Ride

From this:

To this:

Oh how the time flies....

Next Chapter

One of my friends commented, "Welcome to the next chapter!" on a facebook post about school.

Boy was she right.

Aid started Kindergarten and he couldn't be more ready.  I'm so glad that we waited another year because while I'm sure he would have worked it out last year, this year there is not a doubt in my mind that he's ready.

There has been no hesitation.  He explained that since we had visited the school and played on the playground that he wasn't nervous anymore.  Really? At all?  Cause Mom's a nervous wreck. We met our friends out front while waiting to catch the bus!!!! He did ask me to meet him at the school to remind him where he class was.  I beat the bus there and waited anxiously for him.  He got off the bus talking with another little boy, caught my eye, and said, "Mom, I don't need you to walk me in.  I got this."  I sat there stunned for half a second before a teacher jumped in, "He is ready mom!"

I teared up and cried all the way home. Again, it's a mother's curse.  While I know I have done my job well seeing him so confident and sure of himself;  I wanted to share the moment with him.  But it really isn't my moment.  It's his moment.  And he shined.

SO proud of you Aid.  I will miss spending my days with you but know it's time for the start of your own journey in life.  But I'll always be here, right behind you. Cheering you on!

On the way to get in the car decided he was down to ride the bus (which had been the plan up until last night)

He even told Grant he would miss him.

Our neighbor buddy is off to start his pre-K adventure!

Quick freak out before the bus gets here picture with neurotic anxious mom!

There he goes....

There he goes.....right past mom. lol

His little desk buddy Andy.


GO GET EM LITTLE MAN!

Grant Starts School

So if I thought it was a bit emotional to send Aid to preschool for the first time, sending my baby is...I don't even have a word for it.  He has been so excited and watching him walk up with his little back pack had me choked up.  Instantly.  What is happening?! The baby is going to school?  It's only two mornings a week this year.  Really just to get him into this idea of mommy is dropping you off somewhere.  Which I have been incredibly blessed not to have to do.  The icing on the cake is that his best girl, Grace, is going to the same school! They are not technically in the same classroom, but he is super excited to be in the same building with her. 


He's ready folks. Am I?

He wanted me to take a picture of his back pack. He's very pleased with his selection.

Checking out the playground.  Aid is flabbergasted that Grant did not want to go to his Mecca of a preschool. "This is your playground?!  There are no woods.  Or llamas."  Oh dear, public school might be a big dose of reality for the oldest!! ;)

Game face on.

Photo by Aid.

His adorable little classroom.

His preschool teacher Ms. Jennifer! Who seems to like him.  He was very seriously asking her where the dinosaurs were.  She promised him she would pull them out when school started. (sigh)

Yep. She's really at my school!

Grant is going to make an excellent husband some day. He's got 'do whatever your honey wants you to do' down pat.

In front of his cubby.  Big brother was very good about showing him the ropes. While mom choked back tears. Good grief.

This ones for you mom.  The preschool is non denominational but off the church. 

Good Luck Grant.  You are going to do great! 

Grandma Mac Love

We have been reading the Five Love Languages.

I know, I know sounds a bit cheesy but it's really a great book.  I recommend it to all couples.  The basic premise is that people feel love in different ways.  And that the easiest way to make your partner feel loved is to show them through their own language.  The challenge is to remember your partner's love language and apply it.  We both struggle with this as we fall into our ruts.

Love Language #1- Words of Affirmation- Compliments, words of appreciation, positive communication. (BOB)

Love Language #2- Receiving Gifts- Does not have to be over the top gifts. Could be a sticky note with a heart on it. But a token of some sort.

Love Language #3- Quality Time- Self explanatory I think, but someone's husband has a hard time remembering. (ME)

Love Language #4- Acts of Service- doing things you know your spouse will like. Chores, projects, etc. (This is a close second for me and I believe for most of the women in my family).

Love Language #5- Physical Touch- Again self explanatory.

The book points out that if you show your partner that you love them by speaking to them in their love language they will receive it.  If you don't, they may not.  So even if you are spending every night hanging out with your spouse they might not feel loved because you haven't taken out the garbage.  Makes a lot of sense to me and seems so simple.  But it's really actively loving, which can be hard to do on a daily basis.

