Jaxonism.

Had to post for posterity.

Please ignore all of the errors, Jaxon has a very hard time spelling.
If you can't read it, the note says as follows:

"I really like Jolly Ranchers. I mean, who doesn't. I really need some candy. Mom said we can't get any Jolly Ranchers. The only thing we can afford is erasers. I am definitely the biggest fan of Jolly Ranchers."

It can't be skipped.

I just downloaded 96 pictures from my Camera... I mean, my cell phone. Yes, I am one of those people who have resorted to taking pictures of my family at events on my cell phone because I have forgotten my actual camera. Which makes for really stinky pictures for sure.

However, when I was downloading all those pictures, there were a few events that I could not pass up. One of them happened 5 months ago, but who's counting anyway?

Not me,

I was busy moving.

And starting a new business, but whatever.

You will know what I mean, when you cast your eyes on this first pic.

This is Jaxon applying my make up on Mother's Day. If that doesn't say "make-up artist" I don't know what does.

How about this one, better no? Do you see the passion in his eyes? oh... I do... and if you can see me at all, you can see I am on the verge of giggling hysterics because he was so, "into" it.

My toes, he chose the color. . . . I mean, colorS.

This is probably the most focused I have ever seen him in his life. Bar none.

I hope you think they were worth a 5 month delayed post... I SURE DID!

A beautiful thing. . .

One thing I DON'T like about Facebook, is that it makes me a lazy blogger, and I miss out on great opportunities to blog, because in a moment, I can post a quick quote on facebook. But there, it doesn't last, and so, because I didn't want to forget that moment, I will post it here.

Jaxon: "Mom, do you sometimes cry when you see beautiful things?"

Life with Jaxon is challenging. A lot. I honestly don't think you can compare Autism to anything else. You can't even compare Autistic kids, because they are all so different. One thing I DO love is that somehow, with Jaxon, he has quite a bit of sensitivity to the spirit, and he is not afraid to share it. I am grateful for that blessing, because sometimes he is trapped in a mind that he can't control perfectly, but the gift of the spirit, and the gift of feeling the spirit is not tied to our ability to think, it is tied to our ability to FEEL. And Jaxon can do that, just. fine. He proved it to me when we passed the San Diego Temple on our latest trip.

Have you ever wanted to know. . .

what a Scottish man wears under his kilt?

According to Jaxon, nothing.

Now you know. I hope he did that AFTER he turned it into his teacher, and not before.

My Gift To You

My Gift To You this year is.

Jaxon.

Think of it as re-gifting.

Just kidding.

Actually, there are a few things that Jaxon does that are just his signature. Like, act like a cartoon character. ALL.THE.TIME.

It is endearing most of the time.


Jaxon also has a passion for song and dance. I am not sure how much he will do with this talent, but for now, it provides us with hours of entertainment.

So, for your viewing pleasure.


Here is Jaxon as: THE HEAT MISER.




Here is the original in case you need a reminder.

Another year, another love

Oh. Man. My little blog life has completely gotten away from me! I have blog posts lined up from here to Timbuktu and I don't have the time to post them all. We just got back from a vacay (is there such a thing as vacationing with a 1 1/2 year old? No.) and it was the first one we have had in a LONG time. It was nice, but not very relaxing. (ahem. Kaylie.)

But, before I move on any further, I need to post the latest Jaxon news. There is a new love in his life. MOVE OVER MICHELLE. There is a new girl in town, and it looks like she has the corner on your man.

Before we left for our trip, Jaxon came home with his backpack stuffed with papers. Those papers included a few that were carefully stapled together and gently stuffed in his backpack (others are stuffed not so nicely). At first, I thought his teacher had put some special art work in there, but then I got a closer look. The art work, was more like . . . LOVE work.

Not sure who wrote whom first, but I will tell you right now Rian. Jaxon is an ARTIST. NOT a writer. Sorry. This first pic would be Jaxon's rendition of the lovely couple. Apparently, Rian wears some pretty fine head decor. But each is a lovely shade of blue.

