My Church family

Thankful, a photo by machris (Mary-Ann) on Flickr.

I've said it before, and I will say it again, I have the BEST church family! I cannot even begin to explain all the reasons I am thankful for my church family, not just the church the organization, not just the church the building, but yes the church the people.
one thing I like about the church is that they accept us....and they are there though good times and bad.

after our last experience I truly thought I would never feel comfortable in a church again, yet here I am!
And I can say I am looking forward to becoming more involved next year :-)

I want to share a conversation this morning as we were getting ready for church
---------------------------------------------------------


Me- "Girls do you want to get moving and get ready for church, or do you want to stay home with dad?" girls- "we wanna go to church!" me -"are you sure? you remember it's summer now so no Sunday school, do you still want to go to Church?" girls - "YES Church! Church! Church!"
------------------------------------------------------
How cool is that?
Oh the boy is at boy scout camp.

the journey that took us to boy scouts

Technically I took this picture yesterday but I figure you wont mind right? it's been a tough day for pictures.


Today I am thankful for the boy scouts, I certainly never thought that Mapboy...the kid who wont go outside. the boy who doesn't like bugs, or dirt or mud, the boy who wouldn't swim, or ride a bike, would ever EVER want to join the scouts.

And now here we are. If you saw him the other day after cleaning out some things that we needed for a church fundraiser covered head to toe in dirt....or if you heard him saying to his little sister "bees wont hurt you unless you hurt them"  if you had seen the big smile on his face as his dad drove him off this morning to a week of camp!  Yeah I  give a lot of credit to the scouts, and his friend H who talked him into Joining!
Scouts ROCK!
Being thankful ROCKS! 

I am waking up my blog today

I want to restart my 365 of thankfulness, but I want to be realistic, so I am calling it "approximately  365 ones of mostly thankfulness"








I Am sure my tens of followers will be thrilled! :-)

A Recipe----Chicken catch a tory Ravioli Stew-- a Rachael Ray recipe

Link to the recipe

So this is the recipe I made for the pot luck, and for my sisters birthday party. I thought I had posted it, but I guess I didn't  The recipe is very easy, it's from Rachael Ray's "Cooking Rocks!" cook book for kids, which is why the wording on the recipe is a little weird, it's geared toward kids, and the GH she refers to is "Grown up helper" Mapboy used to make it back when he used to like cooking. and he asks me to make it quite often.
I do a few things different, I use Boneless skinless Chicken thighs instead of breast tenders, I find the breast meat dries out especially if you have it in a crockpot at a potluck KWIM?

Also to lower the sodium we use Herb ox Sodium free Chicken bullion mixed with water instead of the Chicken Broth...because I do this, I also do not go through the trouble of draining the spinach, instead I just add a little more of the bullion to make up for the added liquid---Ive tried it both ways and there is not a difference in flavor for me, so I go with the easier way :-)
Also I almost never can find fresh Thyme so i used dried, and I also use frozen Ravioli.

It makes the whole house smell awesome!  Enjoy!

Chicken Catch-A-Tory Ravioli Stew

Serves 4

Submitted by

Rachael Ray

on 09/17/07

Cacciatore is the real way to spell the name of this stew. It's the Italian word for "hunter." Chicken Cacciatore is made with wild mushrooms and strong flavors. It is hearty, so it would keep a hunter full for a long hunt. This stew uses some of the same ingredients and flavors of the original dish, but it's even easier to make. Everyone in Rachael's family really loves this recipe!

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, skins on
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 2 stems fresh rosemary
• 2 stems fresh thyme
• 1 cup pre-sliced fresh mushrooms, or have a grown-up helper (GH) slice them for you
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 can stewed tomatoes with peppers, onion, and celery (15 ounces)
• 2 roasted red peppers from a jar, drained
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 package chopped frozen spinach, defrosted in microwave and drained (10 ounces)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 3/4-1 pound chicken breast tenders
• 1 pound fresh ravioli, any flavor
• 1 cup grated parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano cheese, to pass at the table
• Crusty Italian bread or rolls, to pass at the table

Preparation

Have a GH heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat.

