routine

As we approach the beginning of the school year, I'm getting a little bummed... I am not someone that craves routine.  I think I'm actually going to start a list and try to do something new every week.  But what I'm going to miss most of all has become a bit of a routine.  After my little guys have finished breakfast, they really want to beebop in the living room to whatever music they come up with... usually we can pull up anything direct from what Aiden still likes to call You-tubey.  I guess KC and I can still groove together, but I'm pretty sure it won't be the same without KC's Baba/Aeee.  Maybe we will just have to pull out the baby bounce after lunch?! In the meantime, here are some grooves from the fair a while back (seeing KC's baby curls makes my heart hurt) - We are off for the intro day at Aiden's class!

forts

We haven't quite mastered the art of the fort, but we are practicing ;)

hmm

Well, this may fall into the what was I thinking category, but as I was planning fall activities and thinking about what Aiden likes to do, I found a choir that rehearses nearby. Only tricky part was this choral group had a 5-8 year old age bracket. I figured I would ask if Aiden could join even though he's not quite 5 yet. They asked if he could read and I said yes, so they said he could come in for an informal voice check, all he would need to do was sing Happy Birthday according to the low key email. When we arrived there were big audition signs and a little girl before us dressed like a flower girl, I immediately felt silly and a little nervous. The good news is that Aiden had a good time copying the director and playing her rhythm games. He did not have 'another song he'd like to share' after his rendition of Happy Birthday, but he did squawk out one stanza of His Turkey Tango song. I do think he would enjoy singing with a group, so we will see 'how he placed' in their programs... I sure didn't expect it to be so serious, but we can always try again next year... And maybe I'm just being pessimistic because he wasn't dressed in his mini tuxedo... But at least I didn't feel like a stage mom ;)

I did record a few snippets for his daddy to hear.  You can see he was having a good time when he gives me a thumbs up around 50 seconds.   Before it was his turn he was a little excited, but he wrangled in the goofball and followed directions well.   We will see.... but here are some snaps of what PopPop calls his barricuda smile boy getting all jazzed up for "his choir practice"... He was mostly just happy I told him he could have Lucky Charms for dessert.

Update:  Good News!  The choir director confirmed that he got a spot in the choir for this season starting next week!  Whew, I am excited for some cute little concerts ;)

live

The live action version of angry birds created with water balloons that were launched in the tub ;)  Then later in the week we continued by drawing some with chalk and launching them out on the driveway.  I prefer the live action excitement over the iphone frenzy... but he does make fun sound effects as I'm trying to get KC to sleep for naps ;)

computer

I've had some freelance hours in the works lately, and if KC catches me on the computer he runs and grabs his own. It's good to hear the familiar sing song tunes from our kiddie laptop from Lulu a long while ago - thanks again!

fall ball

Fall soccer kicked off today for 'Big Legs' and his team. His coach cheered him on and told Mr. Big Legs he gets the spirit enthusiasm award for today's practice. He was very excited to be back with some of his old teammates in what is now considered the kindergarten league...we will see how this goes! But he is having fun already... and those legs really did get longer this summer. Whoosh, slow down long legs! Little legs wanted into the action, but he was happy to have some fun on the playground instead.

booonk

My best bud from college, affectionately our collective nickname is still Bonk, came for a visit all the way from LA. He brought a new version of the color spinner he remembered from his childhood and a Big Bird that bust out some dancing moves with us. Both a huge hit! Thanks! It was so great to see you!

going postal

Turned out this was a surprisingly cool museum a bit off the busy path in DC.  They were running a kid's program for you to create your own stamp and sift through a huge collection of stamps to create your own collection.  Aiden created a collection of Australian stamps.  He then created a stamp with a flag and fireworks on it.  The Republic of Keaton stamp was showcasing the classic KC abstract.  Both boys loved the display where you could practice delivering your own mail with huge mail vehicles, tricky sorters, techy scanners, and fun postmark stamps.  Owney, the stuffed postal dog from 1888, was a hit with our dog lover.  They had a comment board where you could write on a post-it what you thought - Aiden wrote "Cool!"

ted's

We were off on a try-new-stuff-kinda day and I remembered hearing about this DC institution that had "the best milkshakes" - well, I would add fresh tomato soup and handmade pop tarts to that list! The cinnamon buns and meatballs - both rumored to be bigger than your head - are on the list for next time. The rich milkshakes were truly decadent (both oreo and pb choco) The pop tart list included a peanut butter filling with bacon sprinkles that I took to go. Out of control delicious! This place put everyone in a good mood.

