10-4 Engine 9 Aaron Judd turned 3

Fireman Sam is a topic Aaron talks about a lot.  Since mid summer he has been asking, requesting and begging for a "Fireman Sam" costume.  I made the mistake of looking some up on the internet one day and he became determined that he needed one.  I kept saying maybe for your birthday but for a few weeks every day he would ask me if his Fireman Sam costume was in a the mail.

It was a rough wait but he finally made it to his birthday!!  As requested a Firetruck cake was created.

We took it up to Sunday dinner and there he opened the long awaited Fireman Sam costume.  It was a huge hit.  All the cousins collectively took the gadgets and came up with a rescue mission after dinner.   It was very cute!!

The longer Aaron's in my family the more obvious it seems that he is the glue that holds us all together.  He's mister happy go lucky rarely is bothered by anyone or anything and brings so much joy to our lives.  He's the first to jump for joy whenever Bart and I come home from work and reminds us to give hugs before we leave.  Just this morning the girls were running out the door to catch the bus and Aaron runs to them saying "Wait I give you a love."    He also has a very sensitive spot.  About the only time he is in "trouble" is when his sticky little fingers just can't resist touching "off limit" things.  He often hears the words "AARON DON'T TOUCH" and often he will burst into tears and say "Mama don't scream at me"  It breaks my heart every time he says that to me.   My mom often makes fun of me babying my little boy but I can't help it there is a special place in a mother's heart for her boys.   Oh how we loved our Aaron Judd!!

It's about time

Jane finally allowed Bart to pull her loose tooth.   Let's hope the tooth fairy "remembers" to come tonight

Labor Day 2015

Last year on a Christmas sale I bought a package of 12 flashlights.  This little turkey slowly took apart and destroyed all but one.  I hid that one and brought it out for a camping trip.  Aaron acted like it was Christmas to have a new flashlight.  We had to watch him like a hawk with it so he didn't take this one apart. 

Saturday was cold and windy.  Just perfect to stay inside and play a game of old maid

My mom found this old fishing boat at a garage sail.  Perfect for rowing around Miller Lake

Minute to Win it Cowboy style

Aaron's first day

This is how excited Aaron was to finally start going to his own "school"

All summer we've been talking about Aaron going to "preschool" this fall.  When the first day of school came for his sisters he was very distraught when I told him it wasn't his turn yet.   How happy he was last night when I said "Tomorrow's the big day you get to start preschool".   Emily and Jane this morning was telling him things they remember about preschool.  Jane:  Aaron at preschool they have tons of toys that you get to play with all day.  Emily:  At preschool they have a nap time and you take off you shoes and cuddle up on a mat.    

When we arrived his teacher Miss Hilary showed him around.  I could tell he was very interested in the miniature sized urinals that only "Big Boys" can use.  When it was time to go he ran over to me and said "Hug, Kiss" Squeezed me very hard and ran off to play with the others.  I can tell he's going to have a great day.

So Hurray for Preschool and Hurray for this mama getting to use the carpool lane.  (It's been a life changing experience)

When the Opportunity arises

In preparing for our California adventure Emily spent a great deal of time counting organizing and then recounting her money she had been saving for this adventure.  Her cute purse Nona and she made last summer wasn't big enough for all the change she had collected so I offered to let her borrow one of my old wallets.  I had in mine this cute small red wallet I once owned but I couldn't find it so the only other choice was this hug black thing. Emily didn't seem to care that it looks like a 79 year old's wallet she was just happy to have a wallet.  Once again she set out to organize and recount all her money. Adding some personal touches to make it her own.

I noticed her bills were extremely straight.  I have a funny suspicion she ironed them all.  

The first day at Legoland she walked around holding her big black wallet like the money was burning a hole in her pocket.  All she wanted to do was find a shop to spend some of it.  She finally was able to and bought a cute I love legoland notebook. 

The next day when I was able to spend some time alone walking around with her Emily shared this story.  

" Mom last fall when we were at the Bookfair at my school do you remember how I really wanted this toy but I had no money at all.  I mean I didn't have any money and I hated it.  Well after that day I knew I needed to save some money and I'm so happy I did because now that I'm in California I have money for some things that I want"  

I couldn't help myself I turned on my "Becky Pace"  and said exactly what I heard my mom tell Baxter a few weeks ago.  "It's always good to save your money because you never know when an opportunity will come up when you need that money."  Because you saved your money Emily you had some when you needed it"

There's one thing about it Emily is blessed with the gift to delay gratification.  I'm telling you if the girl ever took that marshmallow test (you know the one where they stick a kid in a room with a marshmallow and promise them something bigger if they don't eat it) I know she would pass it with flying colors.  You should see her stash of smarties she collected from her teacher last year.   I'm convinced the ability to hold out for something better is a single predictor of later success in  Emily's  life.

Oh how I love me my Emi!

Strict Obedience

Jane has always been blessed with a natural gift to obey.   She is firm in her resolve to do what is right and stubborn enough to stick to it.  I'm sure at school she toes the line with every  rule.   I have no worries at all that Jane will never stray from the path.  I mean I had to convince her once that a tank top with thick straps was modest enough to wear.  

Watching Jane drive the cars at Legoland attested to me just how obedient Jane is.    Just imagine a small track equipped with road signs and about 30 or so kid sized cars with kids ages 5-12.  Crazy right.  Well Jane gets into her car and proceeds to drive down the right side of the road and comes upon a 4 way stop.  I notice all the other kids don't even hesitate and plow through going all sorts of directions.  Meanwhile Jane slows to a complete stop when she sees the stop sign and looks both ways before proceeding ahead.

That's totally my Jane and I love her so!

Big A

As predicted my dad usually chants Big A little a r-o-n when around Aaron.  Lately his nickname for Aaron is simply Big "A".

The name seems to fit since Aaron is very proud to be "Big".   It's fun to see him beam when he is feeling very big and confident.  Like when it's mentioned by others trying to potty train their kids how Aaron is such big boy because he goes poop in the potty.

Aaron was all for riding a Sheep at Little Fry Rodeo.  He didn't seem at phased watching so many others ride fall and cry.  When it was his turn he got a little gun shy so I whispered "If you get on that sheep I'll buy you a snow cone when your done."   That's all it took he stepped right up.

I wonder what Aaron is thinking.  It's obvious it's not set in that this sheep might hurt him.

After a good long ride Aaron faced planted.  Nothing like a mouth and nose full of dirt.

He sat up and started to bawl.  It was so dang cute!  I ran out and scooped him up along with his boots and hat.  He kept crying and crying until I once again whispered in his ear "Great job lets go get that snow cone you earned".  He instantly stopped crying and we made our way to  the concession stand.  His whole face was completely covered in dirt so a lot of people stopped and told him he was such a big brave boy to ride that sheep.  By the time we made it over to where my mom was sitting to get a few wipes to clean him up my mom commented how you can just see how proud and brave he felt for riding the sheep.

Aaron also has made leaps and bounds in the pool.  He went from clinging to Bart and I to independence (with a life jacket) in the water.  I've loved seeing how proud he is of his new found water freedom.  He continued to fear the water slides though until a recent trip to Seven Peaks when he let go of the fear and had the time of his life.

Later that night while Bart and I were both trying to get him to stay in his bed for the night. (Yes it was one of those nights).  He sighed and said "I don't want to sleep in my own bed,  I NOT a big boy anymore"  

I just love my "Big A"!