Place three cloves of garlic on a cutting board and WHACK each clove with a small, heavy frying pan. Pick out the skins and chuck them into a garbage bowl.

Ask your GH to add the EVOO to the soup pot. Throw in the smashed garlic and two stems each of the rosemary and fresh thyme. The leaves will fall off the stems and give a delicious flavor to your special stew.

Add the mushrooms and help stir as the mushrooms cook, about 3-5 minutes. Season the 'shrooms up with salt and pepper as they're cooking. Next, you or your GH can open the can of stewed tomatoes and add them to the pot.

Then, use a sharp, small knife to chop the roasted red peppers. Keep your fingers on the hand holding the peppers curled under so you don't chop off your whole finger! You just want to cut up those peppers into pieces as big as your mouth. Add the chopped up roasted red peppers and add one cup tomato sauce to the soup pot.

Put defrosted chopped spinach in a kitchen towel. Gather the towel up and twist it to get the water out of the spinach. Squeeze the spinach over a garbage bowl until it stops dripping. Separate spinach with your fingers and add it to the soup. Pour in the chicken broth and stir the stew really slowly or it will slosh out of your pot! Have your GH cover the soup and raise the heat to high.

Ask your GH to cut up the chicken for you on a separate, plastic cutting board (different from the one you cut the vegetables on). Cut the chicken tenders into 1-inch pieces and add them to the stew. Ask the GH to go wash up right away with lots of soap and water – and also to wash the board – so that the raw chicken doesn't get on anything else in the kitchen or any other food. If you touched the raw chicken, you go wash too.

When the stew comes to a boil again, add the ravioli and leave the lid off. Cook the stew until the ravioli is almost done, about five minutes. Turn off the heat and let the stew cool down a bit.

As your GH to help serve up the stew and pass cheese and bread at the table to go with it.
This is one of many "Yum-o!" recipes – it's good and good for you. To find out more about Yum-o!, Rachael's nonprofit organization, go to www.yum-o.org.

Twenty three ---- vacations

Today I am writing my blog entry while on our way home from our little
Mini vacation I won't be able to send it until I get home but I am writing it now!
It's been a great week and I am very thankful for re time we have spent together but I sure am looking forward to get back on the same
Old schedule Also can't wait to get back to the gym again, I hurt my knee one day just landed on it wrong so it's probably a good thing I haven't been making it to the gym this week huh?


I had made some goals for the family of things to achieve for this week and I have to say that we didn't reach one of them but I think we all had fun so that is good!
Tomorrow is Easter we are looking forward to spending the day with good friends!

Today I am thankful for school vacations! For this opportunity to bond as a family to just have fun! It was nice! Even If we didn't finish our set goals!

Here is a picture of my youngest and my oldest just being kids :-)

Twenty two --- Butterflies!

Oh it's so hard to keep this up while on v acation


sorry I didn't do Twenty One *sigh*
So Today we went to the place with the butterflies
everyone was so excited, until we got inside and we all remembered that Jess is terrified of butterflies landing on her!!!!! It took most of the day to get her to stop being so frightened and actually look at the butterflies once she did she had a great time.

Today I am tired LOL So i will get right to the point :-)
Today I am thankful for the patience I have learned to have with my daughter, and rice paper butterflies (I think that's the name) which is her favorite

Twenty - - - video

Today I will try something new
I have a video that I took today at Jordan's Furniture. Why did I decode to change it up? Well I like to keep it fresh....ok so maybe it has something to do with my taking that video and then running out of batteries LOL so not being able to take any pictures all day LOL
Lets hope the upload works :-)
Today the kids wanted to go to Jordan's Furniture. The water fireworks show, the Trapeze was great the kids loved the ice cream LOL the furniture was nice----and expensive!!!!! I actually enjoy making fun in my mind about how pricey it is LOL

The kids did fantastic!!!
What s great day!!!!
Ok can't do a video

I'm going to try it from the computer.

