Crystal said what??

Win an Aquaphor gift basket and 100$ visa card!

2009-12-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

Have dry skin?? getting a new tattoo? Have a baby that gets nappy rash? Aquaphor helps heal all of these and more! And you can win a big basket full of it and 100$ visa gift card! Check it out!

http://www.kirida.com/reviews/?p=73

Like seriously you can't have too many entries here's another HP Touchsmart giveaway!

2009-12-10T00:40:00.001-08:00

Like really is it the 24th yet?? I want to see who wins these babies!

I hope and pray it's me and NOT you but in order for me to get another chance I have to give you a chance so go enter here!
http://boomama.net/hp-touchsmart-600-giveaway/

Yet another chance to win an HP computer!!

2009-12-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

MckMama is in on the computer giveaway so make sure you head there and get at least 1 more chance to win!

http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html

Want another change to win an awesome computer??

2009-12-10T00:20:00.001-08:00

ANOTHER chance to win an HP Touchsmart Computer! from totally together reviews!

http://totallytogetherreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-computer-review-and-give.html

MIA Chance to win a new HP TouchSmart Computer

2009-12-10T00:08:00.001-08:00

Enter to win a new HP Touchsmart at Kelly's Korner Reviews!
I entered and so can you, entries until Dec 24th! I entered because Alana would get some great use out of this computer because she cannot use a mouse even the adapted ones. She gets ticked that touching the screen does nothing.

http://tinyurl.com/yd4zxm8

Are you a Super Duper Pooper?

2009-11-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

I found a bear at the goodwill today that sings "I'm a super duper pooper"

I was umm giggling my big head off.

Here is a video of a same bear on youtube.. go ahead watch it but make sure you don't have any liquids in your mouth or do not have to use the restroom lol. My bear doesn't have the diaper.

I'm sure the bear was inspired by this clip which is just wrong on so many levels. (the parents sing the song at the 1:20 mark)

Yummy Tummy Thursday ; Pumpkin Bars

2009-11-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Bars
(from Laura, linked above at her new wordpress site)

I LOVED these! I cannot even begin to tell you how much! I have made them twice in the last 2 weeks once taking some to work and am making them again tonight to take to mom's night out bunco tomorrow night! I am also taking them to thanksgiving dinner with the fam. The best part is they are cheap to make, make a large amount and easy to make and you have most the ingredients in your pantry already. I have used 2 tubs store bought cream cheese frosting but if you want to use a cream cheese frosting recipe Laura has one in the link above. Well I want to fatten myself up some more so I did chocolate chips over the entire thing and also cream cheese frosting over that. If chocolate is not your thing nuts would be a great addition.

I also do not have a jelly roll pan so what I ended up doing was a small layer in a 13 x 9 baking metal sheet/pan I got from pillsbury a little bigger layer in a 13 x 9 glass cake pan and same size layer in a 9 x 9 glass pan. Seriously it makes that much lol. I'm sure you could modify this recipe in half and use a 13 x 9 pan if you do not want that many bars. Also if you do a smaller layer or a metal pan I'd advise only 20 minutes in the oven. I set the timer for 20minutes and took the metal pan out and then left the 2 glass ones in for 10-15 additonal minutes.

Ingredients~

6 eggs
1 1/2 cup oil (I used canola)
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 large can (29 oz) pumpkin (or 2 15oz cans)
3 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. salt
(chocolate chips or cream cheese frosting or both in my case)

Directions~

Mix together eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, and pumpkin. Fold in dry ingredients and pour into jelly roll pan (13 x 18 pan) . At this point sprinkle the pan with chocolate chips and/or nuts if desired. Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Yummy Tummy Thursday ; Pastry Cream Filled Fillo Shells

2009-11-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

Pastry Cream Filled Fillo ShellsFrom Laura linked above (her's are much prettier, I really need some more kitchen stuff.. hint hint)

These are the other fillo desserts I took to a picnic back in June. I just want to say I much preferred the reeses one :-D.

Ingredients~

1 large box instant chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup milk
fruit for garnish (such as mandarin oranges cut in half, raspberries, strawberry slices, banana slices, etc)

Directions~

In a large bowl combine pudding, milk, and whipping cream. Mix together by hand using a wire whisk. Mix well to ensure a smooth mix. When the pudding starts to set, it is finished and needs to be used immediately. Place filling into a large zip lock bag or pastry bag. Squeeze out extra air and seal the top. If using zip lock bag, cut a hole, to fit into the hole in the pastry, in one corner of the bag. Pipe filling into each fillo shell. (This filling with thicken as you chill the pastries)

Trick Or Treat ; Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

TRICK OR TREAT!!

These first few pictures are actually the day before Halloween we got dressed up for a dinner function with the Snohomish County ARC.

My Garden Fairy, Surfer and my Spongebob!

Alana has a sneaky grin here lol and look she's blinding poor spongebob!

I loved his grin in this picture

Okay now these are from Halloween

Kaila's lovely fairy makeup!

At the Boo Bash in Mukilteo.. which we got dumped on by this crappy seattle weather shortly after arriving.

She wanted the mouse that was shown on the cover of the face painting book lol. Then proceeded to rip one of the makeup things off the table to open it so she could look in the tiny mirror at her face painting :-P.

Kaila got a flower to match her costume

Painting pumpkins but it was pouring so we left them there and forgot to go get them before the bash ended.. oh well life goes on right they are just pumpkins that will rot yes? lol

Trick or Treat!!!!

It stopped raining for about an hour for the most part and started up again when we decided we were done! At one house the lady asked if she could take their picture lol.

Anybody there???? I WANT SOME CANDY!!! TRICK OR TREAT!!

Ahhhhhh SWEET SUCCESS!

Gorgonzola Cheese is DISGUSTING!

2009-10-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

So I made a salad that used gorgonzola out of the Pillsbury Thanksgiving recipe booklet. Can I just say how GROSS this cheese is?? I am not a wine drinker because apparently it's an acquired taste that I just dont have or want after trying a few red wines. Same goes for this cheese if it's an acquired taste its one I do not want to acquire thank you very much!

BARFFFFFF

Yummy Tummy Thursday ; Jello Gelatin Milk Shake

2009-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jello Gelatin Milk Shake

I found this interesting way to make a milkshake many years ago in one of the parenting magazines while waiting in a doctor's office lobby. You simply add whatever flavor of dry jello mix you want to milk and vanilla icecream to make a delicious shake. My personal favorite is the lime but this one shown here is orange. How much depends on how many people I just eyeball it, you don't need alot of the mix at all one box of mix can make tons of shakes. I just put in a tablespoon or so to start and then mix and taste it and add more depending on how much flavor I want. Usually a tablespoon is just right for the amount of flavor I want though for a full blender.

Costumes ~ Surfer, Garden Fairy & Spongebob ; Halloween 2009

2009-10-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

I've always tried getting costumes the prior year cheap but it never happens. I don't know what they will be in to the next year I dont want to get a costume they will hate.. plus most of the good costumes are taken after halloween. And I am forgetful and lose things I always save leftover xmas cards from the prior season and never find them next season and end buying new anyway.. I would lose the costumes in the garage somewhere and forget I ever even bought them.. Although I do think the after halloween costumes if you get the right deals would be great for just dress up pretend play. Alana still likes to wear her dorothy dinosaur wiggles costume from 3 years ago.

So Alana is in to spongebob at the moment and I got her this costume off craigslist (photo is a stock photo of the costume from amazon.com)

Kaila wanted to be a fairy of some sort.. our first choice butterfly fairy we couldnt find in her size and then she seen this one at walmart and had to have it.. it's a Garden Fairy and it lights up! (again stock photo from amazon.com)

People are always saying Donni looks like a little surfer including myself (hair mostly :-P) so I had a crazy idea and he is a surfer for halloween. Did you know they don't make a surfer costume?? Did you know I couldn't find a mini surfboard online?? So I made one to be used as his bag because really you can't expect an almost 2 year old to carry a bag AND a surfboard... Shoot he probably wont even carry the combo I made.. or any bag for the matter. I got the design idea for the surfboard from this because he is wearing nemo trunks..

