Magic Moments

NO! It's Super Aiden! Untitled from Jenny on Vimeo . I think I could probably write a novel about all the things Aiden's super hero cape has made me think of! Uncle Erik bought this cape as a present for Aiden and Aiden LOVES it. Aiden still hasn't developed the ability to create intricate imaginative plots in his play and I have yet to see him actually imagine himself as someone or something else, but he'll get there. And when he does he will put many miles on this cape. For now, he wears it to play ball. Aiden thinks it helps him throw and catch better. And since it is a magical cape he just may be right. It seemed so fitting for Uncle Erik to give Aiden a cape. It's like Erik had to pass on his legacy through a cape because of his own superhero cape he had as a child. Erik almost wore holes in the Superman cape he had. That cape had a VERY long life....it's first owner was a little boy in town who Erik played with frequently. Erik loved that cap...

So far "school" seems to be going well. Aiden loves devotions and he asks for stories several times per day. I think he could take the letters or leave them, so sometimes we just leave them. However, even when I think he doesn't listen he must because he knows all 3 letters that we've done so far and his Bible verses sound pretty good for a 2 year old. I tell him everyday what they mean....hopefully soon they will start to sink in. I promised the Grandparents a video so here's a little sample of Aiden showing off what he's learned so far. Untitled from Jenny on Vimeo .

It was family weekend at the cabin and that means EVERYONE was there....even the part that lives in Portland. We played baseball.... and we rode the kayaks and the jet ski.... and we had a cozy campfire... and we ate apple crisp by the lake, went fishing, and stayed up too late. But the best part was seeing Uncle Erik! Erik, now that you've been reminded how great the cabin is, you have to come back soon!

So, I've been thinking a lot about being transparent lately. I've been thinking about how we present ourselves, or rather present modified versions of ourselves or only parts of ourselves to others. I'm not a person who is super transparent with others and obviously I'm not transparent on our blog. And, I'll be honest to say that I'm not planning to begin to be transparent on our blog for the whole world to see. But I did want to say this: Sometimes I read our blog and I get a little sick to my stomach. To others reading this it may seem like our lives our perfect, like we have it all together, and are living something close to the American Dream. Those that really know us know that isn't true, but I wanted to put it out there. Our blog makes it look like we are patient parents who spend time teaching our super cute and smart kid all sorts of things. Our blog makes it look like we do and say all the right things, manage our time and money well, and ...

Trips to the library are always very interesting with a toddler. Usually I'm frantically scrambling to find some good books while Aiden is running laps, using his outside voice, and pulling LOTS of books off the shelves. And usually it seems like out of the 12ish books I bring home more than half of them don't get read more than once because I can't figure out how they got published in the first place. If I'm organized I research good books ahead of time and reserve them at the library so all we have to do is pick them up. Aiden and I are always happier with our book selection and our library experience overall when this happens. But, I'm out of book ideas! I'm listing a few of our favorites below but am asking all of you to PLEASE chime in with yours....the ones that you read over and over....the ones that you would actually buy! Here's Jenny and Aiden's pick list: One Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova Lama Lama Red Pajama by Anne Dewdney Bear Snores O...

I've been wanting to take Aiden to the Children's Museum for awhile now so when I heard that today just happened to be Target Free Third Sunday I decided to take advantage of it. I wouldn't normally choose to go on a free day since it's bound to be packed to the brim but since the Vikings and Twins game (which is were daddy was) were both taking place that afternoon I hoped that the museum wouldn't be packed. And, we were in LUCK! It wasn't busy and our hats go off to the museum! We had a blast (I might have had more fun than Aiden if that's even possible) and we learned quite a bit! I hadn't been to the museum for so long and I forgot how cool it is. I just love that they "spark learning through play!" That's our philosophy at home too. I think we'll be asking for a season pass for Christmas! There was too much to do to show every picture so I just picked a few of the things we liked the most. The water exhibit was v...

It's been dreary the last two days. Yesterday it rained cats and dogs so we've been inside. Rainy days aren't all bad....they make good book days. Natalie and Elyse came over yesterday to keep us company on what Grandmommy would call a "duck day" and we found Aiden and Elyse like this: 2 peas in a pod Tonight I found Aiden doing this. I LOVE IT! He's supposed to be picking up his zoo animals so we can get in the tub and this is borderline stalling, but I don't have the heart to interrupt him. Today Aiden told me, "Mama, I want to sit in the chair and talk with you" So, we did. We snuggled in the chair and had a chat. I told him that even when he was a teenager he needed to sit in the chair and chat with me. He promised that he would and I'm gonna hold him to it. So, it's not so bad when the sun doesn't shine....especially when the days are filled with moments like these.

