Because I was told to...

I am updating. Both hubby and Stephanie made a comment yesterday about how long it had been since I updated. That pesky life thing just gets in the way sometimes.

I wish I could convey how funny Brae is by words on this blog. It is just impossible. Britt came in the other day and said "Mom Brae made me laugh so hard I about peed my pants". I asked what he had done and her reply was "it wasn't anything really but it was just the way he said it"..yep that's my Brae. He keeps us in stitches. His newest thing is anti-woman...lol...first the kids were sitting around talking about our new pediatrician who is a woman. Britt said "There aren't a lot of women doctors" Brae said "That's cause they call them nurses" but just the way he said it cracked me up. The next day we are in the pool goofing off and Britt tells him to do something and he pipes up with "Like I am going to take orders from a woman"...it was so funny. Don't know where he picked up those things and he says them in a funny way so I am not concerned about him being a chauvanist or anything. He is just a funny kid his tone of voice etc just makes it.

Anyway got off subject there for a minute.

This week has not been overly blog worthy. We did have another swim party at Stephanie's yesterday. I made a fish cake. I needed something quick and simple that was still fun. I let the kids pick what they wanted me to do for next week and it is going to take a little more thought and creating.

Hubby got older on Monday, he is now 37! I think he had a good birthday. I wasn't overly thrilled with what we were able to do this year but he got the presents that he had hinted for and got a day with us so what more could he want..LOL.

Here is the cake I made for yesterday and a pic of Matt and the kids playing in the pool.

Weekend Wrap Up

Had a quiet moment so figured I better take advantage of it.

The kids have taken Matt to a movie for Father's Day. So I took advantage of the time and got some housecleaning done. Next is preparing the schedule for the week. Also looking for some good organizing ideas, we are thinking of doing some shifting around in our house. I really need a dedicated home school room unfortunately in this house this is going to be tricky and it is going to mean displacing hubby. Hubby's office is the only available room. We still plan to move but that is about 2-3 years off. So in the mean time we are going to get creative and organized to make more room out of what we have. We are throwing around a few ideas. Just need to think them out some more. I would be so excited to have a room though.

Yesterday we had our dads over for dinner along with my mom, aunt and uncle. It was a fun time. My brother came over for the last time we will see him for a while and played with the kids so they enjoyed their uncle swimming in the pool with them.

This week is looking semi busy especially at the first of the week. Looking forward to another pool time at Stephanie's on Wednesday. I just love her girls and they like me making fun stuff so I have come up with about 4 different ideas that I think they would like. Going to have to make something to take when we go over on Wednesday.

Well instead of rambling on I should really get to preparing for the week.

But before I get busy, Happy Father's Day Matt! I love you! The kids are very lucky. I thought it was very telling in church this morning when the pastor was talking about how the average deep conversation between father and child is less than a minute a day and other sad statistics and Britt said "Wow that isn't like our family". You should be very proud I know I am proud of what a wonderful dad you are.

Pool Party Fun!

Went to Stephanie's today for a pool party it was fun. I made a quick cake to take. We are doing it again next week so I have to come up with something fun to make again. We had to go and get the flower pool float at Big Lots as the kids just loved it. I was in luck that they still had them.

A very large pile of papers

This is a snapshot of the last two years of Braden's medical records. It measures over 4 inches high. Just two years. Trying to get it all organized for Austin, plus going to see a new local pediatrician this week. That was a chore in itself as most pediatrics offices I called were fine with seeing Britt, but to quote one "we don't really accept new sick patients"...hmmm interesting and very aggravating. Anyway finally found one I think we will like I explained to her that we have experts for everything but we simply need someone local for forms, and for colds, etc. As for Austin so much still to prepare and I am not sure how it is going to work out yet but I am trusting that it will.

He knew when to stop talking

I called Brae into the bedroom after finding his closet a complete mess with clothes from the last few days that he was suppose to have put away.

Me: "Brae is there a chore that you have not been doing your best at?"

Brae: (sighing) "Yes the dogs"

Me: "No that wasn't what I was talking about".

Brae: (sighing) "I know I haven't been cleaning my room good"

Me: "Well that wasn't what I was going to talk to you about"

Brae: "Mom I am going to quit telling you things now and you just tell me which one you mean".

Wow Contest

Rocks in My Dryer has a GREAT contest going...20 winners! It is for a great cd pack...really great Wow A set of cd's of the most wonderful Christian Artists!

Because we didn't have enough

Adding another doctor to the mix. Ugh. I am glad and thankful that we are being led where we need to go but I am so overwhelmed and frustrated. We have now added a NEW third doctor to the mix, and may be adding another therapist soon as a new therapy was recommended today. These are just new docs to the already large amount of docs we have on his case.

Just so much to take in. But we have to do something things are going down and we have to try some different things.

So now I am trying to get everything together for this new doctor. He already scored high in my book, whenever a doctor calls me himself I always give him extra points. We haven't physically seen him yet but he is already making recommendations and requesting more information. So we shall see where this leads. We know we will be going to Austin end of July, we don't know how long we will be staying there!

Weekend Wrap Up

Storms and camping are not fun. We left a little early this morning. Glad we did as storms got worse. I did do my 3 miles this morning at the campgrounds it was nice but a lot more hills than my little neighborhood. Also here I do laps as I have measured off how long for a mile, well there I went to one point and then back I realize I like having shorter more measurable points on my run.

Brae had a little bit of a melt down which was the reason we ended up leaving a little early. I am coming up with better ways to deal with things. I had a little conflict with my mother on how we handled it but they are just going to have to understand sometimes issues with Brae have to be handled different.

Going to be a busy upcoming week as friends are in from Texas. So busy but fun as her kids are same ages as mine. Her daughter has health issues as well so it is always nice to talk too. She also does the gluten free diet which we are pursuing with Brae so it will be nice to have her to bounce things off of.

