Halloween 2009

Halloween is a very exciting and special holiday in our household. It allows our kids to be excited about dressing up and being something they are not. It is probably my husband's favorite holiday as well (other than the 4th of July!) My parents were here tis year for Halloween and it was alot of fun. They had also come for Tysen's last 2 football games of the season. It was a GREAT weekend! Matt, my mom and I took all the boys out to Trick Or Treat and my mother even dressed up...wig and all!

First stop of the night. Ryder was "Bumblebee" the Transformer and Kannin was "Red" the M&M. It took Kannin no time at all to get this whole Trick or Treating thing down pat. You knock...and they give you candy! It is now becoming his favorite holiday as well.

My mom...bless her heart...dressed up like a witch...HAT and all! It was kind of breezy that night. We chased her hat down a couple of times!!



Ryder...our little Bumblebee!!!




Kannin had to check out his loot after every stop. I am pretty sure he was looking for Hershey Bars!!

We like to go to our old neighborhood on Halloween. The houses are so close together and eveyone has kids and decorates so nicely. We will always go back to the "Waldengrove Subdivision" to Trick or Treat! Above is one of our old neighbor's decor out front of their house. They waited too long to go get a pumpkin to carve...they were all out...so they got a watermelon!! Too funny!!!

My mom with the little boys. Tysen dressed up like a football player and ditched us with some friend's from our old neighborhood. Teenagers!!!

A house in our old neighborhood ALWAYS goes all out in their decor. Smoke...cobwebs...lights and Halloween music. We always make sure they are on our stop!

We Trick or Treated for 2 hours and then came home while Matt & Ryder continued on. Above...Matt and Ryder finally arive back home with bags and Pumpkins full of loot. I made supper and had to turn away our Trick or Treaters because my dad had stayed home and handed out all our candy. We had a great supper and then Matt's parent's showed up for a visit with my parents.


Kannin stripped the M&M suit and tried on Grandma Carol's glasses. I would have to say he is pretty cute in glasses!.........

....He then went over to his little stool which has some writing on it and tried to see the letters on it, but because Grandma's glasses are so magnified...he had to get up close and personal!! He is SO funny!!

We are so excited for Halloween next year. We are already talking about costumes. I think Matt & I may get dressed upp as well next year! Halloween ROCKS!!! What other day of the year can you let a kid be a kid...or you as an adult can be a little childish?!?

2009 Little Guy Football

Tysen played football again this year. This was his third year playing in the Little Guy Football League. The first 2 years he was a "Cardinal" playing for the "C" league and then the "B" league. This year we were "A" league (which does not have a Cardinal's team) so we were the PACKERS!! Same coaches and most of the same players three years running...just new team colors! His season went from September 12th to Oct 31st. What a great year and some of the nicest kids I have ever been around!

Tysen (#37) hitting a Falcon!!

Coming off the field!

Getting ready to "Hit Someone!"

The Line getting ready as Peter punts.



"Hit Him Hard!!!"

I was called the "Spaghetti Mom" because I made a complete Spaghetti Supper every Friday night before our Saturday games. This is my 3rd year doing these suppers and one thing is for sure...we have HUNGRY GROWING BOYS!! I think I did 11 suppers which consisted of Lettuce Salad, Spaghetti, Bread Sticks and desert of cookies, brownies or cupcakes.

Coach Deitz giving the boys the "PLAN!!"


2009 LGF "A" League Packers

(Tysen is in the back row...furthest on the right)

At the end of the season we had a banquet for the boys. I took pictures of the 6 coaches throughout the season and had them matted and framed. The boy's all signed all of the coaches matts.

Some of the team enjoying the meal.

Ryder (in his Packer's shirt) standing in front of the wall where we showed the 25 minute slideshow I did for the team. I put all of the pictures I took throughout the season on a slideshow set to sports themed music. We showed it that night and then each of the players and coaches took a copy of the slideshow home.

Some of the coaches listening to Mike speak.

Head Coach Mike Carle called each of the boys up to recognize them. We had a great season. We did not make it to the Rocky Bowl like we did last year...but we had a GREAT season coming one game away from the Championship! The coaching staff was remarkable abd have put in so much time and effort with theses boys! Thank you ...Coach Carle, Coach Deitz, Coack McElvain, Coach Michaels, Coach Jobman & Coach Thompson! We appreciate all you have done!

AHA Moment: I Have The Best Job In The World.

