Updates and then some...

First off, let me start by saying this is why I hardly blog anymore. While writing my last post, here is what Cole was up to...



baking (or so he thought)...

At least he was attempting to clean it up...

It was honestly quite the little disaster. Oh the things this boy comes up with (keep reading!)

We spent the Saturday before Mother's Day with Abe's mom. We went to Chik-fil-A on the way to the train park in Scottsdale. It was a beautiful day and Cole enjoyed it, mostly.

He became a little apprehensive as the miniature train took off. He was very relieved to get off the train.

He enjoyed the train cars that didn't move (like this one) and was OBSESSED with the model train displays (especially the Thomas the Train car that zoomed along in the window!)

This moment was particularly funny, cause Paula couldn't quite control the water pressure while holding Cole and Cole was getting blasted in the face and up the nose, and thought it was actually quite funny.

We missed the annual Mother's Day dinner at my folk's this year (due to church, it was just WAY too late,) but don't worry- I plan on taking my mom out the next time I am in town. I did craft up some little albums for both moms as gifts, and while they took a tremendous amount of time, they turned out great and both really enjoyed them (it was the craft I arranged for my MOMS Club group for April)

I took Cole on a hike one day through the Granite Dells next to Willow Lake, here in Prescott. He did so good, and walked nearly the entire way! I did not enjoy carrying him the last 20 minutes or so, so I think next time we will try to go with Dad.

Cole has also been getting a hold of my camera. While downloading pictures today, I found these beauties and had to share:

Cole also decided, again while I was on the computer, that Dozer needed a haircut and I came out to find this...

He, of course, was SOOO proud of his work

Then, while sweeping I realized one of these things was not like the other...

Yes- those are little blond locks off the head of the little boy who, at almost the age of three, has STILL not had a haircut. So, in true Cole fashion, he decided to give himself a "ha-cut." And I, in a fit of hysterics and some rage, swept all the little piles of fur and hair right into the dustpan and into the garbage. I have regretted that I didn't save that first little snippet ever since, and will be sure to save some when I ACTUALLY cut his hair. {I still try not to think about it too much!}

Cole's fish, Mack, has passed away. I found him floating vertically (not normal) in his tank and like any good wife, called Abe and told him he needed to dispose of him as soon as he got home.

Abe took Jack out and placed him in a cup, and then went into the bathroom with Mack and tank, locking the door, and flushed the fish with Cole banging on the door. We thought we had avoided any confusion on Cole's part, only to have Cole then come and say to me that "dah-ee put Mack in da potty." Obviously, we can't put anything past this kid. We explained that Mack was sick, and had to go down the potty to which he replied "get him out and get meh-yi-cine" Too funny.

...About a week later, again- I was on the computer, Cole came in and said "Mommy- Jack miss hims friend" (all in Cole-speech, of course) and I said, Yeah he probably does, and then Cole said "yeah, him falled and get a booboo." At this point I turned and said "WHAT?!?!" and Cole said "Jack falled and get a booboo" I can't begin to tell you the things that ran through my mind, so I jumped up and ran out to see the coffee pot sitting next to the fish tank- and no Jack. As I got closer I saw Jack lying on the buffet, looking as though he had been smashed by the coffee pot, and not moving. Keeping my fingers crossed, I located some paper tried scooping up Jack (at which point he started flopping- OF COURSE!!!) and managed to get him back in the tank. Miraculously, he is still alive and we have had numerous discussions about how we don't take Jack out, missing his friend or not! (I can only imagine Cole was trying to take him to the potty to be with Mack!)

We are still looking for houses. Our cute little house next to Cole's school- well, I don't know what to say about it except, supposedly, someone came in and offered to pay a year's rent, cash, up front (fishy???) so whatever...I'm keeping my eyes, ears, and internet tabs open in search for that next house, and since we aren't in desperate-backs-against-the-wall-need, we're taking our time.

As I mentioned previously, Cole had a secondary evaluation with a developmental specialist. It started off when, a couple month's back, I was having his annual review with his AzEIP coordinator and Cole decided to throw a tantrum of monumental proportions (though, altogether, not uncommon for us) The coordinator and I discussed what I could/should do in this situation, and I thought that would be that. About a week later, she called and said she wanted him to be evaluated for sensory sensitivity. That evaluation basically consisted of me filling out 8 pages of "does the child avoid this...does he prefer this...does he only do this...does he avoid doing that..." and on, and on, and on. After about another week, I got a phone call saying that since his sensory reactions (everything from touch, taste, smell, sight, emotion, interaction, etc...) were so all over the place, they are going to send an Occupational Therapist out to work with him/me during speech sessions. We should start seeing her this week, and they are only planning on her coming out 2-3 times, of course, I guess that could change, depending on what she determines. So I will keep updating on that new development.

We also were able to get Costco to take back our 5 year old TV and give us a 63" Plasma. Don't ask how it happened, we are still quite unsure ourselves. All we can say is WE {HEART} COSTCO!!!

