Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde - - man

Lately little t has had such a wide range of emotions, we welcome them of course since this is a HUGE breakthrough for his diagnosis. He is telling us (the best way he knows how) when he does and doesn't like something, he is trying to use more signing and grasping for more words to let us know when he needs something. I had to share this picture series with you though...it was on Saturday after a long hot soccer game. He was happy, then all of a sudden...BAM...it was like "GET ME OUT OF THIS STROLLER NOW WOMAN!" At any rate, I still think he is adorable, even with the Dr. Jekyl-ish face. Gotta love it.

G O A L!

Trinity started soccer last Tuesday. I thoroughly enjoy watching all the little girls run around, arms bouncing around while they unsuccessfully try and score a goal. They are too cute. Some of the little ones have some serious skills, but mostly, just like little ants on a log, they all go after the same thing. We had her first Soccer Game this Saturday and let me tell you...there are some competative parents out there. The team that we were playing were called "Orange Crush"...they were big for 5 year olds...I still say they were juicing...at any rate, they whooped our butts. But, the good thing is that our sweet girls had no idea. The league that we play in is AYSO and they really have their stuff together, our girls are "The Blue Rays". We have a nifty uniform, they don't really keep score, it is only 3 on 3 and EVERYONE on the team gets field time. It is not competative, and at the end of the season, they all get a trophy. Trinity gets along with all of her teammates and she really loves playing. Oh, and even when you lose, your coach still gives you cookies...that's a major plus in T's book!

Stay tuned for more news from this newly promoted Soccer Mom...hahahaha, like that will ever happen.

I would like to thank the academy.....

I would like to take this time to give thanks for the many things that make my life so FULL....you complete my insanity...so, thank you.

Thank you "Baby Alive"...because of you, I now have to change the diapers of a real baby and you. Did I mention that you wear cloth diapers??? FUN.

Thank you prune juice..you know good and well what you did to me.

Thank you chocolate layer on the back of a supposed healthy kids snack. I will be scrubbing you out of my daughters jeans tomorrow...and the car seat....and the carpet.

Thank you "Littlest Petshop" toys. Because of you I am constantly following little t around with my hand out spouting the words "Let mama see...let mama have it please...." I swear, if you choke my child, so help me God....

Thank you wheat. You devil in a flour sack. Thank you for all the many blowouts you have caused....you are a tricky little pickle, you hide in everything and go by many alias'. "Modified Food Starch" my butt....just call a spade a spade will you...for the sake of my little ones bum and his stroller...and carseat...and carpet.....

Thank you Lylah...you are a beautiful dog...but WHY OH WHY must you pee in my house???

Thank you lady at the supermarket. You are the 175th person to tell me my Tristan is such a cute little GIRL....Seriously??? He is wearing a football shirt....that's blue....with camo pants. It's just a ponytail...get over it.

Thank you Transformers. Because of you, my office is a shrine, an omage to all things TF. I have to stare at you as I type...right now...quit looking at me Optimus Prime...

Thank you Qwest. The extra hours that you steal my husband away from his family every day are just great....though I appreciate the paycheck, we are missing him terribly.

Thank you almost 5 years old. Because of you, my daughter has perfected the hand on hip eye roll that I adore so much.

And thank you crazy rambling mind...because of you I could post this silly blog.

Creepy House

Not to get too much into it, that will come in a later post...but, we have been looking around for another house.

On our "journey" we stumbled across this house

This house will be forever embedded in my psyche. From the outside it is idyllic...beautiful stone facad, lighted garage door, river rock, upgraded screens. The backyard boasts over 100K in upgrades from the pebbletec pool with waterfall, raised jacuzzi, and slide to the flagstone extended deck with beehive fireplace, built ins for a barbeque and a lighted waterfountain feature. The price was so attractive...only $191K for over 3800 sq ft! That doesn't happen....Once you enter the home though, it was an ENTIRELY different scenario...think Psycho. But let me backtrack. Before going inside, I went over to the neighbors house to ask them about the neighborhood. I looked online before visiting, but couldn't find much. In retrospect, I should have been able to see through his elusive answers to my questions as a warning.
ME - *Knock Knock on the door.......No answer....Ringing the doorbell*
Man - *Opens the door....but, is just staring at me*
ME - "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, we are looking at purchasing the house next door, I was wondering if you had any information on the house or the area that might help us with our decision."
Man - *stoned face, no emotion, monotone* "Are, uh, you the new neighbors?"
ME - "No, we just wanted to see if we could find out some more information before we get too attached...you know, some research if you will."
Man - *just staring at me....* "Uh, yeah.........that house has some history."
ME - "Anything in particular you could share with me???"
Man - *looking a bit perplexed....long pause* "The people that lived there........they were crazy." *shuts the door in my face*

