breathtaking updates

There are moments in life that just take our breath away. Today was another moment as we held our breath waiting for results of some tests that C had done at the hospital today. We are pleased that the results are fantastic and that C's heart is in great clean shape.
As a cancer survivor C has joined the Board of Directors for the local American Cancer Society here in our part of the Cities. It is pretty cool to see his name in the list of Directors in their handout. It is sort of bittersweet and really what a great honor.

This year at the ballpark, C has been working on many promotions. One in particular, has us extremely excited for Autism Awareness. The ball players will wear specially designed jerseys and then auction them off after the game and the proceeds will go to the local Autism center here in the cities. Yay for Awareness!

Chan has finally been referred for Occupational Therapy for his scensory issues and he will also begin seeing someone for his anger management. He has been doing amazing in school lately and we talked about the seasonal affect on his moods with his psychologist. We both agree that we are not interested in any medications that will chemically assist his body with these struggles at least until he is a little older.

I have decided to start a campaign. " A new Camera for Me" is what I'll call it. It is not that the one I have doesn't work, it is that, the one I want does more- it has more stuff and options and of course- yep, costs more.
I don't have a spare $900 lying around for a camera, a couple of lenses and a couple of tri-pods, (and that's on ebay) so if you do, you can totally send it my way, no questions asked :) or feel free to surprise me, Nikon D90. * wink, wink *

Okay, seriously though- I am willing to hear any ideas on how I can earn the money to get one. I am also looking into taking a couple of photography classes specifically for digital cameras so I can learn to take better pictures and be able to charge people for them. I have been practicing with different lighting, angles and objects, but I think kids are my favorite thing to photograph, especially in natural settings.
Here are some photo's of some very awesome and willing people that I have recently taken. Hoping to find more guinea pigs for my new little hobby / obsession..... any takers?

Spring Break!!

Now, I have no idea what my plan is this week. Probably should have planned something, but instead- I'm going to wing it.
This could be dangerous. Or a lot of fun. Either way, my kids knew that last Friday meant that they had 9 days off. Scary.

Today we begin spring cleaning. I am positive they don't like this, but it must be done. I have the 3 best window washers in the world. I just have to remember to not go over what they just washed while they are still home. This will take a lot of will power, I assure you of that.

Baseball is only 22 days away! Spring is officially here!! Makes me want to do some yard work. Just a little.

Desitin and its many uses

A good indication that something may not be right in your world, could be something as subtle as white foot prints on the carpet.

It could be your side table and it's new temporary paint job.

However, my favorite indication that not all is well, is when your favorite two year old is walking through the house, complaining that he needs the wipes and yet is still lathering himself with his....... um..... yeah, Desitin

And if this was not the best reason ever for a bath and some bubble play time, then maybe a new ritual with your feet where you smash every cookie into the carpet. Yeah, that should do the trick. By the way, you'll want to use Dawn or your other de-greasing dish soap to wash this off with, cause the other stuff just won't work as well.

Where was mom you ask?

Well, I was doing the laundry in the basement in between loading the dishwasher, while talking on the phone with a friend and holding a sick baby.

I know they say terrible two's but I have to admit, the closer to three we get, the more nervous I get.

This fun little moment was brought to you by a quick thinking mommy, a good digital camera and the ability to stay home with my little mess makers.

Baseball Season, here we come!!

Gearing up for Baseball in our house is a special event. It tells us that Winter is over and Summer is coming. We see less of Daddy, but the ballpark becomes our second home.

Yesterday, the kids had a chance to try on a bunch of the T-shirts and hats from the team store, I think we will be spending a lot of money in there this year! C's schedule has turned into 6 days a week and about 70 hours at work. It only gets longer now until September. We will look forward to the times when the team is on the road, but for now, we are just looking forward to Opening Day!! Hot dogs, peanuts, soda and popcorn- YAY!!

Who's ready for Baseball?!!

Beautiful sun shiney days

These last couple of days have been AWESOME. The weather just kept getting better, so we haven't spent hardly anytime in the house. I've neglected the laundry, the dishes and toy room for days. I'm tired of outside now and would like a nap- but the kids have had a blast!

Could Spring actually be here? We have had some great teasers for this wonderful season. Always a welcome site after the winters we get. Yahoo!

Beans and her amazing moves. Look at me mom!

