AREA Special Olympics

It started out a VERY windy and chilly day.

Here is the line up of the AREA athletes and their coaches/family during the Opening Ceremonies.

Sahara was the photographer and took a close up of Canyon, mom, and Mrs. Wood.

First event was the Tennis Ball Toss. I don't think he did as well as last year. We have a month to improve for State.

He did get 2nd place tho :)

Right after the ribbons were given out for the Tennis Ball Toss, he was up for the Standing Long Jump. I got 2 pictures that almost look identical. In the air!!

He definitely did not jump as far as last year, but no worries!!!!, he got ALL the girls! The UCA Cheerleaders are the helpers during AREA and he did not miss a single one for a hug :)

Even though in his age group, he got last place, which was 4th, he was the biggest winner!

After the Ribbons, we went to see 'Morris' (Melanie), his ex-aide / ex-waiver person

Then the 5 of us headed to Logan's Roadhouse for lunch.

We ordered a huge meal and took some home with us.

While waiting for our food, we had some camera fun. How many Jared's does one girl need???

(didn't come out perfect, Jared #3 is missing his guts!)

On the way home, Canyon crashed out in the back seat with Sahara and Jared.

STATE is next month :)

Stay tuned.....

That time of year is here again!

We are heading to Canyon's Special Olympics bright and early in the morning. Pictures soon to follow :)

Dancin' and sandwich makin'

The program Canyon is in to have a waiver worker, had a dance for the kids. Canyon was a dancing fool.

Mom and Canyon have a slow dance.

Sahara dances with Shanika.

Canyon gets down with Barbara, the program coordinator.

He certainly dances to the beat of his own drum!

[video was too long post :(]

We headed straight to the Spring Fling after we visited Jared at WORK :)

Here he is: Just 1 hour into his very first day attempting to put together Sahara's order.

His shirt says: FLAVOR-rific!

hahaha.

Sahara was disappointed that this was all we saw of Jared today.

Jared-Saturdays might just be a thing of the past.

He's a workin man now :)

Very warm day :)

Got up near 90 today. The kids enjoyed the trampoline in the evening JUST after eating pizza. I was afraid we might have to get the hose out if the pizza started to come back up. hahaha

The extra dog, the Beagle, is a stray and the dog catcher will be called tomorrow if she's still here. Very sweet, but I don't want another one. Plus, I might have a Blue Weimaraner and a Boxer to find homes for. They seemed to be 'left' at a house Mila and I went to see that was empty. We are checking with the real estate office.

Baseball

Tried to get some decent pictures of Jared and Jordan's game this week. It was a little warmer, but still chilly. They lost big-time but my video of the ONLY run their team made [JARED :)] was so shaky. I need to remember the tripod for that.

Field Trip Day

Canyon's class went to the State Capital this week. His teacher took some pictures and e-mailed them to me :)

Thanks Tammie :)

The Great Seal of Arkansas

CSI NY Clemente Bornacelli especial feature

Some of Clemente's art was in an episode of CSI NY. Here is a little youtube video about it :)

A Spring Break trip

Since our Spring Break has mostly consisted of things we had to get done. I woke up in the morning and decided, "we should go to the zoo today!" Of course Jared was coming with us :) so we had to wait until his baseball practice was over. That was good though because I really needed to get tires for the truck. $650 later and a little past noon, we headed to Little Rock.

The line to get in looked like Disneyland! But it moved quickly.

We snacked in the truck on the way there but had to eat at the African Cafe at the zoo around 2:00 for a late lunch. Who would have guessed that a hamburger, kids: chicken nugget meal, sandwich, mini pizza and a couple drinks would have cost $35! Food can not be brought in anymore so in the future...eat BEFORE we go!

These pictures were outside the African Cafe.

A little chilly today. This guy had the right idea :)

I don't know what they were looking at, but last time we were here Canyon's head did not even come close to the top of the wall. Now he can look over :)

These bears were having a grand time digging up roots to eat. It looks like they are pretty starved for food doesn't it? haha

New penguin exhibit. Not that grand. Not that impressive. Only picture with mom in it.

It is so hard to get Canyon to smile with eyes.

