A Really New School Year Begins

With last year's school-based drama now only a fading memory, the kids began the school year at the New Red Lion Christian Academy this week:  Aidan (1st), Amanda (6th), and Abby (8th) started on Thursday and Alex (10th) started today.

Greeting the kids was new leadership, some new teachers (and some familiar faces), new text books, new uniforms, new logos, and some refreshed facilities

Here's to a great year...

Vacation Bible School 2012

Many years ago, we began sending the kids to a great Vacation Bible School (VBS) program at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church.  The program is always well run and well attended making it something the kids look forward to.  And this year was a special treat as cousins Nick and Brianna also attended.

The week-long program culminates with an outdoor concert put on by the kids which is promptly followed by an Ice Cream Social.  Yum.

Below are the songs that Aidan and Nick (top) and Amanda (bottom) performed.

Aidan at Ashland

Oops.  Somehow, Aidan took a field trip to Ashland Nature Center back on April 30th, and I completely missed posting anything about it.  Sorry.  To make up for it, here's some pics...

Happy 6th Birthday Aidan

This past Thursday, January 19th, our little man turned 6.  We celebrated Thursday night with just the 6 of us.  Following that, on Sunday we had a larger party with family and friends.

Happy Birthday,  Bub.

Today is the Day the Training Wheels Came Off

We have a bad habit of keeping the training wheels on the kid's bikes far past the point that they are truly necessary.  Well, Aidan was no different in this regard.

I had noticed back during the summer that, on the straightaways at least, he really wasn't riding on them.  Despite this, we continued to make excuses and put off their removal.  That was until today.

As we were out enjoying the unseasonably warm temps, and with Mom out for a run, I grabbed a wrench and off they came.  After a few jogs along side him up and down the side walk, away he went.  And the rest is history.

2011 Christmas Programs

As Christmas approaches, so to do the school Christmas programs.

The season began back on December 6th with the RLCA program.  The evening began with a few selections by the After-School Choir featuring Amanda.  The video below highlights one called Rock 'n Roll Snowman.

Following the ASC was the main production entitled Christmas Hang Ups.  All of the children were dressed up as Christmas ornaments, hence Amanda wearing the bell costume in the following selection; On the First Day of Christmas.

Our second and final program this year was the GCA program featuring Aidan which took place on December 13th.  Due to the length of the program, I was actually able to include basically the entire Kindergarten portion below...

Merry Christmas...

Linus He Ain't

Aidan has always kind'a marched to the beat of his own drum.  From his frequent desire to actually go to bed to his actually liking his vegetables and eating them first, he's not your average 5 year old.

So it shouldn't have come as a surprise when, last week, he announced that he thought he was getting too old to sleep with a blanky.  Slightly taken aback at this announcement, I initially just wrote it off as just a passing thought he had had, and continued to leave the blanket in bed with him.  That was, until last night.

As we were putting him down to bed last night he announced to Mom that he was done with it.  Her initial reaction was similar to mine, so rather than completely remove it from his bed, she set it off to the side, within arm's reach, turned off the light and closed the door.

A few moments later, we heard him call out from his room.  I opened the door and found him holding out the blanket.  He was done.  And that was that.  They grow up so fast.
 

Soccer Wrap-up

This past Saturday, we put another GRPC Soccer season in the history books.  Aidan and Amanda both had really good years.

Aidan was a force to be reckoned with, scoring multiple times almost every game.  He also had some natural defender skills bubbling to the surface as we would see him frequently dart around the opposition to protect the goal.

Amanda spent a lot of the season playing midfielder.  While she would have liked some variety, she did play the position well and had a good time on the field with some good friends.

Yummy

There are times, in every family I'm sure, when diet is dictated by circumstances rather than health value.   The past few days fell into this category.

Between soccer and field hockey games, sports practices, doctor's appointments, youth group and whatever else I've since forgotten, we went from Sloppy Joes and frozen pierogis on Thursday night to hot dogs and mac & cheese on Friday.

As Mom is placing the meal on the table she says, "I'm sorry dinner is so..." and she pauses, searching for the right words.

