Dates with an Angel

I am sure my boys have no idea how lucky they are. Our wonderful Angel decided before she went back to school she would take them each out on a date. HOW FUN!
The boys were all really excited and looked forward to "their day" with much enthusiasm. In fact at the end of the week there were a couple who asked to go again. It's just fun to spend time with our Angel. I would have liked some time with her too. (I did get an hour or so the day before she left, so I guess I can't complain.)
She took one of the boys out each day for six days. What a fun week for my boys. The best part was the fact that she really took into consideration what each of the boys would like, and really made the dates special for them. She is so cool!
So Monday night she took out Star. It really was a nice thing for him. The demands on his time lately have been really stressful. With school, scouts, the play, church, lessons, etc...it was so great for him to go out and just have fun for a while. They went bowling, had some dinner there at the alley and had a great time. I think it was a much needed night for our Star.
Tuesday she took Puppy. They went to paint. (The nice part about that was that I got a present out of the date. A new Gravy Boat! Whahoo. Thanks Puppy.) He still is talking about how he got to go painting with our Angel. He also got to go over to her house for some dinner . (Just him... A HUGE-LY COOL event in his mind.)

Wednesday Sage doesn't have school, so they went during the day to a museum just for kids. HE LOVED IT. He got to play, and dress up, and play some more. I think he must have been in heaven. This kid doesn't nap often, but he napped all the way home and then slept like a baby that night as well. He had SO much fun!

A lot of thought had to go into EZ's date. He is one tough customer. If he doesn't like something he will tell you straight to your face he wants to go home now! I knew he needed a new winter scarf and suggested they go find one he liked and then Angel had a plan. They went to the mall and ended up spending quite a lot of time there. Angel was great, instead of trying to lead him she followed. He went in a ton of stores, not only stores that would have scarfs but a ton of others as well, and some he just walked in simply to walk in and then out again. He stopped at the play area a couple of times and finally the last store they were going to go to they found a scarf. YEA! THEN...EZ loves their convertible... So, (even though it is the dead of winter) they drove with the top down through the County's Christmas light display. HE LOVED IT! And even insisted they drive with the top down on the way home. Needless to say they were all Popsicles, but he sure had fun.

It wasn't hard to decide what to do with Spike. CD shopping!!! I think in his mind that is the best thing in the world. Angel took him to the book store and they had some goodies there, then she bought him 2 CD's. And then they went to another store and found another one (from Grandma and Grandpa Crimson). He bought these three CD's. He is one happy guy.

Last...but definitely not least...Blue Tiger. One of our local fire departments has a seasonal display of model train towns. They went to see the trains. (He was thinking he was going to have to ride a train and kept asking Angel to make sure they didn't do anything that would go too fast. ~so cute~) They also went to the store and bought a Pokemon toy (the greatest thing in the world) and went back to her house for a little Pokemon game. Whahoo!

So, that was my boys week with an Angel. My how we do miss her when she is gone. Fortunately she knows how to make great memories. Thanks Angel! We love you!

Fun Day

We had an awesome day today. We started out going to see Tangled. How fun!

Then we went and did some music lessons followed by family pictures and ice-cream. (May I just say that I have the coolest friend in the whole world. I called her up last night and asked her to come do some pics for us today. She was not only willing but happy to do so. She is wonderful!) These were two of my favorite pics. No, we're not putting them on our Christmas cards, but I am posting them here. I hope they make everyone happy!

Thanksgiving to my Mom and Dad

It's Thanksgiving Eve...well, no not any more... it's after midnight.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Today...er... yesterday and today I did two things. One thanks to my Dad, the other thanks to my Mom.
Daddy, guess what I did all by myself. Yes it's the back-splash for my new kitchen. Even though you taught me how to do tile, I have never done it alone. You have always been there in the past to walk me through the hard cuts and measuring and such. I missed you terribly and thought of you throughout the whole process. I still need to grout, but the tile is all in and I feel like it came out beautifully. YEA! Thanks for being a great teacher. (Check out my edge on the long wall. It started out with perfect halves on one side and ended with whole tiles on the other. Good planning or just luck? Perhaps it was just a good teacher...) I am especially pleased with my edging. You know me I can't do it all boring and blah. So I made it pretty. The cuts weren't as hard as I thought they would be, and they sure make it fun. I think I need to replace the blade on my tile cutter. Remember how we debated about buying it? It's been worth every cent we paid for it.
Mom, guess what I did. I made pie. Like real pie from scratch. And I couldn't resist making little ones for Dad and the boys, I think I will even let them eat them for breakfast...hey, it's a vegetable! Yes it's aunties crust recipe. (Thank you again for making me that cookbook, I love it and when I want to do some REAL cooking I always pull it out first. I'm also using one of your salad recipes, and of course your stuffing.) I also have an apple pie in the oven right now. It doesn't look as cool as yours always do, but it's from scratch. I can't compare with the master, but I love that you gave me the tools to at least come close.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. I'm thinking of you both in so many ways today!

