Whoa!

I went to work the day after writing my last post and learned that The Dallas Opera House will be hosting The Magic Flute! I can not tell you how excited Adam and I were to learn this good news! So, we have plans to take Aiden in April. We're all beyond excited!!! I swear Aiden's eyes were the size of saucers when we told him.
I can't remember if I wrote about Aiden's TPRI, (Texas Primary Ready Inventory) results at the beginning of the school year... He scored 100%, and was reading 69/79, (he read  2 stories) WPM. They take this test three times a year in kinder, 1st and 2nd grade. So, we got his 2nd results on Friday.... They included a chart of his progress - that made Adam and I laugh out loud....

The gray area is where a first grade "should" test. The two lines WAY up there, are where Aiden has tested. 69/79WPM at the beginning of the year and 120/112WPM this go around. So needless to say he is well above the average reading level at this period in time, (that really is no surprise) but he is also WELL above where the he is expected to be at the end of the year. According to this test, the goal at the end of the year is to be reading 60WPM, (Aiden was above this a the beginning of the year). Oh, he also scored 100% on the question/answer section of the test too. Of course we're extremely proud of our little man, but slightly aggravated that he is stuck working on things that are obviously below his level. Really makes us wonder what our next step should be concerning his schooling......... decisions, decisions.

Aiden has been earning an allowance for well over a year now. Recently Adam and I decided that while he was learning a valuable lesson that he had to work to earn money, we thought we needed to change up what he did with his money, (previously he would just deposit into his bank - and never see it again). So about a month ago he started taking his allowance and breaking it up as follows, 10% to the church, 50% of what left into his bank. The remaining money went into his wallet to put toward a special something he previously picked out. This week he hit his goal, and we set out for him to purchase a new DS game. He has been so excited to purchase this game. I think the facet that he saved his own money to purchase the game has made it that much more special. He has been playing as much as we let him too.

He is now saving for a new Ninjago Lego Set. I think the lesson we wanted to teach is working! :)

February 1st is just around the corner, which will mark 22 years since we lost my mom. That just seems crazy. When I really try to remember her, it's hard. I was just 7 years old when she passed, and it's hard to admit, but I don't truly have many memories of her. I have things that seem like memories, but most of them are just stories I've heard from others, or pictures I've seen. The few real memories I have I hold very dear.... I don't really know why I shared all of that........ but Aiden had asked me several times over the past few months if I'd take him to see her grave site. And with his seventh birthday just around the corner I decided it was probably a good time. So we headed out there today. Um, it had been a long time since I had been out there... we searched for her headstone for about 20 minutes, (I realize how sad that is). We finally found it. I don't really have much to share about our day, other than the ridiculous amount of time it took to find her. It's just a day I'd rather not forget. It saddens me to think if something were to happen to me Aiden may not have many memories of me later in life- that sucks, but encourages me to make each day I do have with him the best it can be. And, I pray God gives us a more time together than I got with my mom.

Anyways.......... That's all we've got for now. We hope you have a lovely week. Until next time..........

Opera Seria....

Aiden came home a few months ago, (around the end of October) and asked me what my favorite opera was...... Um, yeah; I know NOTHING about opera. Nothing. So he asked me if I preferred opera seria over opera buffa? Yeah, again I know nothing. So Aiden totally schooled me. Opera seria are the more serious operas, and opera buffa are comedies... Cool... I did not know that. Which took us back to his first question. What was HIS favorite opera? He said he really liked Mozart's the Magic Flute. Knowing nothing about opera I assumed it was a comedy. Nope. It's serious. So we set out to find it on Youtube. Do you know how many videos are out there under "the magic flute"? TONS. Aiden liked all of them. But, he like this version by Diana Damrau the best. So, now we're curious - what is YOUR favorite opera? Did you know the difference between opera seria and buffa? Did you totally just get schooled by a six year old?! No worries, this kid has a thing for classical music and the history surrounding it, and the composers. Last year he learned where all the 17th and 18th century big name, (Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky) composers were born and could point them all out looking at a map/globe.

