Jean and Stephen

It's been a looonnnggg time...

2011-01-26T22:59:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a long time since I wrote anything on here. Facebook is where I'm at most of the time now. Stephen is now almost 12 1/2. I can't believe he will be 13 this year. YIKES! My 20th high school reunion is this year also. Ugh. Talk about a double whammy. Still living in the same place, working at the same job. Still have the same cats and a fish. :-)

Facebook

2009-08-18T21:25:00.001-06:00

Feel free to check me out on Facebook also. If I know you, I will add you.

Been awhile...

2009-08-03T21:57:00.002-06:00

For anyone I know who may still be reading this, if you are not on FB maybe you are reading it. Stephen turned 11 today. YIKES! Garden is going well (mostly). Lots of rain lately. Low 70's last week, low 90's this week. Gotta love it here. (And I do, too!) Everyone is wondering what all the rain we've had this year since March 26th means for this coming winter. Will we be "moistured out" and have a dry winter, or will we get slammed? Could be interesting. Last winter was mostly a non-event so I guess we will have to wait and see. Survived working another County Fair. 109 hours in 8 consecutive days. OT is a good thing though. My one real chance each year to get some. Stephen did very well on all 5 of his 4-H projects! Yea! His Foods & Nutrition project and his Decorate Your Duds project are going on to State Fair! Exciting! He is getting ready to start the 5th grade soon (too soon for my liking, where did the summer go?) Had a great visit with Family and Friends in Indiana earlier this summer. Good visit with Mom when she came out here to help me with Stephen during Fair. Work will still be busy now till December. We still like our church. Both cats are still alive and well. Brats. We had a little frog but it kicked the bucket. Stephen won a carnival fish at fair and it died the next day. Surprise, surprise. I bought him a beta to replace it and it's still surviving for now. No name yet because I won't let him use the same name he gave the last two betas we had. Creativity can be a hard thing for a boy. :) That's the quick version of our lives lately. More sometime down the road, no promises when though.

More SNOW! Ughhhhh!

2009-04-27T21:08:00.003-06:00

For those of you who had snow lately, you are not alone. We woke up to snow on the cars, grass and trees this morning. Luckily the roads were just slush. We got about 4 inches of heavy, wet stuff. Not exactly conducive to gardening. :) I took a picture of it but forgot to change the path where I wanted my computer to save it to and now I can't move it. Duh. That will teach me to pay attention to where it is putting stuff next time. I guess we need the moisture, but enough with the snow already! It is supposed to be the end of April, not that you would know it here.

New Garden

2009-04-26T21:46:00.002-06:00

Stephen and I are looking forward to planting. Stephen and I have a plot in a community garden near where I work again this year. We are going to plant 4 different tomatoes, cantaloupe, peas, green beans, two types of lettuce, spinach, potatoes, zuchinni, carrots, pumpkins, cucumbers and corn. Yea! We shared a plot with a co-worker last year and it worked great. (Pics are posted in an older post.) We both wanted to expand this year so we have our own plots this year. It's still been chilly pretty wet lately so we are kind of biding our time till we can get going.

Backwards Seasons

2009-04-02T22:57:00.002-06:00

Not too much has been happening here. Our seasons are all mixed up right now. We had a really mild winter - only about 18 inches of snow total in the Denver area. Now that it is Spring, we have had snow every couple of days including one storm that gave us a foot. That was last Thursday, clear last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, snow Monday, clear Tuesday, snow yesterday, clear today and we are supposed to get another big storm tomorrow night and all day Saturday of up to a foot, clear for a couple days then another storm next Wednesday. Pretty mixed up.

On another note, 78 days till we go see the family and our friends in Terre Haute and Brazil for two weeks! Yea!!!

Happy Birthday to Tom!

2009-02-06T22:51:00.003-07:00

On Feb. 2nd, my youngest brother, Tom, turned 27! Happy birthday to him! I will have to do some searching to find a picture of him when he was little to put up here.

Not to leave Cheryl out!

2009-01-09T22:22:00.006-07:00

To be fair, I have to pick on my other sister, Cheryl also. You know, one for all and all for one, or something like that. Although, this is probably not what they meant. :) Cheryl turned 31 on January 1st. She was the new year's baby that year. Awwww.

Happy Birthday to Ann!