Little fin side

The middle is his treatbag I used 2 halloween them treat/lunch bags and took the bottom out of one and connected them to make on big long bag.

Letting big fin side dry

Finished Costume (little fin side)

(big fin side)

Added some halloween ribbon for straps to hold it.

Pumpkin Carving and Painting ; Halloween 2009

2009-10-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The kids are still too little to participate much in carving but Kaila did help gut a little lol.. Love the faces! Kaila and Alana had a small pumpkin each from school field trips to the same farm we went on a family trip to which were too small to really carve much so we decided to just paint those. We didnt paint faces.. I just gave them paint and let them do whatever the wanted.. I think Kaila's did have a face at one point but then she went crazy. Daddy carved the skull looking one and I carved the boo ghost and the trick or treat pumpkin.

Looking at the stencils

He was being a butthead and didn't want his picture taken.

Paint plus shirts equals no good lol

The girls finished pumpkins :-D

Rewind Day 5 ; Swimming With and Feeding the Ducks and Ducklings

2009-10-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Now this is the oldest of the rewinds, this was from late May :-X. We only went down to feed the ducks once this season/summer versus last year when we went multiple times. Alana was there too but she was off somewhere throwing rocks in the water as usual.

Rewind Day 4 ; Parade & Carnival Days

2009-10-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

First off we have the Strawberry Festival Parade and Carnival back in June.. yeah I know talk about procrastinator! The girls love carnivals and Donni is still too small for the rides.. they wont even let him on the carousel.. sheesh! I took Kaila on a carousel when she was like 1 1/2months old.. but that was in Arizona lol. We went here after Alana's Top Soccer wrap up day then went to the parade later that evening. Some of these might be familiar, I was racking my brain trying to figure out where I had posted these before.. making sure it wasn't here etc.. I finally remembered that I posted a couple of Alana on her Walk Video :-D. Check out the rides I went on at the end of this post!

Waiting for the parade to start!

Kaila petting a dog with wings lol

These next photos are from the Evergreen State Fair in late August.

This swing was from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch and it played his music too.

It was really hot that day Alana looks like shes on the verge of heat stroke in alot of the pictures lol.. it was HOT in this bear!

yes.. that was a cat.

Alana couldn't do the net climbing by feet so she pulled herself up it on the side lol. When she got to the top bridge we were just laughing because she was taking her sweet time and holding up about 10 kids behind her haha.

It's the Easter Bunny!

I have no words..

This was the only ride Alana didn't like I took her on it and quickly learned she didnt like heights at least not heights on this ride lol.. she loves kiddie rollercoasters so its not speed or dipping.. it had to of been the height while moving she was freaked about.. she is fine with the big slide height but you arent moving in a little seat on the slide and stopping and going.. good thing it was the last ride for the kids!

I also went on 2 rides by myself...

The Turbo Force

(these videos are not when I went on them, just videos of the rides so you get an idea of how nuts I am

:-P. )

And the Super Shot

Let me just tell you I MUCH preferred the Turbo Force over the Super shot.. I can deal with the spinning and heights of the turbo force.. but I didnt care much for my stomach dropping to the ground before I got there lol.

Rewind Day 3 ; Seattle Pacific Science Center

2009-10-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

So the same day we went on the Duck Ride we also went to the Pacific Science Center across the street. I love the science center but it's so big you need an entire day or a little time each day for a few days to actually see everything. I went to the laser show there one time in my preteen/teen years and it was cool so we did that with the kids. Alana plugged her ears nearly the whole time because they did the show to very very loud Queen music lol but she loved it.. but dont dare take her hands from her ears haha! I tried to take a few pics but you can't have flash in there and you can't show the camera screens because that stuff messes with the lasers and viewing experience lol so I was taking pictures with the screen against my jeans lol.

This is the best I got.. sad isn't it?

Big rotating water ball

The Hamster wheel! lol this was fun.

Water guns

Music room in the kiddie play area

The big table and chairs

Butterfly exhibit.. Alana grabbed at least 3 butterflies. On the way out she grabbed one when we were being inspected to be butterfly free.. and the woman behind us (I was told, I didnt see) apparently dropped her jaw like Alana just grabbed the pope by the neck. Sheesh it's just a butterfly! and she didn't stomp on it she just grabbed it lol.

Butterflies look like grasshoppers with wings.. did u know that?

I so thought this one was dead but it was alive.. is it supposed to look like this? doubt it and it didnt fly away or get spooked so I assume something was wrong with it?

Huge guitar, they also had a piano and other musical stuff

We were too beat for the space needle but had to walk by it back to the car..maybe another day.

Yummy Tummy Thursday ; Fillo Peanut Butter Cups

2009-10-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Fillo Peanut Butter Cups

From Laura.. I promise I do cook other food lol.

I made these for a bbq with the ARC of Snohomish County and with the last name starting with a P I was to bring a dessert.. I brought these and another fillo dessert also from Laura that I will post here next Thursday. I made multiple of each recipe because it was for a large group!

Ingredients ~

1 box (1.9 oz) mini– fillo shells (15 in box)
15 miniature peanut butter cups
1 can (7 oz) whipped light cream (or you could pipe on homemade whipped cream)
chopped peanuts

Directions ~

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place fillo shells on baking sheet.
2. Place a peanut butter cup in each shell. Bake 5 minutes until chocolate softens. With small metal spatula or knife, flatten and even out chocolate in fillo cup. You just want the peanut butter cup to sit on the bottom of the fillo shell. Let stand at room temperature until cooled.
3. Top each filled cup with whipped cream. Sprinkle with chopped salted peanuts, if desired.

Rewind Day 2 ; Seattle Aquarium

2009-10-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

We also went to the Seattle Aquarium in August. I went alone. I am crazy. Donni was being extra cranky so we weren't there long and truth be told I was kind of disappointed with the aquarium really. I was expecting cool sharks or something and I got.. NEMO. Not only that but it was packed and I could barely maneuver a stroller around all the people. People would walk in front of us to look in the tanks when we had been waiting and they can see just fine from behind us or wait their damn turns.. I have little kids who cannot see over 6 foot tall people hell I can't even see over most adults needless to say I was a bit cranky because Donni was cranky.. and the other people just made it that much worse!

Just reminded me why at the moment I tend to leave him out when it comes to stuff like this.. he's in that stage where he hates the stroller, he hates being held.. sure he can walk but he also hates holding your hand and walking the direction you want him to. He thinks it's hilarious to collapse every 2 seconds dragging you down with him.. and when you are trying to hold Alana's hand as well she gets dragged down too..and trying to make sure Kaila is paying attention to where she is going it is too much. And it's just a blast when Donni pulls one arm one way and Alana is pulling your other arm another way or trying to pry your hand from hers so she can run away.

The Jellyfish were my favorite part.

There was a light that changed colors and lit up the jellyfish it was pretty cool

some kind of water bird

This was the ceiling in one area lol.

The huge dome tank area

feeding time!

Rewind Day 1 ; Duck Ride Tour of Seattle

2009-10-20T09:19:00.001-07:00

Sunday... Tuesday.. Same Thing OK.

We did the Duck Ride of Seattle (a tour that is both land and water in one vehicle from WWII) in August and it was really neat, even as a resident of the Puget Sound I still enjoyed it!

I already have shown 2 videos from the duck ride here and here

"The Dock" Huge duck on top of the building.

One of the duck mobiles :-) and See that big oh hunk of metal behind it?? that is the EMP

(useless fact 1; it was designed to look like a smashed guitar from an airial view)

All aboard!