Update on the speech insurance issue is they have denied us again, so we are having to cut back to one day a week and do yet another appeal. Ugh so frustrating I have heard lots of people complaining about United Healthcare as well. Hopefully hubby's company won't use them next year.

Lots to do to get ready for the week and all I want to do is sit around and do nothing.

rain

Thankful for my phone with internet.

Oh and camping with drizzling rain is even more fun. (add sarcasm when read!)

3 miles and more camping

I haven't said much about it but I have been walking/running every morning in my constant goal to get healthier and lose some weight. Yesterday I reached the goal of 3 miles. I was so excited. Of course now it is 5:40 the morning after and I am about to have to do it again and I am like owwowwoww. But still feels good.

After my run we will be heading to camping...oh joy (sarcasm implied)..LOL. It shouldn't be quite so bad this time we shall see. Both kids are so excited as is hubby so I will be a happy camper for them..lol

Insomnia

It has actually been awhile since I had a post with that title. But it has hit me tonight. Which actually maybe okay as it will allow me to get some stuff done.

The kids have spent sometime with my mom this week as she has been off work all week. I had lots of plans on getting things done but of course I didn't get to half of it.

Tuesday night we went to the rodeo I haven't been in years. Little known fact about me is I barrel raced in high school. I so enjoyed watching it after all these years brought back the memories of our first year moving here and my grandpa setting up the barrels and teaching me. I didn't stick with it but it was fun and some very nice memories. Braden wasn't crazy about the rodeo, Britt however absoluetly loved it.

Last night the kids got in the pool for the first time. I stuck it out for a little bit but it was still pretty chilly for me.

Camping is on the agenda again for this weekend. This time I am not quite as bad dreading it as hubby will be there. So I am thinking I wont dislike this time quite as bad as last time...or at least I am hoping that I wont.

Now I better put this insomnia to good use and get somethings accomplished.

Weekend

We didn't do a lot of activities this weekend but it was a nice weekend. Hubby was on call this weekend.

Saturday we had a cookout at our house, MIL was a no show and kind of ticked hubby off but I think he is starting to just ignore her which is good, because it makes me furious when she upsets him and I don't let go of things quite as I should sometimes.

Sunday was church and grabbing some food on the way home.

We have basically just had family time which is nice. We all four got to ride our bikes together yesterday. Brae was so cute, he can't start on his own going uphill yet but he can going down so he says "you guys start and I will be right there" so he turns his bike opposite ours and starts downhill then turns and goes uphill with the rest of us. It is cute he is doing so good. He had to show off his skills to Nana and Papa on Saturday as well.

Busy preparing and researching for our trip to Austin with the new doctors. Learning all I can about the world of aspergers autism. I was disappointed that the closest awareness walk to us is about 3 hours away this year. Hmmm may have to work on that next year, because we all know I need more to do..LOL. But I do see a need for more support functions etc for autism in the area. Toys R Us definetly has my business as they are such a huge supporter of autism as is Nascar. I am thankful Braden is so extremely high functioning but the more I learn the more I see that he deals with somethings that he doesn't express.

Well this Memorial Day has us getting some rain. Hubby and I went out to walk a mile and he wimped out on me after one lap, he did rejoin me on the third lap but it gives me something to tease him about. The rest of the day will includes games and being together sounds like a great day to me.

Pioneer Projects

We are studying Oklahoma History over the summer. We started with some fun projects today while talking about early settlers.

We made a tomahawk and a quill pen. Kids loved these projects.

Day at home and curriculium purchased!

I keep thinking okay after this things will slow down. Nope just something else time consuming takes it's place. Ugh. Oh well. Good news is today is a stay home day. These are few and far between so we will enjoy it to the fullest. We are going to do some fun school stuff in regards to Oklahoma History, and the kids are wanting to bake something other than those things and cleaning house not much planned. I am sure we will bike ride as that has become a daily thing.

On the home school front I now have all my curriculium for next year. I have never changed things up so much or used from so many different sources but I think both the kids and I will enjoy it. For those that don't home school you don't know the relief of finally having curriculium picked and bought. For both kids we are doing Science Apologia this year is Botany, Story of the World for History, Reason for Spelling and Cursive Connections for handwriting. Britt is using Teaching Textbooks for Math, Abeka for English, Abeka for Reading, Write on Target for Creative Writing, and an art that I know what I want just haven't went back and got it yet. Brae is using Horizons math, Language Practice for English, Write a Story for Creative Writing, and the Scardy Car Program for Reading. Also with Britt doing Rosetta stone for Spanish. Brae will continue to work on his speech excercises as well so it looks like she has a lot more than him but really it evens out. Of course Britt would do 10 more classes if I let her, Brae on the other hand would do nothing if I would let him, those two are night and day!

I am off to get the house cleaning done and enjoy the day.

Made it

I camped for two nights. I made it through but I am so not going back.

Actually it wasn't that bad just really not my thing.

Britt had a blast as did the other girls. I had fun visiting with the other moms and canoing. I was glad to get home shower and take a nap.

Hubby is taking the kids to see Narnia and I plan to curl up and read a book and be glad I am not camping out tonight.

Trying to work up enthusiasm. *update

Trying to get excited about camping but lets see bugs, mud, hot sticky air, tents, enthusiasim is hard to come by for this girl. I may live outside the city but I am a definiety city girl. I have always dreaded camping even in an RV so not my thing. But who can resist a little girl who is counting on her mom leading her girl scout troop. Definitly not me. So this afternoon I will load the vehicle down with everything on the list. Also the contraband ice chest...I usually only drink water but I am thinking this camping trip calls for something a little stronger so I am statshing a seperate ice chest with Dr. Pepper and chocolate.

Hopefully you will hear from me Saturday evening...we shall see if I survive 2 nights camping. Britt is chomping at the bit excited me I am chomping at the bit to get it over. Awww the things we do for our kids.

