Endings. . . .And Beginnings!

Things are rapidly wrapping up for a lot of things. 

That didn't sound like a very good sentence, but I'm not sure how else to say it!

Anyway, we have a lot of things ending lately:

Aidan's Select Travel Hockey Team has had their last practice last Tuesday.  They have a tournament this weekend in Philadelphia for which we will leave Friday evening.  His coach takes this so seriously, he tells us the boys have a curfew of 9:00--no problem since Aidan's bedtime is 8:00 and that they should abstain from sodas and candy--sodas are no problem either because Aidan doesn't like carbonated drinks!  Chocolate, on the other hand. . .And this has been the edict since the beginning of May.  Really, these are 7 and 8 year old boys.  He does follow these statements with, "Let the boys have fun!"  Okay. . ..

Anyway, the Philly tournament should be a lot of fun.  We've really made some good friends on this team and hope that they boys can stay together in the future for Travel Hockey.  The tournament is at Ice Works Ice House in Aston and Aidan has two games Saturday and two games Sunday.  The Saturday games, 7:35 and 3:35 respectively, are situated perfectly for us to go to Constitution Hall in between and see some sights.  I'm excited for Aidan to see the Signing Room and the Liberty Bell.

Sunday's games are at 9:35 and either 1:35 or 3:00 depending on game record.  We'll head home directly after the second game--3 to 3 1/2 hour drive.  Thankfully, we're off on Monday!!

Also wrapping up is the Kelly Green House League Team.  We thought we had ended up in 2nd place but it's actually 3rd so our final game will be against the team we just beat last Saturday--which is coached by Aidan's Travel Team coach!  We have one more practice with this team, next Tuesday, and then the Tournament Game.  Then we'll either have a cook out or take the boys out for Wings to celebrate the season.

I'm very proud of the progress Aidan has made with both teams this season.  He has learned a lot with both of these coaches and I think will progress even more over the summer. 

Lest I give the impression that hockey is over. . .no, it's not.  In the midst of all of the above, there will be Xtreme tryouts: #1 on the 29th, #2 on June 1, and #3 on June 2.  We don't expect Aidan to make it, but it will be a really good experience for him to see what he needs to do in order to make it next time.  Actually, next year is when we're hoping he'll make it. . .

There are two weeks left in school: next week and the week after--both are only 4 days.  We are working on the final Word Study homework for the year. . .Yippee!!!  Can you say Hallelujah with me?!?!  Seriously glad that is over for a while.  It's been a good exercise, but whoa.  The last week of school, Aidan has Field Day.  Do you remember Field Day??  You can tell the end of school is near. . .the backpack practically explodes with paper when you open it.

With all of these endings, there will be Beginnings, too.

The pool opens this weekend!  And now that it is actually feeling warm--and rather soupy, I might add--it will be a welcome treat to go! 

Summer camps will be starting as soon as school lets out.  The week after school is out, Aidan will be going to Winwood for two weeks.  He probably won't like it, but I know he'll see a couple of friends he hasn't seen since last summer, so that will make it better.  Then he'll be at hockey camp for a week and then Ida Lee Camp for two weeks and so on.  In the midst of that, and actually the second week of Summer Vacation, Aidan will start skating lessons on Wednesday mornings.  He didn't like the idea at first, but we explained to him it was special lessons for boys already playing on teams to help them skate better and faster.  I'm hoping this will help him with confidence in his backward skating.

We're also ready to begin our House Renovations plans.  We're starting the process of getting bids on doing a Screened Porch on the back and some Stamped Concrete patios and walkways.  I'd also like to expand our driveway a bit with the Stamped Concrete.  We're hoping to get this started around the beginning of June.  And, during the summer months, while our yard is torn up, we'll be working on finishing up the Man Cave with the hopes it will be finished by Football season. . .

I will also be cleaning and organizing closets. . .it's that time to clean out some old winter things to make way for some new for next fall. . .and I'll be going back to Weight Watchers again now that the crazy hockey schedule is over.  June 3rd.  I've put back a couple of the pounds I lost last winter, but not all of them.  I'd really just like to get back to not eating out so much and really working to get in  better shape.  I know I can do it!

And now for a couple of pictures. . .

Aidan was heavy on Defense last weekend.  Awesome to watch!

I just like this one.  The boys were so happy with how they were playing!

And what a celebration!

Aidan's birthday cake.

At his party, we played some classics. . .like the Relay race with the spoon and the hockey puck. . .

Pin the puck on the Goalie. . .

Oh and some Street Hockey. . .what you haven't heard of these games??  : )

And then the piece d'resistance. . .the cake with a Sparkler 7 Candle!!!  Fun times!!

Seven

Yesterday was Aidan's 7th birthday.  I can't believe my baby is 7 years old! 

When he came home, he was just shy of being 2. . .22 months old at the time.  I have been fortunate to have been there for all but his first birthday.  I missed that first one, but he was definitely already in my heart!  We were in the process at the time.

