weekend recap...

Friday evening kicked off the weekend with a bang...Corinn & i went out 2 gather our daily garden goodies 4 dinner...finally, we have cucumbers!!!

after dinner, we were blessed with this beautiful sunset...i was out watering the garden & Corinn came out 2 join me...she says, "whoa, pink clouds! i've gotta go get Gabby, Jaden & Daddy 2 see this...they're not gonna believe it!"

she went inside 2 bring them out...we sat & took in the view 4 a little while, until the mosquitoes had practically eaten us alive! then we went inside 2 start getting ready 4 bed...we've been trying 2 get the kiddos used 2 an earlier bedtime since school starts 2moro...we've been somewhat successful - in that they've been in the bed by 8:30pm...unfortunately, they haven't been falling asleep as easily...hey, at least we tried!

Saturday was a complete wash! the bright, cool morning gave us the impression that the rain might not show up, but by late morning the rain was coming down hard...it did that off & on all day long...so we had fun inside...the girls got in plenty of dress-up & make-up time!

we played board games & many, many hands of cards!

Corinn even taught us 2 play Slap Jack (she says a friend at daycare taught her how 2 play)...except we didn't have Jacks in our Dora deck - we just used 1s instead ;0)

thankfully, the rain finally stopped late in the afternoon...we had been planning on taking the kiddos 2 the county fair & Saturday was the last nite it would b there...they had earned free tickets this past spring (by reading at home 4 a school program) & a friend had given Curtis & i admission tickets as well...u can't beat getting the entire fam in 4 free!

Jaden & i wanted 2 go 2 the tractor pull too - but we were outnumbered...the girls could really care less & Curtis wasn't exactly jumping 2 go ;0)

so we just strolled around, enjoying the animals, exhibits & rides

this little dragon roller coaster was of course a huge hit with Jaden!

but i think the girls enjoyed it too ;0)

next, the Scrambler - a classic ride! here they r, ready 2 go...

uh, oh - hold on!

love this!

while the girls took a 2nd turn on the long slide, Jaden wanted 2 go on the Ferris Wheel...it was much smaller than the 1 we rode at Kings Dominion (which made him really nervous), but it also went a great deal faster...i was surprised he wanted 2 go on it at all - but especially alone!

he ended up getting paired with another little boy after all...& they both seemed 2 b having a good time!

we grabbed some cotton candy 4 the kiddos on the way out...& a candy apple 4 Mama...& even tho we left with mud-caked feet (cause of all the rain earlier in the day), it was a great night with the fam!

Sunday, daddy made us all breakfast...the sun was out & we finally got 2 play outside & mow the grass...after the kiddos finished up at children's choir practice that evening, we headed over 2 visit Grandpa - & his precious babies, Scooby & Ginger too ;0)

Nana is away on a cruise this week with 2 of her girlfriends...so Grandpa was lonely & needed some attention from the kiddos! Matthew was there too...

we played on the flyers

& rode 4-wheelers

& had the usual good time on the farm...a perfect ending 2 another relaxing weekend!
:0)

Friday cake...

well, i've jumped back in! for the rest of this year, i have at least 1 cake per weekend scheduled...sometimes 2...& there's the occasional free weekend thrown in there too...i'm so not gonna over-book myself...easing back in slowly

this cake is a 2-layer yellow/butter cake (serves 60), iced in my homemade butter cream...the birthday banner is fondant & i made all the flowers from butter cream...of course, the Disney Princess figures r not edible

this was my 2nd year making Rylee's cake (here's last year's)...her mom always keeps the design simple, cute & girly ;0)

ps. the customer picked this cake up from me at work 2day, so it rode (inside it's box) in the front passenger seat of my truck this morning...as i drove the kiddos 2 daycare, they were all sitting in the back, dancing & singing the commercial below - over & over again! i couldn't help but join in - it's so darn catchy!



speaking of...do u remember this post? ;0)
(scroll all the way 2 the video at the bottom of the post)

ugh.

this morning was just 1 of those morning...

ugh.

it's the last pool day 4 the kiddos...school starts next Tuesday, & 2day is the last day that their summer daycare is trekking over 2 the local public pool 4 the afternoon

in honor of this special occasion, Gabrielle insisted on wearing her beloved 2-piece bathing suit...which coincidentally, was no where 2 b found!

