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  • Hi! I'm Ainsley, and I'm the mother of two adventurous little boys named Wyatt and Dylan. I'm here to blog about the joys of parenting and all the resources out there to help us. But most of all, I hope you'll come back here for a community of friends.

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September 2008

Scootin

Scooter

September 30, 2008 at 02:00 PM in Chillin Like Dylan | | Comments (5)

New book from Jenny, Mother Warriors

Not that I'll be tearing myself away from New Moon (yes, already halfway through) anytime soon...Mother_warriors_4 but I am looking forward to reading Jenny McCarthy's newest book, Mother Warriors. Here's a short description about the book:

No two autistic children heal in exactly the same way. And in her new book, Jenny expands her message to share recovery stories from parents across the country. Mother Warriors, shows how each parent fought to find her own child’s perfect “remedy of interventions” and teaches parents how to navigate safely through the many autism therapies.

Along the way, Jenny shares her own journey as an autism advocate and mother as well as the progress of her son, Evan. Emotional and genuinely practical, Mother Warriors will inspire a generation of parents with hope.

I think mothers can learn a lot from the inspiration of other warrior moms, no matter what it is you're currently facing.

September 30, 2008 at 11:57 AM in Autism, Books | | Comments (1)

Wyatt, Poetically Speaking

Wyatt has been playing around with words lately, getting a little creative... and often times downright poetic. Here are a few things he said this week...

"My lips are red like hot lava."

"This breeze is tickling my face."

"Your hair is long like a beautiful rope." (I was wearing a braid)

Told ya... sounds like a poet, right? =)

September 30, 2008 at 08:33 AM in Wyattisms | | Comments (4)

A Lifesaver for Rainy Days

I just discoveredSiblings_busy_book_2 The Siblings Busy Book, which could possibly make rainy days inside a whole lot saner. Based on the idea that 'families that play together are less likely to bicker,' authors and twin sisters Lisa Hanson and Heather Kempskie came up with 200 activities kids from 3 months to 9 years old can do together.

Each activity describes how the different age groups can participate in the project. Here's a fun and easy activity just in time for fall ...

Leaf Place Mats: Let your kids go outside and collect leaves and glue them onto cut paper grocery bags. Then put the page between contact paper and trim.

ht: cbb

September 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM in Activities | | Comments (1)

I'm Completely Obsessed

Last night, I sat on the sofa for hours... skipped dinner even... and read the first 350 pages of Twilight_2Twilight. It totally sucked me in (no pun intended) and I only put it down when my kids started begging for food (okay, maybe it wasn't that bad).

So thanks to all my internet friends who kept going on and on about it, I'm now completely obsessed with knowing what happens to Bella and Edward... two people whom I knew nothing about 24 hours ago.

Have you read it... what did you think?

September 29, 2008 at 09:15 AM in Books | | Comments (9)

Scenes From a Car

Carkids

Apparently, this is what happens when I'm in the store.

September 29, 2008 at 07:39 AM in Family, Shopping | | Comments (0)

Six Random Things About Me

Hollie Hixon, the queen of fun and creative blogging, tagged me yesterday. Here are the rules:

  1. Post the rules on your blog
  2. Write 6 random things about yourself
  3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
  4. If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

So here are 6 Random Things that you may or may not know about me...

  1. I lifeguarded one summer at a yacht club. I saved a child from drowning at least every day... usually because the mom was too busy drinking to pay attention.
  2. I love tiramasu and cannot pass it up on a menu when I see it.
  3. Ben and I won a trip to London in 2005 - 5 days, 4 nights, spending money, and tickets to a movie premier... where we sat 1 booth over from Prince Charles and Camilla. We love London and have contemplated moving there.
  4. I cannot sew to save my life. Seriously, ask me to sew a button back on a shirt and I start hypervenilating. I'm not proud of it.
  5. When I was in 3rd grade, I didn't want to go to school so I told my mom I had chicken pox. Later that day, I discovered that I really did have chicken pox. I've never taken lying lightly since.
  6. When I see worms washed out on the sidewalk from the rain, I try to save them all and put them back in the dirt.

Okay, I'm going to tag 6 people, and y'all better do it! - Stephanie, Anna, Tanya, Kristen, Bethany, and Jenni. 

September 26, 2008 at 02:37 PM in Personal stories | | Comments (8)

Friday Morning Hodgepodge

Today feels like it should be Saturday. I'm longing for a Saturday. Pancakes, snuggles, cartoons. Playing with the kids and packing up the car for a little adventure. Dylan cried and cried this morning as Ben went off to work. He thinks it should be Saturday, too.

Today will be a fun day, though. I'm going to my first playgroup since moving to Georgia. The boys will love seeing some of their church buddies, and I'm looking forward to getting to know some of the other moms.

I got tagged by Hollie, so check back later for 6 random things about me!

September 26, 2008 at 09:46 AM in Friends & Family | | Comments (1)

Thankful Thursday

Is it Thursday already? Unbelievable. I'd add that to my thankful list, except tonight Ben isn't coming home before bedtime, so that's a bummer. But here are 10 things I am grateful for today:

  1. Ben, for working hard and taking care of the boys and me
  2. Morning coffee. Makes Dylan's new and random 3 AM wakings somewhat bearable.
  3. Blueberry blintzes
  4. The spiced cider candle in my kitchen
  5. Wyatt's smile and sense of humor
  6. Dylan pretending to be a puppy and insisting on being fed on all fours, barking and slurping pretend food from the palm of my hand
  7. Developing some pictures from our beach vacay
  8. Homemade macaroni and cheese
  9. Feeling a little silly today
  10. Dylan's sandy feet

Litte_feet_3

September 25, 2008 at 09:56 AM in Thankful Thursday | | Comments (4)

Finding Babar

I've been popping in consignment shops everywhere I go looking for just the right chairs for my kitchen. Babar No luck in that department, but I did come across this Babar wall hanging in one of the shops here in Suwanee. It's an Edition du Desastre, and I really have no idea what that means... except that it's a company in France that distributes mostly in European countries, and the prints can be quite pricey.

