Crazy weather...

Today's weather was bizarre to put it mildly.  Last night it rained a ton...Zach and I had a slumber party...it was the first since Brandon has been home and a nice treat...he had no school today so we picked last night as a big treat for him.  Brandon got to sleep in his bed and he was with me and Sally...with his noise machine on I usually don't hear much outside the house, but I heard the wind and rain all night long.  I woke up today and knew it was cold and I thought we would see rain since it was so cloudy...Well I waited to go run errands hoping it would warm up...mistake...as I was about ready to go, I noticed it looked like snow outside...I thought for sure I was wrong...well I wasn't.  So errands out...It was snowing for awhile but nothing stuck...with all the rain over the past three days I wasn't surprised....it was just cold and windy all the rest of the day...30 mile an hour sustained winds and then gusts over 40....not fun, so we didn't venture out.  Zach had a "panjama" day and Erin was a TV junkie...mad as hell at bedtime because I thinks he felt like she got to do nothing all day.  Funny how when we are little a day at home doing nothing sucks...as we get bigger it really sinks in as something fun.  

I got a rare chance to chat with one of my best friends on the phone today, my college friend and roommate Kelly....she is awesome!  Her daughter and Erin are only a month apart in age...I wish we lived closer so Erin and Leeah could play.  Kelly knows me well and is so easy to talk to...I miss her a lot.  Out of all the friends I made in college she is the one I valued the most and I knew I would be friends with forever.  It was great to catch up...we need to do that more!!!!

I made a new soup for dinner tonight...so cold that soup was perfect. It was called a summer minestrone.  It was easy and tasty.   I have a great soup cook book that I got it from...yummy and leftovers went in the freezer!  

Brandon goes TDY to long beach tomorrow through Thursday...after a 4 month deployment it is really nothing to whimper about, but I will miss him and the kids will really miss him.  But we have a fun 4 day weekend to look forward to...

Zach's behavioral therapist is coming Friday AM to go over some things with me, so he will go to school and she will come sit with me while he is gone...He and Brandon are off Monday...so we hope to have a fun weekend.  

Not much else to report...I need to get off to bed early tonight...I am pooped. 

Photo fun...

Just a few photos of the kids that I wasnted to post...The first is Erin in time out...actually the second picture is her sitting in time out the first one is her being told she was done. She is a wild one...think she might be there a lot...she knew right where to go when I told her...she walked over and sat on her own...actually super cute. For any of you that watch Jon and Kate plus 8 on TLC I often think of her as a mix of Leah and Alexis in a lot of ways.

Erin enjoyed the snacks at the super bowl the most...not sure if she even noticed that the game was on, she loved the snacks!

Zach and I had fun hanging outside the other day...blew bubbles, played, giggled...just some cute photos of that time...

He and Sally have always been the best of plas. I swear she has been the best thing I never wanted...I love that damn dog. The kids adore her...best of all she is awesome with them. God Bless Sister Sally...

No big plans for the weekend...Zach has a day off Monday, I have no idea why. The weather is rainy, cold and overcast...yuck. The behaviorist finally showed up last night close to 9...I did feel bad for her as she drove in awful weather and came from over an hour away. She was nice, informative and helpful. Hopefully we will get a lot out of this expereince from her and she can guide us in ways we need. She will be back Friday AM while he is at school to go over techniques with me. It is like having super nanny I think...a lot of the issues are based on behaviors that we have allowed or not known how to control. Frankly if they are controllable. She talked to us about our concerns and issues and I think she has a good grasp on what we need to do. I hope we have time to get it done. She encouraged us to contact the county in TX and get things transfered as soon as we have a move date...I am hopeful...I know I have a lot of work to do in this area. I am not placing blame, but I am the main care taker of Zach and have been. A lot of things he does is a result of how I parent and what I have chosen to ignore, etc. So, I have my work cut out for me. I owe it to him to do the best I can to be strong and not give in...that is the hardest with him. He is stuborn and smart...I have to have will power to stick to the plan and see it through....

