We Made it....Graduation Day!

I think that I may be saving my tears for San Jose.  

Gabrielle Ollie Aiden graduated from Evanston Township High School today 

(and not one tear was shed by momma Tracy)!

There was no need to cry today.  It was all a "proud moment" day.  

Couldn't have made it without you, Ms. Graham!

I am not only proud of Gabby and all of her High School accomplishments over the past 4 years, but I am also proud of Eric and I and how we have worked tirelessly to raise this amazing kid.  

18 years ago, we had no idea what we were doing.  We were young, full of energy and full of crazy ideas about what  kind of parents we were going to be.  Well, one kid down and one to go...and we've finally got the hang of this parenting thing.  For us it's not the kind of parents we want to be, but the kind of people we want our children to become.  We have strived to raise smart, loving, generous, risk taking, assertive young women.  We want them to feel comfortable about the girls that they are and the women they will become in the world.  We want they to follow their hearts, not follow the crowd.  We want them to be humble and grateful for all they have, especially the loving and supportive family and friends that they have.

The Gabby Aiden Fan-Club @ graduation!

Congratulations to Gabrielle.  We are so proud of you and the young woman that you have become.  

Enjoy your journey as to head off to San Jose State University!

Class of 2013!

The Last Day

Gabby received a 4 year ETHS Orchestra Award

The last day of Gabby's high school career was yesterday!  

The last day of high school ended with a VERY LONG last Orchestra concert.  

Gabby started out playing the flute in 4th grade (for 1 day).  On the first day of orchestra, she discovered that every other girl in 4th grade was playing the flute too!  In classic "Gabby style", never wanting to follow the crowd, she switched to the Cello.  After breaking two previous Cello's (neither break was her fault, one got jumped on and the other got run over by a cart) Gabby found a way too big Cello that she loved.  She eventually grew into it and hasn't strayed away from it.

After 9 years of playing the Cello, Gabby has officially retired from the beautiful instrument that collects lots of dust in our dining room:)

Another Senior moment and still no tears!

Graduation...June 9th!

Senior Prom

Gabby made it home safe and sound from Senior Prom this morning at 3:06 am 

(I know because I looked right at the clock when I heard her key in the door).  

We made it though the prom season!  No fights, no attitude, no drama and no tears (from mom at least).  As far as I'm concerned, Gabby was calm, confident and beautiful for her big Senior Prom day.

The family came to see Gabby off and cheer her on, as she is the first grand daughter and niece to go to prom in our Aiden clan.  

Eric, the best dad ever, presented Gabby with a corsage.  

No date necessary, just a bunch of friends, loading into the party bus limo, off to enjoy the festive night and each others good company.

After taking 100's of pictures, we said goodbye and waved off the party limo bus.  

A deep sigh of relief and the feeling of pride came over us as Eric and I gave each other a 

high-five...we did a good job so far as parents.  

Now on to the next senior moment!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

The Aiden girls are blessed.  

We have managed to surround ourselves with a magnificent group of women who constantly love, support, encourage and inspire us.  

Not all of these women are mothers, but it doesn't make them any less nurturing, they have loved my children (and me) unconditionally.    

Many are my colleagues that continue to help me learn and grow in my profession and listen patiently to my mothering stories.  

Many are mothers of others, that have taken my girls under their wings, carpooled them to numerous places, welcomed them into their homes and looked after them as if they were their own.  

Some are teachers, grandmothers, mothers, friends and neighbors.  

All of these women have made a profound difference in our lives.  

All of these women are powerful, strong, wise women, who have a place in our hearts and will be forever in our memories.

For your contributions to our lives we say...

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Been A While

I apologize.  It's been a while since my last post.  Life in the Aiden household has been crazy, busy and moving towards many transitions in our lives.

Let's see...my last post was in April, for Sinobia's Birthday.  She's 13 and totally a teenager.  Teenage-hood is what she has been living for; sassy, attitude, brooding, wanting to be independent, and challenging authority!

So, what has been going on with us?

Gabby finished a 6 week run of the show at Actors Gymnasium, Skooled. After being at the gym since she was 8 years old, this was her last show (off to college next year).  despite the fact that she re-sprained her ankle 2 days before the opening of the show, it was a fantastic run for her.   What was most special for her, was the support she received from many her friends and family as they all came out to see the show (her Nana flew in from Louisiana to see the closing show).

Sinobia scored a part as a pirate in the Chute Middle School musical production of Peter Pan.  These musicals are a big deal, as they only happen every 3 years, so you have 1 chance to do it during your middle school career.  What was even more special about this production is that it was Mrs. Gloria Bond-Clunie's (our very famous Drama Teacher at Chute) last musical, since she is retiring from Chute this year.  Of course, Sinobia embraced the role as a pirate and gave it her Sinobia touch.  It was fun to watch her perform on stage with the cast (I saw it twice), I could tell that she was having the time of her life!

