LOOK, No Water Wings!

Alex spent the weekend swimming! We'll we all did but we were so proud that he swam two days without his water-wings. He did a great job diving from the side and swimming to Aaron and I with his face in, arms going, and kicking like a little fish. He loves swimming. He would spend the whole day outside in the water if we let him. He also was so exhausted last night he fell asleep on the car ride home around 5 and didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning. We are so proud of you little guy!

Exfoliated, Buttered, Battered, and Egged

This week poor Aidan has been exfoliated with sand, buttered with a popcorn bag, battered with muffin batter, and he egged himself. His scalp sure is clean! It's funny to look at the smile on Alex's face while he tries to keep the bowl away from his little brother and Aidan just wants the bowl and wants it now!

Things have been good at the Julian house. We have been so busy with days at the park and getting ready for Alex's first school day next week. I have been nostalgic lately due to getting ready for the new year of pre-school. Looking around I realized that we needed new school shoes and Alex has outgrown (length wise) all of his pants. I also realized that Aidan was outgrowing everything so it was time to get out the hand me downs and see what would work for him. To my dismay Aidan is wearing 2T tops and some bottoms, Alex is now in a Boys size 1 shoe and we jumped from 3T pants to 5T (with the adjustable waist of course). I guess that's the law of life your little babies grow up and you get to enjoy watching it all happen.

Aaron has been getting ready for Football season. This year he is in 3 fantasy football leagues. Don't expect anything but football from him on Sundays! He is very into his leagues and I enjoy watching him do it.

I am looking forward to the holiday weekend. I hope everyone gets to enjoy their 3 days off.

Love to all!

PS- Tank was the chosen nickname and Alex has a black eye in the picture, AGAIN!

Hercules or Tank?

Since Alex was in the spotlight last week I thought it was Ade's turn. So many of our family members live out of town so you don't get to see his personality in the making. He is quite different then Alex was at this age but in many ways they are the same. He is opinionated, observant, fun, determined, wild, and STRONG. He did give me the concussion... Anyway, Aaron came home last week and was thinking of the nickname Tank for our little guy. He walks around with his broad little shoulders and his arms hanging down like he's a body builder. He loves carrying things from room to room, things a not yet 1 1/2 year old shouldn't be carrying, like a gallon of milk, fisher price farms, 5 pound weights etc. This weekend we went to the store, (back to his personality,) when he decides he's done with the shopping cart ride he flails around screaming "Ouch, Ouch, Ouch." It sounds funny but it's not when people are watching. Then he flails until I let him down all the while screaming, "Ouch, Ouch, Ouch." I let him down and he walked over to a package of 24 bottles of water, picked it up and moved it. A lady walking by asked how old he was and said, "He's a little Hercules." So that's how the second name came up. I don't know if he's just strong from keeping up with Alex and his determination to defend himself at a young age from his big brothers antics or all the whole milk! Anyway, you decide, Hercules or Tank.

Picture taken by Alex, August 17th, 2008

Growing Up

Yesterday we were going to the store and Alex asked if he could get a toy. I told him no so he asked if he could use his money for the toy? What could I say but YES, so we went with his money bag from his piggy bank to Walgreen's. On the way to Walgreen's you could see him analyzing the situation and processing if this was something he really wanted to do. He asked, "Mom will I have money left for my bank?," "Mom, I don't know how to count money will you help me?," "Mom, What if I don't have enough money?," and of course all of the answers were, "Yes." We went in and picked out his toy, decided we had enough money, and went to the cosmetic counter to pay prior to our other shopping. We paid with his money and he actually had change. He asked, "Mom, Do I have to give this to her now?" I told him it was his change and that he could return it to his piggy bank. He was so proud of himself and the Power Ranger he purchased with his own "kid" money. I found that he has played with that toy much longer then he would have if Mom or Dad would have purchased it.

Today we went to the grocery store. He was upset that he didn't bring his money for a toy so I told him he could repay me when we got home if he found something. He didn't find anything but to my amazement while I was chasing Aidan in the check out aisle he was bagging my groceries and putting them in the cart. He pushed the cart out and helped me put the groceries in the car. I told him that he earned a dollar for all of his help in the store and I would give it to him when we returned home.

I am amazed with how grown up Alex is becoming and how thoughtful he is. He had actually taken the original money out of his piggy bank to give to Kim for Kyan's party. He wanted to help purchase party hats and some slippers for Kim since she is pregnant. I realize that this time with the boys is precious. I have been given the opportunity to raise them and watch them grow into young adults when many parents aren't fortunate enough to be given such a wonderful gift. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and not for one second will I ever take it for granted.

Love to all.

