Happy Thanksgiving!!

Frog Dog Bart
Playing on the cat toy
Caden... I think he was tired, he was laying in the dog bed.

Leah doing dishes I think?Meema enjoying her wine
nHorsey rides!
Uncle Shawn & Caden
Leah, Angel & Courtney watching TV
Mike Carving Turkey
Courtney & colin
Mike saying Happy Thanksgiving to a cat.


Just thinking about we are grateful for this day, our health, our children, home and the ability to support all them with what we've got. We also want to take this time to remember Grandpa Les Bug today. We are sorry that he won't be with us to share in this day, but are Thankful that he was a part of our lives and was able to touch us all during his time here. I know we've all learned lessons from him. He taught Mike lots of things as well. He is greatly missed- beyond belief by Mom. This holiday season is going to be extra hard for her. After hanging up the phone with her last night.... I know it is already affecting her. When asked, Caden still points up to heaven when Grandpa Les's name is mentioned. I hope this is something that he never forgets ~ he was young so it worries me sometimes that he might forget, but I guess it's up to us to make sure that we keep that spirit alive, in both him and Colin (who will Never really rememeber him at all unfortunately :( )

Today we are headed to my dads house for dinner.. after Mike gets home from work. It's just the kids and I right now. Colin had a another rough night, I guess that makes it 16.5 months of rough night now huh? I am not sure how much longer this can continue on this path.. mommy is exhausted! My dad and Cheryl are having us, Shawn & Leah and my mom over for dinner. I thought it very so nice of my dad to include mom in today - knowing that she would need family around her today ~ Yet another thing to be thankful for!!

So Happy Thanksgiving!

Honor Roll

This is last weeks news, but I've been pretty lax lately posting on here... too much else happenings with the holidays and kids. So Courtney made the honor roll for the first time EVER! We are so super excited for her. She has been working really really hard at this since September and I think she is proud to see all that hard work pay off. Her grades are as follows:

English 86
Social Studies 91
Music 96
Phys. Ed 95
Math 82 - up from a 40 last year!!!
Science 96
Chorus 100
Math AIS Satisfactory.

Her overall average this quarter was 90.2! I hope she keeps up the good work for next quarter as well!

I had to take this picture not too long ago. Caden & Mike feel asleep together and it was just too cute to pass up.

Getting the Family room tree up

We decided that we would get at least one tree up this weekend since there is so little time between the holidays this year- so we managed to get the family room tree up and decorated and the outside lights up before we get yucky and super cold weather. Next weekend we are super busy- but my one goal is to hopefully get the upstairs decorated on Friday while I am off. We'll see how that goes!

Thanksgiving in Olean

Great Picture of Colin
GG & Caden

We went out to GG's house yesterday for an early Thanksgiving dinner since Mike has to work and we all other plans for the real Thanksgiving day. Dinner was Yummy- GG made her own homemade stuffing that was super yummy- we finished that up for lunch today! The drive home last night was pretty rough until we hit the 400 in East Aurora- It snowed and snowed and the road were really bad- but we made it, It just took almost 2 hours. With Colin
GG and the grandkids
With Courtney
Whipping potatoes for dinner
Courtney & Cade

Extras

Caden playing with .... a flashlight, imagine that!

Pepper.. one of the mountain lions living in Gasport... on Ridge to be exact. his sidekick was MIAMike trying HARD to slove the puzzle.. we ended up giving up.

Meema being silly, caden wondering why?Colin the goof...


Some pictures from our trip to moms house after the reunion last weekend...

We have a busy week coming as well. Tomorrow we have a Realtor coming over just to look at the house and give us his take on what we might be able to get. Were still only thinking...deeply, but no matter what, won't be doing any selling if we do at all until the spring anyway...

thursday night I have a Tupperware party at dads house. Friday night is Game night. Saturday we're going to Olean after Mike gets home from work... Busy Busy Busy. Not adding in work, dinner, housework etc.... It's just non stop over here.. no time to even think!

Camp Hope Reunion

The whole quilt
Courtney's quilt square
Courtney and her friend TJ
Courtney, Aunt Kare (who is a HUGE part of not only camp Hope, but Hospice as well)
Willow- one of the therapy dogs
Lola the other therapy dog.


Some Pictures from the Camp hope reunion last Sunday. I STILL can't say enough good things about Hospice even 5 months later. I would LOVE to get a job working for them.. someday when I go back to school to become that nurse that I only dreaming of becoming... **sigh** maybe when the kids are 18 and up....

Cold Stone... Yummy!

Looking at the cake book
Welcome to Cold Stone
Listening to Mr. Steve & Ashely
The cold granite stone (which we learned is always kept at a chilly 16 degrees) and the mix in's
Just SOME of the flavors-- special ones for the season- pumpkin, gingerbread & dark chocolate peppermint.. um....
In the refigerator

Making the wafflesShaping it into a bowl
the Sweet cream ice cream they made- which we also learned will now be stored in the freezer to set and will be good for the next 48 days- however, most likey will be needed before then. We got to taste this ice cream as soon as it was done.. man is that good! So nice and creamy...
the start of a creation
Courtney working hard
Blend Courtney
Hannahs looked really yummy too.

Courtney's girl scout troop went on a field trip to Cold Stone Creamery this morning... it was really a good time! The Entire troop was there except 2 who didn't show, so we had a big crowd- (11 girls, 3 moms) The girls were able to make a batch of the Sweet Cream Ice cream, learn how to make the Waffle Bowls and then Choose their ice cream flavor and make their own creation- no limit on the number of add in's, which is HUGE to these kids, especially mine, since I am so evil and every time we go we limit it to only one, sometimes two. So Courtney made a the birthday remix which cake batter ice cream, a brownie, fudge and sprinkles.... AND they even got the Gotta Have it size (equal to a large) which is pretty big - even for an adult. Needless to say, we were able to bring it home and we both keep munching on it now :-) All in all, it was a really good time.

