The Most Wonderful Time at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Even though Memaw was sick, and Hayden came down with a bad case of tonisilitis after the first day, we still had a great time at Disneyland! Hayden was a bit cranky, to say the least on day 2, but we didn't let that stop us from having the most wonderful time at the happiest place on Earth. This was Taylor's first time to Disneyland, and she had a blast the whole entire time. Screaming at the end of each ride because she didn't want it to be over!
Out of all my trips to Disneyland this was, by far, the prettiest! Pictures really don't do it justice, especially at night. It just looks so magical! What a great way to ring in my 33rd birthday!

Much Thanks

November is always a time of reflection for what we're thankful for and the blessings we have. Last November, I decided to keep a running list of things I'm thankful for through out the year, because I seem to become tunnel visioned with the chaos of the Holiday season.

2009 list of Thanks and Gratitude

*Thankful for back to preschool after a 2 week holiday break. Even though it's 2 1/2 hours a day, it deserves a glass...err, bottle of wine to toast!

*Superbowl Sunday...perfect excuse to ditch the New Years weight loss resolution and each chips and dip and drink beer all day!

*February brings the most wonderful weather of the year, in my opinion. Kind of like the perfect tottie, not to hot, not too cold, but juuuuust right!

*CUSD for hours of prep and planning Hayden's IEP, providing many a tissue (they may have taken stock in Kleenex), and decreasing my Mommy guilt by praising how far 'ahead of the game' I was. Who knew?!

*Margaritas

*Spring Fever. I'm thankful for a job that provides flexibility and allows me to work out my own schedule taking advantage of Spring Training games, trips to the park and watching my kids swing hours on end without breaking a sweat!

*Friends that treasure late night porch chat, or meetups at the wine bar because we can't find any other time in our schedules to see each other. So putting the kids to bed and sneaking out for a night cap is the perfect escape!

*Sunday mornings

*My girls' birthdays...they are much more fun than my own!

*My family

*Last minute trip to California to spend the weekend with my Grandpa. We had no idea it would be our last spending time with him, but I'm so thankful that my mom, Pam and I went out there.

*Summer time is a double-edge sword! It's so freakin' hot, but I'm on leave at work which allows us to sleep in, go swimming, lay on the couch all day...whatever we want! I am so thankful for the freedom and flexibility that comes with Summer!

*My super cool, spacious, comfy new car.

*Margaritas

*I am ever so thankful that my kids are potty trained, done with bottles and strollers and are at the age where I can just pick up and go and they're along for the ride. (Most of the time ;) )

*BACK TO SCHOOL!!! All day Kindergarten where have you been all my life? I'm proposing for the entrance age to start at 3. Nobody really likes 3 years old anyway, right? Thank you KINDERGARTEN, I am so thankful for you!!!

*This year, as in most years, I'm thankful that we're just about a five and a half hour drive to the beach. Just when I lose perspective, it's been hot for five months with no end in sight, the wild blue yonder pops into view!

*Wahoo's fish tacos. YUM!

*In 2009, I could not be more thankful for the teacher that Hayden got. She's doing wonderfully in school and her teacher, Mrs. DeHart is amazing!

*My beautifully perfect, healthy new niece..bringing our total of nieces to 3 and nephews to 4

*Late October brings a break in the heat. Thank you 'Arizona's version of Fall'.

*Margaritas

*As frustrated as I get with medical bills and lack of clarity in insurance policies, I am so thankful that we have medical insurance!

*I'm thankful for my shakey understanding and growing education on Autism

*I am so thankful for Hayden! She's teaching me the most humbling lesson I probably will ever learn. She is a delicate flower with such a tender soul. Her beauty within brings me to tears. And even though I cannot seem to figure out what goes on inside her mind, I'm thankful that I'm beginning to understand how she works.

*Taylor. I'm thankful for her personality, her sense of style at only 3 and her strength. This kid has a mind of her own and determination beyond what I think she should have. She's stubborn and loud, and although her Daddy would like to have her tonsils put back in, I LOVE listening to her sing and talk and watching her prance around in her skivvies all day long!

*I'm so grateful for our school, my ability to be as involved as I am there, and the amazing staff and PTO. I love volunteering in the classroom and helping to plan and execute school events. I've been waiting for this for a lifetime it seems!

