Getting Ready...

Tomorrow is the big day and we are almost ready. Not only do we have Halloween, but Rhys will also be participating in the Kindergarten Nursery Rhythm Parade. Don't worry, I will take lots of pictures to share!
On a side note, I have to admit that I made these Halloween shirts. They are the first thing that I have ever successfully, key word, made from a magazine. Pretty cool, huh? And could Lucy have posed any better? I think not.

It was bound to happen...

I just wasn't ready for it. Today Lucy had an appointment to get her blood drawn. We were sitting in the lab, and another patient came in and got her blood drawn first. On her way out, she asked me if Lucy had Down Syndrome and I said, "Yes". She then said, "I have never been this close to one of those." Folks, I was dumbfounded and my brain went blank. I answered, "Well, she is cute." The woman then proceeded to ask me about health problems and I downplayed Lucy's problems, and said that she had no more health problems than my other kids. Then she asked me, "Are your other kids normal?" I would like to interject here and assure you that there is no way on God's green earth that I could make this up. I looked right at her and answered, "Well, Lucy is normal, but no my other children do not have Down Syndrome." She then asked me how old I was when I had Lucy. I told her and then she brought up the fact that Palin having a child with DS helps put the spotlight on people with disabilities, which is a good point, but at this point I was reeling and done with the conversation. I wished her a good day and then sat back and prepared myself for Lucy's blood draw.
Ever since I had Lucy, I have been waiting for this to happen, and I just wasn't ready when it really did happen. I tried to be positive, because I feel like Lucy is an ambassador for Down Syndrome. Everyone we meet can go away with a different idea of what a person with DS is really like. But I have to tell you it was hard. Back in the car I gave myself 30 seconds to feel sorry for myself and then I looked at Lucy and said, "I am not going to feel sorry for us, there is nothing to feel sorry for." I know you are asking if this woman was older, and I have to tell you that in my book she was not that old and she should have known better. The hard thing is that she was actually trying to be nice. People really feel compelled to tell me the most asinine things. (Just be watching for the post about my red complexion, and you will understand!) I still don't know if I should laugh or cry about the whole thing, but I guess I should just chalk it up to a learning experience that will help me the next time someone approaches us. For all of you that love Lucy, thank you because you make it easier to face down people like this woman.

Lets Dance...

While I was in San Diego, my men attended the Windermere Fall Ball. The Fall Ball was 2 different dances in 1: a 50's sock hop and an 80's bop. Jacob was nice enough to DJ the 80's dance. It was so much fun making the set list. My friends reported that Jake played awesome songs and everyone had a good time. An elementary student, on a cell phone, was overheard saying, "I am at the dance and it is actually FUN!" I don't think that there is any better compliment. A friend shared a few pictures of the boys and I thought I would pass them on. It was easy to dress Rhys (or Blaine for you "Pretty in Pink" fans) as a prep and Ethan was destined to be a greaser. It is hard to look at these pictures, because they are such a testament to how fast time flies by. Guess we just have to make everyday count. And judging by these pictures, the boys had a great time!

Hallelujah!

I just have to say that I bought gas for $2.12 a gallon!!!! Needless to say it was the first time that I filled up my gas tank without cringing. OPEC decided to cut production 5% so live it up!

"Your brain no work" ~ Jake's College Math Prof.

As many of you know, Jacob is taking his Professional Engineering test today. This has been an extremely tough time for our family: Jake always studying and the kids and I trying to live without him. That is all at an end today. We know Jake is going to rock this test, but we never turn down positive thoughts. So if you have a minute, send some positive vibes out to our main man Cobbo.

Keep it classy San Diego....

Words cannot do justice to my girls weekend in San Diego. It was phenomenal. I had the absolute best time. We went to the beach, shopping, ate in great restaurants, went wine tasting and slept in (well not if you are on West Coast time). Dani got us a room right on the bay!! It was awesome. The women that I went with are fantastic; their company is really what made the trip so memorable. It is nice to go out in the world as Kelley and find that people still like you, and even better that you still like people!

view RIGHT outside our room!

A little dose of Lucy

Ethan

Had our parent-teacher conference with Ethan's teacher today. She is really happy with him. She points out that he needs to work on his patience. She also mentioned that she had to take him in the hallway and reinforce that the name on the door was indeed "Woodall" and not "Forbes". She suggested that we read, "Raising a Strong Willed Child." I don't know who she is referring to, and Jake can't figure out if the book will help him with Ethan or his wife. We like to refer to Ethan as, "the Hammer of Justice." The boy likes rules and makes sure that people abide by the rules; of course by rules, I mean Ethan's interpretation of the rules. Clearly this is demonstrated by Ethan giving Rhys 2 options for getting up this morning: 1) Rhys could get up right then or 2) Ethan could rip Rhys' blankets & pillows off of the bed. If you know Rhys then you know which choice he picked and you know why Ethan started the day off with a bite mark on his bicep. I for one, do not know what all the fuss is about...I mean, Mel's guitar needed to be picked up and I gave her fair options.

The most awesome cake ever....

If anyone knows me, then they know that I am always on the search for delicious desserts. It seems simple doesn't it? But the art of homemade pies, cakes and cookies is slowly disappearing from our society and with it the care that was taken in preparing these treats. Well my obsession with the domestic sweets has led me to read a blog about cakes, more specifically cake decorating disasters. The author posted a picture of the coolest cake ever. Take a look:



check out the detail:


To see more pictures visit: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/10/sunday-sweets-super-mario-wedding-cake.html
I look at it and see a cool cake and all I can wonder is, "Does it taste good?"

Happy Birthday Madden!

We love you so much and we hope that you have a GREAT birthday. We are sad that we cannot be there to celebrate with you, but we will be thinking of you!

O.P.A.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPA!!

This is truly the season of birthdays in our family. And we could not pass up Opa's special day without letting him know how much we love him. We feel so lucky to have him around...well, technically him and Oma are not around anymore. They live on the links. :)

Lucy helping Dad with the Laundry.....

Who says leaves don't change in Texas?

Autumn is really here. I could not pass this tree up without taking a picture. Only in Texas could it be 86 degrees and actually feel like Fall. Hey we will take it where we can...it's better than 100! Now if I can just get that pesky electric bill under $200, then I will know it is winter!