2009-01-09T22:04:00.005-07:00

Happy 21st birthday to my not-so-baby sister MaryAnn! She is 21 today. Seems kind of weird though if you ask me. Not as weird as Stephen getting older though. If she gets on here and sees this, she'll probably kill me whenever she sees me again, but I had to do it! What are big sisters for if not to pick on the younger ones? :) We'll call the pictures "past" and "present".

A Happy Boy and his Grandma!

2008-12-07T23:18:00.009-07:00

Mom got to come visit us over the Thanksgiving holiday. She was here for two weeks and we had a great visit! None of us was ready for it to end. She hadn't been out here for five years. I did most of the Thanksgiving day cooking and Mom did some of it. What a blessing it was! Here are some pictures.

A Good Day

2008-08-30T23:09:00.004-06:00

August 17th was a good day for me. I was baptised into Horizon Christian Fellowship. That is the Christian church Stephen and I have been going to for two years now. We really like it there and are both learning a lot. The gentleman on the left of the picture is Cappy. He is the youth pastor. He will be leaving sometime in the not-too-distant future on a mission trip. The gentleman on the right side of the picture is Pastor Dave Love. He is the senior pastor at our church. He does a very good job of explaining scripture and teaching. It happened to be one of the few days out here that was a little chilly and it had rained for a solid two days straight the two days before this event (also unusual out here this time of year) so the water was quite chilly. It was full-immersion baptism. It was well worth it though and to all of us that were there for Baptism, it didn't really matter what the water felt like. It was a great experience.

Happy B-Day to Me!

2008-08-27T21:54:00.002-06:00

It's my 35th birthday today. Stephen thinks I am "a little" old but it doesn't bother me. 40 might be a different story though. :) Thank Goodness I have a few more years before I have to worry about it! ;) Nothing much happened today since it is a weekday. Maybe I will get to do something this weekend. Take care if anyone out there is still reading my blog.

Garden

2008-08-27T21:42:00.007-06:00

Here are some pictures of our garden throughout time. We planted tomatoes, strawberries, zucchini, peas, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkins, watermelon, and carrots. The peas and green beans are done now. It was too hot this year for them to produce much, but at least we got some of them. I planted some spinach yesterday after I took the beans out. I was told it should do better know that most of our 90 degree days are over. I might plant a couple more pea plants also. They grow fast enough that they should be able to produce before the season is over. Enjoy!

2008 Arapahoe County Fair

2008-08-09T23:33:00.012-06:00

Stephen had a good year with his 4-H projects at Fair this year (again)! Here are some pics.

There is no picture of him with his modelcraft project, only the record book. He made a couple model cars and made it look like it was a car show and he had Lego people on there as the people who were attending the car show. It was really neat. Some really nice (heavy on the sarcasm there) people stole 5 of his Lego people right off his project on the first night of display. I got permission to pull it off display after that. The picture of his project is after they took his Lego people. Of course they were the ones that will be hard to replace. We are going to write to Lego and see how to best go about replacing them.

The picture of him sitting on the floor beside a picture of a blue truck grill was a picture he entered in Open Class competition, not 4-H. He didn't actually place on it (but neither did I on any of the 6 pictures I entered, I got 2nd places on two breads and my cookies) but he still liked seeing it on display and he liked the participation ribbon he got for it.

My cousin took the pictures of Stephen with his projects so I am sorry for the sideways ones.

Anyway, that incident aside, he had another great 4-H year! Enjoy!

I have a 10 year old! Yikes!

2008-08-09T23:26:00.008-06:00

Where does the time go???? As of 8/3/08, my child is now double digits!! Next thing I know, he will be a teenager. Man, this is crazy. All you other Moms out there, enjoy your little ones it all goes too fast. He had a pool party at our rec center.

Princess Quiz

2008-06-10T22:42:00.002-06:00

This is interesting. It is a quiz to see which Disney princess you are. It said I was Jasmine. Some of it was pretty accurate, but I don't really think I am adventurous at all. Anyway, try it if you would like to. http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

One of these days I will post some pictures of our garden on here. It is Stephen's and my first attempt at one.

Bears, Birds and Babies, Oh My!

2008-05-18T23:02:00.013-06:00

Hello everyone! Stephen and I got to go to the Denver Zoo on Saturday and I thought I would share some pictures with you. We have a great zoo here. We never get tired of going. Of course, these are not all the animals by far. Just a sample.

My Mommy Tag Answers

2008-05-16T22:44:00.002-06:00

Here are my Mommy Tag answers. Any of my friends and family that read this, tag! You're it!

