Insomnia

I feel like I have a bit of insomnia. It is 2:30am and I can not sleep. I have a feeling it is stress related because I wake up thinking about all of the things I have not done. Why don't I wake up thinking about all the things I have done? Or better yet, what if I didn't wake up and I just slept through the whole night? This does not happen regularly but I would say off and on 1-2 times a month for about 3-4 days at a time.

I am sleeping downstairs with Leo because it is much cooler downstairs than any part of the house. It is about 10 degrees cooler. I think I will probably go get the ipod and watch a movie or something. It didn't help that Leo lifted his head and bonked it on my head just above my eye (ouch!). Nor did it help when on the way to the bathroom Jason's pull up bar fell down and slammed my calf. On the plus side, the basement is a black hole and that helps me sleep.

I also have this slight fear that maybe my insominia stems from the fact that I am getting older and older people don't sleep as much. I have thought about this a lot and asked numerous people, at various ages, how much they sleep. Based on this "research", I have come to the conclusion that my best sleeping years were before children. How come no one told me this? When you have small children you don't sleep through the night because they don't sleep through the night. You desperately want to sleep because you are exhausted but they won't let you. Then as your kids get older, you don't sleep because you are up late worrying about when they are going to get home and whether they are safe. Then when you actually have the chance to sleep because they are out of the house you just can't sleep because of your age.

Lovely to think about and anticipate isn't it?

Well, good night, sleep tight (hopefully).

Summer Holiday and Travel

I just wanted the family and our friends to know that we have made reservations to come and visit this summer. We really look forward to seeing everyone. We will arrive July 21 and return August 3. On a side note, it is extremely expensive to buy four airplane tickets especially in a one-earner income family. I know I totally should not be surprised. I travel pretty frequently, right? The tickets that we purchased on an invidual level were priced pretty well. I really should not complain but when they total it, it is still a bit of a shocker. Also the expenses just come at a difficult time when we are trying to get Aidan into summer camps. We could only afford one, one-week soccer camp. You can't believe how expensive it is. You don't want to get me started but it is REALLY, REALLY expensive. I don't know how other families do it! For families with both parents in the job market, they have to scramble to get their kids in camp and then come up with over $2,000 for camp and change their work schedules to drop off and pick up. I think we should have year round schooling (seriously!). We may try to get him into one more, one week camp but we will see.

Back on point ... we are really looking forward to Ethan and Aidan getting reacquainted and playing together. We are also looking forward to Leo and Riley getting to know each other again as well. I'm super curios to see how the boys all end up playing together. Leo is used to playing with Aidan and Leo is totally into being a "big boy". I'm working on his one-year scrapbook and he is not impressed because the album is full of baby pictures. He asked me where the pictures of him as a big boy were. Also whenever I have called him "my baby", he correctly replies "I'm not a baby". Of course I told him he will always be "my baby". But what I am wondering will Leo and Riley want to play together orwill they want to play with the "big boys" and will the big boys want the little guys to play with them. It should be interesting.

Aidan had his first day of soccer camp Monday. The drop did not go so well but on the pick up he said he had a great time. Yesterday's drop off went much better. He was EXHAUSTED both days when Jason came to pick him up. After camp on Monday, they went to pick up some soccer shorts and cleats and he did not want to take off his shin guards. Even after they got home and he was going to take a shower, he didn't want to take them off immediately. He asked if he could put them on after his shower, with is pajamas. It's so cute. Yesterday at camp they also had about an hour or so for swimming. He gets to go to the pool again today around 11:00 am. He is taking his soccer camp with his friend Willam. On the first day, William was really sweet when Aidan was dropped off. He wanted to hold Aidan's hand and walk and sit with him at the start. Here is a picture of our soccer champ.

He looks so big, doesn't he?

Metro Crash in DC

If you are watching the news tonight you will see that there was a metro crash in DC. I just wanted to let everyone know that it happened on the redline which I ride, but in the opposite direction. It was a terrible crash. Jason was so nice that he came and picked up Doris and I at work.

Condolences to the nine families that lost a family member.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Pa, Opa, and Grandpa Russ! We hope you have a super special day!

Leo is sick with a fever so we are not doing too much today but Aidan would like to make breakfast for Jason and he gave him the gift he made for him at school. He made a card that looks like a tie and a pencil holder made from a can that he wrapped with green yarn. Jason is also going to Hogwarts tonight for a Magic show. Actually, it is a lecture by some well known Magic guy.

Love and miss you all,
Amy, Jason, Aidan, and Leo

On Saturday, we spent the day at Doris' house. We brought lunch over, went to her swimming pool for a couple of hours, played a couple of games of Uno, did a puzzle, Leo took a nap, and then we ate dinner and played with her new video Flip camera.

We had so much fun. This is one of videos we took starring Aidan and Jason Holma with Doris as the Director.

Happy Birthday Grandma Joan

Happy Birthday Grandma Joan!!!

We hope you have a very special day! Eat chocolate, have a drink and let someone else cook for you or go out to dinner. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you. We love you very, very much!

Today is also Aidan's last day of school! He was excited that today was his last day and that he only had a half day today. We are going to pick him up at 12:35 and take him out to ice cream. I can't believe he will be in 1st grade next year.

World Day Against Child Labor

Today is the World Day Against Child Labor. On Wednesday, US Department of Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis held a roundtable event to talk about child labor, particularly the vulnerability of girls to the worst forms of child labor like domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, and so many other deplorable forms. My office organized the event and it went really, really well. It was such a great event to be a part of. Today President Obama issued a statement to recognize the World Day that made me extremely proud.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

__________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2009

Statement by President Barack Obama on World Day Against Child Labor

Even in this modern era, children around the world are forced to work in deplorable and often dangerous conditions at a time in their lives when they should be in classrooms and playgrounds. Global child labor perpetuates a cycle of poverty that prevents families and nations from reaching their full potential. That’s why, earlier this week, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis reaffirmed my Administration’s commitment to this issue by announcing $60 million to fight child labor.

I also find it fitting that this year’s World Day Against Child Labor focuses on drawing attention to the particular plight young girls face. Of the 218 million child laborers worldwide, 100 million are girls – more than half of whom are exposed to hazardous work. That’s unacceptable, and this world cannot allow it. We must stand united in opposition to child labor and recommit ourselves to ending this practice in all its forms – today and every day.

World Day 2009: Give girls a chance: End child labour - World Day Against Child Labour - 12 June - Campaign and advocacy

Mother's Day Tea

The one other thing that I have been wanting to share is the Mother's Day Tea that the kindergarten classes at Aidan's school hosted. All the Moms (and Grandmas, Aunties, and Friends) were invited. We started in the all purpose room at Aidan's school and it was decorated with lots of pretty flowers. All of the children (about 60) went on stage, stood in front of the microphone and said in front of the whole crowded room:

1) their name ("my name is...")

2) why they loved their mom ("I love my mom because...")

The week prior Aidan was so nervous. Almost to the point of tears. So, when I went I felt a little nervous for him too. I waited for him to come out, and waited, and waited. I started to get a little nervous thinking what if he just decides there is no way he is going out to the microphone. Finally after listening to 55 other kids or so Aidan finally came out he said:

1) My name is Aidan Holma

2) I love my mom because she plays games with me

and he had a picture of he and I playing the Wii. It was really nice and really, really cute. After the students did their presentations all the moms went to the lunch tables and sat in their spot with their own special name card. Waiting for us was a little key chain the kids made and a beautiful card. The kids stood in line and got their moms some punch and a cookie and served their moms and then went back in line to get something for themselves. So polite!

It was really one of the highlights of kindergarten.