unorganized=tons of extra money spent

Has this ever happened to anyone? I went through my pantry and had double of a ton of things because either I was to lazy to look through everything and make sure I didn't have it before I went to the grocery store to get it or I couldn't see it because I was so unorganized.

Result I have two bottles of apple cider vinegar-sidenote does anyone know if you can use this past the expiration date?- Tons of half opened sacks of shredded coconut, nuts, anything you can think of. Yikes, while trying to cut back and save money on other things I just could have gone through my pantry and saved some on my grocery bill.

the one and the only BRIGHTON!!

It was bri's b-day yesterday. Wow he is 4 years old. I am amazed he is growing up so fast. Brighton is so smart, bright, energetic, and teaches me daily about what it means to be happy. When he got home from school I had some balloons for him and it was so cute. He said "Oh surprise balloons they are so beautiful. I am so excited!" How easily he is pleased. He probably repeated himself about 10 times. That means he is really excited because normally he only does it about 5 times.

But now as I have been debating whether or not to actually post this about brighton. I have felt this inner turmoil about announcing this as if it makes a difference but I really do feel that I should. About a year ago we had some tests ran on brighton. To me he was this bubbly, loveable 3 year old but he had some major problems as well. His speech was well behind the average and was not getting any better. If he got overstimulated he would just lose it, and when I mean lose it screaming and crying and nothing is going to make it better. He would also get so fixated on things that he could not let it go. He just wasn't progressing as a healthy child should. Well a therapist diagnosed him with PDD-NOS. I was so sad and heartbroken but at the same time I was relieved. For so long I had felt like I was doing something wrong. For those who don't know PDD-NOS is along the same lines as autism, it is a spectrum disorder meaning that every case is different but there are a lot of common symptoms similar to autism.

Looking back there have been a series of events that have been such blessings to our family. Such as when I was calling to see if he could get into some tests any sooner the secretary gave me a number of the special-ed program for preschools to get him on the waiting list. He was able to get into one really soon and it has made the biggest difference. My mom got started in teaching music together, and that has really helped him with transitioning and keeping calm in a highly stimulating enviorment. We are now going to take him to a DAN (defeat autism now) doctor-thanks to my wonderful sister in law- and I feel that this will really help him. Even though this has definetely been a struggle for our family the lord has blessed us and given me the strength to keep going. The only reason I am posting this is because I just didn't want it to be this big secret, but in no way does this make brighton any different. Wow this is a long post! I am normally not like this at all but I had a lot that needed to be said.

Goodbyes and floral design...

Goodbye jesse! He actually is already in australia I have just taken forever in posting this. I am going to miss this kid. He is so fun to hang out with and definetely keeps things interesting all the time. Brighton was very sad to see him go. Even if I am sad, I am happy for him as well.

Oh and did anyone notice anything about this picture? Yea matt is soo tan! I guess the weekly tanning really helps, just kidding. He is a tennis coach for the high school so he is out in the sun so much I always look so white next to him.

Milestones and setbacks.

So yesterday for the first day ever brighton ate oatmeal for breakfast!!!! Yay, seriously this kid only eats cereal or yogurt. I mean he will not eat eggs, pancakes, waffles, nothing. Not that it has been that bad, obviously because then I do not have to cook anything but cereal can get pretty expensive. Now he just ate the instant oatmeal which has a ton of added sugars but we are on our way to the rolled oats. Now it might not seem like that big of deal because hey its just oatmeal right? Well to me it means he willing to go outside of his normal which he has the hardest time with. Now with that good news here is another setback. Just when I think we are making headway brighton has another meltdown. I mean we had changed his normal routine all day then it came to lunch and I normally let him play outside but it was kind of cold and windy and so I said no. He lost it, yea I mean crying, screaming and loosing all sense of any ability to form a word. Oh its so frustrating, how do I make him understand? Well I didn't, I just caved. In this case I picked my battle and this was one I was willing to lose. The hardest part is it took at least another 45 minutes to get over it. Sometimes you just can't win.

The mall.

It was so fun on monday. We went to the mall and rode the carousel. Brighton LOVED it. He kept saying YEE-HAW, and up and down.

This is right before we started it, can you see that cheesy grin. He is getting to be so funny! I love when he is like this.

So nice playing outside!

Oh I have been missing this! seriously, it was so nice outside the kiddos were just lovin it.
Ez of course was eating everything in site. whether it was chalk or dirt he just has to put it in his mouth, yuck!

Of course I am always saying NO! Yes that is exactly what I look like.

Hopefully this good weather will last a few more days because man we are sick of cold weather around here!

Sadness

Do you ever feel like one look at someone else's struggles make you grateful yours. Read this blog http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=22. I am not sure how to make a link. I started bawling immediately. Jeez coupled with reading the book Night about the holocaust and this I have cried a lot today.