Lego Fun and School Days

We had a great summer family reunion. We were happy to see August and our Gary in the 3rd grade. He is doing really well in school. He is also still having lots of fun with all the Lego Events. He has built 3 mini builds now and many speed buildings of mini characters. He also attends a Club meeting event every month. The Lego staff just love Gary he is so cute and talented. Gary is also in swimming lessons and has already earned a ribbon. He loves his Hip Hop classes. We are so proud of the growth he has made. Nick is busy with work as usual. I am volunteering on the School District Calender Committee letting our Special Needs kids voices be heard. I also have some work here and there as a contracted artist. My main job is caring for Gary. I started a Support Special Needs Kids and Special Ed. Facebook event and also Facebook group. I keep busy with computer work, writing etc. The cats are good. Happy family. Will write more later.

Love

Jennifer, Nick and Gary

A Third Grader in the Family

Today we all went to Gary's school for a last day of school barbecue.  Gary's Grandpa Rhino, Grandma Rosemary, Mommy, and Daddy joined him for a hot dog, bag of Sun chips, half a pickle, a carrot, and a piece of celery.   Not a great meal fun a fun reason for celebrating.

This August Gary will start school as a Third Grader.

Lego Weekend

We had a fun weekend here at the KCCH.  While Gary was at school Jennifer went to the Park Meadows Mall to build a brick for the eight foot tall Lego Yoda and to get all of the commemorative stuff.

When Gary got home from school we all went to the mall and worked on building bricks for the Lego Yoda. Gary got to meet a couple of Master Lego builders.  Gary had a blast making the lego bricks for Yoda.  he had so much fun on Friday that we went back on Saturday and Sunday.

They also had some members of a Star Wars club at the mall last  week-end dressed up as Storm Troopers and Tie Fighter pilots.  On Sunday Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker were there.  We got some good pictures of Gary with all of the Star Wars characters and also pictures of Gary with the Yoda being built.

On Saturday we also went to a graduation party for James.  Jennifer enjoyed visiting her relatives.

May is halfway over

May is already half over and we have already had four seasons of weather here.  We have had sunny days with temperatures in the 80s and we've had sub-freezing temperatures with snow on the ground. Sometimes in the same 24 hour period.

Gary is doing well this spring (much better than last year).  He would go to the Lego Store every day if he could.  He loves playing with Legos.  He also plays on the laptop (he goes to the Lego web site and plays Lego online games).

Last Friday was his school's major fund raiser (The Fox Trot).  He ran 12 laps.

Field trip

Today we all went on a field trip with Gary's second grade class to the Little Museum of History.  There we visited the two little villages that they had set up.  They had an 1860s village with a typical farm house and some of the other farm buildings.  They also had an 1890s village with a house typical of that time.  In the 1890s area they also had a blacksmith who gave demos of working with iron.  Gary had a lot of fun walking around.

After the museum we all ate lunch at the park across the street (peanut butter and jelly, oranges, banana,  pretzels, and cheese puffs.

Welcome May

It is May 2 and our colds seem to be mostly behind us (hopefully).  This weekend was one of mostly rest as Gary was feeling better but Jennifer and I were still fighting colds.

So we spent a mostly quiet weekend, not doing much.  We did go to breakfast at the Country Buffet on Sunday morning with Rosemary, Tom, and our cousins Diane, Karen, Lynn, and James.  Gary is getting so independent, he wanted to go get his food by himself and carry his own plate.  I still helped a little.

Sunday night was just Jennifer and Gary as I got called into work for a couple of hours.

Monday saw Gary going to see Dr. Rydell where he had a good session.  He then had a good day at school. My day at work was busy.  I was glad to go home.

Tonight we went to Dairy Queen where Gary and Jennifer had some ice cream.  I was good and skipped having any (now if it was Baskin Robbins or Maggie Moos ...)

Easter Monday

It was a normal work day for me and Gary went back to school (he was out sick on Thursday and Friday).

We didn't do much today, egg salad sandwiches for dinner and then we got donuts (at King Soopers) as Gary did all of his homework (with help as he was not concentrating very well.

Jennifer's voice is coming and going.  She rested most of the day and will hopefully be felling better tomorrow.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter everybody.  I hope you all had a great day.


Saturday was a busy day for all of us.  We went to a "Lunch Bunch" Easter Egg hunt at the rec center.  Gary played with his friends, colored eggs, hunted for eggs, and ate lunch.  Gary had a blast.  Jennifer had to leave early to go volunteer at The Wildlife Experience.


