sixteen!

Our Sweet Chloe has turned 16!

\

16 is a big deal people!

Last week she got on an airplane & headed to San Diego, CA to visit one of her dearest long time friends- Blair who moved there last year. Chloe was so thrilled & excited to see her & go to the beach etc. Blair & her family treated her like royalty & she had the best time!

Hailey & I picked her up from the airport Monday morning & headed out to breakfast.

Gourmandise-Cream Brulee Oats-- Oh MY!

Oatmeal that has been bruleed, topped with berries & cream.

DELISH

Later that night- 

SURPRISE

A group of her pals shocked the heck out of her, by "kidnapping" her & taking her out to dinner than to a party at a park with loads of teens. Seriously- how fun is that!? 

Chloe is literally the last junior in the High School to turn 16. I love how shocked she is here in this picture- I wish I would have had a video running- it was so funny when they ran in & surprised her!  

I love these girls.

Chloe's biggest blessing in teen life is her great friends!

-really love these girls-

 

On her REAL birthday-

the next day

We had to run a million miles a minute!

Every big thing going on for the whole week- was that day!

Ballet, work, driver's Ed., back to school night for Trent's school- 

and

Chloe went on her first date- lunch with a friend- sweet.

So--- after ballet - we headed to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes.

We are HUGE fans of the Fairy.

But then--

around here-

we are HUGE fans of Chloe

Birthday dinner post coming soon.

happy birthday chloe

sixteen

For some reason

I can't get pictures to load here?
Yesterday was Chloe's 16th birthday.
I have LOADS of fun pictures.....
but I can't get them to come up on my posting.

Is anyone else having this problem?

one full week

 It's been a week now-

since the first day of school for this guy!

 One of the hardest weeks I can remember in a long time.

I let it get to me.

I spent the summer worrying about a new school, so many changes, jr. high in general, leaving the comfort of the special ed. teachers we know so well. Trent is not your typical kid & definitely not your typical special ed. student, not to me anyway.

I was right. My worries came to life. I tried so hard to prevent it. I called & stopped in & visited & introduced Trent to his new teachers. We went into the special ed. office & tried to communicate what his & our needs were. To PLEASE prep his many teachers about his Aspergers & Tourrette syndrome, OCD etc. I know this all sounds really difficult- but it's not. It's about compassion.

Trent is such a sweetie really. He just has these- quirks. If you know about them it's not that big of a deal & they don't disrupt other kids. Kids are the best- 4 out of 5 times that there is a negative experience it's not from another kid- it's an ignorant adult. 

That's what happened.

A couple of ignorant adults, acted like ignorant adults & I am so disappointed in the whole human race. Okay, okay I do frequently over exaggerate, but still I just couldn't believe it.

 I just can't understand how adults can be so mean?

He was teased into a frenzy, (aspergers kids don't typically understand teasing) called stupid, asked to spell Gullible, told to shut up, stop it, move seats, leave class, staring- people constantly staring- oh gosh. I was so mad. SO MAD

 (p.s. he was not called stupid by a teacher- but yes it was an adult)

Believe it or not- one of his teachers had never ever heard of Tourette syndrome? 

I guess we are over saturated with it here- but still I was surprised that an educator? There are a couple other students at his new charter school with Tourette & many others with Aspergers - sigh.

It's all taken care of now.

I think- it's a new week.

lots of apologies & the special ed. team is very apologetic & frankly they are doing their best.

They have already all fallen for the kid- and I can tell that it's going to get better.

Big sigh.

I cried & cried & visited the school again. 

I blabbed my mouth off about it to anyone who would listen (while sobbing of course.)

I gave a presentation on Tourette syndrome to his math class- the kids were awesome, and now the special ed team has every thing (all paper work & explanations to the teachers- kind of like I asked them to do?) To be fair- these are fantastic ladies!! Just like all other educators- overworked, understaffed & trying their hardest.

Through it all - Trent is so happy.

He has hardly noticed it all. He was really stressed & uncomfortable of course, but he has totally forgotten &  thrilled to go to school- well maybe not thrilled, but he likes it. He loves the uniform, the 4 vending machines (serious OCD over the vending machines! but if he has a good day & turns in all assignments he gets some change for the machine.)