Kaila blowing her quacker

Useless fact 2 ; We have an aluminum tree in Seattle

The Captain.. I only snapped 2 of his little "getups" he had many.

Heading towards the water.. we were on a bridge.. which is shown on another photo below.

Moving from land to water

the 2nd "getup" for water safety lol.

Another duck leaving the water

Useless fact 3 ; These 2 boats were are used on the show The Deadliest Catch..

This a park named Gas Works Park

Useless Fact 4 ; Gas Works park contains remnants of the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the US. The plant operated from 1906 to 1956, and was bought by the City of Seattle for park purposes in 1962. The park opened to the public in 1975.

Useless Fact 5 ; Gas Works Park has been a setting for films, such as Singles and 10 Things I Hate About You. It has been featured twice on the travel-based television reality show The Amazing Race: once as the finish line for Season 3 and another time as the starting line for Season 10.

Only in Seattle would we think an old gas plant could one day be a park. We call it "art" lol. As we do with the aluminum tree and the fremont troll (which we drove by but not enough for photos)

Uhoh they're coming for me!

Kaila looking out over the water

Kaila's turn to go sit by the captain and spray the water gun

bridge I mentioned earlier

Seattle's famous floating homes..

Useless Fact 6 ; there is a limit to how many homes can be on the water which is already met so people have gotten creative and made some of them boats because as long as they can once a year prove it's a boat by moving the house out to the middle of lake Union it does not constitute a floating home but a boat. There is even on HUGE building that is actually a boat.

Useless Fact 7 ; see that light blue house with the teal accents and the flags on the left.. that is the house from the movie Sleepless in Seattle.

Space Needle

Just Seattle :-)

Kaila was sitting with this guy because she wanted a window seat and her and our friend were fighting for the window seat so he told her she could come sit by him. She sat with him most of the tour actually and she got chilly so he let her wear his sweater for a bit lol.

Floating homes galore

Quack Quack!

Another work of "art". People dress these statue people for fun.

Useless Fact 8 ; The dog that you cannot see in my photo well has a man's face with a beard. here's the back story (taken from above link) and a photo here...

Waiting for the Interurban was created by artist Richard Beyer, who also sculpted the well-endowed bull and the book-nerd coyote in Ellensburg, Washington. Beyer was on the Fremont Arts Council committee when a sculptor was chosen for the work (since no one applied, he chose himself). Committee member (and honorary mayor) Armen Stepanian disagreed, and the two squabbled. Beyer ultimately got his revenge by making the dog's face resemble Stepanian.

REWIND ; Week of pictures and updates from summer activities

2009-10-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

Since I obviously neglected my blog over the summer (anyone notice that I only had 3 posts in August :-X)..

I have pictures and other things to show from the summer that are just relaxing in files in my picture folder..

So this coming week (starting tomorrow, Sunday) will be a week of rewind posts.

STAY TUNED!

Family Reunion ; Dysfunction at it's Best

2009-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had a family reunion in September that did not end well but up until the end I would say we enjoyed ourselves as best we could.

It's a long story and our extended family all have issues with each other and it blew up but anyway before all that happened the kids had fun here is some photos and a video (view on blogpost if in email or reader) of the kids doing the haystack.

Free Kids Clothing Exchange ; My Loot

2009-10-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I donated a big black garbage bag of the kids old clothes at the Mukilteo Kids Clothing Exchange event. I then filled a paper bag with clothes that we could actually use!

Donni's loot..

(2 sets of pajamas, and 4 shirts (one is halloween themed) and a pair of sandals not shown to use for his costume).

Some of Alana's Loot

(pink dress, frilly tank top, cool cat shirt, 3 pairs of jeans)

Alana's other loot (4 sets of pajamas.. the 2 bottoms on left are meant to be capri style.. after I try these on her I may give some to Kaila as they are not far apart in size and share some clothes)

2 Speedo Brand Bathing suits, one for each girl

Kaila's loot

(Gymagine Gymnastics Shirt.. the gym she does her gymnastics at and we already have a lighter blue one now she has a dark blue one!, nightgown and apple bubble dress to wear with leggings.)

Making a Turner Syndrome Educational Video

2009-10-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

NEED PHOTO AND INFO SUBMISSIONS!

IF YOU FOUND YOUR WAY HERE BECAUSE OF TURNER SYNDROME INQUIRY PLEASE READ!!

I am making an educational video about Turner Syndrome to place on Youtube etc also a site where it will be able to be ordered on DVD for yourselves and others (friends, family and doctors) It will also be shared with the TSSUS and Magic Foundation.. and it will be based on the A-Z format and I need photos and information that anyone can conjur up that fit any of the following. I will let you know when I am finished so you can share it as well. Please email to me directly at Crystal42683@aol.com ATTACHED as well as permission to use them in the body of the email thanks! Also if you have any reccomendations on important things about TS that won't fit in any of these categories. I am looking for adults and children with TS and even ts women while pregnant, women pregnant with baby with TS etc.. Baby with TS ultrasounds. For the physical appearance category no photo will be shown in the category unless I am told you would like it shown there. If no photos are submitted for a category it will show commentary and fact info only. No photos will be identified with names or contact info unless submitter request that info be included (only info will be with fitting category, explanation of photo).

A is for Appearance (will be about physical appearance webbed neck, hairline etc. so any photos showing physical appearance traits would be appreciated.. )
B is for Bones (scoliosis, short 4th finger etc.)
C is for Celiacs (Obviously you cannot show me a photo of this but maybe a photo of you if you have celiacs or information on celiacs!)
D is for Diabetes (information or photos of you if you have diabetes, photos using diabetic equipment etc.)
E is for Ears (photos of hearing aids, getting tubes placed in ears anything related to the ear parts of TS)
F is for Friendships (photos of child at social functions, TS functions, school, etc.)
G is for Growth Hormone (photos of child getting GH, or an adult that had GH as a child etc.)
H is for Heart (photos of child before, after surgery anything that relates to heart)
I is for Incidence (maybe a large group photo of girls and women with ts)
J is for Just Us (any and all photos with girls and women with ts)
K is for Kidneys (same as heart any images you have related to kidneys)
L is for Lymphadema (images of swollen feet etc.)
M is for Mosaicism (karyotype images of mosaicism or a photo of your child and information on her type of mosaicism)
N is for NLD (facts and maybe NLD testing info etc.)
O is for Oral (pics of braces, small jaw, palate etc.)
P is for Puberty (pics and info relating to HRT, etc.)
Q is for IQ (school photos, report cards, anything relating to education and learning etc.)
R is for Reproduction (anything related to IVF, infertility, ovaries, pregnancy, pregnant women with TS etc.)
S is for Skin (photos of moles etc.)
T is for Thyroid (info on thyroid or a photo if you are affected with thyroid problems)
U is for In Utero (women pregnant with baby with TS, Ultrasound photos, this includes info and retouched photos, memorial pages etc for those babies who have passed because no matter how difficult it is its a huge reality that should be shared, also pictures of newborns with TS)
V is for Vision (Pictures and info depicting vision issues)
W is for Well being (pictures of adults and older women with TS showing the life expectancy and also quality of life)
X is for X Chromosome (pictures of karyotypes, etc.)
Y is for Y Chromosome?? (pics and info of those with Y material and ovary removal etc,)
Z is for Zzzz's (sleep studies, sleep apnea etc.)

Fruit Flies, Gnats ; Trap and Burn in HE double L

2009-10-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Warning this post may not be for the squeamish..

I really hate this time of year. Why?? because fruit flies and I both don't like the cold. But the difference is I BELONG in MY HOUSE and THEY DON'T!

I bought the stupid fly tape strip things.. worked for me once a long time ago. This time they landed and flew right off?? seriously.. I have super power gnats.

So I remembered saving this site in my favorites a LONG LONG time ago.. (really you should see my favorites list, it's yeah..) that shows some ways to make traps.