Mommy Tag

1. On a good night, what time are your kids in bed? 8:30 on a school night.

2. How long have you been a mommy? 9 years, 9 months

3. How old were you when you became a mom? 24 (three weeks before my 25th b-day – approx.)

4. What is your favorite kids T.V show? Ughhh....I am getting tired of most of them. Luckily he likes the Incredibles and Star Wars. Veggie Tales are pretty good too.

5. What is your least favorite kids T.V. show? Barney – it's not allowed in our world.

6. What is your favorite chore? None of them, are they kidding?

7. What is your favorite meal to cook? Homemade pizza is pretty easy.

8. What meal do you cook most often? All of them? Stephen doesn't know how yet. :)(What we eat varies.)

9. What is your kids favorite meal? Homemade pizza, mac n' cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, you get the idea.

10. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids? I don't have a husband.

11. What are 5 things that make you smile when you’re being a mom? When he gives me “that” smile. (His teachers get a kick out of that one too.) Hugs – one of these days he may not want to give me them anymore. Everything he has overcome to this point. When he tells me he loves me. When he really gets laughing.

12. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be? A beach – it doesn't even matter which one.

13. When was the last time you went out without your kids? You mean people actually do that???? I don't get to hardly ever.

14. What is your favorite pastime/activity to do with your kids? Playing Games of any sort.

15. Name one thing you said you would never say as a mother? “You can't do anything.”

16. Name something you do, that your own mom did? Sing along with the radio. He does it too.

17. What is your favorite quality your mom has? Her perseverance.

18. What is your favorite kids book? Love You Forever.

19. What is your favorite advice for new moms? Enjoy every minute because they grow so fast.

20. What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom? The day I found out he had Cerebral Palsy. I cried all the way home from Children's Hospital. I just wanted to make it go away and I couldn't. (I still wish I could make it better for him sometimes.)

21. What is your most joyful moment being a mom? There are so many with him, but I will Never forget the day he walked for the first time about a month after his 3rd birthday. It was about a week and a half after 9/11 and it was an awesome reminder that God is Good.

22. When was the last time you told one of your kids, “I Love You”? Tonight before bed.

23. When was the last time you were told, “I love you” by one of your kids? Tonight before he went to bed.

Fun and Games

2008-05-13T19:00:00.002-06:00

Here are some fun things and games for all of you to look at. Widgets are pretty cool! You can tell I am still a newby at this whole blogging thing, can't you? :) Stephen requested the bubble wrap as he loves popping it in real life. (You can also tell I am dating myself by some of the content I added!) Take a load off and have fun! Oh, just a side note, it snowed here this morning. YUCK!!!! Luckily it turned to rain pretty quick, but it was still cold. You'd think it wasn't May around here.

Piano Hero

2008-05-13T18:51:00.001-06:00

Piano Herogreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Bubble Wrap

2008-05-13T18:47:00.001-06:00

Bubble Wrapgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Solitaire

2008-05-13T18:45:00.001-06:00

Solitairegreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Duck Hunt

2008-05-13T18:40:00.001-06:00

Duck Huntgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Super Mario Game

2008-05-13T18:38:00.001-06:00

Super Mario Gamegreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Bubbles

2008-05-13T18:34:00.001-06:00

Bubblesgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Special Olympics 2008

2008-05-07T23:56:00.016-06:00

Here are pictures from Stephen's trip to his 2008 Special Olympics Field Day. He had a great time and did very well in his three events! He got third place in the 50 m dash, second place in the standing long jump and first place in the softball throw! Yea Stephen! (The pictures are not in order but they are not too hard to figure out.)

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-07T23:01:00.002-06:00

This is for all the Moms I know! I don't know who originally wrote it, I got it in an email. Happy Mother's Day to each and every one of you!

This is for the mothers who have sat upall night with sick toddlers in their arms,wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayerwieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.'

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars. And that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, Iwouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again, 'Just one more time.'

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college -- or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache she feels when she watches her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes againat 2 A.M. when she just wants to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in her home? Or the need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she hears news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...And for mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Mothers with money, mothers without. This is for you all. For all of us...Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mother...

Weather Woes

2008-04-16T23:23:00.002-06:00

I just thought I would let those of you with weather woes that you are not alone, no matter what state you live in. Our Spring so far has been nice day, great day, snow. Nice day, nice day, snow. You get the idea. Yesterday it was 80 here and today it has snowed all day. Ahhhh, Spring in the Rocky Mountains. It is supposed to be almost 70 this weekend again. What a roller coaster.

