Happy Birthday to the Geek!

Actually, his birthday ended about 14 minutes ago... but I wanted to get a post out to celebrate anyway! Hopefully the kids and I helped to make his day special!? He's a great husband and father and deserves only the best!

Little Golden Books...

I wish I would have been able to grab my camera in time to get a picture today of DS sitting in his Pottery Barn chair "reading" one of the Little Golden Books that his aunt/uncle/cousin got for him last year.

I LOVED Little Golden Books growing up. Well, I loved most books, but I remember the Golden Books rather fondly. I spent much of tonight searching Ebay for titles I could remember. My mom would probably remember better than I, but I think my favorite was, "We Like Kindergarten". As soon as I saw the cover, I almost felt myself tear up. I see that the copyright was 1977... seems about right. I must have gotten it new when I was very young.



We only have a few of the Little Golden Books, but I predict I will be searching for them at thrift stores and garage sales this summer. I would LOVE to replace all the "Dora" and "Diego" books that we have with something less commercial. In fact, the kids haven't really been looking at the "Dora/Diego" books that much lately.
Just goes to show you... sometimes newer isn't better.

Sad, Sad News

DS woke me up rather early this morning, so I've been passing some of the time watching a retrospective on MTV of Michael Jackson. I remember the "Thriller" video being one of the first videos I ever saw as a child (back in 1983- wow!). Even now, I think it's a great video. And I choose to remember him for what he was then not what he became later in life.

Free!

One of the best things about having a Kindle... free books. Once I finished "Harry Potter" I was all ready to purchase a bunch of books I had on my wish list. Then I found at least 10 free books for download. I don't know how good they are... most of them look like Harlequin smut to me. But they're free... and should keep me busy reading for another week or so!

Not Really Surprised...

I have to admit I watch "Jon and Kate Plus 8" rather religiously. Admittedly, this season has almost been painful to watch. I feel like I've been observing some sort of marriage counseling session... and not a successful session at that. And because I buy nearly every tabloid with Robert Pattinson on the cover... I find myself buying nearly every tabloid with Jon and Kate on the cover.
So, the announcement last night that they were divorcing did not come as a surprise to me. But I am still sad for them... especially the children. They keep claiming the kids don't know what's going on, but do they watch any television? Do they go to the grocery store? Those kids aren't stupid... they know what's going on.
Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention that the geek and I have a relationship very similar to the Gosselin's. The geek has said more than once during arguments "Okay, Kate..." or "When are you going to pull the stick out, Kate?" (Do you remember that episode? Talk about uncomfortable). If nothing else, this has made me TRY to be a better wife. Not that it's that easy, but I'm trying.

Less Than a Month...

Less than a month until my "Twilight" convention.
Isn't the new blog design fun? I've got a few different ones to try out... leading up until that weekend!

Finally...

Well, I stayed up until 2am this morning to do it, but I finally finished the "Harry Potter" series. It was excellent. I told the geek that if I wasn't completely obsessed with "Twilight" I would probably be obsessed with "Harry" instead.
One obsession at a time...

Mother's Day Pics...

I'm finally able to post some pics of the kids from Mother's Day at McDonalds. Thank you to Grandma Sharon for all of them! I have to say these pics of DD really warm my heart. She looks so happy in them- it's normally so hard to get a picture of her when she is smiling. It's a little glimpse of what we are seeing from her more and more lately... happy, smiling, laughing. It just makes me really happy. Enjoy!

Shay and Two Choices

I very rarely post these forwarded things that I get over email, but my mom sent me this one... and it seemed fitting after the autism walk we just participated in. Those of you with special needs children might want to grab a tissue or two... you'll need them.

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart.. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled..

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

May your day, be a 'Shay' Day..

We're Famous!

The geek and the kids are famous! Here are a couple pics that were included in the Des Moines Register this morning for the autism walk!




Here are the links to the actual pics out on the Register's website.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=D2&Dato=20090613&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=906130808&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20090613&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=906130808&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=12

Notice how the mom wasn't included in any of these pics... yes, she is a little bitter.

Quote of the Day...

Mom to Geek, "God, you irritate me."
Geek to Mom, "Yet out of that irritation came two pearls."

Where does he come up with these things?

Autism Speaks Walk Now For Autism 2009

Autism Speaks Walk Now For Autism 2009

Our family will be participating in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism this Saturday morning. It is our 3rd year taking part, and we are extremely passionate about this cause. If you are interested in donating to Autism Speaks, in support of our two little ones, and other individuals affected with ASD, click on the link below and make a donation. Thanks!

http://www.walknowforautism.org/iowa/erinenyart

"Please take your cart and items to the center of the store...

Just in case you were curious...
If you are ever at Walmart and the tornado sirens go off, be prepared to spend the length of the "tornado watch" in the "domestics" and "clothing" aisles with all the other crazies out shopping during a tornado.
Don't ask me how I know this...

A Perfect Evening...

A piece of chocolate cake with white frosting (made by yours truly)...
okay, okay- I had two pieces.



And the season premiere of "Army Wives".



Yes, it was a perfect evening.

I Can Too Play Nice...

I just had to take a couple pics of DS the other day... playing nice and civilized at the dining room table. Most of the time he's sitting ON the table, throwing cars on the floor and hanging (literally) from the chandelier. For some reason, he decided to actually PLAY... like a nice boy!

My Kindle Case

Ever since I got my Kindle I've been looking for a case of some sort to put it in. I made a little zippered pouch for it, but it didn't seem like enough protection. Enter... Walmart (of course- what can't you find at Walmart?). While perusing the magazine/book section I happened upon this bag which seemed perfect. Of course, it's a Bible holder... which I have to admit, considering it's holding all my "Twilight" books, seems appropriate!

Dear Mommy...

Dear Mommy,
I tried to tell you I was tired. I threw a fit... I started whining and crying. You got angry with me and told me to go play, but I just couldn't. So, I had to resort to sleeping on the cold, dirty carpet in your bedroom. I didn't even have the energy to get into your bed. I'm really not a naughty girl, Mommy. I was just tired.
Love, DD

I Tried, I Really Did...

I admit I've been suffering a withdrawal of sorts.
After reading each of them probably 5+ times in a few short weeks, it has been nearly two months since I've read any of the "Twilight" series books. I vowed that I was going to finish the "Harry Potter" series first before I read them again. And before I can buy ANY other books. Besides the "Twilight" series, I don't have any other books on my Kindle. I have four or five waiting on my wish-list on Amazon, and I remind myself that once I've finished "HP", I can buy them. I'm currently on the sixth book- "The Half-Blood Prince". I should be done with it in plenty of time for the movie in July.



But I caved tonight. I started reading "New Moon" again after I saw the trailer for the movie last night. Oh well... I can read them both at the same time, right? Besides, my Kindle needed a dusting off... darn J.K. Rowling. She won't allow the "Harry Potter" series to be available on the Kindle. It would make a killing, but I'm sure she has her reasons. I've had to read AN ACTUAL BOOK- WITH PAPER PAGES. The horror!