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!!!

More Snow, A Little Update, and a Ranch Trip

Well, it has been a crazy month at our house. So I will start where I left off. **To see the pictures better, just click on them. Some of Cole's expressions are priceless!

We have had several more snow storms, and are expecting another this weekend. Cole absolutely LOVES the "no" and especially "no baus" aka snow balls. That is, until his dad pegged him in the face with one. Seriously, it was up his nose, down his throat, a full on annihilation- totally on accident of course! Now Cole always talks about "no bau, my eyes, my nose, my mouf, ow" It's pretty funny.
Cole also still has to do WHATEVER dad does. He even wanted some of Abe's morning coffee so bad, that he gave him a cup (totally iced down, obviously). Needless to say, Cole won't be asking for coffee again any time soon!

Cole is still passing out regularly in the funniest locations. Here I caught him with the Cheetos and his face and hands were totally cheese covered.

Abe and I also took Cole to the Prescott Fire Departments 125th Anniversary Celebration (its the oldest fire dept. in AZ). Cole was in heaven! There were trucks and firemen everywhere (so, Mom didn't think it was too shabby, either! haha) Cole brought his own fire hat and held onto it for dear life, since every time Dad would convince him he could let it go, it would blow off his head!

This is his favorite location to crash- in his car seat! Hey- it was a tough day saying hi to all those firemen!

We also met with Cole's preschool, and he was accepted! He will start August 9 and go 3 days a week. He will have speech therapy while in school and they will even provide a bus if I would like (its a short bus, with built in car seats.) I have to go and meet with them again at the end of April to do "goal planning" (I've said it before, a bit ridiculous in the red tape department) but we are just so thankful that he will be able to go to such a quality preschool, get the help he needs, and it won't cost us a thing! Of course, since he has been accepted he has been talking an unbelievable amount, though I know by comparison, he is still pretty behind. But at the same time, it is so amazing to watch his progression.



We then made a trip to the Ranch this past weekend. It was Cole's second time, though it was really more like his first cause he was able to enjoy it so much more this time. The one drawback with this Ranch trip was getting there. With all the rain and snow, the river is too high to cross, and the very scary rim road is, well, very scary, so we had to take the back-back-way, which meant 3 1/2 hours of ROUGH dirt road (normally its only 2 1/2 or so) To kill the time, I bought a set of "dad's wook twucks" which I would give to Cole periodically along the way. It worked!

Here is one of our breaks/stops on the way in. (Don't mind Cole's outfit, he picked out his clothes that day. Abe actually asked if I wanted to change him before we left. I figured we were just going to the Ranch, and besides, Cole was so proud of his outfit!)

Two of Cole's 6!!!! trucks he got on the way in and out of the Ranch

Once we were all settled, and had eaten dinner, we were hanging by the fire barrel on the patio and Abe noticed this...

OH MY GOSH!!!! I couldn't believe it!!! Cole was pretty cool about it and spent the rest of the weekend talking about the "nake on my butt" (snake was easier to say than lizard, though he did attempt to say lizard a few times.)

Cole wasted no time playing in the dirt with his new trucks! Sporting Dad's head lamp and all!

The Ranch was in its prime. Virtually no bugs (one of my personal peeves of the Ranch), the fruit trees were blooming, not too hot, though it was a little windy.

With those conditions, a few more fruit trees were given a home in the lower orchard. Cole was a BIG help!

Cole also found a squirt gun in the pool toys. He would talk his dad into giving it a "drink" then proceed to pull out the stopper and drink himself. It was pretty gross!

The guys decided to give the water wheel a FULL blast whirl. Dozer, who has had a fascination with splashing water since he was a puppy, kept jumping down in the well around the wheel. Abe had just pulled him out for about the 40th time, and Cole decided Dozer needed to be shot (which was tempting for all of us!) Finally, the water wheel just got shut down, in hopes of keeping our stupid dog alive for the time being.

Cole also got in some serious dirt bike time. Not only that, but he had his first dirt bike wreck (which he still talks about!). Abe hopped off, propping the bike on the kickstand, to grab something. He heard the motor rev, tires spin, and turned just in time to watch Cole and the bike fall. He had accidentally left the bike in gear (instead of neutral, like he thought) and Cole decided to "drive" himself. Fortunately, there was no physical injury, just a little psychological injury to both guys. Abe said all Cole was really worried about was if he had "bwoke da bike" Ohhh, the things that concern two year old boys!

At least we had been outfitting Cole with his helmet.

He was such a proud biker that weekend!

He also got some serious "dad wook twuck" time in, which he later learned was a "backooo"

Here he is with his "uncle" Tim, posing for the camera

This is a few of the apricot trees. All the mature fruit trees had started blooming and it was really very pretty.

Cole even got to work the levers and knobs and dumped a few loads at the Ranch dump.

getting some Mom QT

Getting some dad QT

The whole gang at the fire barrel.

(I have to say, I do like the Ranch a whole lot more with a lot less people- and having our tent trailer there (Abe took it in a while back) made it even better!)

Both mornings we went and walked around the pond and quacked at the ducks.

I'm telling you, if there is a place greater than heaven, my little outdoorsy boy was there!