I still haven't gotten to far in my book club book, People of the Book...need to knock it out and be done so I can move on to a fun book I have waiting in my stack of books. I also need to get my scrapbooking going...so far behind on that it isn't funny. Oh I just have so much to do on my to do list...ebay, thrift store, clean out...just a ton...never ending it feels like...

Okay...off for now...lunch at the BX for the kids...such excitement I tell you. :)

Friday...

Well this ends up being a three day weekend for us with Zach...not sure why...next week he will also have a Monday off...His school in Boron amazes me with the amount of days off....the whole week for Thanksgiving?  Oh well.  We had nothing planned this weekend, but I think next weekend we will do an escape from Edwards.  Too short of notice to go anywhere too exciting...but I am sure we can think of something fun.  It will just be nice to get away.  Brandon has a 4 day weekend that one, so we can head out of here after Zach gets back from school Friday AM...Not sure...he has a party planned that day from a child at his Palmdale school...I am torn, but leaning toward an escape!

Today he is off on his white van for school...I am taking Erin to Starbucks to meet a friend at 9, so I have to run and shower quick....then we will most likely come back here to play so that the kids can run around and I am here for the white van to drop off Zachary.  Tonight we meet the behaviorist.  She couldn't rearrange her schedule to fit us in next week, but wanted to get the ball rolling...I like that.  She doesn't need to meet Zach since this is more for her to get info from us and start making some therapy and treatment plans.  She will be here around 7:30 tonight...not my first choice to meet with her, but after thinking about the kids will be down and I can probably talk to her without interruption that way.  I have a list started of things with Zach I am most concerned about and behaviors I want to work on first...so we will see if she thinks that is good...I am just so excited...I feel like my very own super nanny is coming....I will be that freak that hugs her and gushes about how much I have waited for her...only to find out that most of his issues are due to me, but that is okay...we all have things we can learn.

I am trying to be more in the Valentine spirit this year...I usually hate this holiday with a passion and avoid it...But this year with kids I thought I would try to enjoy it.  I bought little gifts from the $ aisle at Target and will make cookies with them on Tuesday....Then Zach can bring them to school Wednesday and Thursday...I got him gift bags and valentines, also from the $ aisle.  Look at my shopping!!!!  

Speaking of that....I did so well yesterday in town. I made an even exchange at Kohl's for something I needed...I looked around and left with nothing extra.  Went to Target to return things, got the $ valentines and gift bags and one Valentine card.  Went to Walmart and got Zach's burritos he loves, a few items that we needed in the bathroom and then found a clearance game I have been looking for, Monopoly for kids...so that will go in the b-day pile for him.  So excited.  I had planned to walk, but there was a cold front moving in and rain on the way...the wind was 40 plus miles an hour....so I skipped the windy walk.  So I did well on the shopping and hope I can continue...

No diet coke now since I got back from NC....no soda in fact.  Yeah!  

Organized my scrapbook stuff the other day and hope to get some pages done this weekend if I can...I am so far behind!!!!  

I am off to get ready...hope everyone has a great Friday!!!

Facebook Fiasco - Inquiring minds want to know..

Okay so I had two requests for my facebook fiasco story to be shared, so here it is for all of you that care.  It is quite pathetic, but I actually have a good friend who had the same thing happen to her last month, so I am not feeling as pathetic. 

I went to a small private school as most of you know....my class had around 55 people give or take in it and so I was close with the grades around me as well.  I dated someone 2 years below me my senior year...I also had a few friends in that class.  One was a guy, we will call, B.A.  His brother was in my grade, but they were NOT close.  He and I became good friends, talked often and really had a great time together. We had a computer class together.  Well he ended up liking me, a lot. I broke up with Ben during that year and I think B.A. always hoped I would date him. He was great on paper, but the feelings weren't there for me.  I was always honest with him and tried never to get his hopes up.  A few years later I saw him while back in NC...at this time I was no longer with Ben and actually a few short weeks away from being engaged to Brandon.  We hung out, had dinner, but in the end if he liked me, he never had the courage to act on it.  I tried to stay in touch, but it didn't happen.  A few years back a boy in his class passed away and it got me to thinking about how short life is, wonder if he is okay, etc. I contacted his brother and got his email...wrote him and nothing.  

