Spice It Up

Do you know how I had convinced my dear husband to get our Interior Decoration? It is because I played a win-win situation game with him. First, he bought a very expensive toy, a Viking BBQ. So, then I talked him out on hiring the painters for our living and kitchen room in order to look nice in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It worked! If you need my advice on how to convince your husband, you will need to tell me your situation and then I will brainstorm for you.

Then, the painters came on Monday. Without a doubt, it was a REALLY MESS when the plastics were covered all over the living and kitchen room. Since we were not able to walk through, we had to go around the front door to go upstairs, or eat out for two days.

The painters completed the kitchen and living room last Wednesday, just in time when my younger son Ryan got really sick. Once it completed the room, I did want to put it up in my blog, but I didn't want to spoil my parent in law a surprise. I had to hold my horses until Sunday. Wasn't I good at holding my horses?

Finally Sunday came, my parents in law thought they just visited for a BBQ lunch. But actually, we had another surprise for them- our new interior decoration. As soon as they walked in, they were stunned to see the room had changed. Their reaction was, "OHHH MY GOODNESS! I could have stayed here and just look at the walls for hours!"
It felt good to hear a positive comment from our first "interior critics." Cathy, my mother in law, thought it looked like it was from a Home Magazine. Actually, it would even match to home magazine if it has pictures on the wall ! We can't wait until it completes the room.

Even better, it will complete the room once my hard working husband put the Gas Log that I purchased for our living room. This is a perfect ending to have a cozy living room for the Fall and Winter Seasons.

Inspirational Storyteller

Before Ryan's grandparents left for home, I encouraged Ryan to read one of his favorite books, "Five Little Monkeys Jumping Off the Bed" to his grandmother, Cathy. He read every single lines with the use of his inflection. It astounded Cathy when he pointed every single words while reading out loud to her PERFECTLY!


Her small tears showed the joy that Ryan had made an enormous improvement by being able to express from the book. But that was not the only thing lifted her proudest moment. Near the end of the book, there was an exclamation statement, "NO MORE JUMPING OFF THE BED!" He definitely spoke it out loud. Hearing his raising voice made Ryan's grandmother, Cathy chuckled.

Of course, I wished I could use the video but knowing it would interrupted his time to brag to his Grandma. Ryan DOES NOT like to be taken a picture from a camera or being in video. Maybe the next time, I will be able to sneak out and then put in my Youtube.

SCARED TO DEATH

It has nothing to do with saying "Boo" for a pre-Halloween. Can you image getting a phone call/pager from school saying that your child has a high fever 103.5 and lethargic? It happened to my younger child, Ryan. Without thinking clearly, I was panicked and rushed it over with my worst mismatched outfit and painting all over my arms and legs.

While I was on the road, I evoked negatively, teared rolling down my cheeks, and prayed that nothing was too serious. I could NOT image what is like to be without him, so I kept praying all the way to the school and to the hospital.

By the time I arrived, I found my younger son lying down helpless while my other son was active at that time. I had to split my personalities with my innocent older son ,who was trying to share the funny jokes while my other son was helpless in a mini van on our way to the nearby Emergency Room.

In the Emergency Room, Ryan had a very little responsive. That was unlike him because he normally chatted a lot, even though he is autistic. While he was in an observation room, he only responded to the doctor on how he was feeling. His comments were, "different," and "fussy in my head." When I read the comments the nurse wrote it on a computer, it petrified me. Then he went back to sleep. I didn't like seeing his unusual behavior.

He was there for four hours while I was being shivered due to wearing shorts, sleeveless, and sandals without having a jacket with me. I didn't care if I was cold or hungry, the only thing I cared was my cherish son, Ryan.

As a result, it was due to having an Otitis Media Ear Infection on his left ear. He still is not out of woods though he is on an antibiotic. Since he is not out of woods, I know I will be waking up a couple of times during the night because I wanted to make sure he is not over 104 nor being unresponsive. Keep your fingers crossed for me for the night!

Boy with all of these feelings I have had, it was a REAL SCARED to DEATH. Let's hope it will not repeat the pattern.

Photo Memories

My dad was one of the few people who didn't have the original family pictures. His brother had the entire original family photos while my dad collected the family heirlooms: sterling silvers: baby cup, rectangular tray with a monogram on it, and Wine Goblet.

