There's Even More Where That Came From:

Surprised that I had yet another bunch of climbing layouts? I think I'm done now.



Text:
Even though Noah was nervous he roped up for his second climb of the year on this same wall. Michael belayed and gave encouragement. Noah was able to get higher than he had before.

_{Naked Stamps by Meredith Fenwick, Boy Buttons by Natalie Braxton, Font: DB Michael, Tasty Tattoo used as an overlay, background paper from Chalked Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney, "U Shine" doodle by Bee Good Designs, doodle arrow by Kate Hadfield, backward staples by Jenn Patrick}

Text: Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it."
---- Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944)

_{Background papers from Chalked Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney, Grunge Alpha by Birgit, black bunch Alpha by The Powers Sisters, Naked Stamp Sheet by Meredith Fenwick, Boy Buttons by Natalie Braxton, Font: DB Michael,Dalyhand, Cold Coffee, Ripped and Torn template by Jen Caputo, Tasty Tattoo used as the two corner overlays, date stamps by Amber Clegg, backward staples by Jenn Patrick}

Tree Castle Island is our current family reading book. The story takes place in the Okefenokee Swamp. The kids like the different terms they are learning about in the story. For example, there are islands called "blow ups" that are made of peat moss which appear like a normal island, but when you step on them you sink. Another term is "hammock" which, in this context, means an area in the swamp with hardwoods like oak and sweet gum. We have only completed 3 chapters, so I will give my review when we complete the book.

:::::::::::::::::::::It's Midnight::::::::

and Rachel is creating collage faces using my digital scrapbooking magazine. The faces are very quirky and she's having fun. What a great combination!



::::::::::::::::More Lidocaine, Please!::::::

The family has been applying periodic doses of lidocaine to our red skin. Hopefully we will be better in a couple of days.

::::::::::::::::College for Kids::::::::

Today Rachel begins her third Summer in the College for Kids program. She is involved in their future authors class. She loves creative writing and the program is to help expand her ideas for writing. The school has a vanity press, so all of the participating students will have their finished writing piece printed. Grandpa plans to pick Rachel up tomorrow, so they can talk about her first day. Michael will then pick her up the rest of the week. Michael can't go Monday because he has his regularly scheduled apheresis appointment at the Red Cross.

:::::::::::::::Discover Magazine::::::::

has an article on Autism in their April 2007 issue. "Autism: It's Just Not In Your Head"

::::::::::::::::Fuzzy Math:::::::::

Discover Magazine had an interesting math question, which I posed to Michael and he answered it immediately, then went on to explain how he came by that answer. Here is the question from the magazine: Heavy Eggs.

What interested me more about this question happened at our family swimming over at Stephen's house. I had Michael ask two of his brother's the question and they thought about it and gave their answers. They were close. Noah, in a very brief stint out of the pool, came up and began explaining how to get the answer. Michael and I listened as he explained the process correctly using his hands to mimic how to go about weighing the eggs. He didn't mimic the words Michael had used, but used his own ideas. We didn't realize he had been paying attention. What a funny dude!

Here is another funny Noah story on Grandpa Jim's blog.

:::::::::::::::::Christmas 1974

My mom found these photos and I remembered having such a blast for years with these toys:

Text: I'm not sure if there was anything left on the shelves for other kids in 1974. Some of my presents included a doctor's kit, playdoh, View Master, a make-up and hairstyling set, Barbie's Jet, Barbie clothes, new pajamas and a Baby of Mine. I went to get the kids who were spending the night with my mom and on the floor was the red leather Barbie jacket which is the one in the photo.

_{Background paper from by Kay Miller, Beauty Mark blog freebie by the Powers Sisters, Handpainted Alpha and Holiday Label by Michelle Coleman, Really Big Ribbons by Natalie Braxton, Vintage frames by Nancy Comelab, Font: Dalyhand/Jane Austen}


Smiles...and OUCH!...off to apply lidocaine!

Rock Climbing 101

_{Background from Oil Paints 2 by Gina Miller, Borderlines 4 by Sande Krieger, Tattoo Graffitti by Rhonna Farrer, Date Stamps by Amber Clegg, Highlighter (Modfied), doodle circle and doodle line from Dear Diary by Erica Hite, Cardboard tear by Linda Gil Bildal, Backward Staples by Jenn Patrick, Labels by Janel Kretschmann, Cluster Frame by Nancy Comelab, Journal star by Catrine, Star water color by Ida, Alpha by Powers Sisters, Font: DB Michael, Distress, Chalkdust, and Downcome}

Text:Rachel was able to climb to the top of her first outdoor route on a Memorial Day trip with her dad and siblings. Michael took the kids to Sand Rock, Alabama and was able to teach the kids more about the basics of climbing. Aaron got to work on requirements for his Climbing Merit Badge, too. Rachel and Aaron were a great team!