This is Wally the green monster taking care of a pesky Yankee, Moo thought it was so funny she asked me to take a video of it :-) No Yankees were harmed in the making of this film ROFL!

Today I am thankful for computers that do what you want them too :-)
So glad this worked out!

Nineteen -- a Day at the Zoo

Today we went to the Zoo with some friends
Jess was very happy on the way to the zoo, but once we got out of the car and she realized it was cold AND raining she wanted to go home....it was tough but I must say she did awesome!  it used to be we would have had to leave, but she didn't even have a real meltdown, just a mini mini tiny one :-) and she eventually  recovered and we even saw her smile and have some fun later on :-) I'm so proud of all my kids, they have been doing so well  even with the disappointment of finding out we were not going to DC this vacation there was not too much complaining, And they are getting along pretty good! Well you know they are siblings so it's never going to be perfect!

The boy had a headache....He seems to be getting a lot of headaches lately. *sigh*

Today I am thankful for the ability to see how far we have come.

here is a picture of my Jessica actually having fun today :-)   Ohh can I also be thankful for the Church, and Judie  who gave her this thing....what is that called anyway?

Oh here I jsut watched  The redsox lose in Oakland and I realized I crossed over the date again....it's tomorrow ROFL

Eighteen--- Bird watching

OOPS THIS DIDNT POST LAST NIGHT FOR SOME REASON....OH WELL YOU CAN SEE IT NOW!

Today we did a bit of work around the house....seems like our 50-50 Vacation (50% projects around the house, and 50% fun activities  is turning into more fun than work LOL and that is ok for me at least for now.....ask me in a week when I still have projects to complete LOL
When we finished our work we went to Parker river  it was a great day and totally Meltdown free!
the kids and parents are doing so great   Sibling civility LOL

Today that is what I am thankful for....Sibling civility!!!!!

we were lucky enough to see a pair of osprey there and a kestrel  No I didnt get a picture of the birds LOOL but I did get a picture of this
Daddy got a spontaneous hug from this little redheaded   cutiepie!

Seventeen -- Thankfulness

We have been so busy with vacation and all
I didn't stop being thankful, I just stopped blogging about it.

But I am trying to stick with it.
Friday we went to the drive in we saw Rio and Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The kids had a blast!
Saturday we went through and purged a ton of toys....well actually not quite a ton.

Today (Yesterday) Sunday, Palm Sunday and the egg hunt :-) you should have seen my boy, an his friend Hunter helping my two girls find Easter eggs I am thankful for those boys, my wonderful church family, and the chocolate that the kids brought home! HA HA!!!!!!

so I want to say that since I've been doing the 365 of thankfulness I have notices that i have an improved attitude, I think about things I am thankful for all day long....so much so that I at times Find it hard to choose what thing to blog about.
How cool is that?
So today want to say that I am thankful for thankfulness

Fourteen - - - - Sunshine!

To all my Tens of readers....Sorry I did not Post a picture for my 365 of thankfulness.


We had a tough time last night   and I did remember to do it, I just didn't get to it until after 1 AM so I figured I would just skip rather than do it so late.
Yesterday we had anxiety  Today things are better!

I want to tell you that Jessie has been learning about nutrition in school, and I am thrilled that she is criticizing my dinners :-)  "I don't see the fruit group"  "where is the meat group Mommy?"  How Cool is that?

here is a pic of a daffodil form our Yard, Moo is thrilled they are finally blooming!  :-) 

Today I am thankful for Sunshine....and Daffodils...and the color Yellow
Sorry I needed to be thankful for three things today :-)

Twelve -- report cards

Today we got Jess' report-card
Reading report cards is blah!

I spent the day preparing For kindergarten registration.

Moo had to get immunizations :-(
I offered to buy her an ice cream as a reward and she said "mommy it's still going to hurt, even with ice-cream" so true little one, so true.

Happy Birthday to my sister Nan!

Today I am thankful for this five year old future kindergartener
They grow up so fast!

ELEVEN --- not perfect!