ugh.

she's got 2 other options...but no, those won't do...she HAS TO wear the 2-piece 2day!

ugh.

i quickly search high & low...we're already running behind because Mama pushed the snooze button 2 too many times...& the suit is totally MIA!

ugh.

i break the news 2 her..."sorry babe, i can't find it & we're running out of time...u're gonna have 2 wear 1 of ur other suits 2day"

to which she whips around, turning her back towards me, & crosses her arms in total disgust

ugh.

i instruct her 2 get dressed & i leave the room...moving on with our morning routine

a few minutes later, i pass back thru the girls' room...she's dressed - her reject bathing suit underneath the shorts & tank top i laid out 4 her...but the same disgusted scowl is still on her face

ugh.

meanwhile, Mr. Stimmy (Jaden) is in major sensory overload...when he gets up in the morning, he quickly gets dressed, brushes his teeth & washes his face...his goal is 2 speed thru the required items of his morning routine, so that he can get 2 his beloved Cartoon Network, while every1 else is finishing getting ready...Johnny Test is on this morning (1 of his fav shows) & 4 whatever reason, 2day's episode has him giggling, squealing & stimming up a storm!

ugh.

next thing i know, Gabby is bawling...i ask her what's wrong, only 2 find out that Miss Corinn has been lifting up her shirt - rubbing it in that she is wearing her 2-piece 2day & Gabby isn't

ugh.

Corinn promptly gets a time out, then instructions 2 march upstairs & change in2 1 of her other suits...resulting in more tears & wailing

ugh.

i've never been so glad 2 get 2 work!

wordless wednesday...am i salt & pepper afro bound?

~lmao~

final PET scan?

2day was my final PET scan...well, hopefully the last 1 for a while anyway

i'll meet with my oncologist on Monday (the 24th) to find out the results...i've already claimed a clean report tho! y else would i have already gotten my "i kicked cancer's ass" tattoo?! ;0)

it was actually a little different 2day than my other PET scans...1st difference was that i had a nose ring this time - & those meanies made me take it out! thankfully, it wasn't as scary as i thought it would b - went back in fairly easily...also, the wait (while the radioactive juice was flowing thru my veins 4 an hour) was a lot more relaxing - i actually got in a nap! & this time they had me put all my stuff in a locker b4 i went back & changed in2 scrubs...they didn't let me take my phone or ipod back with me (that's y i napped instead of tweeting, or updating my facebook, or reading on my kindle app, or snapping pics ~wink~)...i guess they're cracking down in the scanning facility...oh, & it also took 2 sticks 2 get a vein 4 my IV - & it wasn't even that great of a vein! after digging around, trying 2 puncture the only visible vein in my arm & having no luck, she had 2 move 2 the back of my hand - & stab hard 2 get the needle in2 it - saying "u have tough veins!"...i've also been told they "jump" ~lol~

of course, there will b more PET scans (& MRIs) in my future...but once i get the "all clear" from this one, i'll b done with scans/tests/blood work for a while

can i just say...

PRAISE GOD!!!

i'm so ready 2 have a big break from all this...hey, 3 or 4 months IS a big break in my eyes! ;0)

weekend recap...

bright & early Saturday morning, we got up & got moving...we picked up my step-sons & headed 2 Northern VA 2 visit Grandma & Pop (Curt's parents)

they had some swimming fun planned 4 us...1st, us girls (me & my girls went along with Curt's mom, Roxie & her sister, Faye) did some shopping 4 lunch supplies...then after eating, we hit the pool

(Corinn, Aunt Faye, Grandma, Gabby & Jaden)

& we had a blast!
the girls loved hanging on 2 me, then all 3 of us would go underwater 2gether

Pop just recently had knee surgery - so he took it easy poolside - snapping pics of the fun...that doesn't mean he didn't enjoy our visit tho...here's part of the email i got from him this morn...

