Christmas Countdowns at WiddlyTinks.com

Easter Seals

I have posted in the past about the school that Ryan attends. He goes to Easter Seals. Ryan has been blessed with fabulous teachers & patient therapists while attending there. We have been so incredibly happy with the progress that Ryan has made and I know that Easter Seals has been a huge part of that. He has learned his colors, letters, numbers, counting, shapes, etc. He learned that he can do the things I always knew were in him. He learned that he doesn't always need mom right by his side. He continues to work on playing with his friends and learning to taste new foods but I know his teachers & therapists are by his side, encouraging him.

All of these services have been free to us. I am not 100% sure where they get all of their money (I know some comes from the county MRDD funding) but I know they rely a lot on donations. If you are looking to make a donation this holiday season, I would ask that you keep Easter Seals in mind. They have been such a blessing to Ryan and to our family. Donations can me made online here.

If you are looking for another way to donate, they also have a Christmas tree set up in their lobby with items written on ornaments that they are asking for. A lot of families at Ryan's school are struggling right now and need a little help so they are asking for these donations to help them through this time. Things include diapers, wipes, toothpaste & canned food.

I am filled with happy tears right now as I just learned that some very special someone (or company) has made a very generous donation to Easter Seals so that every child will get a gift from Santa. I know a lot of the kids in Ryan's class will not get a Christmas so this was a huge thing for them and I know all of the teachers are so appreciative.

Thank you to Easter Seals for making a difference in my child's life. I can't thank them enough.

I've been tagged!

I have never been tagged before.
Okay, so I wanted to do a meme.....and if I tag you below you better play!!! Post this on your blog, answer and then tag 5 other people.....ready....GO

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial....I have never, in my 32 years, had a real tree.

3)When do you put up the tree? Usually the first full weekend of December

4)When do you take the tree down? within a few days of Christmas

5)Do you like eggnog? ewww

6) Favorite gift received as a child? My Cabbage Patch doll, Darcy. My mom still has her.

7)Hardest person to buy for? This year Ryan! We have everything already so it has been hard coming up with new and exciting things for him.

8) Easiest person to buy for? Ethan....anything and everything Star Wars

9)Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I wish I did

10)Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The granny panties my neighbor gave me when I was about 12. She had the best of intentions but not the gift I was expecting.

11)Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story

12)Favorite Christmas song? Jingle Bells

13)Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home! Sometimes we head to my parents but it is only about a 35 minute drive

14)Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so

15)Favorite ornament theme or color? no theme but we have burgandy & gold ribbons & bulbs on it with other ornaments thrown in.

I am going to tag.....

Christa
Annette
Lauren
Amy
Stacey

It's getting cold out there!

And thank goodness flag football is over. We were blessed with great weather, up until the last 2 weeks. Then it was freezing. The kids didn't seem to care though. I had the occasional complaint from Ethan but he went out there and ran his little heart out. Here is his official football picture.


Ethan really loved football, much more then I expected. Now he says he wants to play tennis. I have no idea where that came from.

Since Ryan goes to school in the afternoon, I make him lay down for some rest time in the morning before the bus comes. This is how I found him today.


Me thinks he has been building too many forts with his big brother. He worked hard at it though. He pulled all of his blankets & stuffed animals off of his bed and used his very own KozyPal cart cover as his pillow.

Last week, Ryan & Silas had the whole house to themselves, for a couple of hours. I was finishing cleaning up the kitchen and they went upstairs to play. They were being way too quiet and as I went up to check on them, I could hear giggling and chattering. I have always said that Silas & Ry have their own language. Silas speaks very clearly and Ry is trying very hard but Silas always seems to know what Ryan is saying. He is such a smart boy. Anyway, I thought for sure they were up to no good but I found them, in the fire truck tent, reading books. They looked so adorable together. When I first walked in, they were sitting side by side but I think I spooked Silas and he quickly went to the other side of the tent.



Greg and his friend, Justin, have a competition going to see who can get to the most Apple stores. Silly, huh? Well, I decided that since I knew neither of them would most likely get to the one I was at, I had to take my picture to prove it. So here I am, at the Apple store in Buffalo, NY. Take that!


Happy Thanksgiving!

Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.

I belong to a mommy message board. It consists of about 100 women, scattered across the country. Most of us met while planning our weddings on The Knot. We have several get togethers throughout the year and my friends that came to visit last weekend, are all a part of this board.

We received some horrible news today. One of our friends lost her husband. He worked with heavy machinery and there was a horrible accident. I never met him but I know he was a great husband & father. He leaves behind his wife, Andrea and two young children, Jacob & Sydney. I know that our little community will stand by her side and help her through this. Please keep her family in your prayers & thoughts.


ROW - Matthew R. Suddenly, November 15, 2008, beloved husband of Andrea R. (nee Gordon) Row; loving father of Jacob W. and Sydney R. Row; dearest son of Roy and Virginia Row; dear brother of Gregory, Jeffrey, Christopher (Wendy) Row; survived by many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday at 11 AM at the KENNETH HOWE FUNERAL HOME, 64 Maple St., East Aurora. A reception to follow at Wales Center Fire Hall. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials to Wales Center Fire Dept., 12300 Big Tree Rd., Wales Center 14169.

I am so thankful for being able to make the trip to be with her. There are 9 of us that are going to be there, to hug her and help her through this.

My smart 2 year old.

Click here to see a video of Ryan. If you can't make it out, he starts off counting in Spanish, singing Row Your Boat and then counting in English. This all from a boy who didn't say any words 10 months ago. He will be three in January.
Ry Video

A whole lot of everything.

It's been a while since I blogged. The boys are both very much enjoying school. Ethan had his last football game yesterday and has the playoffs this weekend. It was freezing and he was just running around, trying to keep himself warm.

The boys went to visit Grandma & Grandpa over the weekend. A few of my girlfriends came to visit. We had the best time and Greg was the best husband ever. I "kicked him out" to his best friend's house on Friday night and he showed up Saturday morning waiting to take our Starbucks order. He was our chauffeur Saturday night and drove us around. Sunday morning he ran out for another coffee run and Panera. He even slept on the floor in the basement on Saturday night so we didn't have to kick my sick friend out of bed. (And she had a bug, not because she drank too much.) He was so awesome and didn't complain too much about being outnumbered. Although, I am pretty sure he had just as much fun as I did.

Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Cammie & Ryann at dinner Friday night


Scoutie made a new friend


Going out Saturday night: Ryann, me & Amy


Me, Ryann & Amy


Our attempt at a group shot. This was Sunday morning. We were exhausted, not drugged.


Another great weekend, with great friends. I miss them already. And I realized that I love to play hostess. It actually gets me to get my house clean.