Painting Aiden's room

Aiden's room was declared a governmental disaster zone a few weeks ago. I finally got the guts to go in, strip everything out, and start over last week. I had discussed with Aiden what he wanted his room theme to be, and once we saw this, we knew it was perfect. So it began. We still entrenched in reorganizing and decorating, but here is our progress thus far.

Before (dun dun duuuunnnnnnn):

That's his new Ikea loft/desk we got for FREE off Craigslist. Good score on that one.

Step one has been painting his walls blue:





And his shelf green (shelf was also free, given to us by a neighbor:


So that's where we stand now. I need to order the decals, which will be awhile since they're kind of pricey and I need to save up for them. Then I have several smaller projects to complete the room, including painting his toy box to look like an NES and making a wall clock into a chain chomp. All in time!

Letters from Aiden

Yesterday, I had a particularly tough day with Aiden. He was just having typical kid attitude problems; nothing major, but out of character and therefore tough nonetheless. Constant talking back, arguing, that kind of thing.
I finally sent him to bed (he sleeps in my room when Scott is gone, so he went in there) and settled on the couch to watch Heroes in HD and edit some pictures on my computer for some friends. About five minutes later, he comes out, drops this on my lap, and runs back to bed (click to make any bigger):

Translation: Please forgive me I made your bed for you. ♥Aiden

(These are all written on random papers he found in my room, by the way. Rough budgets Scott was working on, packing lists I made, etc)

Another few minutes rolled by, and he came out with another note:


Translation: No or Yes, Loryn You can watch Heroes if you want in the bedroom.
I told him thanks for being sweet, but I needed to get some work done and that I would be in when I was through. So he crossed out yes and checked the no box, which made me laugh when I saw it later, because he did this privately.

Another five minutes, and:


Translation: Yes or No, ♥Aiden PS I love you Loryn If you change your mind you can come in if you want?

I just about died. I just asked why he wrote Loryn instead of Mama, and he said "because that's your real name!"

The back of that one:


This is a recreation of the scene from The Giving Tree where the boy carves "Me + Tree" into the tree. It says "Aiden + Mama = ever." So now, this little turd not only knows that he's getting to me and softening me up with these notes, he's quoting the one book that always make me cry when I read it to him.

Finally he fell asleep, I finished my work and Heroes was over (god I love Sylar!). I went to bed to find one final note slipped under the door waiting for me:


Translation: Loryn You know what when I am a adult I will not move out of the house just for you okay! ♥Aiden
Obviously, this is my favorite. I'm pretty sure I'll be framing it, because it just made me laugh so hard. Seven years old, and he already knows exactly how to try and manipulate me. I'm in for it when he's a teenager.

Aiden is the smartest child in the world!

I think so anyway. He recently got an award in school for great reading and math skills. Atta boy!

With the principal:


There is no more, ignore the click. You can, however, click the pics to make them bigger (still proud of that).

First day of first grade

Aiden started first grade this week. He was a bit apprehensive, but he's really enjoyed it so far. His teacher is very nice, and he's really getting a kick out of eating in the cafeteria and playing on the "big kid" playground. He walks by the kindergarten and says, "there are the little kids!" which made me laugh.

Just a few pics (I left my camera in the truck when Scott went to work so I had to buy a disposable and need to get it developed; these are from after he got home); no jump, so ignore the "click!"

With a school buddy:

Yearly pic:


Second day outfit from my mom:

Soccer!

Aiden has started playing soccer! He's absolutely terrible :P, but he loves it so much. I managed to get some pictures of practice this past week, and tomorrow I'll have more as it's his first game! His team is called the Red Dragons.

Clone Trooper photo shoot

Aiden just got a Clone Trooper helmet, and decided one night he wanted to do a photo shoot with it. I have a feeling I'll be using these to pull out when he brings dates over some day.

I honestly was rolling on the floor laughing by the end.

Bonus! Flipping video

I had forgotten I took this! After the jump, since it stretches past the text box.

Summer fun

The weather's been really great lately, so we've been outside a lot on my days off this week.
We were at the pool yesterday, and Aiden randomly decided that he should start back flipping off the edge of the pool. I was nervous, but he loved it!

A few more from the pool:





Today we took a walk to the park by our house.









If this great weather holds out, I think well head for some beach time tomorrow. I've been having a lot of fun getting pummeled in the big waves lately, and last week we saw a pod of dolphins when we were out swimming, but I didn't have my camera! So I really want to try to find some again and get some pictures.

Celebration at the park

I had to work on the Fourth, but I did manage to take an hour long lunch and walk with Aiden to our local celebration, which was luckily only about two blocks from us.

We managed to squeeze in a few rides in our hour, plus he got to play water tag, which he loved:







He needs a haircut XD.

My first shirt reconstruction

I've been getting into sewing lately, in particular reconstructing old items like t-shirts that I already have. I just got my first sewing machine, and here is my very first t-shirt surgery:

Before:

And after! Please ignore my weird pose and facial expression; it's harder than you think to get a decent mirror shot of clothes. :P



Today I made Aiden a ninja set out of scraps:





And finally, my darling new sewing machine:



More craft posts to come!