Ok, that went well. Our realtor gets there and we head inside...before we turn the key and even see the inside though, Trinity says "This house is creepy." Now, let me say that my T never uses the words "creepy"...and she didn't see the inside yet, so, there was really no reason for her to say it...at least I hadn't discovered it yet. The first thing we notice when we go inside is the sick amount of black mold covering the walls, carpet, baseboards, toilet....you name it. I was terrified. Shannon was holding Trinity and I was holding Tristan...there was NO way they were getting down. We decided to leave, but on the way out I noticed that there was something funny on the stairs, looked like bleach. When I got closer, I uncovered something so gruesome, something that you would see on those CSI shows. It was indeed bleach. The bleach was poured on the stairs in an attempt to cover the BLOOD that was splattered the entire rise of the stairway. No, I am not kidding. I was intrigued...I know, but that little part of me that enjoys those scary movies and forensic shows wanted to know more. I peered up onto the landing and saw what looked like the bloody trail of a dead body being pulled down the hallway and thrown down the stairs...NO, I am not kidding...and YES, we left immediately.

Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

Daddy Puppy. Those two words warm the heart of my daughter. He was her beloved stuffy. Shannon got him for her when she was born. A beautiful black lab, soft and squishy. His simple red collar and silver bone tag with the word "SPIRIT" on the front. He went EVERYWHERE with us. All of our vacations, he was there too. Any bumps and bruises, he was there. Doctor's checkups, stuffy noses, vomit and even in the bath...Daddy Puppy was a permanent fixture in our lives. Vegas put an end to Daddy Puppy. On our last night there, a very crowded tour bus of Japanese sight see-ers entered the lobby just as we were retiring to our room for the night. T and t were already fast asleep and we were carrying them to the elevator. Daddy Puppy was stuffed tightly in Shannon's pocket...that is, until the hoards of people knocked him out. We were up to our room on the 32nd floor before we realized that he was missing, 5 minutes was all it took for him to be kidnapped. Gone forever. We went to security, lost and found, I even walked through the lobby peering into peoples bags, staring at little children to see if they had scooped him up. I asked the patrons if they would keep their eyes peeled and let the concierge know. People looked at me like I was nuts....and I was. I was going crazy trying to find him. After 3 hours of looking, I gave up. Shannon was a mess. The thought of telling Trinity in the morning was eating him up. I will admit it, I cried. It is only a material item I know, but the memories attached to that stuffed animal all irreplaceable. 8Am rolled around and T was still asleep. Shan wanted so badly to wake her just to get it over with, but he realized that was selfish, and he waited. He bought her donuts to try and help lessen the blow. Her big brown eyes opened around 9AM and she was a smily fool as always. Excited about her donuts she began to scarf one down. Shannon let her finish, then he pulled her on his lap and told her that he had to tell her something.

Shan - "Hey cutie, I have to tell you something."
T - "Sure Daddy, what is it??" *excited like he had a surpise for her.*

Shan - "Well, it's not a good thing, it's a sad thing."

T - *her face getting serious* "What??"

Shan - "Last night, when we were bringing you to bed...."

T - "Yes"

Shan - "Daddy Puppy fell out of my pocket....and now we can't find him."
T - *Quiet*

Shan - "Boo boo...I'm sorry, we looked everywhere. We told the security..."
T- "Did you check lost and found??"
Shan - *nodding*

T- *Quiet*

Shan - "I know that you are sad...so are we, it's ok to be sad."
T - *Holding back her tears trying to digest what he just told her."
Shan - "Boo boo...it's ok to cry."

T - *Balling....squishing her face into her daddy"

ME - *holding on to her...*

LONG QUIET PAUSE...she composes herself.