He loves having a locker! 9 different classes & teachers, air conditioning- lunch in the big gym. 

And

He is making friends.

He went there- only knowing one other student (girl in 9th grade) in the whole school.

TRENT YOU ARE SO BRAVE, SO KIND, SUCH A GREAT BOY.

I know it's hard.

I want so bad to take this away & make it all better.

But- I have learned so much this week.

I have learned that-- I can't always protect you. That YOU can do hard thing, but that you need practice at doing hard things. All these experiences will help you become a stronger, happier adult. 

Most of all- I learned that all of these experiences are harder on me than on you.

I'm so glad you are my boy.

all in all- if I could, I still would take it all away. 

it's time! time to RISE & SHOUT

Yesterday

Yesterday was the big day

that

Jack

moved 

back

to 

college.

Now, that was a quick 4 months!

We had a little-- going back to college-- dinner party Thursday night.

This time- no tears- all happiness & excitement. 

I am truly so glad Jack is going- being at the Y was some of the best years of my life & I am Thrilled for him!

I had the table set, etc.

Then went outside to start the grill- and WHAT?!!

It wasn't blazing hot?

happy day

we moved outside

Chickens & Nya

Brett has started calling the chickens

Lavern & Shirley

For dinner we had

salad with ranch

Steak

garlic mashed potatoes.

 Friday just before GO TIME-we went shopping---

Can you believe that some of Jack's buddies buy this deodorant just for the phrase on the back!

HA- funny!

I told Jack if he bought this sponge bob soap it would make him look cool.

He didn't go for it.

But he did find this brand of shampoo that they have in Brazil.

Once at a members house he rushed to the bathroom to throw up...

-made it to the bathroom sink-

The bathroom sink had a tiny drain that instantly clogged because Jack had thrown up a sink full of live worms. He used the cap of the shampoo to scoop them out & into the toilet to flush.

Oh my baby.

thus-

this face of disgust

Trent made it home just in time to say goodbye.

Poor Trent!

It's so hard being the youngest!!

GO JACK

GO COUGARS

I LOVE YOU BYU

AND

I LOVE YOU JACK

a birthday gift for grandma

For my birthday this year

several people (mainly my in-laws- thank you!) 

surprised me with a plane ticket to see Megan, Tony and most importantly 

CHARLIE & JOEY

oH mY Goodness!

what a surprise

I flew there just a quick, 

4 days after getting home from our trip to Oregon.

It was a whirlwind & frankly the house hasn't recovered yet.

Still-

 I was so excited to go.

You know you are in Arkansas when you see signs like this:

AHH!

Megan lives 20 minutes from the Missouri border & just an hour away from Joplin.

That's pretty scary to this West Coast born & raised gal!

I've never seen a tornado before, not even close.

I hope Megan never sees one either. 

Luckily- this place is very prepared.

The local airport has been completely remodeled since the last time I was there & when I walked off the plane for a split second-- I wondered if I was in the right place?

After realizing all was well-- I got to look around & WOW- someone did an incredible job.

Well done!

I got to spend a heavenly 6 days playing, and wrestling, singing songs, tickling, reading bedtime stories, giving "elephant rides", and making cookies. Oh boy. It was so fun.

Joey has gotten so big!

He is so sweet- he walks & runs all over the place.

He loved to roll around my suitcase.

Charlie--- TALKS!!

 Whole sentences & paragraphs now.

He has this cute little voice & calls me Nana. 

I'm completely smitten.

(Nana's glasses)

One of my favorite things about this trip to was that we got to visit the places they go to on a regular basis & meet a lot of Megan & Tony's close friends. Now I have a picture in my mind of where they are & I feel a little closer somehow?

We went to church together-

and here we are at the library.

Their library made our beautiful new library look puny! 

The children's section alone was as large as our whole library. 

(I actually love our library... I was just flabbergasted at how amazing there's was)

This is Charlie's polite, yet forced, cheese smile.

He was trying to do a puzzle, for Heaven's Sake!

P.S. this puzzle was hard... I had to put it away without putting it back together, dang!

what's a grandma to do?

There is a large fish tank- donated & maintained by a local pet shop- impressive.

Megan says it's Joey's favorite place. 