I made one trap with the funnel method.

Kaila broke said trap all over the floor.

Made another trap, no action at first but it looked like this the next day.

I made another trap.

Have caught alot of fruit flies and let them fly away outside.

Stupid Gnats.. GO AWAY.

New Old Washer ; Repair - I am so Good at Puzzles

2009-10-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

So my washer broke 2 weeks ago..

It was making a grinding noise and barely spinning.

Still drained water and agitated.

I wanted to see if I could fix it myself...

Because I am a handywoman ya know..

I looked up online how to remove the cabinet..

Also what might be the problem.

This video was a big help..

I was hoping it was the coupler..

I wasn't so lucky..

The coupler was fine.

My father who knows appliances but lives in Texas was on the phone with me helping me check the coupler. After that was shown to be okay and knowing the oil was everywhere we came to the conclusion that the transmission was bad.

After I hung up with him I decided to pull out the transmission and be nosy and just check stuff out. It takes alot to pull out a transmission out of a washer just an FYI... you have to remove the tub, agitator etc. as well to get to it.

It is the transmission or a part to the transmission that would cost more then the washer is worth.

I then had to put it all back together after I "investigated".

Apparently I am good at puzzles because when I got it back together it actually worked.. not work as in fixed but worked as in no more broken then before I took it all apart!

It is now in the garage and a new old washer in its place that was gifted to us by a friend that didn't need it.

See that hunk o metal to the left? that would be the motor.

RIP BELOVED WASHER

Yummy Tummy Thursday ; Grilled Peach Dessert

2009-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Grilled Peach Dessert

Compliments of Laura

(linked above)

This was really yummy but not sweet enough for me, I think it was just my peaches but they were kind of sour but it was still yummy. Next time I will cook a little longer I think and make sure the peaches are nice and ripe and use more cinnamon. I used 3 Ginger Snaps because I couldn't find the nabisco spice cookies at my grocery store and you know that was my favorite part.. I may try just grilling the cookies this way for an icecream topping!

For each dessert pocket:

3 Nabisco Classics Spice cinnamon cookies (Gingersnaps could be used too, but you'll probably only need 1 or 2. The Nabisco cookies are the size of Nilla wafers)
1 -2 peaches, sliced (the amount depends on the size of the peach)
1 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp sugar
cinnamon
1 Tbsp butter

Crumble cookie in a large piece of tin foil. In a bowl, mix the peach slices with the lemon juice. Place the peaches on the cookie crumbs and sprinkle sugar over peaches. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and top with butter. Seal foil and place on grill on medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes. That's it! You could also top it with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream when done.

Alana School Photo 2009-10 School Year

2009-10-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

SECOND GRADE

So I got Alanas pictures back the same day as Kaila's but... I got them back looking like this...

She didn't go to school with a wet shirt...so I called the photography folks to see if they could photoshop the shirt because she was actually smiling and looking at the camera.. You don't understand how difficult that is to do lol.. so I was otherwise happy with the photo. They said they could but they would have to remove the logo area... fine with me if it means we can avoid retakes! Since they were already in there fixing the shirt I asked them to also zoom in just a tiny bit since she was quite farther away then Kaila was in hers (same school, same pic day etc.). Yesterday I got the new photos in the mail..

AHHH MUCH BETTER!!
(although the sent me 1 8x10, not 3 like the package I ordered so I am calling them back again but otherwise I'm happy with the new pics!)

Pumpkin Farm Fall Harvest ; Okay so it isn't "tomorrow"

2009-10-13T18:13:00.001-07:00

Fall Harvest ; Pumpkin Farm

Okay so I know I said I would post this on Sunday but sue me..I sorta had to get a new washer and clean my garage and Sundays we now have a nice breakfast as a family with pancakes and all and actually try to get some stuff done before I go to work.

We have been going to this farm since Alana was a baby and I think only missed going last year. The girls actually got to go twice this year because Alana had went with her class the day before we all went and Kaila went yesterday with her class so we have 5 pumpkins sitting on our porch. 3 Big ones from when we all went and 2 little ones from when they went with their classes. Oh and in case you are wondering who the big blonde girl is that is my niece, she was my "helper" who whined the whole time.

You like those dust particles don't ya?

Now Kaila... don't kill the kitty.

Kaila and a friend of ours his name is Cale..

Pumpkin Farm ; Kids playing in the corn "sandbox" Sensory Mania!!

2009-10-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

This is a video (in email or reader go to blog post to view) of my kiddos playing in the corn box at the pumpkin farm. I have lots of pictures to post tomorrow but here is a little teaser!

Kaila practicing a few of her gymnastics moves ; carthweels, flips, splits etc.

2009-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thos in readers, email or FB go to blog to view video.

Kaila has gymnastics once a week for 1 1/2 hours. Even though I can barely afford it I find it worth the money as it is very important to me to let Kaila have an activity that is just for her as most days revolve around Alana and Donni. Plus she enjoys it and is good at it for only starting this summer. We have tried soccer and swimming and ballet in the past. She enjoys soccer but can get distracted very very easily, we will try it again in spring but for now she seems to enjoy gymnastics more and it is indoors perfect for this time of year. Swimming she likes the water.. but won't put her head under it or her face in it etc. I think that will be another thing to try maybe next summer.

Kaila School Photo 2009-10 Year

2009-10-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

It turned out decent I think, alot better then last year's lol. I don't think it should show the object she is resting her arms on though??

Videos of Alana working on Work Boxes at her TEACCH Model Work Station at Home

2009-10-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

Alana's Work Box Tasks for TEACCH Work Station at Home; Videos of them being done to come next!

2009-10-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the work tasks Alana was doing yesterday at her Autism TEACCH model workstation here at home. I videotaped her doing each one and that post is next!! So stay tuned!

The picture above is the file holder that has worksheets, file folder games etc. in it to use for her tasks.

This I just wanted to point out that I am the biggest procrastinator and from the green over to the "shire" is file folder games that I have yet to actually put together into a folder. I copied them all from a book I borrowed from her teacher last year.

This pizza puzzle file folder game I got from abcteach.com among many other things I got from there. It is difficult because you do not match the shapes but the pepperonis and they all look very similar! You can make this harded by not having the picture to match the piece too.. just them putting it together like a regular puzzle. I printed it on cardstock, but only laminated the pieces (not the paper glued to the folder) and use velcro.

This is tracing sheets, Letter and her Name.. I place these in the same bin together. I have masters that I just copy as needed.

This is of course a puzzle. It's one of the more difficult ones because a) it is an actual picture while most 25 piece puzzles are cartoony and have more solid lines, b) its a free standing puzzle (not a board that it is placed on that shows its border etc.). If I am giving her a puzzle that does have a board with it she gets 3 of those in one bin because they are easier. But for this one, one is good. Puzzles can be used by most ability levels, by outlining the puzzle pieces on their matching board, numbering them with matching numbers on the board, making a board that goes with a free standing puzzle, using peg puzzles, starting at simple 3 piece peg shape puzzles.

This is a gripping activity that also teacher patterns, very good for fine motor. Before I bought this I used cheap clothespins from the store and carboard colored the same colors with marker, so that is always an option!! I bought this from Abilitations.. and have lost a yellow and blue pin.. ughh I hate little pieces!

This is what we used before I bought the one above.. I think these were like 2$ at the store.

This is nuts and bolts activity, I give them to her put together and then she takes them apart and puts them back together. Good for fine motor also matching. I got thses from abilitations (comes in a huge pack of 24 I think).. but you can always use some from the hardware store but we have little piece issue here and these were cuter lol.

This is a Sticker Dot Letter activity. I have every letter for younger kids you can start with just one letter but I do the full page of 2 letters. I got these from her teacher and keep a master of each letter (a to z) and copy as needed but you can probably be easily made yourself by hand or in a paint computer program. it helps with fine motor (the stickers) as well as letter recognition.

