SAHM

For those of you who don't know, that is an acronym of "stay at home moms". I just finished reading a book by Meredith Efkin called, "@ Home for the Holidays". This book is a series of emails or 'emails from a sahm loop' of moms who are supporting one another. I realized that this is the second book in the series, but it was a good enough stand alone.

Again, I apologize that this is a diversion from my usual stories about my boys, but it does explain a lot of things about my life. I know my blog will never be *important* or "well-read" or "popular" as my husband pointed out to me yesterday, but the purpose of my blog has never been to be any of that. It is meant for me to tell those who are closest to me about my boys and about my life. Who I am, essentially.

I am a sahm. I do so by choice. I am far from being a Martha Wannabe or a Stepford wife as you can be. My house is messy (but sanitary), my boys are well-fed and cared for. I am also not one of those "MOMS Club" moms who think that staying home with your kids is the only option. For me, it is the best option for many reasons.

I stay at home because I want to. For me (and for only me, probably), staying at home is the best option. It is so because I can't imagine going to work. Again, this is not a working mom versus stay at home mom thing. My skills are best used at home. That doesn't mean that I don't get burned out and need a break. If I said I was wonder woman I would be lying. I remember the first few years of mommyhood and I was burned out. I felt as if I had to do everything (gotta love my type-A, perfectionism). I never had a babysitter unless it was my folks those first few years. I just didn't believe in it. I believed I made the choice to stay home, so I should always take care of my children.

I have since learned how wrong that is. Not tooting my own horn, but there is a lot that had I not stayed at home, oldest would not have made the type of progress that he did had I not been home. I have learned that in order for my boys to make progress, it is a team effort. I have also learned that a rested mom is a happy mom. If mom is not rested and in 'low' stress mode, then things do not go smoothly in this house. THAT does not make me a bad mom. That makes me a realistic mom. That makes me a person who knows and accepts her limitations. That is good.

One thing that I thought was interesting is husband said that things such as Facebook and email (including email loops) are the 'worst things for housewives" (he just said this yesterday). I think these are the best things for SAHM. First of all, we have a support system. For example, I have an online support system for moms with a child on the autism spectrum. Is that a bad thing? Nope. We share ideas, give supports before IEP meetings, bounce ideas, etc. In the 'old days' this type of thing would not be available to moms like me. So, it would be better to be like it was when I first became a mom, feeling isolated and alone? No, I don't think so. Will I ever meet these people? Probably not as we are all scattered around the country. I know that if I didn't have this support system, I would probably be lost. I also have one locally. So, is the internet bad for SAHMs? No, I don't think so. What it has done is created a way for us to quickly interact with each other.

I also think that there is a 'label' that the working parent has for the SAHP (that's stay at home parent). This was briefly touched upon in my book that I just finished. What's interesting is that I know the working parent thinks that we just 'email, play on the internet and eat bon-bons" (hubby has said this, so I know that this is true and it was mentioned in the book when the SAHM became the breadwinner and the father stayed at home). I think that there is a lot of misunderstanding of what the SAHM does.

I actually consider myself a manager of my boys' schedules more than I consider myself a "homemaker' (in fact, I loathe that term). For example, I think my husband manages his subordinates, manages clients and reviews work. He'll probably tell you that he does more. What do I do as a SAHM? Well, I manage sub-ordinates (children), manage clients (teachers) and review work (of my boys' homework or of repair people/house cleaners, etc). So, my 'job' is not so far off of his job.

Why do SAHM get such little respect? That is the big question. Why do teachers get paid so little? First of all, it is a predominately female profession. As a 'typical' female profession, both have traditionally do not have respect of our society. Why is that? That is a good question. We both 'touch' the future of this country. Where would our next generation be without teachers and parents?

Now, I am not saying that you cannot be a working parent and not be involved in your child's life, but for me, it is the best option. For me, I would miss those 'little moments'. I have found something that 'fulfills' me. I know that I am lucky that I am able to stay home with my boys. I know that not every parent has that ability (financial or otherwise) to do so. Staying home means a lot of sacrifices. I realize that. I do not have my 'head in the sand' and think that every mom can do it or that the working parent does not want to stay home. However, it is also important to note that part of the SAHM's job is to support the working parent. It is also important that the working parent support the SAHM. Raising children is a team effort. I am just lucky enough to be the stay at home parent.

