My heart is full!

Yesterday, when I got home from work, I was greeted in the back yard by my wriggling and totally wet son. He had been playing in the sprinklers with the neighbor girls and Daddy. After talking briefly with the neighbor girls' mom, I went on inside to tidy up the house for our friend who was coming to dinner and the football game.

When Daddy and Aidan came in, Aidan got very excited and grabbed something up, ran to me and placed some new jewelry on my wrist saying, "I made this for you, Mama!" How sweet!



Proudly, and with a very full heart, wearing my new bracelet last night and to work today, I can't help hearing that niggling voice in the background of my brain about the gallon jug of perfume that is coming my way in the near future. . . ; )

Yippee!! It's time!!

Tonight, the Redskins play their first Preseason game. . .woo hoo!! I'm so ready! And so is Aidan, of course. : )

My friend Allison is in town to help take care of my other friend, Dana. Dana is recovering so well from her surgery that Allison will be coming over to dinner and to watch the Redskins play the Ravens in Preseason Game #1. Now, Allison is a Cowboys fan (boo! hiss!)but we love her anyway!

We're hoping and praying that we're off to a good year with the 'skins.

Crazy Summer, Heading Into a Calmer Fall

What a crazy summer!!! Out of the past 8 weeks, Pat has only been with Aidan and I 2 weeks: the week at the beach plus one other. The rest of the time he has either been working weird shifts or working in Kitty Hawk. I'll be glad when that is over--this week!! All told, it will be 9 weeks of time since the craziness began. Aidan and I are looking forward to it being over, even if it does mean that the end of summer is nearly here!

We've been holding up pretty good, though. Aidan has been a super sweet little guy lately. He has been full of hugs and love for Mama. He asks all the time where Daddy is, but he seems to understand why he isn't here.

I've been trying to make life fun, in the meantime. Tonight we're making chocolate chip cookies for a special friend who just had surgery. While those are cooking, we're going to make wrapping paper--Aidan will color and draw pictures on some basic brown paper wrapping that we will use for birthdays and Christmas. That should keep us busy!! And, just maybe, I'll escape another night of Dora and Diego! (please, God.)

I've enrolled Aidan for the next year of Preschool. He starts the 3 year old class on September 8th. Can't wait! I've also signed him up for swimming lessons at the Rec Center, which starts September 13th. Sign up for ice skating lessons should be this week or next. Aidan is looking forward to his new fall schedule.

I've signed up for a knitting class at the Rec Center. I've always wanted to learn and this seems to be a great chance.

Meanwhile, I called a neighbor girl last night and scheduled several nights for her to babysit--a couple of times for the knitting class, and for a date night for me and Pat before school starts. This will be really great.

And, so, like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

A Shopping I will go. . .A Shopping I will go. . .

Tax Free Weekend is here!! Tax Free Weekend is here!! A shopping I am going!!!

I picked up Aidan from school and off to the Outlet Mall we went. We live in Leesburg and we have our very own Premium Outlet Mall. Sweet! And, as an added bonus, Virginia offers a weekend where sales tax is not charged on all clothing, shoes and school or office supplies provided the individual item is less than $100. And, because of the economy, most stores are offering very deep discounts. So, it's the perfect time to supplement Aidan's wardrobe in preparation for fall and winter. . .

When we got to the mall, we walked over to Carters where everything was 50% off! that's right! All of the new fall and winter merchandise was 50% off. Then, we headed over to Gymboree. . .same deal!! Our final stop was Eddie Bauer. . .again, same deal! And, I had a $10.00 off coupon for Eddie Bauer. . .I came away with so many nice things for Aidan and a couple of Christmas presents for not that much money. I'm so excited about it!

Tonight, I got online and bought Aidan's new winter coat and snow pants from L. L. Bean. . .again a great discount and no tax! It's a nice coat, too. One that will last him two years like his last one did.

Tomorrow I am off to Dulles Town Center where I will head over to Baby Gap to see if they have any sweaters for Aidan and then off to Macy's to spend the $50. gift card I got from my dad for my birthday.

I'm not someone who really enjoys shopping, at least not physically in the store, but I love getting good deals like this. And to have gotten a great deal online (my preferred shopping method) it has added to my excitement and sense of shopping satisfaction.

Okay, so now I need to know when is the latest it is appropriate to have a garage/yard sale. . .I've got a lot of things/Aidan's old clothes to get rid of--I've given a lot away and still have a lot!

New Day, New Month

Another Monday morning. Another new month. Back to work and school. Aidan is doing really well these days with school and seems to be really enjoying it. And, it has now been a week and no sign of the Swine Flu! I think we're out of the woods on that one. . .

He does still miss his old sitter, though. I took Aidan to church yesterday and he cried when I tried to drop him off at the Nursery. Dawn wasn't there. So, rather than have him cry like that, I took him into church. Right after the Procession of the Cross, I looked up and there was Dawn coming up the side aisle. She got to our pew and motioned that she could take Aidan. I asked him if he wanted to go and he ran to her and jumped in her arms! I had a happy service and Aidan was now happy in the Nursery. Yippee for all of us! I would normally have gone to get him in time for Communion but decided to leave him this time. He was very happy when I went to pick him up so I think it was the right decision.

After church, I went to sign up as a Sunday School teacher-something I haven't done for a few years, but have previously done for six years. I signed up for Aidan's class! Lucky him. ; )

Two years ago this month, our dossier was sent to Russia. Two years! To me it seems just like yesterday in some ways. And in others, it seems like Aidan has always been with us. As of tomorrow, Aidan will have been with us 16 months. Amazing. Someone recently said that Aidan hadn't changed much in the past year. On the contrary! I think he has changed enormously! He is no longer a baby. . .and in fact, I think he is even out of the toddler stage already! Just look what happened in one year!

Aidan at the beach-June 2008


Aidan's first day of Preschool-July 2009


Sigh. . .I know they are supposed to grow up, but does it have to happen so quickly??

P. S. Plese join me in saying a Prayer of Thanksgiving for my Blogger friend Joy. After two years in the process, she went to Court on Thusday. She received her "Da" after 5 hours, yes 5 hours!!, of questioning which included a 15 minute conversation where she had to promise, not once but twice!!, that she would not let her daughter play with sharks!! You gotta love it. . .Thanks be to God, Joy!! And Congratulations on completing that stage. Now for motherhood! : )