Accessorizing

After weeks of thinking I was noticing "something" going on with Aaron's eyes, we found out from his eye doctor that he is farsighted and needs glasses for close up work.

He was thrilled to choose his frames, and we picked up his glasses the other night. These pics are from when we were first home. He has been wearing them consistently since we got them. He says his eyes "see so much better now!". :)

He was being a nut because he didn't want me taking his picture. And I can't get any better ones yet. Oh well. :)

The First First Day

Today was Aaron's first day of preschool. He is going to the Teaching Research Child Development Center on campus at Western Oregon University.

We chose this preschool after carefully weighing several options. We like the awareness and use of current best practices, the attention paid to what is developmentally appropriate, the partnership with Willamette ESD Special Education, and the steady flow of eager college students in the beginning stages of their education careers who lend a hand to the lead teachers.

Aaron was not overly thrilled to start school today. We went to his Open House last week in the evening and for part of it we went to a parent meeting while he stayed in his classroom. He thought we were lost and the teachers wouldn't let him find us and they wouldn't let him play on the playground when he wanted to (his perspective). We walked back in to a very sorrowful boy. He told us he didn't want to go back there and that he had already learned enough things.

Admittedly, I've felt the same way during various stages of my own education.

This morning started out okay, but when it came time for Leland, Susie and I to leave he was really upset. It took a REALLY LONG TIME for 3 hours to go by. When we picked him up we heard from his teacher all about the great job he did. He was only sad for a few minutes and then engaged in the activities and played with the kids. Oh, and they let him go out on the playground. ;)

He had plenty to tell us about and he was EXHAUSTED. He still says he's not going back there. :)

3

This is a video from the day after Aaron's birthday. I've been wanting to get these on video for a couple months now but by the time I grab the camera he is out of the singing mood. So I grabbed it quick when he was saying rhymes and singing songs the entire way home from Susie's---before he could escape his car seat. Finally!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo6i3SZKlE0

Aaron turned "sree" on Thursday the 15th. He received an early birthday present from Grandma May and Grandpa Bob. He and Daddy synced their computers.

Today we had Aaron's birthday party. It was a Mickey/Minnie theme. He was a very happy boy, and a very lucky one too. He wore his special Mickey shirt which Jen made him.

Thanks to Uncle Chad and Auntie Kristin he is going to handle all of the ironing from now on. "Now I can iron all day long!" he said. Yes you can. :)

Ben and Addilyn gave Aaron a 4000 piece Lego set. And Jen gave Aaron a promise to come over every weekend and help him build his set. :)

Susie and Sheridan gave Aaron roller skates (which he has secretly been practicing on) and a Playdo kitchen set.

After this point things got a little hectic, so I didn't keep up with the picture-taking too well. Aaron received many wonderful gifts. Thanks to Gaga and Papa for the new Thomas add-ons, and to Uncle Kevin for the kitchen scale and Duck goods, and to Heidi, Mia and Matt for the bat books---perfect because we have bats who favor our porch at night.

And the cake! Oh my, the cake. Over the summer Aaron and I started discussing what kind of a birthday party he would like and what he'd like for dessert. He asked specifically for Mickey and Minnie but made it clear that Minnie should be the star of the show. We started looking online for ideas and came across some really amazing cakes. We found one he loved of a round cake with a red car on top that had Mickey and Minnie in it. He said it was perfect except Minnie was wearing red and he wanted her to wear pink. This was far beyond my dessert making abilities. So I asked Jen (AKA Cake Boss) if she would make him a Mickey/Minnie cake with Minnie wearing pink.

Isn't it amazing?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqcJPWGK5mU

The entire thing was completely edible except for Minnie who was stuffed. And wearing pink! The star of the show. Aaron was very happy. And a little nervous about me cutting it up. I was nervous too.

Thanks Jen! It was perfect.

After cake Ben, Addilyn, and Aaron went back to playing. Now that Addy is crawling she is right in there with those boys. She kept going through the tunnel with them.

Yes, this is a picture of my son pushing an adorable BABY out of his tunnel. I'm keeping this picture forever.

After our guests left Daddy and Aaron headed to the Playdo kitchen. By the way, Aaron never napped today so he was exhausted by this point. But they made lots of yummy sounding food. Playdo is not gluten free. ;)

A chef always takes his work seriously.

But he will pause for paparazzi.

Just Some Things

Hangin' out playin' with Thomas and friends.

Beading... He's saying,"not yet", and then "now go, go" so I will start the video at the right time. Mr. Director.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAmLwwfmG2k