Growth

Aidan,

I can't tell you how amazed your mother and I are with you.

You have always been an amazing boy- kind, whimsical, song-loving, silly, emotional, creative.

You probably don't know, though, is that you are stronger than you think too. You've had to overcome a lot in your life; your learning and developmental challenges have made certain milestones a bit further out of reach for you...making it a  bit harder than you'd like to read the things you want, to draw the things you see in your head, to fully express yourself.

But, you've never given up. Sometimes you've been frustrated- sure. Sometimes you've selected a slightly easier challenge. But you've never given up.

And then- this winter and spring of 2019 - something really just clicked. We've all seen it. You've been reading to us every night, and it's getting easier and easier for you. You're coming home with more and more drawings and comic strips in your lunch box and back pack. Your vocabulary is growing. You just seem to be so serene as of late.

And now, we're able to track your growth too. Parents love this stuff. It's why when you're little little, we obsess over your height and weight...first words...first steps...it's the kind of measurement that proves incontrovertibly that you're growing...and that we were right to be so amazed.

So, in the same week....you came home with tons of amazing drawings. They appeared out of the blue. I know they're stick figures...but they mean so much more to me and Mama. They show what you want them to...they tell stories...they use words...and you're so proud of them.

We're proud too.

The poor guy on the bottom is getting hit with a nuclear bomb.

This sad guy is also getting hit with a nuclear bomb.

"Oh no!"....BOOM! You guessed it...another nuclear bomb.

Robot!

Volcano

"It's a Picasso"

 Seeing these two trucks and riders in your lunch box made me get all teary eyed. You've come so far, man. I'm so proud of you.

Your reading is improving drastically too. Your confidence is high, and so is your ability. Just the other day you read "Are you My Mother?" to me. Because we clock how much time it takes to add to your reading log, I know that it took you 18 fun minutes- with just a few excited asides and "readers' commentary". You read the same book to me in January...4 months ago. It took you 35 minutes that day.

Miss Newman, your reading specialist at school whom you've been seeing for many years wrote Mommy the most wonderful email:

"Hi Holly,

I just completed my end of the year testing, and I must share the results with you. Aidan made a 30 point increase in his test scores from his September pre-test. I rarely see that big of an increase in scores. Thank you for your help.

- Miss Newman"

wow. Just wow. You keep fighting man. You are strong. You are my superhero. You've grown so much and overcome so much, and you don't even know it. 

Just like I said to you the other night before bed... "thank you for being you."

We love you.

Life in Exile- Part 2 - Fun with Yaya and Baba

While this was going on at home...

...THIS was going on at Yaya and Baba's:

That's right...we were having a ball on the second leg of our life in exile.

There was a lot of music and learning and reading going on!

Julia, one day I decided to use Yaya's xylophone to teach you a song. You were way excited, and wanted to learn more and more!

Aidan, you got the reading bug in a BIG way...something clicked with you and you wanted to start reading more and more, and reading bigger and better books. You exclaimed "Dad, I'm a reader now!"

We spent my birthday playing, playgrounding, and Sweettooth Hoteling... and velvet tacoing...

We sang songs, we playgrounded more, we comic booked, we hung out with Yaya and Baba...

Lots of art and notes were made and received too...including these love notes to you, Julia!

These puppets by you Aidan...

And this request from a homesick you, Julia. (note: you did ultimately support me and Mommy going on a date)

Julia, you worked night and day on that frog, and Aidan you worked hard to master the art of the jetplane. 

We did a puzzle, danced about, and had some chess challenges:

All in all, we had a lovely time with your lovely Yaya and Baba...

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up our belongings, our chess set, wash up and head home...

While it was lovely to return to our own home, we'll never forget the fun we had living in exile.

Some Sweet Summer

Summer is going by too quickly from my viewpoint. But I am so thankful for all of the quiet moments, splashy fun, family time, Grancamp adventures, and even for the slow chaos of living in a construction zone. 

I sometimes find myself battling the urge to do activities and just 'do nothing' (which winds up being less stress and more fun sometimes!) This summer you both have really taught me a lot about slowing down and, as you have been saying lately Aidan, "just go with the flow."

In one day, I helped each of you make something awesome. Julia- you and I made cupakes!

Aidan- we made slime!

You've also spent a good deal of the summer away from me and mommy, as mommy is going back to school and I'm at work. You've been spending weeks with Mimi and Pops and Yaya and Baba. Sleepovers, swimming, hot tubbing, cooking, making, playing, and loving.

Big hits this summer: STENCILS, Cousin Kaelyn, Cousin Holden, Dogs! (including Sandy), Weird Al Yankovic, Boxes, Sleepmasks, Grancamp, Friends, Cursive, Addition, Sewing, and Bone.

This summer has been full of reading, drawing, learning, playing, and dreaming. Here's just a small sample of what you've been up to, and how much you've grown!