I also think that with my situation, it is best if I stay at home. As a parent of a special needs child, I cannot imagine getting him to the activities that he needs to go to while having a job especially since he needs routine and structure. My other two also need someone to tootle them around the place. I have become the typical 'soccer' mom in my few years of 'mommyness'.

My purpose of this blog post is not to show you, "this is what I do and my job is purposeful'. Rather, the purpose of this post is to let you into a little bit of my world. I read this book and it touched me. It was interesting how misunderstood SAHMs are in this world. I also think the working parent is also misunderstood. I think that is the new 'war' (when I had oldest it was the working mom versus stay at home mom, now I think it is the SAHM and the working parent). I don't really understand why we can't just all get along and focus our energies on raising our children to be good citizens...

"Best Christmas EVA!"

Yes, that was proclaimed by youngest on Christmas day. Granted, he has only had two other Christmases and he got pink eye on Christmas day, but still "it was the best Christmas EVA!".

I think he was happy because he got three dvds of his very own (he kept declaring them "HIS") and he got his own set of "Star Wars/Clone Wars" McDonald Happy Meal toys from Santa.

Homebound Hell: Day 8

Yes, I am in Homebound Hell. We are surrounded by a foot or two of snow. We've had snow since last Sunday (so eight days ago). The only day I have been 'out' is last Tuesday, when there was school. Other than that, I have been with my 'little darlings'. They have played in the snow, run amuck in the house (which irritates me to no end).

Over the weekend, we had a big wind storm in addition to the snow. This has created drifts or what the boys call, "hills" in our backyard and front yard. Oldest loves going in the backyard and running into the hills and making snow angels. Middle boy loves to do the same. These drifts are probably about several feet high.

When they are not running around outside, they are getting on each other's nerves inside. They do this via the game 'keep away' as in 'keep away' each other's hats, so that they have to run and get it (screaming of course) from each other. Of course, this is unacceptable in my world and they know it. In fact, last week, they had a triple time out (all three had a time out at the same time because they were just being crazy monkeys).

Today, I sort of 'hit the wall' as far as being in the house so much. It's not that I don't love spending time with my boys, it's that I have had too much togetherness. Usually, I just send them outside, but we can't with all of this snow.

I am trying to find the joy in this situation. I know that it is a rare chance to spend just a few moments with my boys. I know that it is a rare opportunity to do something just as a family. Unfortunately, I am a little tired and having trouble with that. I am also having trouble trying to do 'the perfect' Christmas. Not that Christmas has to be 'perfect', but that things are changing and it is hard to not necessarily 'meet' the expectation, but to not be too disappointed.

I know that family is what is most important at this time of year, so I am trying to focus on that. I do have a wonderful life and I am grateful for that everyday. I just need to focus on that 'little' bit of optimism and make it grow like I usually do.

Sorry this entry is a little downer. I hope you all hold those dear to you a little closer. They may make you nuts, but isn't that good? That means that you love them.

Another Snow Day!

This morning, our district cancelled school because of the threatened snow storm (or as the television stations have been calling it, "Arctic Blast").

As the snow began to fall, the boys were very excited. Youngest kept asking me, "is it Christmas, yet?". I think he associates Christmas with snow, which is very smart of him.

About 11 a.m., oldest came in from being outside and said, "Momma, I lay down like this (and he laid down on the ground) and move your arms like this (as he was making a snow angel motions)". I asked him, "who taught you that?". He told me it was his OT and his ST (I am not quite sure which).

Then, middle boy and youngest decided that it would be fun if THEY did it. So, they bundled up themselves and headed outside and made snow angels. Oldest had fun showing the others how to do it. And, they did.

I must be speaking Farsi...that's the only explanation

I am convinced I must consistently be speaking a foreign language so foreign to my boys that is why they don't understand me.