* about an hour before we leave my family is making fun of me for painting my fingernails and toenails. Hubby also couldn't believe I was taking makeup...if nothing else this should be an interesting trip.

Forced to slow down

I have been on high stress level for a few days now. Well yesterday I got knocked down, migraine. My body's way of saying slow down or I will do it for you. Not a nice way to have to take a break. I had to call hubby why I was driving and told him to talk to me so I could concentrate and make it home. It was bad and getting worse. Ended up at home with meds, ice and a short nap. I had a committment in the evening I couldn't get out of but hubby drove me. I made it good through it but by the time I was back home I was hurting again. So more meds and a night sleep. Feeling better this morning but have that post migraine hangover. Ugh so taking it slower today as well.

Good news though, some of you know we have been trying like crazy people to get Brae into a group of doctors in Texas. I think I could have become and FBI agent easier than getting him in here. But all worth it he is in! Now we have some other things to worry about but hey he is in so we can worry about the rest after a few days of celebrating the fact that he is in.

At this point I just shake my head

Britt and Brae were having a tiff over the fact that Britt wanted Brae to play with her, she had set stuff up etc. Brae didn't want to. I went over my sister and brother forever blah blah speech and that he could play for 30 minutes his response:

"Mom if we are going to be together forever what does it hurt to put off this playing for 30 minutes it sounds like we are going to have lots of time later".

That boy, I tell you if I just had a video camera on him and uploaded the videos several times a day he could keep everyone giggling. His expression was just priceless.

I told him play he still had to play and the response to that: "not fair since we have to be around each other forever, we will need stuff to do later".

I am telling you so far I have no gray hair but it can't be far away with that boy and his answers for everything.

No rest

Good thing rest was not on my want list for Mother's Day, because that did not happen this weekend.

What did happen was lots of fun.

Saturday morning we started out with a little birthday gathering at Chuckee Cheese (this isn't the fun part..LOL). From there we attended the Renaissance Festival held at the castle in Muskogee. I am not a big mid evil history buff, and was only half heartedly into it. However hubby had been wanting to go and we needed to go towards Muskogee anyway so decided to go to the festival too.
I was pleasantly surprised. Brae of course loved it because he is so into swords and weapons. We all enjoyed it and the rain held off until we were leaving the parking lot.

Sunday morning I was woke up with two dozen peach roses and breakfast in bed. Britt made my omelet herself. Also got the movie 27 dresses. The kids had went to Dairy Queen on Saturday morning and got to decorate an ice cream cake themselves. Which has prompted Britt to decide her first job when she turns 16 is going to be cake decorating at Dairy Queen.On to mom and dad's for a huge lunch. Kids drove the tractor, played with the animals, and had some Nana and Papa time. I was in for yet another surprise when I found out hubby had made reservations at the Japanese Steakhouse. The kids had never been before, I was worried that they would not like it at all. I don't think the food is something they would ask for often but they did love to see the cooking done.

So we had fun, and ate a lot of food this weekend. Lots of pics in flickr.

FInishing up the school year

We are finishing up the last of things I want to finish for this school year. We will then take a little break and start back again in mid to end of June in all our new books.

Today we finished up our Apologia Science (my favorite favorite science book). All this year we have studied Astronomy. Our last project was to build a model of the International Space Station. Not even close to the picture we had of it but we had lots of fun today.

Of course Brae thinks since we are done with Astronomy we should be done with everything for the whole summer. Not going to happen I told him. He said "Well I had to try to get out of school mom or I wouldn't be me". How true that is.

Determined to catch up.

Silly as it may seem I have still not completely caught up from being gone two weeks. Yesterday I was like things have gotten out of my control (work, house, etc). So starting this morning getting it all back together. New chore charts are listed, I got up early going to put an hour or so into work. I have got to get back where I feel in control at least somewhat of things. Ugh vacation was wonderful but it seems we are running crazy since.

It doesn't help that there are things going on every single weekend in May. Lots of stuff not on weekends as well.

Next weekend I will be camping...me. Those that know me well know camping is SO NOT my thing. It's for girl scouts and since I am a co leader I sorta have to be there...eek. Brae on the other hand is looking forward to me and his sister going camping. He said "Dad and I are going to party!"...I was joking around and I said "No you are just going to sit around and miss me"...He said "I can miss you while I am playing video games"..that boy!

Birthday

All in all a good birthday I believe. He said it was. Currently they are out in the tent in the backyard. We started the day with yummy blueberry pancakes, and Braden got to see his room and present, then off to pic up his friend and sister, then to the park. From the park it was Chuckee Cheese to meet a home school friend and her kids along with the ones that were already with me. After picking up his cookie we came home. Hubby had the tent already set up. Ended up having a few more people drop in. We ate junk food (which is a huge treat for Brae as we usually try to keep things fairly healthy). He ended up getting lots of fun stuff and some cards, and money that I will take him out to spend on Wednesday. I told him he was growing up so fast he said: "Don't worry mom I will always be your baby, just don't call me a baby in front of people, okay"..it's a deal. Here are a few pics from the day and of his room.

 

Nine!!

I want time to slow down, you are growing up so very fast.
I remember the day I had you and how scared I was for you and how hard so many people prayed for you.
I remember waiting 7 days before I could touch your skin through the little hole in the NICU bed.
I remember the pure joy of the day we got to bring you home, the first of many times you would beat the odds given to you by medical doctors.
I remember that we use to sign language I love you to each other but you loved to be a little stinker and instead of saying I love you and pointing to me you would point to the chair and then laugh and laugh. Yes you started out young giving Mom a hard time.
You will probably never know how many times I have to turn my head and bite the inside of my jaw so I don't laugh out loud at you (because it shouldn't be funny but it usually is so funny). You make me laugh, your dimpled smile makes my day brighter.
I admire your strength, you are so strong and you face problems that would bring adults to their knees, but not you. Of course you will face just about anything if a prize is offered at the end!
You are my boy and I love you so much! To the moon and back and back and back...

