Football and Cirque Du Soleil and other stuff

So... Darren's crazy schedule is over, his car (that a deer took out) is fixed, we're waiting to hear back from Omni Pod - they're running diagnostic tests on the pod that malfunctioned and sent Aidan to the hospital at the end of October. Asher's speech therapy is finished. We're halfway through the school year which is hard to believe. We had to resend our Visa application, but hopefully will be getting our passports and Visa's back shortly. We are now members of the church we've been attending for the last year, what a wonderful feeling to have a place to call home, and friends to call family! We're going to Florida for Thanksgiving, Aidan plays football through the middle of January, he also has several singing commitments around Christmas being in the children's choir at church. Darren's mom is flying out January 11th, the Monday before we leave for Russia, it's all right around the corner.

I could write forever now that I have a bit of normalcy and a schedule back to my day, but won't because I need to sleep. So for now, yes, I'm alive, just busy... and blessed.

Enjoy some pictures from our recent "doings" and if I don't post again beforehand, Happy Thanksgiving!


First game, November 14, 2009. Go Eagles!!!

Asher and his "Ooh ah" cheering for bubbie on the sidelines.



Second game. November 21, 2009. What a difference a week made, Aidan did so much better focusing on the ball and understanding the concept of the game (follow the guy with the ball).
Even though it was FREEZING!!!

Told ya it was COLD!!!
(Okay, so the snow is photo-shopped, but it was really really COLD)

Silly Asher. This photo cracks me up - does a good job of portraying his personality.


We took the boys to Cirque Du Soleil (I may eventually get around to blogging about this) it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Asher sat still for the majority of the 2 hour show. He laughed at the clowns and was in awe of the high bar guys during the finale! We had a wonderful time and hope that Cir comes through South Carolina again soon!
Darren and the boys in front of the Cirque trailer.

Me and the boys in front of the Cirque trailer.

The end.

Aidan's football clinic

Yep... my boy is growing up. Something incredibly hard about seeing your first born become more independent. When exactly did this happen? And can I make it stop, or at the very least slow it down? I think what makes seeing Aidan grow up especially difficult is the reminder that I missed all these stages with V, we are far past the era of V ever "needing" his mommy. In fact, we're probably far past the age where he'd even call me mommy. That hurts, and I find it rather stinky.
But back to the topic at hand. Vlad may be the oldest, but Aidan was the first "born" which makes for a different sort of dynamic but it works for us... and I think there is always something extra special between a mama and her first born, especially if it's a son. And so when Aidan started choir in September and was dismissed from the congregation after the children's sermon (when all the kids gather at the front of the sanctuary to be taught by one of the pastors for 5-10 minutes) and was to walk from the sanctuary to another building by himself (with the other kids and choir directors) and started crying, LOUDLY as he walked down the middle isle all the way out... and I raced from the balcony to my little boys rescue to see what was the matter I was met with the sweetest words ever "I was scared mommy, I needed you, I want you to come with me". Okay, yes, it was just a tad embarrassing to have him make a small scene as he walked out, but I quickly forgot about that as my heart swelled hearing him say he needed me! YES!!! He's still my little boy. The following week, I told him to let me know BEFORE heading downstairs for the children's sermon if he needed me to go with him again. He said nothing before leaving, so I assumed he was fine. As soon as the sermon was over and the kids were dismissed, Aidan looked up at the balcony and yelled, YES YELLED "I don't need you mom"....
Have you ever been to a Presbyterian church? You don't make noise. No one says "Amen" or "preach it brother" and while the evening service, the one we attend is a bit more relaxed then morning worship, the congregation remains quiet (as I think they should) because they are there to learn.... so uh, let's just say Aidan broke the mold that evening, though it did elicit a few chuckles and a couple of sympathy glances from other mom's. But more then that... OUCH!!! In just a weeks time he went from being frantic and tearful without me, to completely confident and ready to announce to the world that he doesn't need me... It hurt... and it got me to thinking... they're are other days coming, that will be seemingly ordinary to begin with yet will end up with, "mommy, I don't want to hold your hand anymore, is that ok?" or "mommy, please don't kiss me anymore" or when I'm told I can't call him by his nickname anymore... All these days are coming much too quickly I fear...

But for now, he still calls me mommy, he still loves to hold my hand, he still asks for kisses... repeatedly. He's still my chubber buggie and I'm still his. He still tells me I'm his best friend, and he still climbs into bed and snuggles Darren and I almost every morning, well, that's when Darren's here anyway. And so I treasure these moments... all too quickly they'll be gone. Reminds me of one of my favorite books (notice I said MY favorite, not the kids favorite) by my favorite author, Karen Kingsbury. It's titled Let me hold you longer.

And though Darren doesn't ever mention it I think the rate at which the kids grow gets to him too, especially when he's so busy with work, like he is now. He hates being gone so much, that's why days like today are so special. He got to spend all morning just with Aidan at the YMCA football clinic. Put on by the Y and run by Clemson's Woody Danztler. Pretty cool! Aidan was so excited when he left with his daddy (a.k.a his buckaroo) this morning. And when he came home, he was excited to tell me about what they did!

I love my kids! sooooo much! I wish V was home to have special days like today with his dad too... I don't want him to have to continue to wait, he should be home. now.

Pictures from the day to follow.