In My Neck of the Woods: Tick, Tock You Don't Stop

I've been missing my blog friends and their posts.
Seems like when school starts everything else does.

What happened to my relaxing summer?
What happened to freedom once kids are back in school?

I'll tell you.

It's keeping up with the Asperger Mom Network.
It's begging gathering donations for the Autism Center of Tulsa's Smarts & Arts Fundraiser.
It's training our new Bixby Buddies.
It's homework for BOTH of my kids this year.
It's flag football.

It's so many things.  It's so many good things that I love and feel passionate about (except for flag football - we all know I'm not passionate about sports).
But I'm drowning in responsibilities over here and don't see a break in site.

That's what's going in MY neck of the woods.
Are you going to link up today?
I hope you will!
Head over to the RHOK!

By the way... do you want to donate to the auction for Smarts & Arts?

Out to RHOK!

Today I will tell you why I'm worried about Michael's future.

This time it is not autism-related.

It's streaker-related.

Now that I have your full attention...

Head on over to the RHOK 

and I will tell you all about it.

Or maybe Mrs. Priss will.

Perfect Pairings: Plans

I've mentioned before - I'm a planner.
In an effort to help prepare my boys for the week ahead, I have started using a dry erase board to outline our week.
Lately, I've been getting some help filling out my Sundays.
Michael has big plans for us.

But then Jacob took over the next week with an extraordinarily sweet thought -

Translation: Hang Out with mom

Instead of going with the obvious and well-loved Jeremiah 29:11,
I am going with another lovely reminder.

May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Psalm 20:4

All the plans except for the nosepicking, that is.

Do you have a Perfect Pairing to share?  Let's see it!

Leave your post address in the comments and I will check it out.

Ironic

Know what is funny about this picture of the Doc's golf socks?

You're probably thinking that it's funny that the socks are labeled "left" and "right."

I think it's funny that Doc wears these but doesn't know left from right.

In Your Neck of the Woods: 6 More Weeks of Winter

You know that shoulder surgery I had?

The one where I had to wear this thing for a month?

 And thought this chair moving my arm was my enemy?

That was before I'd ever had my arm stretched in Physical Therapy, of course.

I can't even begin to describe the pain involved there.

True torture.

Well... exactly seven months and ten days later I am happy to report that I almost feel human again.
I have appreciated your prayers and support.

Now:

I can grab a glass from the first and second shelf in the kitchen without too much struggle.

I can turn lamps off.

I can carry laundry baskets.

I can change the radio station in the car while driving.

I can do so many things just like the old days.

I can do them with less pain than the old days.

And the best part of all is that the doc says I can start doing PT only ONCE a week now.

He also says he thinks I can manage on my own after about 6 weeks of PT.
Yup, SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER (or therapy).

I still have a while to go in my recovery and will never be able to reach straight up, but who needs that anyway?

That's the good news.

The GREAT news, actually.

I've been a little worn out from this recovery business.
It has really drained my energy and zapped my happiness.  It's really hard to not let it get you down.

The bad news is that the other shoulder still needs the same exact surgery and I know what my future holds.

The bad news is that the other shoulder has been causing me a lot of pain these last two months.
The bad news is that the Doc has informed me many times how much HE is not looking forward to it.  Poor Doc?!

For today, we will focus on the good news.

How about that?

So... what's going on in YOUR neck of the woods?

I really hope you will link up with the RHOK and let us know!

The Booty Call

Have you seen this commercial yet?

I can't imagine why this is necessary.

Do you think there are a shortage of young people who lack morals nearby?

Meet the new age pimp.

Seriously.

Perfect Pairings: Fruit (Sorta)

Jacob made his own personal "gum vending machine" from a Juicy Fruit lid.

That just might be a whole roll of tape used to attach it to his bed.

This picture gives me the opportunity to highlight one of my favorite verses in the Bible.

Nurture your relationship with the Father and you will find these qualities enhanced within.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

~ Galatians 22-23

Are you playing along today?

If so, leave your post address in the comments and I will stop by to visit!

Minute 2 Win It, Part Deux

If you are looking for a fun idea for a block party, Minute 2 Win It is the way to go.  Their website has tons of games listed or you can make up your own.

It's the perfect family vs. family competition.

I'm going to show you the rest of the games we played on this post.

(Just in case you wanted to know)

How's It Hangin' was a hit!

 The Baloneys flunked in a big way, but the others did much better!

 They are supposed to use the banana to get the orange to the hoop.