Today, my little man is 50 3/4" tall--that equates to 4 feet 2 3/4 inches.  He weighs in at 57 pounds of muscle and giggly boy.  He is smart as a whip in math and science and is one of the best artists I have seen.  He is working really really hard at his reading and spelling and has beautiful handwriting.  He's not fond of reading, but can do it and is very good at grade level.  We will continue to work on this over the upcoming summer break so he doesn't lose any ground. 

Aidan is funny and loves to laugh.  He is athletic and loves all kinds of sports, but especially hockey (as if you didn't know that!)  He loves to say "Chimichanga!" and will look for any reason to do so--we don't know why.  He loves to play tricks on people, but doesn't have a single malicious bone in his body. 

He is loving and kind and has a beautiful inquisitive heart.  He is fearless (much to my dismay lots of times) and loves to play outside every chance he gets. 

He is a cutie, with gorgeous auburn hair, freckles across his cheeks and nose and the most beautiful blue/green eyes.

He is a wonderful gift to have in our lives.

He chose to go to Olive Garden for his birthday dinner--he loves Fetticini.  And then I made him a chocolate ice cream cake.  This was all followed by presents galore: knee hockey, new outdoor street hockey sticks, Ice House Pro Shop gift card, Game Stop gift card and some legos.  He was a very happy boy. 

Happy Birthday Aidan!  Mama is very proud of you and loves you very very much!!

Filled With Warm Loving Pride

We have so much going on lately.  Most of it hockey related, but also family related.

My mom is here visiting.  She came to be here for Aidan's birthday, but I also get to spend Mother's Day with my mom! 

My mom is scheduled to have laser surgery to remove the recent cancer.  I don't know the date yet and I don't know how extensive the surgery will be, but she is in excellent spirits.  She is tiny as can be (as usual!) but she is eating.  I think she is even trying to make some healthy choices, which makes me so much happier. 

Yesterday, Mom and I were on the go all day.  First, we took Aidan to his swimming lesson.  Pat showed up about half way through and took over that duty so Mom and I could run to Target to get some things for Aidan's birthday. After a quick bite, all four of us were off to the ice rink for Aidan's hockey game. 

Aidan's team won big  26 to 15!  I was very proud of Aidan because he was skating very well, even against a boy who is on the travel team with him but about 1 1/2 year older!  Aidan had five goals and four assists.  My camera battery was completely dead so I didn't get any pictures yesterday of the game.

Speaking of hockey, Pat and I were firmly in the "NO" camp for Aidan trying out this year for the Xtreme.  However, we have had a change of heart.  One, we don't know for sure that he'll make it, but there is a strong likelihood that he will.  Two, the cost will end up being about the same for us in the coming year.  The combination of the House League fee and the Select Team fee is a little more than what we would pay for the Xtreme on it's own.  AND, the game schedule is about the same between the Xtreme and the Select team.  AND we would only have one team schedule to keep up with. . .definite positives.  And finally, Aidan would continue with the boys he's been playing with lately who are on the Travel team with him (one less transition, for my transition sensitive kiddo).  So, we will let him try out.  If he doesn't make it this year, he almost definitely will next year so this will be good experience for him.  It's a three day Try Out: 1st on 5/29, 2nd on 6/1 and the last one on 6/2. 

I'm looking forward to June. . .no homework and a less hectic schedule. . .I think.

Today is Mother's Day!!  Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there.  We're taking the family to brunch at Lightfoot in Leesburg.  Looking forward to it.  It looks like it will be a beautiful day, too.  And then, this afternoon, I will begin the preparations for Aidan's big day!  I can't believe my kiddo is about to be 7.  Wow.

On this Mother's Day, I am profoundly grateful for Aidan's birth mother.  As a single woman in the middle of Siberia, she was faced with so many challenging choices.  And yet, she chose to give this child life by not terminating it.  And then she chose to give him a chance at that life by giving him up to the orphanage for care--a place that provided him with so much more medical care than she would have been able to provide!  And finally, she chose to relinquish her parental rights so that he might have an opportunity to become a part of a family.  She may not have thought her child would end up in the United States, but I hope and pray she would be happy about how his life is going.  I am so lucky to have the honor to call this boy my son and to be called his Mama/Mommy/Mom.  It just fills my heart with warmth and loving pride.

Rites of Passage

I suppose every boy goes through these little rites of passage.  It's a part of becoming a boy.  An older boy.  Not a baby anymore.  A man.

It makes Mama a little sad, though, that the little pieces of innocence are chipped away, revealing that our baby boys are just like all other boys. . .and men.

What has happened?

Arm farts. 

Aidan learned to do this this past week from one of his Jack friends ( he has THREE of them).  Yes, this Jack friend is older--he is eight.  He plays hockey with Aidan, on both of his current teams.  And, it turns out, my son is a quick study. It took all of five minutes after Tuesday nights practice for this Jack to teach my innocent little Aidan how to do an Arm fart.

What's next???  Burping the alphabet???