Well I am totally refocusing my blog today :-) because today was a great day! But there were some things that went so good! Like coming home expecting a crockpot full of delicious food only to discover that I had forgotten to set the crockpot up properly so disappointed! Or gaining a pound despite the working out, Or the iPod going dead for no reason right after I took a picture of the boy readin to his sisters. Thankfully i googled and found out how to fix it. Or the blog entry I wrote about Moo playing in the playground at her school, and Christcare group umm I accidentally lost it. I could whine but, I will embrace the imperfection. Today was awesome! today I am thankful for imperfection.

Here is the pic of the boy reading to his sisters - - picture is edited by Devin who used some app.

Sent from my iPod

Ugh lost my blog entry

Forgot that this app won't save what you are working on if you back out of the app to check your facebook grr the whole blog entry is gone! It was the best blog entry ever too and I don't think I can recreate it ROFL. Yeah that's the ticket! LOL. I will post the new blog entry in a few :-)

TEN -- Church

Today I want to tell you that I belong to the best church, they have gone out of their way to make myself, and my  kids feel at home!  I almost didn't join, the situation at my last church did not end well at all, I didn't want to join another church like the last church. I was very weary, but I did and I am so glad.

I'd like to offer words of hope to those of you with kids with Special needs, and are struggling with your church.

There are churches out there that are accepting, kind caring and loving toward our kids!!!!!!  

Today I am thankful for my church, that they are there for me when I need them, that I can sit and be part of the service without being bogged down with worry about my kids
here is a picture of Jessica after church today.

NINE -- Shopping

Today was a great day! The family was together, we did some shopping and just enjoyed each other.

I want to talk about my Jessica. It used todos me run and hide, the idea of shopping with her, the meltdowns, the tantrums, the looks we would get.....ok well we still get those but they are not as bad as they used to be, and today she actually put things back. Reluctantly but still..... She has been making so much progress lately it's hard to know but I would say part of it is the iPod touch and the talking apps she loves so much. She will sit on the couch and think of things to say just to hear them repeated back to her. I love it!


So well today I am thankful for the iPod touch! Even though I really t bought we were kind of sort of using Jess' autism as an excuse to get it, it really has helped her in my opinion!

EIGHT - Sisters

Today Was Disco day in Jess' class  We got instructions to dress Jess in 70s attire . Most people who know me, know that I hate these special days when they are supposed to dress  in pajamas, or other such things KWIM?
Instead of stressing  over it, this time I utilized my good buddy Google Images LOL   I showed the girls what 70s fashion was like and I let them lose in their closet LOL  and I was really amazed, Moo loves clothes and fashion and she went to town dressing up Jess the giggles and laughter was awesome.


So Today I am thankful for Disco Day because I think it gave my girls a chance  to bond and become a little closer, Just look at  these sisters... I ask that you look NOT at the actual fashion but focus on the smiles :-) 

Seven -- forgotten

GeoTagged, [N42.60740, E71.30879]

So yesterday I forgot to do my 365

I have decided to do 365 days a picture each day of things I am thankful for. I started it on April first and here it is April seventh and I have already forgotten a day. Oh well, six out of seven ain't bad LOL yesterday was an awesome day so it would have been hard to put it all on one post.

Today I went to work out at the gym
My step toward a healthier life. It went well.


Ok speaking of healthy, have you tried this yogurt (see included image)
I tasted it and was instantly reminded of my mothers blueberry pie I mean really I had to look in the mirror and check to make sure I wasn't turning violet Violet. ;-)
Today I am thankful for a lot, but specifically Yoplait  blueberry pie yogurt! Thank you for reminding me that my mother made blueberry pie for me! I had forgotten!

Joined a gym - FIVE

I've been trying to eat healthy, and work out once in awhile but today we took a bigger step, we joined a gym. I'm really feeling like this was the right step for me and DH---Today was election day-we voted on our way to check out the gym. How amazing it is to be able to do that... No big deal hmm
they said about 20%. I could whine about that, but I won't.