Rather than leaving my dad without having family photo memories, I was gallant enough to ask my Uncle Chris to borrow his entire original family photos ,so David could scan 300 pictures of the family pictures! Fortunately, my Uncle Chris was kind to let us borrow his treasure: original family pictures. It even took us a long time to get all of the pictures done. Within six months, our average was scanning the pictures was about 40-50 pictures while having kids around and then brought the original pictures back to my uncle at each time we saw each other. He was really patiently to let me complete all of the pictures within two years of borrowing his pictures. After we finally finished scanning 300 pictures, we then ordered all of the 300 pictures for the scrapbook. Once we got all of the 300 pictures, I started attending the Creative Memories Workshop along with other deaf people. That's where I learned from the scratch and close to becoming an expert. While I was there without kids for an entire day, I often collected the ideas, given suggestions by others, and learning to play with my "borrowing" new toys from the workshop.
This had given me the energy to finish the scrapbook for my dear dad. In fact, it took me nearly two entire years to finish it: 100 pages!

Even after I finished making the final family scrapbook for my dad as a gift, I still will have to wait until I see my dad and then hand the final gift to him; the family scrapbook. It leaves me pondering how he would react. What do you think? Shall I call him to come over to see us (he lives about an hour and a half from our home) for his belated birthday gift or what? I am opened to suggestions.

You're Banana!

This morning, we were looking and reading the newspaper. Ryan happened to find the Halloween ads. There was one of the Halloween costumes: dressing up in a banana. It was sort of funny when Ryan brought the conversation up.

The conversation began from Ryan:

Ryan telling his daddy as I was interpreting what he had said: "Daddy, you are not banana."

I then jumped in a conversation, " Oh, then am I banana?"

Ryan said, " No, you are not banana."

I last said to him, "Then, who is Banana?"

Ryan said in a front of Dylan, "Dylan is banana."

I held my laughter, "Why do you think Dylan should be a banana?" Ryan said to Dylan that made him angry, " Because he is CRAZY !" (Ryan has learned this from Dylan because Dylan always telling his classmate that he has a crazy brother, Ryan. So knowing that Ryan got an even with him.)

I burst into laughter. Dylan thought it was not funny and trying to revenge on Ryan. I had to calm Dylan down, but I thought it was a cute yet funny conversation Ryan made this Sunday morning.

Pumpkin Patch!

Finally, we came back to Oma's Pumpkin Patch a week later after we had kept our promise for the boys to visit! It was the first time we visited after we last visited this place when Ryan was five months old and Dylan was eighteen months old.

We can say that we would give this place a five star. It indeed has improved incredibly since we last saw this place. This place also provided more than just looking around for the pumpkins and going on a Hayride!

This place includes: playground equipment with swings, even has playground equipments for toddlers, Sand Pile with toys trucks and tractors for the kids, new covered hay rides around the farm, Hay Bale Maze, Petting Bottle Bowling, Petting Zoo, picnic tables, and Cottonseed Mountain.

The first thing Dylan and Ryan went up to Cottonseed Mountain while I was waiting to meet Ryan's former pre-school teacher at the entrance. It was a perfect way to go up the CottonSeed (made out of sheep wool ) Mountain before we take their first snow experience in Julian, California. The cottonseed was really soft, yet a lot better than just using the sand or grass, or even sliding down on a mudslide!

After they finished their experience going on Cotton Seed Mountain, they dared to try out for Hay Bale Maze. I found they were pretty amazing to find their way out without our assistance. It was like playing hide-n-seek for them. The joy was seeing them giggling whenever we looked them over their heads!

Next, they visited the Petting Zoo. In a small pen, Oma's Pumpkin Patch had goats, calves, and lambs. As soon as they walked in a pen and pet the animals, Ryan ran up to us (his former teacher, Mrs. Morales and me), "The Cow says, "moo!" Isn't that cute? They really enjoyed touching the pets.


The last activity was the best part of our visit! Do you know what was it? Well believe it or not, we witnessed the birth of a calf while riding on a Hay Ride ! That's right you are reading it correctly, that was a blessing to see the entire moment when the driver had to stop and help the other farmer delivering the calf!Once our ride was over, there was a very long line waiting for the Hayride ! We were indeed fortunately to go on at the right time and at the right place. After witnessing this awesome experience, we decided to pick out the free Jack Pumpkin. Dylan and Ryan chose their own pumpkin. Not only to planning on decorating the pumpkin, we also purchased the yummy dessert: pumpkin bread!

Without a doubt, we would like to revisit the same place. If you are in town, you are more than welcome to join the fun with us.

Ripple Effect

Apparently everyone in our town is having a ripple effect, a stomach virus! Oh, doesn't that sound fun to you ?! Of course not ! Unfortunately, both of my sons were out sick twice this week from school.

This also includes my students, so it left me hanging it loose throughout the day except catching my lesson plans up.

In the meantime, I am knocking myself on the wood for not getting any virus. If I did, then I would not worry about missing anything as I have a two week of a Fall Break ! Yeah, it would make my own mother in law jealous that I have more break than she does!!! :-)