"On Holiday"

We left on Thanksgiving morning around 7am. The ride down was pretty good. We got in to Aunt Jill's around 11. She had gotten Uncle Mike from the Nursing Home, Gma and Gpa were there and Gma was peeling potatoes. Uncle Mick was there and being his usual goofy self. But there a couple 4 legged guests missing. Come to find out, Aunt Jill had to put Ottie down on Monday. He had gotten so sick with the cancer that he was barely eating and up all night restless.

The other 4 legged no show was Tiny. We got a call half way through dinner that Tiny was down a ways at a "neighbors" (on the farm a "neighbor" is well over a mile away). So Gpa and Mick loaded into the wheelchair van and went to pick him up. The wild thing about Tiny is that he thinks he's, well, *tiny*. He doesn't like to walk on the wheel chair lift - I think he thinks he'll fall through the lattice. :-) He also won't lay on the floor of the van - he has to sit on the seat. He is too funny. But when he got home he was chained to the tether ball pole and he was NOT happy. Chunk had a look on her face like "I *told* him not to go - but does he listen, no". :-)

After dinner Brad and Becky and kids showed up. Oh my - the house was up for grabs. 4 kids running through like wild men, playing hide and seek in Aunt Jill's closet, in the basement and in the toy room. Gma and Gpa left --- chickens. Sal, Aunt Jill and I took Uncle Mike back to the nursing home. That's no small task. I can't see why my sister isn't a twig from all the work it takes to get him in and out of anywhere.

Mick entertained us with his version of him being the "bad son" and Brad being the "good son". It was too funny. SO much good food. Turkey, potatoes, gravy, noodles, dressing, dirty pudding, broc casserole, rolls, and all kinds of pies and apple cake. We ate left overs for a couple of days.

On Friday (black Friday) we did nothing. The kids played outside and we took naps and ate. :-) We went into Golden to see Gma and Gpa and Gma took us to the Windmill to show us the Christmas stuff.

Gma has THE chair that used to be in THE Dr's office in Golden. There was no examination table - it was a chair - complete with stirrups. AND with the chair came the Drs bag AND his record book. Jack Beckett was recorded in the book twice. Once for a cough and once for a cut. Total of $1.75. I figure he was more trouble to Gma than he was worth. :-) It's all very interesting. I love all that old history stuff.

So Saturday rolled around and we took all 6 kids bowling, out to eat pizza and then to see lights in Moorman park. (the picture at the top) We were ALL tired by the time we dropped Uncle Mike off at the Nursing Home.

We all truckstered home to Bbk on Sunday. Those weekends are always too short.

Nutcracker was a ball-buster

Full weekend for Sal. Friday night she went to the Pilgrim Dance with all her special needs friends from all over the area. She had a good time and reported that she had danced to "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "YMCA". :-) She didn't get home till 10 and then up early on Saturday and off to the Arboretum for Social Club.

We went as a family to the Nutcracker on Sunday and she was very good - for the first half. In the 2nd act she kept talking - loud and we threatened to take her out. She still didn't settle down too well. I've never been so glad to see the end of something. I'm seriously considering the trip to be just Me and Jack thing - or just me.

I hate when the autism comes roaring in like that. It just seemed like 2 steps forward and 3 back. :-( Bill keeps saying that next year will be better. I don't know. I guess it's my fault because I put importance on it because *I* love the ballet SO much. I want her to share that love - but I need to forget that. I just don't think she gets it.

Sal and several friends were in the paper this week. Honor Roll lists came out. There were a lot from her Cross Cat class and from her 6th grade in general. I've always felt that class was an extra good one. She really enjoyed seeing her name and then looking up all her friends.

We awoke yesterday to find pink flamingos in our yard. It's a fundraiser by the Girl Scouts. There were about 12 pink beasts staked in the yard, along with a sign that read "You've Been Flocked by Girl Scout Troop 370". It was so cute. And what a GREAT idea. There was a bag attached to the door with a form to fill out if you wanted to make a donation and have the flock sent somewhere. As I was asking Bill for ideas of who to send them to that we knew would not only donate but send them along Jack piped up with "Grandpa would". :-) Yes, he would - but he's a *little* out of the flight pattern. :-) We decided to send them westerly - around Denver Drive area. :-)

Sal woke up today and wanted to know where the flamingos had gone. A little difficult to explain "fundraiser". :-)

We pack tomorrow and head out Thurs morning bright and early. Hoping for a nice weekend and lots of time for *them* to play outside. :-)

Jr High

Jr High seems to be going as well as grade school, so far. We got an envelope in the mail yesterday with a bumper sticker in it that says "My HHH Honor Roll student makes me proud". :-) Sal seemed to be very proud.

She's been a little on the "willy" side. Talks back a lot - not following directions - kind of "cagie". School reports the same thing on some days and in some classes. Doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason as to a particular day or class or before or after eating certain things. ughh. Such is life, I guess. I'm chalking it up to tweeness and weather change and being a little off schedule at home lately.

We've had the "sickness" run through the house. Seems like when I'm feeling better - I get worse again. :-/ Of course, little Miss Sally, the carrier, was sick for one day. Threw her guts up till there was nothing left and then - presto - she's fine. I mean - not tired - nothing. Kind of like "I done with being sick". :-)

She has discovered that after certain shows (Sprout)they say "Don't go away" - which she takes literally, of course, and now asks me every time if she can indeed go away and then why do they say that. :-) It's kind of funny.

She has been FULL of more and more questions lately. Annoying questions - stuff I know she knows - just seems she needs to hear herself talk. We've taken to calling her "the quiz Master". :-)

Sally has also been talking a LOT more about when she grows up. That she will have kids, that she will drive, that she will have a house. That's new. Even though she's talked before about what she will do when she grows up she has never talked about family or living arrangements. I just listen like you would to any child. Oh, what an adventure the future will be. (like the ride hasn't been crazy so far)
:-)

She started basketball last week. She loves it. The only thing is she refuses to shoot a basket. I think we need to work on those arm muscles. I even thought it might be prudent to teach her how to throw it from between her legs (think old time free throws). They've commented at swimming also that her arms don't seem to go all the way around.

We recently purchased a label maker for her. It's a very small type-writer looking thing - spits out a line of your words on a sticky label. We've used it to do homework - fill in the blank. We've also used it to write birthday cards and address the envelope. Why the heck didn't I think of this before????? I need to tell my most favorite aides about this too. :-)

So we leave for Aunt Jill's next Thurs morning - IF there's nothing going on with Uncle Mike. Seems Aunt Jill's life is pretty much up in the air - yeah, you plan but you're constantly aware that the plans may have to be cancelled at the last minute. They've also scheduled the benefit for February. I've heard from MANY people "down there" that it will surely be the event of the year! Sooooo - now we plan a trip "south" in Feb (usually the snowiest month of them all) :-)