After the party we went to see the Easter Bunny at US Toys.  The bunny was pretty lame and Gary did not want to stay and get his picture taken (or get a balloon animal).


Gary and I then just spent the rest of the day hanging out at home.


Sunday found Jennifer not feeling well, so she spent most of the day in bed.  Jennifer's brother Tom was supposed to come over for lunch but he also was not felling well.  That left Gary and I to eat a spaghetti lunch, play with his Legos, eat his Easter candy, and just hanging out.  We also went to Walmart where he used some of his birthday money to buy a Lego base plate and container to hold some of his Legos.


Hopefully will find everyone well again.  And Gary back in school.

Gary is seven in six days

It's the end of another week here and this time next week Gary will have had birthday number 8.  The time seems to have flown so fast.  He is growing and doing well.  he is also developing an independent streak where he likes to make his own sandwiches (when he is not taking the sandwich I made myself for lunch).  He is getting pretty good getting around on the computer and made a Lego house on it Wednesday night.

We do not have anything planned yet for the weekend.  Tom may come over for a bit this weekend and we will start wrapping birthday presents for Thursday.  We also have to get ready for a visit from the Easter bunny.

Sunday in April

Gary and I are hanging out together while Jennifer plays tour guide with some of her new friends.

Yesterday Gary and I went to see Hop.  Gary really liked and and got up and danced to the music in the show.  Luckily we sat were we had room and in a place where he would not bother anybody.  I also liked the movie and we stayed through all the closing credits which was good as they had one last scene which was pretty funny.

After the move we went to Pasquini's for lunch.  They have a great lunchtime pizza buffet making this one of our favorite places to eat Saturday lunch.

Saturday night all three of us went down the street to eat dinner at a neighbor's house with Jennifer's friends.

Sunday has been quiet.  The tree of us went to Cici's pizza for lunch and Jennifer is out again with her friends while I am home with Gary.  Marko from down the street is over to play with Gary so he is having a good time.

Tomorrow is Monday and I am pack to work and Gary is back to school.  Only 11 days until Gary's 8th birthday.

Wednesday

It is hump day and so far this week has had temperatures in the 70s, snow, wind, rain, and freezing temperatures.  I wonder what weather we will get next week.

We are all doing fine here.  Gary's first three days back to school have gone pretty well.  He misbehaved a little at lunch but apologized.

Jennifer went to her first school board committee meeting today.  She is on the committee that will help create the school schedule for thing like teacher work days, fall break, and spring break.  She enjoyed the meeting.

Gary and I ate lunch at Chik Fil-A.

Tonight we put out for charity pickup a bunch of VHS tapes that we have not watched in ten or more years.  I am slowly getting the basement organized so that I can then move stuff from Jennifer's office downstairs so she will have room to paint.

Snow in April

Well the weather in Colorado is definitely not like other parts of the country.  Yesterday at this time it was close to 80 and sunny (with a lot of wind).  Today it is 30 and snowing (with a lot of wind).  SO at least the breeze is consistent.

It is a sleepy Sunday afternoon as we are all digesting a big spaghetti lunch.  Gary's Grandpa Rhino and Grandma came over for lunch along with Uncle Tom.  We had spaghetti, salad, sausage, and garlic bread.  We didn't get a chance to eat dessert yet (cheese cake).

Gary goes back to school tomorrow.  He has been on Spring Break for the last two weeks.  It's hard to believe that my little boy will be 8 this month.

Friday Night

It's Friday night here and we are just winding down with a little TV.  I decided to take the day off since it is the last day of Gary's Spring break.  Gary and I went to lunch at Chik Fil-A while Jennifer went to Dance.  Gary and then went to Target to get some bread and cheese to go with my onion soup.

After playing at home for a while and some dinner we went to Falcon Park and then Park Meadows (to get Gary some ice cream and look at the place where the Logo's store is going.

We then watch the new Phineas and Ferb.  Now it is a Tom and Jerry DVD before bed.

Ronald McDonald

Tonight we went to dinner at McDonald's expecting to watch Megamind.  Instead we had a visit from Ronald McDonald.  Gary had a great time and was laughing at all of Ronald's bad jokes and magic tricks.  He even got to help Ronald perform one of the tricks.

Last Monday in March

It is Monday night here and Gary is laying next to Jennifer in our bed while Jennifer watches TV.  Gary is asleep (or close to it).  Jennifer and Gary had a quiet, stay-at-home, Spring Break day while I went to work.  They watched TV, played Wii, played with his Legos, and played on the computer.

We had salami and eggs for dinner (Gary had some leftover bacon).  Whenever I have salami and eggs it reminds me of my Papa who always cooked that for me.