Stephen and the mouse

2008-04-12T23:11:00.002-06:00

Here is another one from Chuckee Cheese. We usually go there every year on Stephen's b-day and let him play for awhile and I get one of these pictures of him each year to show his age progression. This was taken on 3/26/08 which is not his birthday but I thought I would get one anyway because someday there will come a time when he may not want to do it any more. (Or he won't be able to fit in the car with the mouse because he is so tall.)

Stephen and Mom

2008-04-12T23:07:00.004-06:00

Here is a "picture" of Stephen and I - as drawn by the picture machine at Chuckee Cheese. One of my co-workers described that place as being like a kid's casino and I have decided she is not too far off. :)

My 100 Things About Me List

2008-04-10T22:37:00.003-06:00

Well, it took me a while, but here is my 100 things about me list. For those of you reading this that have not already done one (that eliminates most of the Cunninghams - Hee Hee Hee) I would encourage you to try one yourself. It was both challenging and eye-opening for me to do one. Here you go!

100 Things About Me
1. I am the oldest of five children.
2. I am the first to graduate from college.
3. I am 34 years old.
4. Turning 30 was a non-event for me.
5. 40 might be different though. It concerns me a little.
6. I have one son, Stephen who will be 10 in August of this year.
7. I am Not old enough to have a 10 year old son.
8. I almost lost Stephen during his birth.
9. If my Mom hadn't been here, I would have lost him.
10. I will believe to the day I die that the negligence of the hospital staff caused his cerebral palsy.
11. Having a son with CP has really made me grow as a person and a parent.
12. I have had to conquer my fears of being around special needs people.
13. I realize that I should not have ever feared being around them in the first place.
14. I know it was an irrational fear and I am a fairly rational person. I can't explain it.
15. Perhaps God knew I needed to get over that when he gave me the child he did.
16. I have learned SO much from my son.
17. I wouldn't trade my son for ANYTHING.
18. I am single.
19. I broke my leg when I was 12.
20. I was in a cast for 4 months that summer.
21. I was told by the doctors that I was a slow healer. Ya think?
22. I broke my leg when I stopped on a swing so I wouldn't hit my younger brother, Tom.
23. I broke my foot when I was 32.
24. I broke my foot by tripping over one of Stephen's toys.
25. I have had several sprains and other such stuff, especially when younger.
26. Apparently I was (and maybe still am) somewhat clumsy.
27. In spite of that, I took every dance class I could get my hands on while I was at ISU.
28. I did very well in all of them.
29. I always wanted to learn to dance.
30. I haven't seriously danced in years. Does goofing around at weddings count?
31. I miss dancing and would like to take lessons again.
32. Raising my child has kept me from doing much in the way of extra-curricular activities.
33. I need to lose weight.
34. I am not happy with how I look.
35. I have a somewhat low self esteem about my looks and weight.
36. I have a much better sense of self esteem about my intelligence.
37. I think both of my sisters are prettier than I am.
38. I don't like eating raw onions but I will use them in cooking and I like onion rings.
39. I hated speech class in high school but I LOVE the theatre!
40. I MISS the Clay County Community theatre and that group of people.
41. I love living in Colorado!
42. I moved cross country by myself in 1997.
43. I was not in 4-H growing up but I am the 4-H secretary at work and I started a family 4-H club and I am Stephen's 4-H leader.
44. I like to cook.
45. I know how to sew.
46. I took three years of French in high school. (I would have taken four but we didn't have enough students signed up to justify the class.)
47. I have started taking Spanish classes through Arapahoe County (where I work).
48. I won't be fluent (it is a 12-week course) but may have some hope of conducting a decent conversation.
49. I like learning new things.
50. I LOVED college.
51. I hated high school.
52. I wouldn't mind going back to school when Stephen is older.
53. I graduated college with a bachelor of science degree in Kindergarten-Primary Education.
54. I hope to own a home someday for Stephen and I.
55. I don't like living in apartments.
56. I have lived in apartments since I moved out on my own.
57. The worst are the big box apartments like the one I am in now with people all around me.
58. I feel like I live in a shoe box.
59. I like growing things.
60. I want a garden when I get a house someday.
61. I can't get enough of Rocky Mountain National Park.
62. It has several different climates all in one park.
63. I also love the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
64. Whenever my family come to visit (someday?) I want to take them to both places.
65. It has been awhile since any of my family has been to visit.
66. I have (thanks to my family for making them possible) made several trips home since I have been home.
67. I was last home summer of 2007 for MaryAnn's wedding.
68. I am the only sibling out of the five of us that has never been married.
69. Can you say old maid?
70. I moved to Colorado in October, 1997.
71. It doesn't seem like it has been that long.
72. My family goes girl, boy, girl, boy, etc. Mom is older than Dad was. It goes Mom, Dad, me, Brian, Cheryl, Tom and MaryAnn.
73. I always wanted my first child to be a boy.
74. No one out here believed me when I said that. My coworkers had the impression that since I was a woman I must want a girl first.
75. I was thrilled that Stephen was a boy.
76. At this point, I don't want any more children.
77. If I ever change my mind and do want another one (which I really don't see happening) I think I would want another boy.
78. The newest car I have ever owned is my current one and it is a 2005.
79.The oldest car I have ever owned was a 1974 AMC Hornet.
80. I liked that car, it just wouldn't stay running and I didn't have money to try to keep figuring out why.
81. I got more comments from people who liked that car.
82. If I had had the money, I would have liked to put that car back in mint condition.
83. It had a Caterpillar engine and denim seats with Levi Strauss buttons.
84. All of the cars I have owned have been used.
85. This list does require some thinking.
86. I am going to have to replace almost all of my son's summer clothes this year.
87. I am getting really tired of doing this list.
88. It has taken me several times stopping and starting to get this list done.
89. My blogspot blog is the first time I have ever blogged.
90. I love using my TomTom GPS device!
91. I am a Star Wars nut. I love (and own) all the movies!
92. I have a collection of Star Wars memoribilia in my bedroom on a shelf.
93. I even have Darth Vader's voice, C3PO's voice and Yoda's voice on my TomTom so I can listen to them tell me where to go! :)
94. I collect Monopoly games. (Yes, I have a couple of Star Wars ones. I also have Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.)
95. I love reading and watching movies.
96. I have well over 100 books on my book shelf and I own over 200 movies. (At last count.)
97. I bought almost all of my books and movies used or they were gifts.
98. I write poetry from time to time, from funny to serious and everything in between.
99. I have won a couple of awards for my poetry.
100. I made it to 100 on this list!!!

