Pencil Cake - Happy Birthday, Dy!

Pencil Cake
Originally uploaded by Candy_Beauchamp

It's our friend, Dy's, birthday next week and we invited her over and surprised her with a pencil cake! She's a writer, so this was perfect!

School Daze and other ramblings...

I picked Jamie up on his first day of school. No I know why my mother is so crazy. Getting information out of kids is like pulling teeth. This is how our conversation went:
Me: "So, how was your first day back at school?"
Him: "Fine."
Me: "Do you like your new teacher?"
Him: "Yes."
Me (thinking, okay ask open ended questions here): "What did you do today?"
Him: "Nothing."
Me: "What did you do a recess?"
Him: "Played."

... you get the point... LOL! Tom picked him up yesterday and came home laughing because Jamie came loping out of the school looking exhausted! It takes a while for him to get on a routine, but once you get him on one, don't stray from it!

He still remembers the school lunches (he only likes the burgers and pizza - I don't blame him, the food doesn't look that great) so every night we go over if he's buying or taking lunch. He says he'll buy lunch on Friday when they have pizza. I got the ultimate compliment though! Tom made his lunch (well, if you call throwing a lunchable in his backpack making his lunch) on Monday. I made his lunch on Tuesday and he said mine was better (okay, I totally cheated and I cut his sandwich with a star cookie cutter and gave him mandarin oranges and a little piece of cheese, plus other goodies). Heh. I cut the letter J out of a slice of cheese and put on top of his sandwich today. Yeah, I'm a dork, but Jamie likes stuff like that.

We are still working on getting Cassie some speech help. I did find someone at the school that is helping walk me through it. I guess the problem is that they don't really identify that the F and S sound (Cassie's two biggest problems) are actual problems until 2nd grade. Which really surprises me. BUT since this does affect the ability for others to understand her and really adds to her frustration level (oh man, don't get me started on her frustration levels!), she might qualify for speech help. We had her in private therapy, but our insurance only covers so much (ha, we with the deductible, they didn't really cover ANY of it) and $100 per week hurts! So we did the first 12 weeks and we saw a little improvement, but for various other reasons we decided to pull her out of that particular program, it just wasn't the right fit for us overall anyway.

So, until we figure out what the deal is with that (I've left the final decision up to Tom as to if we have her evaluated with the district and pursue it or not), she's home with us. I want to at least get her in a part time Mother's Day Out program or part time preschool or something. I think she would benefit from that overall as well. We'll see what happens over the next month or so before really looking. If nothing else, we'll start her at a daycare/preschool after the first of the year.

So, she's home with us for now. She's doing well. I'm glad she can play by herself some too. I'm lucky that both of my kids do okay with that.

She plays with the dog a lot (Julie, as we all know, likes to get her belly rubbed)


We make her clean (laugh) No really, she LOVES to use the hard floor vaccumn cleaner. See little miss sassy's stance here? She wanted me to take a picture of her in her boots so that granny can see her new boots (see, granny?)


... and a close up. Why, yes... that's a Hello Kitty charm. LOL

Back to School...

Yip, it is that time again. Time for just a LITTLE bit more quiet around the house. Cuz class is back in session! I walked Jamie to school Monday morning, but I got totally dissed at the front door. He said,"I can find my class. Love you. Bye!" and skittered off down the hallway.

Here is shot of him getting ready:

New Dishes!! Finally!!

So, for the past 6 months I've been griping over the fact that we have all mis-matched dishes and flatware. In fact, we've had the same Corelle plates for nearly 15 years!

So... today, we went shopping! I got black and white dishes (so that they can be mixed and matched and hopefully easily replaced!), new flatware - you know we had to get something different, we LOVE these, a new set of good knives in a block (Chicago Cutlery - not the best, but the best we could afford), new glasses, some bamboo placemats, and some new serving dishes. All my stuff matches (well, the stuff I could make Tom part with) *laugh*

Lookit! Yes, it's very simple, but that is what I was going for! Yippee! Poor Tom, we went all over the place looking for the pieces I had in my mind ;)

Back to school

we all went out to lunch... Last day of summer vacation that we can all go together

It's almost time...

... for back to school, baby! I don't know who is more excited. Tom and I or Jamie. LOL! Cassie has to wait one more year. Tonight, his teacher came by to meet him and say hello for a few minutes. We found out the little girl next door is going to be in his class! To say that he is excited would be the largest understatement in the world. ;) She seems like a super nice lady (and oh god, she's young, like really young, which is good, but I feel old now).

I think Tom got himself roped into being room parent *laughs hysterically*

AND the lady that was with her was the parent support specialist and asked if Cassie was going to Pre-K, I said no, but I was trying to get some sort of information about speech help for her. Wellllll.... both of her kids were in speech and she's promised that if I call her next week, she'll help get me to the right people. Whew! I'd been calling over the past month, but no one ever calls me back, talk about annoying. Their voice mail doesn't say they are closed for the Summer either, nor does the website. Hopefully this lady can help me figure out where to go with it. AND I'm happy to know we haven't missed the train. I was worried I was too late!