And this right here would be Rian's rendition. Her rendition is a little more realistic. Jaxon, completely blonde in all ways with blue (okay, he has green but who is paying attention) eyes, and Rian, in her natural color with fabulous pig tails. Love. It.

But this is where it gets REALLY good. Rian actually has the wherewithal to profess her affections.

Jaxon my friend. Hold on to this one. Girls who like the "funny boy" are rare in numbers.

Ps- I would like to give a special "thanks" to Rian's mom for not calling the teacher and expressing her concern over Jaxon's affections toward Rian. And kudos to both Rian and her family for loving Jaxon for who he is. :)

Birth Story #2

If you want to see why I am re-telling birth stories, you can scroll down a read the last post. If you don't like intimate details of birth stories, STOP READING RIGHT HERE.


Jaxon was late. By a day. I was due August 22nd. But in reality, I decided that I was actually about a week late. After my experience with Jaxon I realized my "due date calculations" are actually a little off compared to what the Dr. gives out because of irregularities in my cycle. Namely, I ovulate on day 10. vs. day 14 (or whatever the book says). Okay, so he was 5 days "late".




I did do a little "false labor" with Jaxon, Wade, and Kaylie too. There is nothing worse than the "walk of shame" when you walk out of Labor and Delivery still pregnant. NOT GOOD. I had thought I was in labor with contractions about 10 minutes apart, for about 6 hours. From about 6 p.m. until about 10:00 p.m. We decided to go to the hospital, I hopped in the tub, at the hospital and BAM. Contractions stopped. NOTE TO ALL PREGNANT LADIES: If you want to be sure it isn't false labor, jump in a nice warm tub (unless your water has broken) and if they quit, don't worry about headin' in to the hospital. Or you too will experience the walk of shame.




A few more days went by, and I decided to "self induce" because as a VBAC patient, they refuse to give you pitocin for fear of the scar on your uterus splitting open due to un-natural strength of contractions with pitocin. It seemed to have worked. I started having nice regular contractions starting at about 9:00 p.m. but this time, I wasn't going to be caught with false labor at the hospital. At 12:00 midnight, Peter decided that he was going to try to get some shut eye, while I was going to make sure those nurses couldn't send me home. I hung around, nested, and jumped in the tub. Still, nice heavy contractions. At about 2:30 a.m. I went in to Peter and told him I just couldn't take the pain anymore. However, I was completely distraught about having to call someone in the middle of the night (in-laws) to come to my house. They had already done it once before. I was scared to death that I was going to have to come home without a baby again. Since I had never been through child birth before, I had no idea if I really was in labor or not, so, I waited until I felt like crying to before we left for the hospital.




By that time, I couldn't wait for them, so, I called the neighbor over for 20 mins so I could leave before my in-laws showed up. They were happy to oblige. We got to the hospital about 3:30 a.m. or so. My Dr. wasn't there, but she was going to be there at 6:00. The nurses checked me and gave me the, "Sorry, hun, but your still at a ONE"! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! A one??? AFTER ALL THAT PAIN?????????? I was livid, and desperate all at the same time, and I begged for an epidural. The Dr. ordered one (because she is a St.--- St. Lori Smetana, I love her more than any Dr. on the planet, and if you have the privilege of delivering a baby with her, bless you) Lori doesn't believe in unnecessary pain if you don't, and when I told her I couldn't handle it, she believed me. By this time, it was closer to 5:00, and she was going to be in in a little while anyway, so, the plan was to have her come in, break my water and get my epidural.





To be honest, I am not sure what time she came in, but I think it was about 6:00 a.m. or so. She broke my water, noted the Meconium in it, and I got my sweet sweet epidural. What they don't tell you about epidurals, is that BEFORE you get one, it hurts like Hades, not the contractions, but the epidural! Well, it did for me anyway. Especially because they had to poke me a few times to get it right. But, I got my sweet sweet epidural and I started to feel a WHOLE LOT BETTER. Actually, about 30 minutes later, I told the nurse that I was feeling a LOT of pressure. Like, A LOT. She giggles. . . hahahahah. "But sweetie, you were just at a 1-2 an hour ago!" I met that statement, with, "BUT I AM REALLY FEELING A LOT OF PRESSURE! I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD CHECK ME!"

