AJ's First Attempt at a Full-Sized Basket... Score!

AJ is TOTALLY into about handball.  I've never seen him so driven about anything yet.  I love it!  While playing handball out front on the garage one day (as we do almost every day after school), I shot the handball in the basket. 

He had fun with the idea and wanted me to keep shooting it.  I talked him into taking a try.  He was resistant at first, saying, "I can't make that, it's too tall". 

He's been taking a basketball class with the local parks and recreation department and is loving it.  He's showing great improvement, but has never even attempted at a full-sized basket. 

Well he finally gave it a shot... AND HE MADE IT!!!  It was awesome.  He even made it in the second time as well. 

So fun seeing him break through his limitations and achieve success! :)

True Talent

Alliana and AJ performed in the talent show this year.  They sang a song that is one their friends know and has a beautiful meaning, Firework.  We had a blast from the preparation to the final show. 

Here is a fun video of the kids going a bit crazy after non-stop practice.

And here was the big show! 

They had a blast with the face paints and loved receiving flowers at the end.  They loved that their friends joined in to sing along.  There was a bit of problem with the sound...  AJ's microphone was very quiet, but Alli found a creative solution (that AJ wasn't crazy about) :).

Mr. Business Man

AJ, Megan, Alliana, Victor and I were hanging out at an ice cream shoppe after school, having gotten a special treat for Alli's 11th Birthday.  I took the opportunity to discuss the upcoming science fair with Megan.  I thought it would be great if Alli and AJ did a project together as it would be there last chance ever (this is the one and only year they will ever be at the same school due to their age difference).

I showed the form to Megan and AJ walked up to the table.  He said, "I'll fill it out" and whipped out a Sharpie marker from his shorts pocket.  He started filling out the form like a little business man making a sale.  It was sooooo cute.  You could see how much he loved having this marker in his pocket. 

Later he made sure that if he ever lost this Sharpie he could get a replacement.  We bought our first replacement yesterday. :)

AJ's First Hike!

A couple weekends ago some of my girlfriends invited me to go on a hike with them in El Moro Canyon, between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. It sounded great! I have been wanting to hike for months now, especially with other moms and kids. I've been looking for a way exercise with AJ, in which we can enjoy each other and have fun too. Health is definitely becoming more valuable to me and I want to instill that into AJ. This was the perfect opportunity for us!

The other kids going were at least 10. AJ is 6 1/2... that is quite a difference. I had hesitations about going, but decided we should just get out there and try it; we'd learn along the way.

Sunday morning we met the group at 9am. AJ had a great attitude, but had no idea what we were about to do. He liked the fact that other friends were with us though. We started to walk the trails and learned that many were closed as they had been washed out in heavy rains in the few weeks prior. We found one that was open.

We walked up a large hill... up and up and up. About 10 minutes into it, it became obvious that our pace was slower than the rest of the group. AJ started whining about having asthma and his legs hurting and everything going wrong. I tried to motivate him through it. I told him lets go slow and steady, not worry about staying with the group, and just give it our best try to get on top of the hill. After some coaching, he pulled through.

We not only made it to the top of that mountain, but continued on three miles out! It was continuously up and down, not many flat stretches to relax on. At one point, we reached the bottom of an extremely steep hill. It was very symbolic. I saw it coming up and tried to motivate AJ beforehand to know that he could make it. I took some great pictures of him working his way up that big mountain. He made it up, slowly and steadily, without much of a problem at all. I was so proud!

On another part of the trail, we found fossils! Dirt had washed away from the recent rains to uncover five fossilized shells on the path. One was very large and they were all in perfect shape. It was awesome to see them in nature - and even more awesome to share that with my son.

On the way back, AJ tripped on a loose rock and scraped his knee pretty badly. He was very upset to see it bleeding. I picked him up and carried him for a few minutes. I cuddled with him and told him he'd be okay and that we just needed to make it back but that I couldn't carry him the whole way. I put him back down and he just kept right on going.

Shortly before making it back, it started sprinkling rain. We just stayed focused and before long it was done. AJ was the youngest kid on the entire trail. Many adults looked at him surprised that he was out there.