Here is a clip of Aiden's favorite part of the opera.... Seriously watch it. She is AMAZING! (if you subscribe to the blog, the video won't show up in your email... you're going to have to go to our blog)

Amazing, right?!  Aiden loves this so much we often listen to it in the car, (my car has Microsoft sync so we're able to play it over the car's speakers) on the way to soccer games. He is a total nerd when it comes to this.... I love it.

PS- He also totally loves "Moves like Jagger".  His taste in music is quite broad. LOL!!

Here we are...

*Edited to add photos!!*

I’ve kept meaning to sit down and do a real update on this thing, but there always seems to be something else that HAS to be done, and so this keeps getting pushed to the back burner. Not to mention, I am making it a priority to include pictures with all of our posts this year…. Uploading pictures really adds to the amount of time it takes to update this thing. (For some reason I couldn’t post pictures on this post… I’ll try to edit it later and add some)!!

This month has been a busy one. I made the decision to redecorate the master bedroom. I painted the walls the most beautiful shade of grey. It took me two full days to get it done – which meant the house was turned upside down. I had to move all of our bedroom furniture into the living room. I never realized how BIG our furniture is. Or how heavy…. Anyways the walls look absolutely gorgeous!! I realize dark walls aren’t for everyone – but Adam and I LOVE them. Gray is one of the most comfortable colors to me, so the color is just perfect for us! We used Benjamin Moore’s Kendal Charcoal paint. All the trim is bright white – and it looks absolutely beautiful. All our old furniture is DARK brown – so that is slowly all going. I moved the old dresser, (that thing is HUGE and heavy 100% solid mahogany) to the play room, (yay more storage!!!). And bought some pre-owned pieces for our room. They are really pretty. They’re solid wood, and in need of some TLC. I’m going to be refinishing them and painting them bright white. However, they are in the room as is for now…. They’ll get their face lift when I have more time. So the bedroom redo is slowly underway – but we’re already so much happier with the way it looks. I’ll post pictures when it’s all done, because it is defiantly a work in progress.

Aiden joined running club at school.

They meet every Friday after school. He is only 2 weeks in but has already impressed me! The first week he ran 2.5 miles, and last week he ran 3.75 miles!! I’m really glad he wanted to join the team, and I especially happy it’s something he enjoys and looks forward to each week. Hopefully he’ll continue to enjoy it as the temps go up…. Speaking of, dude what is up with this weather??! I really am surprised none of us have gotten sick, (knock on wood) the weather can not make up its mind. We had 2 days last week where the temp got up into the high 70’s then at night they dipped down into the 20’s, then back up to the 40’s. It’s been crazy. I’m beginning to be a bit fearful of the weather we’re going to have to deal with this summer.

Aiden is still playing soccer. He has a few more games left of this indoor season, and then they’ll move back outside. And I can NOT wait. Indoor is so stressful, (for me – it’s all just fun for Aiden). He is still quite the little soccer star. He is also still doing awesome in school. He got all Ms on his last report card. And OMG! Can you believe he is going to be SEVEN in just under a month?!!! I just can NOT believe it!!! He has decided not to have a party this year. Instead he wants one really high priced gift.... more on that after his birthday. So, please do not let it hurt your feelings if you don't receive an invitation - because there will not be a big party this year. Just dinner with family.
Ryann isn’t currently involved in any extra curricular activates, but she is also doing awesome in school! She is growing like crazy. We get her again NEXT weekend, just in time for the Daddy Daughter dance... we took her dress shopping the last time she was here. Her dress choice alone will prove how much she has grown... no more princess-y dresses for her... :(
I’ve been busy with PTA stuff. I’ve found myself regretting being on the board again this year…. I’m doing the yearbook again, and I’m just so ready to be done with it. I said this last year – but I mean it this time…. I will not do this again next year. I’ll be happy to volunteer, but I’m not going to serve on the board again. (Please show me this in May when I’m thinking about signing up again.)

We have been back at church this month too. I didn’t realize how much I missed it, or how much the kids have missed it. (The current series is awesome! I love how Brandon takes scripture and shows how it's still relevent in today's world!) http://www.keystonechurch.com/


So, I realize this post is just a hodgepodge, and probably a little hard to follow. Sorry, that tends to happen when I go a while with out posting a real update…. I’ll try to do better!

Bye bye braces!!