Hehe... check this out...

I'm too lazy to blog myself, but Lanel put up something REALLY freaking funny this evening.... http://www.charmingtales.net/2007/08/fun-music-video.html

Check it out....

Random Pictures

Just some random pictures today. Been busy catching up with work and trying to fit all the fun stuff we didn't do over the Summer in *laugh* Hey, I'm gonna partially blame all that crazy rain we had earlier!

Jamie is looking forward to getting back to school. His teacher, who retired last year, is apparently helping out on the 2nd day back, so he'll get to see her again - she mailed him a card. You'd have thought Spongebob himself was coming.


We aren't sure yet what we are going to do with Cassie this year. She REALLY does NOT want to go to school (actually she does - she wants to go to Jamie's school), but she has one year before she's 5. We've talked about a mom's day out type of thing to easer her into it. I dunno. The other problem is Tom has been too busy to really work with her on her ABCs and stuff - not that she'll listen to either of us.


Julie is loving having them both home. Here she is being, as I call her, a Belly-Ho... that dog loves to have her belly rubbed. She runs up to me and basically flops over my foot until I rub her tummy. Her hair is almost all grown back in where they shaved her for the spay surgery!


This is Tom... at his computer. Duh.

My Big Girl

When did she get so big? I surely blinked.

Chocolate Rain

I'm obviously behind the times, but I just saw this... okay, first the message is beautiful. The repetition of "Chocolate Rain" is a little crazy, but I think it helps drive home his point. But this dude's voice! If I passed him on the street I would never think that gorgeous voice came out of his little body. Wow. Fabulous!

Here's the WikiPedia entry for anyone interested -- Chocolate Rain

Dawns Sink

The cat likes water... And drinks from the faucet... Freaky kitty

Encore! Encore!

The rock band had an encore on Monday night... some pics and video are below, but first, this is Julie - her hair is puffing out more and more... what a cutie pie!


.... and the band...
... and the performances...


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

... and the many faces of an anguished rock star...

Disturbing kids show #56218

I'm napping for an hour and the kids are watching tv. I'd never seen Hip Hop Harry. So disturbing on so many levels.

Bye bye Marie

thanks for visiting us!!

Family Reunion

The family reunion was this weekend. It was hot. It's always hot. Ugh. Yeah, I'm a party pooper, whatever.

Here's some pics... :)

Jennifer watches over her Kenneth's chili while Jimmy comes by for a taste test.
Granny B gets help from the kiddos making her ice cream for the freeze-off.
Tom and his chili... (poor guy, never wins because he makes it mild for the kids and puts beans in it for me).The kids have the right idea here to stay cool. I need to get me one of those!
Tom and his mom talking...Marie and her Tarzan underwear (this was all Sarah's fault.. hear me? All YOUR fault!)
Cassie gets a little help from her big brother - are they the cutest thing ever or what?
Cassie girl LOVES to swing... lookit that smile!
Tired, much?
That's my boy... big noggin' and all...

And a little video of Marie...

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

Girls Lunch

Since everyone else is camping... My girl and I decided to do lunch :)

The Day After...

(((Scroll down for Sea World Pics and a little bit more for a really funny Jamie-story)))

Oh man, we didn't get home until like 10pm last night from Sea World. We had a great time, but man, we were tired! I worked today and Tom ran around to the post office, bank, grocery store, etc. His family's reunion is this weekend and he was taking the older two camping tonight so he had to get his ingredients and stuff together for the chili cook-off - yes in Texas, yes in August. Yes, I think they are nuts. Cassie and I staying here and going there tomorrow to say hello. I don't camp and Cassie is such hell-on-wheels these days, we thought it best. So, I bribed her with unlimited SpongeBob, baking a strawberry heart-shaped cake and pizza for dinner. She has worn me out tonight. I'm hiding from her for a few minutes while she drinks a Coke (hey, don't judge).

Anyway, so today, the kids were happy to hang around home talking about Sea World. I caught a quick snapshot of them in the fort with the little girl next door...
And here's pics from our cake baking. Okay, I take back what I just said about her. Lookit that smile. Sigh... she is so proud of that cake and made me put it in the fridge and promise to bring it to them tomorrow so everyone can have some. And no, she won't let me or her have a piece. LOL! And yes, it's from a box/can. Leave me alone ;)

Taste-test... Cassie gives it the nod of approval...

Ready to go in the oven...

Gotta have LOTS of frosting (notice the necklace I got roped into making?)

All done! Yummy looking, isn't it?

Sea World Mini-Vacation

It was so rainy and yucky for the first week Marie was here, we have been trying to jam in as much as we can (she leaves on Tuesday). So, Wednesday night, very late, we decided to go to Sea World. (Can I just say that I love what I do? Who else can decided at 11pm at night to disappear for the day?).

