Underconstruction

Sorry for the ugly blog but its going to take me a little time to get my new blog up and running. Stay tuned please :-)

Creepy Factor.....

After some thought I have decided to tighten the security on the readership on my blog. I am not comfortable with everyone being able to see the boys and sharing in our world when they really don't have Rex and Riley's best interest in mind. So on that note if you would like to continue to read the blog please send me your email address so I can send you an invite with the password.

Love to all
Mary

Creepy Factor.....

After some thought I have decided to tighten the security on the readership on my blog. I am not comfortable with everyone being able to see the boys and sharing in our world when they really don't have Rex and Riley's best interest in mind.

This blog started as a way for me to share our world and specifically Riley's progress with the world and also to find some support and friendship from other families going through similar things. It makes me sad that I have been forced to go to a readership list instead of being able to share freely, but I either have to do this or stop the blog all together.


So on that note if you would like to continue to read the blog please send me your email address so I can send you an invite with the password.

You can find me at sassy_kibbe@hotmail.com

Love to all
Mary

Tball fun for all!

Rex has started tball and is loving it. Tonight he had a game and Grampa Tom was still in town so he had the joy of sitting through a tball game in 58 degree weather too. While Rex was playing ball Riley was busy entertaining the crowd on the sideline. Rex is playing ball with 3 other kids that he also played soccer with so he is getting to be pretty good friends with these kids. Riley is a great entertainer but especially so when he is in his comfort zone.

Icecream Treats

It has been raining on and off for most of the week. Rex badly needed to get out and run so while Justin took his dad to the Shock area football game the kids and I headed over to visit Kacey and the kids. We brought ice cream treats to share. Drumsticks have always been a big hit at our house and now they have these cute little snack size and are great for the little kids. Riley and Ella really enjoyed their treats and of course Kacey had to pull out the camera to record the fun. The big kids enjoyed the treats and the time playing as well. I'm pretty sure that Riley learned how to eat ice cream from his big brother. They looked a lot a like after they were done. Riley and Ella are getting really cute playing together. They have to stop for a lot of hugs and kisses.

Grampa's visit day 1

Grampa Tom is in town visiting and the boys are super excited to see him. Of course usually there is a box of goodies involved and today was no different. Rex and Riley both loved their new clothes and color wonder books. Riley is starting to get interested in coloring so it is perfect that he can't color every where with these markers. Gramma Debbie picked out perfect gifts for the boys. We'll check out the books before bed tonight.

YUMMY

Riley has been working really hard to learn to drink from an open cup. He has been doing really well with it and the last few days he has taken a yogurt smoothie from a big boy cup with no spills. Well this evening I got a little excited and gave him one of Rex's cup and filled it a quarter full. He didn't exactly dump it over his head but a good reminder that I shouldn't leave him by himself at the table. Nothing a little bath won't cure.

1st Grade HERE WE COME!!!

Friday was Rex's last day of kindergarten. He had such a great year. It amazes me just how much the cover in kindergarten. We started off the year a little shaky with a few tears shed but he quickly recovered and never slowed down. The first week of school Rex came home telling me that his teacher "makes me color ALL the time" but once he got in the routine he loved every minute. Amazingly he has excellent penmanship. That must be a genetic trait because his dad writes like he's using his feet. He is starting to read and is really getting interested in writing and spelling things out himself. It is so fun to see him really get excited about reading and writing. I've been a bit afraid that these things might take a back seat to his love of sports but they seem to be balancing out nicely.

Rex and I had a craft evening and made the vases to deliver his teacher's flowers. This is a much bigger deal for us than most since I'm must be the least craft person on earth. I found a super cute idea on another blog and off we went. We actually covered crystal lite containers with pencils and secured them with rubber bands. The picture showed them with these great sunflowers but Rex insisted we get pink roses. Mrs Theilman's favorite color is pink mom and this is my gift so I get to choose. My my my I have a bossy little man. It turned out super cute and his teachers loved their flowers. Rex is a bit sad to leave his teachers in kindergarten but he is very excited for first grade.