Michael makes sure Rachel is properly tied into the rope using a figure 8 knot. Aaron helps encourage Rachel while he is on belay. This wall is a great practice wall for beginners.

::::::::::::::::::::::::Testing is Finished!::::::::

::::::::::::::::::::::::Girl Scout Cookies::::::::::

are finally being mailed to the troops! The young man that is the brother to one of Rachel's troop members was able to get his mother the address for his brigade in Iraq. We will be mailing them in the morning using the flat rate shipping boxes recommended for troop items.

::::::::::::::::::::::::A Big Shout Out:::::::::::::

for the inventor of the quick seal for envelopes! I can remember eons ago when I would help my mom lick envelopes for mailings going out for the Autism Society. The glue didn't taste half bad, but the paper cuts were a killer! Licking envelopes reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when George's finance licks all of their wedding invitation and ends up dying from a poison in the glue. George was being cheap, so he bought some cheesy foreign envelopes. It was very funny in a macabre sort of way.

Smiles!

New Book and Layouts:

The new family reading book is The BFG
Roald Dahl is a twisted dude, so we should have an exciting time. The chapters are short, so we read 5 of them last night.

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<sub>Flying Home kit by Studio Sandra at Scrapbookgraphics,
Extra Stitching by Sandra Boddington at Scrapbookgraphics,
Cardboard flip by Linda Gil Bildal,
Font: DB Michael by Darcy at blueflombingo/ Artistamp Medium/Jane Austen



Our First day at Disney World in 2006 was a rainy one, but we had fun anyway.

Background paper called redattitude by Lisa Whitney, Cluster Frames by Nancy Comelab,
Weather Doodles by Kate Hadfield,
Vehicle Doodles by Kate Hadfield (modified with clone stamp),
Date stamp by Amber Clegg
Fonts: DB Michael by Darcy at blueflombingo,
Waltograph/Jester</sub>

***************AUTISM**********

Please watch this videoby Five For Fighting. The band is donating money each time the video is viewed. The song is beautiful and the video is filled with children who have Autism.

P.S. I LOVE You my DDDDDDDDDDDDD

your sister

TGIF

_{Sequins: TandikaSunshine Felt: Tiff BradyRibbon: Natalie BraxtonPaper Doodle Arrows: Kate HadfieldDate Stamp: Amber CleggPaper Flower Doodles: Kate HadfieldReal Buttons: Lisa WhitneyPaper Doodle Frames: Kate HadfieldStaple: KSharonK (Wishing You kit)Paper Doodle Alpha: Kate Hadfield Say It journal pieces: Dani MogstadFont: Rockwell, Artistamp MediumDesigner Doodad Labels One: Mo JacksonBackground Paper: ClikChic Design Team}

::::::::::::The Painters are almost done!::::::::

The outside of the face is looking cohesive now. The body paint colors is called: Universal Khaki and the trim is: Antique White. We still haven't decided on an accent color. I went by Lowe's and picked up some architectural pickets to rebuild the front porch. The are black and have a really beautiful bend.

::::::::::::Next week's Schedule::::::::::::::::

Next week is conference week with Noah and Rachel's teachers. Eve also has her follow up study at the Autism Research Center. They will track what her eyes look at during a series of photos. She loves doing studies, so she should be happy.

::::::::::::Girl Scout Cookie Sells::::::::::::::

are over! Noah was upset when he pointed to the box of Samoas and said, "I want those!" that they didn't automatically appear. I had to explain that you have to WAIT when you order Girl Scout cookies.

Memory Lane Kit and Paper Clips

_{Memory Lane kit by Sandra Boddington Designs at The Sweet Shoppe Designs, "E" by Rhonna Farrer, FOnt: Marcie's Skinny Script, Artistamp Medium}

Today we watched Paper Clips a movie about a class project done in Whitwell, Tennessee. The children and teachers were trying to wrap their minds about the 6,000,000 Jews killed in the Holocaust. The ended up receiving over 20,000,000 paper clips and setting up a memorial using a German boxcar.

I did some research about the paper clip idea and came across this site: Holocaust Education. The history of the paper clip used to start the project in Tennessee was erroneous, but the outcome was amazing non the less.


