Two and a HALF

Going on three? Where has the time gone?

Let’s see… Aiden still loves cars, and he still likes to line things up, but he’s getting more creative.

He is getting more opinionated about what he wears. For instance, we had to wrestle him to get this shirt off after he convinced us to let him wear it two days in a row. He fusses particularly about Sunday clothes.

Our 57th annual Newark Days celebration was this weekend, and after the parade, we took him to the petting zoo, where he was delighted to chase the bunnies. He was a little afraid of the chickens and of the goats if they got too forward, but he LOVED the bunnies.

He also rode a pony for the first time this weekend, and he was SO serious about it, never cracking a smile or showing expression at all. He held onto the saddle horn and waved a few times when Isaac prompted him but mostly focused on the pony ride. When we asked him if he had fun, he said “YEAH!” with all the enthusiasm we could have hoped for, so I guess he enjoyed himself.

Gone Fishing

Yesterday, Isaac and my dad went abalone diving. It was Isaac’s first time. Dad showed him how it’s done… from spotting to catching to cleaning their only ab of the day. Despite the high surf and low kelp, they had fun.

Thanks to Jon for loaning Isaac the suit and gear! Next time should be a day all three can go!

GOOD eatin’

An Update on Real Life!

I think maybe most adults look at January 1st as being a fresh start, but for me I am always most struck by the feeling of a fresh start in the fall. This year brings some changes for me at work.
I moved into a new classroom! It was a little hard to leave my old room because it’s what I’m used to and where I have spent countless hours for the past six years, but my new room has more shelving and is a bit farther away from the elementary school, so I’m hoping to not hear all the fire drills from next door anymore.
I came back to work a full week earlier than most teachers, and I spent some time every day Mon to Sat that week cleaning and moving things over and getting organized. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s functional, and I’m pretty happy with it.

I am also English department chair and a mentor to a new teacher. What this means is that I have three new sets of meeting schedules to coordinate and attend, ha. I did hand over the EL liaison position to someone else because after five years, I felt it was time to let someone else have a turn (and also… three new sets of meetings!).
Oh, and I’m teaching the Publications class this year, which is yearbook and school paper. I am really excited about it, and also nervous because it’s a big responsibility and all new to me.
Isaac is on track to finish school in a few months, and after a rocky patch, he is now doing quite well, and I could not be more proud of him. I did 15 semester and 12 quarter units this summer, and I’m so glad that mad rush is done. I will finish my MEd in January, which is awesome, but I also know the next few months are going to be crazy.
Aiden is talking more clearly all the time. Sometimes I am not in favor of this progression. For one, Danielle and I sang in church on Sunday, and as it ended, Aiden shouted “Yay Mommy!” into the quiet room. Secondly, he is calling me “Mommy” now. I have always been “Mama,” and he sounds so much older now! Boo!
He is loving all things cars still… toys, books, real cars, movies… at least he knows what he likes.

I guess that’s it for now. We’re busy and happy and proud to be American. Happy Patriot Day.

Miscellaneous Florida

We went to the beach and put our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. I was surprised how cold it was. People always say the Pacific is so cold compared to the Atlantic, and it’s totally true that our California beaches (I think) require a wetsuit to be comfortable, but the Florida water was way too cold for me too. I guess no one has anything on the Bahamas. We had kind of a picnic at the beach, and it would have been even more awesome if it hadn’t rained, but at least we weren’t there for any hurricanes.

We went by the Orlando Temple.

We walked around Downtown Disney… the LEGO statues are so cool.

We saw a friend who used to live in Newark, Tawnya, and her son Cullen. Aiden had a blast playing with Cullen; I’m not sure Cullen felt the same way… Anyway, congrats to Tawnya on Baby Boy #2, which came since we saw her!

What a great trip. It’s so hard to go back to real life.

Universal Studios Orlando

Universal was kind of a bummer after doing a bunch of Disney, to be honest. Yes, the rollercoasters were generally more thrilling, but they can not manage crowds the same way. It was miserable waiting in the hot hot sun, packed into stores so small and poorly organized that we literally couldn’t move, and having to eat out in the hot hot sun because there were no tables inside. Then again, Universal has The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I could only be happier about it if it were lots bigger and had way fewer people.

Can you see Ron and Hermione on the balcony? Ron made it snow while we were waiting in line in the castle. It was AWESOME.

This was so delicious… cream soda and butterscotch frozen goodness

Isaac was strangely excited to get a jar of “U NO POO.”

Aiden never gets soda, but I made an exception for whatever was in the butterbeer. He was loving “Aiden’s treat.”

There were some cool things in the park besides Harry Potter World… but can anything really compare?

Aiden did love this carousel in Seuss Landing.

This ride got us the kind of soaked from which you never recover in a humid climate… but after being SO hot all day, it was kind of nice, even if it did get cloudy and rainy about the time we got wet.

All in all… it was fun, and I really want to read the Harry Potter books again. Too bad summer is basically over!