Snow day

• Jessica thought that the snow on the tree branches looked like coral reefs~

What an interesting thought! ~

• Shane and Jerry made the Snowman, but Jessica added a girls' touch!

• Shane was having so much fun, that the snowman saved him from falling over!

Stand by your Snowman!

Phunny Family!

It was very cold outside, but still we played some at the park... birrrr--- very cold!

Shane decided that he wanted to flavor his
Top Ramen noodles like, Raspberry Jello---YUCK~!

Our Daddy, wanted to be Phunny! and He was!

E coli information

Articles about E coli ~ one of these was passed on to me by my dear friend Patty--
Please, be informed, you never know when this might effect you!

http://www.k-state.edu/media/nbaf/distiller120407.html

http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/nov07/ecoli110607.html

http://www.k-state.edu/media/k-statement/vol30/102507nagaraja.html


After reading all these articles, I want to talk with more people who know more--and keep asking questions until I know all the facts!

Expectations and Perceptions

Expectations~
So far my expectation of motherhood is not what I had dreamed~
I don't have a two story house with a wrap around porch,or a white picket fence.
I haven't yet figured out how to keep the kids clean and healthy without skimping on something else. My dreams of sewing wonderful play clothes,spectacular dress-up clothes has yet to come to fruition. I try and try to feed everyone healthy and nutritious food, but most times I am rewarded with complaints, this is too spicy, I don't like this, yuck!
I want so much to have God's grace to know that I am doing only, just what I should~
I pray and pray and pledge to do more~
But the challenge is only this
to Let Go and Let God, but often times I question?
-- are my dreams expectations or only the perceptions of my hope full heart?

sent by a friend

A friend of mine, who has a dear son with ADHD, sent this to me~ And although Shane is not yet ADHD, there are many parts of the poem below that are just so true for my son.
My friend didn't write the poem, but found it through www.cafemom.com


My A.D.H.D. Child
By Tracy Nicolaus

He's bouncin' off walls, a super ball gone insane,

He runs through your world like a off-rail freight train, Interruptions are constant, tantrums galore, When it's time to do homework, he's gone, out the door.

The drama is constant, oh his foot fell asleep, He moans and he wails, the theatrics run deep, School is a nightmare, the teachers are lost,

If they only could see, he is worth the cost.

He is brighter than most, as most kids are,

And with patience and love,

I know he'll go far, But what I must take from well meaning friends

Don't let him do that.

Oh these rules that he bends.

You're not a good parent.

Your child's really rude.

His temper's Outrageous.

He has hands in his food.

He hears this and wonders,

just what's wrong with me?

I tell him, You're special, you have A.D.H.D.

Now A.D.H.D. Is a gift from above,

It teaches us grown-ups how to strengthen our love.

It helps to teach your teachers,

no two kids are the same.

You have awesome energy

that could bring you great fame.

You don't need much sleep,

you never wear down.

You're silly and funny,

when you act like a clown.

You've felt lots of pain from

what people have said,

But you pray for those people

when you go to bed.

So you try every day to make a fresh start,

For God gifted you with an extra big heart.

As I look at my child, he sees through my soul,

My heart feels like busting, as I realize my goal.

I know this boy like no one else could,

He's a blessing to me,

he's strong and he's good.

So I'll love him and guide him through the worst of the worst,

And he'll make a great man (if I don't kill him first).
I'm kidding of course 'cause I know what's to be,

When I look in his eyes, I see a reflection of me.

One hundred~

100

I am so amazed that I have gotten to 100 posts

-- Oh, the Joy!

I tried to cut and paste a pic of a hundred dollar bill-- but once again I didn't succeed! Either this computer is being difficult or I am missing something!

Last night as soon as I went to bed, I started to sneeze, and cough, Jerry and I couldn't figure out if I'm allergic to something in our room, or I have just stired up too much dust.

It feels good to be home and back to "normal" for a Saturday

• 
  
  I have dishes to do


• 
  
  I have blog posts to write


• 
  
  blogs to read


• 
  
  sewing shows on the TV via OPB


• 
  
  and planning meals for next week

Really my list should be about 100 items long,

but I do seem to do better only listing some, finishing and then making a new list!

By the way, I have been remiss-- I have yet to post about American Idol which is back...hurrah! So, stay tuned for my weekly posts about American Idol--

December 29, 2007
Join The Team - Be A Part Of The Success Of Eugene 08
The fast track to the Olympics runs through Eugene, and for ten days the eyes of the world will focus on Track Town, USA. Read more >>

The whole world is watching,American Idol!

Okay, so maybe the whole world isn't watching, American Idol, but they should be! --

Tasmanian Devil

This picture belongs at the bottom of this post,

and it is somewhat old, but still--

Thanks Grandma for the Mcd's gift certificates!

Well, I am yearning to learn

how to get clip art on to a post~

so please imagine a few cute Tasmanian devils posted

here here and here!

