This week has been kinda busy but I don't have a lot to share.
Sunday, the kids and I went to dads house for dinner. Papa, Grandma and Grandpa Scotty all came over too. Dad made beer butt chicken. We also had some awesome green beans and red skin potatoes. Carol got a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert, which was delicious! I'd love to have it again soon.
Monday, Marty was home most of the day, so we enjoyed spending time with him. He had the kids for me while I went to school and filled out my nursing application and attended my Mary Kay meeting. Marty took the kids for chili at his moms. After my meeting, I met them there to pick the kids up and he left for work.
Tuesday, Mackenzie had a good day at school. She only broke down once and she participated a lot better during songs and group time. She loves playing in the noodle bin and didn't want to stop. At the art station she helped me put together a picture book. It will help her communicate with everyone. She'll be able to point at pictures if she can't say or sign them. It will also help her learn people and names.
Today was our lazy day. We all spent the day at home reading and playing. I made beef stew for dinner and Mackenzie loved it. It was the first time she's had it.
Tomorrow she goes back to school. And Friday, we're supposed to go to Gull Meadow Farms with Grandma and Aunt Jo to pick apples! Mackenzie has never been there either, so that will be a fun afternoon.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Austin Porter Remembered
Austin Porter was my neighbor since I was 5 years old. He was 1 when we moved in. I've known him for 20 years. Growing up, he had 2 older sister who were my age, so we played together all the time. We would all play barbies in Holly's room and play house in the basement. In the summer we were everywhere in the neighborhood. We rode bikes, swam in their pool all day long, played Cowboys and Indians, baseball, football and basketball. We rode the bus to and from school together and when we were old enough to drive, we carpooled.
Thursday, September 15th, started as a completely normal day and ended in a total shock for me, and many other people. Austin was running late for work. A train was coming. He tried to go around the railroad crossing arms and while on the tracks his car died and he wasn't able to get out the way of the train. Of course, a car-train accident will be on the news, and I watch the news almost everyday. When I first watched that news clip, I thought, what an idiot. 2 hours later, I found out on facebook, that "idiot" was Austin. It was a shock. I was just catching up with him a month ago, when I went to his parents house and he was home. Mackenzie had formed a little girl crush :) Totally cute! Her and his daughter, Gabby, are close in age, so they like to play when we're around.
Austin loved Tae Kwon Do. He was a 2nd degree Black Belt
Thursday, September 15th, started as a completely normal day and ended in a total shock for me, and many other people. Austin was running late for work. A train was coming. He tried to go around the railroad crossing arms and while on the tracks his car died and he wasn't able to get out the way of the train. Of course, a car-train accident will be on the news, and I watch the news almost everyday. When I first watched that news clip, I thought, what an idiot. 2 hours later, I found out on facebook, that "idiot" was Austin. It was a shock. I was just catching up with him a month ago, when I went to his parents house and he was home. Mackenzie had formed a little girl crush :) Totally cute! Her and his daughter, Gabby, are close in age, so they like to play when we're around.
Austin and his daughter Gabby
I hadn't been to a funeral in 5 years now. I never thought the next one I would be at would be for someone my own age. I attended his funeral yesterday. I really was a nice funeral, as far as funerals go. It was at a Lifestory funeral home so they made a video, pamphlet and even a web page all about Austin's life and the things he loved doing. He spent most of his free time with his friends, when he wasn't able to see Gabby. He also spent much of his time with Tae Kwon Do and hip hop dancing. He loved his life and everyone in it.
I will always remember Austin as the little boy next door. (Every time the news said the 21 year old man, I told the tv he wasn't a man, he was the little boy next door :) But I won't forget the time spent with him as a kid or even just a month ago.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Fair Time!!!
Saturday, Marty and I took Mackenzie and Cameron to the Allegan County Fair. It was the first time for Mackenzie to go! (It rained last year so we didn't want to take her.) This year, however, I think she loved it!
She got to see all the animals and feed some of them, as well!
She got to see all the animals and feed some of them, as well!
Kangaroo's
Cows
Looking at the goats
This goat thought her sleeve was food :)
Feeding the goats
Marty feeding the goats
She liked the smaller goats a bit better than the big ones. The big ones got in her face a lot more
He fell asleep about 2 minutes after this picture was taken
The donkeys named Dora and Jackie
Petting the horses butt
Mini horses
She liked the rabbits
Next she got to sit on the tractors, which she enjoyed immensely!
This one was huge!
She really liked this one, more her size
He didn't really care about the animals or the tractors :)
She loved all of this. We seen a horse out of his stall and she really liked that. Then we checked out the cows and pigs. She didn't really care about the pigs, it was nap time for all of them while we were there. And she always likes cows, even though she gets to see cows at her grandpa's house all the time. She had a hot dog, which she always likes to eat. And she loved her first taste of an elephant ear, she just couldn't get enough! And I won both of the kids stuffed animals. Cameron got a little snake, and Mackenzie got a bright blue dog and a big tiger!