Consistently, my youngest feels the need to jump on the sofa. I keep it simple, "no jumping on the sofa". It must be coming out in some foreign language because he still doesn't get it.

Today, our second snow day was the worst for my six year old. He was bored (that is the only other plausible explanation) and I told him to "leave his brothers alone" and "not to touch his brothers". He told me he understood. He even nodded, 'yes' and said that he understood what I said. I must be speaking Farsi because he didn't understand. As a result, his terribly expensive glasses got broken because he was 'teasing' oldest and decided to keep his favorite Dash hat. As a result, oldest pulled his glasses down and bent them. With him, I do see military school in his future if he doesn't change his attitude. I thought I was at least 6 years away from the 'teenage attitude'.

If anyone can teach me plain English, that would be helpful so they could understand.

Catch up, again!

Of course, it is December and things are busy, busy, busy. So, I will try to catch you up on the latest goofy antics of my boys.

A few weeks ago, youngest had a cool idea for Mommy to play light sabers and dinosaurs. What does this entail? Well, youngest lines up his dinosaurs while Mommy and youngest take the light sabers and knock all of the dinosaurs down. This conflicts me on two levels: first of all, there weren't light sabers during the dinosaur times. I know, it is a technicality. Secondly, it is a little violent. I do let the boys play light sabers, only because it isn't guns or looks like a real gun.

Today was the Christmas pageant and our church. Middle boy was in it last year. I felt as a good board member of the youth advisory board, I should have at least one child in the play. Oldest couldn't handle it, youngest would have goofed off and middle son said he didn't want to do it. So, here I am, the Sunday School representative (the Sunday School put on the play) and I have no one in the play. I am a bad member of the board. The redeeming thing is on the way out, middle boy said to our Pastor and the Family Minister "Merry Christmas' without balking and said it in a booming voice.

The other day, I went in to work in middle son's 1st grade class. The teacher (who knows that I used to be a teacher) had me helping the groups with their reading (they switch rooms for reading class, so some of the students are not in her class). I realized that I haven't been out of the teaching profession WAY too long. The kids she has are the slightly below grade level kids. I am convinced there are a couple with special needs. I did my best to teach them something 'a different way' to help them understand how to do their work.

Decorating the Christmas tree

It's hard to believe that here we are on November 30th, we are decorating the Christmas tree...It's not even December!

Hubby took the three boys to the boy scout lot (we have to support the boy scouts, with middle and oldest being cub scouts!) in our town. They came home with a beautiful tree....hubby had already gotten out of the ornaments, so he was ready to lead the way....

When they got home, they took the 'traditional' picture with the Christmas tree (in front of the minivan on the street) with all four boys. Then, we got the tree in the house, got the tree in the tree stand and hubby put the lights on the tree and the whole family got involved putting ornaments on the tree.

We have a tradition of getting an ornament of something that they have done this year. So, obviously, youngest has the fewest ornaments (some years, the boys have gotten more than one). He was the most enthusiastic of all. He wanted to put all of the ornaments on the tree if he could. Middle boy helped youngest put the hooks on the ornaments that didn't have them and let youngest put some of his ornaments on the tree. Oldest got into it all and had a great time putting his Pixar ornaments on the tree (usually, he doesn't let us do this).

Our tree looks beautiful, although, there are a couple of spots that you can tell that youngest put the ornaments on the tree (they are close to the bottom), but that is okay. Middle boy tried to put most of his "Star Wars' ornaments up so youngest couldn't reach them.

Conference #2

Conference #2 (for middle boy) went really well. He is excelling in all areas (developing in writing, but we knew that). His teacher asked if someone in his family is good at Math and, of course, hubby is. Middle boy loves to do Math about money....again, go figure...

What was even funnier was that his teacher on the way out said to me, "You should be a teacher, you have such a kind spirit". Had to let the cat out of the bag on that one (actually, hubby did).

I typically get a daily update on youngest, but his teacher did say that he has changed a LOT since last Spring. So, that is good.

All in all, all of the teachers love my boys. That is an improvement from this time last year (even my friends have noticed a difference in me!). Makes me realize how bad things were last year.