*I'm thankful for our jobs, our health and the continued happiness that our family and friends bring.

Decades Day

Since Sanborn doesn't participate in any sort of Halloween dress up, we delved into Decades Day with much passion! Just short of blue eyeshadow, hot pink lipstick and Electric Youth perfume, we settled on the 80's when we came across this ToTAlLy GnaRLy FAME t-shirt!

End of Soccer, Season 1

Hayden made it through an entire season of soccer! I'm sure, deep down, she learned something. But the most important lesson of all was that she had fun and feels as though she made friends. She interacted and socialized and was part of an accepting team, where her teammates didn't seem bothered that she's a bit flighty from time to time ;) She looked forward to her practices every Monday and Wednesday and was thrilled when game days rolled around. When asked what her favorite thing was about soccer this season, at the soccer party, she said that "she's a really good goalie". And that was the truth! She may get sidetracked hear and there, but who wouldn't when your team is the one scoring all the goals and there's no action on your end?! She only let a few by her, whether she was pouncing on that ball, or they were bouncing off of her. After each game, she felt she helped her team out! And I believe her team only lost 1 game and tied 1.
She's going to play on the same team, with the same coach come January. We're so lucky to have found a coach that's excited to teach the kids, has patience to deal with a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds, and one who like having Hayden on the team!

The team party was at Peter Piper Pizza, and although she was bummed out that they weren't getting trophy's this year...and that was the reason she wanted to play this year was to get a trophy like Cooper's, the excitement that filled her face when she saw her soccer picture and her dog tag was priceless!

Hayden and Coach Randy

GROUNDED

Taylor was grounded today. From the TV. For a WHOLE day.

What's a 3 year old to do when she's grounded?

Tori was grounded too!

Excuse me lady, can I borrow your bra mask please?

There was a lady standing in front of us in line at Target this morning. Her clothes were wrinkled and looked slept in, her hair matted six ways to Sunday. I do not judge someone who doesn't put themselves together to run errands, because quite honestly, I'm not a girl who has to leave the house with mascara, lipstick and pearls. However, the point of her appearance is that she looked awful and she sounded even worse.

Coughing. Hacking. Gagging. Okay, I was gagging, she wasn't. The coughing. Ick. It was bad. She clearly rolled out of bed and drug herself to Target. In one hand was a Starbucks cup and the other a tissue.

I stood behind her, looking for an escape line to no avail, and wondered 'why on earth is this lady at Target spreading germs like a wildfire'? Taylor says, "Mommy that lady is SICK. Why? Mommy why is the sick lady coughing"? I just shook my head and signaled her to be quiet, giving the lady the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she needed medicine, tissues, a humidifier. I dunno! So nosey ol' me peeks at her load on the belt as I'm putting my stuff up there. Becuase really, what is she buying that couldn't wait?

2 jar candles, a sweater for her puppy and a hair dye kit.

That is what this sick-o dragged her hacking ass into Target for today.

STAY HOME PEOPLE! Showing up in public while you are sick does NOT make you a HERO. I was wondering if I'd look like a freak walking around with a face mask. And then I remembered this article I read about the bra mask. I figured nobody would notice I've got a bra on my face when they spy the unsupported baubles popping out from the bottom of my shirt ;)

Belle and Sharpay

Careful consideration and LOTS of detail went into the girls' Halloween costume choices this year. The only hand I had in any of it was footing the bill!

CMS

About three years ago, my sister and I noticed something rather peculiar (to us) going on with the Mommys of little kids our kids age. Alien invasion? Stepford Syndrome? Nope. Something we've affectionately coined "Competitive Mommy Syndrome". I'll call it CMS.

Hayden and Cooper were just starting to get involved in activities around 3 years old. Soccer, gymnastics and preschool. They didn't participate in any of these activities together, but when Pam and I would chat we found one common virus spreading through Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek. CMS.

What is it, you ask? It is the syndrome that takes over a Mommy once her offspring pops out of the shoot. 'My baby is a miracle baby. He's holding his head up at 3 days old. He's sitting at 2 months and walking at 8 months. My baby has teeth at 4 months, he's such a genious! Even though Ethel is only 4 we have her on a cycling team, dance and piano. We're testing her in to Kindergarten because she's gifted, brightest one in the bunch.'