They are supposed to come tomorrow evening and finish the last part of the floors (the transition between the tile and the wood floor was about two feet short.

Friday Night

It is Friday night and the end of a long week.  Gary is on Spring Break so he has Jennifer on the go constantly and we had hardwood floors installed in our family room, which meant a lot of work to clear out the room and a lot of work (some of it still not done) of putting stuff away.

The floor looks nice and tomorrow it will look nicer as they finish installing the transition between the tile and the floor.

This week Gary also went to two birthday partys.  One was at Jungle Quest (were he got to ride a zip line) and the other was at Fun City were he got to drive a go-cart.  He had fun at both.

Getting ready for the new floor

Gary and I went to Falcon Park today to play.  There were no other kids there when we arrived so he did not want to stay.  After the park we went to King Soopers so I could get some 9 volt batteries for two smoke detectors that were beeping this morning.

Almost have the family room cleared.  Just the Clock, little cabinet, TV and stand (with the Wii).

I have set up one of the laptops downstairs since Gary wants to use that computer (as opposed to the three desktops in the basement or his computer upstairs).

I really hope that they finish in one day so I can start to put things back.  After this is done the next two projects are to clean up the living room and to clean up Jenny's loft so that she can paint.

Monday Night

Well the hardwood for the floors arrived today, late.  I left work early so that someone would be home when it was scheduled to arrive as Jennifer had her dance class.  And I waited and waited, then Jennifer and Gary came home.  We then waited and waited until the flooring showed up almost two hours after the window we were given.

I started packing up the DVDs.  I brought a bunch of DVDs that Gary has outgrown downstairs and have two boxes upstairs.  I still have quite a few to pack up, but it should go quick.  Then it is moving the couch, recliner, stereo system, speakers, a small wicker cabinet, my long case clock, TV, cable box, dvd player and TV stand.  I'll do all of that tomorrow, hopefully it will only take a couple of hours.

We went to Jason's Deli for dinner tonight.  It was yummy.

Gary is hopefully asleep by now and Jennifer will not be far behind.  I will also be going to bed soon.

Good night.

Sunday night

Today between playing with Gary, grocery shopping, and getting Gary a Hair cut  we got all of Gary's toys (except for the Wii) out of the family room.  Tomorrow I'll start to do the DVDs.

Saturday

We're having a nice Saturday.  Gary went to a birthday party today at Jungle City and had fun going down the zip lines.  After lunch we played outside for a bit with light sabers.  We then watched Mega Mind.

Now we are watching Spongebob and trying to think what to have for dinner.

The flooring people called and they are delivering the wood for the floors on Monday and want to start installation on Wednesday.  So by next weekend we should have a new floor in the family room and have no more carpet downstairs.

Of course than means that this weekend is work weened in clearing out this room. The only thing that I am really worried about is moving the long case clock.  Moving it is easy, it is setting it back up that I am worried about.

Friday night, Gary starts spring break

Thursday was a nice quiet night here.  We went to Fazoli's for dinner tonight. We had a coupon for a free kid's meal. The breadsticks there are pretty yummy. Gary had the pizza and some of the spaghetti that came with my chicken parm. Jennifer had the chicken carbonara.

After dinner I took Jennifer and Gary home and then was sent out to get Gary some more shoes. He is now in a size 1 and all of his old shoes were size 13. 


Today was a typical day had work and Gary had a nice relaxed day at school.  Everybody is home now and just watching some television (Planet Sheen) and relaxing.  I'll figure out what to do for dinner in a little bit.
Plans for the weekend to get some more stuff out of the family room in preparation for the hardwood floors. Hopefully they will deliver the wood next week and then we can get the installation done.

The Ides of March

The Ides of March is here and the day has gone pretty well (no dead Roman Emperors to be found). Work was busy after a four day weekend. Tomorrow is going to be even busier and longer as I have an event to support that will last past 6:00 PM. I will still need to try and be in by around 6:00 AM. Oh well, that is vacation time that I can save.

Gary is doing well. He is still into Star Wars, Legos, and Lego Star Wars. He has also started creating his own games to play with Jennifer using his Legos. It is hard to believe that in 37 days he will be 8.

Spring break starts next week and in about two weeks they should start installing our hardwood floor in the family room. When that is completed the who down stairs will either be tile or a hardwood.

March 1

February is gone and March has begun. We are all doing well here. Just getting ready for allergies and the ever changeable Colorado weather. Nights below freezing and days in the mid 50s.

Jennifer won four tickets to see the Imagination Movers from the radio station she listens to. We are going to see them on March 11.

