I think I learned a lesson!

Yesterday -- Jerry the kids and I were at home waiting,waiting...
 to hear if a baby was born.-- finally it was
(a beautiful baby girl 7 pound 2 ounces and I think 21inches long!)
[Lynn and Debbie are now the proud grandparents to their 5th grandchild!]
 We hopped in the car to drive to the show/gig that Jerry's band Paradox was performing at.

We knew we were going to be at someones' house but we had no idea if it would be kid friendly or not. When we got to the house~ there were other kids that Jessica was happy to play with in the large backyard-- Shane played for a short time in the back yard, but then he found a playroom/bedroom and he was --- shall we say in thrall?   The room was at the back of the house, and the window was part way open ...so he got to hear the band but he didn't have to be outside with all the other people and kids. 

Part of me wanted Shane to come outside and interact with the other kids-- but part of me realized that he was very happy playing by himself.

Towards the very end of the evening, Jessica was able to convince Shane to come outside-- I think she used the lure of cake! -- Anyway -- Shane came outside -- The band was playing and Shane was singing along -- but he would let out a high pitched scream every so often-- complaining that the band was TOO loud.          I thought about getting our ear protection from the truck, but I knew the guys were almost done. Because of my foot being in the boot, I stayed sitting-- normally I would of gone over and tried to talk with Shane-- Eventually-- Shane came over and complained to me that it was too loud... I asked Shane if he wanted to "plug into the ipod"-- and he said yes...  I got him the ipod and it was SO AWESOME to see him ~ he was able to be apart of the gathering but he wasn't crashing or bashing into anyone, or anything! --

I wanted to get some pictures or video of the kids dancing-- but I didn't~ wah...wah...
I would of had to, borrow the keys from Jerry, then navigate the dark to the truck and find my camera --
The band was so loud that I don't know that the video would of been fun to watch anyway--

Ah, well... it was LOVELY to get out of the house and see other things and talk with other people-- Because all the guys and their wives in the band have other "real" jobs-- we all don't often get the opportunity to just talk. This birthday party was for Lynn's sister and so it was less of a show.... and more like a relaxed gathering/celebration.-- It really was a treat to just hang out and talk with the women, and even some of the men... :)      So, often Jerry's band is performs at a bar -- or where there is alot of intoxicated people-- .

My lesson I learned yesterday: bring ipod... and be happy! :)

Jerry's band Paradox.. at a birthday party

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Lynn... the leader of our Band... (Jerry took all these pictures and I edited what I could ... but they are still more blurry than I could fix)

This is the set up for the show... Lynn is the lead guitairst, Ivan is the bassist in the leather vest, and Perry is back working on setting up his drums. Usually we have another guitair player, James-- but he has a hard time commiting to coming to shows..


Grrr.... I am not very skilled with editing this post today, when adding pictures I try to add captions and then when I preview they dissapear!  And I am unable to post words that are not in caption size...
I must read more diections... 

Me.... --not my best side..

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This is Debbie, Lynn's wife of many decades.... she's amazing!

Jessica's 9th Birthday Party!

Jerry was nice enough to light the candle for Jessica twice... the wind blew it out both times! --- (Thanks to Aunt Sue for bringing the candle,the lighter and the juice boxes and water!)

Look at all the kidlets....calmly eating their cupcakes... awwww Such a good group of kids! There were not tears and no fighting that I saw !

We were finally home, and Jerry was being wacky... he only had about 4 hours sleep....

We ate dinner out, Shane told Jessica..."Come, quick I found a four leaf clover... "

Jessica... said with only a bit of sarcasm "Uh, no Shane that's a Rhody..."

Jessica pulled out her planting supplies and got right to work... I wanted proof that I had been with her,celebrating her birthday-- but I wanted to hide behind the tree...

I have to take a moment and thank those who did some behind the scenes helping-- Katie for the ice, Debbie for sending Lynn,(I hope Lynn gets better soon!) Pam and Jessica for baking the cupcakes, Danni for picking up and bringing My mother in law, and Aunt Sue for being my "Don't worry about it I'll take care of it gal !" Thanks to Alex's mom who brought a gift card even though Alex was grounded.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Hutch for coming with Bitsy all the way from Roseburg, Thanks to Jasmine and the kids... who are SUPER cute and SUPER well behaved for coming...

I was teasing one of the kids ~ :)

"I used to tease you and you would get mad... now I tease you and you don't get mad..."

"Yeah, my Dad told me to keep control of my anger!"

love that honesty!

Thanks to Betsy and her mom for the great and fun gift of a zuzu pet.

