Oh NOOO!

http://henryfamily-lifeiswhatumakeit.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-to-remember.html

http://reecesrainbow.org/in-loving-memory

I can't believe this tragedy! Sandra was one of my Christmas Angel Tree angels from Reeces Rainbow... So sad, I'm sad, life isn't fair... I have two ornaments with her beautiful face on them that I will cherish, one was from my Mom and one from my Sis' this Christmas. I cried when I opened both because I wanted to do so much more and that both my mom and sister knew how much it meant to me. Sandra shared the same birth date as me, exactly 30 years apart... Rest in Peace sweet, sweet girl, may God wrap his arms around you and give you the warmth and love you never had the chance to receive...

School Days

Asa has Speech Therapy on Tuesdays and Fridays at his Elementary School, it is tandem with OT on Tuesdays and PT on Fridays. I say his school because that kid owns it as soon as he walks through the door. It's like he's the President of the Student Body, every Teacher's Pet and I'm not exaggerating. Everyone, everyone knows his name, from the Principal Ms. Ellen to the Janitors, Gym Teacher, Nurse, Librarian. But what gets me the most is the kids, most of the kids know his name too! It was one of those moments this morning, Asa's SLP and I were standing in the Lobby talking before his session, he roams freely and we usually trail but we hadn't caught up yet, Ms Debra said "Oh, where'd he go?" We took a few steps toward hearing "Hi Asa!" "Hi Asa" "Hi Asa.." He was standing in the doorway to the Gym and all the kids had run over to him :-) If I had to guess I would say they were 3rd Graders, they asked him if he wanted to come in to their Gym Class - HA! Now how can a 3.75 year old have such a Fan Club, seriously! This is a bi-weekly occurrence when we have to go to "Big School".

Asa's School is K to 8th Grade, this makes me so happy that he will be in the same school, with the same peers and professionals for 11 years! I can't say enough about how lucky we are to have the caring and outstanding educational resource for Ace-Man, in our public school no less. His SLP actually said this morning that she wished he was starting Kindergarten next year so she could see him everyday, as much as I know he would LOVE to start Kinder next year, we'll just have to wait another year. He loves school so much that it is very difficult to get him to leave after his sessions, if he could spend all day that would be great!

Winter Blues

This is not a BW picture... No need to adjust your monitor screen...

I have the Winter Blues, or let's say the Winter Blahs. I'm not blue it's just the lack of flavor this time of year. It's cold, it's snowy and there is nothing new on the horizon besides more snow and more cold. It was negative 24 degrees on my kitchen thermometer this morning. Bone Chilling, Holy Crap my eyeballs are freezing and not to mention the snot in your nose turns to snoticles instantly... I think the thing that is most blah about winter is the color - there is none! The trees have no leaves so they just look gray and you add a backdrop of never ending white, white on rooftops, white on the ground, white, white, white. The canvas is blank and I need some color people! Maybe that's why this time of year I go to Home Depot and buy one of those big ugly palm trees for $10.99 because it's big and green and then I go around my house looking for something to re-decorate, re-cover with bright cheerful color. It's also hard on kids when it's so cold you can't play outside. We did not play outside at all this weekend, the high yesterday was 17, much better then the forecasted high of 5. So pardon the "long time no post" event, I'm looking for inspiration and right now I'm too busy shivering to find any...

Though, this weekend we are going to a AHL Hockey Game - Manchester Monarchs (LA Kings farm team) Vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders farm team), this will be Asa's first "real hockey" game. I'm hoping we can get a picture with MAX the mascot! He's usually tooling around looking for kids to pose with and Ace has a new Monarch's tee to sport. Can't wait to get out of dodge and see some unfamiliar faces ;-)

The ONEder Fund

There are times in your life you ask why, and there are times in your life you ask why me, and there times in your life you say I have been blessed. There are times that are tough and times that you cry, but time goes on and time heals everything. Time doesn't stop, you have to move with time. I have followed Kelle since the beginning and all I can say is WOW!

Ace 3 Months

My Face Maybe Be Different

My face may be different

But my feelings the same

I laugh and I cry

And take pride in my gains

I was sent here among you

To teach you to love

As God in the heavens

Looks down from above

To Him I'm no different

His love knows no bounds

It's those here among you

In cities and towns

That judge me by standards

That man has imparted

But this family I've chosen

Will help me get started

For I'm one of the children

So special and few

That came here to learn

The same lessons as you

That love is acceptance

It must come from the heart

We all have the same purpose

Though not the same start

The Lord game me life

To live and embrace

And I'll do it as you do

But at my own pace

Author Unknown

Potty Time?

