Check you for ticks

Summer is drawing to a close and school is about to start next week. This summer has been very good for us. We got a bedroom done, when on vacation to Utah, had very little family drama and I got a great tan at the pool. Lily and Mason learned to swim, Garrison grew a couple of inches and Denyce turned into an official teenager. But for me the most awsome thing that happened this summer is something that DIDNT happen. Every summer since Mason has started school he has developed a tick of some sorts. Last year it was a backward kick with his left leg every time he went threw a door. Let me tell you, you never realize how many doors there are in the world until you are dodging a kicking kid. The year before it was a head jerk to the side. These tick develop because as much as I would like to, I can't keep a schedule on track like a school can. Mason thrives on a school schedule. He knows exactly when every change will happen and it will be on time. He even has the social interaction that he desperately needs. For a kid with autism like Mason, school is a very important place.
So this summer I was looking for the new tick that Mason would show us. But it never appeared. I don't know if it is because of the medication he is on or the many many trips to the pool. Mason loves being under water. He says it's quiet under water. He loves going to the deep end, taking a deep breath, diving down and slowly coming back up. The huge grin on his face tells me he loves bobbing around like a cork.

Dr. Feelgood

This summer Dwayne and I made THE smartest choice and bought a summer pool pass at the Holbrook pool. We go to the pool when ever we want and it's only 5 minutes away. Mason and Lily have learned how to swim extremely well and Lily is even trying to dive. Her ballet leaps into the pool are especially amusing to watch. The only draw backs have been the sometimes unpredictable Holbrook weather. Today was one of those days. We got to the pool later than usual and right on the heels of some nasty weather. After being in the pool for only 10 minutes we had to get out because of lighting. Totally understandable to Dwayne and myself, not so much for the kids. They were whining and sulky in the car and I was having visions of dealing with this for the rest of the day and feeling a little sulky myself. Then Lily pipes up from the back of the car.
"Mom can we get a slushie?"
This question is not out of line because we get slushies after going to the pool alot. I mean alot. They know us by name! Dwayne loves them because he can get his Coke fix without drinking soda which is a no-no for him. So when the kids do the "Plllleeeeaaasee!!!" and the puppie dog eyes, he is doing it too. But on this particular day with the temperature dropping, temperamental kids and the prospect of hauling them out of the car and into Circle K (aka Mr. Slushie), I really don't want to do it. So I tell Lily...
"I don't think so Lil, not today."
"But Mom, everything will be better with a slushie. Seriously."
It was then that I realized that I was getting my kids mood alternating beverages. That's right I'm a slushie dealer. Now you might be asking yourself did she stop at Mr. Slushie and bribe her unsuspecting children with caffeine and sugar to be in better happier mood? Yes I did.

Are we done yet?!

We spent the day in Flagstaff getting ready for the next school year. Spent lots of money which should have been fun but it just stresses me out. The kids were pretty good especially when we promised pool time when we got home. We all love pool time. I think Im too tired to be witty and charming.

I was way off!!

Dwayne told me this amusing conversation he had with Mason our newly baptized eight year old.
"Dad what does U.S.A mean?" 
"United States of America"
"Do you know what BMP means Dad?
"Ummm no Mason I don't"
"It means bloody monster pack. And Dad guess what I found out, CTR doesn't mean cows that roll. I was wrong."
"Cows that roll?"

"Yup."

Porcupine 2, Blackjack 0

For the SECOND time this week we had to pull porcupine quills out of Blackjacks mouth!! Only this time he got them in is ear as well. If feel bad for him but dang you'd think he would get the point this time. We have been lucky that he will let us hold him down and dig the quills out and we don't have to take him to the vet. Unfortunatley because of Dwaynes bad shoulder, I'm the one who has been holding him down and holding down a 150+ dog is very hard to do!

On a happier note, we found one of our turtles! Two months ago I was cleaning out their tank when they ran away. I know what your thinking "Turtles....running?" But I swear one moment they were in the front yard and the next they were gone. Yesterday I got a call from our neighbor down the street asking if we were missing a turtle. Their dog found it in their back yard and thought it would be an interesting chew toy. Now Monet is safe and sound(if not a little scruffed up) and back in her tank. I learned there are little miracles every day!

Call E News!

Gerard Butler has died. I'm actually alittle sad. Of course I'm talking about one of my fish. Lula (Stephanie Plum novels)is still happily swimming about in her tank. Unfortunately Gerard is only one more in a long line of celebrity fish of mine that have died. Lenny Kravitz, Mel Gibson and Larry and Bob from Veggie Tales have all come into the family and then left via the porcelain goddess. Maybe it is a little morbid of me to name these pets after real people but hey I'm just twisted that way. It makes me giggle! I get my amusment any way I can these days!

Contruction Crew

The last two weeks we have been working on the girls room and thank goodness we are almost done. Denyce and I painted last night and this morning. Dwayne and I saw a really cool idea on HGTV with magnetic paint. After an expensive run to Home Depot, we brought home not only magnetic paint but chalkboard paint as well. Now the girls have a whole section on their wall to chalk up and put magnets on. I'm hoping in a few days, I will have my house back! Hopefully pictures will be coming

Verbal Gold

Lately Garrison has been saying things that have had me rolling on the floor laughing. I've always wanted to have a ticket to the play that is Garrison's mind and I love hearing what he has to say. What is great is that he is so funny and he doesn't even know it!
On Sunday after church, I asked him what he learned in church that day. This is always fun for me because he learns things that I'm sure his teachers don't realize they are teaching him. For example he told me they learned about talents. I replied "Really! What did you say your talent was?" He then informed me that his talent was his large esophagus. "What!!?" I said. "Well....I do." He told me. Garrison then told me I had pointed out once that I was impressed that he could swallow more than one pill at a time so it must be a talent. I have to say I had never thought of it that way.
Right now we are doing some construction in the girls room. Dwayne and I are having Denyce and Garrison help us. While we were working today, Dwayne mention to Denyce that she was ahead of the game because he didn't learn to do this stuff until he was older. "What stuff?" Denyce asked. "You know...build a wall, sheet rock, mud, build shelves...." " Swear at your kids" Garrison interrupted. I laughed so hard I had to put down the paint brush!

I'm sure I will be putting down more funny things this boys says in the future....possibly the very near future.

In the begining...

Ive never blogged before and I don't know exactly what I'm doing but my kids seem to be growing up so fast and I can never write down all the cool things they do and say fast enough. So I'm hoping this will help. Also people ask all the time how I manage with six kids with two of them(my boys) having autisim. There are days when I want to pull out my hair in frustration and others where I feel like crying with gratitude. So welcome to a peak inside my crazy life!