finding the good

good I bought a trash can today

I wanted to get it at the going out of bussiness sale at L&T
but I went a few days ago and they were gone

Today I had a 10 giftcard thingy for Kohls and it's int he same shopping center as L&T and so I popped in and they had the trash can I wanted :)

went to Kohl's and decided that instead of buying fancy dresses for the girls for the family Christmas party, I got them matching pink leggings and matching tops with Gingerbread cookies on them I feel smart because these clothes can be worn anytime right? and now the girls can play all they want with the cousins right?

The boy needs shoes but...he is into Mens sizes so it's hard to find affordable shoes that the kid likes KWIM? boy the prices go up when they get into adult sizes huh? no fighting on his part about wanting 300 dollar sneakers YAY!


Made Chicken soup with rice for dinner and read the story a zillion times because it's one of my FAVES :)


Good Good Good

no negative talk about highlighters on refrigerators, or kids with homework, and ADHD, or jumping on couches and throwing toys down the stairs to make Mom 's hair turn gray

nope no negtives AT ALL

Life is good

:)

Now I am off to put together food donatiosn that the kids are doing for Sunday school :)

Tomorrow will be even better :)

awe you can't look at this without smiling

OMgosh is it all sneaking up on me?

my kid is going to be ten in three weeks


NO I did not say that wrong!!

three freaking weeks!!!!

TEN YEARS OLD!!!

then shortly after that Messy will turn SIX!


and then Moo will turn THREE!!

ugh

I do this every year, I just chill out in October, then in November I'm hanging out and thinking about Thanksgiving and then WHAM!!! all of the sudden I am hit with the craziness.

I will not go crazy this year


actually is there any time of the year that isn't crazy?

maybe life is just crazy and I should stop waiting for the craziness to clear up, and just enjoy the chaos LOL

Not a day to honor animal doctors

please teach the kiddos what Veterans Day really means


yes it's my pet peeve but I wont yak too much about it this year

My boy knows what it means
My girl doenst seem to have the ability to understand the concept
the baby is too young even though she isn't a baby anymore *sniff*

--------------------------












So per drs suggestion we are skipping his medication on weekends and days off
observe

my conclusion is

he really does need the meds

it does really help him

*sigh*

a moo funny

a friend has been visiting for a few days, can I say it is good to finally get some time to sit wiht a friend who is over 10 years old :)

what did my Moo do?

we were in the kitchen having tea

she was up in her room playing and as usual took her shirt off

came down stairs and said "wook at my nipples day are small, but you have big nipples and mommy has big nipples"

ROFL

yikes

I don't even know how she knows the word nipple

what's up with that?


I'm glad she didn't say that to the lady who visits from the school LOL

OMGosh I just love these kids so much!

boy can they trash their rooms like rocks stars

what is up with that?

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog

seriously I was so busy AND every time I went on the computer I was playing that stupid Hatchery game on facebook LOL

anyway Dh is away for a few weeks

and
I am not happy about it

this morning I pulled into the driveway from Dropping boy off and school and up pulls the bus to take girl to school

sheesh I didn't even have time to wash her face

luckily braiding her hair is on her morning board so it was done but wow that was cutting it close :(

had big battles with Mapboy last night over homework

what can you do?

in the end he finished it all and I made him do half of the homework that is due for Friday

he thinks I am the meanest ever

maybe I am

I'm trying to stay positive

new president, new government

change and all

but my self esteem is really lacking right now
I got a nasty email from someone who I thought was a friend
it was about politics what else? well and religion
another person who thinks they are such a great Christian as to judge weather or not I am Christian enough

it's all very depressing


so i will just cut out and go off tot he laundromat

yes my washer is still broken

yes I know I should just take care of it myself instead of waiting for DH

*sigh*

I am so happy

We started a new story board for Messy thsi morning
new morning routine

it is perfect!

I just wish i had remembered to put in "take medicine" but that is no biggie

instead of rushing around we actually had time to color before he bus came

beautiful morning


Do you know anything about artificial ponds?