This year, I am grateful for all of the wonderful teachers!

Whoo hoo!!!

Conference Season is Upon Us

It is that time of year when we have conferences with the boys' teachers. Tonight, we had a conference with oldest boys' teachers. This is always a nerve-racking experience because it is with his special education teacher and his 'regular' teacher.

We learned a lot about oldest. He is doing really well, he has adjusted really well. They are very pleased with him socially, academically and behaviorally. He still seems to have a small amount of 'learned helplessness'.

We also learned that his special education teacher has 'connected' with him. She allows him to add his 'Pixar' contributions and be okay with it. For example, she wants him to do calendar...if he is good, she'll let him mention that on November 18th "Wall-E" comes out (and how many days until that).

Time Waster?

I know this blog is supposed to be about my boys, but today, I am going to take a pause and post about me. I have found a new way to spend my time. No, it's not Facebook (although, that is my second biggest time waster in my world, that's how I communicate with all of my MOMS club moms these days). No, it is called being a member of the ad-hoc sub-committee of my citizens advisory board. I don't even get a title. I am a non-member of the sub-committee of the citizens advisory board of my local school district.

I got this job because I was talking to a neighbor of mine at the back to school breakfast for my development. I was telling her how happy I was that oldest boy was attending the 'local' school again (he was moved to another school last year) and how our district moves the special needs kids. I wasn't even complaining. We got to talking and turns out she is a member of the citizens advisory council (they report to the school board) and she has taken on the cause of not only the boundary changes (her main cause for getting on the council), but something about the special education program really hit her. She also got another cause of the alternative high school from another neighbor.

Evidently, at the last meeting, they got to talking about special education and another member got interested, also (so, two out of the 20 members). Of course, boundary issues were also a huge issue, but so did special education. Our district is known (in a good way) for its special education programs. However, there has been some issues with the growing needs of our district for special education.

So, I have been spending my time either connecting up with other people in different programs (which I have learned a lot that we all don't really know what goes on in other segments of special education or understand the others' programs) and explaining the different programs to these two council members.

I guess it is not really a time waster...I am working for the children of the structured inclusion program and the special needs kids at large. It has been an interesting experience (in a good way). I have found we have a lot more advocates than I thought we had (we are all good advocates in our own individual right, but there are a lot of 'typical' kids' parents who really support special education (yey!). This has also been good for me this week because I have been sick, so I sit on my computer and explain to others the various programs, answer emails, provide answers, etc. I guess it really isn't a 'time waster' as much as I think it probably is. I am serving as PR person for special education and contact person for others who have children in special education.

I still would like a title, though :).

Election Day

Today is the big election day in the country, but yesterday the two older boys voted at their school. Middle boy's chant is "I want Obama, not my Momma" (his Momma doesn't want to be president, either!). Even oldest boy voted (which I think surprised his para-pros, but he did). He said he voted for Obama.

Barack book

Tonight, my middle boy chose the book, Barack, for his night time story. It was an interesting biography about Senator Obama. In part of it, it said that Senator Obama stood, where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his speech, "I have a dream that my four children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character". That is always my favorite quote mainly because I want my oldest not to be judged by his autism, but by who he is. Obviously, I want that also for my other two.

Sorry for the serious tone of the last couple of posts. This election is getting to me, I guess. I am in a constant state of prayer for this country and for God to give us all the wisdom as we vote in this election.

Barack Obama

I am trying not to make this a political blog...but today, a favorite great aunt and uncle gave my boys a book entitled, "Barack". Needless to say, that middle boy inhaled some air when he saw the book. He was so taken, he had to sit next to it on the car ride home. His eyes lit up and he has claimed it as his own.

Halloween

Halloween came without a hitch. Middle boy had a 'hibernation' day at school. They got to wear their pajamas to school and take a favorite teddy bear. They rotated classrooms and had different stations in each classroom to do activities related to their study of bears (polar bears, grizzly bears and brown bears). Middle boy loved it. Youngest was trained on the fine art of 'trick or treating" (knock on door, say 'trick or treat", get candy and say 'thank you"). The one thing we forgot to ingrain in head was that he needed to walk a little faster to keep up with oldest and middle boy.