Aidan decides to interject his own opinion at this point:  "Yummy?"

Not quite the sentiment Mom was going for, Bub...
 

Boo

I had a song stuck in my head last night (thanks Top 40 radio) and really wanted to hear it (lemming that I am).  So I logged into Napster, found it, set it to play, and walked away from the computer.

Aidan likes to sit at the computer and try to read things.  So with Napster still on the screen:

Aidan:  "What's the 'boo' button?"
Me:     "The what?"
Aidan:  "What's the 'boo' button?  Is it for when you don't
            like a song?"

Now, his logic was perfectly sound.  And quite astute for a 5 year old.  In this age of digital social networking, a 'boo' button would logically be for when you didn't like something.  But I don't ever recall seeing a 'boo' button on Napster.

So I wander over to the screen and he points...to the "Bio" tab. 

Good try, Mac.
 

Winner

Winning comes in many forms. So many in fact that sometimes we win things that we don't want. Like Aidan today.

Aidan was coming down the stairs after a bath this afternoon. Just like me when I was little, he's taken to jumping down the stairs. Usually from about the 3rd step up. Unlike me, this time he failed to stick the landing.

Head, meet banister.

After a quick trip to the local Medical Aid unit, our little man is now the first of the four with stitches. Three, in fact.

Falling Out

After it being loose since April, Aidan lost his first tooth today.

He came to me with said tooth in hand and stated, "I think my tooth came out."

You think? ;)

A Noble Profession

Aidan:
"I want to be a presenter
when I get big."

Mom (completely mishearing):
"You don't want to be a prisoner."

Aidan:
"No. A person who wraps presents
...a presenter."


I set a goal this year of putting up at least 3 posts a month. I did really well...until this month. As a result, its New Years eve and I'm scrambling to meet my self-prescribed quota by back-dating new posts to when they should've gone live. So, if your saying to yourself, 'I don't remember any of these posts on the dates they're listed for', that's why... :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

2010 GCA Christmas Program

Aidan's Preschool Christmas Program this year was held on December 14th. This year, there was no crying... :)

As a result, his class's entire presentation is featured below. Enjoy.

Pedaling on Up

Just this week, while outside doing doing some chores, I noted that Aidan had really become a bit too big for his trike: He was practically kneeing himself in the face when he pedaled.

We had a 2-wheeler set aside for him but, for some reason, I was pretty sure the back tire was blown out. Guess I should've checked sooner since, when I put some air in it, it held. So on when the training wheels and away went Aidan...

Preschool 2010 Begins

This past Wednesday found Aidan starting his second year of Preschool at GCA. Not much to report yet, just really wanted to post this pic...look how excited the little guy is...

Open Wide and Say 'Aaagh...'

Here's something I myself have never experienced: One of my kids at the dentist. More over, this was Aidan's first trip. He was so well behaved that they were even able to do a fluoride treatment.

Don't We All

Aidan just declared to me;

"I wish 'no' could be 'yes' and 'yes' could be 'no'."

Johnny, What Can You Make Of This?

So Mom and Aidan are in the kitchen. Aidan points outside and says;

"Mom, I see a plane going down."

Frantically, Mom looks outside.

But looking around, she quickly realizes she doesn't hear anything. Then it hits her, "Are you talking about the helicopters (from the Maples) outside?"

Nonchalantly Aidan answers, "Yeah..."

Aidan's 2nd Ever Field Trip

This past Tuesday, April 20th, Aidan, with Mom in tow, had his second school field trip of the year. The destination: The very lovely Coverdale Farm in Greenville, DE.

Coverdale Farm, part of the Delaware Nature Society, covers over 229 acres. The farm and its caretakers use pigs, chickens, sheep (Aidan's favorite), and cows to teach the kids about the cycle of life as it pertains to the farm.

According to Mom:

Aidan and his classmates learned the names of the mommy animals and their babies, got to pet some chicks, a cow, and some sheep, and even got to feed the sheep. The kids were farmers for the day and had the job of checking to make sure that all the animals had their food, water, and a place to rest. They loved washing their hands all at the same time at the long watering trough rigged with a sprinkler. It was a beautiful day.