She decided to, and at that point, she called the delivery team in because Jaxon was ready to make his debut. It a few seconds the room was full of WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE because not only did they have the nurses and Dr. in there, but the respiratory team to deal with Jaxon in case the Meconium had gotten into his lungs. Much to my dismay, my epidural had not take full effect yet, and I was NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT FACT. They had decided to not give me a full dose since I was only at a 1. Thanks, thanks so much.

I seem to remember repeating several times, "I CAN'T DO THIS!" because I really really didn't want to. Not if it was going to feel like that. I finally decided that I could, and did. Actually, I take that back. I don't ever remember feeling like I could. After a little pushing, and some suction, because little Jaxon was having a hard time with his heart rate in there, he arrived. At 7:14 a.m. Luckily, there was no Meconium in his lungs, and the respiratory team was unnecessary. Having your second birth is so much different than your first. It was for me anyway. The difference of method, hospital, dr. and proximity to family. But there as also just a familiarity that comes along with it. Unlike your first birth which is so overwhelming in so many ways.

We were happy to have #2.

Pirates Like Cake

Wonder why I am not a regular "poster" right now? See this post. It speaks volumes.



When Jaxon was 2 years old, and not yet diagnosed with Autism, he used to make Pirate Maps. They consisted of an x, and island, some dotted lines and an occassional pirate. I am sure I have a few somewhere, because he probably made 1,000 of them. And if you think that might be an exaggeration, think again. I would give him a stack of about 20 papers and he would blaze through them in an hour, sketching his design. He would roll it up, ala, pirate map, and I would find the floor littered with pirate "debris" so to speak.



So, is it any real surprise that he wanted a priate cake for his birthday?



I mean, should there have been any surprise at all? After this cake, and this cake ?


I did a quick google search, and found something that would resemble a Pirate Cake. I thought I had seen one on Jill's blog, and I did! The thing to remember when putting together a crazy cake is that the freezer is your friend. I cut 2 rounds in 1/2 and frosted them side by side. I pressed on both ends and froze.



Then I flipped this side that you are seeing, down, and frosted the "bottom" of the cake, and then flipped it back to the top, to finish frosting. If you do a "real" frosting you have to be sure to keep the cake cool, so it will stay together. That is when the refrigerator becomes your friend.

In all, I think he was pretty pleased with the results.


The best was lighting the cannon candles, of course.

We also made a little visit to Chuck E. Cheese on a Monday night (it was a ghost town) just as a family to "celebrate" Wade took all of his tokens and planted himself at the Star Wars game and did not move the entire time. Coin after coin after coin.

I like Pirate Birthdays, for sure.

Dear Honeyville, Utah.

Dear Honeyville Utah,


View Larger Map

Thank you so much for having a gas station (eventhough it was older than the hills). I am soooooooooooooo glad you were open until 8:00 p.m. tonight. (Late for you folks out there). I am so glad one of your elderly citizens was outside watering his plants so I could make sure there was a gas station near by or else I would have been stranded with 4 tired kids who had been on the road for 11 hours.

NOT A GOOD SCENE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Anyway, I am sorry that you didn't have a bathroom and so Jaxon decided to "relieve" himself around the side of your general store building, and I am sorry you had to catch him in the act. Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Think about getting a public restroom, or at least letting small children use the employee one if they really gotta go. Mkay? (Hey, that ONE customer per day might need it!)

I am sorry to the poor clerk who must have though I was from another planet because I had NO IDEA how to buy gas from a pump without a credit card. I am sorry I asked stupid questions like, "What happens if it fills up before I hit how much I paid?" "Am I supposed to just guess how much will go in?" "Do you take credit cards?" I am from the BIG CITY. I just don't get those sorta things. And I am sorry to that same clerk who had to see my son exposed.

