Happy Turkey Day!

Riley's Coloring

Ivy's Coloring

And of course Mom had to get in on it too!



TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.



MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Feeling a bit better...

Here it is Friday, and Ivy's transition into her new class has been utterly seamless.

So it turns out that I misunderstood how fast they were working her into the new class: Monday was 30min, Tuesday was supposed to be 1 hour, but she was doing so well that they kept her for 1 1/2 hours and Thursday she sprinted to the door at 1pm and stayed there until 15 minutes before class ended. Apparently she loves it. Go figure!

I've come to the conclusion that Ivy will never be predictable. When you expect her to have problems with something or act badly (like 4 hour plane flights) she is cool, calm and collected. Then there are the things she throws ya for a loop on...like having her hearing tested. An utter ballistic fit. And it wasn't just a tantrum, you could tell she was terrified, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Her hearing is just perfect, but she has this sensitivity with her ears...no clip-on earrings, no head phones, and she plugs her ears when she's scared. Odd.

I also found out that Ivy's new class doesn't do much paperwork / worksheets, so I've been feverishly printing and creating worksheets for her to do between school. I'm surprised at the things I've already made for her that she can do with out explanation or help. Matching a letter with the animal (T for Tiger), coloring specific shapes certain colors...etc. She really is a smart little cookie.

On a side note...making all these worksheets for her has caused the teaching bug to bite me again. I think I want to go back and finish my associates degree but change it to teacher's aid for now. I really like the little kids in Ivy's class so maybe working at a preschool could work for me. I think I'd enjoy that.

Um...not too sure about this...

Well, last Thursday we had Ivy's Evaluation review / IEP meeting (Individual Education Plan) to help her speech along. On the positive side, they found no cognitive delay. No Autism or any other disorder. The speech and language however...is rated at the same level as a 3 year old. We were expecting that as Riley can hold little conversations with Ivy, and they understand each other. Very cute to just listen to.

And now for the eye-brow raising part. They decided that instead of pulling her out of her class for 30 minutes with 3 other kids that need help also, it would be better for her to be taken out of Mrs. Briggs / Ms. Kristina all together and placed in a Special Education class with other kids with the same problems.

Now I know what you're all thinking...What's the big deal? If you've ever met our daughter, you'll understand just how bad she does with change. Especially when it's change taking people that she loves away from her. Daddy leaving for work used to be hell, not to mention dropping Kim off at the airport. Getting her to understand that they were in charge and that mom will back them up almost no matter what was a huge challenge, as was Fall break. Geez, I hate to think of how she's gonna handle Christmas break...

Now she has to start all over. New teachers, new friends, new routine. They don't even start at the same time so that Ivy can't see her friends anymore. 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Plus, they don't even have recess. How is she gonna contain all that energy? At least now that it's under the Special Ed program, I don't have to pay her tuition anymore...but I HATE those words...

Special Education. I freakin' hate the stigma that follows those two words.

I really feel like I've let Ivy down somehow...I wasn't helping her develop as she should...I suppose. All these thoughts just run thru my head...should have put her in daycare/preschool to be around other kids. Should tried for State help programs earlier...shoulda...shoulda...shoulda...

Well, today is her first day over in the new class room. They wanted to just put her in permanently, but Briggs and I thought...not with Ivy. They are now going to gradually ease her into it...one day this week, two the next and so forth. It will probably help that Ms. Kristina will be taking her over to the other classroom, but being left there without knowing anyone? Hopefully I'm just overreacting and she'll be just fine. We'll see in about 1 1/2 hours...

Ivy's Class Halloween Party

I finally got to go volunteer in Ivy's class and yesterday was their "Fall/Harvest/Halloween" party. This was so fun! I really need to go volunteer more...perhaps on a few Thursdays when John's working from home or drop Riley off at Grandma Linda's for a few hours. I helped with two of the craft centers: making spooky houses and glitter glue faces on jack'o lanterns.

Ivy and a few of her friends...one who also dressed up as Minnie!


A class full of costumed kids!


As they were going through their 'morning' routine, (the date, day...) it was Ivy's day to check and post the weather. It was so cute...she runs over to the window while the other kids were singing their weather song, runs back over, grabs the sunny sticker and with great enthusiasum yells, "It's sunny outside!" at the end of their song. Apparently that's her favorite thing to do.


Munchin' on the party food...her Teacher had a great idea...instead of a lot of sugary foods, she assigned each parent a color to bring a healthy food. Green cucumbers, black olives, yellow cheese...


Ivy was the only kid to put the olives on her fingers...yeah, that's my kid!


Minnie Mouse zoomin' around on a trike...her fav thing to play with.

Ivy's First School Picture!

Heh...so cute, even if she's not fully smiling! I think the whole thing was confusing to her, hence the bland smile. If ya look close enough, you can see the faint freckles that are on the tops of her cheeks and nose! Hard to believe that cute little thing is mine!





I'm so glad she loves school. Over the fall break she was quite distressed over not seeing Mrs. Briggs and Ms. Kristina. Just didn't understand the point of fall break I suppose. But I kept her busy with printouts of the letters they're learning in class and practicing writing thank-you notes to Auntie Kim, Uncle Steve and her Great-grandfather in NY (for her birthday presents). Sorry if you didn't get one yet...that's a lot of writing for a little girl and I didn't want to over load her.

Truth Tag

Yet another tag stole from Kristy's blog

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? My finger...don't look at me like that! I just finished a cinnamon roll.

2. Where was your profile picture taken? Uh...wow. I really don't have a profile picture!

3. Can you play Guitar Hero? Nope, never tried and don't care to learn.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today? The kiddlets-they have a bad habit of that!