Jared and Sahara watching the giraffes. They were having a pushing contest. It was funny to watch and it looked like they were trying to trip each other.

After the zoo, we hit the mall. We managed to not buy anything anywhere except the food we ate and our way in and still blew $100 today. The zoo use to be a cheap trip; nothing is inexpensive anymore but we had a good time.

MoNsTeR strawberries

This is one of 3 monster strawberries we had in our pack. They could only fit in a few smaller ones around them. It actually had 6 top stems! Rounded out it was about the size of a tennis ball!

New toy :)

Dawn, the teacher I work with, gave us her trampoline. It's probably 25 years old, but as long as the frame is still holding, all parts can be replaced. The jump surface is rather new, the springs are kind of rusty...but Canyon LOVES it :) Which is good because he has gone from 65 lbs to 97 lbs in 1 year!

The only down side, very time you get off you are covered in black!

The white board

With Spring Break half way over, we have accomplished a lot that was on the white board. However for every thing we check off, we add 2 more things!

My truck is in the shop getting new axle seals and then it goes for new tires.

Sahara and I got hair cuts. I chopped 8 inches off of mine.

Sahara's prom dress has been purchased :) Its a size 1/2 and needs a tad bit of altering and a little embellishments. Shouldn't be much of a big deal or too expensive to do. I'd even attempt to do it but I think I want a pro to make it just right.

A friend donated her trampoline and we have primered the frames. Will most likely get it put up this afternoon.

Winter clothes have been put away and summer clothes brought out.

1st mow of the year has been done (let my sinus attacks begin!)

Some spring cleaning has been started, but not much because that can be done anytime. hahaha, if it gets done!

Thats about what we've done.

Still on the list is:

Sahara going for the driving part of her permit.

The tires on the truck.

Sahara's DNA project.

Homework for Misty.

Pay personal property taxes.

Register for possible summer and for sure fall classes.

More spring cleaning. (notice how cleaning comes last??? hahaha)

I think all will be done except the registering for classes because I think they are also closed for Spring Break.

Our Spring Break Board

Not very clear - first column is things that need to be done in the house. (so far)
Second column is appointments and other things that need to be done. (so far)

It's Official!!!

Spring Break has SpRuNg!!!

Baseball is back, baby!

For the big boys anyway, Canyon's baseball won't start till May.

And even though it looks like it's baseball weather here.....

It's really cold and windy!

This is what the spectators looked like.

Susan ^ Jared's mom :)

GROUNDED!

Malaki is such a bad boy. We thought we were gonna get to bed early last night. But after letting Malaki out to potty before being put in his create, he decided not to come home. He does NOT listen to being called or come to his name. He sees and hears you, turns to look at you, then takes off in the opposite direction. We we left the light on and waited another hour and still no sign of him so we went to bed. He was yipping at the door this morning, but he is banished to the runner till Sunday now.

:( Nana is NOT happy with that boy :(

A new adventure....Sahara got her drivers permit!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Another snow day

8-12 inches of snow in the area (8 at our house as far as we could measure) left schools and businesses closed for 2 days and quite a few today as well. Luckily for Pottsville and Russellville students, this day was all ready a scheduled off day so they will not have to make it up.

Here is Canyon (Malaki on the right of him) walking down the road in front of our house.

Sahara takes good snow pictures :)

Attempting a snow angel. It looked great but too blinding to get a picture of.

The day after these pictures, we ventured out for lunch and to rent a movie. Roads where not clear but not too slippery. Jared's mom decided to let him come to visit (surprising!) He called about 20 minutes later, in the ditch. Shaken but not hurt, him or his truck, and someone else beat us to the rescue. All we saw when we got there was that he was facing the wrong way. Luckily no other vehicles around, or people, or telephone poles, or mailboxes. ....He said he slid one way and tried to correct it. Slid the other way and tried to correct it. Then did a 180 and it stopped in the ditch. I followed him back to our house. 25 in a 50! I think it got his attention!

Super Bowl 2011

Awwwww! I got a kissy~kissy picture.

Of course, our pick didn't win, but it was a good game.

Baseball Sign ups....

...were today. This year there will be 3 levels of teams and Canyon was placed on the higher and older level. We'll see how it goes, but I think he will do fine.