On a Brighter Note

2008-04-04T23:39:00.003-06:00

Stephen had to go get a physical on Wednesday of this week. He participates in a Special Olympic Field Day each year. It is not a sanctioned event, they don't get medals, it is kind of more for fun. The kids do get ribbons though. Stephen always has a good time at them. (Plus he and the other kids in the ADAPT program get to get out of school for most of the day and his classmates in the main classroom have to stay at school and work. After they get back, they get to show the other kids their ribbons and then play games till school is out.) I will try to get some pictures up here after this year's event, but it is not till 5/5 so it will be awhile yet. Anyway, I guessed before we went to the physical that he weighed 63 lbs.and was 4 1/2 feet tall. Well, when they weighed and measured him, he weighed 63 lbs. and was actually 4' 7 1/4" tall. Not bad for guesses, huh? Stephen was amazed that I got so close. What can I say, I guess I know my boy. The doctor was the master of the understatement. She said "wow, he is tall for his age." Gee, you think? At 9 1/2 years of age, 4' 7 1/4" tall is quite tall. He only has just a hair over a foot left (at 9 1/2) to catch up to me. YIKES!!!! He told me when he was younger that he was going to be as tall as his Uncle Brian (6' 4") and his Uncle Tom (6' 7"). At this rate, I think he could very well make it. Other than that his weight is normal and he is healthy. Yea!! He got a very clean bill of health to participate in his S.O. field day. The good thing about this event is that his physical is good for three years so we are good to go for awhile now.

(The picture is Stephen and T-Bone at Easter this year.)

Ever Have One of Those Days? Probably, huh.

2008-04-04T22:57:00.005-06:00

Today was sure one of those days for me.

It started out okay. I got to work and got a couple of compliments in an email from another county employee on my writing skills. That is pretty good considering she previously told me I didn't write my 4-H monthly newsletter in the AP journalistic style. (Since I was a Kindergarten/Primary Education major in college and my free time - what there was of it - was spent at Clay County Community Theatre, it was kind of a well, duh moment.) That was about the only good thing today. (Except of course, for my Stephen!)