I had to go back and get it when I realized it was a steal at $12 and would be super cute in the boys' playroom. They've seen Babar a few times, but I loved watching it as a little girl... and even though the print may not be very old, that makes it seem vintage to me. =)

September 25, 2008 at 07:47 AM in Shopping | | Comments (3)

60,000

Exactly 60,000 miles on the Town & Country! Woo-hoo! And in the driveway. Can you beat that?! (wink =)

Odometer

September 24, 2008 at 02:17 PM in Personal stories | | Comments (5)

Mister Independent

Dylan loves to pay for everything. And because we always use cash, that's the only way he knows how to pay.

But the other day I had to use a credit card for something. When I signed the receipt, he looked concerned and then said, "Me too." I had already handed the receipt back to the saleswoman, but she  gave it to him and let him sign the back with a pen. When he was done, he smiled and looked in my eyes as if to say, I can do anything you can do.

However, reality hit home hard when I required him to hold my hand in the parking lot.

Life is just so unfair for a 2 year old.

September 24, 2008 at 12:01 PM in Chillin Like Dylan | | Comments (0)

Sweet Tee

I  know several moms who'd pay good money for Preschool_musical_2 this cute tee from Uncommonly Cute.

September 24, 2008 at 10:04 AM in Baby Fashion | | Comments (1)

The Class Pet

Wally

The kids in Wyatt's preschool class take turns bringing home the class pet... a stuffed fox named Wally. Yesterday it was Wyatt's turn to bring Wally home for the week, and he couldn't have been happier. Wally also came with a "Wally Journal," where Wyatt is supposed to write down the things that he and Wally did together and include pictures.

Wyatt is obsessed with his stuffed animals and sleeps with a dozen or so. I usually toss them all on the floor when I change his sheets. If he finds them, he always says, "Oh no! My friends!"- then gathers them up in his arms and throws them back in bed.

Last night, Wally joined the rest of his friends for a sleepover. I have a feeling when the week is over, Wally will be greatly missed.

September 24, 2008 at 07:39 AM in Wyattisms | | Comments (5)

Baby Mama

Baby_mama_movie_poster It's been out at the RedBox since it came out, but Ben was finally able to score Baby Mama on Sunday afternoon. Not the best movie in the world - I actually expected it to be a little funnier than it was.

September 23, 2008 at 12:26 PM in Film | | Comments (4)

Little Helper

When you've only got one child, you take shopping for granted. You throw the little guy in the cart and have at it. Once you have two children though, your whole world changes. Shopping is less productive. You spend the whole time chasing down your little rascals. You're lucky if a few needed items make it to the cashier. And you also start finding items at home you swear you never bought.

Now that Wyatt's in preschool 4 days a week, I am LOVING the shopping life again. Only this time, I've got a little helper to make it easier. "Little Dyl" gets his chance to be a big boy by throwing things in the cart and retrieving items for Mommy. And if an unwanted item or two make it into the cart, it's no big deal. Because I'll never take shopping with one child for granted again. =)

Littlehelper

September 23, 2008 at 09:55 AM in Chillin Like Dylan | | Comments (8)

Sticks and Stones

Raising boys brings you closer to nature. They don't really need toys or TV or any of the accoutrements of home. Just give them some rocks, sticks, and the great outdoors -- they'll take care of the rest. (I've seriously thought about making them wear helmets.) Here are some pics from a recent visit to Stone Mountain, which is just that. A big stone mountain. But hey, that's all my boys need. =)

Stonemtn

September 23, 2008 at 09:02 AM in Family, Parenting | | Comments (3)

Some Advice on Learning to Read

I recently picked the brain of Lane Moore, a school teacher here in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She gave me a great tip for helping kids advance in their reading skills. It's called the 5 Finger Rule and it goes like this:

When a child chooses a book, he should open it up to any page and give it the 5 Finger Rule Test.

  • If he misses 0-1 words on the page, then the book is "Too Easy". He won't grow as a reader if it's a too easy book.
  • If he misses 2-3 words, then the book is "Just Right" and he will grow as a reader because the book is just right for him.
  • If he misses 4-5 words, then the book is "Too hard" and he won't grow as a reader with books that are too hard to read.

This rule is implemented the first day in her classroom so that students can be on grade level reading all year long. By following this simple rule, students can improve their reading levels by 3,4, even 5 levels in one school year! Teachers at her school begin implementing this rule as early as 1st and 2nd grade.  Also, this is widely used in schools across the nation as a great way to improve reading.

Check out Lane's blog where she shares more thoughts about life and education.

September 22, 2008 at 10:27 AM in Education | | Comments (2)

Apparently He Got My Hair

Wy_drawing

Wyatt drew this picture for me last week and said, "This is you not yelling and this is me not crying. We're happy because I am being a good listener."

(By the way, I promised I'd do less yelling, and he promised he would try harder to listen.=)

This picture reveals one of the more real sides of our family life. But I can't look at it without smiling.

September 22, 2008 at 07:39 AM in Wyattisms | | Comments (1)

I don't know what to say

September 19, 2008 at 10:48 AM in Education, Television | | Comments (16)

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