Q&A #157

Just wanted to say I'm just as OCD even with our kid's names. All 3 of our kids first names are 5 letters long and end in EN. There is definately an art to naming kids. :) Is Kellsey's middle name Jean?
Kellsey actually has 2 middle names... we wanted to keep with tradition and give her our family middle name of Jean, but we also wanted to let her keep a little of her heritage. Her birth name is Victoria, so her full name is Kellsey Jean-Victoria Garcia. Kind of long, but filled with meaning! :)

Thanks Renee for the supper ideas. I actually love to cook but always lookin for easy stuff too. Do you use a crockpot? That would be something nice for u to use since u have the kids and dont like cookin.
I DO actually... one of my favorite things to make in the crockpot is a pork roast... I throw in mushrooms and the little baby onions, red potatoes and celery... (no carrots because cooked carrots are NASTY) and Lipton onion soup mix. MMMMM I may have to make that soon. All my kids will eat that except Kameron. My picky child. LOL I also like corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot. However, neither Kass or Kam will eat that. *sigh* It's much more worth it to make those things when Frank is home... less leftovers. We're SO not good with eating leftovers!

Is Kennedy still handling it well that she's not going to school with Kassidy and Kameron anymore?
Some days yes, some days no. I think once we get involved with these homeschool groups, it will really help. Every day is a new adventure!

Glad you are back. Sorry that Kameron is sick. Guess he will not make perfect attendance this year? Tell him that it's okay and cheer up if he is upset about that. I remember striving for perfect attendance and getting sick and not getting it and been more upset over that than being sick. Give him a hug.
Actually he was not striving for that this year, thank goodness! His goal this year is to stay on "green" all year (good behavior), which means NO talking in class! LOL That's much harder than it sounds for him! I know he can do it if he sets his mind on it though! :)

I must admit....I was about to yell at you for coming to California and NOT letting me know so I could meet you guys BUT luckily common sense set in and I realized the reason for your trip wasn't for pleasure. And it sounds like you didn't even have the kids with you. I do hope you will all make it out this way someday though.
LOL I know, there were A LOT of people I didn't get to see (or meet) this time that I would have loved to, but it really was a quick trip. Kennedy was with me so we could do some school work, but the other kids were at home. We are hoping to make another trip out with everyone next Summer.

Perfect timing. I was just signing on to mention an amusement park I saw advertised in Budget Travel. Morgan's Wonderland is a 25 acre amusement park in San Antonio designed especially for special-needs children. It says free for those with special needs and $5 per person for everyone else.
Of course, it looks like yours do just fine with a regular amusement park. Still, I know you are always on the look-out for special needs info and someone else might not know about this opportunity.
What a cool place! I had heard about it before but had never checked out the website. Looks like an awesome park!! Thanks for sharing!

Hey Renee .. just wanted to let you know I just watched you on TLC over here in NORWAY... you are world famous girl! :-)
LOL That is so funny! Someone else saw it in Norway too a few months ago! So strange they show it there! :)

As long as Ive been reading your blog. I didnt know u had a brother.
LOL Yep! We don't see each other all that much. I have posted about him before. My brother, Brent, is 24 (seven years younger than me). He lives in Northern California and has a girlfriend named Ruth who we all LOVE and hope they will get married someday! He works for an accounting firm and is taking accounting classes. He and Ruth came out here a few years ago for Christmas, but mostly my mom goes out to visit them. Life is busy!

So does your family just like the letter K ;)? It's nice to see a smile on your Nonnie's face given the circumstances. Pretty amazing that the house still looks the same as when you were a kid. Mine does too, but my parents still live there, lol. Well, the inside has changed a lot over the years, but the outside still looks the same.
LOL Yes... my other cousin has a daughter named Mikayla (who goes by Kayla sometimes) and a son, Cody... and then a daughter Brittany who is so left out! haha My poor Nonnie has the hardest time mixing up everyone's names! :o) She held up really well throughout the week and my Bompie's service. We were all very proud of her. It's going to be hard now that everyone has gone home. It is pretty amazing about our house! LOL I was shocked to see even the color was the same!

Hi! Do all Chili's participate in the fundraiser?
Yes, I believe it is every Chili's nationwide. For more info though you can go to Create-A-Pepper and they have stuff about it on the left hand side. :) Thanks for asking!!

HI, I don't think I've posted before, but I've been following your blog for a while. I thought you might be interested in this link for supporting soldiers.
Thanks!! Check it out everyone!

I have a complex situation so bare with me while I explain. My husbands uncle is diagnostically labeled mentally retarded. He had seizures from birth resulting in an IQ of around 60 or 70. Had he been a child growing up in today's he might have even been diagnosed as having an autistic like disorder (hand flapping, clapping, routines, can't read social cues, doesn't really have a filter ect). He does not acknowledge the fact that he is different which sometimes leads me to believe that maybe he doesn't realize it. He is loving sweet and wonderful man who I have grown close to over the last couple of years. He also suffers from MS.
Ok that being said every time he makes a mistake or can't do anything he does that thing that kids do when they are making fun of intellectually disabled people. Where they flop the wrist and hit it against their chest and say duh! Every time he makes a mistake he does it or he will refer to himself as a "retard". I know he was teased greatly as a child, probably in this way and maybe that is where it comes from. When you meet him you can tell there is something a little different about him. However, I don't think it coming from someone with an intellectual disability makes it any better. How should I deal with this situation? Do you tell him that's not appropriate? Do you let him know that everyone makes mistakes? I want him to know that he doesn't have to make fun of himself. He has accomplished so much while having to work so hard but he works really hard. I'm just curious how you would deal with this situation?
I think you're right on with letting him know that everyone makes mistakes and that it's ok. I'll be interested to hear what my other readers think, though.