September and October 2011

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Summer and Early Fall 2011

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The bold and the beautiful

I could apologize for the lack of commentary lately, but that would make me sound like a broken record and let's face it, with the whole mommy dementia thing, I repeat myself enough as it is.

However, I will provide an update on the crazy people who run my life. Annie is a full-fledged reader now. She's sounding out simple books faster than I can give them to her and she's even reading a few to her brother; yes, reading is THAT powerful. She's making strides socially in school and breaking out of her shell a little and for her, that's huge. Even if it's as small as making eye contact with someone who is speaking to her, like her best friend. Now if I could only get her to answer kids who talk to her at the park. Baby steps. 

Oscar... oy, Oscar. He has quickly realized that as the youngest person in this family he better make his preferences known quickly and loudly if he wants to get anywhere, at least that's what he thinks. So, he yells. A lot. At everything. Not angry yelling, just more in the way in which he believes we're all deaf. Even more swiftly, he learned how to say "I don't want to!", "It's my turn!" and "Mama eat it," sometimes in the same breath. What prevents us from going back to the hospital and insisting he got switched with a more sedate child is the fact that he's so stinkin' cute. He cracks everyone up, even himself. Today when he was getting dressed, he pulled his T-shirt over his knees, and realizing how silly he looked, burst into hysterical laughter. Oh, and he's started "school." He's loving it but not nearly as much as I'm loving the two mornings I get to myself every week.

Luckily to bring us all back to reality, Nana came for a visit. She stayed for a little over a week and we had a blast. She was more than fun, she was a worker! She did laundry, emptied dishwashers, cooked meals. She spoils me so. We're looking forward to her eminent return for the kids' birthdays when she's accompanied by the infamous GrandBob. While she visited we made our annual pumpkin pilgrimage/cider-doughnut binge to Indiana (don't be too impressed, it's like 20 minutes away) to Huber's Winery and Orchard. Oscar even picked out a pumpkin from the patch. Granted, it was green and about 4" in diameter, but he was very proud. Annie's, on the other hand, weighed in at a colossal 20 pounds. It was an interesting hike back to the hayride, let me tell you.

And this month, I'd like to add: happy anniversary to my hubby. It's been 6 years and it feels like 60, but in a good way. A really good way.