A New Year of Activites

Big things have happened this past month...Aidan started pre-school and he is in heaven. After we picked up Aidan on the first day, Avery asked me (in a not nice voice), "Why didn't you send me to a good pre-school that has lots of fun things to take home?!!" She also said that it's not fair because he gets to go to school and play and she has to work, work, work at kindergarten (I have a hard time believing that one). When we got home, she decided to bop Aidan on the back of the neck. She went to time out for the first time in AGES. I asked her why she hit her brother and she started yelling, "because I am jealous of his preschool. JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS!" Luckily she is adjusting to Aidan having a chance to go to preschool and to all the fun things he brings home everyday.

Avery and Aidan both started soccer in August. For some reason I haven't taken any pictures of Avery this season. So far she has scored 3 goals. I feel like I need to take a moment to brag about this. In any normal family, this might not be a big deal. However, have you SEEN Avery's parents? Poor Smith kids got hit with the unathletic stick...it is hereditary problem you know. These could be the only goals ever scored by kids in our family, so we were proud. Since the first few games, Avery has been playing defense and absolutely loves it. She told me that her job is more important than scoring goals because she has to protect her goal from the other team...in reality we think she likes the position better because she doesn't have to run around nearly as much.
Aidan also scored a goal. It was during his first game ever...he ran up to the ball and gave it a nice, big kick - right into the other team's goal. Mikey and I looked like idiots cheering for our kid that scored for the other team -- we were so excited that he made contact with the ball and actually kicked it! I don't think he has kicked the ball since that first game.

Avery started dance again. This year instead of her normal ballet/tap combination class, she is in a jazz competition team. Here's to Avery having more luck in her jazz class than I did when I took dance...I still have nightmares from Wanda (the dance teacher) calling me out by name to go re-do the floor exercise. "Opposite hands and feet, Natalie. No, No, No. Try it again!" So far she is loving it. Last week she couldn't wait to get home to show us the routine they are learning for the Christmas concert.


I decided to put both kids in Kindermusik this year. Both of their classes started last week. Let me just say, I think I got my money's worth last week alone. They both came home after their classes, couldn't wait to show each other to their materials, and sang with their CDs for hours...we are talking hours and hours of entertainment. Hopefully they will keep it up. I was really impressed with the teacher and her clean, clean studio, so all of us are happy!




Now on to me...I guess I should take a picture of myself and post it, but I must wait for that until after I get my hair done on Thursday. See Lucy's cute flower on her headband? Um, I made that and a bunch of others. Not only was I crafty, but they turned out quite adorable in my opinion (my crafts and decorating projects aren't always successful, hence the enthusiasm).