I finally took Shane in for his 5 year appointment with our pediatrician~
only a few months late... ooops!
ah, well...
Shane is 40 pounds--- and 42 inches tall-- what a compact package he is!
While at the Dr's Shane had to put on the ...lovely gown --it just happened to have, Taz, Tweety, and others of that sort on it.
Our Dr mentioned that Taz reminded her of Jerry-- and Shane added that Taz is his favorite, Jessica was nice enough to tell the Dr just how many things we have that are Taz.
{The fact that we have these Taz items bugs me, so I was somewhat embarrassed}
Shane didn't mind being at the Dr office but, he wasn't so sure he wanted to let the Dr examine his tummy and such. He was VERY distracted by the toys. I had to re-direct him quite a few times to get him to answer simple questions. The Dr said, hummm... a little problem with attention?-- Yup, that's my boy!

The visit seemed to be going

well... as can be expected until

the subject of shots came up and then~

Shane got upset, and having his ...dear big sister there made it a challenge--

"But, Shane I had my 5 year old shots and they were fine, "

"No, no, I want only to try the toys out...no, no, no shots for me!"

The nurse who gives the shots, has a son with special needs, so she is very good at making the process of shots go quickly.

When we were all done,

Shane commented that

"Shots, suck mom---

I only ever want to play with the toys,

no more shots for me ever!"

We ended the day by going to the library,stocking up on books,dvd's,and videos,

stopping at Mc Donald's for some small french fries and apple pies.

(Thanks to Grandma's gift certificates!)

But for Joy !

Wednesday's at our house are a little different than the rest of the week, Jessica gets out of school early and so I have to get Shane on the bus before I go to get Jessica from school. Today, there was a different bus and a different driver, when the bus got to our house the driver and I were working together to get Shane to fit into the seat belt, we ended up having him take off his coat~ After we got him settled in he kept making comments about he driver, she has gray hair and I think Shane was convinced that she was a Grandma-- she wasn't --I tried to put a positive spin on having gray hair, but Shane kept up with asking questions---{I remember when he didn't want to talk, ah, the old days!}
So, finally we got him off to school and I thought that he would work through the issues. I was wrong~
I went running out to get him off the bus, it was very cold out, and the driver just looked at me and shook her head, complete with a frown on her face, that is when I heard Shane crying.
The driver didn't know why he was upset,
but that he had cried the WHOLE, way home!
I had to carry Shane and his backpack in the house, while he was crying and acting like a limp dishrag in my arms--- He was so upset he wouldn't even answer an easy question. I sat with him on the couch for a while to see if I could use humor and some personalized attention to change his state of mind-- after 10 minutes I decided to try something else. I asked him to go to his room and finish crying, I told him I will set the timer for 10 minutes and when the timer was done he would stop crying and ..."use his words"
Finally he said something about a car that his teacher wouldn't let him have on the bus-- He takes a toy every day to school as a bus toy, but something happened today-- Tomorrow I will be talking with the teacher to see what happened.

These type of events, stress me out-- it is very draining to see your son cry and you don't know why, and trying to get him to work through his feelings is a big job.

So, at bedtime tonight I was hoping that his mood had shifted--

and I was rewarded with Joy!

He got right under the covers and snuggled down, he hugged his teddy bear and talked about the flashlight and how the bear only liked the white light and not the red~

What a sweet joyful moment that was, Oh, the Joy!

via email from Patty !

I believe whatever is in store for us will be for us.

This is the poem: Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city that has no end, Yet the days go by and weeks rush on, And before I know it, a year is gone. And I never see my old friend's face, For life is a swift and terrible race, He knows I like him just as well As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then, And now we are busy, tired men. Tired of playing a foolish game, Tired of trying to make a name. 'Tomorrow' I say! 'I will call on Jim Just to show that I'm thinking of him.' But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes, And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away, 'Here's a telegram sir,' 'Jim died today.'
And that's what we get and deserve in the end. Around the corner, a vanished friend.
Remember to always say what you mean.
If you love someone, tell them. Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
Because when you decide that it is the right time it might be too late. Seize the day. Never have regrets And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today

Please know that I appreciate all of you who read and comment on this blog!

This is what we saw when we arrived in Seattle

This is the view looking out my window on the flight from Seattle to Oakland,
it was SO, loud sitting next to the engine.

I hope you can read the words that were printed on the airplane,
right next to the engine and propeller--
it really is amazing all the warning signs
there are for things that you would think would be common sense!

A few pictures from the start of the trip

This is our plane that we flew out of Eugene on, into Seattle. Small but cute .

I guess that when you puke in this bag, your seat is officially occupied?
Well, I didn't puke, but I sure kept the seat, ummm... occupied!

They call this a snack~ yeah right!

Staying Alive... ~

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Children of all ages~

My mother and I have returned,

we survived,

it was a Lovely trip but

Now we are home

and the new week has just begun!~

I only took 49 pictures so stay tuned for a post full of pictures!

I think a few people who know the whole story might read this,so

I will attempt to keep the voices in my head from taking over

and adding a ton of obnoxious comments that might anger and annoy some!