Relay for Life

My mom was a co chair for this year's Relay for Life for Lincoln County. For those of you who are familiar with Relay you understand just what a huge chore this was. Mom did an amazing job getting everyone involved and it was a huge success. They were able to involve teams from not only her small town but several of the surrounding towns. The raised in the neighborhood of 18K which is no small accomplishment for a community this size. My mom's family has been touched all to many times by cancer so this tends to become a family gathering as well. One of my cousins was up visiting from California so she and her family joined us. Cindy is a cancer survivor herself and her husband and daughter are huge Relay volunteers in their own community. This was a great event and here are the pictures that will tell the rest of the story.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thank you!

I wanted to take a moment and thank Ron and Christina for adding some drama to my blog. Nothing like drama to get the readers really tuned in and listening. I've had more hits and comments on my blog today than ever before. Who knew that watching a Signing Time video was such a hot button topic.

More importantly I need to thank them for reminding me that I have the most wonderful safety net of family and friends on earth. My Grammy June always said that if you have one truly great friend then you are blessed. WOW am I ever blessed.

Thank you for reminding me how wonderful my husband is. Justin showed me that not only does he have a fierce love for the three of us but he is willing to stand up and protect us from attack. Justin will never pretend to be perfect but don't EVER and I mean EVER question his love his boys. Yes did you catch that S, we do have two boys.

Thank you for reminding me that Kacey is as feisty as they come. God brought her into my life and I will forever been thankful! Our bond was instant and true. We share so much more than kiddos with extra chromosomes. Even our moms can agree that we are crazy and perfect friends. So much so that Kacey's mom even left a comment on my blog telling me how glad she was that Kacey and I had each other to lean on while raising our 4 kiddos. HEE HEE She's never commented on Kacey's blog over the last almost 3 years.

Thank you for reminding me that Angie and her mom both were the most wonderful and amazing childcare providers on earth. They set the bar high for any that may follow. I will never be able to repay Donna for the peace of mind she gave as I returned to work. Angie may be the only person that doesn't actually have a child with Down syndrome yet truly understands. She understands and that allows her to be a true friend. A friend I can count on, a friend I depend on and friend that will be honest and tell me when she doesn't understand.

Thank you for angering Becca to the point of commenting. When I reached out to my dear friend Christine because I was hurt and needed a friend I know she shared it with her little sister. Becca's post really demonstrated how smart and amazing she is. She is no longer the little sister. She is an adult with a child of her own and she truly knows the value of friends and family. I am so happy to be getting to know you Becca.


Thank you for inspiring Robin to comment as well. Robin is a wonderful mother to two beautiful boys and has so much to share with the world. I wish she would share more of the wisdom she has gained from raising a child with Autism.

Thank you for upsetting Grandma Debbie and the crew in Florida and Aunt Cheryl in Texas. Without being provoked by your hurtful attack they may have never actually learned how to comment on my blog. I'll be expecting to hear from you all a bit more regularly now.

Thank you for letting Libby display her intelligence and complete knowledge of child development. Not many have the her ability to craft a message like her. She has two of the most beautiful and wonderful girls on earth. They are both beautiful, intelligent and articulate.

Thank you for reminding me that my mom hurts when I hurt and celebrates when I celebrate. I learned how to be a good mom because my own mother is great. I take that back I learned how to be a great mom from her.

Thank you for asking for everyone to pray for our family. Please pray for patience and endurance as we raise our children in an ignorant world. Pray that we have an open heart and will be able to listen to the apology when it comes. Pray that my boys continue to grow strong and healthy.

Thank you again for reminding me that I have an amazing group of family and friends and will always be there to hold me up. This is a group that I used to think you and Christina were in. I think that is why this has all seemed to hurtful and mean. I've never in all my life had someone I thought was my friend be so vicious and hateful. Please take this as your cue to exit our lives permanently and yes, that includes lurking on the blog. I wish you two the best and hope this baby bring you the joy and happiness that every parent deserves.

I took this video of Riley watching Signing Times. It is his absolute favorite and pretty much only thing he will pay any attention to on the TV. It usually buys us a few minutes of freedom where we know just where he will be. As you can see he is glued to it. I am totally and completely amazed at how many signs he has picked up just from the videos. He was signing something at me the other day and after looking it up I discovered he was saying school. Enjoy!