Big pies, little pies, pies, pies, pies!

I am a fan of pies... but sometimes making a big ol' pie

1). is alot of work.

2). leaves me eating too much pie.

Yesterday I came across this FABULOUS site (which has since been bookmarked as a favorite) that has the perfect solution to my pie woes.

solution

Now I can have perfect individual sized pies for myself, for my friends, for my kids... for EVERYONE! I also hear rumors that they are pretty easy to ship. There may be a contest in the foreseeable future.  :)

Upon making these I have realized two things... 1. open mouth jar is easier to work with... but regular is doable. 2. When making pumpkin pie.. you can't forget the eggs. Oops.

DC~ Finally. The rest of the story.

Now that I have been home for 3 months I guess it is time to post the rest of the events from my little vacation back east. I didn't get too many pictures from Virginia... but I did get plenty of DC.

It was a crazy busy time in DC. There were thousands of people. They had some sort of cultural event going on in the mall. When I go again... I will check for a less busy day. Kate and I had the twins so we were pushing the stroller through this mayhem! The lines were insane long...

this was the shortest line we stood in. When we went to go to the Rotunda the line went on and on outside... and then we had to wait in line again once we were up there. One of the guards pulled us in early so we didn't have to stand in that line for long though. That's where the Declaration of Independance was. No photos were allowed and those guards looked like they meant business!

For those of you that are unfamiliar with DC. The Smithsonian is located there. It is a series of different museums. I had an agenda and only hit the ones that I didn't get to see the first time I was here. Even still, there were several that I missed.

but I did get to see Julia Fairchild's kitchen.

Kermit the Frog... in person!

and Judy Garland's Ruby Red slippers from Wizard of Oz. They had a lot of sole. (buah ha ha)

There was plenty of traffic on the way there.

These guys were definatley stuck longer than us though.

and you definately have to take care when walking across the street since

I barely escaped a run in with public transportation.

More to be posted later.

From an aspie...

Someone once told me that my Seth would never be able to live a fulfilling sucessful life. I disagreed wholeheartedly. They didn't know or understand my Seth. Today, I came across this. Which is written by an aspie and sums it up completly.

This “In Their Own Words,” is written by Aaron Likens from St. Louis, Mo. Likens is the author of “Finding Kansas: Decoding the Enigma of Asperger’s Syndrome.”
"I dream what everyone else dreams about. I want to have a full, productive life. I want a family, a career, and the ability to live my life to the fullest. Some people seem to think that an autism label is the end and that to dream such things is a waste of time. No dream and no person is a waste of time. Yes, we may need to work harder at some things, but if we’re not given a chance then how can we succeed? There is so much potential in a mind on the spectrum, but if not given the chance how can one dream of the things that I dream about?"

The Southeastern Idaho State Fair.

I have been going to the fair my ENTIRE life. I kid you not. In all of 31 years I can count the times I missed the yearly event on one hand.

This year, I thought it would be fun to experience the fair from a different viewpoint. That of an employee.

So, I got a job... in the caramel apple/cotton candy/ snowcone venue.

and can I tell you how much fun I had. I will try.

I got to dip caramel apples. I must say... I do quite well at that!

I bagged cotton candy. I tried to spin it once and failed comically. My favorite part about the whole experience was the people that I met. The people I worked with are all phenomenal and I love them all.

Further more~ what better opportunity to people watch? I can think of none.

Plus, I got to try every tasty item at the fair that I wanted. Tiger ears, Chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick, fried pickles, fried candy bar, baked potato, chocolate covered raspberries, tortatoes... and of course

a caramel apple :) Overall~ excellent experience.

The boys... a new school... a new adventure.

I waited a bit longer on Seth and Isaac's first day. It was two weeks ago... but I wanted to tell you all what I think about their new school at the same time. So I gave it a bit of time.

Seth seems to have difficulties adjusting to the new school routine every year. This year was no exception. We all had a couple of rough days. However, they were short lived. This school is fabulous!!! The made sure that they had his IEP on file (the one I had worked so hard on for the last two years.) and are following it precisely. I love them.

Seth was highly fashionable in his new clothes and loves his new teacher. Mrs. May. She had taken the time to speak with his previous teachers and had a mechanical pencil waiting for him when he got to school. I can't even tell you how awesome he thought that was. The school's PTA had put together little treat bags for each class. It had candy, pencils, and a couple of other trinkets.  Isaac also informed me yesterday that Seth has more friends than he does. I can't tell you how happy that makes me! We've had no bullies. The school isn't sending him home all the time. He has a great support system. This year is going to be the best!

Isaac was excited to be a big 2nd grader.

He knew lots of people in his class already and with his charming personality, he fit right in.... well other than being a foot taller than all the other kids. I just signed Isaac up for basketball. We are definately looking forward to that. Especially since I will be coaching alongside my basketball buddy from Jr. High! It will be great! Isn't he handsome.

What I love most is that I no longer have to get the kids up and dressed and drive to the school. They walk, it's just right around the corner. I walk them to the corner and then get to come back and start my day. It's fabulous. Especially because I don't have to sit and wait for that ridiculous train!

Ahhh... they are getting so grown up! I am so proud of my kids.

Mr. Man goes to school

The first day of school for any kid is an exciting day. It wasn't any different for Mr. Eli. He promptly arose in the morning and got dressed in his nicest outfit, his "sunday sweater" as he called it. All morning long he kept asking if it was time to leave yet. He had packed up his backpack with a few essential toys and was ready to go. Unfortunately for Eli, school doesn't start until noon. So he waited, and waited, and waited. He read his train book. He played with some cars. That clock was just not moving fast enough! At eleven o' clock, after getting the baby down for a nap (I'm babysitting), I let Eli know that it was time to tidy up. Only 30 more minutes before we could leave for school... but where was Eli? He didn't reply and I couldn't see him from where I was sitting when only moments prior he was precariously perched on the arm of the couch. I removed myself and the baby from the comfortable spot we had created on the couch to lay her down.

That's when I saw that Eli had overexcited himself so much that he had decided to take a nap.

When I woke him up, he was fresh and ready to go!!

He opened the door and peeked through until he saw his most beloved teachers. Miss Jennifer and Miss Jadi!

He stopped long enough for me to take a picture and then scampered to show off his cubby.

Good job Mister Man!