I know it's been forever...

But this month has just been insanely busy.

Between the twins' birthday and then all the stuff that gets put off during the holidays and then all the stuff that got put off due to the kids' birthdays I haven't had two minutes to rub together!

Okay, so where were we?

I'll start with the oldest kid at home: James

James got invited to his first birthday party (think I posted that) and then a second one within a week. Then it was Cory & Darby's birthday so he really got a crash course in what a birthday was. We've had at least 20 discussions about it. We didn't celebrate his birthday because Cory, Darby & I were still in Europe last year. (James & Bruno got home on March 1st, we got home on the 5th, and James' birthday was the 4th, so we didn't do anything at all).

Anyway, we had some serious regressions issues. He seems to be coming back around, but it's been tough. Some fits and temper tantrums at school (I was so lucky to get to witness one as I walked into his room Tuesday) that we had to completley re-think strategies so we could stop this immediately. Seems he really scared one of his friends, too, by throwing pencils. All over having to practice his letters. shees. His paraeducator tries to be more of a friend than an authoritive figure, and it's a very hard line to balance on. James needs to attach and trust, but he also can't be in charge. So, we met as a team on Friday and worked up new ideas and I really think we'll see a turn-around.

Darby...oh, man! She's cooking now! School FINALLY procured a voice-output device for her (it's an obsolete loaner, but it's the start and I'm so jazzed). We've been pushing for this for well over a year. She is running with this thing (meaning doing incredibly well!). She told off her special educator the other day (LOL) by telling her "I'm all done, I don't like this!" when the teacher tried to make her do something different with the computer. She's playing more and more new games, seeking out interactions from both adults & kids, managing lots more classroom activities appropriately, you name it. She's just doing awesome!

Cory. What isn't there going on in Cory's life? He's so on top of things academically, I can't believe how well he's reading. He's so into hockey right now too, he's trying to talk us into building a rink in the front yard. He had a game today and stopped a bunch of goals while he was on goalie and really worked the rink while he was on offense. I swear, he's the most active, smart, funny kid...he lights up a room and has more patience for his sister & brother than I do (and I'm the one that's SUPPOSED to!)

Progress reports for the kids are due home tomorrow. James' team told me that he is scoring above average. Can you believe this? He is soaking in the academics like there is no tomorrow. His language is great, he's getting behind ideas now like "between, before, etc.". We're working hard now on him learning about time, days of the week, etc. Math seems to be his strongest point, he HATES doing his letters (the fit I witnessed was practicing writing), he has an awesome imagination, and we're looking to put him into a drama class when it starts up.

Oh, forgot to mention, Cory starts Lacrosse next week, James starts a new gymnastics program (separate from his dance). So, both boys have 2 activities a week. Wow, too bad no one will help me and get them scheduled on the same day.

We hired a new PCA for Darby and I think she's going to last a long time. She's so sweet and awesome with all 3 kids. She's a psych major and admitted that Darby is way easier to hang out with than she thought she'd be.

Bruno left today for NY, which might be tough on James, although in all honesty, James got used to all the travel Bruno was doing a while back, so let's hope he is okay with it this time. Darby too. She's such a daddy's girl!

I leave on Wednesday to visit my ex-MIL. Kristen's grandma. I am so excited to go see her, she's been in my life for 26 years, can you believe that? Almost 3 times the length of time I knew my mom alive. The weather there is forecasted in the 50's and frankly, that's a heat wave for what I've been used to and I can't wait. I have a new coat (Ann Taylor was having an awesome sale!) and a couple new blouses (nothing was fitting right anymore).

Even the dogs seem to be doing well, so I expect I'm due for a major disaster soon. Dishwasher's still working, maybe the fridge? Let's just hope not the car, with Bruno out of town I'd be so sunk!

Here's a few pictures from the birthday parties and school and hockey and whatever. Oh, the camera lens issue is still ongoing ($800 for a lens that will not work with the camera body thanks to a design flaw and Nikon says "oh, so sorry!"...BS!)