list of four- updated

A LIST OF FOUR

Wende has this on her blog and put me down as one person who would respond-

you bet I'll respond- I'm there baby...

1. four family members: beth, megan, aimee, & brit (she's private)

2. four people who email me regularly :
Kristy, Karrie, Wende, Janae - man I love their emails- it's so fun to get a personal email not just junk.

3. four of my favorite places to eat:
Cafe Rio- pork tostada & key lime pie/Rio Grande- Flaute Grande (mmmm)/ Desert Edge- balsamic chicken sandwich on sourdough with house pasta/Biagii's

*4. four places i would rather be right now: I just can't believe I didn't include my very favorite place ever- Disneyland with my family- I dream of going here all the time & even went here for my honeymoon- we stayed in the old disneyland hotel- loved it!
New Port Beach, CA /Seattle/San Fransisco shopping/no where-- I like my house

5. four people i think will respond: see #1

6. four tv shows i watch over and over:
The office/Seinfeld/King of Queens/Arthur on PBS

7. four of your favorite pass times:
lunch with friends/playing games with my family/reading at night before bed/sitting on my front porch with my sweetheart & blogging of course!

back to school shopping

tonight grandma, hailey, jack & I ran on down to our neighborhood Kohl's to do a little school shopping. I have to tell you- shopping with boys is much easier than girls- no offense girls... but if you can get boys to actually go shopping it's a lot easier. Shirts, tennis shoes, jeans - done.Jack informed me that I have "laughing issues." We found this bargain t-shirt for a mere $1.80. It had a monkey passing gas & the caption-

"I'm bringing stinky back"

on the front. For some reason I just broke down right there & nearly busted a lung laughing- really hard. The picture is a little blurry from shaking for sure. What in the world people? Who makes up this stuff- for real? I don't care if it was $1.80 & an extra 20% off that with the bonus buy... that is just wrong. (do you think a woman designed that- no way!?)I had a great time sitting in the men's dressing room with my camera. There was one seat in there & I took it. I also learned that a woman in the men's dressing room with a camera-

makes other men... a little nervous. Finally I just went into the dressing room stall with jack- he is not worried at all having his mom with him in the dressing room- but my girls would rather die. Boys & girls= different for sure. Jack actually asked hailey & grandma for their advice picking out some shoes. they ultimately didn't have his size in the ones we were looking at. We did find a pair really similar to the ones Max peed in last winter... & they were on sale for $19.97- score. I guess if jack wants to keep these ones he'll be nicer to the dog- or hide them- or something.

* are your kids in school yet?

*did you do any school shopping?

*what do you think about rude captions on t-shirts?

blogger mom's cook

hey did you know my friends & I have a cooking blog?

check it out

BLOGGER MOM'S COOK

look who's back

The newlyweds got home from Arkansas this week.

they are moving into their college town apartment & loving it.

We took the whole family out to dinner to celebrate.

Fun times for sure.

silly-silly boy

This week for some reason... I am totally in a blogging funk.

If you hadn't noticed, it's been a while. I don't know if it was the four day headache, the stress of putting on my first PTA training, my constant Olympic TV trance, or just the back to school blues, I'm just out of it. Nothing bad really- I'm telling you- I'm just out of it.

For our last week before school starts & yes, we have another week, Brett's parents are coming into town. We are hoping to do some fun things while they are here & enjoy the kids last week of freedom= my last week of captivity :) JK

*what have you been doing?

maybe we've been watching too much?

(sorry about the side ways video- when will I ever learn?)

Trent- why can't you put me in the olympics mom? did you not sign me up because you were afraid I would be gone too many hours?

jr. high here she comes!

Can you believe this?

#5 - almost off to jr. high- wow- when did that happen?

My neighbor told me today that the head ache I'm having could be because I'm in my 40's now... "my hormones are probably out of balance due to my aging"- maybe I need estrogen?

gee thanks

yesterday's lessons learned

1. ear infection + head ache = really rough day

I had totally forgotten how bad an ear infection hurts.

I feel so sorry for the little kids who get them all the time...

2. cleaning the basement is 100% easier when everyone chips in & faster too.

usually after school starts I spend a couple of days cleaning out our "catch all" unfinished basement. Last night we did it as a family instead- it was brett's idea.... BRILLIANT. It's done- it was done in about an hour & now the kids are playing down there having a blast today!

3. I've been married 221/2 years & last night tried to talk about something really important just before going to sleep.... what in the world was I thinkin? I have learned not to get mad- he can't help it- he's going to fall asleep while I'm pouring my heart out- so just don't go there.

olympics

Oh yes we are loving the Olympics! We were glued to the TV all day yesterday & Saturday. Which meant our house is a mess & wasn't very clean for company. It's the Olympics - it just started- and it's already amazing. Watching sports on a sunday is a big deal for us. We never watch sports on sunday- not even the super bowl (okay we check the score now & then) but the Olympics- that's just plain good stuff.