I was contacted a few weeks ago by Mutual of Omaha...who sponsor the "AHA Moment" national campaign. They had come across my Blog and asked me to do a filming with them discussing my "AHA Moment." They were fabulous people and I just wish that I had more of a voice during the taping because I was just getting over a cold!

Click on the link below to see my "AHA Moment"


aha moment: i have the best job in the world.

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Third P.L.A.Y. Visit

On Monday August 31st our P.L.A.Y Consultant Kellly Melius came to our home for our 3rd of 10 monthly visits. PLAY stands for Play & Language for Autistic Youth. We are learning SO much from Kelly! We are trying to play with Kannin where he allows us to come into his world so we can eventually pull him into our world! We love Kelly!!!

We also now have a Hab Aide that now spends 20 hours a week in our home working with Kannin. Her name is Nicki. We are starting our second full week of her visits and Kannin is so excited everyday when Nicki shows up. Nicki joined us for our P.L.A.Y. visit to see what great info Kelly could share with us all! I will also be documenting our visits with Nicki but below is our PLAY Session!

Nicki, Kannin & Kelly playing Peek-A-Boo in the bounce house in our basement.

Kelly trying to catch Kannin. This was Kannin's ploy to get Kelly out of the Bounce House's door so he could have the house to himself. He proves himself smarter and smarter everyday!

Kannin putting together his favorite puzzle...

...and when Kelly tried to help, Kannin held her hand down to prevent her from assisting him. What a smart little guy!

P.L.A.Y. Consultant Kelly filming Kannin's session for our video feedback while Nicki our Hab. Aide looks on. Kannin had a great session and Kelly said she saw tons of improvement from our visit last month! Looking forward to our next visit Kelly!

The above video is from today's visit (Sept 1st) with Nicki. Kannin was displaying his recent ritual of demonstrating his body parts. He lists the same part, in the same order...over & over for several minutes on end. Pretty good I think for a little guy who only had THREE words (mom, dad & no) last October!

I Have A Middle-Schooler!!!

It is so hard to believe...I HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER!!! It seems like just yesterday "I" was a middle schooler! It is unbelievably sad how fast they grow! Two big mile-stones met for my boys on Wednesday...Tysen started Middle School & Ryder started Kindergarden! Kannin's is in his second year of Pre-School so for those of you doing the math..."YES...ALL THREE OF MY BOYS ARE IN SCHOOL!" I have waited for this day for a long time...and now the house is SO QUIET & I love it!!!

Tysen heading into his first day as a 7th grader @ Castle Rock Middle School!

There he goes! He doesn't like posing for pictures like the litte boys do!

First day down...


...Nine more months to go!!!

Even "BIG" boys need an after school snack!

Ryder's First Day of Kindergarden

Ryder D started his first day of Kindergarden on Wed. Aug 26th! He listed everything he was excited about that morning before we took him to school. It took him 10 minutes to list everything...He said..."I am SO excited for school...for new friends...for my new lunch box...to ride the bus...etc. etc.etc!!! The bus will pick him up everyday at our house but Matt & I took him & walked him in and saw his room. The highlight of the day was to find out he will be the "Teacher's Helper" all week! He was beaming!! The bus brought him home after school. He will be picked up every morning @ 7:40 am and brought home every afternoon @ 2:45 pm.

Daddy & Ryder walking into school. Matt went to school at Bench Elementary as well.

Getting ready to say the Pledge of Allegence before school.

Ryder & Daddy at his desk.

Kannin & I met Ryder at the bus @ 2:45 which drops him off 3 houses down...very convenient!!!

Going over all the things he made on the first day of school. He was so tired...first priority...A DRINK cuz he was HOT!!!

Kannin's First Day (back to) Pre-School

Wednesday August 26 was also Kannin's First Day Back to Pre-School. He attended the STAR Program for Autistic Children last year and summer school as well. He gets picked up by the bus @ 7:45am and brough home @ 11:45am. He loves school and especially the BUS!!!

The Boys on their first day...Kannin 4 Pre-K, Tysen 12.5 Middle School & Ryder 5.5 Kindergarden. Kannin was a bit sleepy the first morning but perked up when his bus showed up to pick him up.

Ryder waiting with Kannin for the bus to get here.

Kannin in his bus seat. First kid on the bus and last one off everyday. Good thing we like the bus so much!

Getting buckled in his seat before "Take Off."

After School Snack...POPCORN!!! Mmmm!!!