Anyway, so off we went, we got stuck in traffic on the way there, so we got there around 11:30. We first went to see the 3D Pirates show. Cassie did okay, but after the bees, bats, and spider, she was done and I had to take her out of the theater. She tried though. The older kids thought it was AWESOME.


Then we headed over to feed and pet the dolphins (this is always just too cool - Marie is the queen of dolphin sounds so she thought this was the bee's knees).

Waiting for the dolphins...

One dolphin does a swim by looking for fish...

Aha! Fish are served!
Humoring me by posting for a couple of pictures on the way to the next thing...

Next up was the Viva! show. This is my favorite show - and at the end of the day, Jamie said this one was his favorite too - he liked the "funny guy". :)

Here they are waiting on the show to start cooling off with the fans and watching the funny guy (hehehehe... he looks like he's peeing in one of those - yeah, I'm 12).
The dolphins...

The beluga whales...

While we were on our way there, my phone rang... a good friend of mine was actually at Sea World, but we didn't know! Luckily a mutual friend knew and clued us in. They were doing the water park part of it (smart - it was HOT), but we still met up for lunch and this REALLY cheesy show Shamu's Beach Party - the kids loved it though and it was great to have lunch with friends! Awesome!

The kids had a great time dancing with the actors and having lunch together. The kids were mesmerized because we had ages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, AND 9 there. Wow, all in a row. It's a pattern! LOL!

Next up was the Penguins. I had to deal with a few emails, so I gave the camera to Tom - you will notice there are NO penguin pictures. Even Marie looked doubtful of his photographic abilities.
Marie wanted to ride a roller coaster and we didn't want to have to stand in line at one of the big ones, so she and Tom took a spin on the Shamu Xpress in the kids area.
Then we started walking towards the big one... yes - Believe - the Shamu show. Jamie and Cassie were SO cute. While we were waiting on Tom and Marie to go on their ride, we did the "throw the ball until you win" for $5) and they both got stuffed Shamus. (Marie played the fishing game and got a small stuffed dragon). So, here they are walking - what you can't see is how they are "swimming" their dolls along. It was so freaking cute!
And then the Shamu show. Marie and Cassie said this was their favorite. Tom, who held Cassie on his lap so she could see well, said she was crying a little and when he asked why she told him "it's just so pretty". LOL.



We decided to swing by the Sharks/Coral reef. WAY cool... (and air conditioned!)

... and humoring me some more by posing for pictures on the way out the gate.

Jamie Funny: We are all going to DIE!

Jamie is quite the kid. He is a worry wart and the way his mind works kind cracks me up. The kid has this weird brain that connects things that may or may not even be related... for instance...

A few days ago, we were in the van. Jamie and Marie were in the very back seat. I was sitting in the middle seat with Cassie and we were waiting for Tom. Jamie had turned around and looked in the trunk. The electrical panel cover was off. No big deal, right?

Oh no...

This is the babbling that ensued from Jamie:
"That cover thing is off...
Hey mom, that cover thing is off!...
That cover thing covered up the gas...
That cover thing is off...
Gas fumes are going to get into the van...
We are going to be breathing those gas fumes...
The car is going to explode!!!...
WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE, MOM!!!"

Ummm.... okay.

Breast-feeding at all time high...

It's no secret that Tom and I are both big believers in breastfeeding. I tried and half-way succeeded with Jamie and Cassie was nursed for over 2 years. I participated in peer counseling at a local hospital and had my fair share of ups and downs, but even now with our kids at 4 and 6, we are still believers in the importance of it.

So, it warms our hearts to see news stories like these - that are showing that the breastfeeding rates are at an all time high. Go, ladies, go!

Sea World Rocks!!

Keeping Them Busy...

In an effort to keep them busy and actually let Marie SEE some of Austin, we decided to escape since it wasn't raining today! WooHoo! I finished up some work and we headed off in the afternoon...

We went to the Austin Children's Museum, Zilker Park and then Red Lobster for dinner (my kids have been asking for crab legs - and Marie likes the biscuits, so it was all good).

Some pics from the museum and the park :)

I'm not sure if this is new or I just never noticed, but I saw several guitars around downtown area. This was a cool one outside the museum.

The theme there now is "Big Games" - there were all kinds of games... only BIGGER... the kids had a BLAST...


They still had the splash exhibit... it's just a little water thing that my kids love. I hope this is a permanent thing there... it's been there for a while now...



I do believe Marie could have watched the ball float for an hour and been perfectly happy... :)


Cap Metro "bus" - they had a great time playing on this and Marie showing off her puppet (they only had one, I'm going to go back and look for ones for my kids... so cute!)


The Butterfly exhibit....


Zilker Park... it was so HOT, we didn't stay long. The kids started getting a little overheated at the end there...


Think he's ready to leave? Hehehehehehe... what a sour puss!

I've always wondered if those are just for show or if they actually cook them? I mean do they have the "real" ones they serve in the freeze somewhere? Hmmm...

Heading back...

omg... They never shut up...