Cole has also started to say-in screaming fits of hysteria- only what I can interpret to be that I am the stupidest person EVER!!! (at least that is as much as I can understand) He also calls Dad a "bad guy." I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this- usually I do a bit of both- but I can say that I am more than glad he is talking, seriously!!! People still make comments about don't you wish he couldn't talk still, to which I reply, absolutely not!!! He has started calling me mommy (just in last few weeks) and when he says "i wuff ooo, mommy" there is nothing more precious or magical in the world. So yes, I will take being screamed at and called the stupidest person ever, if it means that I also get to hear the good stuff. We waited sooo long!

I know that there has been so much more going on, and for the life of me, I can't remember right now. Of course, as soon as I walk away from the computer, I will remember- but I will have to save it for another time! Meanwhile, I better go and check what kind of terrible mischief/messes/trouble my progeny has himself in- I can only hope that, perhaps, he has passed out on the couch...though, I'm sure, I won't be that lucky.......

CRAZY Month!

So things have been a little crazy/hectic around here. Nothing major- just things that have kept me from being able to post.


Mostly it is the out of control, curious, rambunctious, and overall crazy 3 foot tall being that resides in my home. He still will not take naps, goes to bed late, wakes up early, and just keeps me constantly on guard. Although, if I take him to playgroup in the morning, he will occasionally crash- but its usually in my arms. And I'm sorry, but while my only child still wants to sleep cuddled up in my arms, by golly, I'm going to let him- and take full advantage of it, rather than spending that precious time blogging/cleaning/doing laundry, etc. Selfish, I know, but I want to truly enjoy every moment with this little person as much as I can.

I also have a lot going on with my MOMS Club right now- mostly me prepping the group for my imminent departure. I have been planning/prepping/executing the annual Open House (where we try to sucker in new members) and preparing/corresponding/and still need to execute the election process for next year's board. Its been pretty time consuming and I can't even begin to say how relieved I am that it is almost over. I have even made arrangements to get rid of the numerous file folders and containers of junk that have been cluttering up my home for the last 11 months! YEA!!!

Cole and I have also spent a few weekends in Phoenix, and Cole spent a weekend in Carefree. We have spent every other weekend touring Prescott in search of a new home. Yes, that's right, a new home. We are going to rent for at least another year (our current lease is up at the end of the month), and the owners of our current house have their house back east on the market, meaning they could be ready to move here at anytime (though they said they would give us three months notice). I however am ready to get out of this house. As much as I will miss the view and the overall size of the house, that is it! I am so ready to move on! I think Abe is a little more hesitant since moving is so much work, but we NEED a new house. We have our eyes on one right now- 1/2 acre, middle of town-and walking distance to Cole's school, fully fenced yard, basically everything we want in a house (minus being in the middle of the forest, of course- but that will come) and I am stoked! Both Cole and the dog need a yard they can run around in, I love the overall feel of it so much better than our current home, and we will have plenty of room for all our stuff- inside and out.

During one of our "touring" weekends, we visited the Wild Fire Safety Expo that was held downtown (for when we do, ultimately, end up in the woods.) Cole enjoyed all the firemen and trucks and there was a really cool Game and Fish booth with all kinds of wildlife (though it was kind of sad, because they were mostly animals that had fallen victim to wildfires.) We even ran into a friend- though we didn't know it.

That's our friend, Damian, in that suit. Damian is the son of Abe's dear friend, Bob, who passed away a while back. It was pretty funny cause the giant fireman leaned over to his handler, who then said to us, "he says to tell you that its Damian in here" We laughed for a good while and Cole got a tattoo of the giant fireman (which he was so proud of, and then devastated over as it faded away from his arm)
That was Cole after the expo. So funny! He was using the balloon as a kind of pillow. One plus, he did take naps as we all drove around town together!

On one of our Phoenix trips, my parents treated Cole and I to a movie- his first one. We saw "How To Train Your Dragon." Cole did pretty well, though his attention span shorted out {shock!} and he spent the last half hour or so climbing all over the bars (thanks to seeing his grandpa and uncle do it-we were in the front row where the rails are.) I can honestly say, I think he did pretty well for a 2 1/2 year old, and since he is under 3 and free- who cares?!

I also made an attempt at some Strawberry Freezer jam. Cole helped by building a "housh" (aka house) with the strawberries. I haven't tried the jam yet, since I had an opened jar I want to use up, and the homemade stuff only has a shelf life of 3 weeks in the fridge. I figured I can wait- but it looked and smelled super yummy...I'll let you know.

I also have been knee deep in crafts. I don't know if I mentioned, but I started a craft group in my MOMS Club, and being that I'm in charge, I have to force myself to be creative- which I LOVE (and is the only thing I will truly miss about the club, which is why I'm going to continue it with a select group! haha) Here's the latest project (I can't share others, since they will gifts!)- its a dry erase board made from a frame and some fabric. Super simple, cheap, but oh so cute! (Not my idea- I got it from a crafting blog I read, but so simple and useful- and SOOO much cuter than a store bought board!)

I also have other Cole issues going on, including a new evaluation from a developmental specialist this week- but I'll talk about that once I know if anything is truly going on.

Until then, I think that's a good summation of what we've been up to. I will update once I know what's going on with Cole, but that might be it for a while, since HOPEFULLY we'll be MOVING!!!