Life Right Now

We are settling into school for Aiden and the new routines that brings. I have a love/hate relationship with morning deadlines. There has been one close call of desitin (diaper rash cream) being mistaken for toothpaste, due to me being overly tired, and WHO?? would put them in the same drawer??

Aiden was so excited his first day of preschool. He was bouncing around me all morning, "I AM SO EXCITED FOR SCHOOL!" I twirled around in a half panic and quietly thanked the Lord I had two other kids who need my attention and distracted me from all the unknowns of leaving your precious first born in the hands of someone else.

Little did I know Nolen would be the one who needed extra coddling on Aidens first day of school. We all three accompanied him to his class. I felt it was a bit much having the whole family out of the van, but we were in minority as many kids had both parents and sibling and cameras flashing as they made their way into academia. Aiden went right in, introduced his brother to his teacher and as we turned to leave, Nolen started screaming, "NOLEN SCHOOL NOLEN SCHOOL NOLEN SCHOOL!" I had to drag him out literally kicking and screaming. Once in the van he whimpered, "miss aiden miss aiden". Aiden was pleased to hear that Nolen had missed him to tears, and now asks everyday, "Did Nolen cry because he missed me?"

I didn't realize how much Aiden did around here as far as entertaining the masses. Nolen drags me out to play legos and wants me to paint with him and go play outside. So far it is not the two and half hours of productivity (or lazily laying around reading) that I had envisioned.

But as this is just the beginning we will solider on and I am sure just as I get the hang of things, they will change.

Aiden Turns Four and Nolen Gets a Fat Lip

We have been spending the last couple of weeks in great anticipation of Aiden's impending fourth birthday party, he as much as I.

We made decorations (large painted snakes) and mailed out invitations (he practiced his writing) bought cupcake mix and sat and waited for the day to arrive.

The party was great. We have a bouncy house that fits perfectly in our great room area and this was the only needed entertainment. There were presents and candy and chocolate milk. Aiden did spend a good deal of time crying on the couch after a head bump with the only little girl at our party, who incidently did not cry.... Other than that it was sucessful.

Later putting away the blow up house dad said "no one jump on this bag, I just put the motor in it" and of course no sooner had he left the room than Nolen sprinted across the room and flung himself head first onto the bag. There was loud wailing and lots and lots of blood. So much blood I became a little worried. Once it stopped we were able to see a large cut and bite marks on the inside of his ever swelling lip.

All is status quo here at the schwarks....

White Tigers

Today was Aidens first Taekwondo class. I was very skeptical how it would go because of past experience with trying to give him the opportunity to learn something new and have fun. Lets just say soccer didn't go well.

Then we picked up the uniform last week and he was very eager to try it on. I washed it and did my best to shrink it up because it is very very big for him. We got it all on and he proceeded to lay on the floor and cry. I am not shocked by this. It has become typical behavior for him if he suspects I may be on the verge of pride and happiness due to something he has done. Give the guy credit, he doesn't want to set me up for sadness if he doesn't come through. So he is quick to dash my hopes right from the get go.

I tried not to make a big deal out of the whole hating the uniform thing. And I kept my pride in check while getting him ready this morning. We got the outfit on, with minimal whining. Then after a few minutes he turned on the irrational three year old complaining full tilt. He didn't like the "costume" it was too big, it felt funny, etc.. whine whine whine. Then he asked to see some taekwondo on the Internet. I guess to see if this was really what they wore or if it was some scheme by me to make him look silly.

We arrived at said class and things were not looking up. He was his ultra clingy, insecure self, asking to be held, hiding behind my legs, refusing to talk to the instructors. He even started crying at one point.

Ah, at last things turned around with the entrance of his BFF Trey. Thank goodness for Trey. Aiden followed his lead and immediately the class was fun, the teachers were not out to get him and all was well. He punched, and jumped, and yelled, and I feel overall did a wonderful job, and actually had fun.

Go Po Go (this is a reference to the movie Kung Fu Panda, sadly the only Martial Arts I am familiar with)

Aiden builds and builds and builds

Aiden has been building barricades for a long time now. I am so annoyed by it, I cant remember when he started.

He blocks off all entrance and exits, he makes it impossible to get to the bathroom without climbing, moving, or stubbing your toe on something. He does it quietly, and swiftly and then proudly announces "look mom".

I have spanked, sent him to his room, yelled, and almost cried for him to stop. All this to no avail.

I have worried that I am stifling some sort of career. Fortress maker?

I don't know what to do about it, but I really really hate being barricaded to different parts of my house.

Babies to Little Kids

Little Kids

Toddlers

Babies (Aiden is in Red, Claudia is next to him in the overalls, and Morgan is directly across from Claudia)

I guess I can call them little kids now. I dont feel like they are toddlers anymore, but kids seems too old. Here are Aiden and his long time friends Morgan and Claudia.

Can You Understand Your Children?

I have been so enjoying Aidens blosseming imagination. I think I reveal in it because I myself have no imagination. I dont recall ever having any imaginary friends. In sixth grade I tried to conjure up a fairy to be friends with, but it didnt last long.

I was afraid Aiden would lack creativity like myself since all his stuffed animal friends names have always been, horse is horse, dog is dog, etc.

But to my pleasant surprise we had a breakthrough in the creative naming department. He has been desperately wanting a kitten (dont anyone dare send us a kitten). I asked him what color kitten he wanted and he said orange, and I asked what he would name a kitten if he could have one and he said "bunny". I love it.

Last week Aiden started having imginary puppy friends. He carries them all over and takes them with us where ever we go. I love these puppies because I dont ever have to carry them. He also has little baby frogs to take care of. And two days ago he introduced me to his friend "gwary". She is a girl wearing a blue shirt. They have been playing together in his "real" friends absense. Today, I discoverd her name is not "gwary", but "gary". As in Sponge Bobs pet snail gary. But gary is still a girl wearing a blue shirt. Aiden was getting rather anoyed at me for not pronouncing his new friends name correctly and spent this afternoon correcting me. Thank goodness we got that figured out!

Holy Jumper Batman!

Aiden officially turns three tomorrow, but in effort to save money we celebrated today. He LOVES a place called Jump Planet and their free time play is today, since we are not predisposed to pay several hundred $ for a private (more convenient) Saturday party, we seized the moment and played today. Aiden's friend Trey joined us and they had a great time flailing and ricocheting off one another.

Aiden completely shocks me with his bravery at this place. He can scale the climbing walls, and then he practically runs down the slides on the other side. He was jumping off the top of a 5'-6' tall mountain and bouncing around with no concern for safety. This is shocking to me because it is totally out of character for him. He is reserved, almost to a fault. He studies and analyzes new situations for what seems like forever, and then sometimes still opts to sit out.

He of course enjoyed cake and pizza and presents. In fact he and dad are playing Lincoln logs right now, and once a house is built it promptly has to be bulldozed by the new piece of construction equipment.

It has been an awesome three years.