I got lots of hugs

I got back home about 4 today and was hugged and hugged by the kiddos. I was only away one night but they aren't use to it so they missed me. Of course the hugs may have been a way to try to peak into the bags to look for surprises.

I tried to convince Braden that the home school books I bought from the convention were his surprise but he didn't go for that.

My friend and I had a good time. I got some stuff for the next grades, and ideas of what I want to order and will get all that done hopefully in a week or so. We got to see the movie Made of Honor, it was very cute. I really enjoyed it.

Now home and tired and have a kid hugged up to my side, oh well for now I will take the extra loving.

I am sure partying is planned..LOL

Kids and Matt are on their own tomorrow and Saturday. Matt brought in several bags of chips for snacks....I just cringe at the thought of all the junk they will consume, but oh well I am sure they will have lots of fun with daddy time.

I am on my way to the Oklahoma Homeschool Convention. Just me and another mom. We also plan to hit up a Target, you know that is a have too since we don't have one here.

I am wanting to check out lots of different curriculium and make some decisions for next year. It will be nice to have girl time. Also planning on seeing the new movie "Maid of Honor" since we are pretty sure our husbands won't object to missing that one..LOL.

Maybe I should have planned the timing better

I have been back home a week still playing catch up on work, home school, etc add to that getting ready to go out of town Friday and Saturday and it is a busy week.

Well Brae's birthday is Monday and he wants a new bedroom. A "hangout room" in his words, because we all know how many people we have over to hangout in the soon to be 9 year old boys room, but oh well that is what he wanted so I made a plan to totally redo his room this week.

Problem is his room was a dark green color and one wall was covered in camo wallpaper (which covered the first bedroom theme the animal mural that I painstakingly painted upon our move into this house). Anyway turning out to be a lot more work than I thought. Of course I couldn't find the right color large floor pillows I wanted so I am sewing them, not a huge project but just another added. Thankfully thankfully my wonderful hubby has been doing the majority of the painting and is almost done. Then I will have to get the new bookshelf in there and put the new accents (all Tony Stewart stuff), new comforters and the big birthday present (shh...he is getting a tv...he has been asking and we have been saying well not right now)..I know he is going to love it all. He only thinks we are painting in there. He has no clue the plan to change the theme. He had asked and I told him I would try to make it more of a hang out room but didn't know if I could change the army theme. So it should be a big surprise when he walks in in Monday morning.

So it should all be worth it when he loves it but right now it is making my week even nuttier and I keep thinking ugh I should not have taken this on.

Having trouble catching up

This morning doing school time with Brae and I had gotten onto him a few times to get with the program he says:

"Mom I don't think my brain knows we are back from vacation it is still in vacation mode".

Bike Riding

Planted

The first year we moved in this house we went crazy planting flowers. After that first Summer however we basically haven't been home, Brae has had several procedures around the beginning of summer, we spent 5 weeks one Summer in Arizona so on and so forth so basically mowing and the greenery trimmed has been as good as it gets for the yard the last several summers.

This summer I am throwing caution to the wind and planting flowers. Not just a few either 3 flats so far. I want flowers, I need them. Hubby and I have been working all morning they look so pretty. May not have been the smartest move since it too looks like this summer we may end up spending some time away from home so that Brae can receive some special care but oh well it will still be worth it. Reminds me of the first year we moved in here so excited about having a house. It was also nice to work side by side with hubby all morning. So we have flowers, we are still up in the air if we will be away a good chunk of the summer or not but for right now we have flowers and they are so pretty.

Now I am thinking of doing nothing else the rest of the day...ugh except that won't work because I have a certain boy who is turning 9 in about a week who wants his room redone so wall paper stripping is next. eek.

He can find an excuse

I am determined to get Brae riding a bike. He will turn 9 in a little over a week. His doctor has said this is an important thing as the more he would ride it helps the cells in the brain act together because of the motions, etc. The problem he is so resistant always has been it seems every year we drag out the bike usually brand new and if it is outgrown we get a new one. Every year we give up. Not this year. The main reason he has never learned is during his younger years 3-6 he was at his sickest times and just couldn't. Now he can, even though it will be hard for him because of balance issues etc physically he should be able to do it. Mentally he is blocked. Britt was spending the night at my parents last night and he wanted to stay home so hubby and I pulled out the bike we bought last summer. Brae who by reading this blog you know can always come up with something picks this time to read the warning labels on the bike. "Oops can't ride at night", well that didn't work since it was only 6:30, we heard all kinds of things "the seat gives him a wedgie", "his legs hurt", "he doesn't want us to get tired"...on and on. He actually had me laughing coming up with so many things. But the bottom line is we are going to have to get this bike riding down. He even told me I didn't know how to ride so I had to get on a bike and ride to prove that once you learn you always know. He did okay but his balance is so tricky for him. Have to think of some great motivators, I thought having a friend in the neighborhood now that rides his bike would help but no Brae's response "legs are better than wheels I can just run"...lol.

Missing about the cruise

I miss leaving a messy room and coming back to it being spotless.

Reality is a hard reentry..LOL..ugh had to cook tonight, and then on top of that clean yuck. Glad I decided to wait to start back school till next week.

The cruise

I cannot say enough what a good time we had. I defintely think the cruise is most assuredly worth the money paid for it. I learned several things in planning and packing for the cruise. One thing I had heard several times was that it was cheaper to go directly through Disney rather than a travel agency. I found that to be untrue in comparing with others we received the best deal using the Your Magical Journeys agency and it is a free agency. With that said we will definiety be doing this again.

We cruised on the Disney Magic. It is apparently going into dry dock in September to get totally redone. I heard several comments about it looking worn, etc I thought it was all very nice and I can just imagine how beautiful it will be after September.