This is a cutting activity, I got some of these cutting sheets from her teacher and again keep what she gives me as masters and copy them as needed. The thicker outline makes it easier to cut, and could easily be done with any coloring book page and just outlined with a thick black marker and copied as needed. The scissors you see here are from abilitations catalog, they have many different types.

This is her last box which is normally the reward box, this is dot art page she used an art dobber to "color". Other ideas for a reward box are playdough, candy, any toy your child likes. A folder with pecs type pictures so they can choose the reward, (audio book, outside, ticker, squeeze, books, computer time, candy etc.)

Just a few pictures of the station (bins start on the left and when completed move to the right)

If your child isn't distracted by it supplies can be kept on the top of the REINFORCED shelving units and on the bottom shelf. I have the file holder up there (2 actually) and a bin of flashcard that I use to do some activities and folders (see a previous post on using them for folder games) and a bin full of puzzles etc. and of course her work light since she is often working in the evening after school.

Walk Now For Autism Speaks Seattle ; Final Update W/ Pictures

2009-10-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

Walk Now For Autism Speaks

Seattle

October 3rd, 2009

TEAM ALANA

We raised 489$ on behalf of Team Alana!

And had a team of 28 people (including children) supporting Alana!

I would like to thank the following people for donating in some form.

Lisa Noel

Dianne (Alana's speech therapist)

Anna Fang

Dennis (my sister's Boss)

Dentri McDonald's

My mothers Boeing co-workers

My grandmother and her lovely friends

Buzz INN (marysville)

Nancy

Tesoro's Gas Station

Gas Station (unknown name in Arlington)

Just For Kids Consignment Shop

Coin Laundry on 128th

Los Potrillos

Dora Lattish

Julie Swanson

I think I got everyone!

I would also like to thank all of those who walked on our team, supported our team and raised donation money!!

The day of the walk turned out to be a nice day, no rain this year! It was held at the Dempsey arena at the University of Washington and the walk was through the UW Campus. Please enjoy the photos!!

Our team photos (click for larger)

Alana doing ???

Oh Geoffreyyyyyyyyyyy

Little man...

My sister, niece and Donni

Alana and Uncle James (my brother)

Maria and Ana from TEAM ANA and Alana.

Seahawks Blue Thunder Band and Blitz Mascot performing at opening ceremony

Crazy mascot...

We're off!

Gma and Alana

She walked the whole way this year!

Our team or most of it relaxing at the fountain!

A family photo... never get a family photo im always behind the camera or we arent in the same place at the same time lol.

I had to take this picture, just thought it was funny that the 4 strollers on our team were being pushed by the men :-P.

Last Plee for Walk Now For Autism Contributions!!

2009-10-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Walk Now For Autism event in Seattle is tomorrow.

This is my last plee to please please donate if you can, even 5$ helps!!!

www.walknowforautism.org/seattle/alanateam

(choose a walker to donate under)

Need a reason?? Watch our video..

I will be picking up the donation bins here in a bit and will make a final walk post with details of the walk, photos, $$ raised etc.. here on Saturday evening or Sunday so stay tuned. I also have a post in the works about Alana's work station stuff so stay tuned for that too!

Yummy Tummy Thursday ~ Freezer Breakfast Muffin Sandwiches

2009-10-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Freezer Breakfast Muffin Sandwiches

From Laura again

Same as before I have made breakfast sandwiches before on muffins, bagels etc. but never frozen them. I love these, so quick and easy in the morning!

Ingredients:

12 English Muffins, toasted (can use bagels, biscuits etc as well)
1 Dozen Eggs, scrambled
6 American Cheese Slices, halved (I had lots of cheese so I put a full slice on each)
12 Deli Ham Slices (and/or COOKED Sausage Patties, I did 1/2 sausage and 1/2 ham (2 slice on each) and I used about 1/3 of the sausage from the bulk 1lb sausage I bought for the burritos cut into thin patties)

Directions:

Scramble eggs; while eggs are cooking, split and toast muffins. (Easiest is to cook eggs like an omelet and slice into squares) Once eggs are cooked, set up an assembly line of muffins, eggs, cheese, ham; assemble and allow time to cool, then wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze wrapped egg sandwiches in freezer bags or freezer boxes. I used a gallon size freezer bag to hold 6 sandwiches, these bag can be reused for each time I make them. Makes 12. To heat: wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 45-65 seconds. Be careful it will be nice and hot.

School Fundraiser ; Can you help? They really want the dog!!

2009-09-28T09:38:00.001-07:00

Kaila and Alana are doing a fundraiser for school, it has tons of candy and chocolates and tons of cheap 13$ magazine subscriptions! Would you be so kind to help them out?? (it is under Kaila's name because we do it under one to get the bigger prize and she REALLY REALLY wants that rolling dog!) Student ID is 224W4QQ!

http://www.gaschoolstore.com/Store.aspx?ur=9

First day of school + some ; Kindergarten, 2nd Grade

2009-09-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kaila has been in some type of school since 18months old so Kindergarten wasn't much of a big change like it is for most! She started September 2nd at the same school with Alana (we had to transfer because that elementary school is not the closest to us but I wanted them together) and has been doing well since. Her class is a mix of kids from all over the district that also transferred from their close home schools to this school through the no child left behind act.

2 weeks in and we got a notice that the teacher was only a sub to start the class off and a new teacher was being brought in.. This shocked all the parents because not one of us was told she was a "sub" for the first few weeks. I like the new teacher but they should have told us that the other teacher wasn't there for the long haul because Kaila was bawling the last day the teacher was there because they had all formed an attachment to her. She is of course over it now, love the memory of a 5 year old. That day though I let her write a note to the teacher (in email) and make a picture on paint to send to her too and that helped stop the crying. So they basically started over again 2 weeks in, each teacher does things their own way and the kids had to learn about her and her about them but so far so good..

Alana was also switched about a week in to another class with most the kids she was with last year and the same classroom but another teacher. I was on totally board with her class change though, the school initiated it and I agreed. The original class she was placed in was 1st and 2nd grade Teacch program (which was a Kindergarten class last year).. last year she was in 1-3rd grade Teacch class and she was the youngest in that class so she has been used to being with the older kids (and she's been in class off and on with these kids since preschool) then they put her in a class where she was one of the oldest.. a new classroom, new teacher, all new students to her, they were only doing the work station once a day when last year she was doing it at least twice and sometimes 3 times a day... it just seemed like a huge step backwards.

I would think that they automatically would have kept her in with the same kids and that class changed from 1-3 to 2-3 and shes in second grade so the move didn't make sense. Not even mentioning that they told me nothing about her class placement this year besides she would be in the Teacch program as usual...since I wasn't told anything different, I had assumed she would've been with the same kids.. at least those 3rd grade and under and I also assumed she was staying with that same teacher since she had grades 1-3 and Alana was going into second grade but they moved the teacher without informing me and changed classes around.

I love how schools totally keep you out of the loop like you don't give a shit what class they put your child in. ((hugs)) to all those with kids on IEP's, heck anyone with kids in school period.

I am not even going to start about Kaila's bussing situation because that would make this post REALLY REALLY long.

Below is Kaila on her first day of Kindergarten.. it was an orientation day where the parents stayed. I had Donni and Donni is well in a screaming phase.. I don't think the teachers will be asking me to volunteer in class anytime soon...

Oh and we already have our first fundraisers too.

And they had their pics taken last week as well, I'll share them when they arrive.. My plan was to let them take the photos by thierselves and if they come back good then great if not then I will take them to school and supervise the retakes :-D. Crossing my fingers for decent photos!

And one of Donni too just for the fun of it.. He exists really he does.

Walk Now For Autism Speaks Update ~ Donation Bins, Thank You Cards, Bikini Stands

2009-09-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Walk Now For Autism Speaks Update..

The walk is fast approaching Oct 3rd in Seattle!