Where your pork comes from
Looking at the sleeping pigs
Where your beef comes from
Checking out the cows
Feeding her big tiger her pickle. Hard to tell, but Cameron is back there trying to eat his snake :)
We really had a great time at the fair. I can't wait when we can put her on a little ride and see how she likes that!!!
Mackenzie and School, Part 2
Mackenzie had therapy on Thursday. It was much easier than it was on Tuesday. This class was Mackenzie and 2 other kids that were all right about the same age. We had fewer break downs. She really only threw a fit when I was trying to keep her from spilling her smoothie they made. She was the slowest kid to finish so we moved her away from the table. We didn't have any spills though.
She did some swinging with both kids, although I don't have a picture of her on it.
The day was all about balance and their equilibrium. Swinging then getting up walking, dancing with Mom in a circle then focusing on a stuffed animal. And of course there was singing songs and doing had motions with the songs. They each helped make smoothies; added some chocolate milk, strawberries and a banana. She absolutely loved it!
Stirring her smoothie, even though it didn't need to be stirred :)
She did some swinging with both kids, although I don't have a picture of her on it.
The day was all about balance and their equilibrium. Swinging then getting up walking, dancing with Mom in a circle then focusing on a stuffed animal. And of course there was singing songs and doing had motions with the songs. They each helped make smoothies; added some chocolate milk, strawberries and a banana. She absolutely loved it!
Stirring her smoothie, even though it didn't need to be stirred :)
All in all, she had a great day. I think she had a lot of fun playing with the other 2 kids that were there! I'm hoping Tuesday is a little better this week with all of the kids. They may, however, split that one up so it's not so overwhelming for everyone. One more try tomorrow, then we'll find out. This Thursday, the teachers come to our house so that'll be a new experience as well.
Cameron watched the whole time, he was such a good boy. All the focus was on his sister, and he didn't mind too much!
Good job Mackenzie, making some friends and slowly learning how to share! Good job Cameron, for being a good baby!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Buddys Boo Boo Part 2
I took Buddy to the vet a couple weeks ago to have the cut on his back checked out. When we went to the vet, they weighed him. He weighs 70 lbs now. He has gained 4 lbs since his check up in March. We went into the exam room and had to muzzle him for the first time. He didn't like anyone to touch his cut and he gets scared while at the vet. He has never bitten anyone, but I didn't want to take the chance. Anyways, we seen that he had an infection in his cut. They cleaned it with iodine, put some numbing powder on it and gave us a weeks worth of antibiotic. I was not overly confident that it would heal. We used the numbing powder at least once a day and finished the medicine. About a week later, his cut was completely healed. All that needs to happen now, grow some fur back :)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Mackenzie and School
Yesterday was Mackenzie's first day of therapy, but we're calling it school. It's really just like and hour and a half of school except that parents are there the whole time.
Tuesday starts at 10:30. When we first get there, they have table time. They play with puzzles and all kinds of toys from 10:30 to 10:45. 10:45 until 11 they have hello circle where they play and dance and have kids songs play. 11-11:10 the have group activity. Yesterday it was music time. They sang the itsy bitsy spider with the hand movements and a couple other songs. I could tell you what they were, but I have a very stubborn daughter who likes to do her own thing. She was reading and playing with other toys :) 11:10-11:20 they have snack and story time. 11:20-11:45 they have center play. It's really sensory play. This week the art center was hand prints with finger paint! That was the first time Mackenzie painted and she loved it. She wanted to keep doing it! She also played with Playdoh, which was the first time for that too. The last thing she played with was Mr. Potato Head. Although she didn't know what to do with it! Finally, 11:45-12 is goodbye circle where they read another story and sing the good-bye song. They sing to every kid in the class individually. When we got to Mackenzie, she was still in the middle of playing (go figure, no sitting down singing for her) and she just looked at everyone like "how do you know my name, I don't know you guys." It was quite funny. By the time we got out it was lunch and nap time. She was so exhausted.
They even do things like you would in school. Papers got sent home. They have a different theme every month. This month is "All about me." They also have projects. We have to bring pictures with us to school in 2 weeks because they are making photo books. We need pictures of her playing with toys, with family, brushing her teeth, brushing her hair, eating some favorite foods. All kinds of things that she does every day. They say having a book like this is a good way to get children talking and using words that are a part of everyday life. I've never heard of that, but if it works, great! If not, it'll still be cool for her to have something like that. And I'm such a geeky mom, I can't wait to get her dry hand prints back next week and hang it on the refrigerator. It's her first art project!