My personal favorite moments so far...

The opening ceremonies- of course- the was FANtasTic!!

U.S. women vs. Japan in volleyball- (I was late for work)

I have to admit I loved seeing the US men's beach volleyball lose to Latvia's first ever team- we were ranked #1 them #23 & ThEY won! that was insane- you can't help but root for the underdog on that one.

US women's gymnastics- even though they had a rough start with a last minute injury they were incredible & really pulled through on the vault. Did anyone see that 31 year old on the Russian team? I almost fell off my chair- 31? unheard of & she's good!

and of course in swimming the US relay team stomping on the French who said they would "smash" us!! WOO HOO

Go Michael Phelps- he's amazing!!! I wonder if he gives swimming lessons?
*are you Olympic's crazed at your house?

hurray aimee, sean & cole were here!!

It's been a couple of busy days around here!

Because of the Olympics I am actually getting some computer time without having to beat anyone off. I am so incredibly tired right now I can barely keep my eyes open. We have 9:00 AM church, were up late & when we did get to bed a huge storm started up. Thunder, lightening, wild wind & rain= NO SleeP. It was all I could do to get up & sing with the kids at church today. Hurray we were so excited to have company over for dinner last night!

The peanut, ruthie & brittany, plus aimee, sean & cole are in town-

it was fantastic to see them!! we miss them so much.

We BBQ'd & had a great time seeing how big cole is now. When they moved cole was the peanut's age 10 months. There is a huge difference between 10 & 19 months!

Cole is so smart & such a cutie. He's just about ready for piano lessons... maybe. He loved playing the piano & it was so funny because he moved his hands really fast, but hit the keys softly. See, I told you he was a smart kid!

Brett & jack were gone at scout camp this week & came home Friday night. No wonder I am feeling that school isn't starting early enough this year... partly I was missing dad & all his help. I worked a luncheon on saturday afternoon & the girls & I have done some school shopping. wow- it's been a crazy busy weekend.

Now I'm going to take my sunday nap! ZZZZZZ

*do you take a nap on sundays?

incredible

progress

We went swimming yesterday at Karrie's pool- this place is heaven.

After sitting in the corner on the stairs for about 2 hours, literally- trent decided he would venture out & look at this... he swam (with a life jacket on) all the way to the deep end!

After that he swam all the way around the pool!!!

Wow! Karrie & I were cheering him on & were amazed when he finally just did it. When trent was a toddler he wasn't scared of water at all. In fact it, he was way too comfortable to the point where I wouldn't take him to the pool because I was sick of pulling him out constantly. He would be looking up at me from down under the water- I would pull him out then he would start screaming- why did you pull me out, I was swimming?! No he was drowning... oh boy. Well, he somehow made a complete turn around & now he usually won't even leave the stairs. He has been in level one swimming lessons twice just this summer alone.

So again- this is good. thanks karrie :)

And- look at this! A sure sign school is just around the corner. Secretly I am a little sad...

don't tell the kids though.

party

The outdoor neighborhood birthday party was great fun!

Families came & we served cake, ice cream & ice cream cones.
I didn't take very good pictures... I was too busy scooping up ice cream & trying to keep track of the birthday boy, who never sat down, didn't watch the movie & continually walked in front of the screen-- annoying mostly his parents.

It's hard to see from this picture but the movie showed up GREAT on my neighbors garage door! The kids loved it- it was better than a drive in!

This was a great summer party idea Movie in the Cul-da-sac. so many people came & showed trent how much they love him. he is not good in these situations so he mostly acted rude while we had him go back & re-do & do over. Such as "say thank you- look him in the eyes... don't walk away she's talking to you" those kind of things. This is a real struggle. I can see how people shy away/don't like asperger's kids. Trent just doesn't get it- but we are working on it. At one point he was on his bike & was "pushing" a little kid on a tricycle. The little kid who is three came over to me & said- he's being mean to me! I replied- yes he is, Trent why are you pushing him with your bike? He just wanted to help move him along... you see instead of saying or truly acting like he wants to play with the kid he does something annoying to try to get his attention. Some days I think he is learning- but this wasn't one of them. between the crowd, all the attention, it was night time, etc. he was a little (a lot) overwhelmed. Even so, he has to learn & these kinds of situations although uncomfortable- are really good for him.

I'm not sure they are good for me.

Maybe my expectations are too high- maybe he wasn't that bad- maybe I shouldn't take it so rough- maybe he will never have manners or friends-darn aspergers... is school starting soon?

birthday boy

what do you get a nine year old obsessed with cell phones?
How about a three pack of long range walkie talkies!

