Photo Recap:

Tanta & Papa came for a visit--Papa brought his bagpipes...Vinny was NOT impressed!

 Natan LOVED it and marched right along beside!

 Atlanta Heart Walk 2012

Another successful walk for Team George!

 Beautiful morning to walk and raise money for 

the Number One killer...heart disease.

 Lovie's first walk!

Up at 5:00 a.m. makes you do this after the walk!

 Hanging out on Mercer Ave. before our lunch at Bole.

  

Finished the day with an afternoon b-day party with some of our favorite girls...complete with a pinata!

Whew! What a weekend!
Top story...celebrated George's 8th birthday with a Tiki Party!
The "piece de resistance", as they say, was his tiki-inspired volcano cake.

First--dinner at George's choice: Olive Garden

                                          

Opening presents 

The Cake.

 

Just add dry ice...and voila! Volcano!

This is for every person who says to me, "Oh...Natan is FINE. He's hardly even Autistic."
Well...this woman's article outlines the fear of a parent with a child who has any degree of Autism (her son is "high functioning"). It's the struggle to be appropriate or make good decisions. Most people that I come in contact with do not understand this. If you do not have a child with Autism, then please do not try to tell one who does that, "Everything is OK and he'll be just fine." He will always have Autism. It will never be "easy" for him (is it easy for anyone?).  
So read the article. It's pretty great.
Missing Matthew

So...Domino molested Reggie.
It was not pretty.
There was some serious "hunching" or "hugging" as the kids say.
Then, I got Domino off Reggie and put him outside (these things should be private, after all).
Then I noticed that poor, violated Reggie was all hunched over and wasn't walking properly.
Then, I noticed why.
"It" was waaaayyyyyy out.
The kids stood staring at him/it for a long time, until it slowly made its way back to where it needed to be.
Sad day for Reggie (I think).
Mimi has been traumatized, and I think the boys may have given the dogs a hi-five...not sure!
The weird thing is that the person I called to say, "EEEWWWWW!" to was my mother. Double eeewwww.....

This is for Lisa...who lovingly reads my blog and often comments. You can't respond to comments through blogger, so I am responding here. THANK YOU!! I love that you follow it...and I hate that our kids haven't met in person yet!! But they will. They will. (I am hoping the dramatic emphasis will make it ever more likely). Really--how much can seven tickets to the UK cost???
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Also, Vinny told me last night that he loves me more than: pancakes, chocolate, and nuts. Hmmm....
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For anyone who cares: What a difference a year makes! In school, Mimi continues to excel without any prompting. She loves school, no matter what we do! George, who has not liked it, is a different creature this year. Diligent, careful, enthusiastic...I am in heaven! Natan is working away--a little distracted, but we are working on that constantly. Vinny can read. The child is an enigma. I am not a push-em-ahead parent, but he is begging for more, so we are starting on Kindergarten stuff. 
Lovie is laughing, smiling, and squawking more, still sleeping whenever, and excelling at therapy!! She doesn't necessarily like it, or Big Dan, but she does it and we can see noticeable changes! Yay!!

 Our new school area: the kitchen! We have taken over!

 One of the perks having a sister: great hair-do's!!

Heartwalk propaganda!

Slogan: "I'm cute. Donate."

Lovie at OneTrueMedia.com

Lovie's homecoming video!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
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