I know I should have checked my gas gauge in Pocatello at the Arctic Circle with the playland (did you know Arctic Circle created fry sauce? Ya. They did.) But, I seriously didn't think that I would run into trouble in between Pocatello and SLC with needing a gas station. I thought there would be plenty to choose from. Turns out, I ran out at JUST the WRONG time with no exits and/or gas stations near by. (Right about Honeyville if you couldn't guess) Oh well. I am learning.

Looks like I'm battin 1,000 with the gas gauge thing. (if you have not read this story, click on the link, you WON'T REGRET IT!)

So, thanks again.

Sincerely,

Lindsey


P.S. To Bloggy Buddies: I have a LOT of stories to tell from my trip, and since one involves a trip to the ER last night with Kaylie, I think I will be telling them backwards. I want to keep track of all the "fun" we had. Geez. Sometimes I can't believe my life, so, I document it here.

HOLLY'S BACHELORETTE RECAP HERE. HILARIOUS AS ALWAYS! PS- I am going to MEET Holly in REAL LIFE tomorrow night! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Me neither. I love meeting my fake friends. Cuz, then they become REAL ones! :)

I cried the ugly cry.

Yesterday was the last day of school. The day BEFORE yesterday, I was trying to find someone who could watch my kids while I went to the dentist. One friend said, "I have to go to Kindergarten Graduation", and then I remembered,

I DO TOO!


I immediately checked the time of the "graduation" and it was at exactly the same time as my dental appointment. That was NOT going to work. So, I cancelled the appointment and prepared myself to fight with two non-stationary kids during a kindergarten graduation the next day.



The next day came and my husband was home sick! Perfect! Now I can go hands free to the graduation! (I am sure he was thrilled). Anywho, I entered the auditorium and sat down. After a few minutes of waiting I saw Jaxon's teacher enter the room. The amount of love I have for that woman is difficult to measure. She has unflinchingly weathered through all of Jaxon's issues this year with total love, support and compassion. I felt humbled, once again, to be in such a fortunate position to have her as part of our lives. All of you know that sometimes the situations that our kids fall in to are not always ideal, and when Jaxon first entered school here in AZ, I was definitely NOT SURE that it was going to be a good situation. After Jaxon was situated in the "right place" he started to flourish and has grown so much.



I know that the reason for his fantastic growth and development is in large part to the wonderful support he receives from his therapists and teachers who love him and give every ounce of their patience and support to him.


I was completely caught off guard because when I saw her, I started to cry in realizing that she was not going to be a part of his daily life anymore. How was I going to live? Then they started playing, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (the ukulele version) and I started to cry, and it wouldn't stop. I cried, and cried and cried.


Not because I was sad, but because I am so grateful to educators and therapists for what they do for Jaxon every day. I could not do it alone, and although I work with him lots at home, it is because they work with him even more at school and it is because all of us together work as a team to make sure he succeeds in this life.


At times, it is just so "part of my life" that I don't even think about it. It is just what I do, it is just what they do, it is just what "we" do. But yesterday, I realized that it isn't. And I am grateful beyond words for the time and effort they put into my son.


What is frustrating is that I don't know how to thank them. I don't know how to tell them how much they mean to me. I tried to tell them, and with all my tears yesterday, I am sure they know, but still. I wish there was some way to tell them the effect that they had on my son in the most critical years of his development. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I never want to let go.

Ms. Deffenbaugh, total angel.

Mrs. Boettcher, Inspired and perfect Special Ed teacher.

Jaxon holding his diploma. (Look for the tallest kid, of course)

And Jaxon's first love. I couldn't help it. Look for small, Latina, and purple dress. I think his depiction of her was pretty much spot on.

I took video on my cell phone of it all, but I can't seem to get it off my phone, and right now, it is killing me.

Inappropriate Praying

You just never know what you are going to get around here when you ask someone to give a prayer.

From Abby, you get the wrote prayer, never changes, always stays the same. (We are working on that)

With Wade, you get the bushelful, non-stop prayer. It includes everything thing to what he currently likes, dislikes, all of his hopes and dreams and if you are lucky, he mentions the food as a side note.