We arrived at the terminal early as we had heard this was the best way to get the most out of the vacation. We were allowed on the boat at around noon. The kids thought it was so neat the way they announce you. We ate lunch on the ship and were able to get in our room about 1:30, our luggage arrived about 2:30 this gave us some time to get things organized before the sail away party at 4:00.

We used the childrens Bonine for the kids it is chewable and worked well. Matt and I had gotten prescription patches, none of us really had any problems.

The food was amazing. So much of it too. There was a midnight dessert buffet with flowing fountains of white and dark chocolate...yum.

We visited 3 ports of call St. Marteen, St. Thomas and Disney's island Castaway Cay.

One thing Brae chose to do was called a sky jump. He did this at the island of St. Thomas.

Here is just a snap shot of the cruise ship we took it from the mountain top where Brae did his jumping.

Drive to Florida and my thoughts on the Nickelodeon resort

I have to say the ride to Florida was a lot of fun. Hubby had made Cd's with a lot of 80's and early 90's songs. Hubby kept laughing at me as I recalled my friends and I calling in certain songs to boys to a radio request line. Britt kept saying "Mom you do know this song makes no sense (songs like Walk Like an Egyptian, etc)". Brae liked bugging his sister by singing those songs and quickly learning the dance moves. It was a fun way to pass the time. The kids and I decided my taste in songs was better than their dads!

We drove really hard the first day and then the next day only had a few hours to go. We had to make a detour and go through Atlanta to pick up a part from the Sony store for our camera. Never have to worry about us wanting to go to Atlanta I still think Austin is the worse traffic city but eek Atlanta was a close close second it was not a favorite stop of ours.

I know that flying would get us places faster but I really do think I prefer the car trips. The kids are both very good travelers and I love hearing them being imaginative in the back seat.

Our first two nights of vacation were spent in Orlando at the Nickelodeon resort. I had read a lot of mixed reviews and I have to say I to am mixed on what I thought of it. Yes it was fun, but it was also over priced and over hyped. The water park was great fun, the other activities did not seem to be as well organized, staff was not helpful (a sharp contrast to the wonderfulness of Disney staff that was even more apparent as the trip went on. The kids loved it, Matt and I enjoyed our time there but I don't know that we would necessarily do it again especially at the rates (and we received a good deal and paid less than many others we spoke too and I still feel we overpaid).

A few of my fav cruise pics

These are a few of my favs. I am adding more to flickr...hubby went ahead and scanned them in for me tonight and I needed an excuse to sit down and quit unloading bags so they are getting put up tonight.

Made it home

Back at the house.
Still haven't loaded anymore pics on flickr. I have to get the ones I did put on more organized. It will be a day or two, ugh I am not looking forward to getting caught up. I am exhausted and do not want to do much of anything right now, but I know tomorrow will be catching up, unpacking, and lots of errands. I will update more in a day or so and try to get some more pics scanned in (the ones that weren't taken with the digital).

Back on Land

We are back on land. Docked this morning. We had a just wonderful time. It was beyond words how great a time we had, how much we did, the time together, it was all wonderful! We spent today at the Space Center which deserves it's own post, still in Florida and will head towards home tomorrow.

I am dumping photos into flickr, not even labeling them yet, I will go back and do that another time. I plan on updating with lots of details of each day and stories but that will probably wait till we are back at home which should be sometime Monday, and then of course a few days to get things together again, but I will be sharing all about it. Till then check out flickr and here are a few ...

Checking In

I have over 200 pics to enter into flickr but the connection from laptop to computer wireless system is not fast enough so I may have to wait to load pics until Saturday night when we are at the hotel near the space center.

All in all it is a wonderful trip. Kids are having so much fun.

This morning was funny Braden wakes up it is only about 7:20 but he is like "oh no mom oh no, the sun is already up"...haha...he is so used to waking up at 6 or so to a dark outside. But when you are staying up late and going all day sleeping in even an hour is very good.

Matt and Britt did Karaoke last night I missed it because poor Brae got sunburnt yesterdary and he didn't feel much like partying once it got later so we watched a movie in the stateroom.

We loved the Golden Mickeys show last night, and dinners are wonderful, even though it all sounds so weird to me on the menu and I try to order the most normal sounding. Matt is being very adventerous and has tried all kinds of things including octopus...ewww. Tonight they are having escargot and he is wanting to try those the kids and I are not as adventerous.

I have taken tons of pics, pics of the foods, the kids, the awesome view. I have some really cute ones of the kids dancing at the dance party. Britt and I went to Alice's tea party yesterday. Today is bingo, a character dance party and a bunch more things.

Tomorrow we will be at our first port of call St. Marteen. The parasailing is still booked up at castaway cay so Brae and I won't be doing that. Everything else we had prebooked but that I was unsure because of his size, apparently it would have been fine but I am kinda relieved since I would have been the one that had to go up with him...but I did tell him we would do it at some point in our lives, maybe he will be lots older by then and have friends to parasail with..lol.

All in all we are having a blast and enjoying our time together immensley.

Swiper

We went to the Nick Live show tonight. Brae was picked out of the audience to help with a game. He got to be Swiper the Fox and collect coconuts (brown balloons) in a basket. He won and was so excited to have been picked.

Getting Slimed at Nickelodeon

Matt stood with the kids in the crowd to get slimed so he had the water camera so once that is developed we will have more pics of the slime. There are some in flickr showing their green eyebrows after the slime but then all cleaned off and having fun again in the pool. Hubby and I are enjoying the water slides as much as the kids. It is fun. Tonight we are off to a show here at the resort. Tomorrow morning we head for the ship!

Pics from our Nicktoons Breakfast

yoga

We are still at the Nick hotel. Kids are currently in arcade but I had to share our morning.

We noticed yesterday that they had a parents/kids yoga class. Britt has been wanting to do it so I signed all 4 of us up.

3 of us liked it. One didnt. Hmmmm yep Brae. It was so comical I could hardly do the yoga because everytime I would look over at him he was making a fist at me and saying "you will pay", "I am going to get you", etc. So needless to say he doesn't like yoga and he has threatned me if I ever make him do it again.