It's been a busy weekend for us. We had this trip at 10am today. Then we rearranged our bedroom for winter (easier access to the heat duct) and moved the curio cabinet from the dining room to family room in the basement to create the illusion of more room upstairs. I really need more space. I hate having to move things in order to try to trick myself into believing i have space! LOL... We'll see, someday we might move- maybe sooner then later, Time will tell. We are open to whatever god throws our way right now.

Tomorrow we have a Reunion at Niagara Hospice (where Grandpa Les bug was and passed) from Courtney's Camp hope experience. We get to reunite with all the other campers that lost loved ones over the past few months and reminisce over camp activities and see how they've all dealt since. the kids also made quilt pieces when they were at camp, which get donated to Hospice patients, so we'll see that finished project, as well as pick up the DVD and yearbook. Looking forward to it. Speaking of Les, I do think he has been watching out for us. My dad came to do some electrical work for us last week (so we could move the curio cabinet downstairs) and while doing the work found water in our circuit breaker box, quite a bit of it at that. Upon further investigation, it was actually coming in right THROUGH the electric wires! How we didn't have an electrical fire is beyond me... Les is watching us always... we love you Les Bug.

Were in for a lake effect snow storm as well tomorrow night until Tuesday morning. We'll see how that goes... the first REALLY big snow of this season so far.... I can't complain at all about the snow.. it could be SO much worse... it could be FIRE! My close friend Heather, who lives in CA, is right in the middle (well about 12 miles) from the LA fires that are spreading like crazy right now. I just talked to her a little bit ago and the fire was at the top of the mountain and they could SEE the flames from the highway they were on. I can't imagine. they are not in an area that needs to be evacuated... thank god, but one never knows...(Heather feel free to correct anything I said wrong about any of this!) I told her to go take me some pictures! So a foot of snow?? I say Bring it on... It Won't destroy my house .. I can deal with that.

Loving Autism

I found this on a group discussion board... Loved it so much- not to mention the tears it brought to my eyes. So Yes, I stole it and HAD to post it here... the last paragraph is what REALLY got to me... every time I read it I think I cry! Welcome to Caden's world...

If only you could comprehend how hard life is for me,
I know I’m only a little boy, but my world I want you to see.
Things are always changing right before my eyes,
but don’t you see I can not change with the direction of the tide?

It’s a different kind of world I see, with my big brown eyes;
they call it autism, and they think it’s my demise.
What I’d really like for them to know
is that my life is really about surprise.
Everyday is something different--something very new,
a phone, a clock, no a watch, I mean a shoe.
Sometimes I have a hard time expressing what I want,
and changing my mind ... well I do that a lot.

I have a hard time talking to people; please don’t think I’m rude.
I try to talk to another child: I really do.
But sometimes my words don’t work, and I hit instead--
now I really blew it, and no one wants to be my friend.
Some people are trying to find a cure for autism right now as I speak,
but why do I need to be cured?
There is nothing wrong with me.

Please don’t try to heal me, I’m not sick;
and instead of trying to fix me, enjoy my creativity.
My autism makes me who I am and sets me far apart,
but it only brings me closer to my family’s heart.
Autism is not something you should accept—it’s something to embrace;
for life with me is full of wonder and constant change.
I break up the monotony of daily life,
and although I don’t mean to, I sometimes cause some strife.
Autism changed me from all others except for my own kind,
and it has succeeded in showing all the world,
that love and autism bind.

Caden got Glued

Literally. He sliced his finger open on a cutco knife.... so off to the doctor we went. He needed stitches... so they glued him rather then having to worry about a needle . THANK GOD. My whole way to the doctor I was freaking out wondering how in the WORLD they would be able to calmly and effectively put a needle through my autistic child's hand. NOT GONNA HAPPEN! So the gluing is the newest thing apparently. They do it minimize the scaring.. which is great. No bandaids, needles, thread, or having to go back to take them out. Caden did amazingly well too.. he never cried, just kept saying "Ouch" to the doctor. My Big brave Caden man!

I guess this is just not our week. Hoping Mike feels better tomorrow since we got tickets to the sabres game (in the suite!) and finally ended up with a babysitter too! Fingers crossed he'll sleep the worst of it off tonight.

Mike has Fifths Disease

He's been sick with a fever on and off since Monday night. It never even occurred to me to look for a rash on him. When I got home yesterday he was feeling really blah, so we switched him from Tylenol to Motrin, which helped since he was just becoming immune to the Tylenol. Then when I went to bed last night he was laying on his stomach and I noticed the lacy like rash on his back really bad. As soon as I saw that I knew, so I went on to investigate some more and found more rash. Bingo. Fifths disease has been going around everywhere, schools, daycare and alot of people I work with have children with it right now. All of ours have had it except Colin, so they most likly carried it home to Mike, who I am sure never had it. Weird how he never got it when Caden had it while I was pregnant, but his immune system must have already have been down since he was fighting something with that fever anyway. Well at least we know what it is - Rx'd by Dr. Kym anyway :-) You can't do anything for viral anyway- just rest and treat the fever to make him more comfortable. the plus side to this is now that the rash has arrived, the fever should subside. We'll see. If not, then I am wrong all together and were back to Mike just having a never ending fever.

Anyone want to Babysit friday night??

Why is it so hard to find a babysitter?? We really need to find that ONE person who can do any times I guess..... Ugh.

Meema & Colin