The first fruits from our garden:
Kelly and I have known each other for about eight years, but really got to be close friends about six+ years ago when we were both going through our Matthew Pregnancies together. She is such a sweet, loving friend, and we always spend our entire conversations cracking each other up. We've been there for each other for the ups and downs of life, and as time goes on, our friendship gets stronger and stronger.
Our Matthew was born just four days before Their Matthew. When I got home from the hospital, I had a message on my machine asking where was I and was I in the hospital and to CALL HER BACK! So I did. And their answering machine picked up. So, I left a message asking where was she and was she in the hospital and to CALL ME BACK! And, yes, of course, as it turns out, she was too busy having Their Matthew to wait by the phone for my calls.Thankfully, our friendship was able to survive that transgression.
Our boys had "playdates" (if you want to call them that) those first couple of years before they moved to Ohio, but of course, neither boy remembers that. Our Matthew has been looking forward to Their Matthew coming all week. They both love the "Cars" movie and are big time into vehicles. It's a playdate match made in heaven. They hit it off immediately and the cars came tumbling out (sounds like a song...).
After years of interventions from a very, very early age, Their Matthew was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Kelly and Jason have been such A*M*A*Z*I*N*G parents for Matthew. God surely did make just the perfect choice in giving Matthew to them. Kelly and Jason have really advocated for his services in a way that I have never seen parents do before (and have I seen some parents!). Kel and Jason were never rude, but they were able to make Matthew's case heard in a way that gained tremendous therapeutic and financial results. He has had phenomenal therapy in Ohio - very costly therapy - that will make the difference in Matthew being able to start school in a regular classroom. And down the road, to Matthew being a "functional" (don't like that word...) adult. I'm so proud of the gains that Matthew has been able to make. He is adorable and loving and smart and FUN.
And I'm super proud of my girl and her hubbers. They are fabulous, tireless parents.
And besides all that, what's not to love about a girl who also adores "America's Next Top Model" and "The Office"? Especially if she is going to especially admire my stunningly clean carpet...
We have been spending 45 minutes in the late afternoons this week at swimming lessons for Matthew. Ms. Theresa and Miss Shelby (pictured above) are fantastic, and Matthew just loves them. It actually has been a bit unseasonably cool this week, and you know how late summer afternoons are (at least around here): prime thunderstorm time. So almost every day - until today when it was actually sunny the whole time - the sky has looked threatening. One day we had to end the lesson early (due to thunder) and another day it rained the whole time. And since it was always cloudy, poor thin, little Matthew - with his ribs showing - has shivered his way through lessons every day.
He's learned a couple of different strokes, treading water, floating on his back, etc. The hardest part has been getting him to learn to raise his head to breathe and then keep on swimming. Putting his feet down to stand up while he takes a breath has seemed much more convenient. He has been dying to go off the diving board since about Day Two. Today he got his wish. Ms. Theresa was waiting for him below and sent him on his way to swim to the ladder.
Matthew has also struggled with keeping his legs straight to kick. It's funny how one can swim in place if those legs aren't straight for powerful kicks. But Matthew just doesn't give up, and he always works hard to do what they ask. Even though he is not on his way to the Olympics (yet), it's been worth every penny to watch his confidence in his skills grow and the grin on his face as he splashes around in the water. 
Once again, I was gabbing away on the phone (hi Mom!) and looked out the window and saw a woodland creature on the ground. Only hopefully this time the creature isn't dying and doesn't have rabies. On the other hand, I just might choose a rabid raccoon over an almost 4-foot long black snake (click on the pictures for a better view). I know, I know. They scare other snakes away. They eat copperheads. They eat mice and rats. I KNOW. But they're STILL slithery. And then there was that one that shed it's skin in our garage (maybe the same one pictured here). Did you hear (read) what I said? IN OUR GARAGE. Just one of the many times that I told Alan that we needed to move... 
By the way, we also saw a garter snake slithering across the street the other day, but it was further up in the neighborhood, so I didn't feel like that counted in the 2008 Snake Collection...
OK. No. I am still messy, but not quite as dirty, thanks to my new Hoover Steamvac.
While the washer and dryer are working their miracles (one load folded, one load in the dryer, one load in the washer, and one load still on the floor), I thought I would share some memories from our Grayson Highlands (State Park) camping trip over the past week:
We always have lots of good times when we camp there. And this time it was even better and easier because of Camilla. Matthew always asks why we only stay “five” (or, the applicable number) days. We’re looking forward to one more trip there later in the summer. It will be hard to top this one.
1. What is the story of the above picture?
Yeah. So the answer is evidently "d". I was gabbing on the phone this morning and happened to look out the bay window in the kitchen to see this raccoon right beside the slide. Even though we see - as you know - all kinds of wildlife around here, this did freak me out a bit. I let the kids run down there by themselves and play all the time since I can see them from the window. They did not, however, come in contact with the raccoon (which was, btw, still alive...but barely). I called Animal Control, and spiky haired AC dude took the raccoon with him to be euthenized (sp?). He said it was "symptomatic" of rabies (and that it has been a busy rabies season), but that it possibly was just old and sick. He also said that I really, really need to keep S.S.P.Q.o.K. (you know, Su Su Prettiness Queen of the Kitties) up to date with her rabies shots. Which I haven't because she doesn't tolerate shots well at all, and she is rarely outside. Come to find out, I might get a "citation" in the mail because she doesn't have a current license or rabies shot. Whoops. A citation, folks. Thank goodness that Michael Scott created the "Rabies Awareness 5K Fun Run"!
