1st Day of School

Well the day finally came-the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year.

Aidan started 3rd grade and Leo started kindergarten. Leo got the teacher we hoped for, Mrs. Stewart. She was Aidan's kindergarten teacher whom we adored.

Last night we let the boys choose the menu for their last night of summer vacation meal. Not surprisingly we had papa johns pizza and ice cream sundaes. Our friend Tina came over to celebrate the last night of summer vacation and we challenged her to bit of Wii dance party. She rocks the Katy Perry songs!

This morning the boys were up at around 7am got dressed in some new school clothes and we took a few pictures. Breakfast was a bit thin for both of them due to nerves but they were both in high spirits.

Doggy snuck away to school in Leo's backpack. When we arrived at school Leo got right in line with his class. You could tell he was a bit nervous because he got quiet and his face was serious but no tears and he was ready to go. He has dropped off and picked up Aidan from school for 3 years now, I think he was happy to get to do it all on his own this year too. Aidan wanted Jason to walk him to his classroom and when he arrived he had a few tears due to the nerves but marched into class like a real trooper. We are so lucky that his best friend William is in his class too and about 4 or 5 friends from soccer are also in his class!

Mom on the other hand had lots of tears when we left school. I know that Leo is more than ready for school but I still find it very sad for all that it represents, growing up, independence, separation, years if schooling ahead, etc. They have done amazing and we couldn't be more proud but the tears are flowing today. I'm at work for a few hours trying to keep distracted then will go home for pickup! I really can't wait!











- Posted using BlogPress from
my iPhone

DC Earthquake

You may have heard that we got shook with a 5.9 earthquake today at around 2pm.  I just wanted to let you all know that we are fine.  Our cell phones aren't working too well right now so if you are trying to reach us, the home number is the best way. 

At the Park

I've been working at home a bit since we got back from Seattle. I have an assignment that just requires a lot of reading and concentration. I basically lock myself in the basement.

Yesterday Jason took the boys to the park yesterday afternoon so they could play and let off some steam. It worked because for the first time since we got back from Seattle the boys were asleep by 9pm. Phew!!

Two guys!


Leo in a web!


Aidan way up high!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bigger Bikes

Okay, now that we have mastered two wheel biking, the boys completely out grew their bikes. We had no reason to invest in bigger bikes if they could not ride them.

Now that Aidan and Leo are bikers they need proper bikes. So we got Aidan a much bigger bike and Leo got Aidan's bike which was frankly practically new. (of course we fully understand that Leo can not always be getting hand me down bikes!)

Here they are, in all their glory:

Aidan


Leo



Don't they look so grown up???

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Stampin' Up Cards by Amy & Leo

I realize I should probably be putting up pictures of our trip to Seattle but that requires much more organization and time than I have!

While we were in Seattle we had a Stampin' Up card making party by our own, very talented Ellen Wright! Check out her website link on the right...we made 5 superduper cute cards (Doris, H, Symantha, and Barb with our cheerleaders Mom and Joan).

Using the techniques I learned from Ellen, Leo and I made cards. His turned out way cuter than mine! He picked the colors, patterns and stamped and cut. Okay...I tied the ribbon...

Leo's


Amy's



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Homemade Ice Cream

Do you think scrambled egg flavored ice cream would be good? I don't! I'm trying to make homemade vanilla ice cream but it smells like scrambled eggs. You have to cook milk with 2 eggs and sugar until it is a thin pudding consistency. I stirred my mixture for about 45 minutes and it never turned into a thin pudding consistency it went straight to scrambling my eggs. I strained the mixture but it still smells like scrambled eggs. I'm going to put in the cream and vanilla mixture, cool it and see what happens. Sadly, Jason just bought vanilla ice cream at Trader Joe's and it taste pretty damn good. Why am I doing this?

To be continued...

Success! We have two boys that don't need training wheels

Aidan and Leo both set their minds to learning how to ride their bikes with no training wheels and we had super success!
It started out a little iffy after they first tried it on Thursday. They were whining that it was too hard, that they couldn't do it, and that they were tired. I gave them a pep talk and told them that they had to have a positive attitude, that everything they did the first time was hard and that they have to keep practicing. And once they got it, they wouldn't even have to think about it. That day, I proclaimed that they would be able to ride their bikes without training wheels by the end of the 4th of July holiday weekend!

They didn't prove me a liar! By Friday, Aidan changed his whole attitude. When I said "you guys are going to be able to ride your bikes!" Aidan yelled "yeah!!" and guess what?? they did it! Leo's attitude changed by about Sunday but we went out everyday to practice. Their bikes are a little small for them but they mastered it! And their mother and father high-fived because we achieved another huge hurtle in parenting. It's up their with potty training, reading, and eating with a fork!

The look great on their bikes!