The weather in California was so beautiful, the vistas were spectacular, and the plane rides-- well ---

Just ask my mom... I was "entertaining...." never a dull moment with me... maybe a sharp word or two, maybe a bad smell (TUNA)

conversation was full of "super cool "; exclamations!

And getting patted down by a security guard in Oakland that was about the size of a garden gnome was... Funny! -- really it was kinda funny!

Getting to the airport was well... ummm... I am so glad my Mom only drives cars!

Did you know, that if someone buys you an airplane ticket, you must have the spelling of the travelers' name correct, or they cannot fly?

Yup... thanks to the Lovely Patriot Act that is soooooo special, I almost didn't get to go on my first plane ride!

But, my dear husband saved the day... I tell ya, it is a good thing to put your marriage certificate on the wall for all to see-- that way when you need it -- you have it!

It is really late, and I am ready to go snuggle up with my hubby, so untill I find some more time to update all of you this will have to hold you OVER!

Check back soon for more dramatic updates!

Letters with cars, and freaky faces~

Shane wrote the letters i t r r in cars this morning~
Rather creative I think!

These faces are from the chart that we forget to use for chores, I only hope that tomorrow when my Mom,and I are on the airplane, neither of us ends up looking like that!

What is the purpose?

First the train sets them up

Then Shane checks out the line~

Some start to fall...

And now he's sad, Mommy said, "Clean up, Clean up!"

What I really want to know is why?,

Why does the train set the dominos up and then drive around aimlessly?

What is the purpose of this "toy" ?

if it's to annoy the ....Mom,

then it's work

IS DONE!

Christmas is over...

Well...

We travelled over the hills,thru the snow, and I guess you could even say we went thru the woods!

I would of taken pictures of where we were, and the snow,

but once we got there, I just wanted to stay in the warm cosy house!

The kids got so many things, I gathered them all together for a picture~

Shane got a whole box, stuffed full of some super nice hand-me-downs--complete with Spiderman gear, and even a Harley Davidson long-sleeved T-shirt, there was even some camo-PJ's with Scooobbbyyy DO! on them, my son is happy!

I was feeling very blessed before we went to see the family, and now my cup is overflowing! I would like to thank the person who gave my son a train that has 100 pieces, I mean I would really like to beat you very much....!!!!!

If I figure out who you are, I will attempt to re-gift it back!

Honestly we came away happy,

even the extra long way home,(we took the Long Way Home...)

wasn't as bad as it could of been!

I got some great reading material, from my cousin with the "big brain..." {I hope she reads this post and comments...!LOL}

On our way out to the car, Jessica realized that there was a "real live horse" in the yard

(My Uncle and Aunt even have a sign with a name at the entrance to their property !)

--- I guess she didn't see it thru the snow when we first arrived !

I got to use my power scissors to open some of the stuff....Oh, the Joy!

I even came home with a picture of my dear grandparents from their wedding~

Jessica saw the picture and said, "Wow, that looks old, like before they had TV!"

I didn't stop to explain how long ago the picture was taken,{Christmas Eve 1939}

but I instead I smiled at the moment.. Grandma passed in 1992, and Grandpa passed in 2001~ They were such great people, I'm sad they are not still living, but I just know that God has them working as angels somewhere!

Soon the kids will be back to school, My mother and I will travel via airplane to California, and I will be starting some new sewing projects, I can't wait to find a reason to use the power scissors ....AGAIN! Oh the Joy!

I do have to say, that even though I left home for the day-- it is still some-what clean!

What a concept!
(Acorrding to spell check, thru,Spiderman, and camo-Pj's are all spelled wrong--- well... I don't care! thuuupppptt!! (I stuck my tongue out and made a noise!LOL)

Sorry if that offends any of you readers!

Stop,Light,Louder than Words!

While cleaning, I found this STOP sign in a closet, leftover from our Step-son who has since moved on~ It made me STOP and think about how I travel though my life as a Mom

• Am I following the rules?


• Am I enjoying the trip?

Am I taking the time to notice the little things,

good or bad and see how important they are?
I am not sure how to move these pictures around to make this the right way, so just get some exercise and turn your head! Jessica is playing with a wind-up flashlight, and singing, "This little light of mine,I'm gonna make it shine"

Shane was playing a game,with some balls~ that he made up just for himself, Jessica was still singing and winding the light.

I got the opportunity to read Jenny McCarthy's Louder Than Words.

I read it in one afternoon, with tears and laughs.Such a beautiful story, written in a very open and very honest format. It was as if your best girlfriend, who just happened to be a sex-object learned how to change her life to create a better life for her special-needs child!

WOW!

There were things in the book that I have said myself, maybe not out loud but, still screamed inside my head~

I recommend this book for all new mothers, not to scare you, but to see that you have the power to change yourself and by doing that you can be a positive change in your child and their lives.

First, Then~{first pick-up the toys then, you can have snack}

is something I learned from ECCares, Jenny mentions it also,

why is this a concept that isn't shouted from the roof-tops?

I learned it I use it often, it even works on my husband!

There has been a lot more going on around here,

but these were the things that I just felt needed to be shared!