Throughout the six mile hike, AJ kept a great attitude. He was not always all smiles, but he tried his best - and did an EXCELLENT job! I was amazed this boy could go that far and long. He helped motivate me as well. As soon as we got down the hill he said, "I miss it up there". CUTIE!

YEAAAHHHH AJ!!!!! I love you baby!

AJ Got Red!

“I got red Mom!” AJ excitedly exclaimed as I first saw him on Monday evening.

I was delighted to hear the news. He had been trying all year long to get a red marking for his behavior at school. He is graded daily on how they behaved in class, on a scale based on the colors of the rainbow. Red is the highest mark possible. Every morning I send him off saying, “Go for red baby”.

He’s come home many days saying, “Mom, I try my best and I just can’t do it.” He felt disheartened as he hadn’t ever achieved the high ranking. We went over details about what he could try to make red and we’d discuss it daily.

He was so excited that he finally reached his goal, as was I. I agreed to take him to a special ice cream treat the following day.

Tuesday we went to a special gelato shop in Laguna Beach that has 6 flavors he can choose from. That is a great treat for someone who is allergic to dairy. Usually ice cream shops don’t have anything he can eat. Special ice cream shops may have 1 flavor that he can have. This one is super special – it has six!!! Not to mention that this gelato is extremely delicious.

We not only enjoyed ice cream together, I took him by Whole Foods to get some things he’s been asking for but we haven’t had for quite a while: soy whip cream and non-dairy cream cheese. He was elated to finally taste these foods that he hardly gets to enjoy. What fun to see him so happy.

Great work AJ, my love. Keep doing your best. You amaze me cutie boy.

(Pictured: A different treat I got AJ. He wanted me to take a picture so he could remember it. He was very adamant about it.)

AJ Lost His First Tooth!

Yesterday when I picked up AJ from Cami’s house after work, he came to me with a big hole in his smile and a plastic bag in his hand. He had lost his first tooth at school earlier that day! He was so excited and proud of himself, as was I.

It’s shocking how quickly this magnificent boy is growing up. I’ve always heard parents say that, but now I understand why. TIME FLIES!!!!

We also had an appointment at the dentist that day for 2 fillings. The dentist was extremely impressed with AJ’s bravery at taking the shot. He had an appointment the day before for fillings as well, so he was well aware of what was coming. He did not shed a tear or flinch at all. The dentist said he is one of the best kids he’s ever had. All this even without the TV working in his room to help distract his attention. =P

I’m so proud of AJ’s strength and independence. What a joy to see my son growing up into a strong, healthy young man.

He wasn’t too happy about losing his perfect baby teeth or having a missing tooth in his smile. To be honest, I will definitely miss that beautiful pure smile too. He is very serious about taking care of his adult teeth and is kind of stressing about the pressure. What a cutie. I guess we are both dealing with him growing up, but we are making the best of it and enjoying every moment of it that we possibly can.

The tooth fairy visited last night for both AJ and Mac. Mac had lost a tooth two days prior, but left it at school. It’s so much fun to see them have each other…. Both in the times they appreciate it and when they don’t. What a treasure it is to have someone who feels like a sibling in this world.

Okay… enough from this proud mama. =)

I Love You

Dear Ayin,

You have been my greatest blessing in this life. Through you, I’ve gotten to see myself and the beauty of life in a whole new perspective. My ability to love has grown beyond what I previously could have imagined possible. My greatest joys have been brought to me through you. My deepest sorrows have been felt wishing I could do better for you. My most treasured memories star you. I feel like I can capture a glimpse of what God must feel looking down on his beautiful creation as I watch you grow and smile.

Every day the first thing I give thanks for, is you. I am so happy you came to me. It’s hard to see you grow so fast, knowing that time is passing by. However, it’s amazing to see you growing into a strong, healthy boy. Every age you are becomes my favorite. I hope that we never grow apart. You have been my best friend, with your beautiful innocent loving smile. You’ve taught me so much about enjoying life.

I love you, my beautiful son. Thank you!

Love,

Mama