"Words can't describe the spiritual boost I got from this weekend. Pain??? What pain?! Pain, pain, go away. I'm still basking in the afterglow, kid!"

he & Curtis also got in a much needed heart-to-heart with Curtis Jr & Corey while we were there...i'm so thankful that Curtis has had such a positive male role model in his life...& we pray that he's doing the same 4 his boys - regardless of where they live & how much time we get 2 spend with em

the kiddos have such a good time with Aunt Faye - she's just a big kid at heart!

we finally had 2 corral the kiddos out of the pool...& even tho they wouldn't admit it, they were beat!

b4 we left, we had 2 have cake on the balcony!
Corey just turned 17 yesterday...& Curtis Jr turns 18 in 2 days!!!

where has the time gone?! i need 2 scan in some pics of the boys when i 1st met Curtis (no digital camera back then)...they were only 6 & 7 years old...such sweet boys (regardless of what drama & turmoil their mother was putting them thru) - anxious 2 explore & spend time with us on the weekends!

& they're still super sweet! they've been the BEST big brothers & never once made me feel like i wasn't welcome in their relationship with their dad!

this is how Gabby enjoys her cake ~lol~

(no, i didn't make the cake - my oven has been broke down - but finally fixed 2day by my awesome hubby!)

we finally had 2 trek home (2hr drive)...there was a beautiful sunset as we neared our exit

& i finally caught a pic of this creation near our home...i spotted it a week or so ago - it sits way up on a hill (i used my super zoom 2 get this pic) & u don't really see it unless u happen 2 look up that way...as we neared the building site, i made Curtis slow down so i could snap a pic & show the kids

do u think it's going 2 b a home?
u know the thought of having a castle near where we live got Jaden really excited! ;0)

Sunday morning, Curtis was feeling well & Gabrielle was having a play date with her BFF...so it was just me & the other 2 kiddos 4 church

Gab's play date was actually supposed 2 b a sleepover, but at around 9:30pm Saturday nite, i got a call that she was scared & wanted 2 come home...turns out, her friend had told her they have ghosts in their house (just kidding tho - u know, ghost stories at sleepovers?)...well, Gabby wasn't having any part of it! it didn't matter what any1 said - she was convinced it was true & she was NOT staying the night there! luckily, they just live up the street - i went & picked her up 4 the nite, then dropped her back off the next morning so she could spend the day with her friend

after church, Nana treated us 2 lunch

& she even let Corinn wear her earrings! ;0)

the rest of the day was spent relaxing...it was super hot out! i went out 2 work in the garden 4 maybe 15-20 minutes & came inside drenched with sweat!

but look, we finally have cucumbers!

& the tomatoes r still pouring in...thankfully, they're mine & Corinn's fav! ;0)

random Friday...

sorry it took me so long 2 recap the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance (like u've been waiting on pins & needles 2 hear my opinion, right?! ~lol~)

well, it came down 2 Brandon & Jeanine - my 2 favorites!!! i really hoped Brandon would win it all, but Jeanine ended up snagging the title...they were both great dancers tho & well deserving!

here's a video from when they announced the winner...1st, u'll see the top 8 (plus the judges come out dancing as a surprise at the end of the routine) performing 1 last routine, then Kat announces the winner...

congrats Jeanine!!!

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Ma took this pic of the kiddos while we were at the river last weekend

(the blonde girl & red-headed boy on the ends r a co-worker's kiddos...they met up with Ma & our 4 kiddos at the pool on Saturday)

nah, i don't think they had any fun while we were gone!
;0)

-----

the other day, i came upstairs & noticed that the door 2 Jaden's room was almost all the way closed...i walk in2 his room, 2 see him sitting right up in front of his TV, with his closet door open (it blocks the TV a little when open)...as soon as i come in, he reaches up & changes the channel

i ask, "what were u watching?"

he sighs, puts his head down, & mumbles, "iCarly"

i giggle, realizing he's just embarrassed...iCarly is a show that the girls LOVE, & Jaden thinks it's a total "girl show"

i tell him, "it's ok Bub, u can watch that show if u want to...i promise i won't tell any1" & i give him a wink

he says, "ok, thanks"
he pauses 4 a sec
then, in a fast & frantic tone, he says, "but don't turn it 2 channel 47, because i think i saw a little bit of Ed, Edd n Eddy...i think it's on right now!"

oh. my. goodness.
he totally just got me!