We have attempted, successful, no... One freak time Ace wanted to sit on the potty while I was getting ready for work, this was months ago, and he actually produced a nugget! And then we had the poop/pee phenomenon. It was very exciting and I thought we were on our way to using the potty. I have to admit I have not been consistent in this venture, for someone who works 40 hours a week I just don't know how to do it and try to keep it consistent at daycare too. The other MAJOR issue is that Asa doesn't know who, what, where, when and how. Well he understands where the potty is, but he doesn't understand when he has to go potty or how to control it. What is, the heck I'm going to do?

(pardon Brian's cell phone pic)



We constantly talk about using the potty and going to the potty. He knows where poop comes from because whenever one of the dogs (uh, um - Russell!) poops on the floor he immediately points and says BUTT! I ask him when we talk about the potty, "Do you know when you have to go potty?" of course it's usually during Wonder Pets or Fresh Beat Band and he has no interest in listening to me and just says "Mumma" in his annoyed grumpy tone. I know I have to dedicate some time to this, be consistent and really try. We've seen the commercials for the Buzz and Woody Pull-Ups and I tell him he can wear those if he starts using the potty - there's interest for Buzz and Woody, but no interest for the potty. What I really need to do is take a week off from work and hibernate for Potty Time, do the whole interval training thing and see if I can (Ace can) produce some results. He'll be 4 in June and I don't want to have the kid who's still in diapers because your the mom who hasn't taken the time to REALLY work on potty training.

If anyone has ways that worked better for them then sitting on the potty every 20 minutes let me know. The whole sensation of not knowing for him is what is setting us back.

Doe Momma Doe!

There has been a wonderful burst in Asa's vocabulary over the past couple weeks. It's quite entertaining to try to figure out some of his phrases, but my most favorite is "Doe Momma Doe!" This is every morning as we start our decent down the driveway, I don't know if I'm driving too slow or he's just ready to GO! I always respond with "I'm going, are you ready?" and the chirp from the cherub is "Ready, Go!".

He is also trying to sing along to songs, Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and "It's been a great day" from Fresh Beat Band. He's getting really good at "thumpetty, thump, thump" in Frosty the Snowman and ends the chorus with a very aggressive "GO!" and sign for go - it's so flipping cute and funny!

He's getting even more bossy (I don't know where he gets this from) with his new found words. If you stand in his way of seeing the TV, he says "Momma (or Daddy), oove" waving his little hand. Or if he wants you, "Momma, kimmeh" I say "Come here?" he says "Yah". I'm very proud of all his attempts, this is such a milestone! Now we just need to working on refining - LOL

Happy 11th Birthday!

You came to us like a tumble weed in the wind. We had no idea why your Daddy would want to give you up, but he moved to the city and couldn't bring you along. We are so glad he picked us as your forever family. I remember the day you came to live with us 6 years ago, you were a ball of fur and wrinkles getting out of the back seat of your Daddy's car. You waddled right up the sidewalk and into the house never looking back. You were middle age by the time you became ours, but you fit right in with your two younger brothers, they've kept you young all these years. You are slowing down a bit, and I worry everyday I may wake up and your soul will be gone. It's a good soul with lots of love. You are the toughest of the pack and the tenderest too. Your favorite thing to do is to roll in the grass and snow, it feels so good to scratch your back and you never take a nap with out a pillow tugged under you or digging out the couch cushions for the ultimate bed. Your worst trait is that you snore louder then the Jolly Green Giant, but that's okay with us, you beautiful wrinkled brindle bully!

We Love You Sweet Fraser! Have a Happy Day!

Happy New Year! + Eating Snow (not yellow).

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! It feels good to start a new, like a breath of fresh air or your favorite Febreze Plug-in that they discontinued the scent without even asking you first! (That's another post). We thought maybe we would stay at home New Year's Eve, but after not leaving the house all day (me and Ace) I was adamant about going to our Camping Friend's house. This was our first year going and every year they do an "adult" Yankee Swap. Let's just say there was a lot of large bottles being unwrapped of various flavors and proofs - HA!

A Room Full. In addition to those of us that "camp" together there was various sisters, mothers, aunts, uncles and cousins about...

Brian and our friend Tim, don't they look excited for the new year?! Tim got a nice new BBQ set, we first had a HUMONGOUS veggie platter - platter. I traded that away for a giftcard to Olive Garden, then immediately that got stolen away and we ended up with a giftcard to Chili's instead - not quite as yummy.

This is our friend Samantha and one of Asa's Favorite People. She used to work at the Daycare Center Ace used to go to, well her Mom is Co-Director and her brother is Brian's best friend Jeff, who is my cousin Kiki's fiancee and they just happen to be a part of the Camping Croo too. Confused yet? Miss Samantha is also a EI Physical Therapist.

What is it with kids and eating snow?! I remember devouring it when I was little, but now that my little is doing it I think it is so disgusting! I watch very carefully and make sure he doesn't grab a handful of the yellow stuff, because with 3 dogs there is more then a couple of spots here and there.

In fact, where he is sitting is a snow pile from the driveway - see the rocks in it. YUCK!

"Asa, stop eating snow!..."