We are walking for our second year in the SWFL Autism Walk on November 5th! Please support our team - Jake's Journey!

CLICK on Jake's picture from last year's walk and help us raise money for our team - JAKE'S JOURNEY - in this year's Autism Speaks Walk on November 5, 2006!!!

See what happens when a parent of an autistic child goes to see Chairman Joe Barton about the Combating Autism Act




Having a sneaky, lying boss sucks.

Having a sneaky, lying boss who is a family members really sucks....


Jake's TShirt Design for our Autism Walk on Nov 5th came out AWESOME if I do not say so myself!!! My Designand MIL's awesome graphic art skills made a cool team shirt!




Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?
Unsweetened Iced Tea - Herbal Teas are my favorite!

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.
Other than the norm (monitor, printer, etc)....right now - my planner, my Facing Autism book by Lynn Hamilton, and my new home owner's insurance policy that came in the mail yesterday and is not yet filed


Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?
I'll give myself a 9. I would say I am not very honest with people when I think something might hurt their feelings or if I want to avoid causing an issue


Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?
Hmmm.... I can't think of anything at all! I know, I'm boring and uncreative this morning.


Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?
Money stresses me out. Dealing with doctors and medical insurance stresses me out.
Bubble baths calm me down, so do massages from my hubby, and quiet family time

Thirteen Things about Melanie13 Things I Do When I Can Not Sleep 1. Clean 2. Read 3. Post to my Blog 4. Read and Post Comments on other Blogs 5. Get ahead on some work orders 6. Check out MySpace pages - mine and my friends 7. Do some Genealogy Research Online 8. Watch DVR'd shows or a movie 9. Try to catch up on Laundry - doing a load, folding one 10. Scrub floors on hands and knees - *this is a favorite thing to do when I am unable to sleep since no one is awake to track anything on my wet, clean floors 11. Make "To Do" lists for the next day (grocery lists, cleaning lists, errand lists, any lists!) 12. Check my email and write emails 13. Watch the boys sleep

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I just don't get it. I really don't.

I have lived through a plethora of bad kiddo culutral phenomenons with the boys thus far. You name it and we have probably watched it if it was produced after 1997 when my oldest was born. But this Spongebob crap I just don't get. The others were at least somewhat educational in a sense but this show is just too much for my head. Granted, I am not a person who will laugh at those ridiculous, juvenile, potty humor type comedies like the movie Dumb and Dumber or anything so maybe that is my problem.

I was lucky that the kids never watched it at first until quite recently, as in the last couple of months. After seeing a few episodes I prayed that it would be a quick fad in our house, but noooooo. We have since had a Spongebob themed birthday party, have the Spongebob edition of the game LIFE, and even own two DVD movies. Apparently my children feel the need to torture Mom for a little while with this one.

I can't stand the show personally. I think it is vile. I thought Barney and Teletubbies were bad. And now I seem to be living in Bikini Bottom Hell. Ugh.

We are walking for our second year in the SWFL Autism Walk on November 5th! Please support our team - Jake's Journey!

CLICK on Jake's picture from last year's walk and help us raise money for our team - JAKE'S JOURNEY - in this year's Autism Speaks Walk November 2006!!!

In the middle of October it is still in the upper 80's and humidity is not at 100% which makes being outside in warm temperatures bearable so you are still able to go to and enjoy the beach. Which is exactly what we did yesterday with the boys. They had tons of fun playing in the water and the sand. We played with a frisbee, sand toys, decorated a castle with shells, tossed a football in the water and lounged around. It was a beautiful day! It was of course Matthew's first time there and he liked it. He laughed when the waves pushed the water up around his feet and loved playing with his toes in the wet sand. He snoozed in his chair under our beach umbrella for a little as well. The rest of the boys each came home a little pink - Nick on his back, Jake on his back and stomach, and Alex on his face and shoulders only. Adam looks like a beet because he did not put on any sunblock and is now VERY red but in a day or two hw will tan from it - it's those Spanish genes I guess. I only got a little on my face and back which will most likely peel and leave me back to my pale Irish complexion! I guess next time I will use Matthew's sunblock on everyone since he is still whiter than white! :)

Here are some pictures of the boys there:

Thirteen Things about MelanieMy 13 Favorite Chick Flicks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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As you know, I am a mom to four boys, so as you can imagine I rarely get a moment to myself. I'm truly evil sometimes.

This afternoon, I had Matthew in his swing. Nick and Jake were at the table doing homework and Alex was playing with a puzzle in the living room. Nature was calling so I went into the bathroom off of my bedroom. No one followed me. This never happens - I generally have one child tailing me at all times. After I washed my hands I realized I was still alone, everyone was actually quiet so I stood in front of the sink - standing there perfectly still enjoying a moment or two of silence ALONE. Then of course Jake and Alex simultaneously realized I was not in there sights so they began their little chant..."Ma?" "Mom?" "Mommy?". And what did I do? I stood there for another moment or two until they walked in and found me hiding from them in the bathroom! And I will admit when I heard them enter my room the thought crossed my mind to extend my moments alone a little longer by hiding in my closet, but I figured I wouldn't have the silence any longer as they bellowed for me through the house so I might as well give myself up to the natives.

Evil mama.