Ed, Edd n Eddy is a show on Cartoon Network that i'm sooo not a fan of! it's about 3 teenage brothers...it's obnoxious, gross & it gets Jaden all hyped up (giggling uncontrollably, stimming left & right...total sensory overload)...it's not necessarily off limits 2 him (cause that will only make him want 2 watch it more), but he's only allowed 2 watch it occasionally - & under the supervision of me or Curtis (so we can make sure nothing too inappropriate it being shown) - usually Curtis since i can't stand the show!

i can't believe he just got me!
he just told a lie - & a GOOD one, at that!

he totally made me think he was being sweet & embarrassed about watching a "girl show"...when he was really just trying 2 cover up the fact that he was hiding something from me!

it made me realize that boy, sometimes his imagination & skill 4 acting is gonna b used against us...that we can't write Jaden off as naive & innocent - not capable of pulling the wool over our eyes...if anything, he may just keep us on our toes more than the girls!

well, that is if he can remember 2 not tell on himself 1st!
~lol~

-----

my garden is pumping out the tomatoes right now!

Corinn & i love our nightly routine of picking all the red ones off the vines & watering the whole garden...we even get a yellow squash now & then

& look, we've even got baby peppers!

we're still waiting on cucumbers too...but we're in no rush...we're having fun!

the only downside? we get eaten up by mosquitoes every nite! & 2day...i have 2 bites on my butt! how the heck did that happen?!
~lol~

-----

we've got a pretty chill weekend planned...driving up to NoVa 2moro, 2 visit my in-laws...hoping 2 have my step-sons in tow as well

there's been some recent drama at their house...so we're not 100% they'll go with...i hope so tho - we really need 2 talk & sort out a few things...oh how i wish they were with us all the time - i know they'd b much better off...but hey, such is life right?!

actually, Corey turns 17 on Sunday...then Curtis Jr will b 18 on Wednesday!

can u believe that?!

they won't b off & on their own just yet tho...Curtis Jr still has 1 more year of school left (& Corey, 2)...& neither has even gotten their driver's license yet! we're working on em tho - trying our best 2 teach em some responsibility & that every decision comes with consequences...it's really hard tho - especially when there's an ex-wife psycho in the mix!

God, please grant me the serenity...

-----

so, what r ur plans 4 the weekend?

whatever they r, stay cool lovelies!
♥

inspirational...

i found this online the other day...it's an excerpt from the book The Invisible Woman: A Special Story for Mothers - by Nicole Johnson...i can totally relate 2 this...& i'm sure all u Mamas can too

The Invisible Mother - by Nicole Johnson

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not.

No one can see that I'm on the phone, or cooking, or vacuuming the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The Invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Can you pick me up at 5:30?'

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, 4 life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile about. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.

It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

i also wanted 2 share this video with u...it's from ESPN - another amazing story about a guy with Asperger's...Clay didn't know he was an Aspie until 2 years ago...while struggling thru school as a kid, his mom was determined 2 help Clay succeed, but 2 also allow him 2 b himself

that's honestly THE most important advise i could give 2 any mother raising a special needs kid - sure, take advantage of therapies & other resources available that will help ur child succeed in life...but above all things, teach them 2 b themselves...& 2 b proud of who they r!

wordless wednesday...recent Jaden art...

(the above & below pics go 2gether)

(the above & below pics go 2gether)(the above & below pics go 2gether -

Jaden's best imaginary friend is named Dino)
(the above pic is an updated version of this)

already?! ahhhhh...

can u believe it's almost time 4 school 2 start again?!

yes...already!

we registered & paid fees last week (pictured above, r the kiddos outside their school that day)...orientation/teacher meet & greet is next week...then the following week (on the 25th), the kiddos r back in class!

& guess what...

i haven't bought a single school supply yet!
ahhhhhhhhhhh...

we've got 3 long supply lists, plus shoes/clothes 2 get...& uh...my husband still doesn't have a permanent full-time job
:0/

so i'm a little nervous

needless 2 say, the kiddos will only get what they absolutely need this year...& thank God 4 hand-me-downs!

i know everything will work out in the end tho...it always does
:0)

ps. yes, that's a baby carrier that Corinn is wearing in the pic above...u may remember it from here...she's such a lil Mama! & i love it!!! ♥