WELCOME TO JENN'S LIFE: July 2009

MY MISUNDERSTOOD CODY

I AM SO VERY PLEASED WITH HOW MY VIDEO OF CODY TURNED OUT. I HAVE PUT IT ON YOU TUBE FRIENDS FOR ALL THE PARENTS/CAREGIVERS/FRIENDS OF CHILDREN ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM. I WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND GET TEARY EYED EACH TIME! GOSH, I LOVE THAT LITTLE GUY!!! I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ONES ON YOU TUBE FRIENDS (ONE OF WHEN CODY WAS YOUNGER UNTIL NOW). THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR...I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE I LIKED THE BEST SO I PUT THEM BOTH ON. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WATCH BOTH.

Cody's new dune-buggy/go-cart

After months of deciding what vehicle Cody was graduating into next, we finally found one that fits his (and our) needs. Cody just loved his Power Wheels Jeep and 4 wheeler, but being 7 years old now, he was starting to outgrow them. But he just wasn't ready for the gas powered fun (and where would he ride it anyhow)?? I did tons of research online (every night around midnight)....YIKES!! Finally I found the one I thought was just right. That next day I showed
Cody's dad, and although the go-cart looked like exactly what we wanted, the price was a little out of our range. Well, it just so happened that I was

reading through Craig's List ads for the day and someone from Camillus had won THE SAME EXACT go-cart from a contest and it was too small for them. Talk about luck!! We went to see it. They had it all charged up and ready to go. Cody got in and took off and that is the end of the story......It was MADE for him!! LOL. We brought it home and Cody has been riding it ever since. It goes about 12 mph and that is "super fast" in Cody's eyes....He is so cute watching him fly on it! Isn't he just adorable???

SWEET DREAMS MY LITTLE SWEETIE....SWEET DREAMS.

Derek and "his" mouse

What does a 15 year old do when asked to mow the lawn? He finds a small little mouse outside, traps it in a silver bucket and FEEDS it!!! Derek, I HATE mice!!! But it is awfully cute though since it is a baby. It kept jumping up and down in the bucket. I was quite "timid" that it would jump out and run into the house (although the door was closed).....I must state again, I HATE MICE!!! After a while of feeding and playing with it, I made him "return it" to the wild and he placed it in the back woods of our house....Luckily after that, the lawn DID get mowed!!! LOL!

Cody's First Day of Summer School/Camp

Cody tried going to bed early last night (but his excitement got the best of him and he didn't actually fall asleep until around 9:30ish). We got to go visit his new summer school/camp yesterday and Cody was so excited to be able to start today. There are 5 kids in his class. 1 teacher and 3 assistants or aides. I met all 4 and they all seem to be very nice and understanding.

So at 7:00 this morning the alarm rang and although he was excited to go, he would NOT wake up! I had to pry the blankets off him while tickling the jeebers out of that little guy! But it did the thing and he got up and got dressed and did everything he had to with more than 10 minutes left to spare! Yea, Cody!! He put on his new backpack and made sure that his new lunchbox was inside (Both Bakugan), and then we walked to the bus stop.

Just as we were told, the bus started down our road at 7:45...Cody gave me kisses and hugs and we both watched as the bus DROVE RIGHT BY US! How in God's name does a school bus NOT

see a child and his mom waiting??? Heck, Cody had his backpack on and everything! I started waving my hands like a wild woman, but it did no good. The bus just kept on going...BUT it must have turned around somewhere because in a few more minutes, that same bus came right back down our road and this time it actually STOPPED to get my little guy!! Cody got right on like a brave kid!

All was going well or so I thought UNTIL I happened to get a call from the school nurse stating that Cody was in a state of hysterical crying because his tooth was falling out (it's just hanging by a thread)...well, Cody doesn't like the feel of a lose tooth and he is petrified of it being "pulled" out, so home he went....But never-the-less, he talks nothing but great things about his day and how he made several new friends and how nice his teachers are! He can't wait until tomorrow....and that makes me smile.....When my kids are happy, I am happy. And right now I'm a really happy mom!!!
UPDATE: WHILE SLEEPING, I PULLED THE TOOTH OUT THAT WAS CAUSING SO MUCH DISTRESS WITH MY LITTLE GUY.....HE DIDN'T EVEN STIR OR WINCE. OBVIOUSLY, THE TOOTH WAS READY, AS IT PRACTICALLY FELL OUT IN MY HANDS! NO ONE NEEDS TO TELL MY LITTLE FELLA THAT HIS MOMMY PULLED HIS TOOTH OUT!! WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WON'T HURT HIM!!!!

More 4th of July pics

Makenzie wondering how old she has to be before someone will play ball with her.

Come on, Kenzie, the staring is A LITTLE obvious!!

My sister, Kristin, and her daughter, Makenzie and our niece, Sophia.

Kristin's boyfriend, Jeff, and their daughter, Makenzie.

My mom and my sister, Jeannine, playing Corn Hole. Guess who won???

My family....Uncle Harry, Debbie, Grandma Moebs, Grandpa Moebs, Tim, and Carl

My brother, Scott (white shirt), and his fiance', Emily and Emily's brother

My grandparents.....Don't they look good??

Cody and Abigail

Keep your eyes ahead of you, Sophie!!

What do you see, Abby? What is in there???

No fence can hold Makenzie back!!!

Yea, Kenzie!!!

"The Kids" -- Derek holding Abby, Cody with his arm around Ella, Sophia sitting behind Makenzie

Watch out -- Sophie has the water gun!!

You are so cute, little Kenzie.

I just want to squeeze her cheeks!!

Ella not so sure just how to bring the scooter back up the driveway....

Oh come on! Someone pick up poor Abby!!

Yes Cody....you ARE cute!!

Sophia trying to scare her Aunt Jenn-Jenn....

Patriotic Abby

Cody and Derek taking a "breather"....

Ugh-oh Kenzie...I caught you!!

Poor little Ella tried hitting the ball several times with no luck until cousin Derek came to help her out!!

Isn't Abby just picture perfect???

Cody, you don't have your license....YET.

Fourth of July Family Picnic 2009

So another year has passed and another Fourth of July picnic. It's always so much fun to get together with the family and play and eat and swim and eat and talk and eat.....LOL....Aunt Debbie and Uncle Harry put on another great shindig at their place. The weather looked a little grim towards the morning hours with the light sprinkles and all but it cleared up nice and it was even warm enough for Cody to go in the pool....wasn't warm enough for Derek or myself, or anyone else for that matter. My two little nieces did dunk their legs in a time or two though....I saw some good CornHole games going. I think that is the name of the game. Pretty strange name though. My mom played Cody and Cody won by one shot. Derek then played my mom and my mom won that round. I didn't get a chance to play BUT I watched all the fun that my sisters, their husband and boyfriend, and my brother and his fiance' were having....And my mom got in the game pretty darn good too!! She was playing with a vengeance!! My dad was always good at that game! He'd always play with my Derek and make him money bets if Derek would win. Somehow Derek would always win -- not sure if it was because he really did or because my dad "allowed" him to win...LOL. Either way, Derek would always go home $5 richer than when he came....My dad hasn't been with us for five years now but my thoughts are with him and I'm sure everyone there missed him with all their hearts. His memory will live on. I love you Dad.