::::::::::::::::::::Child Study Center:::::::::::::

Evey got to wear a yellow cap with leads on it to study her brain waves. She was being used as a "normal" control for a study on Autism. The students working with her were really nice and Eve told me she had a fun time. She also picked out a new magnet puzzle with fish on it as a reward from center.

Sam Taylor We Will Miss You:

An old family friend died last week of a massive coronary. His name was Sam Taylor. He could remember the call letters of my stepfather's C.B. He could remember verbatim conversations that you had with him. Sam's memory was astounding, but his limitation was autism. My brother, Denny, is perpetually hovering around 4 years-old in communication and understanding (from what we can tell). Sam functioned on a genius level. Sam had high aspirations, but being the U.S. President would always elude him. He loved to meet politicians and he was honest. So being autistic and honest would have always kept him from the inner circle of politics. He loved to shake hands with the governors of Georgia. This layout shows Sam, his grandmother, my mother, and brother with the, then, Governor George Busbee.


_{Papers and elements from Fee Jardine's Cool Denim Baby Kit, Font: OldgateLaneOutline, Barbara Hane. Overlay freebie Designs by Lauren at DSP}

Wes Sarginson has done news features about Sam Taylor a few times and he did a final tribute to Sam in this:
News Article and Video Link.


:::::::::::::::

In Rhonna Farrer's interview in Creative Keepsakes she mentioned one of her new favorite font's called >Newcastle. I went on to check the website called CHANK and found some other wonderful free fonts. The Halloween Font pak by B.J. Harvey was pretty cool. I also liked Cowboy Rumbahut by Matt Frost. There are several neat fonts so see what you think!

Also check Rhonna'sblog she has a link to 5 png files that are awesome for some Halloween fun on cards or layouts. Her link is not only for digital folks. If you paperscrap she has stuff for them too!

:::::::::::::::
This is my "creation" for the Outrageous Lyric challenge at Scrap Artist. I chose the B 52's song "Love Shack". I figured being from Georgia and having driven down the Atlanta Highway was a good enough reason. So here it is:




_{background photo and sign from Stockexchange Photos, Glitter on the road and front porch by Jen Wilson, Fairies and word blocks by Hope Wallace, Toy Chrysler from Mo Jackson's Party Favors, Jukebox photo from the web, road by Cherie, Daydreamer doodle by nancy Rowe Janitz, Glitter Kiss by Michelle Coleman, glitter heart and the word love by Emily Powers, Fuzzy heart by Kim Christensen and one by Scrapabyte, Font: Minya Nouvelle and paintball, notebook paper from Gina Miller's Note This, pattern paper from Michelle Coleman's Boho Chic, glitter swirl from Michelle Coleman's Birthday Elements, paper man from Maya's Jumping Jacks}

::::::::::::::::::

Noah has his first pack meeting tonight with his Tiger Cub pack. He is excited. Michael just called from the scout office to pick up the missing uniform pieces. Michael had all of Aaron's old patches removed rather quickly. He will have them sewed on in no time.

:::::::::::::::::

I need to go throw some chicken into the slow cooker. I think chicken enchiladas might be good for today!

Smiles!

Cleaning the World...One Piece of Pinestraw at a Time:

_{background paper blends and elements found in Gina Cabrera's Lucky Star kit and Kim Christensen's Rad Kit
Font: Georgia
Alphas: Newspaper by Rikki, and funky black chip board alpha by Gina Miller.}


Text by Jim Towhey:

TV networks save their best for sweeps week; the bi-annual test of what is working and what is not. Of course at our house the term has an entirely different meaning.

As I have noted in the past, our boy Denny is his own man. The inner workings of the autistic mind have never been easy to understand but when Denny decides it is time for something to happen, it usually will.

Denny has always had a penchant for collecting and disposing of the odd detrious of modern life. Each week in the laundry Denny's pockets (when he is willing to wear clothes with pockets) provide handfuls of strange items; Pull tabs from soft drink cans, gum wrappers, rubber bands, pens, lint and the ever-present pine straw.

Denny has always had a "thing" about pine straw, the stringy, brown pine needles that cover our yards, walkways and rooftops here in dixie. Earlier in his lanscaping career our boy would bolt away from us and suddenly pluck flowers and plants out of the ground by their roots and fling them away before we could react. We always coped, but it was tough on the school plantings and relatives yards.

As he aged and slowed down a bit he would simply collect handfuls of pine straw until he could carry no more and then fill the household trash cans or the back seat of the car. Lately Denny has refused to stop collecting the stuff despite our pleas and protests. To adapt, we simply set aside an old cardboard box for him to fill and he is happy. I then get to return the pine straw to the yard.