I left work at 10:45 a.m. to go to Stephen's IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting at school. I have to meet with his ADAPT (special ed) teacher, his occupational therapist, his speech therapist and his classroom teacher every year to revise his goals for the upcoming school year. It was going along okay until they told me they wanted to pull him out of the main classroom for math. He is already pulled out for reading, writing and spelling. He was always able to remain in the main classroom for math up until this point. It has been a strong point for him. When they announced that, I was pretty sad. I almost cried at the meeting. It is not his fault, of course. The curriculum they are using is not working too well for him. Duh, I can't stand the curriculum. It switches between topics every day and the kids are never on one topic long enough to learn it before they have to go on to something else. We were doing algebra for homework the other night and he doesn't even know his addition facts yet. Anyway, he will be getting a new curriculum that focuses on mastery more than variety. It sounds like a good fit for him. The only reason I was upset is because I felt sorry for him (and yes,I am aware it could be so much worse, so please don't remind me of that - I thank God Stephen is who he is every day) in that he was getting pulled for yet another class. He is getting older now and starting to realize how different he is from some of the other kids. Some of the lovely (heavy on the sarcasm here) children have begun to pick on him this year and told him he couldn't read. Of course, I didn't let on to him that it upset me in anyway. I made it sound exciting because it will help him learn better and it might possibly make his homework easier. He liked the idea. It will be fine, I know that. I want what's best for him. Logically, of course, I know that this is best for him in order for him to succeed and become independent. I know all that. This is not about logic. This is more from a mom's heart and not just being able to fix this for him. Logic has nothing to do with it. Those of you that are moms will understand this I am sure.

After I got back to work from that a few co-workers indavertantly, I am sure, made me a little late picking him up from school. That irritated me.

When I got to school to pick him up and take him to daycare, they had the calendar for next school year in there. This year they gave the kids a half day off every month for teacher workshops. Now, someone in their infinite wisdom (again, heavy on the sarcasm) decided to do away with those and have every Monday, yes - every single one, be a late start Monday. That means that instead of starting school at 8 like every other day, they will be starting on Mondays this summer at 9 a.m. I am a single Mom (the only chauffer in the household) and I have to be at work at 8 every morning. That made me really, really mad. They don't get our opinions, they don't say oh, by the way, we are thinking of doing this, they just go ahead and do it. They also are starting school a week earlier this year (which screws up something I was supposed to do for work that day) than they have in the past. They also forgot to send us Stephen's class picture that I ordered.

When I got back to work, I was thinking about this coming Monday issue and I broached an idea to my boss. I suggested that if I could come in on Mondays at 9 then I would take only 1/2 an hour for lunch instead of my usual hour and would work until 5 p.m. instead of 4:30 (if Stephen's daycare provider would agree also). That way, I would still be working my 8 hours and everything would still be okay. My boss said he would have to check policy. I was amazed he said that. It was not like I was just asking to come in late every Monday without making it up. I re-explained everything to him and emphasized that I would still be getting in my 8 hours, the only thing getting shorted was my lunch hour. He still would only say he would sleep on it. That irritated me too. (This is part of why I am so mad at Englewood Schools, now I am having to re-arrange my whole work schedule on Monday - if my boss will allow it - just to get my child to school.) Say some prayers that my boss lets me do it this way and doesn't give me any grief.

I have been SO tired this evening after all this that I am just drained. Now that I have probably bored you all to death, I will end this post. I know nothing is un-surmountable here and that it will all work out how God wants it to, I just needed to vent I guess.

Article on Brian's Unit

2008-03-18T22:33:00.004-06:00

Where Things Stand: Indiana Knows Sacrifice of War After Five Years
Soldiers Dispatched to Iraq Leave a Huge Hole in One Indiana Town

By CHRIS BURY and GLEN DACYMarch 18, 2008

This is a story that was on ABC news tonight that is about the 76th, Brian's unit. Click on the link below to read the story if you would like. It doesn't mention Brian, it would take a lot of room to mention all 3,400 members of that unit, but Terre Haute is mentioned along with other towns. They actually showed the interview with the lady from Terre Haute and showed some shots of downtown. It was a good news story. I watched it with Stephen and was able to tell him that is where Uncle Brian is and those may be some of the guys he works with. I was also able to tell him that they were showing part of where Grandma (and the rest of the family) lives. He knows that place fairly well since we have been there lots of times (imagine that) and now he is really old enough to remember everything.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=4476397&page=1

My Baby is Growing Up

2008-03-13T22:20:00.002-06:00

Just some thoughts on growing up. My "baby" will be ten this year. YIKES!!!! Where does the time go? He is a smart aleck too. Right after he turned nine last year, he told me "just think Mom, my next birthday I'll be ten and that is two numbers!" He loves to rub that in every chance he gets. I keep telling him that I am not old enough to have a child who is almost ten. It just cracks him up because he knows it gets my goat. Of course any of you who are Moms already know exactly what I am talking about. If there is anyone reading this who will soon be a Mom, you will find out soon enough what I am talking about. Of course, I still wouldn't trade it for the world.

