Purple Man Amusement Park and Family Recap

First things first. I have some important business to handle. Next weekend (November 21-22), I'm going on a retreat with hubby. I need two guest posts. Would anyone be interested in writing for my blog on Saturday and Sunday? If so, please leave me a comment. I'd like your content by Thursday, November 19th so I can have the post ready to go before I leave Friday. I have followers who are teachers, SLP, in special education, moms of children with special needs, etc. It could be serious, humorous, informative, a review, etc. I have my parents watching my biological children. I need some of my blogging friends to take care of my bloggy baby. It needs more attention than my now self sufficient children!

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First of all, I'm so excited to welcome some new friends and followers! I'm so glad you decided to stay and visit with us. I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by not "making you" read down deep into my blog to find out more about us. However, I like to make my friends and family right at home. To heck with the SEO (search engine optimizer)! Let me introduce our new friends to key players on this blog and remind some of my older friends of the regulars on this blog.

Scott - is my husband. We've only been married a decade. In some ways it is like we've always been together. In other ways it seems like we only just met. He's a much older man. I'm even younger than his baby sister. I like to remind him of this often. He's a cradle robber. He's a retired Naval officer and Aeronautic Engineer. He was close to a full military career when we married. He tried to talk me into being the stay-at-home father while I worked. Let's see, a Masters of Science in Aerospace Engineering with full military career verses a B.A. in Journalism and haven't written for money in twenty years. Do you think I made the right decision to make him be the bread winner?
Josh - My just weeks shy of 17-year-old. He's my pride and joy. He's also the proof that you better be careful what you pray for, you just might get it. I prayed for my polar opposite. I got it. And with you opposite comes a lot of fighting. He's an extrovert to my introvert. He's the 'A' student, star athlete, Rookie of the Year, Middle School Student Athlete and Student of the Year, Freshman student highlighted in the Yearbook, everyone knows and loves....to my 'A/B' student, non-athlete, never recognized for anything or even noticed by anyone high school student. He's gorgeous and thin to my...well, you get my point.
Jonathan - The main character in this blog. He's nine. He received a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome at three and a half years old. Although his vice principal for preschool informed us that he was too young to receive this diagnosis (even though he's consistently received the same diagnosis for the last six years from the school and very expensive private psychologists). He tests in the superior range for non-verbal intelligence. He tests average in the verbal intelligences. I only tell you this because I think it helps to understand why he says and does what he does. (This reminds me, I have a three part series about Jonathan from infant through elementary school over at Intuitive Parenting for Intuitive Kids. Thank you so very much Dr. Caron Goode for the opportunity to write for your scholarly website. I feel honored.)
Faith - Until my baby brother had to "one up" me a month ago, Faith claimed the title of only girl born on both sides of her family in the last 36 years. My side I was the last female born and seven males after me in my generation and seven males in the next generation before Faith. Scott's side he was the only male in his generation but in the next generation there were four males before Faith. And my rotten brother couldn't just let Faith hold the title, but he had to have identical twin girls to overshadow my Faith. The only good thing I have to say is my brother lives in England. So in the words of Josh, "In effect, she's still the only girl, because we'll never see the twins." When Faith was born and the nurse heard she was the first and only girl on both sides of the family, she said, "Her feet won't touch the ground before she's 12." That nurse was almost prophetic. At seven years old Faith doesn't tie her shoes, cut her meat, squeeze her ketchup or carry anything. Not because of me, mind you. She's got Dad, Josh and Jonathan wrapped around her finger.
Jorge - He was our exchange student from Spain. He lived with us from January 3, 2009 until August 6, 2009. He's become part of our family, even though he is now back in Spain with his biological family. We all talk about and miss him everyday still. Not a day goes by that we don't think about or mention him. I often think that this must be what it is like for parents and families who lose a child or sibling. I hear how not a day goes by that they don't think about them. We are so lucky that Jorge is only a phone call, email or Skype connection away still. If you think Jonathan and Faith are funny, you should hear the stuff Jorge comes up with. (By the way, Jorge often found himself cowing to Faith's wishes as well.)
---- Now, I want you to notice and not become confused -- We have Joshua, Jonathan and Jorge. All start with "Jo"....First of all, Jorge is not George. It is "Whore-hey" at least in an American accent. I never could say his name the way it is supposed to be said. It is just not natural to swallow the "h" at the beginning of the name, then spit out the "o" like "taco" and immediately roll the "r." (This is how Jorge tried to teach me how to say his name properly.) Bless, Jorge for being so patient. After a month in the U.S., he just started telling everyone his name the way we Americans would pronounce it.
--Then there is Jo-shua and Jo-nathan. I get them confused all the time. We named Jonathan without really thinking through the implications of how close their names are. Although I guess it doesn't really matter. Scott was always called by the dog's name in his home. It must be part of being a parent...mess up your child's name when you are calling. For some reason, I constantly call Joshua after my brother, Chad. They don't even sound alike, but personality wise...well, that's another story.

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Just for fun, I'm including another Purple Man. This is actually part of Jonathan's grand marketing scheme. It is Purple Man Amusement Park. I hope you can make out all the rides and concession stands. If not, let me know in the comments. Next week I'll show you Jonathan's marketing scheme for Legos. It is a scream. He's designed all his main Purple Man characters for Legos. He shows all four views of his characters, and they look just like Lego people.