Today, on his arrival home Denny started collecting mamouth mounds of pine straw and would not come in the house. Rare, since he usually can't wait to hit the fridge and get his favorite treat; and ice cold Pepsi.

With no end to his crazed landscaping in sight, we gave Denny a push broom. The plan was a form of reverse psychology - he usually won't use tools, as they require actual work. To our suprise he attempted to sweep the entire driveway, side walk and lawn free of the offending needles. The guy was workin' his butt off!!

I broke out the leaf blower and backed him up, collecting the big heaping mounds into his box and adding them to the landscaping in the proper place. It was like working with the demented groundskeeper, Karl, from the movie Caddyshack. The wild-eyed man with the broom frantically sweeping the lawn while I attempted to place the collected material where it needed to be.

I eventually had to explain that we were done, and it was time to go in. The boss just handed me the broom and walked away - mission accomplished! I wish he would get this excited about scrubbing tile or cleaning the toilet - then he would have a real "sweeps week" winner!!

::::::::::::::::::

Rachel is my voracious reader, so when I saw on Janna's site about the fun challenge going on at Kathryn Balint's site I joined in and made this page with the freebie made by Carol Baumann:

My handsome brother and some layouts:

If you want to take a peek into the life of a profoundly autistic adult check out my stepfathers hilarious blog. My brother, Denny, has some interesting habits and I am convinced he is telepathically linked to my kids. Now, I'm not sure who is in charge in this situation, but I tell ya it gets kinda weird.




Circus Kit designed by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Notepaper: Magnolia Kit by Katie Pertiet
Fonts Used: Stamped DSG,Pupcat, Too Many Secrets, Artistamp Medium, Tempus Sans ITC. Hand Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman.



Kit design by Melissa Rose at Liddy's Loft



Sketch by Jen Caputo.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::

My kids are into vintage cartoons. I picked up a dvd pack at Walls...mart one day and gave it to the kids. Popeye was their favorite for a month. Now their favorite is Little Audrey. I can't find a decent photo of her on line, but the kids laugh out loud whenever they watch.

::::::::::::::::::::::::

Another show movie...50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler is a film we borrowed and Aaron and Rachel really liked. I, especially, like the end of the film. It is not a Hollyweird ending.

::::::::::::::::::::::::

School is going okay for Rachel and Noah. Rachel is keeping up her chatty ways...I've signed both notes from the teacher, but she likes school. Noah had a blast in science class. The teacher did a word assessment with him and he knew 45% of the words.... Did I tell you he liked science...!

Aaron has not been cooperative at all!!! ARGH! FUME! SIGH! Oh well! He does want to learn some history stuff and music. I have a few Usborne internet-linked books that are pretty cool! For health I had him read about puberty! He was creeped out, but that is normal for lots of folks. Michael has started Aaron's astronomy class. Michael is using his college book and outline as a basis for the class. Aaron thought is was a cool idea until he had to READ! SURPRISE! Did I say...ARGH! FUME! SIGH! The Teenager was arrived...!

My Big Brother:

_{Mo Jackson's Primitive Scrapbooking, Color Happy Papers by Michelle Coleman, overlay by Nancy Rowe Janitz, frame (modified) by Shabby Princess and Font: Pea Lis and Pea Cammi-pea, Edwardian Script ITC}
Text: This is my big brother, Denny! What would I like my kids to know about their uncle as they look at these early photos? From what my mother told me when he was born, Denny, was a quiet baby. He did not fuss to be picked up. That seemed comforting to a brand new mother, but a little strange.. He has a pair of the most beautiful deep brown eyes. In physical build and appearance he is extremely similar to our dad. As he got a little older his hair grew straignt up making him look like he had a cute little buzz cut all the time. When he would play with his toys or with cans everything woulld be lined up perfectly. He would get upset if my mother needed a can from somewhere within his perfect line. When Denny was 4 years-old the diagnosis of Autism was given to the behaviors he was exhibiting. The research into Autism was in its infancy in the United States. He had a behvioral disorder with no clear cause. There were people who held the false belief that Autism was caused by the mother's lack of desire to have the baby when she was pregnant. My mother's love for Denny has never diminished. Our mother met with every leading doctor in the field of Autism research or wrote to them. Doctoral students from Emory University worked with Denny.
He kept an immaculate and perfectly ordered room until I arrived. I created a lot of agitation in his life. My mom said he clapped one hand tightly on my head and said, "GO AWAY!" When my kids tear up stuff I just straightened up I have a greater understanding of how he must have felt. My mom misses the gentle smile she could coax from him when he was small. Now they are forced and distant. Puberty was a tumultous time for him and rather dangerous for him and for us. He is an adult man in his 40s now and the constant in his life is a family who loves him.