Well a few nights ago, last Thursday to be exact...I was instant messaging my friend Mike on Facebook and he told me that B.A. was now on there...I sent a friend request and honestly thought he would ignore me.  The nice things about Facebook is you can ignore people and not be friends with them if you so choose...well he accepted.  I sent him a short note and said hi, it was good to see him on there, etc.  He wrote a short note back quickly after.  So I then sent the standard FB note after not seeing someone in 15 years...How are you, how long have you been married, how long have you lived where you do, etc.  I asked I think 4-5 questions, very basic....said a few nice compliments and teased him that hopefully now with technology we could keep in touch...very sarcastic Susan.  Well the next time I checked that evening, his name wasn't on my friend list, his message to me was there, but name was a different color and no photo...I tried to search him and couldn't find him....went to Mike's page and couldn't see him on there either...very odd.  I told Brandon and he looked on my account to no avail...then got on his and found him right away.  So then we knew...I had been BLOCKED.  What the heck?  Really?  Seriously?  Are we still in high school?  I asked a few stupid questions and happened to tease him about staying in touch and I get that?  So he accessed my photos, my info and then blocks me when he so chooses...why ever befriend me?   Was it his wife or him that had the issue?  So then yesterday Brandon and I looked on Brandon's account again to see if we could find him and he had blocked Brandon...I had told Mike what happened and I assume Mike told him and there you go.  Okay....now I know the guy is nuts.  As problematic as my relationship with Ben was, I have NO regrets that I dated him in high school and not B.A.  

So that is my facebook fiasco.  I was blocked.  At first I felt like I must be a stalker, but now I have seen the error of my ways...he was nuts, moody and broody in high school and I guess he still is now as an adult.  So sad that something as innocent as facebook is now a malicious tool to get back at someone 15 years later for not reciprocating a crush...honestly!  

There you have it April and Becky... 

February already...where did January go?

Wow....it feels like January got by me this year....I can't believe it is February!

I had a great birthday week and weekend....Brandon and I went out to Claim Jumper in Palmdale Friday night...just opened here recently and it was good...lots of food, so glad I went hungry.  Then we wanted to see a movie, but had a hard time decided...nothing we  wanted to see was on until a later showing...so we went to Barnes and Noble and looked around...I got some books and got to spend my gift cards while there (b-day gifts).  I bought two classics...one I have read and love, Little Women and one I haven't...Anna Karenina.  Hoping to read a few more classics.  I also got the new Wally Lamb book...had been eyeing and decided it was a good birthday gift...Brandon even walked away with a book....We then went to watch Revolutionary Road. I love Kate Winslet and Leo is easy on the eyes and a good actor....very good movie, good acting, etc....but a dark and intense film.  It isn't my favorite.  I had wanted to see the romantic comedy, "He's not that into you", but it wasn't out yet....oh well. It was a fun night and I am glad we had a date, time together and a chance to enjoy ourselves.

Saturday was a good day, nothing too big or exciting went on around here.  Sunday I got a treat and went to see Twilight with my friend Erin....she and I read the series while Brandon was gone. It was better than I had expected it to be...I don't love seeing movies of books I have read....I get irritated when they break from the book and move the story along at a different pace...but I liked it. Overall it was good and I look forward to seeing the adaptations on the next 3 novels on film and how they pull it all off.  

We had Erin and her husband over for the super bowl last night and it was a good night of fun and chatting...They are great.  The kids both have yucky noses and don't feel 100%.  I hate that, but it is so part of this time of year and just kind of expected.  

Tomorrow will not be a great day...our power is being turned off from 8-4 so they work on things in our housing area...still tons of construction....so done with it!  I am not happy to think of possible food spoiling and the general ass pain of having two kids home and no power...luckily Zach has school in town in the AM and we don't get home until 1 most days...I am contemplating taking Erin with me so the other Erin doesn't have to keep her at her house all morning.  We will see. Either way it is still a pain, but survivable.  

More to write later, but for now that is it...just a quick recap.  Been stewing over an issues on facebook all weekend and just now decided to get over and not even blog about it...not worth my effort...moving on!!!  

Off to cuddle my snotty kids...snotty in the literal sense!

More birthday photos...