BARF!!! Gimme a break people! Your bambino is not holding her head up at 3 days, her reflexes are flinching. She's sitting at 2 months because you're propping her against pillows. AND, newsflash, your child IS NOT a genious because he cut some teeth. Nope! Sorrrrry :) That's nature taking over, not intellect.

Over the last year and a half, I really haven't 'put myself out there', as Hayden was in a quiet private school, where I was really one of the only Mommys involved. She didn't participate in any extra-curricular activities...but I still loved revelling in my sisters stories. As that light shone bright for her last year.

And now. Now we are in Kindergarten. This is what so many of those Mommies have been waiting for. Gladys' moment to shine. Stuart's turn in the spotlight. Well MOMMYS, have I got news for you. I work in the classroom for an hour a week. And no, that does not qualify me to make a diagnosis on your child, or give him the pass or fail, BUT, it does qualify me to laugh at you silently when you tell me that you're "afraid Gidget is going to be a bully. Even though she's the youngest in the class, she's so dramatic and such a leader that all the kids are going to replicate her. But she's just too gifted to make her wait another year". YES...that was told to me on Saturday!
To that I write: Dear Gidgets Mom, Don't worry about the kids copying Gidget in her Kindergarten class. This week while I was helping her with her 'sorting' she decided to sort boogers. She pulled 3 out, one for her first three fingers. She then 'sorted' them by size before rolling them into a ball and and tucking it under her tongue".
And when Willy's parent told me that their son is the "Alpha and Omega" and there will not be anymore kids or grandkids because their whole family is "solely focusing on the great things he's destined for",
I say: Dear Willy's Parent, Congrats on the Alpha and Omega! I'm sure Willy is going to grow up and be a success and make your family proud. But at 5 years old, he is a typical boy! He can musical fart like no little kid I've ever known. They produce a melodic range and a sulfuric smell. His talents starburst spectacularly on the rainbow mat while everyone is sitting there quietly and he's rolling on his back with his legs in the air.

I love these kids. I love kids! And what I love about them is their innocence, their curiosity, their ambivalence!

I'm not sure if CMS is Mommy's way of reliving her youth through her child. Or if Mommy is afraid that her kids are not going to make friends on their own, so she has to push and shove and show everyone how spectacular her baby is. I'm not so sure that Mommy is confident in realism. Acknowledging that her son is just like everyone else is OKAY. And it makes the rest of us feel normal!

I don't know, I don't get it. But what I do witness is that there are a heckuva lotta Mommy's out there who will not just let their kids be kids (at least not while talking about them). Let them fall while climbing on the jungle gym, let them write a 'D' backwards and count to 20 skipping 14. Perfectionism in not perfect. It's okay. It's how we learned. Every finisher is not a winner. Odds are, your kids will turn out just fine. Some average, some above average. But let them figure that out on their own. Don't map their destination for them, guide it.

**Names have no relevance
**And this pertains to NOBODY that reads my blog!
**Phew... /wipes brow!

DBG Pumpkin Party

Last weekend, we jailbroke my mom and took her along with us to the DBG Pumpkin Party. What a fun day! There were balloon animals, hayrides and a pumpkin patch! Not only did the kids get to pick out a pumpkin, but they also had a fun craft station set up to decorate! There were lots of games, cotton candy and kettle corn. What a way to spend a Saturday!

It's been NINE years

Thank YOU for letting ME pickup Outback TAKEOUT from a GIFT CARD for our Ninth Anniversary big Spendah! ;-)

Hope we've got 99 more to go! Okay, well maybe not 99, I'm not sure I wanna see what you look like at 135 years old! I'll look like Joan Rivers, but you...you might look like Walter Mathhau and that'd be damn scary!

I'm SAIIIILLLLING!

Conal qualified for the Aramark incentive trip again this year! This was trip 6, out of his 9 years there! So, so SOOOO proud of him and all his hard work! The Western Region has grown and now includes Washington and Oregon, in addition to California, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. There are usually around 800-900 RSR qualifiers through out the region, and this year there were only about 140. It was a much smaller group, but we still had a FANTASTIC time!