All in all, I think it went pretty well for the first time. Mackenzie is one of the youngest in there and the oldest are a set of twins who will be 3 next month. There's obviously not a lot of sharing going on, so that led to some fights with other kids and a lot of crying from Mackenzie. Once she learns a bit better about sharing, and she gets more used to it, there should be fewer break downs. She does, however, love the 2 "teachers" in her class. She was able to meet them a couple times when they came to our house to evaluate her. She sat on both of their laps a couple times, which is not normal for her. I am very proud of her.
Tomorrow is her second day with a smaller group of kids. I'm hoping that one will be a little easier on her since there won't be as must stimulation.
Great job Mackenzie!!!
Tuesday starts at 10:30. When we first get there, they have table time. They play with puzzles and all kinds of toys from 10:30 to 10:45. 10:45 until 11 they have hello circle where they play and dance and have kids songs play. 11-11:10 the have group activity. Yesterday it was music time. They sang the itsy bitsy spider with the hand movements and a couple other songs. I could tell you what they were, but I have a very stubborn daughter who likes to do her own thing. She was reading and playing with other toys :) 11:10-11:20 they have snack and story time. 11:20-11:45 they have center play. It's really sensory play. This week the art center was hand prints with finger paint! That was the first time Mackenzie painted and she loved it. She wanted to keep doing it! She also played with Playdoh, which was the first time for that too. The last thing she played with was Mr. Potato Head. Although she didn't know what to do with it! Finally, 11:45-12 is goodbye circle where they read another story and sing the good-bye song. They sing to every kid in the class individually. When we got to Mackenzie, she was still in the middle of playing (go figure, no sitting down singing for her) and she just looked at everyone like "how do you know my name, I don't know you guys." It was quite funny. By the time we got out it was lunch and nap time. She was so exhausted.
They even do things like you would in school. Papers got sent home. They have a different theme every month. This month is "All about me." They also have projects. We have to bring pictures with us to school in 2 weeks because they are making photo books. We need pictures of her playing with toys, with family, brushing her teeth, brushing her hair, eating some favorite foods. All kinds of things that she does every day. They say having a book like this is a good way to get children talking and using words that are a part of everyday life. I've never heard of that, but if it works, great! If not, it'll still be cool for her to have something like that. And I'm such a geeky mom, I can't wait to get her dry hand prints back next week and hang it on the refrigerator. It's her first art project!
All in all, I think it went pretty well for the first time. Mackenzie is one of the youngest in there and the oldest are a set of twins who will be 3 next month. There's obviously not a lot of sharing going on, so that led to some fights with other kids and a lot of crying from Mackenzie. Once she learns a bit better about sharing, and she gets more used to it, there should be fewer break downs. She does, however, love the 2 "teachers" in her class. She was able to meet them a couple times when they came to our house to evaluate her. She sat on both of their laps a couple times, which is not normal for her. I am very proud of her.
Tomorrow is her second day with a smaller group of kids. I'm hoping that one will be a little easier on her since there won't be as must stimulation.
Great job Mackenzie!!!
On The Edge!
Yesterday morning Marty signed loan papers for a new car for me!!! Yay! I'm way excited. I got a 2010 Ford Edge, tuxedo black metallic!!! It's so pretty.
When we dropped the kids off at dad's house on Saturday and decided not to go golfing due to rain, I was going to drip Marty off and home and do the shopping that I had planned. On the way home Marty said, "Pull into the Ford dealership." Ok, we do this pretty often just to look. We pulled in and looked at an Edge. I told the sales man, "We're not buying anything today. Just looking, thanks!"
By the time we left that day, they had me test driving the Edge for the weekend. Of course, they knew I would fall in love with it. I did, and I totally thought there was no way we would get it. We owed way too much on my G6 we got 2 years ago. We've just grown out of it with 2 kids and all of their stuff. The Edge is perfect, everything fits!
They worked all day Monday and planned on having us come in Tuesday. They worked a little more Tuesday, and when Marty picked us up from Mackenzie's school in my new car! I wasn't totally sure that it would be mine when he dropped us off. But it's mine now and perfect for our family!
When we dropped the kids off at dad's house on Saturday and decided not to go golfing due to rain, I was going to drip Marty off and home and do the shopping that I had planned. On the way home Marty said, "Pull into the Ford dealership." Ok, we do this pretty often just to look. We pulled in and looked at an Edge. I told the sales man, "We're not buying anything today. Just looking, thanks!"
By the time we left that day, they had me test driving the Edge for the weekend. Of course, they knew I would fall in love with it. I did, and I totally thought there was no way we would get it. We owed way too much on my G6 we got 2 years ago. We've just grown out of it with 2 kids and all of their stuff. The Edge is perfect, everything fits!