Here are a few more b-day photos for your viewing pleasure. :)
Miss Erin snacking on an apple awaiting the festivities...

My beautiful eddible arrangement bouquet. I told Brandon I didn't want him to waste money on flowers...they are so expensive and we live far away from places that we can get them cheaper...every year he orders me flowers and they are awful and super expensive..so this year I got a bouquet of fruit. Super cute and yummy!

Zach putting the decorations on the cake...

Me and all my candles...

Check out the smoke...all 32 with one try...ALMOST set off the smoke detectors, but it was worth it...and my cake was super yummy!

That's all from here tonight...off on a date tomorrow night with my husband...will share more info over the weekend of life here!

Birthday...

Ah Birthday day....and it was a good day. I loved and appreciated all my notes, emails and calls...it meant a lot!
Quick photos before I get to bed...
Zach and Brandon made a cake for me today...
Erin watched on and was quite interested in the batter...
Zach trying it out....

The bakers....

Me heading off for my walk with Sally...a nice treat during the week.

The birthday girl...hard to believe I am 32...where have the years gone?!?

Birthday Eve...

Ah....Birthday time....for anyone that knows me, you know I really like my birthday.  Call me selfish, I don't care, I like my day.  I have no issues with growing older...maybe that is because I still get carded any time I order an alcoholic drink.  I really never think about that part, just that I am here another year, life is good and it is my day to be selfish and celebrate me...honestly isn't that what is cool about birthdays...they are a day all about the celebration of being alive and being you.  

So my 32nd birthday is almost here...wow...32!  I can't believe it really.  I feel very blessed looking around this year at my two beautiful children, having my husband home, a wonderful family of fantastic parents and sister and some amazing friends.  I have been given 32 years to live and love...that to me is a lot to celebrate right there.

No big plans for the actual day...Zach has school in the AM and speech tomorrow night. I might pick up some yummy sushi on the way home. We are going on a date Friday though, so that will be nice...something we don't do nearly enough.  I think dinner and a movie....

Got my hair cut yesterday and as always love it and the sassy short bob!

Had a rough afternoon with Zach...I hate those.  We finally got the call from Kern regional center that he was approved for behavioral therapy...that almost took an Act of congress...We went to Bakersfield in July, had someone finally come out to the house in September and now get the call he is approved and waiting now to have them set up appointments...he was offered 70 hours of ABA therapy.  It is great news and will help when we move to show his needs, but I am so irritated it took his long.   We have been asking about behavioral therapy since he got diagnosed...we have been given the runaround and now hopefully he get some help before we leave and continue in TX. 

I am now two weeks into my no soda adventure...I am so proud of myself.  I have been a soda addict forever...I am still indulging myself with a cup of coffee each AM....it is my thing and I am not giving it up right now. But for anyone that knows me well...Kelly, my college roommate...I used to drink soda like it was going out of style...I am glad that I have made this change and I am excited to see how it affects how I feel and look.  

Brandon flew tonight...Zach was in bed at 6:40....Erin an hour later...So I am hanging out and enjoying the down time...it is nice.  

Off to bed soon and awaken on my day...

Happy birthday to me and to my friends that share my day....Tiffany's daughter Tayla...Mike Long and my dear sweet Sena.  

lots to do...

I have been cleaning out like a mad woman around here...I have put a ton on ebay and sold a decent amount...a few dollars here and there, nothing note worthy. I took a bunch of items to Goodwill Tuesday and that was great to unload...I then took a few bags to thrift store today on base only to be told that they aren't taking children's toys or clothes right now because of national recalls...what? Since when did that happen. I wasn't happy. I took both my kids in the rain, hauling bags of stuff I had to only haul back to the car...not fun. So now I guess I will try to sell some of the smaller things on ebay and the rest will have to go to Goodwill...Shoot!

