my first blanket is almost done

The flash on my camera isn't working, as usual, so these are dark and a little blurry. Here is a look at the blanket that I have been knitting. I only have to do the 4 edges and then I will be finished. Now that it is 35 degrees outside I won't need it as much as I did the last couple of months where it was 0 and below. Oh well next winter will be here soon enough. My back hurts and I have a headache from the last 3 hours of sewing the squares together, but I'm really happy with it. Don't zoom in, or if you do, remind yourself it was my very first one. Mom: I couldn't deal with the thought of crocheting them together, so I just sewed, it seemed like so much work otherwise. I feel very accomplished right now, the perfect way to go to bed.

hello world, it's me murphy, & i'm a genius

The teacher's note yesterday from school said that Murphy counted 40 objects. When he got to thirty he instead said, "twenty ten", and for 40 he said, "thirty ten". Last night Ben tested this out and got to fifty, or "forty ten" in Murphy speak. I don't know about anyone else but I think this is purely brain power. Twenty plus ten equals thirty, and when he got past the next nine numbers he said "thirty ten", so it is not him not knowing the number thirty, or forty, or fifty.

Autism, what is your crazy deal? Seriously.

welcome to post #101

This morning I asked Miyo what she wanted to wear today and she said, "Umm... pants." She's very imaginative.

When I was getting in the shower she walked in the bathroom and said, "OH! I love you boobies!" I quickly jumped in the shower and shut the curtain saying, "That's creepy." And she said, "Yeah, creepy, yep!" By the way, Ben taught her boobies, not me.

All day she has been calling me "Mama Kade". When I am trying to make Murphy listen I sometimes call him Murphy Kade (his middle name; he's named after my sister Kady). So today, from Miyo, I heard a lot of: "Mama Kade, come here." I love that she was really trying to make me listen and being stern too.

Today we went to Old Country Buffet because Ben's parents came to town and treated us (thanks again, Howie and Carol!). There was a man dressed as a big bumblebee, the O.C. Bee (seriously). Anyway, I had to direct Murphy past him while he struggled to get free (refer to previous MOA posting). The whole time we ate I had to keep my arm around the back of his chair to head off any quick get away. When I got up for anything, Ben kept his hand on Murph's leg. Finally Tommy (Ben's adult nephew) took Murphy by the hand to go see the "big bug", "bumblebee". Murphy shook his hand and then wrapped the hand around himself while doing a 180 degree turn. Then took the other hand and got on the guy's feet. So the guy was behind him (or was it a girl under there?) with Murphy in it's arms (facing the same way, mind you) and standing on it's feet. This awkward move (what the heck was he doing?) went on for too long. All the while Ben's whole family (especially Tommy) and I were laughing hysterically. Then he grabbed the face and pinched it and slapped it a couple of times. Then the Bee gave him the sign for a high five, which Murphy very enthusiastically accepted: SLAP, SLAP, SLAPPING as hard as he could. The guy (or girl) shook it's hand in the air (the international sign for "Wow, that really hurt my hand!"). The poor guy! We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Murphy make him completely uncomfortable!

i think miyo might be a trollop

Shene enters the front door and Miyo sees her, "Hi, Sene." Then looking past Shene to Jim entering behind her, "Oh, hello Jim!" I wish I had audio of how normal she was for Shene and how happy she was for Jim.

murph's semi-annual trip to pediatrician

It's true: torture makes you talk. Murphy never talks so much as when he is getting his blood pressure taken: "We are all done." Or when he is having his heart and lungs listened to with a stethescope: "Let go of me." Or when someone is looking in his mouth: "Bye bye". As soon as we get out of there and get him to the school he says, "Go see grandma?" I almost feel bad to laugh giddily at his reservations. He's is so clear and audible when he finds it important.

miyo said two funny things this morning

#1: She tapped her diaper bottom and said, "This my poopy butt." Upon changing her, there was no poopy on her butt. Still funny.

#2: I put Miles' snowpants in his backpack and zipped it closed. Miyo comes into the mud room and asks, "Oh, did you farted?" I didn't hear a toot so I look confused. Miles laughs and says, "The backpack!" Miyo, "Oh, you zip?"

I "lub" her.

my new living room

Jim and Shene are leaving Minnesota someday so she decided that there are some things she is not bringing with her on her out of state/over 10 hour drive. Therefore I am the proud new owner of the awesome bookshelf you see below. The sun was shining funny into the living room this morning, so my camera wouldn't use it's flash. And as we all know that equals crappy photography (couldn't be me).
This jute rug is also destined to stay in Minnesota. I love it so much, it really brightens/opens up my living room. How to keep the kids from spilling and throwing up on it is the only cloud in my sky.

Yes, I know Kelly gave this bookshelf (below) to me a long time ago, but I moved it to the other side of the living room and thought I would take a pic of this. This blog entry begs the question: do I ever buy my own things? Answer: No. Reason: having family that spend money on themselves and get bored with their things or need to move to another state means you can have new things while being poor. I love you Shene and Jim, and thank you so much for the new living room!