Blurry

I guess the big news from the past week is that I've had a concussion. It's funny at first when you think of a stay-at-home mom with a concussion but as Aaron said, "then it's not so funny." I have been living with this for 9 days now and I still feel like I am in slow motion thinking, speaking, moving. My response time is much slower and my vision was affected which is very strange. Last Monday I went to see the Dr. and he confirmed the concussion and I had a CAT scan. The CAT scan showed no bleeding or fractures so everything is well I'm just supposed to relax, (right) and not hit my head anymore and within two weeks everything should be back to normal. Much of this is my fault, I'm busy, moving constantly, and not paying attention to my surroundings. I hit my head twice, once on the freezer and once on the kitchen table, the last blow was Aidan throwing the bar stool down on my head while playing on the floor in the basement. I've always been a tough girl I deal with pain well but when your thinking is "off" it's hard to just deal with it. I hate not being able to just push though and get over it. Aaron and my Mom have been wonderful. The family spent a few nights with my Mom just to get some help with the boys and allow me to try and rest. It was nice also since Aaron and I got a night out alone.

To other news about our week:

Aaron and I spent a couple days away last weekend. It was very relaxing and much needed. I also think I would have been really nutty by the time I got to see my Dr. if we wouldn't have had that time away to unwind and have some fun.

Aidan had a virus this week but is back up to par.

Alex had Kyan's party yesterday and had a wonderful time at Cosmic Bowling. Kyan loved his present so much he took it out to the car before the party had ended so that was fun to watch. I love giving presents...

Love to all.

The Dark Knight

Last night Aaron and I went to see The Dark Knight. It was amazing. I am not much of a movie watcher it has to be something I think could be spectacular or something Aaron really wants to watch. (Those of you that know me well know I HATE to sit down!) The acting by Christian Bale and Heath Ledger was outstanding. I can truly see why Heath Ledger had trouble sleeping due to his portrayal of the Joker and how he truly created a psychopath. If you were like me thinking the Batman movies were corney please try this one out. It is not a movie for children to see but I think everyone that watches the movie will find Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker riveting.

Congratulations

Aaron has been chosen for Commerce Bank's Management Development Program. It is a great honor since few Commerce employee's were chosen for this elite team. The program will last two years and he will be given the tools to continue this growth and potential within Commerce's system. I am very proud of him. He works very hard every single day for himself and for his family. Thank you Aaron for all that you do and for all of the hard work.

We love you!

Hot night at the Ballpark and more!

Last night we went to the ball game with the boys. I can remember how afraid I was taking Aidan at 3 months old well a year and 3 months was much more eventful. He is a wanderer he wanders from room to room playing at home and he did not want to watch much of the game however did enjoy Alex's snow cone, hat as you can see, and running the stadium. We had a great time and really enjoyed watching Alex's excitement with the stadium, Fred Bird, and the game. We will see if he has changed what he wants to be when he grows up to a baseball player now instead of a basketball player.

I thought I would add this picture since this is what Aidan does when the boys play. Kyan is a great friend to Alex and we play at least 2 to 3 times a week. This week Kyan came over for a couple of hours. It's funny watching how Aidan now wants to join in but starts off as an observer to the madness...

We went to the Science Center with my Mom and had a great time last week. The boys really enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit and learning about gravity. It is a great place to go. I always wondered about the little kids but they definitely have enough for everyone.

We'll besides that we've been keeping busy swimming, playing outside, and I've been working on selling additional Ebay items. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend with Aaron next weekend. My Mom offered to watch the boys so we can go away and all we have on the agenda so far is the Batman movie and some pool time. It's nice to have a break sometimes and we can't wait to see Batman! WHAT HAVE THESE BOYS DONE TO ME!!!!

Love to all!

Hell's Kitchen Winner!

If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, apparently Christina could! Aaron and I are so excited and would like to congratulate Christina Machamer the winner of Hell's Kitchen. Aaron works with her father and we have truely enjoyed watching the season.

Time alone, Cards, and the 4th of July

We have had a wild fun filled week. We started the week with a couple of days at my Mom's. We always have fun there swimming and feeding the ducks and Aaron and I always enjoy spending the night because that means we get to go out and have some fun of our own!

Later in the week Aaron and I were lucky enough to be invited to a Cards game. The game was awful since Tony was holding his pitchers out for the first game with the Cubs but it didn't matter at all. Our friends purchased tickets at an auction for Whitey Herzog's foundation so we were in the Best Buy Suite with Whitey and Mary Lou all night enjoying drinks, food, and the many amenities that the Best Buy Suite has to offer. If you ever get a chance you have to try it out it is an amazing way to enjoy your favorite team playing baseball.

The 4th of July was so much fun. My friend Cheryl always has a get together and went all out this year with food, fun, and fireworks. We had alot of fun swimming and the boys always enjoy a crowd. Alex played with the big boys while Aidan of course played with Mommy. The fireworks out here are always amazing and it's nice to enjoy fireworks on someone else's dime...

Aidan has been a wild man the last couple of weeks. He is climbing the stairs, the furniture, playing and fighting with Alex, and learning many new words. I was blow drying my hair on the 4th and when I turned it off he said "you done?" Pretty good for my little guy and of course he just wanted to see if I would let him pull the plug out. Boys and plugs, phones, and hoses. I can't get over the things they love to play with but everyone always said things around the house are the things they will love the most.

We are finishing up the holiday with a barbeque today and tomorrow we have Aidan's shots so I'll let everyone know how it goes. I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July weekend.

Love to all.