All about Carly K.

As most of you probably know, Carly is Autistic. She has a form of Autism called Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD.) All it really means is that she has a hard time understanding some things the same way most people do, is very anxious about a lot of things, and has a hard time in social situations. She has been in special education since she was four, starting at Pre-Kindergarten. In the state of Nevada, she qualified for special education with no problem, and was struggling with keeping up with her class. She was rated at below average in everything. So, of course I was worried when I saw how hard the course work was here. (National standards are rolling out, and soon all first grade classes will be the same- as will every grade!) So, we've been working with her and working with her. Last week, she scored 100% on her spelling test (!!!) and today we had her special education evaluation. Average scores. You hear that? Let me say it louder:
AVERAGE SCORES!
Average right now just means she is caught up. I know she is a super smart kid and will quickly move into above-average, but for now average brings a huge smile to my face. They were hesitant to put her back in special eduation. Her first grade teacher at the start of the year was so dismissive of her, and treated her like a horrible kid. Her teacher here, Mrs. Rudolph, had nothing but good things to say. She also said that she is not seeing the aggression that we were before, and that she has not been labeled a 'bully' here, like in the past. I am so stinking happy. They still qualified her for special ed, but it's minimal. They won't be pulling her out of the class for the special ed, but rather a teacher will be coming in for 1/2 hour for reading,and 1/2 hour for math a day. The teacher will sit with her as she works, and offer help as she needs it. The only time they will remove her from the class is when they see she is getting frustrated, and then they will offer her a 'break.' Sometimes, if she is having trouble understanding something she gets frustrated. Or if she is in with a crowd. When this happens, the best thing to do is remove her, and that's what they will do for 15 or so minutes to let her cool down.
The meeting went so well, the principal, special ed teacher,and her teacher had nothing but great things to say about her. I love it.
I am so stinking proud of her. So proud. She is such a bright, amazing little girl, and I know she has so much potential.
Just awesome :)

Bit behind..

Yeah, so I slacked a bit. Sorry!

Let's get you up to date!
My dad and Lexie came to see us, and we had a blast! We spent the weekend  at their hotel playing games, and at our house just relaxing. We were sad to see them go, but hope we can see them soon!
Christmas was awesome, the kids were spoiled as usual. They turned our perfectly packed living room into Toys R Us gone wild.

We left Reno December 30th for Vegas. We were supposed to leave the 29th, but the moving company showed up a day late, and made us miss our flights out of Vegas not once, but twice. We drove through Vegas in a blizzard, made it safe at 11 pm, and the next day Mark and Ray dropped me and the kids off at the airport and started the drive. The kids and I arrived in one piece and stayed with Ray's mom and stepfather. Ray and Mark made incredible time, and got there on Jan 2nd. We stayed with Tony and Dawn awhile longer because the moving truck took it's sweet time. New Planet Moving = Fail. DO NOT USE THEM! We were all moved in around the 10th? 12th? Anyhoo, Carly started her new school and loves it.

Fast forward to today- Wesley is still not crawling, but is cruising and trying to take steps without holding on. Carly is doing really well in school, and has already made a ton of friends.We are unpacked completely and enjoying the nice weather (50/60 degrees!) after two months of snow. It's raining today, but it's still so nice outside! Carly is taking ballet and tap, and loves it. She does really well, and has friends in the class. I'm getting ready to enroll her in swimming lessons as well.

That's my speedy update. I'll try to post more often now!

Carly says, 17 days left!

How many times can a kid see Santa, really? Well, for Carly it's at least 3. So far! The cool thing is not only is it the same Santa every time, but he has remembered Carly each time, and things she has told him. How cool is that? Especially considering home many kids he sees each day. Maybe he is the real Santa?!
I'm pretty excited for Christmas day. I know she is going to love her presents, and I know Wesley is going to love his... wrapping paper? Carly wants to make gingerbread cookies this year, and I happened to get a mix at Disneyland, with a cool Mickey Mouse Gingerbread man cookie cutter. She is also gung-ho about making sure Rudolph has something, too.
I think we are done shopping for the kids for Christmas. We had to rearrange a few things after Carly changed her likes, but we did it. I even finished stocking stuffers for both. Of course, that isn't going to prevent me from picking up a little something here and there when I am out!
I should take some pictures of our tree and stockings, they are pretty cute. It's funny how excited for Christmas morning you get- even as an adult!

Tis the Season...

Christmas pictures didn't go as well as I would have liked... Lately, Carly has been a bit of a terror, and today proved no different. Asking her to change out of her Christmas skirt and into some birthday clothes ended up with her in the dressing room for 30 minutes screaming. The portrait place was busy, and it was quite embarrassing. I'm calling her doctor tomorrow... something has to give and his last solution wasn't the solution.
Wesley did pretty good though, but didn't give his big smiles. I think our photographer was annoyed with Carly, and she hurried us along. Oh well, always next time, right? Those pictures can be seen here.We'll be sending off cards soon!
I hope none of the family minds, but Christmas presents are all mainly homemade this year. I'm actually kind of excited/proud of a few of them. I just need to put some finishing touches on them.
Short post, but will update more later!

Turkey, the number 7, and all in between!

Gobble, gobble! It was pretty cute how Carly gobbled, and Wesley giggled. The two are quite a pair! I have the pictures to prove it!