Yipee!!!  Gabby got her braces off at the end of April.  We insisted with her orthodontist that they needed to be off for prom.  It was a bit of a struggle with him, since he is a perfectionist, but he granted her Senior wish.  I have pictures of the day she got her braces on and wanted to do a before and after post, but Gabby was totally against that idea.

We survived college season!  What a stressful time.  I'm not sure if having college options is a good thing, as it made Gabby's decision agonizing.  This is the most important decision she has had to make in her 18 years of life, and she took the process seriously.  After plenty of research, college visits and considering locations and weather, a decision was made....San Jose State University in California!

Sinobia continues to swim several times a week and also made it on the Chute soccer team.  This time of year is busy for her when she is trying to juggle 2 different sports in the same season.  She hasn't slowed down and is enjoying going from the grassy field to the cold pool, sometimes all in one day.

Prom is coming up and then the Class of 2013 Graduation.  No time to stop and breathe, we are moving through life at warp speed.  And Sinobia?  She's sitting back and waiting for the day when she will be the "only child" of the house:)

I'm A Teenager Now!

Today, April 11th, 2013 is Sinobia Carrie Aiden's Birthday!

Sinobia is turning 13 today.  She is officially a teenager!  Although, to Eric and I, it feels as if she was born a teenager.  As much as we love and adore our Sinobia, nothing comes easy with her, she makes each day special, unique and worth living for.

In honor of Sinobia's birthday, I was going to list 13 Things about Sinobia you have always wanted to know, but went way past 13, so here it goes...

Facts About Sinobia's 13 Years Of Life

1. Sinobia walked at 9 months old.
2. Sinobia gave up breast feeding at 3 months old and decided she wanted food (baby food).
3. Sinobia was potty trained by 2 years old.
4. When Sinobia was 5 years old, she saw our neighbor, Doug, riding his bike without training wheels one day and insisted that she learn to ride without hers too.  She learned how to ride a 2 wheeler that day!
5. Sinobia's favorite drinks as a little kids were prune juice and chocolate milk.
6. Her favorite food now is Chipotle (guess what's for dinner tonight).
7. When Sinobia was little she wanted to be an animal trainer, then a pop star and now she wants to be a journalist.
8. Sinobia was bit by our pet turtle (Max) when she was 3 years old.  I had to pry his mouth open to get him to let her go.
9. Sinobia cried everyday for 1/2 the year when she was in kindergarten.
10. Sinobia speaks Spanish (a little).
11. It took Sinobia a REALLY long time to learn how to swim, but now she is a kick-ass swimmer.
12. Sinobia is also a soccer player.
13. On the weekends, Sinobia likes to watch Dance Moms, The Voice and The Kardashians.
14. Sinobia is a 1 Direction fan!
15. Sinobia has a pretty good sense of humor.  She's funny!
16. If you don't want an honest answer, don't ask Sinobia!  She has no filter and will tell you like it is!
17. Sinobia is always the one that will just say what everyone else in the room is really thinking:)
18. Sinobia has to be reminded to take the dog outside every day.
19. Sinobia's favorite treat is Flammin' Hot Cheetos.
20. Sinobia is loved and cherished very much by her entire family!

Happy Birthday Sinobia!

Swim Marathon 2013

Seven days of no swimming makes one weak. 

 ~Author Unknown

This year Sinobia participated in 18th annual Flying Fish Swim Marathon, a one hour continuous swim, with her swim team.  It is her 4th year being a part of this event.  Her coaches estimated that she could swim 110 lengths in an hour. She swam 138 lengths in an hour! 

(These funds help the YWCA continue to provide healthy aquatic programming, provide financial assistance to families who cannot afford the cost of swim lessons or swim team participation, and support YWCA services in the areas domestic violence and violence prevention.)

I love this event.  This is Sinobia's moment to shine.  You see, big sister Gabrielle counts her laps for her every year.  Each year she continues to be amazed at what a great swimmer her sister is.  Each year Gabby is in awe at the strength and stamina that little sister Sinobia has.  This is the one thing Sinobia can kick her sister's butt at!  She rules the pool in our family!

There is still time to sponsor Sinobia and her Swim Marathon cause (you have until February 25th).  The YWCA has made it so easy this year, they set up web pages for each kid, so you can click on the link below, it will take you straight to Sinobia's web page, where you can make a donation (and/or see her cute picture).  

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support YWCA - Evanston/North Shore

Thank you to everyone who has helped her meet (and possibly exceed) her goal!

The Beginning Of The End

Seniors Rule!

Thursday night was "Senior Night" for Evanston's Gymnastics team.  This is the time of the season, where they take time to celebrate the Seniors on the team.  

As I sat in the stands with another Senior mom (shout out to Linda!), we reminisced about our very first Senior Night, 4 years ago when our girls started on Junior Varsity as Freshman.  The Senior girls on Varsity seemed so big, so old, so mature to us back then.  Being the parent of a Senior seemed so far away for us.  Now our girls are the Seniors!