Another Wedding!

2008-03-06T23:30:00.008-07:00

Well, my sister Cheryl is engaged (again)! Congrats to her and her fiance Darren! We are all guessing that she will get married sometime in 2009. Of course, no date has actually been set yet, but when has a minor technicality like that ever stopped the rest of us from guessing! This will be her second marriage. MaryAnn got married last summer to Joey. Brian got married in 2005. Tom and Nenita got married in 2002. My sisters all keep telling me that it is my turn now. I have to admit that it is kind of odd that I am the oldest and I am still single. Also, even though I know that it is not what marriage is all about, I can't help being a little jealous of my sisters and my sisters-in-law and all their beautiful rings! :) Hey, I am a girl, I like jewelery! I keep telling anyone who mentions it that I don't have time to date right now. I am not ruling it out for the long haul though. If God wants it to happen, it will. After all, 34 is not quite doomsday anymore in today's society. The pictures at the very top of the page are from Brian and Bonnie's wedding in 2005. There is one of Bonnie and Brian, one during the ceremony, and one of Stephen and my niece (Cheryl's daughter - the only girl child in our motley bunch of kids by the way) holding hands at Brian's rehearsal. Those two still remain good friends whenever we go home for a visit. The other pictures above are a couple of pics from Ann's wedding. (I am not slighting Cheryl or Tom, I didn't have my digital camera yet when Cheryl got married and I have not had time to scan the hard copies to my computer, and Tom got married in Hawaii and I didn't know he was getting married until a week before the wedding and didn't have the money to go.) The one with the five of us is Brian, Cheryl, MaryAnn, Me and Tom. The one with the ladies is Cheryl, Bonnie (Brian's wife), MaryAnn, Nenita (Tom's wife) and me again. Of course, the one everyone is the whole wedding party. Well, seeing as how it is midnight here and I have to work in the morning I am going to go for now. Enjoy!

Hero Brother

2008-03-06T23:18:00.003-07:00

Cpl. Brian Walton

Brian is a great father, husband, son, brother, uncle, friend, cousin and guardsman. This is his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is a good soldier and we are very proud of him. We pray that God will be with him, protect him, and bring him safely home to us again.

-- Submitted by Jean Walton, sister

Hello again! This is a thing I submitted on Indystar.com in their Spirit of the 76th section. It is a tribute space where you can submit greetings to soldiers overseas. For those of you who know my brother Brian, he should have arrived in Kuwait sometime today. He will be there for 2 - 3 weeks and then he will continue on to Iraq. He will be overseas for a year. Lots of prayers for his safe return please! This is his second tour of duty over there. Last time, he and my other brother, Tom, were over there at the same time for a while. They both (Thanks to God!) made it safely home that time. The picture above is actually from his wedding in 2005. I didn't have a picture of him in his uniform on my computer. (I have one from a while ago, I just didn't have it scanned into my computer.) Also prayers for his wife Bonnie; son Evan; stepsons Mathew, Michael and Joseph; and our Mom, RoseMary. All of the rest of us; Stephen and I; Cheryl and her kids, David, Chris, Michaela and Ryan; Tom and Nenita; and MaryAnn, Joey and Blake will miss him as well.

Let's Play Catch! (Up, that is)

2008-02-19T22:46:00.002-07:00

Well, it sure has been a while since I have posted anything on here. I don't have a real good excuse I guess. Just life as a single working Mom keeping me busy. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The cats are adjusted fairly well now and have developed nicknames. Tilly is "chicken" and T-Bone is "big boy". She is sociable mainly when Stephen is in bed for the night and then she is a pest. Most of the time T-Bone is somewhat sociable, when he is in the mood. I figure at his age he is entitled to some cranky days. The fish has survived nicely. The cats are more interested in my house plants than the fish. Most of my plants have been re-located to my bedroom. Stephen is really loving having them here. They crack him up and they don't even have to do anything.

