Fiery Spirit

We named Aiden after Bob's grandfather. His name was Adolph, but for obvious reasons we just couldn't. They used to call him Grandpa Aid. So we played off that nickname. When I looked up the meaning, it stated Aiden means Fiery Spirit. "Oh, boy," I thought. "Am I jinxing myself?"

And he really has lived up to his name. He is a fiery spirit. He is usually a quiet spirit, although he tends to be horribly loud in his defiance at the most inopportune times. He is stubborn, headstrong, and particular. But he is also sweet, and caring, and funny. He has empathy for others and is a fantastic big brother.

He is absolutely beautiful. He is my little Aidee.

I never want you to forget, not even for a moment, how very proud I am of you.

I love you my baby boy.

More Florida Pictures!

Merry Christmas To Us!

So it started a bit weird not celebrating Christmas in the traditional way. I spent all day yesterday out of sorts and missing my family. Then we got on a plane. And landed in Florida. And I completely forgot it was Christmas until I saw a family opening up presents on the beach. I would not want to miss Christmas every year. But this year, it's just what the doctor ordered.


Aid stepped onto the beach and whispered, "Wow" in complete awe.

And then decided he must go "fishing for birds."



Grant looks good in this light don't you think?

And....this is what we ended the day on.

We may have not had a traditional Christmas this year. But the happiness on Aid's face today will last me a lifetime.

Some Day They Will Hate Me For This

But they looked so damn cute in the matching pajamas! I will be sure to pull these out at a later completely inappropriate time!



Grant actually looks a little concerned in this one....

The Best Gift Ever

My cousin Veronica is one of the most thoughtful people on the planet. It is one of her best characteristics. It is also what makes her one of the best gift givers I have ever known. She seems to have this knack for picking out something just perfect for the person. I am not the only one who feels this way. If Veronica has ever given you a gift you most likely feel the same way. Last year she had me in tears after sending a miniature Christmas hat for my Grandma's Owl that I have. This must run in the family because last year her mother (my Aunt Net) gave me the Oregon Beach in a glass. Again, tears.

This year I found myself in tears yet again. I knew that she had planned on a Christmas present for me. I even knew it was probably going to be good. But I really had no idea just how good it would be.

I opened my door to find a gargantuan box. Aid was screaming up and down in excitement. He yelped when the large amounts of packing popcorn went flying. And I pulled it out.
It was beautiful. Black and white. Meaningful. Fun. And the tears came.

This picture will not do it justice. But it is the only way (unless you come to my house and then I will drag you to it) that I can showcase it. And it is show case worthy.

Some of my favorites in it...

My Aunt Net on the left, and my cousin Veronica on the right. Only she could pull off these shades.

Aid's super cute temper tantrum.

Grant's toes in the Oregon coast for the first time. And he loved it.



I appreciate this gift so much Veronica. You have outdone yourself. And I love you. Both of you.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Highlights

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with Bob's side of the family. We head to Florida on Christmas Day so there will be no Portland Christmas this year. (I'll miss you.) The celebration was no where near as crazy as it can get on my side's Christmas but with an 11 month old and a 3 1/2 year old it was as crazy as you could expect.

I sadly did not get too many pictures in all of the hoopla. We were too busy tearing open presents eating sweets!


Grandpa B. stalled for time by taking them on a little adventure!

"Look at all my presents." They were not all for him. This was a tricky concept!

This year if you got him a dinosaur you are in.

Grant finally got his own computer so he will leave mine alone. If only for a few minutes.


Merry Christmas!

The Great Present Caper

My mother has been sending boxes of Christmas gifts! Which has been like water torture for 3 year olds. He cannot handle it. It is so very exciting and then completely anti-climatic when I tell him it's not Christmas...yet! It destroys him.

My mother had mentioned that there were a few things that were unwrapped for him in the box (she must have raised a few 3 year olds before). But there were none. (Come to find out there are other boxes and we just didn't get the one with anything opened.) So I made an executive decision to let him open one present early. Just one. I thought that this would alleviate the building anxiety I was witnessing. I was wrong.

I eventually asked Bob to move the present upstairs so that they were not staring at him day in and day out. Again..wrong. He went ballistic. I have not seen a melt down that large in a very long time. We negotiated. He could go "look" at the presents upstairs but was under strict instructions to not touch a single present. This seemed to work. There was no meltdowns and I got quite a lot done with Grant napping and Aid staring longingly at presents. He continuously came downstairs and checked in and I went upstairs to make sure he was adhering to the rules. He was.