Haven't had a chance to post this yet, but it is OCTOBER ladies which means Breast Cancer Awareness month! This is near and dear to me because my mother's mom had breast cancer.

So at the right ----------> You'll see a link to the Susan G Komen Foundation where there is tons of information and downloadable card for Breast Self Exams (BSE).

There are also lots of walks taking place this month that you can get involved in! Avon, Susan G Komen, and more. Search for one in your area

Here's a link to a Five Step Self Breast Exam:
http://www.breastcancer.org/dia_detec_exam_5step.html


Please be sure to remind all of the ladies in your life how important this is! Pass on some info!!!



Friday Feast time!

Appetizer
Name a song you know by heart.
I've Had the Time of My Life (Dirty Dancing)

Soup
What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?
Generally it would have to be using the bathroom! I can't leave the door open or have someone in a private bathroom with me. But since becoming a mom I have had to deal with an audience. ;) Still won't go in front of the hubby though!


Salad
How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?
Its out right now (*add to shopping list for Saturday*) but normally I buy the Walmart Wintergreen one.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...
Alex says something not to nice in a store that he obviously heard from an adult..... like "oh shit." Ugh....

Dessert
What was the last food you craved?
Loaded Nachos!!!

Thirteen Things about my husband, AdamIn honor of his birthday today 1. Adam is a little under 8 months younger than me 2. Adam and I both were born in NJ 3. Adam has been doing architecural drafting since middle school 4. His grandfather was an architectural draftsman as well and designed JCPenney stores 5. Adam gets motion sickness from rides that twirl or rock back and forth 6. He is the one guy I know that loves all things Disney as much as I do 7. Adam is a huge books on CD/tape lover! He listens to them while working on designs and driving in the car. It was the main reason he wanted an Ipod. 8. He is a huge motorcycle fan. He is currently building a bike in our garage. 9. At 6' 2" and defensive lineman build, Adam looks like he could kick your a** easily but in all truth he is a big sap! A big ol' teddy bear!!! 10. Adam is a work-a-holic! Since I have known him, over 10+ years, he has always had at least 2 jobs and sometimes 3. I don't think the man will ever retire because he would go insane. 11. He is my very best friend in the whole world. The one person I can say anything to and the one person who knows everything about me....the bad, good, and the ugly. 12. He's a closet romantic. He'll still bring me flowers for no reason or dance with me in the living room. 13. The most important thing I can tell you about Adam is what a truly wonderful father and husband he is. He always puts his family first and we love and adore him! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!! :)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Alex's new thing.....

"Jeesh Mommy, I'm coming. One minute pweez."

This is what I get any time I ask him to hurry up, come here, or call his name.

Wonder where he got that from?????? *blushes*


Well its been a weekend!

Thursday was poor Jake's 5 year old checkup and he hit new octives screaming for the shots. At least he is healthy and won't need anymore vaccines until age 12 now!

Friday my minivan decided to take a poo and now I am waiting for the garage to call today to let me know it is done. The estimate was extremely high so I am praying it was not any more than what they quoted us with the LAUNDRY list of items that they included that needed to be done. $2300 and all I got was an oil change thrown in there for "free". Blah!

Saturday was Nick's 9th Birthday. He was so excited to get a new game he asked for from us. We had a bowling birthday party with 20 children! WOW was it loud in there and the kids all made it even louder. Although I have to admit my SIL was the loudest one of all trying to embarass my neice as much as possible everytime she tried to bowl. Miraculously Jake did great in the bowling alley and loved bowling.

We moved all three boys into one room yesterday in preparation for my sister to stay with us for awhile. Even if something happens where she does not we will be keeping them in there and using the other bedroom as a playroom until Matthew is older.

Today I am getting work done and trying to reorganize things around the house! We'll see how that goes since the boys are off today and tomorrow.

So what to do first - the Mount Everest of laundry in my bedroom??? Or maybe tackle the floors that need a good on hands and knees scrubbing???

I'm off to do my SAHM duty.... ;)

About Me

Name: Melanie

Location: New Jersey, United States

Mom of 4 - Nick, Jake, Alex, and Matt, Married to my best friend and other half that makes me whole, Adam. Liberal. Jersey Girl always....

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1. 
2. Adam, The Hubby, My Best Friend & True Love
3. Nicholas, aka The Professor: tenured 9/97
4. Jacob, aka Bam-Bam: debuted 5/01
5. Alexander, aka Lil' Michaelangelo: creating since 8/03
6. Matthew, aka Bun in the Oven: arrived 5/06

Autism Society of America

Autism Speaks

Hugs4SmilesUSA

Autism Recovery Network of Florida

Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

March of Dimes Walk America

The Home Designer

Happy Momma

LadyBug Crossing

Michele Agnew

Amy's Random Thoughts

For The Love of Peas and Monkeys

Valtool's Box

Especially Heather

And Miles To Go Before We Sleep

Our Happy Happenings

My Home Sweet Home

The Goat Rodeo

Not Enough Hours...

Sarge Charlie

It Coulda' Been Worse

My Home Sweet Home

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Some of my all time favorites:
2. The DaVinci Code
3. Angels and Demons
4. The Lovely Bones
5. The Five People You Meet In Heaven
6. The Tales of the Otori
8. All Harry Potter Books
9. Julius Caesar
10. Cell
11. Misery

Disney

All Ears Net

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