Last year Mapboy and I created a little artificial pond...yeah it started out as a bird bath, but it was actually cheaper to get the little pond kit so we did it

anyway last year I left it all winter and in the spring it was DISGUSTING and I vowed to empty it out before winter this year

So I went to do it but

started taking out the water (it's small only 35 gallons

but as I got down I found a frog
upon investigation we found 4 frogs hibernating in the bottom of the pond

ok change of plans I don't want to kill the frogs so I added some water back in it and replaced the filter and turned on the pump


but what am I going to do?

keep the pond filter running all winter? what will happen when it freezes?
should i turn off the filter?

will the frogs be OK?

*sigh*

Sad news

In regards to Julian King the Missing boy


They found the SUV and the body of a child inside

:(

I don't want to say anything bad but

why is it that a white boy is kidnapped in Nevada and it was on the headlines, you couldn't even go anywhere without seeing that blond boys beautiful face


So now there is a child missing in Illinois and really, the only reason we know about it is that the kids aunt is famous....seriously do you even think it would have made the national news?

is it me? can anyone explain to me why MSNBC has an artical abotu it without even a picture of the child, so you could say something if you saw him? CNN has a picture of him, you have to click for it, Fox News you have to search for hte story but at least they have a picture of the child there

this is frustrating

why is it not news? why is it not everywhere you look?

just wondering if there was a reason other than "he is african american"

is it me?

maybe I am jsut too grumpy this morning

I pray the little boy is ok

:(

sorry I forgot toupdate

Moo's refluz has improved, but not enough to stop giving her the meds

So we will see them again in a year

the testing was HORRIBLE

but sahe did so good

Love Children's Hospital they are so good to my babies :)

back to helping the homework Monster :)

just adding a picture :)

moo's test day

Today we go for the lovely tests they do at the urology department of Children's hospital

Please pray that they find she has grown out of this kidney reflux thingy

and and wont need surgery, or will no longer have to take antibiotics every day.

we have 4 appointments today, starting with the first test at 10:45 AM and the last one is at 4:30 PM


Messy's fields trip has been canceled due to weather


and I can't find my recipe for apple pie I have a folder full of my favorite recipes, but the apple pie one is not in it

:(


I tried to google but, do you know how many apple pie recipes are out there???

LOL

lobster, apples, and some changes it's good to step out of your comfort zone

Dh talked me into buying lobster

it was a good price
and we heard a news story about lobster fisherman basically going out of business because they were not getting enough money for the catch, yet Lobster was still priced high for hte consumer

So to do our part for the local economy LOL

we bought lobster

I looked up online how to cook it :)

success


I didn't take the picture

that was the guy who wants to be a professional photo0grapher that took it :) (DH)

it was easy and I learned a few things

Lobsters are easy to cook

it's not as hard as I thought to put them in the pot

they don't scream like people say

the men in the family LOVED it

the women had issues :)

actually I loved it, but the girls did not want to touch it

well until after when they played with the shells LOL

----------------

We went apple picking this weekend
to the same place MB broke his collar bone

we had not been back since, and it was a big step for the boy, because he had a little fear, and in his head the Hay maze he fell from was HUGE, but they were not really that big, and he easily climbed up and played around with the other kids on it. My new Header is him on the haystacks :)

on the other hand

it was higher than Messy's height
which meant I could not let her climb on it
I kept Moo off too so Messy wouldn't feel left out :(

but we had fun feeding goats and picking apples

this is the same place Messy has a field trip to go to this week

*sigh*

I know I haven't been updating much

why?
what is my excuse?
is it
a) computer trouble
b) busy life
c) addiction to the hatchery
or
d) all of the above

ROFL

hope you all have a nice week


Oh I had to change the setting as someone posted a spam thing and a phishing thingy in the comments and I said "Oh no you didn't!" and had to take that ability away

sorry

is this pink enough?

ugh I swear the other pink killed my eyes

the pink is the problem

it actually hurts my eyes

man I need to find a new pink

tips for Kids with Autism and Halloween

WOW do I wish I saw this BEFORE!!!
From the Autism Society Of America

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=halloween_tips

Tips to Make Halloween Enjoyable for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The very things that can be so exciting to neurotypical kids—wearing the costume of a favorite character, being outside with other kids who also have on costumes, knocking on doors to ask for treats, and getting treats from every house you visit—can be anxiety producing for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Wearing a costume is unfamiliar, as is going from house to house to ask for treats. New routines and behaviors can be enjoyable for kids on the spectrum when they are approached with planning, and the necessary supports are identified and provided. Following are some things you can do ahead of time to help your child enjoy this child-focused occasion:

1. Begin early (even a month before) to prepare your child for Halloween activities. Read a story about Halloween and the activities that surround it, like carving pumpkins, wearing costumes, and trick-or-treating. Teach your child the skills involved in participating—knocking on the door, holding out the bag, saying “trick or treat” or using assistive technology (a picture or device) to communicate the message, and then saying “thank you.”