Seriously- adorable, right? Yeah. I agree. Anyways, onward!
Thanksgiving was good. We went to my mom's house where my mother, Jeff, Jordan, and one of my mom's friends were there. The kids wore their matching Turkey shirts I made, and they looked so cute. Wesley, sadly, took a bottle shortly before dinner, and had no interest in any other food. He wouldn't even suck on a bit of turkey, that little turkey! But Carly chowed down. Carly's dad came and got her for his Thanksgiving, and then we traded off the next day.
She's seven. Wow. How did that even happen? I really feel like I blinked and here you are. Ray and I took her to Build A Bear in the mall (On black Friday! We're nuts, yes!!!) But it wasn't too bad. We let her stuff a cute little bear we bought her that reflects her birthstone. Carly was so stoked that they had a Rapunzel outfit, as Rapunzel is her new favorite thing. She has a cute little Rapunzel bear now. We took her to Red Robin for dinner, where mom and Jordan met us. I worked for a few hours Thursday night on a cake for her, and was pretty impressed with myself with how it came out. Carly was beyond spoiled for her birthday, and now is eagerly awaiting Christmas to become more spoiled. Ah, kids!

We think we finally found a place to live in Bowling Green. It sounds like this guy is going to hold the house for us until we get there, and judging by the pictures it's gorgeous! We put our house up for Rent today, and already had some interest. Hopefully we get it rented soon! We are moving a couple of days after Christmas, so that we can spend Christmas with my family this year.
As always, pictures can be seen on Facebook via this link, including ones from Carly's Birthday and Thanksgiving. But until then, I leave you with these!

Overdue!

It's been awhile since I posted, but it's been a long month! We spent out week at Disneyland, and it was great! Carly, Wesley, Nana, Ray, and I spent so much time at the park that we were all walking zombies in the end. Here we were worried about Carly and the roller coasters and characters, but she LOVED it all! She met every princess, and rode every roller coaster. Even the super scary one she was barely tall enough for at California Adventure! Wesley was a trooper too, but insisted on someone holding him most of the time, so he could see the action as well. Carly even got to participate in the Jedi Training Academy, and they dubbed her a Jedi Padawan. She was too cute, and loved it! Pictures can be seen here.It was a great time for all!
Carly got home and immediately went on vacation with her dad. She just got home today after being gone a week! He took her to Phoenix to see her Paternal Grandma, and then BACK to Disneyland. Spoiled kid! During the time she was gone, Ray and I did some Christmas shopping, saw Harry Potter, and tried to finalize moving plans. It's been hard to find a house to live in, because we are still over a month away, and no one wants to hold a house that long. But it's looking as if I will be flying the kids in around the 28/29th, and Ray and Mark will follow suit, but by car, a couple days later. I'm nervous about moving away from mom, and sad about it, but excited about being somewhere new.

Nothing too new to report on the kids. Carly doesn't go back to school until Monday, but she is excited. She needs something to work her mind. I can't believe she is almost 7... Blows my mind! Wesley is almost 6 months old, and sits in the shopping carts and high chairs as well now. He isn't crawling yet, but is scooting with determination! He hasn't quite realized that getting on his knees would be easier... haha!

We are spending Thanksgiving at my mom's this year, but before dinner we are taking Carly to see "Tangled." She got to meet Rapunzel at Disneyland, and is now REALLY excited to see her movie. Then on Friday (Her Birthday!) we will take her to Build A Bear as a treat, and I am making a really detailed cake. (Pictures will be here!)

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone. I will be back after Carly's Birthday and Thanksgiving with pictures. (I hope!) And Wesley has his 6 month appointment on Tuesday, so I will have stats soon!

Happy Halloween!

Well, it's almost Halloween, anyway! (And didn't I use that same blog title for last year's Halloween blog post?)
Carly's last day of school was on Thursday. She is now officially off-track until November 29th (I think!) On Thursday, they also had their Halloween party, at which they could wear their costumes. This was weird to me, because ever since she has been in daycare/school, this has never been allowed. But okay! More fun for the kids, right? Well, Carly decided to dress up as Jessie the Cowgirl from Toy Story 2/3, and so we dressed Wesley up as Woody the Cowboy. Since Carly was already in her costume, we put Wesley in his and snuck a few pictures through,

I know, super cute, right? Here is a link to some more of them. (This is the same link as the pumpkin patch pictures! Oh, and if for some reason those of you without Facebook can't see them, let me know please!)

Anyhoo, Carly is at her dad's until Sunday, and then we will take the kidlets trick or treating. I'm sure Wesley will sleep through the majority of it, but it should be fun anyway. Carly is dying to use the glow-stick wand that Grandma Dawn sent her, but we told her to wait until Halloween to make it more fun!

I want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes and more than you sent my way. Thank you very much! It was a relaxing day, after being up in the middle of the night from 3 am - 6:30 with a baby! Ray let me sleep in until around 10 (Glorious!) and then we went to dinner with the kids and my friend Amber. It was nice! The night before, my mom had taken us to dinner as well. I feel very spoiled! I can now also drive the rental car in 2 weeks, because I am older enough to go on the agreement! (Priorities, right!)

I will be back with a Post Trick or Treating update on Sunday night/ Monday morning! (If not sooner, I want to show off some of my recent sewing accomplishments!)