 This family replaced their littlest one with a 15 year old.

Cheaters.

 If they were looking up, this would work for their Christmas card.

Want to see it in action?

 Next up - The Forking Quarter

Roll quarters down the table and try to get them in between the fork tines.

 No one scored.

 Then, the Egg Roll...

Use the pizza boxes to fan the ping pong balls to the hoop.

 It's getting darker outside...

Time for Junk In the Trunk!

These kiddos wiggled their tushies to get the ping pong balls out of the kleenex box.

 And last?

Suck It Up.

Move the M&M's from one plate to the next using a straw.

To end the evening, we made up silly certificates for each family.

I didn't want to ruin the night for the kiddos by giving a first prize.

 I decided to use Michael for awards presentation.

He loves an audience.
We needed a presenter.

Here you see our shocked faces as he presents the "Gibby Award" (iCarly watchers should understand this one) for the dad who took his shirt off for a competition.

Apparently, a demonstration of "Gibby" was necessary to present the award.

It was a super fun night.

I'm already planning our next one.

The Plunger Run... Alternately Titled "You Wish This Were You"

I promised on Sunday that I would tell you what this is all about.

I bought 4 plungers so we could meditate with them.

No, that wasn't it.

I bought them for sword fighting practice?

Nah, that wasn't it either.

I really bought them for a neighborly block party themed...

We felt the food should be as classy as our evening so pizza and WalMart cookie cakes were the fixins for us.

And then there were games.

I'm only spotlighting one for today.  The rest will be in a later post.

And here it is - THE PLUNGER RUN.  

We will start with the demo.

 But they kinda demo'd it backwards.

 These two were up for the challenge.

 It's good to know where you're going.

 And I guess she was ready for him.

 And... they're off!

 You can even watch the video of that amazing feat.

Never mind that I nearly fell down the stairs from laughing while filming.

And that, my friends, is the best way to embarrass a teenager.

Or maybe this is.

But more on that later.

The End.

Out To RHOK

When it has been a little crazy, a girls' night is necessary.  Absolutely necessary.

Tonight I'm going to relax with the RHOK and have a little fun.

Are you joining us?

I've been neglecting my blog lately.  I have lots to say, just not a lot of time to say it.
No worries.  With the kids back in school, I'm bound to find the time - right?

Last night, I posted on the Asperger Mom Network.  With school starting, I decided it was time to talk about portfolios.  Have you ever thought of making one for your child?  To find out more, go here.

Soon enough, you will be seeing pictures from the most fun block party.  EVER.  But not today.

Today, I'm over at The RHOK talking about puberty.  You know you wanna hear it.
I wanna hear what you've been up to.
That's why I'd like to encourage you to link up with me at The RHOK today.
Why not?

Perfect Pairings: Plunged

Happy Sunday!

You'll find out soon enough why I have a picture of a plunger and a roll of toilet paper...

When good people turn back from living good lives and plunge into sin, they'll die for it.  And when a wicked person turns away from his wicked life and starts living a just and righteous life, he'll come alive.

~ Ezekiel 33:17

Playing along?

Leave your post address in the comments!

Sporty

My kids are not so sporty.

Dare I say that out loud?

NO!

For some reason, when you have boys - this is not acceptable.

Whatever.

We signed Jacob up for flag football this year.

His usual m.o. is to enjoy it for the first two weeks.

Then he quits playing.

These pictures are from his very first practice.

He seemed to be doing great!

Even when the others were being silly, he kept on.

Until he saw some weeds that needed picking...

And the shirt monster took over.

So far, so good.

In Your Neck of the Woods: Looks are Deceiving

This is the properly named "Cutie Moody."

She's a real be-otch.

I wish I were joking.

Cuz she really is a troublemaker.

 She screams at us when we come to get her out.

And if your name isn't Baloney, she will make you bleed for the intrusion.

But once she's out, she never bites or nibbles.

Weird, huh?

I told Jacob that Cutie Moody has trouble with transitions.

She doesn't like being disturbed in her space.

Jacob said, "Oh!  So she has AUTISM.  Like Michael."

So, in our neck of the woods, we are thinking about giving Cutie Moody the Hamster with Autism back to Petco.  She's a feisty little thing who only loves me.  

I didn't really need a pet hamster, you know.  

No decision has been made yet.

Iris has been the perfect hamster, in case you were wondering.

Link up with the RHOK and tell us what's going on in YOUR neck of the woods!