So tonight I want to say I am thankful that I live in a country where I am free to vote or to chose not to vote, and have my say in the government.

school meetings -Four

I am Posting this entry on April 5th but I really wrote it on April 4th  it is number 4 on my 365 of thankfulness :-)  as soon as i post it I will then write my April 5 post :-)

Today we spent most of the day  talking about, thinking about, or dealing with My boy's issues we had the Eligibility meeting for an IEP  and I am not going to bore you with the details, but I thought today I would tell you that I am thankful For my boy. He is struggling so much right now his self esteem is low, his anxiety is high, he is so amazing, if only he knew how amazing he really is.

I did not forget the 365

I took the picture I just need to upload it...the computer has been otherwise occupied. LOL I'll have yesterday's and today's later today!
Thank you!

Friendship - Three

Tonight I want to talk about my son's friend Hunter. When we first met him we were not yet aware that our kids were on the spectrum, our boy Devin had recently been diagnosed with ADHD we had no idea what Jess' issues were.

Hunter was in the same Sunday school class as our boy and well they didn't get along so well. Every Sunday you could here me saying "if you can't get along with Hunter why can't you just play with the other kids" Boy was I one lucky mom that my boy didn't take my advice.

They are the best of friends! Hunter is such a positive influence on Devin. he convinced him to join scouts, to try new things, he encourages him when he needs it most!
but there is more to it than that
We carpool to scouts and it we pick Hunter up and I can tell you that all three of my kids look forward To that ride to scouts once a week. He gets into the car prepared with jokes for the little ones, and he treats Jess with compassion and understanding when she gets overwhelmed. He gives me hope! This is a kid I told my son not to play with an it turns out that he is such an amazing kid. I have hope that my kids are going to do ok.

So tonight I want to tell you that I am thankful for Hunter - his family is pretty awesome too!

Two --autism awareness

So today is world autism awareness day
So what's the thing I want the world to be aware of? I guess it would have to be. Sibling awareness! autism impacts every member of the family!

I feel like the world doesn't understand how much autism affects Moo, come on if you have siblings there must have been at least one time in your childhood where you felt that life was unfair. Imagine what it's like when both of those siblings have autism? I've seen Moo stand up to protect her sister, and I've had to sooth her when she has been the recipient of one of her sister's rages.
she is amazing really! she seems to have the ability to understand Jess when no one else does. And she gives up so much weather it's being quiet during homework time, or going with Jess' choice when they are fighting over what game to play or show to watch.

So here I am sitting at Wendy's with my family updating my blog via the iPod touch. And the thing I am thankful for is Megan my youngest kid who is anything but typical she may drive me batty at times but she amazes me even more!

We love you Moo!

Sunset

Testing

Can I post from the iPod?

the beginning-ONE

Today i am trying to start something new, I need to be more appreciative for all that I have, more positive, less negative, i also need to take more pics, it really is a favorite thing to do, but some days it's just hard.

Well now here I am On April 1st,  the fools day,  the day that starts the autism awareness month, the birthday of some really cool people, you know who you are :-) The day i got the evaluation report for my son, not an easy thing to read!

Alright I can feel crappy and still be thankful right?


So I thought I would start with a picture of Jess....OK it was late and I remembered that I needed to take a picture and Jess came in to finish eating her dinner...So I took her picture....see what a careful planner I am :-)





Number one,

I am thankful for you my Jess! Pasta sauce, freckles, ADHD,  autism and epilepsy all of the things that make you you!  I love the way your eyes flash turquoise when you are upset and bright blue when you smile, When you are working on your homework and you get the right answer Joy just flows from you! I love it when you jump, and when you giggle, then there are the moments when you need a rock, or when you need a hug and we connect PURE AWESOME!   I am so thankful that God has put you in my life!

Love and Pain

I
know
you
would
never
want
to
hurt
my
girl
I
know
you
love
her
I
Know
you
can
see
that
she
doenst
really
know
you
are
laughing
at
her
so
maybe
you
think
it
doenst
matter
She
Loves
you
So
Much
She
doesnt
understand
I
know
you
do
not
understand
why
you
should
NEVER
LAUGH
AT
MY
CHILD!



she may surprise you someday.

