Weekly Update for Jan 22

EASY ED

Highlight of the week: getting invited to coffee with the managing editor (aka big WaPost boss)
Lowlight of the week: the next day, receiving a memo that the managing editor resigned
Latest song favorite: anything from Adele for the late night drive home
Quote of the week: "Is our son trying to come out to us?" After seeing Asher's eccentric choice of snow attire

JEN

Highlight of the week: receiving my first ever job performance bonus
Lowlight of the week: realizing that the US Govt taxes bonuses at 40%
Latest song favorite: Gin & Juice by Snoop Dogg
Quote of the week: "According to iTouch, it is snowing outside" (and then being too lazy to get out of bed and walk the two feet to the window to observe said snowfall. Don't judge, the snowy graphic on the app is quite beautiful to watch).

NOECHIN

Highlight of the week: Eating chocolate frosting for breakfast while the rest of us slept
Lowlight of the week: Waiting for the chronically stinkin' late school bus in the frigid cold without any music to listen to
Latest song favorite: You Know I'm No Good, Amy Winehouse
Quote of the Week: "the letter A" (he is working on letters and now identifies each letter this way....)

ASHERCITO

Highlight of the week: First snowfall of the year (Asher will play in the snow for hours)
Lowlight of the week: Win-less at bingo at Hunter's Woods Elementary Bingo Night (but he was a very fun and polite date)
Latest song favorite: With A Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker - Wonder Years title song)
Quote of the Week: "Grown ups know the truth" (Hmm...really?)

Weekly Update

I am trying a weekly update format for the next little while as I have not been so good at keeping up with the blog. Although I will do a 'Christmas in California' post for posterity. Guaranteed to be a classic.

EASY ED

Highlight of the week: his role in the WaPost Joe Paterno interview exclusive
Lowlight of the week: his role the senseless murder of Asher's pet fish(es)
Current obsession(s): helping Asher reach World Cup stardom, making predictions about the upcoming Mad Men season premier, whether or not his butt looks big in his new skinny jeans
Quote of the week: "Oh &#$%(*G $#*% !!!!" after killing the second batch of pet fish

JEN

Highlight of the week: getting through a potentially difficult work week with minimal stress, catching up on sleep this weekend, Saturday basketball
Lowlight of the week: wrenching back/sciatica after a very typical morning run
Current Obsession(s): Moonstruck Chocolate (thanks, Jeff!), doing hard yoga poses (and yes, I realize that my obsession with the first will make it hard to do the second!)
Quote of the week: "The wrong Mormon is winning!" (not that I would vote for either of them)

NOECHIN

Highlight of the week: Leaving his swim teacher open-mouthed-speechless as he swam around her in circles (he had his first lesson since last spring on Saturday).
Lowlight of the week: losing the beloved iPad after a tantrum
Current obsession(s): all music by Amy Winehouse, iPad games, tackling me from behind or when I am in bed, long showers (he must be the cleanest 9 year old ever).
Quote of the Week: "Do you think Amy Winehouse's death was really accidental?" Ok ...not really....but I imagine he is pondering it as he listens to her music.

ASHERCITO

Highlight of the week: playing the role of David in 'David and Goliath' at church....he was awesomely cute! Losing his first front tooth....now he talkth like thith.
Lowlight of the week: attending multiple fish funerals (see above)
Current obsession(s): adding large numbers in his head (or making me do it), sticking his tongue where his tooth used to be, old Wonder Years reruns on Netflix, and North Korea (long story...but it began on the plane to California when he asked about a magazine article I was reading on the death of Kim Jong-Il.)
Quote of the Week: "I hope the tooth fairy brings me $500!" Keep hoping, buddy.

Happy Birthday, Noe!

Dear Noe,

2011 was truly your year, kid! It feels like a lot of things are finally coming together and you are starting to make the kind of progress that we have hoped and prayed for since your autism diagnosis. We see more and more of your personality and cute smile every day. You no longer avoid us but seek us out. You work hard to use your words every day. You are starting to develop hobbies and interests, such as video games, music, hiking and swimming.

This year you got to…

*spend your birthday at Disneyland!

*surf at Virginia Beach (Surfer's Healing)

*attend your first friend's birthday party without Asher

*swim in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

*attend a pro baseball game (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Steve Miller Band concert (which you loved!)

*hike Ft. Stevens (Oregon Coast), Forest Park (Portland), Appalachian Trail (VA), Reston Trails (VA), Pasadena Heights (CA), and Pacific Palisades (CA).

This year you learned to….

*say and repeat MANY NEW words and request the things you like most without prompts

*recognize numbers, letters, colors and coins

*swim (in your very unique way)

*trace your name

*use your iPAD independently for games and music

*dress yourself without help (finally!)

When we were at Surfers Healing this summer, your pro surfer buddy brought you back to me after your surfing session was over. He looked at me with tears in his eyes said, "I love this kid."

Yeah, I know. I love you, too!

Happy Birthday, Asher!

Dear Asher:

You are 7 years old now! In your “Star of the Week” presentation for school, one of the things you told your class was that Asher means ‘happy’ in Hebrew. If anyone had a name that matched their personality, it is you! I love your can-do attitude, your curiosity, and your smile (doesn’t your mouth ever get tired of smiling?) I am thankful every day that you are a part of our family.

This year, you got to….

*visit your grandma and family in Portland and stay the night in a yurt on the Oregon coast

*train for and complete your first kid’s triathlon

*spend two weeks at outdoor day camp learning about water and bugs

*play two seasons of soccer

*hike part of the Appalachian trail

*ride on the back of a motorcycle!

This year, you learned how to …

*add and subtract numbers

*swim the length of the pool

*make your own breakfast

*boogie board in the warm East Coast waters

*play the piano (at least it is a work in progress)

*say many more things to your abuelos in Spanish

*read chapter books to yourself (versus out loud….phew!)

Happy Birthday, Ashercito! We love you!