T - "You know what? They may have my Daddy Puppy, but they can't have my memories...those belong to me, and they can't take them away."

I was amazed at the words that just came out of her mouth. How mature, and understanding to know that although someone took her beloved pet, they could not have her memories that they shared together. Shannon tracked down another DP, but he wasn't quite the same...we had another stuffy that was given to Tristan, and he didn't really care for it either way, so, we made him into the "new" Daddy Puppy. Trinity held him tight, and closed her eyes. I asked her what she was doing and she says "I am putting all of the memories from Daddy Puppy into this Daddy Puppy." We put a new tag on him that reads

Daddy Puppy

Belongs to Trinity

Our Phone #

MIA

So, I KNOW you all have missed our blogs LOL...(hey, it's an ego booster, just roll with it) We have been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! I have a ton to blog about that you will be SO sick of reading that you may just opt out entirely...that's ok, I understand...really. We just got back from Vegas...that was SO much fun. Trinity's Chinchilla is missing. Tristan got 2 new therapists. We may be getting a new house..that's a LONG story. Ummm, what else.....stay tuned for new blogs.

Snuggle Puppy of Mine

This is why I love Weimeraners. They are the snuggliest dogs on the planet...well, our planet anyway. Despite the craziness the first 2 years, the subsequent years are AMAZING...and lets face it, they are cute. Trinity loves her dogs so much, and though you can hear her yelling "LYLAH! " all day long, she still cuddles with her at night...oh, and so does Shannon apparently!

So, have you hugged your snuggle puppy today?(poor Shy didn't know what was coming when Trinity readjusted...shortly after this photo we moved her so that Shyanne would not pass out LOL...)

His way of getting his voice heard

So, you know that Tristan is not very vocal...well, he makes TONS of noises, from rasberries, to fart sounds, singing to screaming...but words, words are not a strong suit for little t. Today, he amazed me. It was around his nap time, but I had to get a load of laundry in the dryer...so, I was going to put him down right afterward. I looked down at this little guy clinging to my leg, and said to him "Are you ready for your nap bubub?" Just a rhetorical question, then...it happened. He grabbed hold of my hand *this from a boy that DOES NOT hold hands...we are holding his as he is squirming away from us, but, he never reciprocates or initiates a hand hold.* Anywho....he grabs holdof my hand and starts to walk out of the laundry room...I stop what I am doing and just follow him, I was anxious to see how this was going to pan out. Sure enough, he walks me into our bedroom...right over to the bed, looks at me, then pats the bed as if to say, "Yes mama, I am ready for bed." I was so proud of him..he is communicating more and more with us, the best way he knows how. Until he finds the words, this is going to have to work, we will make it work!

What are 3 things you wish you'd known at 20?

My friend Katie posted this on her blog, so, I too am going to play! Thinking back to when I was 20, there are quite a few things I wish I would have known, we will stay away from the obvious "Lottery numbers....answers to midterms...etc., etc, I will give honest answers and hope you do the same! Oh, and for fun..here is a pic. ENJOY!

So what would you tell your 20-year-old self if you could go back in time?

1) Food and Nutrition is going to be a REALLY important class for you, so...STAY AWAKE.

2) It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you, you are amazing to at least one other person.

3) Prescription pain killers are the devil, no good for you.

Now, come on, tell me what you would say to yourself!

Because my BLOG needs more pics

...and little t has been exceptionally smily lately.....Here you go.

I am just people watchin'

This is my FAVORITE past time. Before I was a mommy and was a "working class girl" *gosh, that sounded seedy...you get it though, when I worked away from home* I would sit outside during my lunchbreaks and just watch people. I have always been fascinated with people. I like to watch and imagine how they were when they were younger...from looks to demeanor. Were they the high school jock? The prom queen? The loner? I am not a big label person, but, lets face it...high school age is all about labels, and for some reason, I always wonder about how people were in high school. Maybe because it is such an identifiable stage in everyone's life. We all survived it, but I like to try and imagine how these strangers did. Well, yesterday I had a second to myself while waiting for Shannon and the kids to meet me inside Walmart. I sat in the aisle, and watched *gosh, I sound creepy....* After the typical, "I wonder if he was a jock? If she was a cheerleader? If she befriended everyone...." I saw them. A couple around 80 years old. One look, and I knew that they have loved each other forever. They were holding hands, looking at each other when either one spoke, they adored one another. I knew that they had an amazing love story, one that stood the test of time. I knew right away that they were together since high school...I knew, I didn't wonder. I hope that one day, when there is a curious onlooker watching Shannon and I together that she sees in us what I saw in them...