Halloween

Yes, we are two days away from the 'big day'. I have costumes ready, candy ready, but most of all, the buckets are found and put in a place that is easily accessible. Yes, I know it is weird, but they each have a bucket. Unfortunately, they are from last year (hey, I invested about $4 a pop on them, they have to last more than one year!) and match their last year's costume, except for middle boys'. Middle boys' bucket is a Darth Vader....his costume? Darth Vader. Oldest's bucket is a CARS-the movie (he was Lightening McQueen from the movie), but he is satisfied with it (this year's costume is Wall-E). They are both Pixar-right? Youngest is going to be the most random...he has a Thomas the Train bucket (he was Thomas last year). Much to my chagrin (I was THIS close to having him be Thomas again), he wanted a Diego (from "Go, Diego, Go") costume. He's happy though with his Thomas bucket.....

The Virtues of HSM

I know it has been awhile since I last posted (life is busy, you know!).

For something completely different, I thought I would post about HSM (for those of you who have been living under a rock, that is "High School Musical").

HSM is a story that was originally a Disney Channel movie aimed at the 'tweenies'. It has since been branched out to merchandise (dolls, clothes, etc), ice show, broadway play (yes, "HSM-The Musical") and many, many more forums. If Disney can dream it, it will be done.

It is the story of a boy (Troy, a basketball star) and a girl (Gabriella, the genius) who meet at a ski lodge new year's eve. Turns out (surprise) that Gabriella is moving to Albuquerque and is going to Troy's school after Winter Break. They reconnect and try out for the high school musical, but their friends all pooh-pooh them because Gabriella is a genius and Troy is the star basketball player and why would they ever want to do the drama thing? Bottom line is that they try to conform to peer pressure and not 'want' to be in the musical. In the end, they also 'fall in like" (they don't kiss until HSM 2 and that is all they do). The moral of the story is to do your own thing, without peer pressure.

Along the way, they unite their friends (of course). They also sing, dance, have amazing chorographed numbers and learn about what 'THEY" want.

Of course, there is the 'evil' character (although, Sharpay is not so 'evil' even by Disney standards, she does join in with them singing and dancing). She does try to undermine Gabriella because she wants the musical to herself (and Troy, too).

My question is...isn't the moral what we all want for our kids, to listen to their hearts and find their own way? In HSM-1, even my 6 year old picked up on the line that Troy's dad said (at the last moment of the state championship), "I want you to have fun". Isn't that what we all want for our kids? To find something that they enjoy and have fun?

Yes, it is cheesy, but who cares. There was not a single person (including myself and my mom) when I saw the musical (which was my introduction to HSM) that wasn't singing and clapping their hands. Yes, my husband did inopportune giggles during HSM 3, but it WAS full of cheese.

Final thought: Besides all of that cheese, the best part of HSM is that it brought my boys together with me. We watched HSM and HSM 3 together. We all enjoyed it. Oldest was singing and dancing during HSM 3 at the theater (he had seen the videos online and knew ALL of the words). It's something that has allowed him to be on the same level as his peers (okay, the girls, but that is fine). I wish I had had a videotape recorder and could have recorded it. I haven't seen him so happy and giggly like that in a long time. He had such a great time.

Middle boy growing up....

First, I must give you some background. Oldest boy is in cub scouts (primarily to help him with social skills with 'typical' kids), but we have found that cub scouts is a great organization and that middle boy would probably love it, too.

So, we signed up middle boy, too (so, now we have TWO boys in the same pack: oldest is a 'bear' and middle boy is a tiger cub). All I can say is that cub scouts is made for middle boy. He attended his first 'pack' (all levels of boys) meeting on Wednesday. He came home 'pumped' up for cub scouts. He is eager to earn as many badges as he can. If he could have slept with his tiger cub book, he would have (he took it to church today and read it during the service).

Yesterday was his first event. He and his den went to the World Forestry Center in Portland. They rode the MAX train in and visited the center. He had a blast. Afterwards, he went to lunch with his new friends (including a new friend in our development!). Then, he went to the cub scouts store and purchased his uniform.

