Recap:

Yes, we dressed up Domino--this could be why 

it takes FOREVER to get laundry sorted and put away!!

Kids remembered our doughnut-making a 

few years ago and we revisited...looks messy but were DELISH!

"Kids-at-Heart" is an organization which provides fun (FREE) activities for families of kids with CHD--this time it was five minutes away at a local farm.

Here they are in the corn maze...

 "Just keep going left!"

Mock confusion!

 Mmmm...S'Mores!

Fake cattle roping!

Makeshift go-cart type fun!

Awesome "Cow Coaster"

Tuckered out from all the fun!

THIS is from last night. 

Vinny was sound asleep and I suggested to Mimi 

that we color on him. She didn't hesitate and we had FUN!! 

He saw it this morning and thinks it's pretty cool!

During Social Studies yesterday:

Me: "OK, review! Who landed in and settled Georgia in 1733?"

George (with conviction): "OGLEDORPE!"

Mimi: "No, George, KING Ogeldorpe!"

Oh, my...we have work to do!

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Natan: I changed mymind."

Me: "About what?"

Natan: "About being famous."

(pause...wait for it...)

Natan: :Instead I will be a fireman and pour water on everything."

Reason I home-school Number 524...I would miss all this if they were somewhere else during the day!!!

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Loving October  which I have given up arguing over. Yes, kids, it is Halloween Day ALL month long!!!!

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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!
www.onetruemedia.com

Typical.

LONDON (AP) — This year's Paralympics are expected to draw their largest ever live television audience — except in the United States, where events will receive only minimal coverage and won't be screened as they happen, prompting anger from some fans and campaigners.

While viewers in countries including Brazil, China, Britain and Australia will enjoy several hours of coverage per day, U.S. audiences must contend with 5 1/2 hours of programming — some of which will air only after the 11-day competition in London has concluded on Sept. 9.

That has left some equality campaigners complaining that Paralympic athletes, who include military veterans, aren't being treated as the equal of their able-bodied teammates.

My kids are pissed.

I have decided, since hiding all religious and scary-political posts on FB that I will not write about anything having to do with any such things. 
Instead, I will stick to writing about happy things. 
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Vinny crawled in beside me last Friday in the night. I had gone out to dinner and he was asleep when I came home. He was groggy and said in a slurred voice, "I love you Mama. I missed you. I'm gwad you're home. You're so beautiful." Ummm...I'll take that!!

I have noticed that they love to play "burgalers" and cops. But they are always happier being the burglars...

Lovie is smiling and laughing more at the sound of our voices. It's a pretty awesome thing!

Watching George's face after he learns how to do a cartwheel. He had talked to me about doing gymnastics and is pretty bummed that he is not allowed (blood pressure issue). So...we agreed he would do the tumbling stuff at home. He spent about 45 minutes on the trampoline (yes, some Mom jumping happened), and when he got it he said, "I could cry. I can't believe I can do it!" You and me both, kid!

Natan. Remember when his speech was unclear? Remember when we were worried he would never talk? Worry no more!! Also, he is trying out a gymnastics class this week to see if he can maintain focus for the hour...Mimi and Vinny love it, and he wants to try. It really all depends on the coach. Looking forward to watching him this Friday!

Mimi left a note on my pillow a couple of nights ago. A better person would scan it and post it, but I am not that person. It said, "Is it my turn Mommy to sleep in the midl?"
It is among the MANY notes left by Mimi that I will save...

Also, Mimi showed me a shooting stick that she made for George's birthday from a very long piece of bamboo. She whittled the end and wrote on it: "George. I love you. Mimi." I am sure that out of all the gifts we have for him, THAT will be his favorite.

The kids are super excited about LJ's upcoming visit. Vinny asks several times throughout the day, "Is LJ coming on the next tomorrow?" 
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Bowling with friends

 The kids insisted we make "Thinking Caps" for the first day of school!

 Mimi bundled Lovie after her therapy session...

 Ready for our Jackson Pollack painting...

 Creating Pollack-inspired masterpieces

 Mimi's

 Natan's

 Vinny's

 George's

Phew...back to school and back to busy!

2012 Heartwalk video...almost the same as every other year! I asked George if we should change the song and he said, "No way! I like that one!"
Click here!

It's that time of year again!! Only...it is earlier and I am not as organized!
The Atlanta Heartwalk is on Saturday, September 22nd at Atlantic Station this year. 
So, if you are in the area and want to spend a lovely morning walking and seeing thousands of survivors and other people affected by heart issues, come walk with Team George! If you live too far, or just don't want to walk, donate!!!!! All the money raised is used for research that helps save lives--and the next one could be yours! 
Go to the Team George website for info and ways to help!
Thanks from the heart!!