You are what you eat....

Ok, I am going to be literal with this one despite REALLY TRULY believing this, but, I have a funny thing to share. This evening Shannon treated the family to eat dinner, I could pick wherever I wanted....I picked Cracker Barrell for some unGodly reason. I actually really enjoyed the meal though, despite the portions really not being a "hearty" and "country sized" as they were described, the food was pretty yummy. But this is not the purpose of my post. The conversation that Shan and I had following dinner cracked me and him up for about 5 minutes...and I giggle a little when I replay it, so, I am sharing it. We were talking about how the food failed to fill us up as we had wished, and then, this came out of our mouths

Me - "Is it bad that I am still hungry?"
Shan - "I wasn't really all that hungry to start with, but I am STILL hungry."
Me - "You wasn't?" *catching my English slip...but...it was already too late...he heard it.*
Shan - *in a backwoods accent* "You wasn't? Man, you really are getting into this restraunt, must be the country abiance in the air."
Me - *Blushing at the stupidity that just came out of my mouth*

So, you are what you eat...and tonight, I was a Country Ham steak with Mashed potatoes and a side of hillbilly.

Childhood and protecting what is precious

CHILDHOOD
Childhood is a time for learning about the essentials~ about the heavenly world and the earthly,about goodness, beauty and truth.
Childhood is a time to be loved and to love,to express fear and to learn trust,to be serious, to be calm,and to celebrate with laughter and joy.
Children have the right to dream, and to grow at their own pace.They have the right to make mistakesand the right to be forgiven.
Children have the right to be spared violence and hunger,to have a home and protection,and support for growing up healthy,with good habits and sound nutrition.
Children need people to respect,adults whose example and loving authority they follow.They need a range of experience ~ tenderness and kindness,boldness and courage, even mischief and misbehavior.
Children need a loving relationship with the earth~with animals and with nature, with families and community.
Children need moments for devotion and space for curiosity,protective boundaries and freedom to create,and time to rest, to play, to work.
Children need to be introduced to a life of principles,and given the freedom to discover their own.
The spirit of childhood calls for protection and nurture.It is an essential part of every human beingand needs to be kept alive.
Alliance for Childhood

I got the yuckas now

UG, I am sick....little t contracted some sort of virus when we were at the doctor last Wednesday and now, I too have the yuckas...it stinks. I don't get sick very often, so, when I do, it's usually a doozy. Symptoms : Stuff Head, SORE THROAT, nausea, sinus pressure, loss of apetite, ACHY ACHY BODY...I mean, really sore. It really is not fun. Luckily, my little Trinity is taking really good care of me and bubub is cutting me some slack too, he actually took his nap on time today YIPPIE! I have a doctor appointment at 2, Shannon was able to get off a little early and will watch the 2 T's for me...I just hope that I can drive!!! I do have to share a cute thing that T said to me last night. I was tired and moany, you know, when you are sick you become a sissy...well, I said something to the effect of, "I don't really have anyone to take care of me like you and brother do, so, I have to do my best..." She responds "Mama, I can take care of you, that's what I am here for. If you are hungry, I can make you dinner in bed...I am a real good cereal maker." It was so cute. Tristan slept REALLY GOOD last night, but I slept like caca. I hope this moves out of my system quick, a sick mama is not a good thing!!

FUN Kids Website

Trinity loves playing games on Playhouse Disney, but, it is a little over Tristan's head...I mean, he likes all the music and videos, that he will sit still for, but, other than that, he is really not interested. I stumbled upon a website through one of my homeschool groups called Up To Ten www.uptoten.com It has the coolest stuff. It is an independent site and is free. They do have a section for subscribers for schooling, but you can play plenty of great free games. We love Boola & Kwala, and the coloring is pretty fun too. If you have a child 0 - 10, you HAVE to check it out. Have fun and let me know what you think.