Today, he went to our local Fred Meyer (a grocery store), suited up and sold popcorn (the fundraiser. I can't tell you how handsome he looked in his new uniform. I almost cried. He looked so grown up and handsome. He had a grin from ear to ear in his new uniform.

All we have heard for the past five days is, "how do I earn a patch?". He is so highly motivated to earn patches (I may be able to get him to do more chores for me, remember, a cub scout is a helper around the house!).

Oldest boy is also motivated. He saw middle boy in his uniform and really enjoyed it. This happened recently, when middle boy was learning the same stroke as oldest in swim lessons. It really motivated oldest to push himself a little further to achieve the goal.

Goin' back to school

Today, I had so much fun. I volunteered in Middle boy's 1st grade class. I got to be introduced by him (he couldn't remember my name and said, "Katie") AND I got an applause (shooting stars, his favorite). He loved having me in class (although, I was there and he was in another class for Reading, such as life). I did get to talk to his teacher and learned some things we can do at home to help him (she is pleased with him, so nothing major!).

Youngest

See, my best stories come in bunches.

This morning, I dropped youngest off at preschool and told his teacher that he was 'moody', which was true. One second he was fine, the next not so much. This has been happening a lot (I just read and article that this is common in 3 1/2 year olds). Anyway...his teacher was very understanding.

When I picked him up, I asked him (as I always do), "how was your day?". Today, he didn't miss a beat and said, "I was fussy". His teacher looked at me and said, 'he was fussy'. I could only contain myself from laughing.

Goose Egg

I just got a phone call from the school nurse (never a good sign). My first thought was "who's sick? (since both oldest and middle boy go to that school)".

Turns out middle boy ran into a pole at recess. Now, this doesn't suprise me since he is the quickest of them. He has a goose egg, but no dizziness, eye problems, stomach aches, etc. Again, does this suprise me? No. So, looks like I get to play "Florence Nightingale' when they come home. Poor Guy....

Catch up!

Yes, I have been remiss on keeping up on my blogging...things get busy, as I am sure you are aware....

Last Thursday was picture day for my older boys. They got to wear their favorite shirts. Yes, before I had children, I vowed that my children would never wear a screen print top for school pictures. What did they wear? Middle boy wore his green "Yoda" shirt and Oldest his blue Ratatouille shirt. Obviously, rules are meant to be broken...

Last Friday was a state-wide inservice day. Typically, those days I have an autism conference that I go to. However, this year, I did not have a conference. I planned on taking the boys to the library (which sounds boring, but the boys LOVE going to the library. They all got dressed and we went and they got a new book and a new movie (I have a rule that they can get a movie, as long as they get a book). As always, it was popular and then we had drive thru McDonald's (which was a new toy....always a thrill...)

Saturday, we all went to the pumpkin patch. We had a lot of fun at Palmeroy Farms in Yacolt, which is about a good half hour away. It is a 'working farm', run by volunteers. They saw farm animals (which they loved). They got to pick out a pumpkin and then take the hay ride through Pumpkin Lane, which is comprised of 'pumpkin people' with different themes. Middle boy loved the superheroes. Oldest loved it all. Youngest boy loved the whole thing, also.

I also wanted to tell you that I am "the best Mom ever'. Youngest son has told me twice (unprompted) that "You are the best Mom ever'. I guess it must be true.

My Middle boy, the Civil Rights activist!

Middle boy has been fascinated with Dr. Martin Luther King ever since he learned about him in preschool (Teacher Jessica to be precise). He has thought he was really cool. We talk a lot about Dr. King because it is because of Dr. King that Senator Obama can run for President. Middle boy LOVES Senator Obama....he is Senator Obama's youngest fan. He has a sticker on his door. If you stay in his room, you HAVE to vote for Senator Obama (this is middle boy's rule). I think middle boy likes saying "Obama"....

