Things to write about soon...
1. Disrupted adoption and how incredibly selfish "parents" are who choose this. There is really no justification for returning and adopted child because "it is not working out." When you agree to parent a child--either through pregnancy or adoption--you have to deal with what comes your way. ANY parent who is worth anything knows this. Yes, there is a story here.
2. How stinkin' cute Lovie looked today with her new/old dress (used to be Mimi's) and tights. CUTE!!!!! And no, I did not have my camera. Because I am a loser.
3. How awful we feel when one of our kids is sick--yesterday Mimi. Today Vinny.
4. How much fun we had at "Outdoor Movie Night" with our friends, the Sims! They have four girls 8 and under...it is a riot when we are all together!
5. How excited we are that our Halloween will be this Friday and then Nana comes!!!!! The two are not related (much).

Turn up your volume!
Sometimes you have to go with the flow and that's why today's Phonics lesson is brought to you by...
"Diagraph WH" (click the link)
My kids will NEVER forget this lesson!!

And this afternoon...

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."