Can you Donate?
Anyone who donates 50$ or more will recieve a complimentary team shirt! We appreciate any and all donations.

I made 12 donation "bins" to place at local merchants. Side Note: Thanks to the guy on freecycle that happened to have a dozen empty protein powder jugs! :-) We have 2 at kids consignment shops, 1 at a kids kutz, 2 at gas stations, 1 at a mom and pop drive up burger place, 1 at the mexican restaurant I have given my life savings to, 1 at buzz inn restaurant, 1 at my favorite nail salon, 1 at a coin laundrymat, 1 at a pet store/ unique things store, & one at a hotel that one of our walkers manages. Now how much these bins will get in them who knows.. I could very well pick them up emtpy but it's worth a shot and we will know for next year the places to go again, am going to try espresso stands next year.. but you know of course not the bikini stands @@ what you don't have those where you live?? If you check the links.. you will thank your lucky stars your city/state doesn't suck... although I have thought about finding some nice women to open up a "man stand".. (use your imagination).

I also designed up a Thank You Card Template using our shirt design to give to all that donated or raised money or supported our team in some way. Just waiting on our final $$ tally to add to it as well as a team photo from the walk.

Custom Team Shirts are being printed for everyone, I have the first one she made looks great (design in a previous post)! I also helped design 2 shirts for friends of ours that are walking and have their own teams.

All walkers in our team were given donations forms to take to work, friends other extended family to procure donations. I added information about donating online to these forms as well as a half sheet "about me" with a photo of Alana with information about the walk.

Here's what they said (Also what is on the bins above, with the same photo):
Hi, my name is Alana, I am 7 years old and in a 2nd grade special education class . I am a very happy girl that happens to have Autism and Turner Syndrome. My family and friends and I are walking at the October 3rd Walk Now For Autism event in Seattle in support of Autism Speaks. We are asking for your support in pledging a donation to a walker in our team to help fund research and aide families dealing with autism. No donation is too small and we would be very grateful for any and all donations.

No More TV at Night ; Night Light Edition

2009-09-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

So there has been a rule change in our house..

I'm a horrible mother and I let the girls leave the tv on in their room at night.. I grew up doing it and still leave it on in my room..with no sound. I never had a problem with them going to sleep really (now that Alana is on melatonin) but a few nights recently I have had more problem of them waking up in the middle of the night. Mind you Alana has always done this and it was never a big issue but now that Kaila is finally sleeping in her room with Alana, when Alana wakes up she wakes up Kaila (Kaila normally sleeps like a log.. rarely woke when she slept in our room). Then Kaila proceeds to stay awake with Alana watching tv at 4am.. sometimes even turning the sound back on. Obviously this is not okay..especially with school (Kaila has to catch the bus at 7:38am) as well as Alana starting the melatonin is to get better sleep and hopefully help her attention span during the day to learn better and the tv is hindering that..so we made a new rule..

They can still have the tv to fall asleep since I've never had a problem with that before.. but it will be turned off when I go to bed and they will just have to live with their new friend below..

Side note.. I am pretty proud of this picture with my p&s camera lol.. No flash in a dark room. This was 1 of 10 shots I took..

Below is what happened when I used flash.. not exactly what I was going for.

Yummy Tummy Thursday ~ Freezer Breakfast Burritos

2009-09-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Freezer Breakfast Burritos(from Laura)

I have made breakfast burritos before lots of times but have never frozen them, have only made bulk and frozen french toast and pancakes in the past but I love breakfast burritos and I am lazy in the morning :-). These burritos can be made to your liking, adding optional items to the basic list below. Optional ingredients: Ham, Hashbrowns (shred or cube), tomatoes, peppers, salsa etc. I personally made some varying kinds adding tomatoes and peppers and hasbrowns to some of them.. but all had the ingredients below. I don't add salsa in the mix but use salsa when I eat them.

Ingredients~

12 eggs, beaten
1 lb bulk (Preferrably Jimmy Dean) sausage, cooked (or crumbled links)
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
12 flour tortillas

Directions~
Scramble eggs in large skillet until done and remove from heat; stir in cooked sausage and shredded cheese. Warm tortillas in microwave 20-30 seconds or until warm and flexible. Place 1/2 cup egg mixture into tortilla; roll burrito-style.Freeze burritos in single layer on a cookie sheet. When fully frozen (in about 1 hour) place burritos in large zip-top freezer bag; freeze.TO SERVE: Wrap in a paper towel.Cook in microwave until heated through (about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes).

Yummy Tummy Thursday ~ Easy Fruit Dip

2009-09-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Easy Fruit Dip

From Laura linked above.

I made this dip awhile back to serve as a dessert platter after dinner for everyone it was ALOT of food and fed us for 3 desserts I think lol.. I just chopped a new banana to serve each time as that was what was eaten the most..I served it with strawberries, grapes, bananas and apples but you can serve with whatever fruit you prefer. The kids loved it minus the strawberries.. they are weird kids and don't eat strawberries. I am making it again this weekend to take to our family reunion.

Ingredients~

1 (8 oz.) tub of strawberry or pineapple soft-style cream cheese (i'm sure you can use any flavored cream cheese I used strawberry)
1 (7 oz.) jar of marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions~

In a mixing bowl, beat together ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate before serving. Serve with fresh fruit. Makes 2 cups.

Our Team Shirt Design for Walk Now For Autism & Walk UPDATE!

2009-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

My family is really coming out for the walk this year, so exciting! But that is in support to walk with us, we still are very low on donations which is the whole point of the walk so if you can donate I would love you forever! Anyway I will be holding a 10$ donation ticket raffle for a new IPOD in the very near future to raise some money so watch for that!

So the last few days my aunt and I have been designing up new shirts for this years Walk Now For Autism Oct. 3rd in Seattle. Last year we made shirts with fabric paint but this year I talked to my aunt because she makes custom shirts and is doing them for 3$ a piece (cost of shirt) and donating her time and other supplies to make them for the team. Anyway I wanted to incorporate the puzzle piece (had a huge one on the back last year). I wanted to incorporate Walk Now For Autism, as well as Seattle.. And of course Team Alana. Then I got the crazy idea to do a silhouette of Alana, I've seen them done for a friend of mine and I thought I would give it a shot myself for the shirt. So here is our shirt for this year!! I know the front and back colors don't match but I wanted to keep the logo the colors it is meant to be but also girly it up and you wont see the front and back at the same time :-P.

* BACK *

* FRONT *

AND.. in case anyone was curious this is the picture I used to make the silhouette of Alana! :-)

Cardboard Box Play House.. What Can You Make With Cardboard?

2009-09-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

We had this big box from the lawn mower we bought a few months ago sitting in the garage along with a few other boxes so last weekend Kaila and I decided to make a play house with them..

Supplies:

Lots and Lots of duck tape

Boxes of varying sizes

Crazy Glue

and a crazy mother.

Without Further Ado... I present our house...

Below you will see the "mailbox" (aka huggies wipe box) Kaila requested her house MUST have, complete with her mail or football.. whatever.

This would be well let's see, a tunnel, a back door, a side door, a doggie door, if the flap was closed it could double as a tiny tiny bedroom.. Whatever you decide.

The "front door" view.. wow her house really looks messy inside, wonder where she gets that from?

To the left is the "chair" I made, gotta have some furniture..

Kaila's gorgeous decorations.. aka stickers, marker and scrapbook paper, even a shipping label.

Looking inside through the "window" this started as a shelf and was turned into a stove and sink.. like my stove burner artistic skills?

The sink (okay I will explain it to you the white duck taped thing would be the sink (yeah yeah its the cool above counter sink model).. the stick looking thing next to it would be the faucet).. I drew the line when asked to make a toilet.

Welcome Back To School! ~ Priceless School Supply Rant

2009-09-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Written BY Ginny

Dear Mrs. X:

In just over a week, you will be my son’s Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last day of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, “Here’s a list of the stuff I need for school next September!”