Anyway...a couple of weeks ago, he went to the school library and checked out a book. It was a book by Faith Ringgold who is a well-known African-American writer (she wrote "Tar Beach" to critical acclaim, including the Coretta Scott King Award for literature). This book was called, "If This Bus Could Talk" and it was about Rosa Parks. Now, I thought that Middle Boy would be bored (although the illustrations are amazing, just like they are in "Tar Beach"). It was a historical fiction book about a bus that once a year, on Rosa Parks' birthday allows a 'special person" to sit where Rosa sat and tells the story of Rosa Parks.

Middle boy was fascinated. He was interested and then it got into the part after Rosa Parks didn't give up her seat on the bus, she met with Dr. King and joined his 'movement'. We talked a lot about how African-Americans couldn't sit on the bus and then what they did, etc and how because of what Dr. King did, has allowed Senator Obama to run for President. He was very interested and sat and listened with wide eyes. It was really cool to see him think about it and process it. I am not sure how much he actually understood, but he did think about it.

Youngest Sick Today

My youngest was sick today. Basically, he woke up at 1 a.m. this morning with more of his 'intestinal' bug. He was not feeling well at all this morning. In fact, after putting my other boys on their respective buses, youngest was very cranky and whiny. Not that I blame him. I would be, too. However, he was unusally cranky and I could tell that he was not feeling well.

So, it was another marathon of "Chicken Little" for him and I caught up on DWTS. Around what would be lunchtime, he got all cute and snuggly. We read book after book on my bed. I think I read the same story over and over. Then, he got into a "Pirates of the Caribbean' toy from McDonald's.

After the older boys got home, youngest got cranky again. I think he was getting tired and worn out. I don't blame him. We have a joke in our house that when youngest isn't happy, there is not anyone happy.

Good news is that he seems to be mended and ready (knock on wood) for school tomorrow.

Pizza Day!

Last Friday and today, I declared it "pizza day" (I am really tired by Friday and hubby has been out of town, so I have just order in). Today, we tried Domino's Pizza tracker. For those of you who don't know, it 'tracks' your pizza from order to delivery (it is like a horizontal chart with five steps: order taken; make; bake; box and delivery). You track it online. I knew oldest would love it (given his penchant for anything computer related), but I didn't realize how much fun middle boy and youngest would have. As soon as each section 'lit up' oldest and middle boy would read it (and jump up and down) and youngest was convinced that the 'pizza man' was here (even though our pies were in the oven, for example). I do not own stock in Domino's, but it is such a clever thing.

I am so smart

The past couple of days, I have been having trouble getting #1 and #2 to the bus stop. After helping them get dressed, I remind them that if they miss their buses, they are walking to school (I don't drive late boys). It seems to have worked, too (knock on wood). Oldest gets this "I am NOT walking to school" attitude and Middle boy gets a little freaked and tells me that 'it is a long" way to school'. Fear is a good thing. Obviously, I would drive them if they missed them.

Youngest Sick

Today, youngest was home sick. I won't gore you with the details, but let's just say it grossed me out (it takes a LOT to gross me out). He was running around happy, too (darn it).

Let's just say, I am having Mommy guilt. With him home sick, the first thing I think about is, "I can't do this, can't do that" today. That's okay. We are still above ground as I say. I did get to watch DWTS and half of "Grey's" so all is not lost. Youngest has been on a TMNT marathon. We're both happy.

Picture day!

Today was youngest's first picture day. He assures me he DID in fact smile (and showed me to prove it). The principal told me he did well (she knows me from last year when I had oldest and youngest there). It's interesting...I always said, "I will never send my kids in screened shirts and sweats for picture day', but what do I do? You guessed it.

On an unrelated topic, yesterday, hubby took youngest and I out to lunch (to Mcimins aka McMinimins). Youngest kept telling me all the way there, "It isn't Red Robin" (most of you probably know why...we have been going to RR for over a year now because oldest has been insisting to go there....we even have a special waitress who can keep up with the group). It's funny, because it is the noisiest restaurant on the planet, but it doesn't bother him.

First Grade

Somehow, this post disappeared.....

Middle boy started first grade this year. Being a good Mommy, I prepped him like I should (you'll be eating lunch at school and such). The first day of school, middle boy stepped off of the bus and said to me, "Mom, you didn't tell me I'd have MATH after lunch!". Guess I forgot that part.

