Continual State of Becoming

In honor of turning a whopping 32 years old, here is a list 32 random things: Ten Things I Did on My Birthday: 1- Slept in.  Matt got up with the kids while I slept, finished a book I was reading, and got ready for the day. 2- Watched Dylan play t-ball.  Well, actually I chased Aaron around the sports complex while occasionally checking in on how Dylan was doing. 3- Attempted to take the kids to the Leesburg Air Show.  The line for the shuttle was TOO long.  So we found a place nearby to watch and were planning on just hanging out there until a cop chased us off (he was really nice about it).  Then we tried to go to a different spot, but Aaron fell asleep, so we just came home.  Maybe next year we'll make it. 4- Aaron took a nearly 4 hour nap.  So we all had a nice relaxing early afternoon. 5- Made Halloween decorations with Dylan. 6- Started a new book and realized about one paragraph in that I had already read it.  oops. 7- Got into a car small accident.  Not even enough

He is constantly running off, wanting to explore and experience everything.  I'm usually following closely behind hoping that I'm within reach if (and when) he needs help.  So this is pretty much how I see Aaron these days.

Before I was a parent, and even back when Dylan was still teeny tiny, I told myself I would not participate in those "have your kids sell our stuff to their family and friends" fundraisers.  No wrapping paper, chocolates, cookies, popcorn, whatever.  It is just one of those things that as a non parent I knew to be annoying, I'd much rather just donate some cash and call it a day.  So far we've managed to avoid anything like this, but I knew it would eventually catch up to us. And it has.  The second week of school Dylan brought home some catalogs and order forms for a PTA fundraiser.  And I considered participating.  Because I want to support the school, and I want to be involved (I even joined, and I went to the first PTA meeting).  But I kept hearing this little voice in the back of my head going "oh come on Jess, you're not really going to do this are you? remember how you really feel about it."  So I'm not.  I'll happily support the school

I also tried a couple shots with my film camera... though it will be a while before I have those results (film is a good way to practice delayed gratification by the way).  But here are my instant digitals...

Fall Edition: I love fall.  Mostly because it means the heat and bugs of summer are behind us.  I'm not sad to see that go at all.  Other things I enjoy about the fall: 1- It means winter is coming.  I love winter.  LOVE it.  Especially when we get a lot of snow.  The more the better. 2- Cooler weather means I enjoy being outside.  A lot less sweating and misery on my part.  It's fun to be outside, running around with the kids.  This year has been especially fun so far with Dylan playing t-ball and Aaron able to run around and play outside.  Definitely keeps me moving. 3- Leaf piles.  As much fun now as they were when I was a kid.  I don't even mind raking because jumping in a big pile is so much fun.  And we have a massive amount of trees in the backyard so we get some pretty big piles. 4- Cinnamon.  The smell of fall to me.  Cinnamon with apples, cinnamon with pumpkin, getting the house to smell like cinnamon. 5- The return of comfort food.  I love all the fre

Aaron has started to show an interest in drawing and coloring.  His interest lasts for a good 10 minutes before he just wants to eat the crayons and rip the paper.  We'll have to try water paints soon and see how that goes.

Last week we took Dylan to play some arcades after dinner.  He picked out a fake mustache with his collection of tokens when we were done. Then Aaron had a turn...  He wasn't really sure what to make of it. And a sweet moment with dad...

He got on the bus after an early lunch, he was the only kid at our stop, which is right in front of our house.  That part went really quick, I snuck in a quick hug and then took a couple photos as he marched his way to a seat.  He sat next to the window and waved bye to Matt, Aaron, and me.  And here is what I can piece together of the rest of his day. He sat next to his friend Eric on the ride to school and on the ride home.  When he got to school the teacher wasn't waiting for him right at the bus, so he started walking towards the main door and met her there.  While at school they went to the library, Dylan got to be the leader, he thinks for the walk to the library.  He got a sticker for "being the best sitter" during library time.  He learned "about how books work" during this time.  They read a story about a kid who did not take care of his or her books, it involved peanut butter, jelly, and ice cream getting all over his or her books, which is not a goo