waves

We hit one of the county water parks at the end of the week. This one has a Caribbean theme and tons of water slides. We ran into Aiden's buddy Hiro and they were excited to get some water slide runs in together. KC was asking to ride the slides right from the start.

green

Green Springs Park will only be green for a short while longer. We found lotsa signs of Fall while we crunched fallen leaves with a few bright yellow leaves in the mix. We marched around exploring to Aiden's hut-one-two--three-four with KC humming along trying to keep up. When both boys agreed to rest together on the bench I decided to snap some pictures. I'm glad I did get some brother shots, including Aiden trying to direct KC by turning his head in the right direction. Eventually the heat (only mid 80s!) creeped in a bit and we left with another half of the park to explore another day.  The only bummer is that there weren't any geocaches to be found...

moose

There was a funny announcement the last time we stopped by Ikea:  "Attention Ikea customers, the moose is on the loose!" What the what?!  Aiden was immediately in detective mode trying to find clues on the location of the moose, which was great and bought me some time to look around.  We eventually joined the dance party put on by the Radio Disney crew right outside.  We weren't sure we'd find the moose, but he showed up at the dance party just in time!

tea

We found another toy shop hosting a tea with Mrs. B - this time with a story time!  Perfect combo - tea treats and a Skippyjon Jones story ;)  She even convinced Aiden to try a cucumber tea sandwich which he politely scowled at... and he was even more perturbed when his favorite pepperoni treats came out with a basil sprig under it - Who knew that this anti-green food guy used to only eat spinach pancakes!?   We are really big on Playmobil lately, thanks to some new hand me down sets around here, so it was fun to say hi to this giant pirate guy ;)

fred

As part of my birthday weekend of fun treats, we ventured down to Fredericksburg to see our old stomping grounds.  The big men on campus were stomping around campus walk.  We went to brunch at one of my old friend's restaurants in the area, and it was fun to see him.  Aiden's huge pancake looked more like a pizza ;)

trim

Well, my baby looks an awful lot like a big boy now... The crazy professor hair is all gone and replaced with a banker cut.  I was amazed at how he just hopped up in the chair next to his brother, buckled in, blew some bubbles, and watched some Dora... all while she buzzed his hair and gave him a good trim.  She even trimmed out around his ears, so now my the party in the back is all business... No more mullet baby curls... but don't worry they saved a big clump of them for me and gave them to me in an envelope.  The hairdresser kept saying, "Oh, you are doing so well!" and I thought she was talking to Keaton, but it turns out she was talking to me since I wasn't cryin - No tears from anyone! ;)  KC was so sweet and even cuddled up against her when she leaned in to trim his ears.  I caught him rubbing his head later on, and I could swear he gave me a look of confusion as if to say, "Mom, where did my curls go?!"  Ug, I know, but I suppose you have to cut it someday...

brook side

A nice visit to a butterfly garden can make anyone happy. A butterfly garden tucked inside a beautiful laid out park is even better. We ventured up north of us in Wheaton, Maryland for a birthday treat. KC didn't get the memo on napping in the car and cooperating for mommy's birthday, but it worked out. The little charming houses in the Children's Garden are adorable.

bday

Still celebrating around here thanks to my sweet guys... But turning thirty three I feel full and happy... from cake and giggles with my guys... from butterfly and garden gazing at a new spot... from finishing a new cowl for me by me out of an incredibly soft splurge skein... from being grateful for all the peppy birthday wishes! More photos coming soon...

peewee 3

The look on the right is Aiden handing me his certificate which says that he passed up another level in swimming class - woot good job big buddy!  KC loves his Baby and Me class as you can see ;)

boogie

It's almost Friiiiday!  This week started with a bunch of boogies for mom - I had the worst cough/virus/guck that put me out of commission on Monday.  Just when I was back on track the boys, especially KC, started in on the cough.  Today KC was so out of it and his wheezy cough sent us to the doctor where he checked out all clear - phew!  I'm hoping that we beat this summer cold in just a few quick days, and especially for some birthday fun for mama ;)

fair

The Arlington County Fair was better than fair.  It was a super clean, easy to navigate fair on a nice day.  The weather is finally breaking around here, so it was comfortable even sitting in the sun watching the basketball show. Aiden's dancing bone was shaking before the show started and they called him the party starter.  He and his dad were called up for part of the show where they tried to trick  them into dropping the ball.  Then they had a group of four dads create a table by laying in each other's laps - you probably had to be there ;) Aiden hopped on some rides all on his own.  KC had his first visit inside a bouncy house.  I'm sure the first of many, many!

