Happy Birthday Smithsonian and the Final Days of Summer

Happy 165th Birthday Smithsonian!! 

We are so lucky to live so close to the largest museum in the world.  We can take the metro down into D. C. and get off in the Mall right in the midst of all the museums for the Smithsonian.  We go 2 or 3 times a year.  Aidan's favorite is the Museum of Natural History, but the Air and Space Museum is a very close second.  Frequently, we'll go to a monument or two as well, since they are also all right there! 

Now that we have been home from vacation for a few days, I think it's safe to say we have unpacked fully, completed about a gazillion loads of laundry and are now settling in for the final couple of weeks of summer.  We even got to the Mall last weekend and stocked up on all of the clothes and shoes Aidan will need for the coming fall.  I bought mostly size 6 and 7, but did do one really nice jacket that was a size 5/6. . .it just fits.  Back I will go to the Mall this weekend to exchange it for a 7/8!  Yikes!!!

All of the jeans I bought Aidan are a size 6 slim.  (love those tabs and buttons on the inside of the waist band!)  They still look a little big in the bum area, but the length is just a little too long, so they are perfect!  He'll probably outgrow them by Christmas. . .this child is going to be very very big. . .

Our adjustment back to Eastern time has had it's successes and some not so successful moments.  Last night in particular was a very difficult night.  Pat and I were exhausted, but Aidan not so much.  I finally went to bed (where Pat was snoring happily away), but I think he was still awake after 10:00.  And then he still came and got in bed with us about 3:30 this morning.  I may talk to his school just to be sure they aren't letting him sleep more than an hour at nap time--when he does it creates all kinds of bed time havoc.

Speaking of Aidan's school, we have an Open House on August 25th to go and meet his new Kindergarten teacher and see his classroom.  It is, of course, in the middle of the day so I'll have to take and extended lunch and make up the time during other lunch breaks that week.  But, we're very excited about it!  At the Day Care, we only have one more week to pay at the current higher price and then we go down in our rate substantially.  Looking forward to that!  Aidan will begin the transition process to the After School Care room in about a week and a half and will take a ride on the Winwood bus so he'll be used to that experience. 

AND. . . there is a lady who will be teaching piano lessons to the children at Winwood on Monday afternoons beginning August 29th!  She is only charging $12.00 per lesson, so I signed Aidan up!  I figured this would be a great way to introduce him to the piano and then perhaps, once he has the basics, this lady might teach him privately.  No, we don't have a piano yet.  But, it is on our definite plan to do probably around Christmastime.  In the meantime, we'll hook him up with an inexpensive keyboard, which will be fine until we have a piano and he can use this in the basement Rec Room, too. 

Finally, check out these pictures my grandfather gave me of my mom.  They are her school pictures from 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th grades--no idea where 7th grade is. . .and the years are 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953.  Sorry for the glare, but are they adorable?  I don't look anything like her. . .