What I wish I could say to the person at the mall

Dear Woman at the mall with your absolutely adorable toddler boy,

My girls really enjoyed playing with your boy while you were not watching him while you were in line at the pretzel place.

It was fantastic watching my girls interact with your child, what a happy go lucky kid!  but I noticed my oldest girl cringe whenever he came too close to her, and I suspected you noticed this too, you came closer and started talking with me a little. I saw the look of concern, and  I suspected that you  might have thought she was rude, since my girlio was acting like a regular 8 year old  and her difficulties were not obvious at that moment, I chose to share with you that she has autism.

I was quite surprised at the abrupt manner in which you scooted your child away into the coffee shop, I wonder if you even noticed that you didn't get your pretzel. At first I was offended, imagine that!  I was worried that you thought my child was rude when you were the one who was rude, then I had flashes of anger and sadness while looking at my pouting kids who had just lost their playmate.

Now I just feel sorry for you, I don't really know anything about you, but I imagine you live in a closed up perfect little world. Dh told me to think back to the way I was before we had kids Ok so yeah  I used to be like you....I am a far better person now!  I wish you and your family well!  Us? we  have moved on,  our feelings are no longer hurt, we are a tough group our family!

It's Hard Having a Sibling with Special Needs

moo looking up
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

Yesterday when I picked Moo up from school she was very excited for me to open up her backpack, I found a puppy dog she made from cut out hearts, very cute! And a yellow envelope, she took the envelope out of my hand and pulled the report card out and handed it to me. My first thought was “argh why does a preschooler need a report card?” I knew it was good, her last report card had AC (accomplished) on everything except “Knows address” and when her brother found out he went to work drilling her on what her address was, so we know she has that covered. As I looked it over she was very excited and asked if I liked it, I told her that I was very impressed and gave her a high five.

I have to say that I really wasn’t all that impressed it was exactly what I expected, so as I drove home I was trying to figure out why a good report card for Moo didn’t give me excitement, as a good report card for her siblings would, am I a terrible mother for feeling this way? We try to treat all the kids equal and I have to tell you when you have a kid with ADHD and Asperger’s, and a kid with Epilepsy and Autism, and a kid that is NT treating them equal is HARD, but I imagine it’s hard for any family.
My mind goes back to when I was a kid and the resentment I felt with my brothers they were twins and a year older than me, they struggled with grades, and I didn’t. I remember feeling upset because they got praised more for their mediocre grades than I did for my good grades. I do remember when they passed the 8th grade and made it into the high school, as promised my mom bought them a stereo. Oh boy I had passed too but I did not get anything. I remember being so upset about it. there are a lot of “wounds” like this that have not begun to heal until now! Being a parent of children with special needs changes your perspective.




Maybe I am over thinking it a bit too much since she is only five, but I really need to make sure she doesn’t feel invisible like I did. How do you keep things equal? Any advice I can get on this is greatly appreciated.

The perfect Blog!

Why is it that I stop blogging?

even though I really want to blog every day and be this perfect blogger....
Well ive been thinking a lot about thhat this weekend and I think I have some changes to make.


Well I think it is because I have read so many good blogs....and I am jealous.


I WANT A PERFECT BLOG!!! I want the perfect message, the perfect grammar, the perfect spelling,the perfect poem,  the perfect images, I want the cute little stories that change people's lives ROFL


Now if you know me, you know that this is the silliest thing in the world!  I am far from perfect, I am so lazy about spelling and grammar, I usually have trouble getting my thoughts out properly. My ADD overtakes me and since I have such perfect blogs to read and want to emulate, I have anxiety about it.

So I am going to try something different.


I'm going to blog like I used to way back when I started
I am not going to try blog like others

I'll blog about whatever comes to my mind
it will be quotes, and prayers, and cute stories about how my kids have change MY life :-)
pictures, and of course I will b log about my adventures in the kitchen :-)
I also thought I would post links to various stories or blogs that I like here :-)

So if imperfect grammar bugs you please go on to the next blog, I wont be offended :-)

No more stress!

siblings

siblings
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

one of my faves
sadly it is also my most stolen pic *sigh*

Moo flowers

Moo flowers
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

about three months old Moo

Reading

Reading
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

looking at some older pics

I don't think it's the word!