He loves to watch the fish. So cute.

Sometimes he jumps up & down & bangs on the glass- uh oh. He's just so smart & inquisitive, of course.

Charlie has been participating in the summer reading program & had recently completed his reading chart. For reading 15 books- um- hello- with the help of mom & dad of course- he earned an ice cream cone at Chick- fil- A

Hooray~ another place they frequently visit & I was excited to go with them.

Chick - Fil- A 

and 

Sonic

Two things that are all over Megan's town & no where to be seen in mine.

I've concluded that -- It's not fair-- it's probably for the best.

 I found myself wanting to stop at Sonic everyday!

More on my trip to see the boys-

tomorrow!

 NANA- MY FAVORITE TITLE EVER

catching up on everyday life

• 

 2 weeks ago

BRITTANY GRADUATED AGAIN!!

WOO HOO

with her Master's Degree from BYU

She is now working as an assistant principal at 2 elementary schools...

and guess what?

she bought a house

NOT JUST ANY HOUSE

a new house being built at this very minute- 4 blocks or--- just 1 minute & 28 seconds away by car

(we clocked it)

I am so happy for her & thrilled for myself to have her close that I can hardly stand it.

Brittany is such a help to me- the thought of her being here, even just occasionally to help with Trent I'm just overwhelmed & frankly-- tears. Tears of joy. 

Brian & Laura went to her family reunion & Brian won a gold medal in volleyball at the family Olympics.

I wish our families had reunions, I think?

This medal is proof positive that sitting on the couch for 3 weeks straight watching the summer Olympics paid off- for at least one of us.

For FHE last week we played this darling game that Ethan, Wende, & Rich brought over for Trent's birthday. It's PERFECT for Trent!

And-- guess what?

It was actually really fun- it's kind of a get-to-know you game where you learn more about the people you play with. YES- Trent ended up with the cheese touch, but I told him I didn't mind taking it from him.

Miss (almost sixteen) Chloe started another year of ballet!

Despite her painful feet

 (she has been told she has the body, talent, flexibility of a ballerina-- but not the feet- so sad)

she just keeps going.

I add: she also has the determination- of a ballerina!

It has been so blasted HOT

that I find myself wishing away summer... 

This photo was taken at 8:00 PM

Oh heavenly day I hate heat.

On a happy note-

these are at the post office!

I LOVE them & YES they do make me smile.

Last week I sent Trent into the laundry room to put on his pajamas before bed. 

About 10 minutes later I realized he-- disappeared? 

Found him

asleep on his now messy laundry pile.

This is the display at Pottery Barn kids, just down from the store I work in.

We are getting LOADS of the cutest Halloween stuff ever!

REALLY -- you should check it out- it's so off the charts cool & cute this year.

I was there looking for really efficient diaper bags for Laura- 

She's going to need one- and this one doubles as a back pack!

We had company last Thursday, Friday & Saturday!

Kyle & Noah were here!!!

It was so wonderful to see them & meet Noah.

Kylie is my wonderful, talented niece. She is an art student at KU & is amazing!!

Noah & Kylie got married in May in the new Kansas City temple & we couldn't attend the wedding - which was a HUGE bummer. I will ask if I can post some of the photos- she was the most beautiful bride & designed the invitations & dress & everything herself-- (to perfection!) 

I was so over the top stressed out with Trent starting school this week- that I feel like I didn't spend the quality time with them that I wanted to. They were here for a wedding in Salt Lake, so they were busy a lot of the time- but still. I have not been myself.

***

Which brings me to this:

I realize that I don't post the reality of my life most of the time here.

Life is difficult for me- a lot.

But then, life is difficult for everyone!

Still- I feel like a fraud sometimes just posting about birthdays & babies & cupcakes etc.

but ya know...

I am coping the best I can AND I like to look on the bright side of life.

It's a good life- but it is a major challenge.

I have spent the whole entire summer worrying about Trent starting Jr. High (so productive) and yes it is turning out-- this week (it's only been 2 days, but such a hard 2 days) to be just as traumatizing as I thought it would be for him & for me.

 He is trying.

 He is learning & growing & I guess so am I?

If I could just stop crying.

Why- why does it have to be this way?

If you have a minute- say a prayer for us.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

repeat