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Monday, January 07, 2013

Getting Back Into the Groove

The holidays are over, winter break is over and the kids are heading back to school and their regular activities. The blog will back tomorrow (Wednesday).

Friday, January 04, 2013

Bowling with the Trio

Today we tackled one of the things on my New Years list! Plan more things with the kiddos no matter how daunting or tiring the outing may seem. I hope this doesn't sound like we hate to go out or that we hate to take our kids anywhere. That is the furthest thing from the truth. There are many things that keep us from doing some of the things we want to and changing that is a work in progress. It's one thing to no longer have a man on man defense when it comes to the parent to child ratio, but it's a whole other ballgame when you have a child with disabilities. While Little J is doing great walking, he still can't manage long distances and he can't walk in random environments unattended. Peanut J is a firecracker and there is a reason we call him honey badger as well. Honey badger don't care. Honey badger wants to do what honey badger wants to do when he wants to do it, so managing him is another matter. Thankfully, Princess J is great out in public and does a great job listening and staying close at hand. She is however 5, so keeping an eye on her for her own safety is just as important as managing the boys.

Today, we decided to take the trio bowling! It was lots of fun. I thought we were in trouble when after Peanut J's first turn, he didn't want to stop and screamed at the top of his lungs when we pulled him off the alley for Princess J's turn. Once he figured out that every time mommy bowled that his turn was up next, he did great! So proud of him! He even cheered for everyone during their turns as well! It was Peanut J's first bowling trip and as time went on he even bowled a spare in one frame! Of the trio, he got the highest score....bowling shark?

Little J had a great time! He loved pushing the ball down the assistance ramp and watching and waiting for it to knock over the pins! He was giddy everytime it was his turn!

Princess J, had a great time! She's still striving for her first strike, and I think we sang the Yo Gabba Gabba! song...Keep Trying a few dozen times. It didn't happen this time, but she'll keep trying!

After a bowling game, we headed over to McDonalds for some well deserved Happy Meals!
Peanut J Bowls for the first time!


Peanut J bowling with daddy

Little J (who's not so little anymore) loves bowling!

Princess J waiting for the the ball to get to the pins

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Catch Up on Reading!

So, one of my New Year's Resolutions is to read more! So, every month on the 4th, I'll be checking in on my reading list and hoping that some of you might leave book suggestions too!

This last year was not my best year for reading. I found it hard to carve out time to read. Usually the times I could carve out were short and were hit or miss. When it's time to pick up Little J from school, I usually get there early so I don't have to fight with the pick up line or feel rushed getting in to the parking lot for disabled student pickup. Most of the time in the past Princess J and Peanut J would fall asleep and I could use that 30 minutes being parked to read up....the naps are becoming hit or miss...so the reading has become the same. Sooooo....I've been trying to make a better effort to find other moments in the day to read...once we're back to the usual schedule, we'll see how this works out. For now though...here's what's on my list of reads....

Here are my next 5 books on my reading list:

1. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

2. Following After Trek by Jarret W. Ingram
-This is the link to the paperback on Amazon, I do have it on my Nook, but for some reason it's no longer showing up as available...If you'd like to follow this family's story you can follow Chelsea Ingram's blog Our Sonny Life. This family is AMAZING! I couldn't wait to read about their adventures and Chelsea's words will touch your heart as she shares her family's story and that of her youngest son Trek Atlas.

3. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

4. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larson

5. Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

7. Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Laren Weisberger

So, there are my first 7! I have quite a few more on my list, but as I cross some of these off, then I'll add more and just keep the list short. It might get a little longer in blog posts on occassion. So, what's on your reading list? Please share!

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

A Quick Catchup with the Trio!

This last year has been a crazy and wild ride! I don't even know where to begin really.

In the last year, we've had a 2nd grader turn into a 3rd grader, a preschooler turn into a kindergartner and a toddler turn into a preschooler! Lots of milestones there!

