Saturday in October

Saturday was a busy day! 

There was so much scheduled and we couldn't make it to every activity. 

Here are a few things we were able to do:

I took John for the water fall hike at the White Tanks in the morning.

We met up with one of John's classmates and his mother.  His mom is an undercover police officer/single mother.  She was an inspiration to me.  John's friend also has an ASD.  The two of them did great!  John absolutely LOVED having a playdate with someone who understands him.

CLASSIC.  These boys are much too busy to stop for a photo!

We bolted back to the stadium for Ella's soccer game.  They won!  John had a game too and they tied.  Both kiddos are doing great in soccer.  It's still really hot outside, but they are troopers.

Ahh yessss......  The BIG NIGHT!  Kelley Smith (a.k.a. - Glamma Fabulous) had her famous Halloween party.  She always does an AMAZING job.  Thanks to Jen, we went as the rescued Chilean miners!!  Screaming "CHILE!!" all night long was a blast. 

Do you like my man-ponytail?  Isn't it gross?

Adam saving me from the pool.

Napoleon and Kip

Blues Brothers

Jason, Jen and their "STACHES"

I don't know what was on my camera lense...probably dust from the mine. 

We were dancing like there was no tomorrow.  Look at Lindsey in her blue zombie prom dress on the right!  Sarah is on the left!  Creepy zombies!

Melanie and Tom went as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac!  VERY SCARY!!!

Sarah and Ben...BEST COSTUMES!  We also danced to thriller!!

Adam and I weren't messing around.

We danced like crazy.

We ate the famous Dennis chili.

It was a great night!

Thanks to Kelley and Nana for providing a fabulous evening!

Tricia's Wedding!!

We went to my dearest high school BFF's wedding over the weekend.  It was so fun to see friends from high school.  Tricia was a gorgeous bride. 

The photographer took some photos of us, but the pics aren't on his website yet...so our Canon will have to suffice until then.  Here is a quick run down of our romantic getaway!

Seeing approximately 15 of these freeway signs on the drive to Cali.

The weekend with my darling.

No shower.  Yes, and when we got to the hotel I was ashamed to be seen.

We spiffed-up just in time for the beautiful glass Wayfarer's Chapel on an ocean cliff.  It was breezy and wonderful.  The sunset was brilliant too.  Adam is decked out in his gray suit, blue button-down.  I decided on a gray/blue DownEast Basics dress, silk and beads necklace with matching earrings, and my one-hour shoes.  Cost of both outfits: somewhere around $50 (we already owned most of it).  

+$3.49 for my fake eyelashes!  I learned how to glue them on right before the big day.

The BRIDE (a.k.a. - Trish, summer school companion, soccer TM, BFF, law school Valedictorian, the list goes on!)  Memories flooded my mind of our crazy high school days.

They are just too personal and hilarious to share on blogger.

Tricia's Dad told her we were there right as she turned here into the chapel. 

We shared a good cry together after the ceremony.

Congrats!

Anya and Kristi!!  Kristi's baby is due any minute!!  We were thinking it might happen during the ceremony.  There was lots of laughing that night!  Doesn't she look great..??  Another friend from high school!!

Yeah, so I don't have any more photos of our crazy night.  We all talked and danced (Adam and I danced until our legs cramped up).  We were smiling until our faces were hurting.  I wish I had more time with that bride but the day was wonderful!!

Redondo...view from our hotel room.  About 10 feet away from the water.  The the harbor seals were barking 24-7.  Adam and I giggled about that.

Yacht club.

Trying to get a cute shot of us was quite an ordeal.  So Adam started getting silly.

Why am I standing like Peter Pan?

Adam setting up the camera for a photo...Oopsies!  Look at that crazy face I'm making!

The camera kept falling. 

So we made another crazy face and then left for breakfast and home.

It was a great trip with my sweetheart. 

Thanks to Nana for having John and Ella stay!

ZooWalk 2010

We had a wonderful time at the ASU ZooWalk for Autism Research.  I think about 30 people attended for our team!!  The team photos didn't really come out, but we had a blast.  Thanks to everyone! 

I tried not to break out the ugly cry all morning.

Starting the walk!

Oh, this photo came out fuzzy....Wah!  But we were so grateful. 

