The Best Pop

My dad came to visit and help us out while my mom was recovering from some post surgery complications. The kids think he's the best -- and so do I!

Wiggle Your Ears

can you?...

Question of the Day...

Is it just me, or do all 4.5 year olds answer every statement you make with a question?

Example:

Me: "Jackson, you need to get in the car."
Jackson: "Car?"
Me: "Yes, now."
Jackson: "Now?"
Me: "Yes, now, we need to get going."
Jackson: "Going?"

See the pattern? Or should I say the VERY IRRITATING pattern? What is that??!!

Repeat after me ... "I am so blessed, I am so blessed, I am ..."

New Lens

A while back I bought myself a new DSLR -- the Canon XSi-- and love it. I'd been jealous though of some friends pictures they were taking that just had the "it" factor that mine didn't. Found out it's the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II - which I bought, and LOVE. Take a look...

Dog Boy

really - he's calling himself that...

Happy Holidays!

Well, as Jackson put it when he saw the big pile of presents this morning -- "I've been good! I've been good!". I felt guilty for about 2 seconds - as though I'd told him Santa might not come so many times, that he was actually doubting this morning that there would really be anything there...hmmm - maybe he gets the "don't be bad" thing after all ;-)

Here are a few pics from this morning, and Merry Christmas (and Happy Holidays), to all!

Christmas w/ Pop & Nana

Got Jackson a new big boy Bicycle!

And I Wonder Why...

We Can't Get Rid of the STREP THROAT!!

Ethen Goes To School!

Well - it's happened...both boys are now officially in "school" -- it's a moment I can't believe has come -- I actually cried today just realizing how far Ethen has come in the last year...I'm so guarded with him, but today was truly a day to be proud!

Jackson is in a public school now, in a Pre-K program which every 4 year old in Georgia has access to.

Today, Ethen started going to the same church pre-school program that Jackson went to for the 2 years before this. I had planned on having Ethen start in September with all of the other kids, but he had such a rough summer -- in and out of the hospital roughly 4x, and was very unstable from a neurological perspective. But, he's done so well over the last 3 months, it was time to let him go!

So he eased into it today, staying for about 1.5 hours (the program is about 4 hours daily), and did great! He rejected the idea of having his hand painted for an art project, but seemed to do well with the other kids, and being away from us.

So, he'll go Monday and Wednesday morning until the end of March when he will transition to the public school program as part of the No Child Left Behind act which allows for children 3 and up with special needs to begin getting public education as opposed to waiting until Pre-K.

Here's a pic at school today -- Ethen very much enjoyed emptying the book shelf !!

Jackson Meets A Wiggle

Jackson and I made our 3rd annual trip to see The Wiggle's LIVE yesterday! He had a blast - more so than any of the past years - he rocked out the whole time. I'm pretty sure if the guy next to him could have move, he would have ;-) He sang every song at the top of his lungs, and danced and stomped for 1.5 hours straight -- it was great, and according to his teachers, he did not stop talking about it all day at school -- unfortunately, this weeks letter is "M", so "Wiggle's" didn't quite fit ;-)

He also got to have a close encounter with The Wiggle named "Jeff" -- he walked right up to Jackson while they were working the audience -- you should have seen Jackson's face once he turned around to me -- it was priceless.

Introducing the very, very, very, very early Christmas present -- Jorgie!

We went on a caper this Saturday to pick up Jackson's early Christmas present -- little Miss Jorgie! Jackson was VERY surprise, and is still (as of this moment) very much in love :-)

She's a sweetie! Katie has somewhat decided she can stay, Maggie on the other hand -- is terrified of her -- go figure. Maggie does seem to be warming up to her though after she figured out the puppy came with liverwurst treats.

Once we were almost there (the puppy was in Jackson, GA -- about 1.5 hours away), I gave Jackson 3 small "clues" (yes, he's a Blue's Clue's fanatic) to help him figure out what his gift was. It was priceless -- take a look!

Clue #1

Clue #2

Clue #3

Get Out & VOTE!!

Everyone has the right to choose their own candidate -- here's a plug for my own...

Whoever your candidate is, get out there & VOTE!!

Halloween 2008

little dog, and a little lion...

Seizures? NOPE!

Today is

seizure free day 85

for Mr. Ethen T. Metz!

So proud!!

Surprise! It's A Girl!!

Insanity has officially set in....we are about to add a beautiful 6 week old baby girl to the clan! Take a look...

Her name will be Jorgie, and she's a complete SURPRISE for Jackson (so DON"T SAY ANYTHING if you should talk to him) -- an early Xmas present from his Mama. We'll pick her up on November 8th when she'll turn 6 weeks (she was born end of September). She's a dapple Dachshund - just like our little Katy.

I can't wait to see his face!!