LtoR: Mei has been sleeping in the upstairs bathroom because she claims to be scared of her room:(, Kingsley and Mei at PCC tennis...they stamped everything in sight while we waited for the boys to finish their lesson:), new kitchen bath shower, my birthday necklace made by Kate Kate (I love it!), Kate and Aston "driving" my car, My dear friend Wendy (far right) turned 40, new bathroom vanity, Mei's fancy braid ala Wookie, Aston assembling his latest 20 stars lego spaceship, Aston is a new brown belt!, tennis, more tennis...notice the happy face, Aston and Dad before Doughnuts with Dads at school, my birthday orchid from Mama Anne, Mei modeling her Easter shirt we made at Betsey's house, my birthday card from Aston, we made the big decision for Aston to attend Charlotte Latin next year, Babs and I shared a birthday cake made by BB of course, chef Stellyn at cooking class in school, beers! while we watch tennis...thanks to Ashley:)
Jack and Aston had their second tennis clinic this week. I can't tell you all how much this boy is loving this activity and his new friend Jack. It's really special because Jack will be joining Aston and his other buds at Latin next year too! Here are some fun photos taken by Ashley (take note of the first one with the tongues out...they both do this when concentrating...cute):
Our lives have been consumed with ISR swimming lessons for the past 6 weeks. Between packing bags, short naps, no naps, BUDS sheets (documenting all foods, activity, wet diapers and stinky diapers), no apples, no peaches, laundry, whining, bribing, crying, 25 minute commutes each way...everyday, swim diaper accidents, unpacking bags and more laundry...I assumed I would be thrilled when it was over...but yesterday when we waved goodbye to Katie for the last time I was just plain sad. I think because it fulfilled our day and challenged us in a way that would grow us and it did just that. By graduation week (week 4 for Aston and week 6 for Stellyn) I knew we had arrived when all they could talk about was going to see Mrs. Katie. Mrs. Katie became the bribe and no longer the cause for the bribe. Stell would say "Mei Mei go first and Asty go second, okay?" instead of the opposite.
The results speak for themselves! See how far they've come!
Aston started Taekwondo with Jacob in early October. Ms. Dao found the place (ATA Martial Arts), tried Jacob out on it and then asked if we wanted to join. The boys went to class together for a while and then Jacob had to take a break while the Nyugen family travelled for the holiday's.
The week before Christmas Aston was invited to the monthly graduation ceremony to recieve his orange belt. Apparently the first couple of belts are more about attendance than they are on actual improvement but it was still an honor and a sense of accomplishment for Mr. A. He had been loosing steam with Taekwondo in the weeks prior so getting a belt in his favorite color helped refresh his interest again.
He walked out of there with a new strut...I think it truly was a proud moment for our 'buds'.
Here's some video of Aston's first day of Taekwondo back in early October...he's come so very far since...:
"Aston Lately" is a breath of fresh air! I really do see a change in him albeit slight. I know this because I can read an email or 2 without having to referee. I would like to attribute it to all our hard work at home with some stricter discipline and such but there are additional factors. It seems he is maturing slightly to the point where he's sort of starting to appear to understand that it's not so much fun to be a pain in the neck to his friends and family. It's also been uber-helpful that his teachers at school have a TIGHT handle on the 3 year old class and Aston in particular.
H.O.W.E.V.E.R, there was one incident this past Wednesday at school that threw us for a loop. I picked him up, all excited to take him to his first playdate (sans Mom) at Griffin's house. His teacher walked him out to me and with disappointment in her eyes she told me Aston bit a friend at school and it was not going to be tolerated again. The news flipped my world inside out. The confidence I had so cautiously built up over the last month had so suddenly wilted away. Mrs. Gabriel went on to explain that the friend had teeth marks on her shoulder. She said she was perplexed because Aston had been so good otherwise that day and for the days leading up (for the most part). I walked away with an ill feeling and now I had a big discipline debacle. Should I still bring him to his playdate with Griff? Or is that SO the wrong message I should be sending? I knew I had several hours at least to officially discipline him (according to Rosemond's book:)) but was concerned about the big privilege of the playdate coming right after the crime.
I opted to let him go to Griffin's house...and I am so thrilled that I did. As soon as we rolled up to the Brown household Aston was out the car door before I could say goodbye. He, Griffin and Noah raced inside (Aston's been wanting to go inside the Brown house for months now...he remembered, since Griffin's birthday party in May, that these Brown boys have the most awesomest toys on the planet!) Brooke took some really funny/cute/adorable shots and just recently posted them here. The photos are a must see! We can't wait for our next "date". Btw...the punishment later was that he had to help me package up his racetrack the Brown boys helped him put together and put it away. He absolutely LOVES this track but I'm not sure it was enough of an impact because he was only upset for a minute and then otherwise was over it.