Off for more fun!

In Orlando

We made it to Orlando.

Bad news from home lots of storm damage. Our house is fine as hubby checked in with his mother who is staying at the house. Unfortunately one of the wonderful families in our homeschool group lost their home, they have 6 children.
Other than feeling very bad for the awful storms at home the trip is going well.

We did some shopping in downtown disney today. We checked into the Nickelodeon resort, we played at the waterpark and ordered pizza for dinner. The kids got slimed here at the nick hotel which they LOVED, we took pics with a disposable water camera so don't have those pics yet, did take some pics with the digital but haven't even messed with getting them off the camera yet. We are all tired after driving, then sun and fun.

Allergic to pampering???

I am not a really big pamper myself girl, however in preparation for this trip I have done a few things.

First off is tanning. That didn't go well 3 minutes and I was burnt to a crisp, and not just once it didn't help when I went back no it happened again and again.

Today I had a manicure and pedicure appointment. Manicure went good, then I put my feet in the whirlpool thing and she added some kind of lotion soap, well I was sitting there thinking wow I wonder if I have a bite or something on my ankle it is stinging. She took my feet out and I noticed my right ankle was really swollen, she was starting to paint my toenails and then my left foot started tingling. It was just a few minutes from my house by the time I got home I had broke out in a rash my arms and head were itching my ankles and feet were swollen. I downed some Benedryl and hubby was preparing for an ER trip but the Benedryl got into my system and I started feeling better. Don't have a clue what I was allergic too.

So I am thinking my pampering is jinxed, or I am allergic too it. I have a massage booked on the cruise ship but not so sure I should keep the appointment with the way my luck is going..LOL

Tomorrow

We leave tomorrow. We are going to be hard pressed not to wake up and head out at 2 am we are all so excited. I told hubby if my insomnia kicks in everyone else can get in the car and sleep and I can drive!

Have the check list going. Went over stuff with MIL who will be house sitting (that may be a whole other post when I return, but hopefully it will all go smoothly there are specific reasons we are allowing it and I hope it goes okay). The suitcases are ready to be put in this evening. Going today to the errands pharmacy, banking, important things like pedicure..lol.

Tomorrow we will drive the day away stopping in Albany, GA for the night. After that it is on to the Nick Resort, Saturday we get on the Disney Cruise Ship for 7 days, back to Florida to dock and going to the space center then we will begin our way back home. I haven't decided if I am too cheap to do internet on the ship or not, may do some and post a few pics here and there. If I don't then I know the first night after we are back in port and out of the space center we will post post post.

Braden said "I love you mom and I love your plans but I am ready to do the plans instead of planning more"...LOL that is so true I am ready too!

Crock Pot Cooking

Everyone who knows me knows I like my crock pot, I use it a lot and sometimes even have two going, I have posted recipes before. So I would have said I loved my crockpot however now I am changing myself to just really liking to use my crockpot because I found a blogger who truly loves her crock pot. Her new years resolution is to use her crockpot everyday. I just scanned through some of it but I will be checking it out again: CrockPot365

Tidbits of this and that

Okay not anything major to post and just a few little things that really don't need there own post so here goes, bullet style:

* We leave early Wednesday morning, we have been planning for so long it seems amazing that it is finally here. A real vacation, not a doctors appointment in another state that we make as fun as we can, nope a real vacation no cell phones!

* MIL is housesitting for us, due to some issues of where she is currently staying with BIL and SIL, not sure how I feel about this one, and I am hopeful it goes okay, I think hubby and I have thought of most potential issues and came up with people to watch, do stuff, etc in regards to those.

* Today and tomorrow I am working retail. Yikes it has been years and years since I have done that (college). My friend is assistant manager at a store that is having a big sale and they have extra people to come in during the big sales. I figured it was extra money right before vacation.

* Kids spent that night at Nana and Papa's last night so hubby and I got some unwind time.

* Brae cracked me up the other night but there is no way to tell the story in such a way to convey the funninest that is Brae. He walked into our bedroom and he had a nail buffer thing. He says "mom can I use this on my feet". I was like why. He said "Mom they are getting rough like you know when you get old"...just his expression and mannerism was so funny, just can't convey. I talked him into some lotion and putting socks on. It was just funny that his dry feet were such a concern to him and the getting old part the way he said it.

* The to do lists for today and the next 3 are in place, and then we are outta here.

World Autism Day

I almost missed posting on this today, but I had to get a post up. Today is in fact World Autism Day.

I have to say CNN has done some wonderful programing today and has wonderful facts on their site. Larry King's program was wonderful and I have to say that my level of respect was already very high for Jenny McCarthy but it is even higher. I am in agreement with her as far as I do not consider myself anti vaccine, but anti schedule.

Very moving for me to watch this, and think back to that fever that at the time of Brae's vaccination, all the things I never knew. I am so thankful that someone out there like Jenny McCarthy is in our community. I also want people to understand that people are not saying all Autism is triggered by vaccines but at this time it is the number one trigger. I really liked this site on vacinations I look at how hard Brae has worked to speak, be social, etcetera. The way Jenny McCarthy explained it her son is not cured but recovered because he had to fight back after the vaccine triggered her son's Autism. Also one of the most powerful statements she made on behalf of the Autism foundation today "You may have silenced some of our children but you will never silence us".

Fools Day Recap

The kids worried all day about what I was going to pull on them for April Fools. I think we all got each other a few times. It was fun. Dinner however was the best if I do say so myself..lol. I had told the kids we were having koolaid, taco salad and cake. And we did...except the koolaid was jello firmly set up, the cake was meatloaf, and taco salad was an ice cream sundae. They loved it all and it was fun. The first pic is of the meal the second of them trying to "drink" their drink before figuring out it wasn't going to happen.