And there we were on Thursday, good friends now.  4 years of chatting, joking,  long meets and those hard benches.  The injured back, knees, ankles, broken elbow, broken toes, many hospital visits, Dr. visits and physical therapy sessions.  The proud Gymnastic Mom moments.  It all happened so fast.

So, Thursday's Senior Night was the first of what may be a lot of "Senior Year" moments.  It was the beginning of the end of Gabby's high school career.  I knew this would sneak up on me.  I was prepared...no tears.  There will plenty of time for tears in the next few months.

Happy New Year!

Sinobia is back from Italy safe and sound.  I missed her...a lot.  She enjoyed her trip and has not stopped talking about all of her adventures and cultural experiences abroad.  I am so pleased that she soaked up every little detail of this trip.  She has been talking about art, architecture, food, her bargaining skills at the market and what it feels like to be and American/African-American outside of the United States.  

Eric and I took bets on what would be the first thing she would want when she got off the plane...Chipotle!  We were right, she declared she was done with pasta and pizza for a little while and wanted to head straight to Chipotle:)  

2013 is here and we will be heading back to work and school in a few days.  

I cried New Years Eve.  It was the first time that Eric and I were without both of our kids ringing in the New Year.  Since Gabby has gotten older, there have been a few years where she has gone out with friends, but this year there was no Gabby or Sinobia to toast in the New Year with.  Eric and I settled in for a movie and then drank our sparkling cider together at midnight...without our girls.

2013 may be filled with a few teary-eyed moments.  Our girls are getting big; growing up.  They are becoming more independent, as we have raised them to be.  There will be more moments when they choose to be with their friends or venture off without us.  Gabby will be graduating from high school in a few months and going off to college.  Sinobia wants to go to "sleep-away" camp this year.  My baby girls are doing exactly what we wanted them to do...be adventurous,  be independent,  be resilient, seize opportunities and enjoy life!  

What am I crying about then?  I am going to have to spend a good part of 2013 learning what it means to be a parent of older children.  They need me less and less each day.  My parental job description is changing each day as they grow older.  I don't do well with change.  I like it when things stay the same.  Consistency works well for me.  I'm all about the routines and my routines are changing.  I am going to need to do some growing myself.  It's going to be difficult, but I knew this time would come.  

This is all good stuff.  We are all evolving in the Aiden house.  We'll grow together and support each other as we have been doing.  We will cheer each other on, yell at each other and cry together.  We will continue to be who we are, just different...a little older and a little wiser, but still full of love for each other.

Happy New Year!

May 2013 be filled with good health, happiness and love for everyone!

Time Flies...

December 29, 2012.  Gabrielle Ollie Aiden is 18 years old today.  It seems like yesterday that we celebrated her first birthday...

and sent her to school for her first day of Kindergarten...

In a few months she will be leaving home to go away to college...time flies.

I remember every second of these past 18 years.  They have been beautiful, amazing, challenging and yet rewarding.  They have been filled with love and the overwhelming urge hold her in my arms and keep her with me forever, while at the same time not being able to wait until she is out of my house.

I remember deciding that we wanted to have children.  I remember the day I found out I was pregnant. I remember the day she was born.  Time flies.

I remember taking her to the emergency room at 3 days old, thinking she was breathing funny, only to find out that she was snoring!

I remember her not going to sleep at night, as a baby, until Eric came home from work and would lay her on his chest as they "chilled-out" on the couch.

I remember her Christening and everyone that was there.

I remember her first steps.  I remember her first trip to the park.  I remember her first word, "da-da".  I remember the first solid food I fed her, which were green beans.

I remember her first Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Halloween. Her first girl scout camping trip, sleepover and trip to the principals office.  I remember her loosing her first tooth and all those that came out after (I saved them all).

I remember ballet at 3 years old, ice skating at 5, gymnastics at 7, actors gymnasium at 8 and her very first horseback riding competition.

I remember the first time she told us she wanted to be a big sister.  I remember the first time she met Sinobia in the hospital, the first time she held her and first time she decided she had changed her mind about having a baby in the house.  Time flies.

I remember her first day of daycare (and all of my tears), kindergarten graduation (more tears), 5th grade graduation (tears), 8th grade graduation (even more tears) and her first day of high school (tears, tears, tears).

I remember everyone who has loved her, cared for her, nurtured her and protected her over these amazing 18 years.  Time flies.

 

 

I remember every birthday for the past 18 years.

Yes, I remember the not so great things, those moments are just as much a part of my memories as all the the rest.  I will remember the next 18 years too, good and bad.  I will soak up each memory and tuck it away in my heart and mind.  My heart will continue to burst at the seams, full of the love that I have for my Gabby Ollie.

Time flies.

Happy 18th Birthday Gabby!