More on picture day coming!

I forgot to mention that on the way home, I mentioned to youngest, "soon, you are going to have your picture taken...are you going to smile?" To which was promptly answered, "no, I not". So, don't expect smiley pictures from him....

Picture Day Coming!

It's that time of year when I gussy up the boys (all that means is I wash their hair the night before and make sure they have a haircut beforehand---no fancy clothes from these boys) and it is picture day at school. This is youngest's first 'official' school picture day.

Today in youngest's cubby, his teacher put the order form. As they were packing up, his teacher put the paper in his backpack. Youngest looked in his backpack and took it out and said, "This is not mine!" Teacher assured him that 'yes, it is for your mom". That seemed to placate youngest. He then walked out to the pick up area and told me, "Mom, I have something for you"' and would not move unless we sorted through his backpack (bear in mind that is backpack is full of books and toys and movies) and found the pieces of paper that were mine.

Speaking of junk in his backpack, one of the teachers said to him this morning, "Why don't you go through your backpack and take out toys you don't need?" (I am SURE this was directed at me, LOL). I assured her that we had already and he promptly put the stuff back. Unfortunately, his backpack no longer fits in the cubby area where they are for the first part of the day. His backpack is heavier than him and much bigger than him.

Halloween

Yes, it is that time of year again when this Mommy searches high and low to find the 'perfect' costume for my persnickity boys. This is because I can't sew. Trust me, you don't want me to sew. All I will say about my sewing ability is that in the 8th grade, I took Home Economics. The cooking half of the semester I aced. Every Friday night, I would make something new (for extra credit nevertheless), I still remember making homemade Frangoes (where is that recipie?). The sewing half was a disaster. Let's just say the teacher gave me an "A" for a shirt (light blue, Brooke Shields pattern) that SHE sewed. She ripped what I did and sewed it herself (I am serious). I digress....you DON'T want me to sew your costume. Even when boys have patches to sew on their cub scout shirts, I take it to a seamstress...

I start around August asking the boys, "what do you want to be for Halloween?" so I can start scouring ebay (they are cheaper in August) and stores when they move back to school items out and move in the Halloween goodies.

Middle boy was the first, "I want to be Darth Vader" (he has also decided that next year, he is going to be Boba Fett and the following year, a Rex, the Clone Trooper, all following up to last year's Anakin...notice the trend....I hope I have that order correct or you know I will be in trouble!). By the way, I found a cheap, new Darth Vader. Middle boy has tried it on and he looks awesome!

Youngest boy, I had convinced that he was going to be Thomas the Train, like last year (I had plans for that money that I would be saving!), until he all of a sudden changed and told me, "I going to be Diego (from 'Go Diego Go!"). Fortunately, I found one cheap on ebay. I tried it on him and now he wears it as pajamas and will NOT wear anything else at night.

Now, I am on the search for a Wall-E for oldest boy. His costume is always the most difficult since he always wants a 'random' character. I have found it, but it isn't cheap. He will be totally cute as Wall-E...everytime youngest puts on Diego 'pajamas', oldest reminds me, "I want a Wall-E costume for Halloween".

About My Blog

Obviously, I have three boys. This blog is a way to keep friends and family updated on us. Frannkly, the saying, 'kids say the darnedest thing" was about my boys. My boys range in age from 3 to 8. My oldest has autism, but this blog isn't about autism, necessarily. I am not attempting to discuss autism, per se, but autism does play a huge role in my family's life.

I love being a stay at home mom, but I am the first to admit that it is not always a Martha Stewart life (in fact, my life is far from it). I am blessed to be able to stay home. I choose to stay home. Again, this is not about staying home versus being a working parent (which I think is even more challenging to me). This is mostly musings about our daily life. I live by the motto, "some days are diamonds and some days are stones" (yes, it is a bad country song).

I hope you enjoy it...again, it is not going to solve the world's issues, but frankly, it might give you a little slice into my world.

I am also not a technical person....I just learned how to upload a photo from my computer this week! So many people have enjoyed my emails, so now I am sharing them.