Even John's 1st and 2nd grade teachers made it!

John mentioned he was excited to be around other kiddos with ASD's.

We were a little army.

Ella reaching for her baby giraffe doll.  I don't know why, but I love this photo...her hair band falling out, busy grownups all around, but all she wanted was her baby giraffe.

This tiger was very scary.  It was pacing around waiting for someone to fall into the cage.

My brother David and friends.  Do you know which one is David? 

Giraffes were running.

John (a.k.a. Johnny, John Bon, Bon-Bon, The Goat)

He has another evaluation next week!  We're wondering if the diagnosis will lift or change.  Either way, we're so thankful for two amazing kids.  They make life better.

Growing Kids, Growing Hair and Growing Old

Time is going by so fast.  I kiss the kids goodbye every morning and appreciate their growing independence.  They are both great kids.  They don't have things easy, and they are really growing into amazing people despite life's challenges.  I'm really honored to be their mom.  John dreams big and wants to save money for family goals.  He even talks about ways to get a college scholarship. 

This is Ella mopping in her ruby slippers from Nana.

While dropping Ella off at school this morning I gave her a kiss and said goodbye.  She stopped and stared right into my eyes for a moment.  "Momma, I love you" she said, then hugged me one more time and hurried off to school.  The boys at school are already starting to say how pretty she is.  Of course she is.  She's OUR TREASURE.

I'm growing my hair out too.  I don't want to pay for a hair cut right now.  I'll keep curling it, overdosing on hairspray, and pulling it into a pony until I can figure something out.  I think I'm starting to go bald (maybe from all that hairstyling?).  My fine hair is getting finer by the month.  I tease Adam about having a bald wife someday.  Who cares!!  I'm almost 30 and loving it.  I really AM loving getting older.  Mostly, because I get to enjoy watching the kids grow up and see this whole amazing plan take place before my eyes. 

Life is so much more than money, ruby slippers and hairdos.

Labor Day Grand Canyon and the Railway

We drove the bus up to Williams and the Grand Canyon for Labor Day weekend.  It was so much fun.  The stars were amazing and the weather was gorgeous.  On Sunday we went to the Williams Ward for church... the people were so kind.  We had s'mores and breakfast burritos.  What good times!

Adam offended by this sight.

Good old Grand Canyon Railway/Polar Express

John and Ella before finding out we were going on a train

.

We bought tickets and they were SO EXCITED!

Ella waving bye.

It was their first train ride!

They were so relaxed and loving every second.

I can't even explain how FASCINATED John was.

The weather was PERFECT.

John had such a cute goofy smile.  I LOVE IT!

This is what I look like when I live out of a van....eh, BUS.

Wildflowers were abundant.

And here is the first picture we took at the Grand Canyon! 

A huge gust of wind blew sand right into John and Ella's eyes. 

The canyon was such an amazing sight.

Life is good with a finger in your nose.

We also went for a hike - of course!

Ella with an apple and her cute walking stick.  MEMORIES!

On the ride home the bus lost a cap on the oil tank in Prescott.  Some angel Samaritan man drove Adam around town to buy a new part.  We have crazy stories to tell whenever we get into that green machine.

ZooWalk

Every year our family participates in the ASU ZooWalk for Autism Research at the Phoenix Zoo. It is Saturday, September 25!  We have over 20 people coming so far!

The reason why we do this is because of the extensive research ASU has established in autism gut bacteria disorders. This is something we have been focused on for the past couple of years with John. The ZooWalk is a very special day and we hope you can make it. It is very moving.

We welcome you and anyone else who would like to join our team. It is an easy 1.1 mile walk to and around the Phoenix Zoo. You can bring strollers and stay all day at the zoo if you would like.  Donations are welcome on day of the walk ($20 suggested donation) bring a check if you would like to donate. No pressure! Mostly, we just want you there!!!

Our team is registered as "Team Barry". We will be getting matching shirts for everyone who joins our team. Let us know if you'd like to join THIS WEEK so we can get you a t-shirt! Here's the ZooWalk website.
http://www.ariautism.com/zoowalk/phoenix/html/walk_detail.html

We will have a sign that says "TEAM BARRY" and will meet at the stadium at 7am.