In honor of Tom's birthday I thought I'd do a running list of why I love him! Don't think this list is exhaustive because it definitely goes on and on. Some reasons are fun and some are serious, but all are true. I can't imagine life without Tom and all that he is! So, without further ado.... I love Tom because.... 1. We have fun together! 2. Our memories together date back to 2001! (Hollidazzle Parade 2006) 3.He will always be a rocker at heart! (The glory days of Duck and Cover 2000-2003) 4. He is a man of integrity. 5. He watches movies with the sub titles on so he doesn't miss anything. 6.He has a competitive spirit....it makes him excel at work! (Colorado 2007) 7. He works so hard all in the name of his family. 8.H e is easy going and makes sure I don't spend my life too scheduled or too up tight. (Ledges State Park 2005) 9. He plays with, teaches, and disciplines Aiden. He is an amazing Dad! He works hard all day and he never complains when he is ...

Once upon a time two people who were very much in love went to the apple orchard every year. It wasn't long before the duo became a trio at the apple orchard. The couple started bringing their son, Aiden, when he was just a wee little baby.... Aiden's first Apple Orchard visit 2008 and marked his growth each year at the orchard. Our Minnesota Grown baby is BIG! 2010 Along with picking apples, eating apple donuts, and drinking cider, this year the little boy checked out the pumpkins that were bigger than he was. Grandmommy came along and let him peek inside the bird's nests. And the little boy and his Mama had fun on the slide! The family lived happily ever after (and brought home lots of apples and cider!) and promised that they would be back next year.

Betcha can't guess where we went today??!! More to come...

Scope and Sequence.....that's a phrase I haven't used since my undergrad days in the teaching program. Scope and Sequence is like an overview of your more detailed lesson plans usually used in a unit study. It always seemed like during college you had to have these incredibly detailed lesson plans backed up with an overview and followed by a summary. Seriously, what real teacher has that kind of time? Anyway, my main purpose for this post was to share a quick overview of the lesson plans I've done for Aiden just to give others some ideas. I can't take credit for all my plans. I've done some of my own, but I've also mooched some (ok, alot) from my sister-in-law, Amber, and my friend, Julie. Each month we do 3 letters and 3 numbers, a bible topic, story, and verse, and a science unit. My brief (and I do mean brief...I haven't done detailed everyday plans....with one kid you can fly by the seat of your pants) overview for September is as follows: Letters...

It's day one of our new schedule. It probably seems like no big deal to most people, but when your husband hasn't been home before 9 o'clock (and for awhile it was midnight!) for 2 years, it's a really big deal! Tom is now getting home before 4 (thank you Wells Fargo!) and I feel like I've been given my life back! I function best when I start my day in the morning and when Tom wasn't leaving until 1130 I felt like I lost my morning b/c we would spend the morning with him since it was our only time. So, it's Day 1 and I wouldn't call my new schedule a complete success but I'm trying. I had planned to get up at 630, but I slept til 8....which I was mad about but I've had insomnia lately and so I think I was just really tired and I know I needed the sleep. The moral of the story is Aiden and I got a late start to the day, but it's ok. The big thing today is that it was day 1 for preschool. And, even though I felt like I wasn't organiz...

Everything is hinting that summer is gone. The weather is chilly and we start a brand NEW schedule tomorrow for work (including daddy! YAY) and Aiden is starting preschool(at home...more on that later). And sadly, Labor Day is over and that means we'll only be at the cabin sporadically here and there through the winter. Next weekend we will go back but not for fun....our time will be spent bringing in the boats, the docks, and battening down the hatches before (dare I say it?) winter approaches. Even though the weather was chilly, we enjoyed the cozy cabin during the last weekend of summer and ALL the family that was in it. Aiden got to stay up for his first ever campfire. He rocked out with Daddy...the best he could anyway since Mama forgot to bring his guitar. Happy Birthday, Daddy! Soaking up time with Grandmommy and Grandpa since they live so far away. Ready or not, Fall is on the way!