Ryann just finished up at the orthodontist. Just over a year and the braces are OFF! I know she was very much looking forward to this appointment. This was her the day she got them put on...

 This morning,

and NOW!

Getting them off was a bit uncomfortable, and getting the mold made for her retainer was horrible. But, they're off. We go back this afternoon to get her retainer. Adam, Ryann and Aiden plan on spending this afternoon eating all the yummy foods/candy Ryann has missed this past year. Starting with tortilla chips, then moving on to gummy bears!

I'll have more to update you all on very soon. In the mean time, we hope you have an awesome week!

Heavenly Drummer

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/2012/01/heavens-little-drummer-boy.html

I've shared this family's story a few times before. Please lift Courtney up in your prayers tonight, and the months ahead. I can't begin to imagine what she must be going through.

The smart one.....

Adam the kids and I ran to Target over the weekend. Each of the kids had a gift card from Christmas, and I had a couple household items I needed to get. So, Adam took the kids to the toy isles and I headed to pick up the few items I needed. When we got back home Adam told me that they ran into Jacob and his mom at Target. Jacob is in Aiden’s class at school. The boys said “hi” to each other and talked for a few minutes and Adam introduced himself to Jacob’s mom. At some point in their conversation Jacob’s mom referred to Aiden as the “smart one”. Apparently she had gone to the school Friday to have lunch with her son, and Jacob was pointing out everyone in his class. He pointed to Aiden and said, “That’s Aiden Nabors. He is the smart one”. There is no point to this story. I just thought it was cute, and wanted to share – and also make sure it’s written down some place so I won’t forget.
We didn’t do a whole lot this weekend, and that sure was nice. I’ve had a very hard time getting back to our normal schedule since the holidays. So time at home with the family is fine with me!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

I’m a little late posting this… sorry! We had a wonderful Christmas, and New Years; and we hope you did too!! Christmas Eve Adam, Aiden and I went to church for our candlelight service.

After church we headed for our traditionally Christmas Eve meal at Kobe Hibachi grill. During the 10 minute drive Aiden lost his other loose tooth!

After dinner we drove around a looked at Christmas lights. When we got home Aiden got to open one gift – PJs of course!

Afterward we snuggled up to watch Prep and Landing. We love those movies! Read “Twas the Night Before Christmas”,

Put out milk cookies and carrots.

Placed Aiden’s tooth under his pillow and hit the hay. Adam and I woke up before Aiden… again. The weeks leading up to Christmas Aiden was SO EXCITED about Santa coming and finally getting to open all his gifts. Would you believe that when he woke up Christmas morning he completely forgot about it being Christmas at all! He also totally forgot about the tooth fairy coming. He told us, “I slept so good I forgot all about them”. LOL!!!! Once it sunk it that is was finally Christmas he ran out to see what Santa left, and to open the other gifts.

We stayed in our PJs, and went to Gamma and Papa’s house to visit and eat some lunch. After lunch Adam went to pick up Ryann. When they got back we opened gifts again. We were all beyond spoiled. We stayed and visited some more, ate dinner then headed home so Ryann could see what Santa brought and open the gifts from the rest of us. It was a late night – but a ton of fun!!

Did I forget to mention- Santa brought a TRAMPOLINE?!!

Adam was off the entire week following Christmas. He and the kids hung out around the house, ran lots of errands. We also took them rock climbing and to the new trampoline park in Southlake.
Friday Aunt Jamie and Uncle Brent were finally home from their Christmas cruise so we all met back up at Gamma and Papa’s house to have Christmas with them. It was a lot of fun, and we were really excited to have them back safe and sound.

The kids spent the night with their Grandparents’ New Years Eve, and Adam and I got all dolled up and went to the Gaylord Texans NYE Gala. It was so much fun!! We don’t get many nights out, and even fewer that we get to get all dressed up for, so it was defiantly a nice treat!

Sunday we took Ryann back to her Mom. And Monday I spent the ENTIRE DAY cleaning. Yesterday everyone was back to school and work. Boy, was it hard getting up and motivated, but we all made it though ok.

Again, we hope you all had a wonderful Holiday! 2011 was such a wonderful year, I can not wait to see what 2012 will bring!!

Rock Climbing!!