I love the way the wind is blowing through her cute little piggies.

Celebrating a birthday with a friend, KD was enjoying the cake.
Uh, you have something right there.... no, right there. :)

Nooshie and his friend looking at a little waterfall from the bridge

What a great big brother.

Such good little friends :)

Nooshie and his friend at the park

Nooshie and his friend Will, just chilling

Beans and Nooshie at the playground.

KD enjoying a cheeseburger at the park

KD folded her legs up in the swing all by herself, she seemed comfortable so I let her be.

This is her first time in a swing. She could hardly contain her giggles. It was so adorable.

Nooshie sitting all alone on the park bench eating his picnic lunch.

what it must be like

I did well at school today, it seems to be getting better. I don't know why? Maybe because the sun is shining. I'm not very good at reading or writing, but I'm the smartest kid at math. My teacher loves me and is nice to me. I hope she'll still like me when I make a mistake.
I like it when school is over, no more stress and worrying about trying to be so good. I don't know what the big deal is, I do my best, but they keep looking at me and whispering. I know it's about me, everybody talks about me.

Today is nice out and mom says we can go play at the playground.
I like playing outside. There is my friend Jonathon.
Hi Jonathon!
Well, I guess he doesn't want to be my friend anymore.
I don't understand why people don't get it. Why is it so hard to know how I feel inside. They must be stupid or something.
I'm not a retard you know? One kid said I was, but I don't really know what that means anyway.
I can tell you that 12 minus 3 is 9 without even counting or using paper. I'm a smart kid.
My parents love me a lot too. I like to play games with my dad and wrestle with him. He likes to play soccer with me and I beat him a lot. I'm really good. My mom is nice, but she's busy with the baby and cleaning the house. Sometimes I can play with her, but not as much as dad. She's a good cook. I like it when she makes me brownies.

I don't like my sister. she makes everything seem so easy. I'm smarter than her you know? I should be, cause I'm older.
I have a little brother too. He still likes to get in to my stuff and I don't like that.

Why is it so hard having Autism? I don't like the way it makes me feel. I like having friends and being a normal kid. You can't see my Autism, so a lot of people don't understand. It makes me angry and sad. I just wish it would go away.

Dad always tells me he understands. I believe him too.
He has Autism, just like me. One day when I grow up I'm going to be a police man and catch all the bad guys.
signed,
a 7 year old with Aspergers

I wrote this today after I talked with him about his feelings and I wondered what it must really be like in his world. It makes me hurt to know he struggles so much with the things that come so easy to the rest of us. I don't fully understand how he feels, but I do know that it's not easy.
At the playground today, he was happy to be playing with a friend and then that friend ran to go play with someone else. Everyone is Chan's friend, but he doesn't see it that way. He sadly walked away and sat at the fence. I went over and talked with him briefly. He had decided to just sit down because no one wanted to be his friend. I tried to encourage him to go back and play, but I don't understand.
A few minutes later he had a girl from his class come and invite him to play. she got down on his level and she convinced him to go for a walk.
This really melts my heart. I have no idea what it must be like on a daily basis for him, but I wish I did.

Seeing Green

Saturday was our local St. Patty's day parade. C was walking in it with the baseball team, so the rest of us went to show our support. I didn't get any pictures of him cause I was too busy trying to get his attention.
We arranged to go with some friends ahead of time and ended up running into half our ward there. It was a nice day, but we kept to the cold side of the street in the shade because it wasn't as crowded as the warm side.

The Cutest part of the Day:








Now, for the weird stuff. Green dogs, funky hair, big sunglasses but overall a lot of fun!

I found that it is not necessarily the picture I took that was funny, but the people in the background and their expressions to what they were looking at was the best!

The crowd kept moving into the street and the parade only had about 2 car widths to squeeze through - it was nuts!

The hair. Something worth noting, but the expression of the lady in the black is the best :)

This is just for my friend ucmama. This little midget Mexican leprechaun was her favorite. She wanted to take him home, I am almost sure of it :)

The statue is peeing green. which was funny to watch the kids expressions, just like the kid in this picture, but even the dad with the sunglasses enjoyed it- totally made me laugh!

Beans didn't get why her glasses had to be so big. Probably to make her smile look small. What? I'm just sayin..

No words needed.

Happy St. Patricks Day!