Jess
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

Ok I have been all for the whole ending the R word thing
I really don't like the word. a couple years ago I was at Target with my family, it was Mothers day and my family gave me a shopping spree for a gift and so we had fun as a family picking out clothes for me, and we made our way to the dressing room. Dennis sat out with the kids while I went into the room to try things on and Jess was in her hyper happy mode, and it was so embarrassing, she was loud and obnoxious but happy, We were new the the world of Autism and I was just then figuring out that whole "pick your battles" thing, Hey she is happy let her have fun who cares who it annoys KWIM?
So while I was in the dressing room I was working through in my brain, listening to her and telling my self "who cares if she is loud" when two teenagers girls came in, I didn't see them, but I could tell they were teenagers they were giggling and I wasn't really paying too much attention then they got quiet while my girl got loud, and I heard it "Oh she is SO adorable!" said the one teen, the other said "who?" and she said "That cute little redheaded R*****ed girl" It was the first time I had heard anyone use that word about my daughter, I've heard it a lot since then and it never bothers me as much as it did that first time. It took the air out of my lungs I couldn't breath for a second and the room spun a little, then I was overtaken with a real anger I don't think I have ever felt before, How dare they say that about my sweet girl! I quickly changed into my regular clothes and stormed over to their stall in the dressing room and said "She is AUTISTIC!!!!" and I left them there. I just continued shopping, didn't say a word to the family.


I've always been bothered by my actions that day, by my feelings, that why is it ok for her to have autism but NOT the R word?
Well then the special Olympics came out with their campaign to end the R word and I was all for it!

Now I want to tell you about the evaluation Jessica had at School, in it the paperwork they repeatably referred to her having an "intellectual disability" No big deal right, that is what Autism is Right? When I brought copies of the papers to our Developmental Pediatrician She really had trouble getting me to understand what it meant, she talked about IQ, But I didn't really hear what she was saying, she talked about her being like an 11 year old when she is 18...I actually thought she meant socially, it wasn't until, in her frustration she said "we used to call it Mildly Mentally Retarded but we are not supposed to use that word anymore" when I finally got what she was saying. Since that moment I have had mixed emotions, I think back to that day and I don't think it does make a difference that my child is "the R word" having your child identified by their disability is hurtful. hmm I still leave myself some room to learn more here, maybe I will feel different some day.




The other Morning I was at the Grocery store, it was just me and Moo, the five year old,She goes to afternoon preschool. we needed to get some food and a snow storm was coming, I know a snow storm is always coming LOL I got to the check out line and there was a woman probably in her 50s ringing up the groceries and a teenager/young adult girl bagging, the bagger said to the cashier "so what time are you going home?" the cashier said "three" the bagger said "I bet you'll leave before that because you hate driving in the snow remember!" the cashier said "well it's not supposed to snow until tonight!" Then the bagger said "What are you mentally challenged? The news said it would snow at Noon!" I saw the sting of pain on the woman's face I was taken aback I said "That's not nice!" the cashier just changed the subject "Oh I should buy some of that ice melt before we sell out of it!" *sigh*

It's not the word, it's the world We need to change!!!!!!  We need to stop teasing people in general, but we need to stop teasing people by likening them to someone who has a disability as if having that disability were the worst thing in the world! We need to be nice to everyone!



Oh the older woman was right, the snow came later that night HA!

We interupt this blog....

hearts
Originally uploaded by machris (Mary-Ann)

haha So I promised to blog more, and to cook more and blog about it, but my fridge broke and the school snow days.....

excuses excuses

I've been working on a blog entry but the laptop froze, I feel like my kid Mapboy I know what I want to say, but I can't get it out onto my blog LOL


anyway we will be shoveling, I promised to to not write until I get the driveway cleared LOL

this picture was taken a few years back, the paper guy left these tracks after a dusting of snow......gosh remember that? when you used to get dustings of snow???


