WHAT?

On the way home today, I hear Clare say to me, "Mommy, why is my hair yellow and brown?" I quickly respond, "Because that's the way God made you." She says, "what?" and I repeat myself. She again says, "WHAT?" I say, "Because that's the way God made you. That's why you have yellow and brown hair."

She says, "NO that's not what I said! I asked why is my Ariel on the the floor?"

Great, not only am I losing my mind but my hearing is going as well!

Letter Races

Aidan has alphabet cards taped to the wall in his room next to his bed. A couple of weeks ago he asked me if I wanted to play a game of "letter races" while laying with him before sleep. I replied, "What's letter races?" He said, "Well you pick the letter you want to be and race around the cards." (which turned out to be my finger racing his through the spaces between the letters) I'm always "A", he says, "and it always wins." So every once in awhile we sneak in a quick game of "letter races" before he falls asleep. Ah, the little things!

SAMMY!

We have a little store around the corner from our house that we visit quite often, called Sam's Market. Or more affectionately known in our house just as "Sam's".

We walk or ride bikes there for ice cream or a treat (it used to be in the wagon when they were little). We stop there for milk on the way home or just a random snack from time to time. We love Sam's! When Clare was a baby and Aidan was about 2, we went in one morning and Mrs. Sam (we don't know her real name) gave Aidan an ice cream cone at 8 am. She always gives the kids hugs and squeezes their cheeks. When Mrs. Sam is there, the kids don't ever walk out empty handed. "Go pick out a candy," she'll tell them.

Now, Sam was a harder nut to crack. We'd exchange very short greetings and be on our way. After all this time, Sam has finally warmed up to us Healeys and our antics. I have to give the credit to Clare. She went in one day and ran right to the counter and shouted, "HI SAM!" To which Sam's face lit up like a Christmas Tree. He said, "Now that's a good girl, she comes right over and says hello."

Let me just tell you, we are IN with good ole' Sammy! He jokes with them every time we come in and calls both the kids Sammy. Last week he gave each kid a pack of silly bands. Tonight he gave Clare a lollipop after she rushed in yelling, "There's SAMMY!" She decided she couldn't wait the minute and a half it takes to get home to go potty so Sam told us to go in the back room and use their potty. Then he walked Aidan back there to pick out some boxes he needed to make a Star Wars ship.

Sam has no idea what's in store for him now, next they'll be asking to scoop their own ice cream!

First Day of Kindergarten

Aidan's first day was postponed by 2 days because of Hurricane Irene. Well, he finally made it. He's officially a kindergartener! Let's just say he's loving it and I still cry every once in awhile.

I get there to pick him up and ask how the first day went. Here's the conversation:

Aidan: "Well something bad happened."

Me: "What?"

Aidan: "I slammed the lid to the ball storage on my hand on the playground."

Me: "Well did you cry? Did you tell the teacher?"

Aidan: "I cried a little, well a lot. But I didn't tell the teacher. I sucked it up because I didn't want to go to the nurse."

Me: "Wait, how old are you?"

And just like that, my next post will be of him graduating from high school. That's how fast these wee irish bobbins are growing up right before my eyes!

Just call me Coach

Clare has been asking to play soccer since last spring so I signed her up for fall soccer. I registered her online and mailed in the check. All set, just show up for practice in a couple of weeks, right?

WRONG!

First, I get an email from someone asking for volunteers to manage the fields, line them and get the goals out. Nope, not me! No idea how to do that!

Second, I get an email from someone else asking for volunteers to help out at practices. Okay, this is more up my alley, I respond to this one with a yes. I mean I've got to be there anyway, and I'm really not into the sideline small talk. (Been there done that during lax last spring.)

Thirdly, I get another email. This one from the coach of the team, thanking me for volunteering to be her assistant coach. WHAT?!?! Did I really sign up for this? I kindly responded back, "No problem. However, I have not played soccer since I was 5 years old so I won't be much help there. I do, however, work at a childcare center and have a few tricks up my sleeve for getting children to listen in a group setting."

Only problem, I can't get my own kid to listen to me! Hopefully we can both leave our attitudes in the car and put our best foot forward on this one.

*updates to follow*

Late Pick Up

As you may have heard, Aidan starts Kindergarten this year. As we creep slowly toward the day, my angst is building. Who will he sit with on the bus? Where will he eat lunch? Will he miss me? Will he know where the bathroom is? All valid "Mom" concerns.

He will attend aftercare at the school 3 days a week and I'll be home early the other 2 so he can come home. Last week we had a little "meet and greet" with the staff of the aftercare program. (Of course, true to form, Aidan has to give me a hard time about going.) As soon as we went inside he made a b-line for the lego table, where they have a mega bin of legos. He played there and chatted with a few of the ladies while I filled out some paperwork and chatted with the other ladies. Everyone was super nice and the room was really great. They get to play in the gym, on the playground and in the aftercare room, which holds a variety of toys, 2 computers, a Wii and a playstation.

We stayed for about a half hour and as we were walking out, the kid (who razzed me not to make him go because he "hates it") says,

"Mom, can I go there everyday and can you pick me up last?"

Really Kid?!

Summer Update

Here's the short list of what's been happening around here lately:

- swimming every night
- birthday parties for friends
- lots of ice cream
- bike riding
- first Nationals baseball game
- crab feast with the Brits
- lacrosse camp for Aidan
- Vacation Bible camp at church for Clare and Aidan
- Daddy jumping in the pool with all his clothes on. (even shoes)


So much fun!!! I think we're handling the heat just fine.