My Birthday Present

It's almost done! YEA! My whole house is a disaster area, all aside from the kitchen that is. This is what our living room/dining room has looked like the last few days. And there are boxes of dishes and food everywhere. I feel like I can't get anything done simply because the kitchen is in transition. Proof that the kitchen is indeed the heart of the house.I wish I could get better pics, but the space in the kitchen in REALLY tight. Those of you who have been in my kitchen know what I am talking about. It's called a galley kitchen. In other words...tiny! But it sure is beautiful. Here is the microwave and a sample of the cupboards. They have an antique finish I just love. I wish you could see it better in the pics. You'll just have to take my word for it. Here is my stove, some drawers and my beautiful granite counter top. The color is just yummy to me.

My cool faucet. I love these kinds of things, different and just fun! It's on the left side of my "D" shaped sink.

And last for today is my beautiful new light. I hated that old rectangular florescent thing. I love this. It's just pretty.

We're so lucky!

The other day we were all together somewhere and someone commented on all of our boys. When we got in the car Blue Tiger said, "I think our family is the luckiest family in the world."
I asked him why he thought that.
"There are three reasons. Because we have all boys in our family, because we are Christians, and because we get to stand in a different place in the carpool line at school." (This is because often I am being pulled to the side of the carpool lane to have parent/teacher conferences on a regular basis. I didn't realize it was a cool thing for the boys.)
Then last night he told me. "We have so many blessings, we don't have any more room to receive them."
YEA Blue Tiger. I am grateful that I am lucky enough to have you as my son.

The Moon

EZ has been studying the moon in science class. We have been keeping a record of what the moon looks like (at least on the days/nights that we can see it). I always have to look up in his notes or ask the older boys which way is waxing and which is waning. I told them yesterday that I just needed a song or something that would help me to remember. So Star and Blue Tiger came up with one for me.
(It's to the tune of Jingle Bells.)
Waxing's on the right, waning's on the left,
These are phases of the moon you'd better not forget.
Oh moon phases, moon phases,
they are really great.
Oh what fun it is to learn how the sun affects us....
(or something like that.)
The funny part is...it really did help. I can remember now that waxing is on the right and waning is on the left. Too funny.

Colors

A good friend of mine introduced me to this gem of a song this week. It's called 'Colors' and it's by April Smith and the Great Picture Show. I simply love it and had to share!

A little panicked

And thus it begins.

This morning I have the kitchen cleared out and have moved a bunch of the living room furniture so our workers would have some space for work stuff.

How could I have not prepared my boys for this huge change? We had talked about getting a new kitchen, but I didn't prepare them for the fact that it would take several days or that everything would be moved while the new kitchen was being installed.

So...this morning EZ kind of did a little freak out and then focused on one very visible thing.The microwave in the living room. I told him it was just for a few days until we got our new one. WRONG THING TO SAY!

He doesn't exactly like "new". We moved into our new church house several months ago and he still tells me how he doesn't like the "new church".

He found a little step stool to sit on and told me he was going to sit and watch it. (I think to protect it from being taken away.) You can tell exactly how he feels by the look on his face.When Puppy heard us talking about the new kitchen this is what he said, "But I will miss this kichen." ...I won't.

Happy Veterans Day!

To our Veterans.

We know you voluntarily serve.

We note your sacrifices.

We appreciate your time.

We thank you.

You are in our hearts.

You are in our prayers.

Happy Veterans Day.

Happy Birthday Dad

This year for Dad's birthday we did things a little differently. Dad gave each of the boys a present. Yes, it's backwards, but the boys sure loved it. (We did get gifts for Dad too.)
They each got a pair of footie PJ's. They LOVE them. Yes even the older boys love footie PJ's. I can't say I blame them. I'd probably wear them too, but I'm just not sure how my hubby would feel about me in footies...
Here they are in their new PJ's. They were SO happy. We may have to start this as a new tradition.