The weekend

Home from OKC, we had a great time and we all really liked my cousin's fiance. We ate way too much food but we also walked alot (Botanical Gardens, mall, etc) so maybe it all evened out. Here are some pics from the weekend and lots more in flickr. Now to get ready for big vacation that is in like 9 days...eek.
 

Silver Tounged

I think some people are just born to be salespersons.
I met one of those born to be salespersons.
I had decided to tan a little for the trip. I am not a tanning person indoor or outdoor just never have been. However I am white white and this trip I thought okay a little color. I looked up online the places in town picked one, told hubby that it was some kind of super bed and how much 3 sessions were. I called made the appointment.
I tell you I walked in told them who I was talked to the guy and it is all just a blur. I literally left the counter walked into the waiting area and was like "what did I just do". I don't even know I just know he talked and it was the best deal in the world and before I knew it I was entering my pin number, purchased some expensive lotion and bought 10 sessions!! Ten, I was suppose to buy 3. I called hubby, he must have heard my dismay because he thought it was all funny. I told him I seriously do not know why I just agreed okay whatever, good thing it wasn't like a car place or something. So no going to sign up for things alone because obviously I am a sucker for a good salespitch.

Hip?

I took Britt with me yesterday evening shopping for some things I desperately need for vacation.
We were laughing and cracking jokes in the dressing room I tried on a dress and I asked her if she liked it and she said yes. So I did a little dance thing and said "Yep it makes me look young and hip".
Her reply (complete with eye roll): Well it did before you did that move and said the word hip, because that is so not cool"...LOL.
I also got told on several occasions what my clothes told me sometimes it wasn't very flattering "Mom that looks like something your granny wouldn't wear" or "Mom that says I am not able to dress myself and my husband picked it out"...that one actually cracked me up.
I hate that time is passing by so fast but I am loving this new stage too where her and I can go shopping and have fun. Brae was very grateful that he didn't have to go shopping and I was grateful I didn't have to watch him continuosly put his hands around his neck and tell me he was dying because of shopping..LOL.

This and that

Britt and I are battling yet another cold. Of course with it being 34 one day and 72 a day later I think that explains it.

Saturday we hosted everyone here. I had woke up with a sore throat but it wasn't too bad yet. I made a turkey, in-laws came as well as my family, aunt and uncle too. The kids got to hunt eggs in the back yard it wasn't quite as mushy as the front yard. Dinner was good after everyone left we decided to go for a walk, hubby tried to walk Brae's dog but that dog will have nothing to do with a leash he will lay there and lay there. I have even tried just putting it on him in the back yard and leaving it on, he will just lay there. So anyway Matt got to hold a dog and walk.

Both Britt and I were pretty under the weather on Sunday so we did not get to attend church as we had planned. However we did have some wonderful times at home. Saturday we had started making our resurection cookies so we finished those off Sunday as well as an egg hunt using the resurection eggs in the living room. Their baskets were filled with goodies. Hubby made up a scavenger hunt for their Easter present from us. Britt got the set of 3 American Girl movies, the one I have seen so far Molly was good, and I hope to get more of these type movies for her.

15 days till we leave on our vacation and yikes I am starting to panic. Have to get work all caught up and ready to go before I leave, show another girl how to handle major crisis things while I am away. We have lots and lots to do before we go. I am going to have to do some very creative packing to get everything shoved in the suitcases.

They are staying at Nana and Papa's!

My mom and dad got the kids something for Easter. I opened the door and saw them and was like NO WAY, it was quickly explained to me that they are for Nana and Papa's house. So with that meet Snowflake (with Brae) and Floppy (with Britt).

Almost had to build an ark

It has rained and rained, my front yard looks like I could go fishing.

Hopefully it will stay dry a few days with some sun and let us dry out.

A friend of mine is still stuck at home because she lives out in the country and her roads were literally washed away and the one that wasnt is still under water.

Our egg hunt will be in the house this year, otherwise we will be up to our ankles in mud.

Her painting

My computer is totally not working as far as using a usb so I am borrowing hubby's laptop which I despise. I at least wanted to throw up a few pics but even that is not working. I did not get good ones of Brae so I will have to hit up some people that I know took pics. Also have to get some pics of Brittney's puppet show that I thought was so cute. Britt loved learning about puppets in her coop class. At least one pic Britt with her first place art painting.

Maybe I can get a breath soon

What a week.

I made it through my first time as home school coop director. What an experience, mostly all good, a few times I got my feelings hurt, and one or two situations that I was like eek. All in all a good experience, of course a couple of the kids were like we wish coop went for longer. Me not so much, but I do think I will be excited again for Fall coop. I also survived speaking in front of around 160 people...eek.

I have some pics of course to share but my computer is still acting up, but soon I will get some pics up.

Big Britt news she won the 1st prize in the home school art fair for 3rd-5th grade. She was very excited she got a cash prize and her painting will be displayed at the main library at some point. So she was pretty excited.

Had a field trip to Kopper Kettle Candies and got to see them making peanut brittle and truffles, I think I gained 5 pounds walking through the place.

Last night mom and dad kept the kids and Matt and I went to a town about 45 minutes from her so I could shop at a Target. Found some super cute Easter stuff for Britt, not so much for Brae he is so much harder to buy for.

A busy week, and I have to have to get caught up on my freelance paralegal work this weekend as I am about to drown but hoping that once I get that caught up and now that coop is done I will be able to breathe. Of course vacation is coming and that will be a nice breath of air!

Easter Party Fun

Today we had a Easter party with 3 other home school moms. It was so fun it is such a great group of moms and kids. I got to make the fun food which you know I love to do!

Weekend Wrap Up

Well my picture thing is still messed up, hopefully I can share pics soon of the snow, and of the basketball all star ceremony.

Hubby made it home on Friday, 3 hours later than expected because of snow, but at least he made it home. I was so sick I could barely drive to the airport to get him. I had an awful stomach virus. Which now hubby has as his welcome home!

Saturday night we went to town as Britt was chosen from her team as the all star and they held a ceremony. She didn't win the overall all star, she did win a 3rd place medal that she is very proud of. They gave all the all star girls bags of goodies too. Matt escorted her onto the stage and let me just tell you she wanted off that stage as fast as she got on it.

Sunday we did get some stuff accomplished. Apparently also my hubby has developed an allergy to something in crab cakes, he has eaten them before but this time he broke out, lips started swelling, this on top of the stomach bug he caught from me and he went to bed early tonight.

This time change will keep me messed up for a few days. Busy week ahead, I know that is normal, but still this one seems busier than usual. I am hoping after this week I will be able to breathe a little more. We shall see.

Snow snow snow

Glad we got to go outside for the 72 degree weather on Saturday since we got snow today. It is still coming down it is beautiful but I am sure hoping it does not interfere with my hubby coming home tomorrow.

The kids and I ended up with a snow day, didn't have to go anywhere, played in the snow, snowball fight. We had also set our bowls on the back patio table as soon as it started snowing so we got to make snow ice cream. Kids loved it. They had to save some for hubby (sorry sweetie not so sure how it tastes after you have to freeze it, but you have some waiting for you!).

I did get Brae's room cleaned good, and all his clothes gone through. So that was a major thing marked off the list.

Now going to find out when this snow is suppose to end, but of course the news channel has changed their mind 10 times so I don't really think they know.

Oh I tried to post pics and something is wrong with my usb port, so couldn't get them to work. Maybe later.

Made it through crazy day

Okay we made it through our day yesterday, Britt and I didn't get to bed till midnight so we are dragging this morning, because Brae had to be dropped off from my parents at 6:00 this morning.

Britt and I saw the Broadway Musical Hairspray last night. I have to say I really enjoyed it. However, there were several very adult lines that made me cringe in the fact that Britt was watching it. She asked a question about one, but then got distracted and the others seemed to go over her head. I had never seen the movie so I didn't even know the storyline. There were tons of kids there so I wasn't the only mom that probably cringed a few times. All in all though we had a great time and both really enjoyed the show.

Today not as crazy but I just found out apparently weather forecast has changed and now they are saying a big deal of snow for this afternoon? I had no clue it was nice yesterday afternoon tis par for the course around here.

Hubby comes back tomorrow and we are all ready. Except I need to do some housecleaning before he makes it back, I did good at the beginning of the week but I am slacking now.

Pajamas to Crazy

Yesterday was pajama day fairly relaxing until I ended up babysitting last night 2 extras and having to get them around this morning. But anyway if yesterday was pajama day then today must be deemed crazy day. Here is a synopsis of the day:
9:00 out the door
9:30-11:30 bible study/kids bible groups
11:30-12:15 lunch with group
12:30 Brae Speech
1:00 run a sack of books to bookshoppe (not enough time to run home)
1:45 Brae eye doctor (normal time is 2 hours there)
3:45ish out of there get kids a snack, run to Walgreens, eye glass place, return an item to WalMart and to Pennys (has to go back today because otherwise it will be past the 3 month mark)
5:00 drop Brae at my dads
5:15 Britt and I will run into the office I work so we can change clothes in the bathroom
5:30 meet friend for dinner and then head to watch the traveling broadway play Hairspray
7:00 play starts
So I am thinking we will get home around 10:30 or 11:00, Brae is staying at my parents, and they will drop him off tomorrow morning. So all in all a long crazy day. Thursday doesn't look much better, but it is somewhat better.

Does that mean we are on the go too much?

I inform the kids this morning that we have nowhere to go today. Both ask "not even one place?" I inform them no, nowhere at all. This is met with whooping and hollering and a cheer/dance around the house. Hmmm....maybe we are on the go too much. Anyway, with hubby away on business, and the kids and I with no where to go we have declared it pajama day! Yeah for pajama day! I think we need this day to regroup.

On a side note here is a layer of snow on the ground, quite a contrast from our 72 degree sunny Saturday ugh this weather.

Do I remember that far back?

I was tagged by Jody so now I have to try to remember what was going on years ago.

20 Years Ago I... I was almost 14 years old and my dad was preparing to retire from the army after over 20 years of service. Moving to a small town where my grandparents owned a dairy farm was not high on the excitement list. I was used to big huge schools with hundreds of kids in a grade, not a 140 total for the whole school.

10 Years Ago I... was living in Pennsylvania with hubby and Brittney who was just a few months old. I cried a lot it was so hard to live there and hubby nor I liked it. Hubby was working 13-16 hour days and commuting over an hour, he would work 10 hours at his regular job and then do a part time job because cost of living was so outrageous and we didn't want me to work full time. I remember doing lots of part time things, I babysat so I could take Britt, I typed rebates for a mail processing center. However at this time God was working and allowed hubby to begin working as a remote employee and allowed us to move closer to family (what was I thinking..LOL).

5 Years Ago I... was praying so hard daily for someone to tell me what was going on with Braden. It wasn't long after that we made the long trip to Arizona and began to find some of the answers, others we still pray and seek. We had built and moved into our house.

1 Year Ago I... I had just finished my first year of home schooling. Hubby and I decided that home schooling was definitely what we would continue to do as it is just not a school issue it is a life style change and one we welcomed.

So Far This Year... We have had some bouts with sickness, we have done our schooling, we have struggled over abeka math with Britt, Brae has finally began being a very proficient reader (with his speech disorder reading and phonics are made more difficult), we have been planning our big vacation.

Tomorrow....we will attend church, hubby will fly out for a business trip, the kids and I will plan our week.

This Year I Shall... continue to work on my relationship with God, continue my bible study, keep having quiet with hubby after the kids are in bed, encourage my children, encourage their friendship as brother and sister, try to slow down and most of all I am going to work on censoring what comes out of my mouth as far as volunteering for things.