And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I’m a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you’d listed.

It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.

You’re a crafty bitch, aren’t you?

This list was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you’d prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can’t Follow Directions.

For example, the glue sticks you requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you’ve got planned for the first day of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn’t come in a convenient 3-pack. The 30 gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40’s, as per your instructions.

Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 different colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased three of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you’ll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, “Pardon me, ma’am, but are you slow?” as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that’s what the list said. And I was committed to following the list.

But the last item, well, now, you saved your malice up for that one, didn’t you? “8 mm ruled notebooks”, you asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is seven millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do you realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.

You wanna dance, lady? Let’s dance.

Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.

On show and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, “Ben’s First Puppy.” Enjoy.

He will be given a list of words, and daily, he will ask you what they mean. Words such as, “pedophile”, “anti-semite”, and “skank”. Good luck with those.

At some point, you will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I’m quite sure that, like most of your ilk, you will require my son to “show his work”. And he will.

Through interpretive dance.

Because that is who you’ve chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.

Sincerely,

Ginny

Abili-Skate SUCCESS!!

2009-09-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

We had our first Abili-Skate (skating time period for kids and adults with special needs/wheelchairs etc.) on August 20th. It was a success, about 30 people showed up which is pretty good for a first time event a few weeks before school starts in the summer! I have a feeling it will have an even better turn out once school starts and people are looking for things to do indoors after school, and with schools open the flyers can be sent home with children in special needs classes at various schools, reach more families that way! I am in the process currently of hopefully scheduling the Abili-Skate sessions for the school year. I have a list of those who "signed in" at the event to let you know as well as put out flyers everywhere I can and more with details of the next events.

As far as how it went for Alana, she has more fear and alot more timid then she was when she was younger and wouldn't let go of the stroller or the wall. About half way through she discovered the arcade games and was enamored with the guitar hero screen.. where she spent a good half of the time afterwards lol. But she did skate with me quite a bit at the beginning, and we did the hokey pokey and the chicken dance. Kaila had a blast as well, she loves skating.

Yummy Tummy Thursday ~ Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

2009-09-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

(from Laura, linked above)

It's been a long time since I made this but I distinctively remember having to add water to the crockpot/gravy because the soup was far too thick for gravy when the dry ranch was added to it(I used condensed soup (not reconstituted) this may have made a difference) and I used boneless thin pork which probably also added to the problem, once I added water it was perfect gravy. I know I made a little more potatoes then called for I just used milk to my consistency preference and seasoned to taste (after added required milk and season below).

Ingredients~

6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick (I used thin boneless)
1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
10 oz can Cream of Chicken Soup
4 lbs peeled, cubed potatoes
5 Tablespoons real butter
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
6 cloves roasted garlic (directions are below)
1- 1 1/2 Cups warm milk
1 Tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, or to taste

Directions~

Place pork chops, Ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.Place potatoes into a large pot of cold water. Place onto stove top over high heat and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, cook for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and transfer to the work bowl of a stand or electric mixer. Mix on low until potatoes are mashed then add butter, Parmesan, garlic, milk, salt and pepper. Season to taste if needed. For thinner mashed potatoes add more milk, slowly until your desired consistency.Scoop mashed potatoes onto serving plates and top with pork chops and soup gravy from crock pot. I put a little parsley on top to serve.

Roasted Garlic~

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place bulb of garlic with skins on, wrap lightly in tin foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove from foil and let cool for 15 minutes. Remove garlic from skins, place in a bowl and mash with a fork until completely mashed. Set aside. One garlic bulb will have around 12 cloves.

Kaila doing the "duck" on the duck ride of Seattle

2009-09-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

13 Year Old Girl With Autism Communicates Through Typing

2009-09-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

Brings on the water works for most, just a warning!

Seattle Duck Ride Video Of Guy Dancing In The Street

2009-09-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

I took this video on our duck ride of seattle tour last week enjoy!.

Our Weekend At Camp Prime Time

2009-08-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

~First a little background~

Camp Prime Time is a camp here in Washington in the boonies that is for children with special needs and/or illnesses and their families. You sleep in cabins, they provide meals 3 times a day, play room, showers, horse ride, boat ride and its mostly run by volunteers. Our local ARC set up a weekend for us and I took the girls while Donni who is having some issues lately with events stayed home with daddy. Let's just say he has found his voice and still doesn't like strangers but will now run away from me anyways :-X.

These first few pictures are of Kaila on a hike she went on with some of the boys. She was the only girl on the hike and the youngest and she did really well!

These next pictures are outside and in our cabin we stayed in the majority of the time (we did switch to another cabin the last night because of a conflict with our roomates but I won't go into that, but the other cabin was way cooler anyhow!)

Someone had fun painting these rocks to our photo taking enjoyment.

A Dam

In the playroom

The large treehouse

We spotted a bat the first night hanging out at the main lodge!

From the top of a hill behind the cabins.

Getting ready to go on the boat

Horse ride before heading home

2009 Seattle Walk Now For Autism Seattle Team Alana Recruitment/Sponsor Video

2009-08-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

Sooo... Not Me Monday

2009-08-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

I suppose I should post a blog lol. Really summer is nearing it's end and its keeping me busy. You know work, life, 3 kids (4 if you count the "daddy aka baby #4"), and all the summer activities!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Alana did not find a butterfly needle (for you non medically inclined people that is a type of needle for blood draws) in the drawer at the doctors office. My odd child did not then request the package be opened and I said no we are not drawing your blood today. She then does not say, blood, blood and points to her arm repeatedly and the next hour tries to get me to open the package. My child is not very very odd, only child I know that would request a blood draw.. sigh.

I did not run out of gas at said Dr.s Appt. My van sucks. If I park at an angle with the front angled down for more then a few minutes and I only have 1/4 tank of gas, my car will not start. It's the third time its happened to me, I usually avoid parking that way but I had very little options in downtown Seattle and construction everywhere. The wife of the dr did not call AAA for me (which I am greatful for but did not ask for, I simply wanted help pushing my van to level ground where it would have started most likely but they didn't want to risk hitting the building or another car doing it, last time I checked the brakes still worked :-P). She also was not more then a little snooty about me not saying thank you before the AAA guy was even there while I was on the phone trying to concentrate on a message that tells you which number to push for this and that and trying to control my children in their office. I said thank you when I was off the phone and the guy was there, but apparently that wasn't good enough. I also did not have all 3 children and it was not 100 degrees outside.

It did not take 4 gallons of gas to start, which is actually better then the 6 gallons it took last time.. damn van and its large gas tank.

I did not end the gas troubles by going to the gas station then to Dick's to get some burgers and fries and sitting in their parking lot with the A/C on full blast while we ate our yummy lunch.

I did not take the girls to a 10pm class at the beach called "pier peer" where they put lights under the pier to attract fish, etc. At this class Alana did not attempt to grab any waterlife we caught and were watching in a bucket. She also did not attempt to get into the water or come THISCLOSE to tossing my camera in the water.

I did not go baby crab hunting at the beach with Kaila the next day and cut my fingers multiple times on barnacles.

Our collection..
This one was soft shelled...

Autism in action...

2009-07-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

This would be my desk... which you can see while I was at work last night was invaded by a dinosaur versus animal battle...

Alana singing Boom Boom Pow!!

2009-07-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

(video on original post if you are reading in email or reader!)

Challenge Air, Take Flight!!

2009-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

The rest of our Saturday was spent at Challenge Air (where the video in a previous post came from). This organization is awesome and they provide flights for individuals with special needs as well as 1 or 2 "guests". Not only do you get to fly a small plane for 30 minutes but if the child/adult with special needs is willing and able they can assist in flying the plane in some fashion. Also the event down below as people come and go from their flights also has alot of fun things to do like a bounce house, Ronald McDonald, Cake Walks, pizza, music, arts and crafts, plane "school", mini golf , robot etc! As well as information booths and a booth that was giving the kids 2 free books each! These events happen all over the country.

