did. Brunswick Classic Lanes in Norco. It was nice and clean and the games were at a great price since it was Sunday morning.

Aidan and I shared a seven-pound bowling ball. I really need to buff up because my arm was starting to wilt after our second game. Not good.

This was only Aidan's fourth or fifth time bowling so he's still trying to figure out his approach. It looks like he's doing a back kick here! Combination TKD and bowling...now that would be a cool sport.

Yeah, we need to work on our scores. I'm happy if I can just come close to 100. I admit I suck...for now. Allan's so much better because he can get at least three strikes per game.

We didn't eat breakfast so we devoured the nachos.

He looks so much older here. I forgot he's already 8 1/2. Well, he loves bowling now and hopefully we can make it a monthly family outing!

Bookworms

The kids and I went to the library today because Aidan has to do a report about the Oto Indians. Really it means I have homework about the Oto Indians. Not only does he have to write a report, but he also has to construct a model of their type of dwelling. It's not that it's a tough assignment but honestly I think third graders are a bit young to do this sort of comprehensive report. I guess parents are expected to help them.

What will make this tough though is that there's barely any information on the tribe he chose. There were absolutely no books in the library to help us. We're going to have to rely on the internet for the entire project.

Anyway, so the trip to the library was exhausting. The little girl exhausts me. Mia was just all over the place and I had to lay down the law several times. I hate laying down the law. Aidan found a book to read that will hopefully be on the A.R. list so he could take a test for it. Mia went away with two and I found a book in the children's section that I had to take home to read called Ghost Wings.





Doesn't she look so sweet? Nah...she's still a Sourpatch Kid! Not listening and leaving my side even after I told her to stay put. Then when we got back home she said to me, "I'm sorry about the library, Mommy." How can I not forgive her when she looks so cute and pretty? I think I love her hair best like this.



This was a frozen dinner that I had for lunch. It's called Methi Malai Chicken from Fresh and Easy and it was really, really good. I didn't eat the beans though because I'm just not partial to beans and I only ate half of the rice. I finished it all off with a tall glass of ice-cold caffeine-free Diet Pepsi and I was a full and happy girl. I can't wait for the Fresh and Easy to be built down the street from us!

Oh, Aidan

We spent this morning at the dentist. Aidan had to get two baby teeth extracted so the new teeth beneath them could grow out properly. We were both pretty nervous about it but I have to admit that I was relieved it wasn't me sitting on the chair. His dentist is really good though and those little teeth came out so quick. Aidan sat up after the procedure and he said, "That's it?" He didn't like feeling the numbness in his mouth afterwards.

I think the happy gas was still working on Aidan even through dinnertime tonight. I swear he can be so silly. Note to self: Hyphen. It's just a word but think of him laughing like a crazy weirdo and saying this word over and over.

We went to our parent/teacher conference tonight and as we expected our meeting was very brief. He's practically an A student with an exception in science (88%, but he loves science so much. I think it's just his memorization skills he needs to work on.) and handwriting (sadly, a C). He tested at ninth-grade reading level. I felt a bit sheepish going into it unprepared. I honestly didn't have any questions for his teacher, but leave it to Allan to think of something quickly on his feet. He asked about the curriculum of the school in comparison to public schools and she told us that St. Margaret Mary is definitely more advanced. The students are given a proper foundation and I believe it because I look at Aidan's homework everyday. And now I'm not so sure about putting him in public school next year. Still there's other factors that we have to consider. I just pray to God that we make the right decision.

What Can You Do?

Aidan wants to quietly look at his book but Mia wants to do the same thing right next to him. It's so funny how she does to him what he does to me. And he hates it! Haha.

I just received a call from the school principal and there will be no school tomorrow because of the poor air quality. (Aidan will be so happy.)

Fires. It's hot and windy in the middle of November. We went outside to relieve our boredom even though I knew it wasn't advisable. I kicked the soccer ball around with Aidan, watered the plants, and realized how much I loved the smell of wet earth. It wafted up to me and it was as if it had just rained. We were only outside for about half an hour, however, when the smell of smoke suddenly became overwhelming, like when you're in a casino and you can't escape the stench of cigarettes. I truly wish it would cool down soon. At this rate we'll probably get only two months of actual cold weather. It makes me wish we were living somewhere else, someplace with an actual change of seasons. I want winter. I want to wear sweaters and fuzzy socks. I want to use the down comforter. Please, winter, come! Please! I'm ready!

Go, Aidan!

Here's the video from Aidan's TKD tournament accompanied by one of our favorite songs right now from HSM3! We sound like crazy parents but we had to yell loud because he was so far from us...not that he heard us anyway. He's the one in blue!