Terry,Hop and Bella Mia-- it was SO very nice to see you all-- good thing you made it clear that Bella was your dog-- I think Jessica was ready to take her home!

Thank you to Stacey who kept her sick kiddo's home-- I'll bring your thank you bags by when you are well... or I'll drop them off and try not to get your sickness! :) get better soon!

I hope I didn't forget anyone... Each of you helped to make this day easier... Thanks!

Jessica will be creating your thank you cards tomorrow!

Date night, and a Cross the road~

My sweet, wonderful husband, asked if our friends' The Primes would watch our kids overnight, so that Jerry and I could go to his company dinner party and then out to karaoke. The Primes' were happy to have my two kids, and also their daughter and her three-- it ended up being a full house! Shane and Jessica did a decent job of behaving themselves, when we got home today I had them write a thank you note.

Jerry and I went to the dinner, we sat at the table that we always seem to choose--dinner was good but a bit on the cold side. Then there were a few speeches about how the company is doing and what the future plans will be. A few employee's have been at Grain Millers for 10 years so they received a SEIKO watch,and one received a TAG HAUER watch,for being with the company for 20 years. (Jerry already has his SEIKO and TAG HAUER, he has been with the company since 1988!)

In the past the company has purchased a bunch of gifts (25 or so) and then they have drawn names, the employee's would come up and get their gift, then others could steal but only when their name was called. This year they only had maybe 15 gifts-- they choose names -- the theme was "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" Jerry's name was called and -- guess what he got ? ....

It's very skinny,black and sexy/techy -- a new 16GB iPod NANO...

my LOVELY husband was nice enough to give it to , ME!

I had been asking (begging) for something to listen to music on, so that I could have music and motivation to walk to--- I am so happy that my husband heard me...

(He does plan to buy another music player -- for himself but maybe not as high quality)

After dinner we came home dropped off the iPod and then we visited my friend Patty for karaoke-- Jerry had to work this morning so we stayed long enough for Jerry to sing two songs and then we came home.

It was simply,lovely to be out with my husband, my friend Patty was teasing me that I was very mushy with Jerry-- awwww -- it was nice pretending that we were once again dating and that only each other mattered!

On the way home from picking up the kids , I looked over to see the shadow of a cross on a pile of dirt or bark-a-mulch?---

I thought it was really cool to see the cross in shadow and then to see the steam rising all around it-- When I was naming the picture,

I thought to myself how much

a play on words the description of this picture is...

A cross -- on the side of the road

Across the road a Cross...

So, in answer to your question,Karin-- :)

Date night was AWESOME!

I am so glad it happened and I hope that maybe we can do it again?

Even if I had not gotten the iPod Nano,

I would of still been very happy,

spending some one on one time with my husband!

I'm happy!

(now I have to ask some people I know how,

best to put music and such on my beautiful new toy)

It's Saturday, yahooo!

I am so glad that today is Saturday and yesterday is now just a memory!

The kids and I had to run some essential errands-- boring stuff like buying postage at the Post office, paying our taxes at the tax collector office, and stopping at Walmart for the kids "favorite" toothpaste.
I tried to plan ahead and set up each situation so that Shane would know what type of behavior was expected, but either I was using too many words -- or my words were not heard.
By about 2:40 I decided that I was DONE with being in public with the kids, I brought them home-- the two of them went outside and tried to "skate" on the sidewalk and driveway-- on our way home from our errands the news was talking about Freezing Rain-- (yet another reason to come home).
I decided that I would make dinner and cookies! Shane continued to be a pill at dinner time so he missed out on the pudding that was dessert. Shane commented "Well, pudding is bad for you so -- I don't really care! I'd rather play video games, at least they are healthy for you!"

So, anyway I am glad that it's Saturday....
YAHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I got to sleep in for a bit,
(I pretended to be sleeping and Shane was nice enough to go back to his room and leave me alone!)
We still have icy conditions outside so the kids are once again trying to ice skate on the sidewalk-- they are really excited when they come across any water that has frozen-- IT almost makes me wish that I lived in the country with a pond and I could let them "skate..."
and then I start thinking about how hard it is when you hit ice... and I am glad that we don't have a pond nearby !
This evening some really good friends' of ours are going to watch the kids-- OVERNIGHT!
Jerry has to work until about 4pmish and then his Christmas dinner is at 5--.
Our friends, Lynn and Debbie offered to take the kids and keep them overnight! They also might have two of their grand kids over-- the four kids are about the same ages and they usually play well together.
I am so excited I found a new outfit for $30.00 at Fashion bug... and I plan on being VERY pretty-- hair, make-up,nails the works!
Now, if the weather would just stay calm...
so that I don't worry about the road conditions!
Merry Christmas !
I know it's a bit early to be wishing this, but it's such a" feel good phrase" practice it as much as possible-- It makes me smile!

Only,Just a glimmer of Hope

I try to be organized --so when Dr.Roberts asked me to contact Therapy Solutions for Kids
I did, but then I also looked at our insurance plan to see if it was covered--
Praise the Lord...
I talked with the people today and they said that they use codes
that equal a neurological disorder
not-- a learning disability or a developmental delay (which our insurance doesn't cover~)
++++I don't as a mother, Understand why insurance would not cover this type if issue-- I would think that the insurance company would want to keep a person's quality of life as it's primary goal--(If you are happy and you know it--)I must be confused-
- Are all insurance companies in it for the $$ and not for the people???++++
anyway--
Although, we are making progress on the paper work side of things, our home life has become more challenging--- Shane choosing to ignore boundaries-- and he doesn't seem to be in the moment with Me, or anyone-- And even my daughter (who is normally helpful and sweet) has been making some bad choices lately--
I wonder if it's because he hasn't been to school for a while...(although he goes back today!!!!!)
I don't know -- but I am praying that I get some new tools from the Therapy people-- I know I need them!
We celebrated out Fourth of July with some good friends of ours'-
We hoped by having a small celebration that would help Shane see the beginning,middle and end--
We were wrong...
Shane and Jessica went to stay with my dear,sweet sister-in-law for Saturday night -- Jerry picked them up Sunday morning and then we all ended up at church-- Aunt Danni shared with me that Shane was very upset -- that the fireworks were still happening-- and he was going to miss them and his room ~ his whole summer was going to be ruined... ---
Just to mention a few of his complaints--
His complaints seem very over the top, and I almost want to laugh about them, but then I also see in his face-- how important they are to him.-- What a dilemma -- I really can't treat these comments with humor-- that would only increase his discomfort--and I do try to reassure him, nothing I ever say seems to be enough!

Ah, well-- two steps forward and one to a side!~
(hey, isn't that a line dance?)

Inside Edition!,Paradox,The Next American Band

I just wanted to share something, that came my way via, my cousin Elizabeth!
Jessica Seinfelds Cook Book: Are All the Recipes Hers?http://www.insideedition.com/ourstories/reports/story.aspx?storyid=1005

Hopefully the link above will take you to the story !!
if not, just go to
http://www.insideedition.com/ and then to the Jessica Seinfeld story!

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On a different topic~~



I have some dear friends' who have seen my blog,

they wanted to be mentioned,(He, Lynn.... is very cool, and musical...not to mention a GREAT dad, and Granddad...) (Debbie is the lovely, hardworking mom,and grandmom who keeps things organized and fun!)

Last night, while watching TV and reading a book... I found a new show on FOX that is very similar to American Idol!...,

**2-HOUR SERIES PREMIERE**THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND
Visit
the OLIVER BEENE web site
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“THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND” PREMIERES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, ON FOX
First of Three Special 2-Hour Episodes
The producers behind mega-hit phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL take the musical reality genre to a whole new performance level with a mission to find undiscovered groups on THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND. Singer/songwriter John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls), legendary percussionist and performer Sheila E. (“The Glamorous Life,” “A Love Bizarre”) and Australian TV personality Ian “Dicko” Dickson (“Australian Idol”) serve as judges while Dominic Bowden (“New Zealand Idol”) hosts. From tonight’s auditions, Rzeznik, Sheila E. and Dickson will narrow down the hopefuls to 12 semifinalist bands who will perform either original music or covers of varied styles in front of a live studio audience. The judges will have their say after the performances each week, but viewers will vote for their favorite bands to determine who stays in the competition. Voting begins immediately after each show, and the results will be announced by Bowden at the start of the following episode. The season finale will bring the ultimate battle of the bands, with the last three groups competing to secure a contract with 19 Recordings and the title of Next Great American Band. It all begins when the first chord is struck in the “Auditions” episode of THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND premiering Friday, Oct. 19 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (IDB-101/102) (TV-PG; L) CC
Judges: Johnny Rzeznik, Sheila E. and Ian “Dicko” DicksonHost: Dominic Bowden

So, anyway ... Lynn is the leader of the band Jerry sings for (Paradox)

{ www.paradoxtheband.com/ }.. and last night Lynn and his wife Debbie were watching this show just like I was--- I wonder if Lynn wanted Paradox, to be on the show, performing against the others! Hummm...

{{{Maybe this post will cause, Lynn to comment??????hint...hint!}}}
Insert humor in comment section! LOL!