Here are the pictures from the event!

Alana loves mascots any type she doesn't discriminate lol. (oh and thats the robot behind them to the right.. it throws balls and moves around, pretty neat lol)

HI-Five YEAHHHH!! (oh and her hand wasn't hurt but she loves band-aids.. lol)

In the bouncy house which by the way she escaped from 3 times when we weren't looking... each time she was found interrupting the cake walk and miniature golf right next to the cake walk lol.

Cake walk and Ronald McDonald

Kaila and her friend Acashia doing the cake walk

Silliness

Freeze!!!!

Getting ready to board the plane! It was a Cherokee I was told.

We tried to put her in the front but she was having no part of the intercom headgear stuff.

Safely in the back..

My mom took the front :-)

Alana and I

Plugging her ears..

Heading to take-off

Captain took this picture :-)

Landing

Getting her "wings"

Alana reciting Brown Bear!!

2009-07-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Alana reciting Brown Bear, I missed the first bit but you get most of it! I had to edit this video because the sound was reallly low... and then I had to convert it to another file type so appreciate that you are seeing this because I had to download 2 programs and spend my precious time lol. (video in the original post if you are in a reader or email)

Doctor's Advice...

2009-07-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

I love this Doctor

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ...... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
AND.....For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of
sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than North Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

AND REMEMBER: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

Amen

Challenge Day Race, Soap Box Derby Races!

2009-07-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

This first half of our day Saturday was doing this fun event! Alana had a blast once it was time to actually race.. that girl takes after her Grandma and has no patience! Maybe in a few years Kaila can be her able bodied driver!!

(below is quoted from their website)

Challenge Day Race

This high-spirited event, held annually in July, pairs developmentally disabled individuals with young, able-bodied drivers (usually 12 and under) for soap box derby races down 2nd Ave in Issaquah. Challenge Day also provides adaptive cycling for those who might never otherwise ride a bike. Success of this special day is measured in both miles and smiles!

First race, she went on a total of 4 but the second one she crashed into the curb :-P.

Kaila found a doggy...

She was so excited to be in the Police Car, that was by far her favorite :-).

Getting towed back up :-)

And for fun a policeman and a fire chief in their respective cars lol.. The fire one was supposed to be a firefighter but right as he was getting in it they got a call and had to leave.. the policemen called them chickens when they were leaving!

Testing out the big Trike

Testing another one but she was just a tad too short.

Testing another one.. that you peddle with your hands but again just a tad too short.

So we rode this one.. she sat and I did all the work it was quite fun actually! See Kaila behind us??

Her trophy!

What did YOU do on YOUR Saturday??

2009-07-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

Quite fitting for the 200th post no??

It's not like you get to do this type of thing every day!

I have lots of photos to share of this and another event we did that morning but I am teasing with a video first! Thanks Challenge Air!!

(if you are reading this post in an email or reader or facebook there is a video in this post so click to view the actual blog to see it!)

I want the long hair back :-(, Donni's first haircut.

2009-07-17T18:12:00.001-07:00

Even 2 days later I am not used to his new hair and I want his long hair back it fit him oh so well :-(, I am warming to it but still not sold. I should have listened to daddy's haircutting objections. sigh..it was making him really hot though... it will grow back.

BEFORE

THE HORRIDNESS!!

Mommy don't leave me!

If I close my eyes this might be a dream.

All done and showing off his perfected art of mean muggin, I liked it at this point.

I really hated the way it dried it looked even more girly then before he had it cut lol. But today it dried a little better!

Camp Prov, a daycamp specially designed for children with special needs.

2009-07-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

All this week the girls have been at Camp Prov, a day camp for children with Special Needs and their siblings. This was Alana's 4th year and Kaila's 3rd year attending. It starts at age 2 so Donni gets to go next year too! They had a blast as usual and Alana did excellent this year compared to last year!

Kaila was green this year, they are grouped by age, she's to the far left!

Alana was blue this year, and is on the right with her 1 on 1 the camp provides for certain children.

Not Me Monday

2009-07-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Want more Not Me Monday?? Check out MckMama!

I did not let my van get so dirty, full of toys and garbage that the other half took it upon himself to clean it while I was at work.

While he cleaned the van inside he did not fail to clean the bird sh*t off of my window.

I am not contemplating what I am going to do this week during the 3 hours a day the girls are at daycamp?? Any suggestions?

This is not my ghetto version of a double stroller...

Kaila did not ride on Thomas the Train with a friend and her boys and another little friend lol.

Kaila is on the right.. the tiny one of course.

Gymnastics and "Animal Farm"

2009-07-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

I enrolled Kaila in Gymnastics this summer because she is pretty good at it at home and she is the perfect body type.. soo petite lol. She loves it and we are going to continue it year round as much as possible.

Abili-Skate

2009-07-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

I wrote a letter to a local skate deck about starting a skate time for individuals with special needs and their families (like they do during christian night or toddler skate), for many obvious reasons most of these individuals cannot skate at the normal skate sessions. Anyway we set something up and I wanted to share the letter I wrote as well as the flyer for the new Abili-Skate! You are free to use either of these if you are interested in starting something like this in your area!

LETTER:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express interest in a “special needs” skating time period. I along with many others really like the stroller skate that you have on Wednesdays but most of our children with special needs (and adults) have school during this period (even in the summer) and/or are above the age of 7. I have tried bringing my daughter to a regular skate time but she goes all over the rink backwards, sideways etc. and gets ran over repeatedly by much more physically able and faster children. I have to continue correcting which way she goes which is not easy. For many children the crowds that come with the regular skate times is too much. Many other children have walking aid devices such as a walker trainer, wheelchair, special accommodation strollers etc.

If there was a special time for our children (and adults with special needs) similar to the stroller skate, they could enjoy themselves much more and us parents could relax a little more, as well as all people would be included and could even wheelchair around the rink like those with strollers. Also on regular skate nights I believe no one can be on the rink without skates and most of our kids with special needs need 1 on 1 support (physically and/or mentally) and we could have that option to be without skates to aid them better if needed for certain individuals.

This would be a great opportunity for our families and would greatly appreciate if you would consider doing this once a month like the third Thursday etc. or even a one time event this summer if that is all that you can commit to. There are other options/rules to think about as well like only charging those with skates of course (so if a wheelchair bound person and an aide came the aide would pay if she wore skates and the wheelchair would be free, or both would be free if neither has skates, same goes for strollers etc, only charging for the skates). This of course would be up to you to decide but those would be things to consider. I prefer email but you can contact me anytime by phone or email and please leave a message because I cannot always get to my phone. Please let me know either way if you are able or not able to do something of this nature.

Sincerely,

FLYER:

ABILI-SKATE

Please join the Everett Skate Deck for the first of possibly many Abili-Skate sessions!
Does your child with special needs go the Wrong way on the deck? Walk instead of skate? Get scared of crowds? Can’t physically skate? but a caregiver could push them in a stroller or wheelchair while THEY are on skates around the rink? Lay down on the deck? Touch people’s rear-ends? This may be a fun alternative to open skate times, or if you’ve never tried skating you can find out if your children will enjoy skating in a more relaxed atmosphere!

August 20th, 6-8pm

Individuals with special needs and their families/friends ONLY! ALL AGES!(No open skate during this time, the deck will be reserved only for this event!)

Wheelchairs, strollers WELCOME! (wheelchair ramp is provided to get on the deck)

Charge is 5$ for regular skates, no charge for wheelchair or stroller persons.. Only charge is for anyone needing/wanting skates.

This is NOT a drop off event, but a family inclusive event.

This can become a recurring event every month if there is interest so please come and SHARE this with anyone you think may be interested!