summer weee

A backyard swing = summer time fun (This is our friend's new backyard fun)  Aiden went from timid to almost immediately asking to go higher with a big open mouth smile ;)

hirsh

The supra sensorial exhibit was extended and is now getting ready to close. Last time KC wasn't walking much and I'm so glad we got to bring him back to really charge through the blue strings. They also had these giant animal heads representing the zodiac (which Aiden recognized) in the courtyard and a new installation of words in the lower level.

national harbor

The National Harbor kid's area was hosting a kiddie Olympics complete with an obstacle course, tissue torch making, and a real Olympic athlete signing autographs.  If there was a tunnel crawl Olympic event, KC would be a serious competitor!  It was a lot hotter than the last time we visited the giant man in the sand.  We cooled off in the peep store and had some early chicken peri peri dinner with dessert first at Pinkberry.  Yum!

circus camp

Aiden picked out this camp theme from the numerous options - bugs, space, etc - and I wasn't surprised that Under the Big Top camp was his pick! The camp may not have been as organized as the week prior, but I think Aiden had tons of fun. He would run right in every morning and come home showing off his new "acrobatic" moves! They didn't really have a sharing at the end of the week, but invited us to watch them in their final session showing off everything they "learned" - well, it looks like they learned how to goof around in the basement of a church really well ;)  Our little clown had fun with some new friends and that is all that matters... and came home with his very own clown nose and noise maker.

love

Thanks as always to my parents for bringing the love.... Between playing at Ikea, checking out the kid's Mobu love, swimming with the bitty baby class (thx PopPop!), shopping trip for my birthday (thx GranGran!), and an awesome clue hunt that ended with the new monster eating Tiger friend Stripey Scott, a friend to Spotty Todd. More photos from our other adventures coming soon! Thanks again for keeping us all happy!

old town

We visited a couple places we've been to many times but somehow never introduced to Gran and Pop. One of our favorite spots in the heart of Old Town is the Torpedo Factory. We found an Irish restaurant we really liked and hadn't tried yet.

more builders

We went to another kids building workshop. This time they even gave KC his own bulletin board kit. The 16 month old could not handle the hammer, but he sure wanted to! He stuck to stickers and pretend painting. They had extra trucks left over from last month so Aiden earned two pins on his apron in one visit.... Or should I say Gran and Pop earned new pins ;)

ab interview

The summer has flown by so quickly and I have a feeling it won't be slowing down anytime soon!  We have a running list of more fun things to do before school starts to keep us busy.  You just finished the two weeks of half day camps you picked out.  You visited the rainforest followed by the circus!  

One word to describe you would be: Dancer!
Why do you like being a kid?  Because I love to play with my brother!
If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? A Cheetah because I could run faster than anyone.
Tell about a funny time in your life. When you were tickling me!
What is your favorite thing to do? Why? Cuddle with Cat and Robot because I like watching the Summer Olympics on tv with them
What do you love most about your sibling? His tootsie toes
What was the nicest thing you did for someone? Help PopPop play viggle trivia
What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now?  Driving a car
What is the grossest thing you can think of? Booo-gars!
What is your happiest memory?  Going to that fair with Gran Gran and Pop Pop where they had the rides, like the bouncy frog, the prancey horseys, and the zoomy boats


The stories of four and half year old Aiden:

16 months

Dear Screech,

The screechy screams (that you do mostly out of excitement) are something that I've become accustomed to, but oh boy are they memorable. Some of the most memorable, memorable moments from this month include you wandering around honking your nose, or anyone's nose you could get your little clamp fingers around.  You started making more sounds effects with your low voice.  My favorite is when you say tickle tickle tickle with a sly smile and a low voice.

You started calling your brother Baba, and I think I figured out it's because I frequently refer to him as big brother or big buddy.   You want to do whatever your brother is doing.  You were so cute just prancing into his camp wanting to be in on the action.  It's a little sad when we have to leave him behind, but we have fun dance parties in the car and you get some undistracted mom time at home.  You try to copy everything your brother does, especially marching with his tissue paper tree and even wearing his dragon paper wings.

You started following directions more this month.  For instance, if I ask you to bring me a pink pig you will do it.  If I ask you to help, you will even wipe up your mess (aka. spread it around).  If I call something a brush you will try to brush it through your hair, even toothbrushes.  You pretend to cook at your kitchen stove and you stir the pots while singing.  You will bring me my food order with a smile, although you usually throw it at me.  