---Denny is kind of a phantom that moves around my mother's house. The kids know his room is off limits to toy borrowing, but if Granny goes with them they can give him a kiss. His weight level is on the slim side these days, so we call him skinny Denny. Several years ago he had a long period of time where he ate only hormel chili. He got heavy and we nicknamed him Buddha Boy and said you could rub his tummy for good luck. He is sort of the Oprah of the Autistic community.
My step father gives him a shower and a shave everyday. My mother takes him to school at the DeKalb Service Center where he has a wonderful teacher named Steve. His friend, Debbie, got moved to another class recently and Denny is not pleased. My step mother cuts Denny's thick brown hair. I find it a blessing that our step parents give inordinate amounts of unconditional love and service.

My brother has the coolest bed sheets by the way. He has the original Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars and Disney's Robin Hood bed sheets. They are growing thread bare, but my mother's attempts to change them have been met with disapproval.

---Speaking of meeting with disapproval... my 3 year-old is crying because I made her the DREADED pancakes instead of waffles. I think I might break out the old "There are people starving in Africa..." line because I'm not making something different to appease a tantrum. Stubborn mom...stubborn 3 year old.

Smiles everyone smiles (even if this isn't Fantasy Island)!

Mama Doris

_{I used Paper Moons kit by Anna Benjamin called "Cuppy's Room" and Gina Miller's BYOBB Kit Add On Kit. Font used: Mama Script}

Text: What I see know when I look at this photograph is that
Mama Doris Harris came to visit us at our little apartment off Shallowford Road in Decatur. Mama Doris always used this same color of red to dye her hair for as long as she lived.
My brother, Denny, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of four used to smile for the camera. He would smile until right about the time he reached puberty, then he only smiled a forced smile when instructed to do so. Before I came along he kept his room very neat and clean. One day when I was playing when I was very young he gripped the top of my head tightly and told me to "Go Away.' I feel bad for messing up the world he needed to keep in an organized way.
My mom says my birth helped her keep things in perspective and that it was nice to be able to talk to someone.
I would spend summers with Mama Doris and Daddy Bill in Phenix City Alabama, where she would ply me with all sorts of treats: Pringles, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Reese Cups, vanilla ice cream, Coca Cola, Loorna Doones and Sugar Wafers.
From Mama Doris I learned sarcasm could be honed to a fine art, one my husband doesn't particularly want me to use. She also kept her home immaculate and always presented herself in an elegant manner whenever she left her home.
Single photos can illicit so many memories....

My Mom

Text:
"Before she was my mom she was voted "Most Friendly" in her high school in Alabama. That personality remains. Wherever we go she seems to know someone, if she doesn't she introduces herself quickly. When I was a kid she would take me to work with her at The Emory Clinic, where she worked as a medical secretary. She let me "work" with her at my own desk. I loved to sharpen pencils and straighten up papers. She would buy me an Eskimo Pie for being a good helper. My brother, Denny, is profoundly Autistic. She gathered as much information as she could to be his advocate. She still does that for him today. He lives with her and my stepfather. Sometimes when I visit with my children I get to hear her read the same stories that she would read us both when we were little kids. Denny still loves the story of "The Diamond D" from the Sesame Street book.
Now she is known to my four children as Granny Sue. She invites them to spend Friday evenings as a sleepover in her home. She teaches them to make biscuits for breakfast on Saturday mornings. She also makes sure they have paper, pens, crayons and paints so that they can create art while sitting in her kitchen. She is truly a "GRAND" Mother!"

This layout used Dorothy's Kitchen, Crepe Paper flowers and butterfly wings created by Mo Jackson. The font: Michele

My mother has taken care of my autistic brother for 43 years and she amazes me every day with patience, fierce determination and love. I was fortunate to have a wonderful book recommended to me by a friend. She knows we have reading night with our children every evening and suggested the book Alcapone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cheldenko. My friend did not know that I had an autistic brother. This book so clearly expressed the frustrations and hopes that the family has for an autistic child. My children comforted me as I cried reading the book to them. The book opened opportunities to discuss my childhood with my brothers autistic idiosyncrasies and sometimes violent outbursts during his adolecense. I am proud of my children for simply excepting Denny for the person he is, their Uncle Denny. So, if you get a chance check out Alcapone Does My Shirts from your local library.