365::59

SERIOUSLY,

This brings tears to my eyes. Random kids making up games and having a blast at their siblings' basketball game. Some regular preschoolers, a boy and a little girl with Down Syndrome. She is more alike than different and they know it. No adults needed (even better). I'm so proud of you Bre!

365::58

a REALLY fun afternoon with all the cousins.....8 under the age of 8 and soon to be nine this summer!

365::57

Last night we had a bad storm with rain and 70 mile per hour winds. School was cancelled today, and the roads were a mess with trees and power lines down everywhere. We lost our power for about 24 hrs and ate breakfast with our coats on, showered at the gym and went our to lunch at Romeos. Someday, we will have that generator!

365::56

great rainy day activities (and I managed to capture the exact second that you two weren't fighting---you gotta love a fast shutter speed!)--and a RAINY and WINDY day it was.

365::55

Weeks go by when I don't think about or need to manage your stuff. School, your therapists or your support workers. Then, tonight we have a meeting all about transitioning you to Kindergarten. All the head honchos at our disposal per se. My head is whirling with ideas, what to say, dreams and goals to write down, what resources to access, who to meet with and what e-mails to send. With three of you going to new schools next fall, it sure is shaping up to be a pretty busy Spring.

Funny.

MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines
enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures
outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, "MALE & FEMALE" procedures have been
developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.'

*******************************
MALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

*******************************

FEMALE PROCEDURE:
(What is really funny, is that most of this part is the truth!!!!)

1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of check book.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Re-dial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

Great Story.

You have to see this. Very touching---great family:)

365::54

AFTER making and eating dinner tonight, our first Family "meeting". We talked about what the problems were(ie, getting ready in the morning and not forgetting things, interrupting, tipping our chair during dinner, fighting among siblings, demanding things and not being patient and interrupting Daddy while he's working). Solutions from the kids? Making lists and getting our own snacks. (we'll see how that works out)......

365::53

Trevor working hard on his story for the PBS kids writer's contest. Honestly, I have never seen him work so hard or be so creative. I LOVE how " Trevor's election" came out (and I ALWAYS will be your biggest fan, Trevor.)

365::52

Getting to be a new family tradition, Sunday morning Goodnight Waffles. They are yummy!

365::51

today.

a BEAUTIFUL sunny day for skiing at Mount Abraham. What a perfect place for kids! WE skied the West side all day. Trevor did so great for only his second time time out.....WE couldn't catch him by the end of the day. He couldn't stop saying, Mom...this is SOOO fun!"

365::50

Just hanging out with Gammie at the camp, skiing tommorrow!

365::49

Three kids on their bikes! (In February, I can't believe what a mild day it was today)

365::48

This girl......

LOVES making snowmen.

365::47

You guys.

will always have each other...no matter what.

365::46

Look who is Riding a big bike for the first time!

365::45

This time of year.....
I find it tough. We've run out of exciting things to do. Everyday seems the same. A walk on the beach, though, even in February, it's just good for the soul.

365::44

Today:

Trying to be supportive of their creativity (even if it involves catapulting their breakfasts)...

LOTS of tea parties

LOTS of outside time trying to ward off the cabin fever: basketball, baseball and bikes (I really can't complain about this winter...)

reading and resting (especially for a seven year old boy who has a little cough)

doing everything we can to get this almost three year old boy to sit and go #2 (bubbles?)

a 17 mile training run (in BOSTON)

FLOWERS for me (did I deserve that?)

listening and watching the olympics

Puzzles

a HOMEMADE fresh pasta dinner with lots of homemade sauces and toppings

365::43

And a few hundred dollars later... I have the groceries for one week. It will all be gone at the end of the week, and my boys are still little. I ended up putting those Sponge Bob Yogurts back after reading the ingredients.....

365::42

A note from her Occupational Therapist:

Bre had a great OT session today. Wrote the letters B D E F L H beautifully on the slate board, while labeling the parts (big line down, big curve, etc)! So awesome, and did it with great fluidity, which is always a good sign that motor memory is being established.

365::41

Miss you Daddy!

365::40

Look who is already 7 1/2 (on 2/2)!

365::39

Enjoying the first quarter of the superbowl last night--along with our once a year treat-Doritos with cheese!!

365::38

Working on our Valentine's today (For Breanna's we printed out this picture and attached it to a new pencil-easy!) and we're making pulled pork (9 hrs in the oven) and getting ready for the SUPERBOWL!

365::37

You didn't think we would ACTUALLY get through February without someone getting sick did you (luckily it was short lived)?

365::36

Hitting my favorite Step class at the gym every Friday morning.....This instructor has a cult following and new people usually just end up leaving the class (Luckily I have been doing step for 20 years or I'd be lost!)

tonight

give your child and extra hug....and be silly:) Because Who knows what tomorrow will bring:)

365::35

Thanks for the FUN playdate today:)

365::34

Your morning routine. Fueled by a generous amount of Dunkin Donuts Coffee (in a Starbucks Mug). The same coffee and mug every day. I know that working at home can be a drag for you sometimes, but you also know how lucky you are to be able to spend this much time with family. Lucky.

365::33

You guys. Take your snacks onto the dog bed and have your little conversations with each other. so cute.

365::32

We're curling up with a blanket and watching every Monday night after I get home from work.

January 2010