With Jaxon, you get the inappropriate prayer. Which, a yesterday morning on our breakfast sounded a little like this:

"Dear Heavenly Father, I REALLY like Mommy, and I REALLY like . .[short pause] . . Mermaids, *snicker*, In the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

At this point, I would really like to thank my sister Hillary who stayed at my house for 4 days and made my boys watch Barbie Mermaid cartoons. Looks like it made QUITE the impact.

In other Jaxon news, he went from looking like this:

To looking like this! Well, minus the other one too!

Times are a changin' around here. But while we are on the subject of Jaxon, I want to post his best Pirate artist rendering to date.



See daddy swimming with the fishes? Actually, there is a big shark after him. (Scanner didn't go that far I guess) Not sure why he made daddy walk the plank. But everyone on the ship doesn't look so sure that daddy is going to make it out of that situation.

Burning Questions- Day 3

Anyone having fun yet? I know the people who have entered my giveaway for the Trifle Bowl are! I will be choosing a winner on THURSDAY! So, just a few more days left to enter!

I have had a few more "burning questions" trickle in, and one had to do with my post from the other day about Jaxon, my child with Autism. This one came from my friend Jessica. (I have a LOT of Jessica's in my life) She reads my blog regularly, but only comments on Facebook. She more had an inquiry about WHAT to teach your children if they are in a situation where they have to interact with someone who is different.

Well, Jessica. FABULOUS inquiry. To be honest, I am not going to pretend that I am the be all/end all on the subject, but I know what I try to teach my own kids. Believe me, it is sometimes even hard for Abby to be nice to Jaxon.. So, I feel like I totally understand both sides of the situation for the most part.

I think the main thing is: be a good example, and answer children's questions honestly, but kindly. Let's say we are in the situation and Jaxon is at the park and he decides to get aggressive with your kid. OBVIOUSLY that is NOT OKAY! And I am NOT asking for a FREE PASS, because Jaxon still needs to learn that it is NOT OKAY to be that way with other kids.

First, hear me out, and try to understand the situation from Jaxon's perspective. Jaxon may have gotten aggressive because he is being, chased, taunted, excluded, or feels trapped. Once he got trapped in a slide and instead of saying, "Hey! Let me out!" He just started to attack kids until he got out. Other people were upset and rightfully so, I made Jaxon apologize, of course, but then explained that he was trapped in the slide and wanted to get out. Instead of going straight to using words, he gets aggressive, pushing and shoving in attempts to GET OUT.

You can tell your child, it was NOT OKAY for Jaxon to push, or hurt you. But, Jaxon doesn't always know that he is supposed to use his words to get help. Or, Jaxon doesn't always know what the right choice is. Or, Jaxon sometimes doesn't know how to control his body when he gets mad.

I hope that those kinds of explanations don't EXCUSE the behavior, but rather, EXPLAIN the situation and then the child is more apt to dealing with the situation the next time they might be there with Jaxon. They may even defend him, or say, 'HEY! LET HIM OUT!' Or offer whatever kind of help he might need.

He is QUIRKY, there is no doubt. Sometimes he even acts like a cartoon character, which makes kids laugh, or try to get him to do it again. Sometimes he can just get too wound up. Maybe an explanation to your child would be. EVERYONE is different. Jaxon is different too! He likes to express himself in different ways, and it may not always be LIKE YOU.

I think in general, this is a healthy way to describe someone else. They are different, and they are not LIKE YOU. This doesn't make them, BAD, or NOT FUN, or NOT YOUR FRIEND, it means they aren't YOU. But, we can still be nice to everyone and treat them nicely, even if they don't act like you, or, don't do the same things that you do. If they don't make the right choices it is because they are LEARNING, and maybe haven't learned it as well as YOU. This would be a good opportunity to focus on YOUR child's strengths and abilities and foster the ability to be of help to kids who don't do it as well as them! Say, "Hey! Next time, why don't you tell Jaxon that he needs to be nice to his friends! And ask him if he wants to play a different game that might make him more happy! He wants to have fun, but maybe next time you can show him that being nice is MORE fun." Communication is key.

That seemed like a long drawn out post, and may be over-simplified, but I hope it helps. The best thing to do as a parent might be to think, "How would I want MY child with special needs to be treated?" You might not have a child with special needs, but I am SURE you could understand how devastating it would be if you did, and how you would try every day to help that child out.

From One Mother to Another

I am guessing it is mostly women that read my blog. Prove me wrong.

So, I just wanted to take a minute to talk about m'boy Jaxon. (On the left)

Most of you know, he is Autistic.

Unlike other Autistic children he LOVES being around people.

LOVES.

The problem is, he doesn't always know how to act or what to say. Or, worse, he might say, or do something inappropriate.

If so, I am sorry.

VERY sorry.

I wish I could change it.

Believe me.

I wish I could.

Please accept my apology if he does something not appropriate.

But, will you do one other thing for me?

Talk to your child.

Talk to your child about children who are different.

He didn't choose to be different.

Tell your child that even though he is "different" you should still try to be nice.

Tell your child that even though you might think he is "weird" there are people in his world who love him. Dearly.

Tell your child that if they don't want to play with him, that is ok. But, try not to be mean to him.

Because, he still has feelings.

And he still wants to have friends.

Tell your child, especially your older children, to never hurt anyone physically.

Just because they might be bugging you.

Chances are, they are younger than you think they are and they don't quite understand what they should be doing.

Because his mom can't stand guard his whole life.


Sometimes, he is going to be on his own.

And I worry about him.

So, please tell teach your children about TOLERANCE.

For me.

Thanks.

If Loving You is Wrong. . . I don't Wanna be Right

We have a problem. Love is abounding in our home . . . AND at school. The problem is NOT having love abound at home. . .but at school. . . because at school love SHOULD have bounds. Seriously.


** SEE MY GIVEAWAY HERE! ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT!

I guess it all started with Valentines day. . You know, all the talk of LOVE and VALENTINES and LOVE. It could turn anyone a little love crazy. But it doesn't take much to get Jaxon reved up about it. Not too long ago I got a note home from school it said something like this:



Jaxon is being "overly affectionate" to a member of his class and she is starting to be "uncomfortable" and her "mother is worried" about kissing and love notes as such. (Autism=socially inappropriate)



Give him an inch. . . and he takes THE WHOLE MILE.



When I inquired as to "his love" he said that a little while ago on the playground he "saved" her. Because someone was trying to push her. His hero complex was definitely started by me because he also saved Kalyie once.. and I am not kidding. He really did. He said she asked him to be her boyfriend... TEASE. Those girls. They always say YES YES YES then, NO NO NO!




Regardless, he was taking it too far. And it was time to intervene. We talked ourselves blue in the face. "Jaxon! NO KISSING GIRLS! NO GIRLFRIENDS! NO LOVE NOTES!"! It fell on deaf ears. Love is stronger than that. He swore he would stop. . and then, Peter caught him at church penning ANOTHER love note.

Young love. . . so hard to reign in.

More artistic stylings from Jaxon: Helicopter Ride


Jaxon wants to be an artist: Self Portrait
Nevermind the blue leggings and pink shoes... mkay?

Brains

jaxon stood motionless in the doorway.
his eyes locked on me.
"Do you want me to turn on the TV for you?" I said.
his eyes brightened.
"How did you know that mom?" he said.
"I am just smart that way." I said.
his eyes got brighter.
"OH! You must have MY brain!" he said.


Yeah, bub, something like that. . . . something like that.

Knock Knock, who's there? Land Shark.

A few weeks ago, Jaxon came upstairs looking rather uncertain about life and other things... I inquired as to what they had been doing there. Abby looked mischievous, Jaxon looked peeked.

Abby: "Watching a show on Animal Planet"

(Peter has already intercepted shows from that channel that involved Elephants mating... anywho...)


Me: [Looking at Jaxon] "What was the show about?"

Jaxon: [Eyes wide, fixated on something in outerspace] "It was about sharks, and how sharks eat people and how there was a surfer in the ocean and how he was surfing on his surf board and how a shark and his surfboard. . . and ate him too. [Long Pause] It was scary.