Any rock Cole saw around the pond became an instant victim to its murky depths!

As we were preparing to leave on Sunday, Cole decided to do a little more "work" with his trucks. He started like this...

...and ultimately ended up here...

One last ride on the bike. Notice his double hand wave to me.

Tim said he bet Cole would crash on the way home. I thought on that dirt road it would be impossible. I was wrong...

Cole was so filthy he got an extra long bath. His face has scrapes (from when he ran into a downed tree running away from Dad), his knees are bruised. His hands are full of slivers and splinters, but that little boy wants nothing more than to go back. I hear several times a day "da wanch, bakoos, dit bikes, twackoos, nakes my butt" Looks like I will be heading to the Ranch a lot more from now on, which as long as the camper is there and there aren't 40+ people, will be fine with me.

Cole slept that entire night when we got home (a HUGE deal for us!) and I think he was still so tired, I found him here...

Oh this kid! Though, I would take him back to the Ranch just to get a full nights' sleep again, for sure

Valentine's, Sh** and then some...

So, February started off with Abe deciding to feed the deer that run through the yard, which turned into feed for about 100+ birds one morning (no joke- think Hitchcock, here), which turned into a shmorgishborg for the javelina. One night, we caught 9 of them going to town on the pile of food... (it's kind of hard to see, and a few were hiding in the bushes.)
Cole, being his father's son, decided he needed his gun...

He was so proud!

We then started off Valentine's weekend on Friday with a visit to Phoenix to meet with the "tax man," Bruce. Bruce works with my mom, and is the greatest tax man ever! We were pleasantly surprised with a refund which we weren't expecting since we have all kinds of new tax quandaries due to our Phoenix house.

We then made a detour to Carefree, where Cole stayed the weekend with Abe's mom. It was a nice little treat to have the little guy entertained by someone else for the weekend, though I missed him terribly! This was his 3rd weekend away, and I still have a really hard time not having him around. We were so excited to have him come home, we did Valentine's up right for him. Here is what he came home to...

The item wrapped in a grocery sack (courtesy of dad, and furnished with bows from mom) was a Hotwheels watch (he'd been eyeing his dad's new cool watch) and two betta fish Cole and I named Mack and Jack (two names I knew he could say)

He loves them!

We followed that with lunch with Paula and a relaxing rest of the day watching Mack and Jack trying to prove to each other which one is bigger and more macho (typical guys...there is a plastic divider between their respective sides, so they don't kill each other- because they totally would!)


Cole and I also caught colds- Cole first, then me.


We also finally heard back from the AzEIP people (unbelievably slow, those people are!) and we are meeting with the preschool March 11.


In Cole's speech world, Andrew quit- so we are meeting our new therapist, Cassidy, on Thursday. Cole has been making leaps and bounds with his speech. He has been using the actual words to name things lately {shock!} and has finally started to repeat words as he hears us say them. Which leads to my newest challenge





the word






s----h---*---t (that's for those of you who take more than mild offense to swear words {*wink*})



This was a word he heard exclaimed in our house while watching the Olympics (of all things!)



Typically, when he repeats something he hears us say, its a one time deal.


NOPE! Not this time. This word has become one of his staple words. He actually uses it now in place of words. Especially "no." Now, if you have spent anytime around Cole, you will know how much he says "no." Thanks to my two year old, I have learned that "no" and "sh*t" are TOTALLY interchangeable.

For example- car falls on the ground- Cole exclaims "oh sh*t"
I say time for a bath- Cole says "sh*t"


You get the picture, I'm sure.


My brother also taught Cole the joy of "shut up" which I hear just about every time I open my mouth to speak (unless, of course, he is saying the other s-h word.) He also screams "shut up" at the dog, and I even heard him telling off some old lady at the post office today who was asking her questions a little loudly for Cole's taste.

But how do we tell a little boy, who we have been waiting to talk forever, to stop talking. I try giving him alternative words (not including "shoot," I'm worried that will be too confusing for his developing vocabulary) and they work for that immediate instance, then, 2.32 minutes later, he's swearing again!

Oh well, it was bound to happen at some point, right? (Although, I had hoped, it would have been when he was like 14!) I just keep crossing my fingers that, while in public, people don't fully grasp what he's actually saying- though it is pretty stinkin' clear!

I have been trying to become more involved in my MOMS Club lately, so that has been sucking up our time again. Abe has been bombarded the last few weeks at work, which we think is great! Being busy = job security. This all on the heels of learning his previous employer is closing their doors. Very sad to hear.

On top of all that, last week I got to take Cole into Urgent Care, here in town, with a 104.6-105.1 fever. This time, the much nicer, and appearing much more competent, P.A. diagnosed him with double ear infections (his first EVER!) and swollen tonsils. He was put on azythromiacin, to avoid a possible penicillin reaction again, which was AMAZING (one dose a day for three days- so much easier to remember!) He was pretty miserable to be around for several days, but is 100% again, and we are now HUGE fans of Urgent Care!

He is taking naps about 30% of the time, and still succumbing to his exhausted body another 20%. I found him passed out on the couch with a bag of Cheeto's just yesterday. Oh this kid! He keeps me on my toes for sure!