My mother is a gift giver.  She is the most giving person I know.  Often to a fault.  She very often gives more then she should give and sometimes to people undeserving of her efforts.  But it is also the most beautiful thing about her.  Aid's primary love language is receiving gifts.  And not just toys, which is a given.  Any token.  He treasures it.  Reward charts are brilliant for him because he gets a star when he follows through and then gets another token of some sort when he has earned it.  He responds to it.  My mother has sent us "Grandma boxes" ever since we moved out here.  And there is usually something for all of us in it.  But Aid always appreciates it the most.  Grant does to, but more in a 'don't want to be left out' sort of way.  (I can't quite pin point Grant's just yet. I think it's Quality Time). While we were in Oregon Aid fell in love with the Velveeta Shells and Cheese my mom makes.  I don't know why I hate it.  It's all fake processed food.  Why do I care if the fake cheese is in powder form or goo form?  So in this Grandma box was a box of Velveeta Shells and Cheese.  With a note saying "I'm thinking about you Aiden and Grant and missing you."  Aid melted.  Not only over the noodles but over the note. "She wrote a note to me!"  My mother speaks his language and despite all my eye rolling and snarky comments to her about sending too much stuff, when I see that look on his face and see how loved he feels even from across the country, I feel grateful.  So grateful to have a mom who loves my kid enough to send a box of noodles to him.

I love you mom. 

Marriage

Bob bought a Vote No on the Minnesota Marriage Amendment for our yard.

While we are both extremely vocal about where we stand on issues we have never before put a sign in our front yard declaring to everyone where we stand.  We see this issue as that important.  This is not a gray issue.  This is not an issue that feels like there is another side.  I mean, of course there is technically another side.  But this issue speaks to civil liberties.  It is a divisive issue.  And it should be.  Most other issues I can see both sides.  I really can.  I know where I stand on it, but I can clearly see the other side.  Not this one.  Because contrary to belief, Westernized America does not have patent on marriage.  Nor do it's churches.  Different cultures all across the world have different beliefs and practices surrounding marriage.  And that is the point.  It is not just one way.  It is not just between a man and a woman.  It can be between a man and several women in some cultures.  It can be an arranged union of children in some cultures.  In some marriages, women are seen as property.  And it certainly has advanced beyond the point of 'for the purpose of procreation', because with science there are ways for people who want babies to have babies if the old fashioned way just doesn't work.  So why in this country are we fighting over whether gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry?  Why wouldn't they?  They are people.  They love.  They commit.  They want families.  Why shouldn't they be able to?  Some people's response is that because it will ruin the institution of marriage.  Well, don't get me started on how heterosexual couples are doing that just fine all on their own.  But explain to me HOW.  How does it affect anyone else's marriage?  How other countries and cultures view marriage doesn't change the inside of mine.  And someone else's marriage shouldn't change the inside of yours.
 
I explained all of this to Aiden and Grant.  From an age appropriate level, of course.  But they are now very proud that we have that sign in our yard.  The conversation continued during dinner.  Bob asked Aid, " So mom said she explained to you what the sign means." "Yes," he says, "Everyone should be able to get married if they love each other. That's right!"

Bob: "Do you want to get married Aid?"

Aid:  "Oh no. Not me.  I don't want to get married.  I want to be a rock star."

Bob:  "Rock stars get married."

Mom:  "Not for very long usually."

(Just saying.)

On the eve of our 8th wedding anniversary this post is especially important to me.  8 years ago I married my best friend.  We have been through some high highs and the lowest of lows.  I did not realize when I committed to this man 8 years ago all that I was committing to.  I had no idea how hard it was to not just keep a marriage together, but to keep it strong.  We still have our moments.  We still have our struggles.  But we have built something that no one else can threaten or take down.  Only we can do that.  It has been incredibly tough and incredibly beautiful to build a life with someone. 

I love you Bob. I love our family.  And I will always fight for it.  And I will fight for others to be able to have the same opportunity to have what we have.

To The Moon and Back

My sister's friend from high school posted a blog on her facebook page this morning.  This family has lost not just one, but two children within a year and a half.  One from a strep infection that turned sepsis and one from SIDS.  I cannot imagine. I am not sure that I would be able to get back up from that.  They have two surviving boys and a deep faith in God that seem to be pulling them through.  But I am amazed.

And humbled.

So often we grumble our way through life.  The boys won't give me space.  They are fighting with one another to the point I want to scream.  They are arguing with me at every turn.  And as I read their blog perspective kicks in and I am once again reminded how very blessed I am to have these two little people and all the frustrating moments I have with them.  Once again I am reminded how short and brutal life can be and I need to hold on to what I have while I have it.

Grant came upstairs while I was reading the blog.  "What's wrong mama?"

"Nothing baby, just reading something very sad that makes mommy want to hug you. Do you know how much I love you?"

"Uh....no mama."

"I love you to the moon and back my baby."

Silence.

"You want me to go to the moon mama? I don't want to go to the moon in a rocket ship!!"

"No, no moon for you."

"Ok mama. I love you too."

 Blessed.