Courage to Change GIVEAWAY

Super excited to kick the year off with a giveaway on LB,BO.  When I saw that Shell, from Things I Can’t Say, was looking for bloggers to test out and giveaway board games from Courage to Change, games designed for kids with special needs, I knew that it was an opportunity I should jump on.  All the games that I was able to chose from were tempting….but I focused on one that I thought would help and be fun for my special little man.
One of the things that we (Aiden’s Preschool teachers and I) are working on with him is routine and rules. We are planning on putting him in all day kindergarten next year, knowing that it could be tough, to get him use to those routines and rules that go along with being in school ALL day.  So that when he gets to first grade, he has them down pat and can focus on the learning.  So….when I saw “The Classroom Behavior Game”, I knew that would be a great one to work on these skills with him to prepare him for next year.  I also thought that it would be a fun game to take into the school so that his classmates could enjoy it and learn some of the rules as well.

After watching the video about the game and who it caters to, I knew that it would be a fantastic game for Aiden.  And for Jakob!  It will be a fun way for Jakob to teach Aiden how to behave in school, and maybe remind Jakob too!! :)
I am REALLY looking forward to getting the game – my stalking the tracking number says it will be here in three days.  You could have a chance to win one too! a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Be sure to check back here next week for a review of the game itself, after the boys and I get to play it a few times and take it into Aiden’s class for his friends to give it a whirl.

Wordless Wednesday

He gets a little excited about swim lessons.

Wordless Wednesday

I miss my Army Man.  Be safe, my love.

Technorati Tags: jason,wordless wednesday,love,family,man,army

Happy New Year

 

With the start of a brand new year, I think about all the things that I didn’t quite accomplish in the past year and if they are something that I really wanted to do…or what was stopping me.

Ask anyone who knows me well will tell you I am the queen of procrastination – will find any reason to stand in my own way.

I have goals for this year, attainable ones.  We will get into this later as I start to plan them out a little further.

The problem with starting this new year and thinking about all the great possibilities that come with it is that I am starting it without my partner, my best friend.  Having Jason on the other side of the world for the first half of this year makes it difficult.  Will it really start, do I want to accomplish all these goals without him?  I know he would tell me to get it done, get going, make things happen.

Damn Army. 

So, with those thoughts floating around my head and heart, I wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope that all your dreams come true this year….I plan on making mine!

He touches my heart….

 

Aiden had his first day of school today.  Another year of Preschool for my little man, he will love it and then will be primed and ready for Kindergarten next year.

Today he came home with this:

A puzzle…with this note:

Touching.  Truly warmed my heart.  And we did just what it said, we put it together and he told me about all the fun he had.  Thank you Ms. H, I adore it.

It was inspired by this book, which they read today:

Great first day!!

Back to school!

 

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”…..

I love this time of year….love the fresh start of back to school.  The possibilities are endless.  New teacher, clean slate, new friends, and my favorite part is all the new school supplies!  I am a sucker for new pens and pencils.  Oh, and a new day planner.

But I digress….

The boys were SO excited to start school this year.  Both of them have new (to their school) teachers…so even more newness. 

Jakob started last week….he had a fabulous week last week and was just as excited to go today. He is making new friends, and just adores his new teacher.  Pretty great start.

Oh, and did I mention that he started school with a Mohawk??  When did I become the Mama of a kid with a Mohawk??  His choice.  He feels like such a rebel.  LOL

Aiden started today.  I was a little nervous for him, but the kid just ran right into class without a second thought.  Always surprises me.

The best part of their first days of school was that Jason was able to be there for both!  Between deployments and trainings Jason has missed many a school event….but this time he was able to be there for BOTH of the boys.  Fabulous.  Meant the absolute world to them. And me.

Wishing good things for both my boys and their new year.  And to you and your new students.  What is your favorite part of the kids going back to school?

Soccer Mama?

I have dreams of being a Hockey Mama….maybe unrealistic dreams since the boys have yet to go ice skating.  Peabody may kill me – or revoke my Canadian Citizenship. There isn’t a local place to take them.  I guess I need to do more research and just expect to drive a good distance to get them some ice time.  Worth it, right?

In the meantime, I am a Soccer Mama.  Jakob is playing with the YMCA this summer.  He is super excited and doing fantastic.  I thought he would be upset when they lost their first THREE games….but his understanding of sportsmanship has gotten better with age.  I remember when he tried soccer in GA and hated to lose or not score a goal….now he is able to shrug it off….even with a 7-0 score against his team.

Aiden really wants to play, but after much discussion we decided that he just wasn’t ready or able to process the team concept.  But next year, he will run the field.

This past weekend was fabulous.  Having his whole family, and extended family out on the sidelines cheering Jakob on was nothing short of awesome.  With Mom, Ron, Tim and Nicole visiting, Jakob had his own cheer squad out there.  He LOVED it.

I guess I should be glad that he is having fun, learning teamwork, and that with soccer there is no 5am cold rink time.

There will be hockey in their future though….you can count on it!