In other news:
-On Friday Aston returned to school after the biting incident. I wanted to throw-up for the 3 hours he was at school...I was that nervous. At pick up Mrs. Gabriel walked Aston out to me, shaking her head. My heart sank but for no good reason. She was shaking her head in praise and disbelief. He had a day of perfection she said! I was shaking, sweating and rendered speechless. The proud mama was back and the desperately worried mom melted far away (well...at least for the moment). Apparently he was a great friend to all his classmates, he helped clean up without being asked, he helped Gracie Myers open her lunchbox because she was having trouble and he listened the first time to all requests (~insert Mom happy Dance~). She did explain that she and Mrs. Haenlein threatened him when he walked in the door that he would be sent to Mrs Merchant's office, the director, if he did any hitting, biting or pinching. So we shall see if this good behavior persists!
-One thing they learn in the three year old class is to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Aston is a proud pro now and I finally caught it on video...see below...it's at the very end. I made this video as a tribute to his Halloween costume (Race Car Driver Super Hero Guy)...he loves watching it:) (BTW: this is my first video using iMovie '11):
-He started taking Karate/Taekwando with Jacob about three weeks ago. I love the idea that this could really help him with discipline, structure and focus. He loves going mostly because they usually have "big kid" helpers that do some awesome jump kicks and other cool demonstrations. We hope to go more days that Jacob goes now that soccer is over.
-Aston loves to attempt "Knock Knock" jokes. The "orange you glad I'm not a banana" one is a fave. He also retain some joke that he and Babs read in a book at Beebs house. Goes something like "What kind of underwear does a weatherman wear?" answer: "thunderwear".:)
-Aston can recognize his name in the written form but we still need some letter practice.
-He's been diaper-less at night/nap for 10 months now and 2 days ago we had our first accident. The poor guy drank bunches of juice before bed and by 11pm he woke up super upset. Normally he wakes up and goes in his potty but this time he was just in a dead sleep. He felt so bad about it but we made a little midnight party out of it and he was fine in no time.
-It seems like he comes home from school singing a new song everyday. I caught this one on my cell today "Oh The Lord's been good to me" (notice how his sister is trying her best to sing along:))
-Aston and Mei both don't skip a beat when it comes to monitoring the construction process in our backyard. Aston gives me hourly updates on the progress and the machinery that made it happen.
Bob (our general contractor) put him on the Bobcat on day one. He was late for school because of it. He was on the thing with Benson (a worker) for an hour. I had to bribe him to get off. Bye Bye old deck!
btw: this was the scene out the back door yesterday... and today we have a roof! Bob and his team are super speedy...just waiting for our first incident...I don't mind the wait:)
Asty Funnies (there are so many more but I am forgetting them now):
-Me: "Aston put your shoes away where they go please" Aston...in the most unenthused manor: "Of course mom. WhatEVER you say mom." ....I am serious when I say I have no idea where that came from. TV I'm sure but man to Jeff and I it was pretty dang funny at the time.
-Aston: "Hey Mom I really really really want a Buzz Lightyear". Me: "Well maybe you could ask Santa for one for Christmas" Aston: "Do you think he has the kind that lights up and makes noise and has wings?" Me: "I think he could make that happen" Aston: "So Mom...can you text him right now and tell him?"...then i explained that we need to write Santa a letter because he doesn't get good cell phone reception in the North Pole:)
So we had to immediately come home and create our letter. He insisted that there be a detail illustration so Santa could see all the parts required (notice the red laser shooter and the green and purple wings:)). I am so proud of this because otherwise he would never choose to do an art project or if he did he would just make squiggly lines and call it a racetrack or mountains. He really applied himself here right down to the colors! It's just good to know he can draw if he wants to:)
A couple weeks ago now, Aston had his last soccer clinic :( (I hate starting a blog post off with that dreaded sentence because it's indicative of just how much work I have ahead of me to play catch up...but it is what it is!).
On the way he tried on Dad's big sunglasses...
so he could be like Gram:)... (she wears those terrible sunglasses that go over your regular glasses...you know the ones?...ugh) :)
attempting jumping jacks...
thinking how cool it was that Noah was in his section...
The "silly dance"...this is actually required of them even though Aston does this same dance regularly. As one of their drills they play "Red Light, Green Light, Yellow Light". On red light they trap/stop the ball, on green light they dribble and on yellow they do a silly dance...
Team huddle...this was the second week they actually played in a real scrimmage...
Here's Noah as goalie...notice the really bad sun-flare...Noah's mom, Brooke, has a thing for sun-flare in her photos but I don't think this is what she has in mind:) All of these full sun shots are horrible...I need help in this area of photography obviously...
Like Noah's Jazz hands here...
Coach: "Hey Aston...the ball is down at the other end of the field...and Noah is about to score his 13th goal..." Aston: "Whaaa? Where's the mirror I need to check myself out in these sunglasses!":)
Meanwhile Stell was rummaging through Grams purse for anything worth eating...
and Kate and Bruce were studying how it's really done...big kid style...
Afterwards Grams said her goodbyes and Babs drove her to the airport:(
and THEN....the trophy...just for participation of course...
but still...Aston is all about trophies...not sure how he even knows about them?...but he is always saying I'm gonna get a trophy for this or that...
can you see the pride?
Our usual routine is to go the playground post soccer if Aston doesn't sit down on the field during soccer practice:) On our way in the gates Stell gave Mama Kathryn a big snug hug...she's such a big girl now:(