Sunday Night

Today was a pretty normal Sunday here. Gary slept in until 9:00 so we all got to sleep in. I cooked a bunch of bacon for lunch. Jennifer had a bacon sandwich, Gary had plain bacon (and then a turkey and cheese sandwich), and I had a big salad with turkey and bacon.

Jennifer is starting to feel better and did not need to take any cold medicine today.

Gary played outside in the snow with Brianna and then we went to the park for a little bit. We got some groceries at Target *and Gary got two little Lego Star Wars kits for Valentine's Day.

Sloppy Joes for dinner and now Gary is working on putting his new toys together by himself (with a little help from Jennifer). And then in a little bit it will be time for bed.

Have a happy Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Weekend in One Day

It is Thursday night and Jennifer and Gary are in bed. I will soon be following suit. It has been a crazy work week and having a cold has not helped. Only one more day until the weekend.

Gary loves playing with his Legos and is a big Star Wars fan. Although he also loves to play the Indiana Jones Wii game.

Tomorrow Gary has his dance program at school so I will make sure I get out of work on time so I can go and watch.

Tuesday Night - Baby it's cold outside

Today was a slow day here. Jennifer and I are fighting colds so I stayed home from work and will hopefully be able to knock this cold out. I have to go into work tomorrow morning as I have a scheduled event.

Gary had a decent day had school today. He did not want to do all of his math work in class, but he was good except for that.

I got new cell phones for Jennifer and myself today. Our phones were about five years old and starting to fall apart. The new phones have the same features of the old phones but are slimmer.

It snowed last night. We got about six more inches of snow and it is just above zero here. It is supposed to start to warm up and be in the 50's again for the weekend.

Last day of being 48

It has been a busy day today. It started at around 3:30 this morning with work calling and me going into the office by 4:30. I was really busy there most of the day.

I stopped at Walmart on the way home from work to do some grocery shopping. I also got some stuff to caulk the windows where the cold air is leaking into the house.

I made some chicken strips and corn for dinner. We then had birthday cake for dessert.

Feb 1 - Snow Day

School has been cancelled here for a snow day (actually and extreme cold day - it is currently -11 here but feels like -32). I decided to stay home and help Jennifer with Gary.

Gary was up at 6:45 and out of bed and ready to roll by 7:00. He ate a cheese sandwich and is now playing with his legos. He is making little planes for his Star Wars lego characters. He is into Star Wars big time now and legos are his new favorite toy. He plays with them more them even more than he does his Wii now.

Tomorrow is Jennifer's birthday. We do not have any real plans yet. Maybe just a nice quiet dinner for the three of us.

Last Saturday in January 2011

Hi all:

Just spending a nice quiet Saturday morning at home (although I did go into work for a couple of hours earlier). Gary just finished watching the first Star Wars (Phantom Menace) movie again (he also watched it yesterday). he is becoming a real Star Wars fan. Lego Star Wars are his favorite toy and Lego Star Wars Wii games are hos favorite video game.

He is now about 4'3" tall and weighs in at around 53 pounds. He is doing good in school for the most part. He does good in math and got a couple of perfect scores for adding and subtracting two digit numbers.

Sunday Afternoon

We have spent a fairly quiet weekend here. Yesterday we drove to the west side of Denver to go to the Lego Store at The Colorado Mills mall. Gary had a blast at the store there and got some more plain bricks to build stuff. he also got some more of the Star Wars figures.

Saturday night Jennifer went to her dance class dinner and Gary and I hung out and played with his Legos and on the computer.

This morning Gary and I played with the logos, building a structure for his Jedi to battle on. We then went to the Rodger's Rhino Ranch for lunch.

Now we are watching some football and are both playing on the laptops.

A Friday in January

Hi All:

Gary and I are just hanging out Friday morning while Jennifer gets some sleep. Gary is off from school today and I decided to stay home and help (he sleeps to the last minute on school days but gets up early on days he is off. Gary was up and ready to go this morning at 6:45. He has played Star Wars on his Wii and Star Wars with his Legos so far this morning. We have also watched Jack's Big Music Show, Puddle and Toot, and now It's Timmy Time is on.

Gary went to the Dentist yesterday and had a good check up. No cavities and all of his teeth are coming in on schedule. He has a one (or maybe two) of his back baby teeth that may need to get pulled in a couple of years to let his new teeth come in (but it is still to early to tell). Gary also got a full mouth x-ray done yesterday so we could see all of his teeth.

After the dentist we got pizza and Big Bill's.

Gary is doing well in school and is meeting all of his IEP goals. His math is at the same level of his class.