Me: [Giving the one eyed skunk eye to Abby] "Maybe you shouldn't have been watching such a scary show!!!

Jaxon no longer likes his favorite stuffed animal, sharky.

Sharky has not been seen for days.

Jaxon will still randomly ask about the Sharks ability to come out of the water.

I now realize that someone who worked for SNL in the 80s must have been horribly terrified by sharks at a young age and wondered at times if they would knock on his door and eat them, and when he was working on SNL in his late 20's he realized it would be a funny skit.

I hope Jaxon can one day think it is funny.

But for now, he asks me, the babysitter, Peter and just about anyone else he might come into contact with about Sharks, and the probability of them getting out of the water and eating him.

I am just trying to convince him he is far too skinny for any shark's taste.

TODAY AFTER NAP TIME:

Jaxon: "Sheesh mom, I had another dream about a shark eating me at nap time, maybe it was a bad idea for me to have watched that show!"

Do something good.

This is probably the easiest good thing you can do today. Jaxon gets all of his Autism therapy at a school called Lauren's Institute for Education. Chase bank is making donations to non-profit groups that get the most votes. PLEASE VOTE FOR THEM!!!

This only takes a second of your time to help me and hundreds of other kids with Autism out. Click on the link... become a "fan" of Chase Bank Giving and click on

VOTE.

Isn't it great when helping someone is soooooooooooo easy?

Thank you.

Video Crazy

tI have this weird bug on my computer. If I use caps or a tab, I get a weird random t somewhere. I don't feel like fixing it right now, so, if one pops up... just know that is whty! Mkay?

tI took a bunch of silly videos lately. tMty kids are just doing funny things. tI know no one will probably watch them, but the grandparents will! t:t)

Does anyone know how to fix this bugt? It is soooooooooo annotying. tGessh.

tAntyway, here is the first video. tAnd if you can resist the title...

tJaxon Does the tRobot. tI am seriously obsessed with the song he is dancing to. tI just love it right now. tYou know how you just fall in love with a song and listhen to it over, and over and tOVER?? Yeah.. that is this one.

I love the hook and love the remix. tI can't even think of the song it is remixing. I am sure it is an 80s song. tWish tI could think of it.



tThis is a nifty trick I saw Katylie doing while eating peas. . . I was super impressed . tI have never seen a baby do something so dexterile. (tIs that even a word? I think I just made it up) tAntyway. I explain what to look for on the video. If you miss it, rewind.



This is another video of the super talented K. She had the slinkty in her mouth and was pulling it out like a large green tongue. Well, tyou will just have to see what I mean.

tOk, so, she didn't quite get it done in that video, but it is still cute. HERE is the video of the large green tongue. tShe didn't do it that well in this video, but it was hard to capture.

Down-right Spooky

I knew putting that one first would make you laugh.. .




Things around here are down-right spooky. .
(Who is that even??? It doesn't even look like my daughter!)

But not because of me. . Because I have not gotten out a single, solitary Halloween decoration. I just can't do it. . . I mean, Where would I put it? Every square inch of surface is taken. Maybe next year. . .There is always NEXT YEAR.

But thanks to Pam, my kids had a lot of fun today. Who is Pam? Wade calls her Grandma, but Pam is Jaxon's respite worker. What is that you might ask? She is a complete and total angel who has been hired (by the stat of Arizona of course) to take Jaxon to and from therapy for me. . .and consequently, she has adopted my kids as her "grand kids" and brings them all sorts of fun stuff. We love her, and if I knew she was going to read this. . (she doesn't have Internet) I would say, PAM... YOU SAVE MY LIFE ALMOST EVERY DAY!


THANK YOU!

The Highlight of Parent Teacher Conferences. . .

Jaxon's Self Portrait

If you can't see it well, it is worth a click . .

Green Eyes Check. . .

Everything else is questionable.

Want to guess on the patch of green hair?

I dare you.

The good news is: He is in the top reading group in his class.