They worked all day Monday and planned on having us come in Tuesday. They worked a little more Tuesday, and when Marty picked us up from Mackenzie's school in my new car! I wasn't totally sure that it would be mine when he dropped us off. But it's mine now and perfect for our family!
Tons of room for those babies
I'm so excited!!!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Labor Day Weekend
Our labor day weekend started off just like every other weekend! Nothing special. Friday the kids and I were in the area so we stopped by my dads for a few minutes. Dad is getting a new truck! He's wanted on since Courtney was born. They also went to Courtney's new apartment and had dinner in Jackson. After stopping at dads, the kids and I came home and spent the night just hanging out.
Saturday Marty got home!!! We were up a bit earlier than usual. Marty, the kids and I went to IHOP for brunch. It was very yummy I think. Then the kids spent a couple hours at Marty's mom, Grandma Shelly's house while we went a I upgraded my phone!!! So excited, I now have an iPhone 4! It's so much faster than my 3G. We also took a trip to the mall so I could get a cheaper case for my phone and we could get Marty's brother a birthday card. Every time we go to the mall, Marty and I have to check out what they have in Spencer's. I couldn't believe it, we found a Barney blanket for Mackenzie. I have been looking for material to make her a Barney blanket with absolutely no luck. I would have never thought to look in Spencer's. Once we were done, we picked up the kids and came home. I had planned on making stuffed peppers for dinner. I got the peppers put together and covered and we got on our way to Courtney's new apartment!
Saturday Marty got home!!! We were up a bit earlier than usual. Marty, the kids and I went to IHOP for brunch. It was very yummy I think. Then the kids spent a couple hours at Marty's mom, Grandma Shelly's house while we went a I upgraded my phone!!! So excited, I now have an iPhone 4! It's so much faster than my 3G. We also took a trip to the mall so I could get a cheaper case for my phone and we could get Marty's brother a birthday card. Every time we go to the mall, Marty and I have to check out what they have in Spencer's. I couldn't believe it, we found a Barney blanket for Mackenzie. I have been looking for material to make her a Barney blanket with absolutely no luck. I would have never thought to look in Spencer's. Once we were done, we picked up the kids and came home. I had planned on making stuffed peppers for dinner. I got the peppers put together and covered and we got on our way to Courtney's new apartment!
Marty driving to Courtney's
Mackenzie on our way to Courtney's. She was exhausted, only napped for about 45 minutes. Hence, she cried for about 25 minutes, continuously, on our way there.
Once we arrived at Ney-ney's, I popped the peppers in the oven, 45 minutes later, dinner was ready. I hadn't made the peppers for probably 2 years and I forgot how much I liked them! Which reminds me, I have to get her the recipe. After dinner, Mackenzie made a mess!
Playing with Aunt Ney-ney's pillows. They also made a fort but I didn't get a picture of that :(
Puffs all over the table
Even if it is messy, her apartment is totally adorable.
After dinner we all just visited and Mackenzie, of course, played.
Cameron gets his dinner now
Ney-ney!
Too much excitement for this little guy
She was so tired...
...but she kept playing so she wouldn't fall asleep!
We left pretty late, and thank goodness, both kids slept on the way home!
On our way home
Sunday, we didn't do much. Marty's mom came over for a few hours. Marty changed the oil in everyone's car. We had a nice lunch that was supposed to be on the grill, until we ran out of gas. Our brats had to be finished cooking on the stove. Oh well, they were still yummy :) For the rest of the day the kids, Marty and I just spent some quality time at home. That doesn't happen very often around here.
Labor day, there was a gathering of car guys at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven. Grandma Shelly watched the kids again for a few hours so Marty and I could check that out. It was pretty cool. For a girl, who doesn't know a lot about cars, and doesn't really care too much about them, it just ends up being time spent with Marty without the kids. Marty, however, loves cars and everything about them, so he enjoyed himself immensely. After Gingerman, we picked up the kids and headed to Papa and Grandma's for Labor day dinner. Dad made BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and baked beans. (I think he probably just cooked the meat like usual, and Carol did the rest in the kitchen.) Not positive though :) No matter who cooked it, it was very yummy. That's only to be expected of course. It was Mackenzie's first time to have ribs and she loved them. We arrived back home about 7:30 and relaxed until bed.
It was a great weekend and Marty didn't have to work any of it, which made it 10x better!
Happy Labor Day!!!
Oh, and today I got a call from Early On about Mackenzie's therapy. She starts Tuesday, 2 times a week. Every Tuesday she's in a therapy playgroup at Washington St. Elementary just down the road. Every other Thursday she is also in a smaller playgroup at the school, and the other Thursdays, they come to our house for 1-on-1 therapy. I'm so excited for her. I think she would be excited as well, if she knew what I was talking about! :)
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