Painting Pottery

One of the great things about living in Charlotte is there is never a shortage of things to do. I mean honestly you could probably create tons of things to do anywhere when it comes to kids but we are lucky enough to live in a town packed with fun kid friendly things to do.  I had been wanting to take Aidan to paint pottery for some time.  They just moved the pottery studio to our neighborhood so I thought we would clear out an afternoon and head over there.  It was so much fun!  We had the whole place to our selves and we went to town.  I painted a nice platter and Aidan painted a fire truck (what else) and a monster truck.   I think Aidan may have gotten some of my creativity!

Don't laugh at my artwork. This was my finished product.  

Pottery Painted at Dish It Out

iPads and Two of My Favorite Boys

My Dad and Aidan are two peas in a pod when it comes to their iPad's. They do everything on them! Excuse the mattresses on the floor and the random massive piece of artwork in this picture. My parents are living in a rental while their FABULOUS condo is being completed and they just put pieces of their collection wherever there was room.  My mom would be mortified anyone saw where they were living right now but I couldn't not show these pictures to my readers.  I love the relationship Aidan has with my Dad. Whenever something exciting happens in his life...the first people he wants to tell are Adam and I (of course) but next on that list is Grandpa. We spend a lot of afternoons fighting because I refuse to let him call Grandpa while he is at work. 

I think it's so funny when Aidan spends the night with them, my mom sleeps in the guest room and they snuggle up in my parents bed.  So sweet! He is a Nana's boy too.  Nana was his first word and in his eyes, no one's pancakes are ever going to be as good as hers! Anyways...the iPad pics:

My Dad is most likely reading The New York Times or browsing Remodelista and Aidan is most likely watching fire trucks or working on his letters and numbers on his.

Shh! It's a Surprise

 In Feburary my Dad had a big birthday and he didn't want us to make a big deal out of it. My brothers were both gone for the weekend and Adam was working. He and my Mom had dinner at Ruth Chris and while they were out, Aidan and I planned a "surprise party". Where the two of us were the surprise! I picked up some balloons, a cake and some cupcakes for the four of us to enjoy when they got home from dinner. We parked the car down the street and hid in their house. My Dad was pleasantly surprised that his two favorite people were hiding behind his ottoman when he arrived home. We sang "Happy Birthday", enjoyed some grocery store cake (his fav) and then Aidan spent the night and they watched 102 Dalmations. It was the perfect way to celebrate.

This video is of Aidan and I watching out the kitchen window for my Mom and Dad to come down the street. Excuse the second where he tries to be silly and lick the side of my head.

 

Life Well Lived

Recently I was asked to be part of the "Life Well Lived", "Getting Happy" blogger panel.  The question this week was...

How do you teach the children in your life happiness?

I mulled and mulled and mulled over this question.  I'm not completely sure you can teach anyone happiness.

Luckily, our son seems to be incredibly happy and I'm sure I had some part in it but it took me a while to think through what I may have done to contribute to his happiness.

This is what I came up with and the best advice I could give another parent:

BE HAPPY.  

I know, it's so much easier said than done.  And you never want to constantly put on a happy face because your child won't know that other emotions exist but try you best to exude happiness.  I am a firm believer that happiness is a choice. I choose it everyday.  My husband and I laugh a lot. We're silly.  We revert to our inner child. We try to find the good in a world full of a lot of bad.  I think that is really important.  

Choose happiness and live it. 

Secondly, 

FOSTER WHAT YOUR CHILD LOVES TO DO

If we notice Aidan has a true, genuine interest in something, we jump in head first.  We learn more about it, we spend time letting him pursue it. We encourage him.  He loves to spend time outside. Everyday when he gets home from pre school, he knows I'm going to let him get an hour in out in the sunshine.  Whether I'm out there with him or watching him from the kitchen window, I know he's so content digging in the dirt or running back and forth with the dog.  He loves firetrucks.  So we take him to the fire station, we watch YouTube videos on the iPad of fire fighters, we read books about firetrucks and stations.  We pay attention to what intrigues him, to what makes him tick.

And I have to tell you, I don't know where it came from but on a daily basis Aidan says to us "I'm so happy."   I can only HOPE that I've had a little bit to do with that. 

So tell me, What are you doing to teach your child happiness? I'm curious to know!

Head over to BlogHer and participate in the conversation!

and make sure you Enter The Life Well Lived Sweepstakes!

Mom and Aidan Time

I love all the time I am getting with Aidan.  As many of you know, when Adam is home, Aidan doesn't know I exist.  We have a good time he and I. 

Don't we look alike? Yup, he's definitely mine! ; )

Bethenny Ever After

My girl crush Bethenny is back for another season! I seriously love her! Are you watching?

She and her husband Jason are so down to earth and their daughter Bryn is precious. I think they are totally relatable (minus the fact that she is a gazillionaire) and I am always laughing watching them. Except when I'm crying which happens too.  She has a lot of baggage.  Don't we all. See? Relatable.

You are missing out if you are not tuning in.
Monday nights on Bravo.  9PM Eastern

via

I stole this great photo of her from her website.

Pajamas

Since Adam is gone a lot, I try to keep him in the loop by sending him pics via iPhone of Aidan and I.   This latest one was of Aidan in a new pair of pajamas.  I don't know what's up with the goofy face but I thought it was hilarious he climed up on the toilet and asked me to snap a pic of him to send to Daddy.

PJ's-Carters