My Summer by Curt (transcribed by Mommy)

I love summer! I get to go outside a lot.

I am having a busy summer. This is my week.

Mondays and Tuesdays are just regular days. I go to school. I like my school. There, I play outside and on the computer and we learn all kinds of stuff we will need for big-boy school. I also watch everyone else eat and take a nap. Me, not so much. I like to hug Miss Tiffany, Miss Alisha and Miss Ginger. Last week, I bit Miss Ashley. It has been a long time since I have bit, but Mommy was mad and told me she would bite me if I bit again.

Wednesday is Library Day! My school is down the street from the Library. We hold hands and walk down the sidewalk together. They are having a summer program and we do all kinds of fun things, like ride in a firetruck and sit in a police car. This week, the mad scientist came and I helped him "shock a lemon" as you can see from the picture below.

It's not a very good picture, because Miss Tiffany sent it to Mommy on her cell phone.

Thursdays, I go to Language Camp in Jackson. I get to watch and movies and eat crackers and drink juice on the drive, which is pretty long for me. I ask Mommy to stop several times so I can go pee-pee. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I am scared of the automatic toilets. They are too loud.

Language Camp is fun. Last week, we did camping things. This week was even more fun. I got to be a scientist and wear a lab coat. We made bubbles (I thought you only got those at the store) and also made a volcano out of regular stuff we have at the house. My favorite part was the volcano.

Friday is Water Day at my school! I love Water Day! We get to play outside all morning in little pools and sprinklers. I wake up very easy on Water Day and love to get dressed in my swimsuit and swim shoes. This morning, I wanted to leave quickly, so I helped Mommy make the bed. For some reason, it wasn't any faster.

Friday nights, I get Mommy all to myself. Daddy and Brother are gone to the Lake. You would think that I would be very tired from Water Day, but sometimes I still stay up until almost 10 o o. I am a big boy.

Saturdays, Mommy and I go to the Lake. This is my favorite thing. We ride the boat. Daddy goes very fast and the waves spray me. That is fun. Then, we stop and I get to swim. I can swim for a very long time. I also like to jump off the boat into the water. Sometimes, we go to a floating restaurant and I get to throw chips to the fish and turtles. They are very hungry.

When we come back to the camper, I lie on the bed, watch movies and eat. I also take a ride on the golf cart. On Saturday night, I am usually very tired and go to sleep early. I hope that doesn't make Mommy sad.

Sunday, sometimes we ride the boat again and sometimes, we just go home. I ask Mommy to stop several times on way home to pee-pee. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. When we get home, Mommy does laundry while I play on my computer.

Sunday afternoon Mommy and I go to the grocery store. Sometimes Daddy goes too, but Mommy doesn't like that because she says he buys too much junk. If I am good in the store, Mommy buys me a sucker.

Monday morning I ask Mommy if it is Water Day. She says no. I love Water Day.

Bullet Monday

• This is fourth day of 100+ heat index. Too hot.



• C1 is coming back today after 2.5 weeks in Alabama.



• It's been a nice "vacation" from laundry and cooking (at least not as much of either).



• I'm looking forward to seeing him.



• I have a Webinar at lunch today. I need my lunch hour break from people.



• But they do have pizza.



• I am very tan. I used sunblock (as opposed to screen) this weekend as I want no more sun.



• Curt is poo-ing in the potty. Not every time, but at least sometimes. He pees 100 percent. Never an accident. I don't get it.



• He evens holds it at the Lake. You want proof?

One summer, at band camp...

Friday was Curt's last day of speech (summer) and we had his IEP. Since August, here are the updates (in years):

Receptive
2.1 - 3.9
Increase of 1.8

Expressive
1.10 - 2.4
Increase of 6.0

Overall
1.10 - 3.0
Increase of 1.2 years

I was thrilled with his receptive progress, but a little disappointed with expressive. It seems that he has come much further than that to me.

In other news, Curt will be attending "Language Camp" this summer. It is described as: "This camp is for children grades K-3 and conducted by two SLPs. Is is designed to offer language, comprehension, articulation, and cognitive stimulation during the summer months."It is once a week (two hours) for four weeks. Good news? It's only $100, which sounds like a bargain when you compare it to private speech therapy! Also, it sounds fun with circus themes, etc. Bad news? It's in a city an hour away. Oh well. Secret news? He's not really starting Kindergarten in the fall, but I didn't tell them!

80s Faves

Ahh, the 80s. That sweet decade of big hair, skinny-legged jeans and blue eyeshadow. I miss you, 80s, and my young skin.