The Competition

The day we've been waiting for finally came! It was so exciting not knowing what to expect and then seeing so many people from all walks of life at this competition. Grand Master was waiting for us outside the gym and then we went inside and met the other parents and kids from our group. There weren't many of us and half was from the school in Rowland Heights. I was nervous for Aidan because you can say that I pushed him into entering. He wasn't sure if he wanted to do it but I really felt that this would give him a boost in his confidence.

Seeing him walk down the stairs and onto the arena was surreal. There was my sweet baby, now a young man (in his own words), and I had thrust him into the world of competitive sports. I hope he wins. But of course it's OK if he doesn't win. I hope he doesn't hate it. Did he get a good warm-up? Did I do the right thing? Is he ready for this? Yes, he's ready. I think he's ready.

There were only 3 kids in his group and he ended up challenging the winner of the first match. The matches were two minutes with a 20 second break in between. My heart was beating so fast and Aidan came out on fire. We had been talking about his stamina for the past week and I was worried that he would get tired. He was dropping off in the end and he lost his lead. They were tied at 16-16 and with only 2 seconds left Aidan was able to get a kick in that pulled him one point ahead.



My throat is a little hoarse from yelling, "Go, Aidan! C'mon, Aidan!" I can't describe the joy I felt seeing that score. 17. It must be a magic number because that's his number in his class at school. He came back to the bleachers with a gold medal around his neck and I couldn't have been any prouder.



He told me later, "I tried my best, Mommy." And his best this time was really the best.

And when we said goodnight the last thing he said to me was "thank you for taking me to the competition."

Happy Halloween!

The kids are out trick-or-treating with Allan right now while I'm here at home passing out candy. Mia is so excited about wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress and Aidan, well, he needs the costume to get the candy. He's a ninja...again. (I wasn't able to get a nice picture of him because Allan took him to get his chest x-ray during the afternoon.)

And again I'm feeling a little bad for not decorating. Some of our neighbors really go all out. I never want to because I think Halloween is just one day and we don't really have the room to store decorations but then I regret it when the day comes. Luckily Aidan came through with this ghost made of a wire hanger and a cut-up garbage bag he made at school and I've got it hanging by our front door. So this weekend I want to go to Target and Michael's to find decorations. At least they'll be on sale and I'll be ready for next year. And we will have Jack O'Lanterns next year too! Yes!

The kids also had their yearly check up this morning. Mia weighs 26 lbs. and is 34 inches tall. She's in the 5th - 10th percentile for her height and weight and cross-referenced with her BMI she's a perfectly-proportioned petite three year old. This is her first time seeing Dr. Joel, Aidan's pediatrician, and it's the first time that I've seen them chart BMI. I think it's great because now I'm not worried about Mia being too small. It turns out that she's just right the way she is!

Aidan is steady at around the 50th percentile for his height and weight. His BMI is within range but close to the high point. He's not chubby at all though and he gets lots of exercise but he just loves his snack foods, especially the cheese crackers. I know I should be watching him more closely about that. Sometimes I'll find empty Goldfish cracker bags that shouldn't have been finished so quickly. And he loves Lunchables. I'm definitely not going to indulge him with that anymore.

Mia's second day of potty-training has been OK! Unfortunately there was so much stuff to do today that we weren't really able to concentrate on it. A little progress is better than nothing though! She's getting so much better at telling me when she needs to go.

Well, there's more family fun tomorrow with Aidan's TKD competition! Can't wait!

Senior Red

Aidan had his belt test today for Senior Red belt. The tests are always so much fun to watch and I'm just glad that Aidan is enjoying learning TKD.

This is him doing the taegeuk yook jang. It's so funny how all this information is on the internet and I've only looked it up now. Everytime they start a new form I'm always wondering what they're saying. I would ask Aidan and he doesn't even know if he's saying it right! But now I know. "Taegeuk yook jang, Sir!"

Breakin' the board (on his second try). I think this is the Jump Back Spinning Kick. I'll have to clarify later.

Mia was wild throughout the whole test. She kept being naughty, running around, and yelling. Maybe it was because she missed her nap and she got a sugar rush from eating a whole pack of Gummi Bears. I don't know! Watching her was like watching one of those kids on Super Nanny and she just left me exasperated. She even cried!! When Allan tried to hold her down she let out this huge, wailing cry and I was so embarrassed. I had nowhere to take her except to the back of the room but everyone could still hear her. Ugh. Aidan was easy compared to this girl. She's so willful! She'll say sorry and then go right back to doing what we told her not to do. Crazy child...