Autism

I got a phone call this week. It's like many others I have had in the past, but this one was a little different because of who it came from. I have dreaded it, but suspected for a while now that I would be getting it. This was the first one from a close family member.
My sister-in-law called and told me she and her sons teachers were pretty sure her son is on the spectrum. He has an appointment on the 18th with a specialist, they expect a diagnosis then. She is stressed to say the least, and in the stage we all go through when we realize that our children will not grow up the way we once thought they would.
We had a very good and candid conversation. She asked me questions. Several of the usual questions including one of my favorites and the one I get asked the most... "How do you deal with it?"
That's a good question. How do I deal with the child? How do I deal with the disorder? How do I deal with the guilt? How do I deal with the schools? How do I deal with the behaviors? How do I deal with the emotions (both mine and theirs)? What exactly is "it"?
I am very fortunate. The three of my sons who are on the spectrum are all on the more mild side. They have their issues, and I have to admit I worry about them constantly, but they are happy boys. None of them have terribly violent or destructive behaviors. They are awkward but all enjoy being social. We encourage them to learn and do things that "normal" kids do, but often find we wish we could expose them to things but worry how they would deal with the exposure. We also constantly wonder what the future holds for them.
We love watching their progression. When breakthroughs come we celebrate. When breakdowns come we try to have patience. We pray. We wish. We hope. But most importantly...we love.
They are after all children. Children of ours. And children of God.
So, how do I deal with it?
I just do my best.

BAH!

This morning EZ was panicked as he walked through the house calling for Dad.
"I need Dad! Where's Dad?"

I calmly took him aside and explained Daddy was at work.

His reply~
"But I need the I-Phone."

Sorry Dad.

More Costume pics

In addition to Elvis and Star Trek. We had Two Star Wars guys...(Blue Tiger and Star) ...a Ninja and Super Why!

Yes, a good Ninja can even kill with a shoe! ;)

Happy Halloween!

We celebrated on Saturday with playing in the fall leaves and then going to a trunk-or-treat at the church. We won't trick-or-treat tonight, but we are spending it with the Crimsons, so we know we will have plenty of fun.
We are hoping to get more pics of the boys in their costumes. But we did get this pic from a friend. (Thanks Bro F.)Rockin' Elvis and Star Trekker.

Pumpkins!

Last night we decorated our pumpkins. I don't have the boys carve them. I wouldn't mind the older boys doing it, but then the little ones would want to. I can just see Puppy with a knife. AAAAHHHHHHH! So, we use these little plastic things to make faces on them. It goes much faster and the boys always love their pumpkins.

Gosh such cute pumpkins, with such cute boys!

I don't trust my boys with my camera so Star held my pumpkin for me to take a pic. Looks just like me ;)

Pumpkin Picking

We went to a little farm close by to pick out our pumpkins for Halloween. It was a fun evening. Here are some pics.

Me and my sweetie. I was working on getting over a cold that night. I look it too. But at least I got a pic with me and my love.

Blue Tiger found one he liked right off. It's so easy to take him places. He does what he is told and he enjoys being out and about. What a great kid.

EZ found a train to play on in the playground next to the pumpkin patch. Gosh he is cute!

Puppy was one of the last ones to find one. But he found the 'perfect' pumpkin. Of course he got Baby Dog's approval before we were able to take it home.

Gosh my Star looks old. He is growing out of all of his clothes. AAHHHH!!

Spike was really happy to find a pumpkin. He wasn't too keen on the playing part afterward, but he dealt with it okay. (The ice-cream sandwiches we had helped.)

Sage on the other hand, LOVED the playing part. Lately he goes everywhere either in full Super Hero uniform or at least in his hero glasses.)

What a fun evening!

My version vs. the original.

The Original~
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread,
And whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.

My Version~
There was a young beautiful woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many cute boys she didn't know what to do.
She fed them all apples, with cheese and some bread.
She kissed them all sweetly and sent them to bed.

(I like my version best.)

WOW

I got a little email from my sweet hubby this week. I just HAD to blog one line of it.

Here is the line:
I was wrong, you were right. Save this email for future reference.

Thanks My Love! I know it was hard to say. But it is possible. ;)

Raingutter Regatta

Last Tuesday night was Blue Tiger's first Raingutter Regatta. He made such a great boat. Unfortunately, it only won two of the four times down the gutter. Anyone who knows our Tiger, knows how he handled this....poorly. He is such a perfectionist. Losing is just not something he does well. He is getting better and we are constantly working on calming techniques, but in the mean time...
Oh well. It was his first time AND he did have the best LOOKING boat. He and Dad made it a pirate ship with cannons and everything. It was fun.
Maybe next year Tiger!

Fun with a girl friend.

I just had the funnest 24 hours. Yesterday a dear friend, Kim came to town for a doctors appointment. We went right after school to pick her up at the airport. As soon as I saw her two years apart disintegrated into nothing and it was like we had never been separated. We stayed up way too late, ate way too much, and didn't get to talk nearly enough. We did get to spend time, and thanks to my ultra cool hubby watching Sage, we got to spend a great lunch alone together before I had to take her back to the airport. I can't wait until she has to come back, even if it is only for 24 hours again.