Don't you dare tell him that this is a possibility!!!  (I screech!!)

And the other rite of passage?  (right.  I did say "rites" didn't I?)

Travel teams.  whoa.

This is some serious stuff, people!

Aidan's first ever hockey tournament was this weekend.  Our team split the four games between two sets of boys-9 per team.  The games were drawn out of a hat and our team got both Saturday games:  7:40 am and 1:50 pm.  We had to be at the rink one hour before game time for both games.  Oh my.  All  can say is that next time when they ask us if we want to alternate the games, I will still agree but will ask that they do a Team A, Team B, Team A, Team B format rather than how it worked out.

The tournament was in Laurel, Maryland, which is about an hour and 15 minutes drive away.  Which means, since we had to BE there at 6:40 yesterday morning, we had to leave our house no later than about 5:20 am.  I got Aidan up at 5:00.  We stopped at Grandma and Grandpas on the way home, who graciously bought us dinner and plied us with beer and juice before sending us on the rest of the way.  Thank God for Grandma and Grandpa!!!  Without them, I'm not sure if I would have had the  energy to even order in!

In any case, here are some pictures of my baby boy at the game yesterday.  I really like the jerseys!  A stands for Ashburn and Aidan is number 20.  He did score in the first game, too!  Huge because this was is first Travel team game!!

And now, it's picture time!!

My adorable baby boy.

The team!!

They're going in. . .

He's ready.  Just thinking about the game!

Waiting to go on the ice.

Game two.  Red this time.

 Thinking it over.  He looks sooooo serious!

Coach said they could watch The Caps play the Rangers, game 2 of the Playoffs, if they took a knee.  Aren't they adorable???

On the way in for Game 2.

  That's Aidan, fourth one back.

Aidan, rushing down the ice.

And he beats the others!!

Controlling the puck in the rush of players.

Showing some skating skill.

And puck handling.

Looking ferocious.  And still cute!!

Talking it over with Jack, his Center to Aidan's Left Wing

After Game 2!

On the way back to the Locker Room.  Ironically, the boy in front of him, "Richardson" is on

Aidan's house league team!

Next up:  Nana's visit
                Aidan's birthday
                Tournament in Philadelphia during Memorial Day Weekend.

We have a busy month coming up!!

Obsessions

In the morning, I usually check my phone for text and email messages when I first get up.  I don't respond to anything right away, but I usually do check.  Last Friday morning, I was tagged in a Facebook message about a picture.  The message asked if Aidan was one of the children in the picture.  The author of the message thought he was, but she wasn't sure.  I looked immediately because the author is the mom of a little boy from Krasnoyarsk.

It turned out that there were actually two pictures of a group of children.  And YES!!!  There was Aidan right in the middle!!!  In the first picture, he was in profile, but I couldn't miss his mop of red hair and his big chipmunk cheeks!  The second picture I could see his face and know that the children had just gotten up ...either in the morning or from a nap.  My baby boy looked fuzzy and tired like he wanted to sleep more.  Boy do I know that look on him!!!!

 
 


It turned out that I recognized several of the children, and know that they are now living with their forever families here in the USA. 

I couldn't stop looking at these pictures on Friday.  They are of a time, in between our trips, that I was not a part of my sons life.  I know nothing, really of this period in his life.  So, this was a gem to me.  I believe, based on when I know some of these children came home, that this picture was taken sometime between late February and no later than about the 10th of March 2008. 

I did show Aidan these pictures.  He recognized himself immediately and thought some of the children seemed familiar.  The only other thing he said was, "Did that room smell like baby poop?"  I was struck by that because it seemed like it was a recovered memory and was completely honest and immediate.  I said I didn't know because I never got to go in this room.  It really pointed out that I have no idea what he remembers of that time in his life. 

Aidan's obsession, hockey, has been continuing to consume a great deal of our time.  Last week, he had two practices for his Travel Team because we're getting ready for a tournament in Laurel, Maryland.  That tournament is four games between Friday and Sunday.  The boys have been divided into two teams and each team will only play 2 games.  We'll find out tomorrow night which two games Aidan will play.  From that, we will know if he will be able to play his House League game--there may be a conflict with the Travel Team.  For the House Team, I hope no conflict exists.  It could be a lot of games, but Aidan will love it.

His House League team lost for the first time on Saturday.  But, it was a game in which the boys played a really good game of hockey.  The score was back and forth the entire game.  I think Aidan played some of the best hockey I have ever seen him play.  I was very proud of him. 

He scored a lot and he passed a lot and he had a lot of assists.  He played defense several shifts and didn't shy away from stealing the puck back from the other team.  It was really great to watch.  At one point, I saw the coach of the other team, who also happens to be the head of the Hockey program at Ashburn, check out the back of Aidan's jersey to get his name and number when he came off the ice. . .hooboy.

Aidan is #29 and the Head of the Hockey Program is standing under the AWAY sign. 

Anyway, Aidan might be obsessed with hockey.  But, darn if that kid isn't really good at it!!!