Stephen continues to make progress in school, which is good. Tomorrow and Thursday morning the third graders are taking their first CSAP (for those of you who are fellow Hoosiers it is Colorado's version of the ISTEP test) tests. They do the reading portion now and then they will do the math portion next month sometime. Due to the fact that he has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan, I think that is what the initials mean, that is pretty close anyway) for his cerebral palsy he will get some help tomorrow and Thursday. He is still making good progress learning to read, but he is not proficient enough for this test yet. He retains everything he learns but sometimes getting it back out is interesting. He probably will get a little help with the math one also but probably not as much, which is fine. I don't want him to take advantage of anyone (and he is VERY smart about figuring those types of things out). All his teachers and helpers get the biggest kick out of him! He is looking forward to Easter already. I am not ready though. Didn't we just finish a couple of holidays?? Where does the time go?

He is on the downside of finishing his second year of AWANA's at Church. It will end the second week of May. I have just finished a five week parenting course at church. It was a very good course and well worth the time committment (we had homework to do every week also).

I am now the full-time 4-H secretary at the Extension Office where I have worked for the last 8 years. That is a very nice change from trying to do that and be the receptionist/horticulture secretary all at the same time for the last two and a half years. (And yes, for those of you who know me well, I realize I am not currently using my college degree but this has been and continues to be a good fit for Stephen and I.)

One of my brothers, Brian, has been in Georgia since January training for his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is supposed to go back over there mid-March. At least that is the latest date I have heard. He has had some back problems so I am not sure how he is doing with that now.

Well, I am tired and should go to bed and try to get some sleep before work tomorrow. Sleep has not been the best lately for various reasons. I don't have a real exciting life so I guess this is the update for now. Take care all of you who may read this! I miss all of you fellow Hoosiers!

Cats

2007-11-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest additions to the household. Another county worker had to get rid of them due to his wife's new allergies. The gray one is a boy and his name is T-Bone. Yes, Stephen named them. He is 12 years old, the old man of the house. He is HUGE. Not fat, just big. He weighs in at about 20 - 22 pounds. The other one is a girl and her name is Tilly. She is 8 years old. She is a more "normal" size at about 9 pounds. Stephen was so excited to get them. He has been dying for a cat for quite some time now. I think I may be nuts, but I guess some of us (and you) already knew that! :) The guy we got them from has had them since they were kittens so the first weekend was not the most pleasant with them. They are starting to get used to us a little better now. I told Stephen we will have to be patient with them. It is hard for them to move to a new house with new owners when they are this old.

Halloween Costumes

2007-10-30T19:45:00.001-06:00

Here are our Halloween costumes for this year. Stephen is a soldier and I am...wait for it..."Sheet" music!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha! Yes, that is a real song. Just to be a little more funny, it is "Silent Night".

First Snow

2007-10-30T19:40:00.000-06:00

Here is our first snow of the season "down" here. Of course the mountains have already gotten a lot more than us. We usually get our first snow each year before Halloween. So far it is right on track. This one was 10/21/07. We got a good 3 or so inches out of this one.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

2007-10-09T18:08:00.000-06:00

These are some awesome pictures of the Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado. This state really has it all! It was SO awesome to see this! We went this past Saturday and it was worth the drive. If anyone ever gets to come out here, I would highly recommend seeing it. If you ignore the mountains and trees to the back and side of the dunes and look toward the west, you would swear you were in the Sahara desert. All pictures on this site are the property of the author and may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the author.

4-H Achievement Program

2007-10-01T23:18:00.000-06:00

Stephen won several awards at the 4-H Achievement Program this year. As his 1st year as a traditional (judged) 4-H member he had a great year! The awards he got were in addition to the ribbons and money he won at our fair this summer. Plus, I nominated him for two more awards. Enjoy!

Stephen

2007-09-25T19:10:00.000-06:00

For those of you who haven't seen Stephen for awhile, here are some pics for you to look at. He turned 9 on August 3rd. I can't believe he's 9! Where does the time go? I gave him a small cake at home and then he had a big party at Chuckee Cheese. The picture at the little table is home. He just keeps getting taller and taller; everyday it seems like.

Fall Aspens

2007-09-25T18:42:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures of the Aspen changing colors here in Colorado. These were taken up at Cottonwood Pass. I actually got to see the Continental Divide! It's only taken me almost ten years of living here to get up and over it! :) It is a little over 12,000 feet where the Divide is. Yes, we saw some snow while up there too.