5. How late did you stay up last night and why? Um, I worked a half night last night, so...4:00am?

6. If you could move somewhere else, would you? Probably not, I Love my Arizona.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? Not that I'm aware of...

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? Nate and Jen

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends? Yes, if they are able to move on with their own lives first.

10. How do you feel about Dr Pepper? Pure heaven-sent ambrosia.

11. When was the last time you cried really hard? Really really hard? Probably Nick's death...five years ago. I'm not a huge crier.

12. Who took your profile picture? Haha...trick question! Don't got one!

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? Ivy and Riley holding hands walking to Ivy's class room.

14. Was yesterday better than today? Hmm...kids took a nap...working another half night tonite...not as tired as yesterday, so yeah better today.

15. Can you live a day without TV? Yeah, but it's so habitual it would be interesting.

16. Are you upset about anything? Hah...Not really.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? Of course! How else could you torment anyone on a daily basis with out a relationship with them?

18. Are you a bad influence? haha...oh yeah...right Karen?

19. Night out or night in? I like calm nights in (Okay as calm as two crazy kids will allow), but nights out alone with john are always nice.


20. What items could you not go without during the day? A little time to write at my computer and a bottle of VitaminWater.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? My dad and his mystery heart problem.

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? O_O Um...a naughty phrase in Japanese from John...but I won't translate...hey this is a truth tag right?

23. How do you feel about your life right now? Very good...have a great husband, great family and friends...life is good.

24. Do you hate anyone? I don't waste my energy hating someone not worth my time.

25. If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find? Haha...nuttin'! Don't got a facebook inbox!

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? Duh...

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? Only with added sarcasm.

28. What song is stuck in your head? Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow...Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow...ha! Now it's probably stuck in your head as well!

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be? A hot Saiyan...lol...only kidding! Okay, I'm not.

30.Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50? Sure...I'll still be 'young' to keep up with the little brats.

31. Name something you have to do tomorrow? The norm...get up, feed kids, take Ivy to / from school...work another half night for the 8th day straight (Yay, only 3 more regular days to go before I get a night off)

32. Do you think too much or too little? I like to always be thinking about something...next vacation/trip...upcoming chapter I'm writting...

33. Do you smile a lot? Yeah, except when I'm concentating. Then it looks like I'm frowning or pissed off.

YOUR TURN-GET TO IT!!

The next project: walkway & sitting area

The next project has started. A walkway that goes from the patio to the garden, with a sitting area set off from the middle. Below is the progress over this weekend. The base layer of sand and paver stones will get laid next weekend.

Area dug out


Ivy supervising


Riley and Rocket checking out the pallet


We all take a break


Ivy contributes the first handful of gravel


The gravel laid


The paver stones that are going on top next week

Oh how they tease me...

So I was innocently looking though my email and a friend (and fellow DBZ nut) sent me a message entitled..."The next one may have promise" I open it up and this was what greeted me:



That my friends would unmistakeably be Vegeta...by far my favorite-ist character in the whole lengthy series.

Now neither of us are sure if this was a legit teaser pic for the movie...but damn. That's just a mean tease. I can't find any info of where the next DragonBall movie is picking up from, much less who's cast as what characters! Argh! That's so maddening!

If Vegeta is to be in the next movie, I hope they tone down his hair like that did with Goku, but at the same time keep the spiky wild look to it. Only time will tell.

I know...I'm flipping crazy to still be adament over an anime...I already know, ya don't have to tell me!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Man, he's getting old! 29 today...Ooh...that means you'll be 30 next year!

Oh wait...so will I...and before you will. Hmmm...

Well, in any case, enjoy the last year in your twenties! I sure will!

Here we go again...sort of...

Well, as many of you family-types know, I work part-time for Walmart on the overnight shift doing stocking. Now, some of that title has changed...I'm no longer a stocker and no longer part-time. Yeah...you heard me. I'm back up to 40 hours a week. But this time around, my managers are letting me do 4-10's (4 days, 10 hours). And I have a new job...a small promotion if you will. I am now a "Backroom Inventory Associate" complete with a .20 cent/hour raise. (It entails pulling and scanning overstock out of the backroom to go to the floor and re-binning/scanning new overstock freight...did that make sense?)

I really like my new job and am very fast at it...although I need to be careful...I'm getting kinda arrogant over how good am I at it. In fact, many of my co-workers that know I love Dragonball have now 'lovingly' dubbed my new name to be Ms. Vegeta. Not even kidding. They say I act alot like the so named character, which really isn't a bad thing. (Hmm...strong willed, confident, good strategy-forming, independant, physically strong...what's the downside here? Oh yeah, the angry-arrogant-pride thing.) Maybe I should get my name tag changed...

So this should be interesting...

The positives are that John can now be added back onto my insurance thru work (yeah, only me and the kids available for part-timers), I'll be earning sick-time, short-term and long-term disability coverage again, and a bigger paycheck to stock away/clear out credit cards/landscape the back yard.

The negative is that I will be losing a lot of sleep. Maybe. Since John works M-F and I'll be working Th-Su, I'll be awake from 7ish Thursday morning until 9ish Saturday morning, with 2-2 hour naps. Yikes...We've already conned my dad (being retired and all...) into coming over Friday mornings and watching the kids until it's time to take Ivy to school at noon. That will help immensely, even though Mondays will forever be my 24 hour days...at least I'm actually used to it.

So if anyone ever drops by my store in the middle of the night hoping to find me...odds are you won't. I almost never leave the back and that's only to deliver freight or go outside for breaks. So call ahead and we'll get a cup of burnt and bitter coffee on my next break...cuz God knows I'll need the caffeine!