I went back down patting myself on the back. What a problem solving genius I was!

I was mopping the kitchen and talking on the phone with a girlfriend when I realized Aid hadn't come to check in around the time he had been. I mentioned it. "You don't think he is opening any do you? I did strike the fear of God into him." I even added my scary mom look for good measure. Apparently I am not very scary.

He walked down holding a Triceratops dinosaur, lovingly cradling it saying, "My dinosaur came back to me...." I was livid. After the time out and the following melt down Aid walked over to me and quietly said, "I'm sorry mama for opening the presents."
"I appreciate that," I began. "Wait. Did you open more then one present Aidee?" "Come see mama."

Dread filled my stomach. "Oh Lord, here we go," I thought. Yup. Every single present had been opened. I gasped. "Get downstairs right now Aid." He put his tail between his legs and went downstairs. I sat taking in the scene of the crime. And I noticed something. He had not just opened presents. He had opened them and then discarded them to the side. He was searching. I am still not entirely sure how he knew there was a dinosaur in that mix. But it was a very intentional hunt.

I was simultaneously mortified and impressed all at the same time. And he got some points for admitting to his crimes instead of just letting me find them.

And to think, we still have a week until Christmas and more boxes to come.

The anticipation will kill him I am sure of it!

Brotherly Love

These pictures make my heart swell. Because all I want is for Aid and Grant to love each other and take care of one another. I have had my own difficulties with my sisters through the years and want Aid and Grant to realize that they will always have one another. No matter what.

Aid, you have been a fantastic older brother to Grant. It took some time to negotiate the sharing of toys that before now were solely yours. But you did it. Because you have a big heart and are a great kid. I am so very proud of you and the person you are becoming.

Grant, you are a force my love. It is not possible for a single member of this family to not engage with you. You just won't stand for it. You were persistent in your admiration of your big brother and it has paid off. He loves you as we do.

I love you both more then you will ever know.

Mom

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

It's here! Winter in Minnesota! We got our first big snow fall and there is only more to come. Last year, I could not pay Aid to get out into it. He hated it. He was cold (uh, apparently you need these things called snow pants and coats and snow boots out here) he was not as adventurous, and he has absolutely no interest what so ever.

Times have changed. He loves it.

Mom, I suppose this is where I say, "Nanny nanny we have snow!!!!" (real snow)

A Belated Happy Birthday to Grandpa B!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!



I think it's necessary (and blog worthy) to tell you how much we all love you! You are Aid's hero. To see how much this little boy loves you sums it all up for me. Because he knows that you are a fantastic father to his father and to this day are still here for everyone in this family. In big and small ways. I often tease that Aid is a Bures through and through. He wakes early. Loves sausage. A bit ADD. But what it also means is that he is a nice kid. He has a good heart and he cares about other people.

And that is largely because of you.

We hope you had a wonderful day.

And....we're on the move.

Kind of. We still need this for assistance. Unless it gets going too fast and then our little feet cannot keep up. But we are all much much happier now that Grant can move. Much.

Picasso?

Do you think this is how it started?

Why Every Son Needs a Mother

I have received this funny e-mail from a few different people now. Damned if I didn't delete them or I would add the link. But it was a funny forward of situations little boys may find themselves in where it is a good thing he has a mother watching out for him.

I had my own moment today. Bob got home and I was running around trying to get dinner in the oven so he took kid duty. Aid wanted to go outside in the front yard and Grant started demanding (by this I mean looking at the door and then to you while continuously yelling) to go as well. Bob but both of their warm boots on. Then he opened the door.

Me: "Don't you want to put coats on them, it's kind of cold."
Bob: "No, it's not that bad."
Me: "What about their hats?"
Bob: "Yeah, ok. I got their hats on. They're fine. Kids are resilient like that."

I left it at this. (I am working on not nagging Bob about the kids. He is a perfectly capable loving, attentive, and wonderful parent. But still I fuss. It's hard to turn off mom duty.) But I did go grab both of their coats and started to put them both on. It really was cold. I had gotten Grant's on, but not yet Aid's.

Bob went outside with the kids. Then he asked me to grab his coat. Then asked if I knew where his hat was. I snickered to myself. Then Aid came running in, before I made it out to him with his.

"Mom," he gasped breathlessly. "Can Aidee have his coat?"
"Yep," I said, "Got it right here."
"Thanks Mom. It's really cold out there."

As I watched all 3 of them outside all with their hats and coats on I felt like...well, like a mom. It is a good thing sons have their mothers. They'd all be frozen to death.