Well, hello there!!! We hope you all had a magical Christmas! We sure did!! I'll have a post up soon to recap ours. But, I wanted to take this time and post a few pictures. Adam and I took the kids to a rock climbing gym Tuesday. Aiden was really excited to go back, and Ryann was dealing with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. On our last trip to the rock gym Aiden really struggled to make it all the way to the top. By the end of our visit he had conquered one wall, (several times). This trip however, he was a like Spiderman. He scaled every wall with no problems at all. 

Ryann had a bit harder time. Mostly because of her slight fear of heights, and what would happen if she fell. Her first time up she made it about 5 feet off the group before turning around and saying she was scared. So I told her to just jump away from the wall - so she would see that she wasn't just going to plummet to the group. That seemed to ease her fears. After that she had several attempts where she would make it about 3 feet from the top and decide she was scared......... so we took her over to the wall Aiden made it up his last trip... Ryann went straight up - no problems. After that her confidence was high and she was really enjoying herself. I don't think she made it to the top of any other walls, but she was much more willing to try.  

Both kids were kinda bummed to leave, but were beyond exhausted, and they are really looking forward to going back again!

December Happenings... so far

We’ve got less than one week until Christmas, and we’ve got one little boy that CAN NOT WAIT! Aiden is beyond excited! Last we saw Ryann she was really excited too, but that was almost two weeks ago.

So much has happened since our last post, I know I won't remember it all - but I'll hit the high points. First Ryann when to the orthodontist and learned she’ll be getting her braces taken off January 9th, and she is SO EXCITED!!! She has been such a champ dealing with her braces we’ve heard very little complaining this past year! It’s amazing what a difference a year has made. Do you remember what her teeth looked like before?! Her under-bite was so severe that when she bit down her bottom teeth would touch her top gums... she is no longer dealing with that problem!! There is a very good chance she’ll have braces again once all her permanent teeth come in. However, if she will wear her retainer like she is supposed to we MAY get away with not having them put back on… fingers crossed!!

Aiden has lost so many teeth, he is beginning to look like a little old man…He lost one of his top front teeth and the other is loose. The bottom ones are not in all the way – so if he looses that other top tooth before the others come in we’re really going to have to consider a liquid diet for him for a while!

Both kids were dismissed for Christmas break Friday. I was able to take off half the day and go to Aiden’s class Christmas party.

School dismissed at noon, and we spent the reminder of the day hanging out. Adam, Aiden and I spent the weekend playing, watching movies and just enjoying our time together. Saturday night we met Gamma and Papa for dinner. Sunday we made and decorated our Christmas cookies. Both my guys were so much help making the cookies and the royal icing. It was a lot of fun spending that time together.

We each picked our favorite cookie that we decorated to leave out for Santa…

The snowflake is mine, the snowman is Aiden’s and the stocking is Adam’s

The rest of these guys are for us when we drive around and look at Christmas lights later this week!

Jacob the elf has been a busy little guy spying on the kids…..

Riding the dinosaurs, playing Wii



Making "snow" angels, drinking the syrup 

                            And even reading a book!

Aiden has had so much fun finding Jacob every morning! I'm so glad we added this fun, new tradition this year!

We hope you are all enjoying this holiday season. We'll update again soon.

Cookies With Santa

Well, Aiden’s game went really well Monday night. Odyssey won, 7 to 1!!! Aiden made it through the game with out reinjuring his hockey cut. However, he was not able to make out of the game unscathed. In fact he was hurt three times that game…. None of which were terrible, but dude! Needless to say, Monday was a tough day for our little man.

Last night the PTA hosted “Cookies with Santa”. I was at the school from 3 to 7:30, setting up and taking pictures. Adam brought Aiden up after soccer practice to have his pictures made, have a cookie and then get a few books from book fair.

(Check out how well he is healing!)

When we got home Aiden got his first gift out of the advent calendar. Finger soccer. He loved it. Then we started a new tradition when we welcomed Jacob, our new Elf on the Shelf… I’ll update on that more as the month passes; I think it’s something Ryann and Aiden are really going to love!

We don’t have ONE SINGLE THING planned this weekend! I am SO VERY EXCITED!! We haven’t had a completely open weekend in, well; I don’t know how long!  We hope you enjoy your weekend!