I mean really, who doesn't look forward to an all expenses weekend away SANS CHILDREN once a year?! His boss thanked me for all of my support and encouragement to Con. HA! Little does he know my "support and encouragement" is more on the lines of a constant NAG! I'm sure he brings home a paycheck, but I seem tunneled on a kid-free weekend once a year!

And of course, a little silliness!

Fiesta del Sol Ohhhh9!

East Valley Sol hosted their annual Fiesta del Sol on October 10th. We LOVE this event! Not only are they raising money for an incredible cause, but it seems to be our ONE night a year where everybody gets childcare and we all go crazy! Dinner sponsored by Outback, all you can drink sponsored by Hensley, Blackjack (I was wanting to go to Vegas from there...), Silent Auction (where Conal bid and won a $60 Mike Mussina ball 0_0), a Live Auction (where Kevin Stewart and I were being held back by our spouses from bidding on a 7 night Hawaii condo...boooo on them), DANCING, DANCING and more DANCING!!! The band they had this year was AMAZING! There seemed to be twice as many people as last year and they seemed to be having fun too! It was nice that we weren't the only crazies in the bunch!

Now that everyone we know is married, this is our annual 'wedding'! Bub and Conal...aka the ORIGINAL Wedding Crashers, have dubbed Fiesta del Sol the "party of all parties". And it is!

Aunt Kate came to visit!

Kate opted for an airline ticket to AZ for her 50th Birthday! It had been four years since she's been out here and had seen her mom. So, a whirlwind weekend, brought Kate in for a fun visit!

Not only did Kelly and Tom bring her over for dinner on Friday night, but Kelly also brought her back down on Saturday for Hayden's soccer game! We all enjoyed seeing Kate, but I think the kids had a blast with her!

Gilbert U7...Lightening!

Hayden is on her very first soccer team this Fall, and she is loving it! The Lightening practice twice a week with games every Saturday. She's learning the basic fundamentals of soccer and making some friends while she's at it! Each week brings a different experience for her, and for us!

The first week Hayden played her little heart out, it was fun to watch! The second and third week we found her intimidated, overwhelmed, spaced out and a bit lost. Even her coaches asked us at practice if she was still having fun and if everything was okay. They figured she was, but said she seemed so lost. And then I had to miss week 4, but Conal said she did great! She's having so much fun, and I love that!

Her coaches are very great and have a ton of patience. More than I ever could. We let them know that she's a visual child. They are so supportive of her, and all the kids!

Before the season started, Hayden mentioned that she wanted number 7. When jerseys arrived, they just randomly handed them out and Hayden ended up with number 7. Lucky!

They walk for Hayden!

Aunt Meghan and Aunt Kate walked in the Jones Beach, NY Autism Speaks 'Walk Now for Autism' yesterday. Meghan had cute shirts made up for the two of them and also raised over $700! What an awesome way to show their love and support for Hayden from clear across the country! THANKS you two, it really means a lot to us!

"God gives you what you can handle".

And really...did God really make that up, or did that prophecy come from somebody who had absolutely no idea how to respond to something that he/she cannot relate to and is just relieved it's not her?

Deep thoughts! haha

"God gives you what you can handle". Really? And how is that determined? I want to know what 'scale' He determines, Rebecca Marquette...you can handle a daughter with special needs, a daughter born with medical discernment, developmental delays and mysterious illnesses over the course of her small life. Rebecca, you are strong enough to watch one childs hair fall out, and another stimulate herself by grinding her knuckles into gravel, or scraping her fingernails against cement because "it feels good".
You, Rebecca, can handle witness a beautiful six year old reach out for her thoughts as they slip through her fingers like fine grain sand, whilst she continues to flap her arms, twitch her eyes and slap her cheeks in the middle of a restaurant because she's aggravated and does not know how to express it. And when your baby wakes up in the morning praising that she "did not puke last night Mommy so her tummy isn't going to hurt today...is it? Say NO Mommy, say NO", you can handle that too.
I'm curious to what the scale is....how He determines how much I can handle....when does it stop?
When does God, fate, kharma, payback, stop. When does it stop? And really, as my thoughts are processed into words, I wonder...how does he determine how much a child can handle?

Please Lord, let us live and not wonder. Let us love and not question. Let us rest and not worry. And while you're giving me what I can handle, throw a little strength my way too.