Ok off to the snow....

school pizza!

Last night we had frozen pizza for dinner, I don't usually do the frozen pizzas usually we make our own but I really wanted to try one of them that I saw...well ok really I should say that I should never shop when hungry because it was the picture on the package that made me by It LOL and so I grabbed a cheese pizza for the little kids and a spinach and goat cheese one for me :-)


Well as I was opening the package I realize the cheese pizza is square Jessica was sitting there watching me put it on the pan and she said "is that a pizza?" I told her that it was a pizza  and she said "is it a pizza just like the ones my friends eat at school?" WOW so I will tell you that we never buy the school lunch with her, we figured it was too complicated a process and since she is such a picky eater she would be better off with sandwiches from home. she used to bring either cream cheese and jelly, or Turkey which has turned into just cream cheese and jelly every day. So getting back to the friends eating pizza I asked her if they had pizza in school today and she said "yeah and my friends like pizza at school, I like it too!"


OMGosh I think we might try it, maybe set it up with her Para to help her purchase lunch the next time they have pizza, I just think it would be really cool for her to do something different!

Happy New Year! a million resolutions!

I really want to keep up my blog more regularly
AND I want to cook more and learn more recipes  try new things.

So I will be cooking one new recipe a week and blogging about it  sort of like in that  Julia Childs movie ONLY FAR LESS INTENSE!

Here is my first new recipe for 2011
it's Groundnut stew I got it from a cookbook called "Food and Wine Quick from Scratch Chicken cookbook"


http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/groundnut-stew

Groundnut Stew

• ACTIVE: 5 MIN
• TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN
• SERVINGS: 4
  

• FAST

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons cooking oil, more if needed
2. 1 chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds), cut into 8 pieces
3. 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
4. 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
5. 1 onion, chopped
6. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
7. 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, drained
8. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
9. 2 3/4 cups water
10. 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
11. 1 10-ounce package frozen sliced okra

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Season the chicken pieces with 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and black pepper. Cook until browned, turning, about 8 minutes in all. Remove. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pot.
2. Reduce the heat to moderately low. Add the onion to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and then the tomatoes and cayenne. Return the chicken legs and thighs to the pot and stir in 2 cups of the water. Bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes.
3. Whisk together the peanut butter and the remaining 3/4 cup water until smooth. Add this mixture to the stew along with the chicken breasts and wings, the okra and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 of teaspoon black pepper. Cook, partially covered, until the okra is just done, about 10 minutes.

Serve With

Serve the stew with rice or egg noodles to capture every drop of the distinctive sauce. 

 

 

 

 

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ok well  I did not realize Until I was writing out this blog that I had made a mistake and this is probably why it didnt seem as though the meal tasted as good as it sounded KWIM? 

in the recipe it says to add 1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes, and I put the whole can in which explained why it seemed as though the tomato flavor overtook the others.

So we still liked it I added a little more Cayenne after I tasted it, didnt make any other changes

if we make it again I will use 8 chicken thighs instead of a whole chicken cut up....the different cuts of chicken cooked differently the breasts were  kind of dry.....but the recipe will definitely be in the keeper file

Who liked it?

Dennis liked it! he added some srirachia sauce to it

he wanted to add more peanutbutter next time we make it.

I liked it and I agreed with DH about the peanutbutter but now that I noticed my mistake I think that, that might by why we couldnt taste the PB

Devin liked it...I didn't really want him to eat if because he has had a tummy bug all day....but he wanted to try it...he thought the sauce was too spicy but still ate it...he must be feeling better!!!

Jessica liked the chicken but not the sauce!

Megan ate rice and veggies  I did get her to try the chicken, she said she liked it but didn't eat it and made death sounds when she tried the sauce LOL 

Sorry I have no pictures My real computer has died and I have not yet figured out how to do that on this laptop!

That is it, If you try the recipe comment back and let me know if you like it!