Little J is still at the same elementary school doing very well in the same class. He has been assigned a 1:1 aide which has helped him immensely! He loves his aide so much! What a great guy! His aide has worked so hard with him on so many things over the last year and a half! Little J did very well after surgery (which was my last post, last year). He is pretty much back to pre-surgery walking....except that now he is walking FLAT FOOTED and not on his tip toes! Yay! While it was a great commitment on our part to have the surgery done and deal with the casts and getting him back to walking, his aide has been essential in this as well. His aide did his excersises at school with him everyday and kept him motivated to keep going! THANK YOU MATT! Matt is the perfect match for Little J, he gives him just enough fun, just enough friendship, and the perfect amount of keeping him on task! Little J has been thriving at school and is beginning to see more time for mainstreaming! He's got friends at school and even went on a field trip with his peers.....and did awesome!

Princess J graduated from preschool in June and started kindergarten in September! She is at the same school with Little J and loves it! Since the school that Little J goes to is not our home school in the district, Princess J only knew a few of the kids going with her. As luck would have it, none of them were assigned to the same kinder class as she was. She was a bit disappointed at first, but found her new group of friends in class and maintained some of her friendships on the recess yard. We had her parent-teacher conference and Princess J was described as a hard worker, who is kind and caring to her classmates and friends. She's also an excellent reader! She loves to go to school, she loves to do her homework and she loves her teacher!  She also joined an AWANA club at a local church, that she sees many of her friends from preschool at she is really enjoying her time there and learning lots about the bible, Jesus and God.

Last, but definately not least....Peanut J, also affectionately called honey badger! He is one wild boy! OH MY! I love this little boy, but I think that if he'd been #2 in the lineup, there would not be a #3! He keeps us on our toes and he has one speed......FAST! I was a bit worried when we signed him up for preschool (and I think the teachers were too).....he never stops going! In September, Peanut J started preschool at the same place that Princess J went. The teachers there are AMAZING! Peanut J has done so well! He loves to go there! He is great at following directions, knows the class routine, lines up when he's supposed to and sits (for as long as he can possibly stand it) when he's supposed to. He loves his teachers too! He loves to pretend to call them on the phone and say "Teacher (insert 1 of 3 names here), I love you! I'm coming back!" He's too cute! He was in the angel choir for the school Christmas pageant, and stayed put on the risers the entire time....I was sure he was gonna bolt and run for us! LOL! He's working on potty training....but it's a slow go for him. He loves to sit on the potty, but still no success....it'll happen and you'll hear about it here though!  He graduated to his toddler bed. Right now, daddy has to go in and lay with him until he falls asleep....otherwise he'd be up all night climbing in and out of it!


Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Bringing the Blog Back....Take 2

So, it's been almost a year since I checked in on this thing after claiming I was bringing the blog back...sigh...epic fail!

Here we go with TAKE 2! Since it is January 1, 2013, what better way than to start the new year off right and get those New Years resolutions down on the blog and begin catching you up to where we are and where we've been.

We'll start here with my personal New Years resolutions. I definately have a lot going on and a lot on my daily plate. Some of it I do really well, some of it I don't do well, and some stuff has been on an unplanned hiatus. Thankfully, everyday is a new day, a new beginning and a new day to start over trying to get it right! So, here we go with the New Years resolutions!

1. Bring the blog back!
2. Read more!
3. Get Crafty more often! I sure miss scrapbooking and other crafts, so I'm going to make an effort to make time for this!
4. Project Life! This ties in to #3, but it's a commitment, and I'm jumping on board.....1 week at a time!
5. Be more patient
6. Plan more experiences with the kiddos.....no matter how daunting the prospect of getting out there to do it seems.
7. GIVE UP SODA....AGAIN!
8. Get rid of CRAP!
9. Drop some FAT!
10. Run a 5K in the next 6 months!

So, that's where it starts. Those are things that I want to do for me! There are other things I want to work on, but those will stay in my pocket for right now....


What's a post without photos of my sweet littles? There will be a catch up post coming up tomorrow, but for now, here is Little J who just turned 8, Princess J who is 5, and Peanut J (Also now affectionately called Honey Badger) who is 3!


Little J

Peanut J and Princess J