You enjoy playing with the octopus with colored shoes for longer than any other toy.  You put the ball in the top and it slides down and hides under one of the colored shoes.  If it isn't in the shoe you pick, you make the funniest uh oh face and say ooooh!  You still like to put just about anything you can find on your feet.  You can shimmy in even the biggest shoes you can find.  

You seem to be watching our mouths carefully as we talk to you.  You will try to fold and flip your tongue even nibbling your bottom lip to try to copy our noises.   The snake says ssss and the airplane swoops with a whoosh.   Lots of animals make adorable elephant and monkey noises, but you can also do cute doggie, cow, and sheep sounds. You started signing without being prompted, for baby and lights especially.  Your favorite letter is K which you ran up and whacked on the big alphabet board at the playground while yelling "cay, ay!"

You love to chase the ducks while quacking at the beach just like your brother.  You copied him swiping the water with the net to try to catch fishies.  You like to make him giggle by pulling up your nose while making a piggie noise.  You like to try to pull off your diaper and run off before bath to make your brother laugh.  You like to sniffing everything that looks like a flower (sometimes things get a little too far in the nose for mommy's taste) and then offering it your brother prompting him.

You love showing off your belly button and tapping your tummy if we ask where is your belly.  You will tuck your chin in and make a big belly rub with a giggle.  You make funny woot cheering arms and attempt to raise the roof, especially when a song you like comes on the radio.  Your recent favorite is the Madagascar Move It song.  You also use those cheering arms to woot along with your brother while watching the Olympics. Your brother insists that the US wins every time so you can celebrate together.

You can ask clearly to get up and say yes to answer a question, which is making your squealy life a little less deafening on my ear drums. You've been known to enjoy tearing little bits of napkin, handing them over, and waiting for thank you... over and over.  If you want to play again you'll use the please sign by rubbing your entire body (not just your chest).  

You love to hum and sing your babbly songs.  You will prompt me with a quick little hum of your current favorite the alphabet song.  You love playing ring around the rosy and head shoulders knees and toes with your brother and friends.  You love to color, although you want to share someone else's paper instead of just using your own.

 You take your remote control duty very seriously and if I give you a decoy remote that doesn't actually work you babble at me to fix it, which sounds like elp, ick ick. (Help, fix fix!)  You were trying to scoop the remote off the ground and biffed it into the table in front of you causing this horrible little bump cut on the ridge of your nose.  Poor bub, I hope it heals quickly.

We visited some fun places where you whipped out the excited scream.  At monkey business you are excited the entire time we are there.  When you saw the fountain and pillars at the building museum you squealed and turned in circles.  You loved digging for bean bags and stealing ladder balls at KK's grad party in Ohio.  You try to body surf on anything at your level, the table and especially the coolers at the party.

You'll eat raw onion but you stick your nose up at cotton candy.  You are currently loving spaghetti and oranges.  You loved walking around with your very own homemade raspberry lemonade popsicle like a big boy.  You also seemed so grown up flying in the airplane buckled into your own seat, munching your pretzels, sipping your water, and pretending to fasten your seatbelt.
You had your very first, non family baby sitter this month when your dad and I went out for dinner for his birthday.  She was a nice girl from the neighborhood, and she colored with chalks with you which is one of your favorite things to do in your brother's room.  You were totally fine saying goodbye and nearly pushed me out the door blowing kisses.  You had a nice cuddle waiting when we got home.

You are into wearing hats where you crazy curls peek out from under.  The baby curls are still intact, but you might need a trim soon.  In the meantime, your yogurt hair product does wonders, although spaghetti sauce not so much and smooshed noodle even worse.  When you go to swim class your wet curls pass your shoulders.  The swim class does wash out the extra smooshed noodle tho....jk!
You were so proud to have your very own Certificate of Completion for the 2012 Summer Reading Program to match your brother's. You marched right up to the librarian next to your brother and held up your form.  You were reaching on your tippy toes to scribble on the little cloud she gave you to write your name.  You then wanted to help clear the shelves and you were very unhappy we wouldn't let you.  The library is so exciting that your dad described it as the "place that you go to scream at books!"

I'm hoping that this month you learn even more ways to screech at us... just a little bit quieter please?  You are such a wide eyed wonder kid that I hope to give you more to wonder about with some more fun places and things to scream at!  Here's to the dog days of summer.  

Love you, MomMom