2. Help your child choose a costume that will reflect his interests. Let him practice wearing the costume around the house while practicing the skills. If wearing a costume is irritating, ask him if he would rather wear face paint, a scarf, or a hat on Halloween. No costume is also OK.

3. Write a social narrative describing what your child will do on Halloween. Include in this story information about wearing the costume (if she will) or face paint, and carrying the trick-or-treat bag. Identify which houses your child will visit, what your child will say at each house, and what she will do with the treats she receives.

4. Create a visual schedule with the Halloween activities for the evening marked on it.

5. Let your child practice trick-or-treating with familiar individuals and houses. If he has a restricted diet, give these individuals special treats for him.

6. Keep the trick-or-treating session short and comfortable. If two houses are her limit, that is fine.

7. Teach your child to give out candy for trick-or-treaters. Use role play to let him practice the skill before Halloween. Write a social narrative about this aspect of Halloween so he will know what to expect and what to do when the doorbell rings that evening. This way, even if his trick-or-treating session is short, he will be involved in the celebration.

8. Remember, practice helps make any activity feel like a routine!

From The Sphere (Fall 2007-Volume I/Issue 2), newsletter of the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence. Reprinted with permission.

did ya ever notice?

when you put the recycling out the night before like you are supposed to

they never show up until 2 pm to pick it up

but

the one time you get lazy and wait until morning to put it out

yup

they got here early

sheesh

busy day

today was hectic
my schedule didn't work today, a combo of a few minutes late leaving and traffic caused issues, we didn't get back to Messy's bus, so we had to take her to school, which she actually handled WAy better than she has in the past she usually doesn't like anything to be different from her normal routine.

then it was picture day for the boy and I forgot the paperwork, so I had to bring it to him
I didn't want to drive there and back, and then turn around and go pick him up, so I tried to grocery shop near his school before I picked him up....what a mistake LOL I like my store, maybe I am a bit like my daughter

ok does anyone else think it's odd that a nine year old (Mapboy) wants me to tivo the debate so he can watch it???


when I was that age I hated anything to do with any of that
if they interrupted my tv shows then I would be upset but other than that the government ran without me noticing.

ok was that a poor job done by the school I went to? or a great one done by the school he goes to...or the opposite? is it healthy for a nine year old to understand what "lipstick on a pig" means?

I know they were learning about it in school, they were talking about planning a field trip to the campains' headquarters, but it fell through.

seriously the kid didn't ask me to tape the redsox in the play offs, he asked me to tape the presidential debate

---------------
on another note MB is going on a field trip tomorrow
freedom trail, I wish I could go! it is cool living here sometimes :)

Oh darn I forgot some things at the store

is there a twelve step program for furniture?

So one of the things I remember when I was a kid was a bed, it looked like a castle it was a loft bed with a play area underneath, my father had plans to build it for me, we would sit and talk about how cool this bed would be we drew pictures of it and I really thought he was going to make it...but the bed never got made :(


OK so that may explain why I am really too emotionally attached to this bunk bed, we bought it, and painted it to look like a castle....ok it doenst *look* like a castle to you and me, it is no way even close to the one my dad dreamed about, but to a five year old and a two year old, it looks like a castle! LOL

So Now the epilepsy Dr says NO to bunk beds
Ok I'll be honest I didn't think of it as an issue, but what can I say?
We can't put the 5 year old on the bottom, because the 2 year old really is just too small for bunk beds KWIM?

so silly me thinks, OK we will sell the bunk bed and use the money to buy a trundle
ROFL

Dh didnt think anyone would buy a painted bunk bed (why is he always right?)

OK so apparently a bunkbed loses value when it is painted by a mom and her kids to look like a castle ROFL

here am I thinking I have this thing of value and I can't even give the thing away.

so the new plan is to take the thing apart and put it away until the littlest one is old enough to climb up to the top, of course you do know that by that time it wont look like a castle to them anymore. ROFL