Happy Birthday

to J! 31 today and celebrating by having the first practice with H's fall soccer team.

Papa will be proud

Growing up my dad always wanted a Honda. With 7 kids you don't always get what you want right away, so he had to settle for less expensive versions of his dream car. Eventually he bought a Honda lawnmower. It was his pride and joy. By the time I was in high school he got his dream car, and has since bought 3 or 4 Hondas.Well today we joined the club! We bought a Honda. Not a lawnmower, or a car, rather a small motorcycle (50cc). Can't say it is our most practical purchase, but when you can get a great deal from friends who are moving, you do it! Harrison loves the thing and made us proud by not crashing yet. John seems to like it too although his knees hit the handlebars. Need to get a motorcycle helmet before any more rides, but for now we own another vehicle (that can't even go on the roads legally).

Spicy eye

You know what happens when a four year old decides to play with a packet of Taco Bell hot sauce?

Lots of things could happen, but in this case the packet split down the side, squirt in her eye and all over the sofa. Some would sue, but I screamed and ran with her to the bathroom to wash her eye out. Not recommended I tell you! Plus it makes for a red, spicy eye.

Am I crazy?

Answer is probably yes, but it was really a rhetorical question.

This semester is going to be busy. I may have said that before, but I think this one will be the busiest yet.

This is what I have planned:

Help teach 3 classes

Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities - sat in last semester taught about half of the classes and this semester I will teach nearly all.

English Language Learners - This is s new class that I will be coteaching with a professor for my assistantship.

Assistive Technology - Another new course I will coteach with my advisor.

Take 2 classes

One research class - which will hopefully help with my dissertation proposal

Audit another class about augmentative and alternative communication interventions

Research

I also need to collect data for my dissertation pilot study. I was going to do this 3 days a week, but given my schedule I will shoot for 2 times a week. Not sure how long it will take, but hope to begin after Labor day sometime.

Well that is all I have planned on the school front...remember I still have to figure out how to be a good mom, wife, and do my YW calling well. Good thing I like all of those things (including school), or it would be a miserable few months. I can't wait until Thanksgiving break! I have plans to sleep!

Shake your booty

Today the song Shake Your Booty (that pretty annoying but very catchy disco hit with only three words repeated in the entire song) came on the radio. Yep that one. Well the kids loved it, laughed, danced to it (shaking their booty), etc. Pretty funny! Now C keeps singing the song over and over and doing the motions with it - just imagine and then think of something about 10x funnier. I know I need to get it on video!

In other news I am back to the grind. It is an adjustment moving back to the "school pace" I need to have. It would be a little better if the kids were back in as well, but they still have a few weeks, so they have been testing out lots of houses trying to get childcare covered. So nice to have a super ward. This week they are with 3 different families, next week 2, etc. I think they kind of prefer it that way - keeps it exciting. Apparently they have been entertaining a 6 month old who doesn't see much action. Hopefully the don't ruin him or his mom will have to play karate to entertain him (that is what they played today). I love my kids, but I realize that everyone else may not feel the same, so I hope they aren't too annoying.

This semester I will attempt to teach/coteach 3 classes, take one class and conduct my pilot study for my dissertation. Maybe in my spare time I can also be a mom, YW president, housekeeper, and wife. Might be a stretch, but I have had a couple of more relaxed months to prepare for this. Wish me luck!

C's favorite things

For any of you who know C you know two things about her. First she is messy! Her room is constantly a disaster - I am not even sure a tornado could accomplish what she is able to do. I have even had friends make comments about her amazing mess abilities. Recently when a babysitter was over she mentioned that she has never seen a child make such a big mess eating. Yep, that's her and she doesn't seem bothered by it in the least. Maybe that is why we wear aprons for some meals - bibs are for babies, but aprons are for messy big girls.

C also loves to sing. She makes up her own tunes (like the one she made up for our closing hymn last night at FHE). She also loves the primary songs she learns at church. She shares a couple on this clip (and a mild version of her messes).

**Hooray for me for figuring out how to post video with my new Macbook and video camera.**

bouquet

Either C thinks just one flower bow in her hair is not enough, or she is trying to compete with the flowers in the front yard that are in full bloom. Who knew a head could double as a bouquet?

Overheard

In the background right now I can hear (as well as much of the neighborhood) J chewing out the insurance company and dr office about the 80th bill he has received for his appendectomy. Mind you this was over 18 months ago, so getting bills still is more than aggravating. He is not pleased since no one seems to have answers about how to solve his billing issues. I can't wait until we have insurance that doesn't stink to high heaven and a husband who doesn't have to yell on the phone to take care of bills.

Dictated by H

Now that it is August I have a few more things I want to do before school starts.

-Fly my kite

-Play computer games

-Go to open swim

-Go camping

-Build things with Dad

-Clean the basement with Dad and sweep it with mom (no that is not a typo, he really said it)

-Go to the Grange fair

-Go to the lake

-Go to Grandma's house

-Go to Nana's house

-Catch fireflies

-Eat popsicles

-Play date

-Sleep over

-I need to try to wait for winter

-Get new school shoes

-Earn things from my prize box

-Try to finish my job chart before school starts

-Practice for Fall soccer

-Play soccer in the backyard with friends and Dad

-Learn stuff for school

-Find out who my new teacher is

And last get ready for school!

Hum pretty sure not all of those will be happening (i.e., go to Nana's and Grandma's), but we will try to fit in a few. He has a month, I only have 2 weeks. One filled with the Autism conference.

Big bummer

I am loosing both of my YW counselors this month - moving away! I am completely bummed but hope that I can get new people in place before the swing of the new semester begins. Most of all I will just miss those ladies and I know the YW are going to be distraught today when they find out one of them is moving. Argh!