One for him, one for mom & one for a friend...

Maybe this will help the cell phone woes?

9 - trent's birthday!!

Today is Trent's birthday!

He is really excited about turning nine- being a kid

birthdays are pretty much the best day of the year.

I am including nine things about trent that are extra special.

1. He loves boxes- so much that he hates to see them recycled. I have to sneak even a shoe box off to the recylcing.

2. He thinks he can build anything with a box. This is not always a good thing... it can be very frustrating...

3. He has a vivid imagination.

4. He treats everyone as equal- whether you're two- four- an adult--- he talks & acts the same. FAce it- we're not all the same, but he thinks so anyway.
5. He cannot tell a lie. Oh he tries, he just can't pull it off.
6. He really loves his big brothers & sisters. (most of the time)
7. He is affectionate & loves hugs, but not kisses.
8. He tells me he loves me at least 20 times a day.
9. He is friends with everyone in the neighborhood. He wanted to invite many friends & most of the adults within a block radius to his birthday party. So much so, we are having a neighborhood party tomorrow night. We are watching an outdoor movie- Dennis the Menace- so appropriate. We ordered a big cake from Costco & invited 21 different families. It's going to be a fun family Monday night!
10. He is so funny & tells the best stories & jokes.
11. He's wants to be helpful. He walked up to one of my neighbors a couple of weeks ago & said- hey whatcha ya doing? he replied- washing my car. Trent- why are you doing that? reply- it's dirty. Trent- don't you know a new car wash just opened up down the street at the grease monkey? It's a laser wash & it's free if you get your oil changed.

Well I'm over my limit of nine- I could just go on & on.... He is a special guy, with a lot of special needs. But- we love him so much & I am so happy he is my boy.

big goings on

It's been a couple of exciting days for the kids around here.

Yesterday & today Trent went to cub scout day camp.

This year's theme: superhero academy. wow did he have fun! Having him come home, completely covered in dirt & swinging a whip- yes a whip- brought back so many memories. Brian & Jack went to cub scout day camp. They came home so dirty you'd swear there wasn't a bit of dirt left in the camp, & both had whips. They sell Indiana Jones type whips for $2 at the trading post. Jack tells me I "never let him get one" that after Brian bought one I banned them from the house- sound reasonable. Trent took his outside last night to show the 3 sweet little girls that live across the street how he can whip it around. I watched from the front window giggling. They didn't look all that impressed & luckily he didn't kill himself or one of them. Later that night after getting all cleaned up- he ran through the sprinklers with it. All the paint or whatever was on it- rubbed off after getting wet. Trent was black from head to toe. It looked like he was covered in shoe polish or grease! Cheap piece of junk. I was going to accidentally "lose" it last night but jack insisted I just let it dry out. boys?

While Trent was away Chloe & I did this :)

Chloe has been waiting ALL her life for toe shoes & yesterday was the day!!

She is absolutely over the moon for them & so excited for ballet to start next week.

I had no idea how much work & how long it takes to find the right pair of toe shoes. It's a complicated process- me not being a dancer- was so impressed with all the knowledge & help we got from the manager at the store. She was great & so excited for chloe.
Here they are- the pair that are just right. Can you see the excitement in her eyes? The fitting lady said she had the perfect feet for ballet- she used a bunch of technical dancing words to describe her feet but I don't remember them. Who cares about starting jr. high when you are finally getting to dance on real pointe shoes!? Which by the way were hand sewn in Russia- she wanted me to mention that. As we were checking out I let chloe pick a ballet shoe key ring for her backpack. I asked the clerk how much they cost- there wasn't a price tag. The manager piped in & said- free to girls getting their first pair of toe shoes! Considering how much $$ I spent there- that was good business- and very nice.

This morning- Hailey & I headed off for Costco bright & early for the opening. We went to get Hailey's copy of --BREAKING DAWN--

Hailey has been waiting since last summer- checking & reading up on Stephanie Meyer's website everyday- for this book. What a thrill to pick it up today. She went to a lady in our congregation's house that she bbsits for every week for to read it this afternoon. She was having a reading party & invited hailey, being the only teenager she was very honored & thrilled to go.

Did I mention that today Brett went with all the cubs as a chaperone to cub scout camp?

Poor guy- he said it was fun to see the boys having fun & that trent was good- but if he had to get up & go again tomorrow- he just couldn't have faced getting out of bed. It sounds like it was exactly as I imagined. What a good dad.

*have you ever been to cub scout day camp?

*can you believe they sell whips to eight year olds, even if they are cheap pieces of junk?

*did you dance when you were young?

*are you a stephanie meyers fan?