What's to love, you ask?

Calvin Klein jeans: "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins." I loved CK jeans (when the name was spelled out) almost as much as my girl-crush on Brooke Shields. "Brooke" was a nickname in high school for three reasons: I only wore Calvin Klein jeans; I had long, dark hair; thick eyebrows.

Headbands and leg-warmers: "Let's Get Physical!" No matter that there was absolutely no reason for the headband. It had no purpose whatsoever. No matter legwarmers made even those with thin legs look chunky. We wore them -- and we wore them together.

Big Hair: I still fight the urge to make my hair large. I love big hair and I am waiting patiently for its return.

Candie's: No, you couldn't walk in them very well (well, if you were me, anyway) and yes, that high-heeled, backless "clicking" when you walked was irritating. But, they were cool! especially when you wore them with your....

Satin Jacket: Baby blue, soft pink. I loved my satin jacket almost as much as my rabbit-fur jacket (in all white; mine was the prettiest) and, later, my Michael Jackson-inspired red pleather jacket given to me by a boyfriend. And, speaking of...

Michael Jackson: "Off the Wall" Before his weirdness and when he had a real nose. And, he was rumored to date Brooke Shields.

Talking on the Phone: Not emailing, not texting. Talking. On a phone with a cord. To your girlfriends for a very long time. Or, in the evening, in your dark room to the boy du jour.

Rick Springfield: Before he was cutting CD's for kids, he had us all wishing we were "Jessie's girl."

Lauren perfume: The original Ralph Lauren, the best Ralph Lauren. You wore this special perfume with your....

Polo shirts: Preferably two of them (or three!). It was the coolest when your little polo man on your outside shirt matched the color on your inside shirt.

School: Before "No Kid Left Behind," this could actually be a fun place. Hanging out before the first bell, watching to downtown to lunch (which included a bags of chips, a Diet Coke and a smoke.)

There may be a second edition of "I Heart the 80s" as I am sure I've omitted many wonderful things about this decade. In the meantime, please feel free to add your personal favorite.

Same life, new camper

I seem to be out of words these days.

Life is not bad. Life is not good.

Currently, life is in a hotel room in Knoxville, where I am currently sipping my vodka and Diet Coke (the machine was out of Sprite, dammit) and listening to "Seinfeld" in the background.

Sounds lonely? It's not.

I am enjoying my time alone. I did not ask for the trip, nor really want it, but it is good.

The fact is, I do not have time alone. I am either at work, with people surrounding me and constantly asking questions, or I am at home with Curt constantly vying for my attention, while I am trying to do job number two: laundry, dishes, keeping the fam on schedule.

What's up? Well...

C1 had an excellent report card (at least compared to the beginning of the year). Nothing below a "C." This is a first for him with us. Praise was given and I almost cried. I certainly hope he can keep this up.

Curt continues to be an angel/devil. He is learning every day and recited his birthday and name this week at school as requested. He continues to crap in his pants and I continue to put big boy pants on him and try to encourage him/time out him to pa-lease use the freaking potty! Come on, son, how hard can it be?

We had a big event at work this month which is now over. Thank God. It was stressful to say the least. I will be taking some time off, I swear.

Cowboy is stressed as per usual. However, things are happening that may prove to improve our financial situation 200 percent.

We sold our camper and bought a new one. We wanted to buy a cabin and found one we loved, but were not willing to spend the $$ they wanted. This one is bigger and allow for the addition of a 14-year-old who will be an addition this year and the next ones, we hope. (With three bunk beds -- built into the wall!)
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We bought the porch on the camper which was in the "spot" which is huge and has a ceiling fan. The screen needs to be replaced, but it will be much more comfortable. Camp Redneck, here we come. (And we are no longer neighbors with the woman with whom I do not speak. The one who commented on Curt and broke my heart. Best reason ever.) Will post photo of the porch when I actually take one.

I am here. I am peaceful. I am fine.

Oh, and I love Adam Lambert. A girl's gotta have some entertainment, right?

Sea Star

Curt loves the water and all things associated with the water.

Lately, he has pointing at a starfish and calling it a sea star. I correct him. It's an easy mistake to make, right? I mean, it looks like a star. It's in the sea.

Yesterday, he was watching one of his new movies and a starfish appeared on the screen. The narrator said, "This animal is referred to as a starfish. Does it look like a fish? Actually, this is a sea star."

Mommy stands corrected.

Knocking Me Out with Those American Thighs

Semi. Almost 3. 1968. I did mention I was a chubby kid, right?