Zach apparently had a great day at school until playground time...then he aggressively hugged a friend and knocked him down...had a time out...amazingly I got most of this from him. He came home and told me he got a sticker, it was orange, but it fell off in the van...then he said he had a good day. I asked what he did...he told me I played, then I had time out, I made Dominic cry. I called his teacher, who is a sub while his real teacher is on maternity leave...she told me the story and said he is a great boy and super smart, but has been hugging very aggressively lately. He does it with Erin and now apparently at school...I think I know how it started, but need to figure out how to stop it. He has been having trouble with focus too and spending more time doing STIM behavior than he usually does...self stimulatory behavior associated with autism. He is normally able to contain it to a few times a day in private or be told not to and stop...now he will stop and then we catch him doing it again later...frustrating to say the least...

On the phone today with schools in San Antonio just trying to get a feel for how their systems work, programs they have, how they handle kids with special needs etc...basically we will need to figure out where we are living first...Not sure I want to buy, but we can actually afford a house in TX. Renting might be an option, but not sure....living on base, might be an option, not sure...all of that I need to do more research on...

Started my new book club book, "People of the Book".  Excited to read something by this author...Geraldine Brooks...read a book of hers years ago and really liked it, so happy to read this one.  I enjoyed book club and discussing a book with people...Excited to do it again!

I am so thankful for the feedback from everyone on the move. We are very excited. We feel like this move will benefit the family as a whole and Zach in particular better than other choices and options out there for us. He will be in better schools with more services, have more options for therapies, children's activities...things for miss Erin!!! Things even for me. So we are excited at the possibilities and what we will be able to give to our kids for the time we are there...thank you for all the love and support...it means a lot to me!!!!

16 Random things...about me!

I saw this on my friend Kelley's blog, so I figured I would give it a go...List 16 random things about me, you may or may not know...I do have to keep it PG...the parents read this! :)

1. While pregnant with Zachary I literally would get sick at the sight of pizza hut meat lover pizza adds...all meat products were a no for several months, namely pot roast, brisket, all the TX specials I was around...I still can't eat either of those things almost 5 years later.

2. I have always wished I was smarter and could have gone to Duke for college...GO DUKE!

3. I have lived in 7 states...too many houses to count in my life, but since being married, 6.

4. I have been married twice...don't freak out...both times to Brandon...Got married January 9th 2000 a few months before the March 18, 2000 wedding...sorry to anyone that is reading this now and angry...we had reasons based on the AF's decision to move Brandon to Idaho for several months before pilot training...logistics of getting my things there with his meant they had to be from one household. My health insurance ran out when I graduated college also...we could only apply for base housing if married...the list goes on...got married in Vegas...super cheesy wedding and we have the video proof!

5. Won 500 lbs of horse feed once at a horse show....sadly at the time I was there to watch a friend of mine compete and didn't own a horse of my own.

6. Goes with number 5...I rode horses for about 4 years...loved it and always wish to own my own horse one day...

7. I hate clowns and umpa loompas...is that a correct spelling...just don't like either, enough said.

8. Fell down an escalator when I was 5 at Hanes Mall...I still am a bit timid getting on them.

9. I am scared of heights...more of edges I think, but seriously start to sweat, shake and overall get impaired at the thought.

10. I Love ebay!!! I think it is the best thing...I love selling things that I don't use anymore...like a garage sale online all the time...it rocks!

11. My biggest pre teen crush was Kirk Cameron....then I moved onto the bad boys and was in love with Christian Slater...still have eyes for him today!!!

12. I named my dog Sally after Charlie Brown's sister Sally...I have a snoopy love and had to give her a name from that....I have had a snoopy since I was 5 that is still part of my life....no comments from the "peanut" gallery (pun intended).

13. I was born in Woodland, CA...so Erin and I are both CA girls...only lived there for a few months, so I usually refer to NC as where I grew up and sometimes slip and say born and raised.

14. I still get carded when ordered a drink at any restaurant or bar!

15. I am totally obsessed with technology like my computer (facebook, ebay, my blog) and my DVR...watching my favorite TV shows when I want...but I can't do diddly with my cell phone, even keep it charged is a struggle.

16. I am MOVING to SAN ANTONIO in JUNE!!!!!!!!
I saved the best for last...Brandon will be working at Randolph AFB...non flying staff job for 2-3 years. We will move sometime in June...we are pretty excited and ready to live in a real city with so many resources for the kids, our family and especially Zachary...The request went through with no issues, so we are heading where the stars are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas...