Head Colds,sharing, and Carnival

Jessica had a head cold this week and she ended up staying home two days from school, Shane was being a loving and sweet brother -- First she helped him practice for his upcoming play-- and then he read her some 5 minute bedtime stories-- Such a lovely sight I am SO GLAD I have this picture.  Jessica ended up missing the field trip to the Enchanted Forrest-- she had a slight fever and so I kept her home. Jessica was nice enough to share her cold with me -- so I took a nap! Part way thru the day Jessica ended up feeling much better-- and she convinced her Daddy to take her fishing-- so that I could get some rest- ?  It worked out fine they went fishing and I took a nap--   Then we borrowed our neighbors' teen aged daughter and went to the Carnival! 

This year at the Carnival we had a slide and a bounce house-- Shane spent a good portion of his time,energy and tickets at both... He even got complemented by the Teacher who is a Special Needs teacher, for doing such a GREAT job of waiting in line EACH time...  I am SO PROUD of my son! 

Shane even tried cotton candy for the very first time-- he was with Jerry so I missed the picture but Shane... like a true child that loves sweet things-- Liked the cotton candy! Jerry explained that it was just spun sugar and so Shane was happy enough to tell me

 "Mom, I ate the cotton candy and it just disolved on my tongue...-- cool huh?"

I just smiled and said yup--!

 Kudos go out to Jerry who did NOT let Shane eat the WHOLE bag of cotton candy-- he instead handed the last quater bit of it to the neighbors daughter who was helping us. :)

One of Jessica's favorite things is to get her face painted-- last night at the Carnival, she got a Monarch Butterfly on her face! It's still on her face this morning!  If you look in the back ground of this picture you can see Shane in a blue camo jacket... playing putt putt golf!

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This is one of the fun things that we had at the carnival last night... putt putt golf-- Shane had a lot of fun-- thank you to the lady who was nice enough to fetch the golf ball when it got hit to hard.





It did rain at the Carnival and a lot of people got wet... but I had brought along our POP-up and so we stayed mostly dry... although the wind did make me cold a couple of times!
In years past Carnival has been a huge stressful event-- this year I volunteered only to do certain things, of course I ended up doing more-- but I didn't feel so used and abused -- as I had in previous years!
It was a great evening... and now today is grocery day and both the kids are home with me...
I asked Shane last night if he would help me remember the grocery list-- he kept saying, mom we have to have ice cream!  I am buying that child of mine some ice cream ! I bet he will do fine today!

Jessica's fish!

Jessica and Jerry went fishing... they caught ten fish... (5per each for the day's limit)

Them's good eatin...

YAY it's a good Monday!

I went to the Dr.'s and I got GOOD news! Yahooo!
I lowered my blood pressure, I even lost 6 pounds!
(for only (purposefully) exercising two and a half weeks-- I think that's pretty good!)
She was very pleased with me.. and I am very pleased with me also.. hehehe :0)
She said keep doing what you have been doing!
I also have to say thank you to my Aunt Sue who is keeping me motivated and thanks to my Aunt Patsy who gave me some fun/solid sewing advice!
This week is a BUSY one I am helping my neighbor get to and from her PT-- the therapist told me I am his eyes and ears so -- if my neighbor doesn't follow directions then I have to go and I quote..."smack her where it doesn't hurt!" -- :) She has been in pain and falling down for quite a while so it is NICE to finally have a professional who wants to help her get better soon!
On Wednesday it's Jessica's birthday... I am bringing strawberries to school for snack.... hopefully the weather will turn good on Saturday for her official party!
Jerry is taking a much needed break by fishing... he even was fishing last night while it was raining and thundering... talk about dedication! But he did come home with 6 fish..!

I hope that later when I pick up the kids I hear more good things... :)

Another Day~

Well, yesterday wasn't the day I had expected.
The school didn't call -- yay! but when I went to pick up Shane-- I had to hear that he once again was kicking and aggressive with his IA.
At this point we are thinking that Shane is having an issue with his IA-- he seems to do well in other situations but when he is with the IA he gets aggressive and disrespectful. hummm.
We are also not giving Shane his allergy meds today-- just in case that is a part of the problem.
Last night Shane was not as willing to follow directions-- I had to go to the grocery store at 5pmish...to get milk- and to figure out dinner.
{The dinner I had planned fell thru...} Shane hates going to the grocery store, and going at 5pm... well that was even more difficult.
When we were at the store Shane refused to make up his mind about what he wanted for dinner-- I had suggested a few things before we went -- but he was just not willing to even hear me.
Finally, I told Shane that he would have either a bowl of soup or cereal for dinner. He still didn't seem responsive-- I decided that I was not going to let his issues annoy me further...
I drove to the Mc'd's drive thru and treated Jessica and my self to a fish filet meal. When we got home I told Jessica that she was not allowed to share. Dinner was a quiet event-- which helped to calm me.
I don't know if it was the right parenting "ploy" I have ever used-- but it was the only thing I could come up with.
{I have a little person on my shoulder telling me that I should not of even given Shane a choice-- but hind sight is always 20/20?}
Jerry showed up after dinner was done-- he was back from his guided fishing trip, empty handed. There were four guys-- two of them from Jerry's work-- who caught fish-- and then Jerry and his brother Rick.
Not the day I had expected ~ The sunshine was nice.
The kids don't have school tomorrow and it's grocery day-- but -- Jerry is off from work so maybe we can divide and conquer the things we have to do?

Our Tuesday

It wasn't terrible, it wasn't terrific, he certainly wasn't timid, and no his behavior wasn't teeny.
But in the end he had the staff chuckling to themselves -- and maybe even smiling a bit.
Yesterday, I kept both of the kids home-- I couldn't figure out if they had colds or allergies-- It might not of been the best choice, but I wasn't sure that the kids weren't going to get worse. As it turns out I think Jessica has a head cold-- and Shane has allergies.
So, today they went back to school medicated--
Jessica had a great day-- she even received the beep-beep award so she came home with a wig-- (that makes me cringe and think of the octo-mom ...ewww)
And also here is a picture of me with my "new" red hair -- I wanted the sunlight on my hair to show the color, but it ended up making me wear my sunglasses and almost squint.

So, back to Shane-- and his "Day" he did fine in the early morning and then-- he got mad about something, or his allergies were causing him to have BAD behavior.-- Whatever the reason he ended up having a chair over his head, and then also kicking a teacher-- as the staff and I were talking about this at the end of the day-- none of us felt that his behavior was about hurting or threatening-- he seemed to want one on one attention and that was not a part of the schedule at that time.
Shane ended up in the SPED classroom, with no responsibilities other than sitting and being respectful. His SPED teacher was very clear with her expectations for Shane-- she didn't react to him when he was walking around and waving his arms saying
"What, now you aren't going to talk to me ever?"
"I'm talking to you and you aren't showing me that you are listening!"
then-- he looked directly at this AWESOME teacher and said
" Well, fine then I am going to stomp and march right 'outta this class" ~
he stomped to the door the whole time {staring his teacher down...} waiting for a response from the teacher.
His SPED teacher knew that he wanted adult one on one attention and so she was working very hard at NOT giving Shane what he wanted.

Honestly, I am SO very proud that his SPED teacher really understands Shane-- she was able to show him that his behavior was not desired, and her other students were VERY good at actively ignoring Shane. At one point his SPED left the room, after all of Shane's dramatics-- she needed to re-compose herself!

I think I really need to find an acting job for my son...
I also need to find a nice thank you gift for his SPED-- she really went the EXTRA mile with Shane today--

It was nice to know that the staff did get some laughs from seeing Shane in all his ..."glory?" Jerry and I have seen Shane like this before, but for the staff to see him trying so hard to get attention, and to clearly see how manipulating he was being-- I think it showed them that not all of his behaviors are work avoiding, some are simply an attempt for one on one adult attention!

His teachers and I all agree that he is very smart, and once his behavior gets under control, I think they want him to do more challenging work-- but at this point he is spending SO much time trying to disrupt anything & everything, that more difficult work will have to wait.

The teachers told Shane that tomorrow would be a new day and that he had an opportunity to have a clean slate.-- They also explained that if he was going to be a disruption again that he would have to just sit-- and not receive one on one adult interaction! I hope & pray his SPED teacher gets some good rest this evening and is ready for the dramatics that may happen tomorrow!

When Shane is like this, it makes me think back to when I lived alone and how often I would pray for a husband and kids-- gosh~ God does have a HUGE sense of humor!
He answered my prayers for a husband and kids-- but he also made it clear that I would NEVER be bored again!
Gee, thanks! :) Talk about God, showing up in your life?! :)

Tomorrow, Jerry is going to be gone all day on a guided fishing trip and I hope that I am able to stay focused on being a good, unmanipulated mommy! Wish me luck!

N ot April Fools

This was Shane last night finally sleeping with such peace...
Awwww -- I love seeing him  so calm and still.
He  suggested that if I wanted to be energy efficient, I could collect like 300 lightening bugs in a jar and then use them for  a night light...  It really is amazing how much random information he collects when I am not paying attention. (and yes that is a blue boa on his bed, it's Jessica's --but Shane likes how it feels-- so Jessica is nice enough to let him "borrow" it often!)

Jessica went fishing with Daddy... and she caught her limit... They were using a special bait that they had got from another fisherman.... When they were getting ready to come home and eat dinner-- they gave away... and sold their bait to others' !

Jerry cooked the fish last night and so that was part of his lunch for today at work!

My son happens to have a strange fashion sense,        or really none at all,           He LOVES to wear Jessica's pink boots-- With EVERYthing... He is also wearing the liner of a coat that used to be Jessica's -- 

This morning I got the best present that a mom can get,

(in my honest opinion)

 I heard the alarm go off and I got up and walked to the kids' rooms to wake them up--

When I opened Shane's door-- he was COMPLETELY dressed--

 he had on a  SMILE, a shirt,pants,SOCKS, and SHOES! 

Normally getting Shane dressed--especially the shoes and socks is the most difficult part of my day....

 I was so happy I kept hugging and complementing him...

I even went to school and told many there how awesome it was to see up and dressed for his day!

What a wonderful wondrous day of motherhood!

Happy April Fools Day... I didn't get fooled yet...I hope I can stay fool-free today!

More Coast Pictures

Were you waiting around for more pictures?  That's nice...    ~ glad I could fill a need!

:) I think I am SO funny...

This is a "classic" picture of the kids, I was trying to get the background all centered in and then I needed to have them doing something, so I asked them to wave... good thing..
 ahem...  I didn't want to see their faces!

The other day Shane came home with a Bionicle from his playdate, -- I let Shane bring it with us on the drive-- but Shane kept putting the bionicle in my hair... finally I took it away and since the kids had recently watched Short Circut-- the bionicle was "dissassembled..."  on the dashboard of the truck.
Today I was returned the Bionacle to Shane-- hopefully it will not need dissassemble today!

On our way back home, Jerry wanted to stop by one of his favorite fishing spots and show us the scenery-- Shane had been complaining that he just wanted to go home, but once he was outside and he found two sticks...
he was happy to just..."be"... a boy in the woods...with sticks...
I guess you could call this simple,priceless~ Joy?

Sonic,Soft and BORing...

So, Jerry the kids and I had dinner at Sonic for the very first time--

 their fry sauce was AWESOME

- it made me remember Artic Circle~

Jessica got in trouble at school-- she was supposed to be quietly working on her computer while the TV cameras were getting ready to film,-- instead she said very loudly... "BORing...."

Jessica was SO embarassed that her teacher had to tell me the story...

she couldn't bring herself to explain ... WHAT she was THINKIN?  

Shane came home after only being at the school for part of the day-

- he had a meltdown and he escalated by throwing chairs...

Shane recieved his new t-shirt from SOFT...

At least American Idol is on...

Just Life...

Jerry had taken video on his cell phone of fish.... swimming around-- The kids were VERY interested...me...

not so much... I was tired,bored and annoyed--

Jerry's fishing partner called Jerry's phone at 6am... which woke me up... grrr...

then it rained,and rained and rained.. then Shane and I had a difference of opinion, on how to walk into school- he felt running was fine.. I disagreed-- And then seeing the school psychologist near his car-- prompted me to to make Shane walk all the way back to our car and show me the correct way to WALK to class.

The Zoo,Alaska,Field Trips, and fish~

Jessica had loads of fun at the zoo~ she also had a really great teacher that helped to remind her to go pee! All those worries ~ and for naught!

She pet a snake,an armadillo,a dead snake skin and a dead beaver skin...(her words...) She got to see the worlds' largest owl, giraffes,she got to see the butts of some baboon's-- and she saw a black scorpion! She had the chance to pet some goats, but she didn't because she knew they had higher rate of E coli...(I love it that Jessica listened to my words of caution and she followed them! yahoooo!)

As I was leaving my house to go and get her, my parents' showed up and wanted to talk about their trip to Alaska on a cruise-- There was 400 or so pictures to see, and gifts to receive.

I am very confident that my family can do a great job of advertising for Alaska~~
from the hats, to the t-shirts, to the socks, to Jessica's backpack, and to many different colored bracelets all saying ALASKA... Shane got a train whistle that he has a hard time using...my kids may be full of things to say, but not full of enough air to get that darn whistle to make any noise-- and ... I'm not annoyed... quiet train whistles make me happy !

When I did finally get Jessica at the school, I don't know if she was happier to be home, or happier that Grandma and Grandpa were at the house!--

My parents tried really hard to convince me that I need to get a bunch of money together-(thousands of dollars)- and then convince some friends to go with me and my husband on a cruise-- I don't wanna... really I would rather save my money for a bigger house-- or something that would help me in my day to day life. (a maid!)



Shane's day went okay... although I got angry with a comment the teacher made -- about an upcoming field trip for him and the other kinders to the same Zoo that Jessica went to. I ended up writing an email to the principal and the teacher and the "professional" (Bruce) -- hopefully that email will bring the results I desire! until then I will try not to dwell on the negative. (as I stamp my foot and then tap it repeatedly to hurry the process along!)



Jerry showed up really late this evening empty handed, apparently there was one fish caught, but I think it went home with his brother. The guide did make a new deal with the guys to do another guided fishing trip with a cut rate price.-- Today, Jerry is fishing for bottom fish at the coast, this time his work is picking up the tab...

I just got an email from the professional(Bruce) and Shane can go on the trip, but we will all have to meet before the trip--- they (the staff) are worried that I can't keep my son safe! Geez...
I don't get why my skills are being held in question!
AGhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


By the WAY --- My sister-in-law (Sara)and my brother(Peter) have been married
now for 4 years and I am very proud of them, and the lovely family they have created!
congrats! yahooooo!

fish caught

Jerry, my husband caught a fish~ 48inches long

A sturgeon

More Camping ...stuff

Can I just say...I love all you commenter's!
Our family is quite large --- My mother is one of five kids -
and diverse so ---
when we had no huge arguments or fighting--
not to mention only a few ...small melt-downs it was simply...Amazing!
so to answer Melody @ Slurping Life and Shannon @ Gabi's World...
Yes, there were ...ummmm... drugs = alcohol involved!
There were also some key family members that weren't able to come--
(One family member is a recovering alcoholic so---
usually we don't openly drink in respect-- but this year that person wasn't able to come .)

I have talked with most if not all of the family,(since it seems to be my "job" to gather the family information...AKA gossip....)
and I have come to the conclusion that this seemed to be a very relaxing camping trip !
On the very last day in the evening ...right after our traditional family picture--there was thunder and lightning ! I didn't get any pictures or video of the light show but my sister-in-law Sara did---
--- if you promise to only leave a sweet comment you can see the video at Miles' blog

This year My cousin Jannet and Jeff brought along a great foster kid, Tyler, who had never caught a fish -- It was so cool that he got to catch a fish,clean it and then eat it.... what an AWESOME moment! I neglected to take a picture-- but I know that someone else did...

The website for Loon Lodge and Resort, was somewhat misleading...
None of us had any cell service available, but there was WiFi at our campsite...!!
There was a "lodge" that had karaoke with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus-- an act from Las Vegas-- or so the flyer said!
To use the flush toilets you either had to walk up the bumpy hill to the lodge-- or drive down the road... a spell to get to the RV/Trailer parking to use the flush toilets,showers and boat access.
After we drove around some we found out that there were more than one campground-- there was a BLM one and as few others---

I tried to change the size of the font on this post
...but my computer is being difficult...
it looks right when I am creating, but during the preview it's wrong~

conserving,sharing,and creations!

Well, I was able to find a replacement carafe for my coffee pot--yay!
I would love to have a brand-new coffee pot,(All though the possibilities are endless!)
but I am trying to conserve money and --reduce-reuse-recycle! isn't that ....SPECIAL?
Jerry was gone the WHOLE day on Thursday fishing-(I could vent about this for days,and days,
but I am attempting to let GOOOOOOOOO of my Anger!)
and so I got to spend part of Saturday shopping without the kids, Ah, the Joy!
I looked at more than one store for the carafe,
and I even got to shop for a new, bra!
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I was nice enough to pass along this sickness that I have to my kids !
(Ah, the joy~sarcasm..but joy!) what can I say~ I like to share?!
And so now I must go and purchase more Kleenex!
At least it is just a head and nose sickness-- we haven't had much puking,
So, I think we need to just keep trudging on...
The weather has been so very strange, I was going to take some pictures, but by the time I found the camera,got some shoes on and got outside the weather had changed...AGAIN!
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Did you know that Hershey's has Cinnamon Chips?-- me neither! Yesterday when I was out I found some--- and I thought that I needed to... make another "creation" -- So, later today after church I plan on making a cake from a box -- a Super Moist (Butter Recipe Yellow) and I am going to see if the Cinnamon Chips will taste, good-- inside of the cake.
I notice as I type this ~ that my computer is in need of a time -out-- so I am going to sign--off till later today, when I hope to post about my creation~~and just maybe I can tie in today's' message from church-- into the new post about my cake!?