This weekend was the Cub Scouts' pinewood derby race. Basically, the cub scouts each get a block of wood to shape into a car and then they weight it and race it on a long track (a hill track).
Oldest and Middle boy both created a car. Oldest's was a Wall-e car and Middle boy's was a "Clone Wars" car. They had fun with hubby making the cars. The most incredible thing was that oldest painted the car. Yes, this is the boy who HATES art. He still hates art. He painted it yellow on the body and grey/silver on the top. Middle boy's car was silver. Both had stickers of their respective 'theme' and Oldest's car even had a pipe cleaner eyes (like Wall-e). Oldest's car came in 4th (last) both times. Middle boy got a 2nd and a 4th. So, both were eliminated.
HOWEVER, Oldest got the pack award for "Most humorous' as voted by the adults. Not bad for a boy with autism. They only gave out about 6 'special' awards.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration Wrap Up
Just a final note....middle boy told me that they got to read a book on Barack Obama, watch the Oath taking and see McCain go up in the helicopter. I reminded him that that was actually 'former' President Bush and he said, "whatever". Obviously, it was 'awesome' to see President Obama sworn in, but 'whatever' to see President Bush leave (that's how we all feel....LOL).
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inspired!
Yes, I have been re-inspired. I do (advocate for autism legislation and fight for things in my district), not only for my son, but for those who come after me. I do it because of the Down's community who fought for things before me. Today, I was inspired by President (yes, PRESIDENT) Obama's speech. Here's a snippet explaining why I do, what I do:
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
------President Barack Obama; January 20, 2008; Inaguration Speech
I do it to shape a BETTER future. I do it because I believe in it. I do it to help others who can't otherwise, help themselves. I do it because of those who have come before me and those who come after me.
I will try not to be so political on future posts.
I just found out that middle boy (who is my Obama boy) got to see the taking of the Oath. Man, I am so happy. If there had been a way to have him see it live, I would have done it. He told me when I asked him if he liked it...he said, "it was awesome!". Yes, it was.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
------President Barack Obama; January 20, 2008; Inaguration Speech
I do it to shape a BETTER future. I do it because I believe in it. I do it to help others who can't otherwise, help themselves. I do it because of those who have come before me and those who come after me.
I will try not to be so political on future posts.
I just found out that middle boy (who is my Obama boy) got to see the taking of the Oath. Man, I am so happy. If there had been a way to have him see it live, I would have done it. He told me when I asked him if he liked it...he said, "it was awesome!". Yes, it was.
Friday, January 16, 2009
"Skating"
Yesterday, youngest did one of my favorite preschool activities. In the motor room, they put the blue mats down and put shaving cream on it and the kids 'skated'. Last year, when youngest did it, he giggled the whole time. This year, he was swinging on the ropes (duh), and skating on the mats. I am sure he was laughing. I know when oldest did it, he really didn't like it because it was so 'tactile" and he has major sensory issues. Middle boy didn't quite know what to make of it all. He did think it was fun. Youngest, though, loves to be rough and tumble. He loves to be very physical and loves to swing on either the trapeze or ropes.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Am I In The Next Grade?
Since we had an unusally long Winter Break (yes, because of the snow).....Towards the end of Winter Break, middle boy would ask me, "Am I in the next level? Is Mrs. A my teacher?" The answer was no....you're still a 1st grader. She's still your teacher. I love the middle boy's mind...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
No Sleep for the Wicked and Other Tales From My Week
Last night, our downstairs toilet overflowed. Not a little bit, but a MAJOR overflow. Sewage everywhere. I was able to contain it, fortunately. However, hubby was unavailable. So, being the 'executive' that I am (LOL), I decided I will see if I can wait overnight and if it will go down.
This morning, I was awoken by my big monkey (at 4 a.m., mind you) by "MOMMA, the potty is FULL!". Realize for a moment, that oldest as autism and routines are important, so an interruption of the potty not being able to be used, is a little bit of a problem.
Now, I am grateful that the monkey can speak. There was a time when he couldn't, but not really at 4 a.m. because this meant I actually had to deal with an issue. I somehow coaxed the boy into my bed (which is taboo, but at 4 a.m., I didn't really care) and he fell asleep at 5:15, which wouldn't be so bad, that is UNLESS my alarm didn't go off at 5:25 a.m..
What was a little more difficult was that they couldn't use the bathroom that they typically get dressed in AND middle boy was 'afraid' of the darkness upstairs and refused to go without an escort and this went against oldest's routine.
All's well that ends well...they got off to school (dressed and all) fine.
This morning, I was awoken by my big monkey (at 4 a.m., mind you) by "MOMMA, the potty is FULL!". Realize for a moment, that oldest as autism and routines are important, so an interruption of the potty not being able to be used, is a little bit of a problem.
Now, I am grateful that the monkey can speak. There was a time when he couldn't, but not really at 4 a.m. because this meant I actually had to deal with an issue. I somehow coaxed the boy into my bed (which is taboo, but at 4 a.m., I didn't really care) and he fell asleep at 5:15, which wouldn't be so bad, that is UNLESS my alarm didn't go off at 5:25 a.m..
What was a little more difficult was that they couldn't use the bathroom that they typically get dressed in AND middle boy was 'afraid' of the darkness upstairs and refused to go without an escort and this went against oldest's routine.
All's well that ends well...they got off to school (dressed and all) fine.
Stand for Something or You Stand for Nothing....
This is just a rhetorical question. It came to me as a result of my friend's post. She has a boy with autism (in fact, it is oldest's BFF)....she did a post that she doesn't feel the 'need' to put a 'tag' on her facebook page for something like "Autism Speaks" or do an autism walk a thon (she has been in the Peace Corps, writes grants for NPOs, works for social causes, but not for autism). In fact, it sparked some controversy.....okay, well for me. My feeling (and how I deal with oldest's autism) is that I feel a responsibility as a parent with a child with autism (or insert any disability or even just as a parent, because if I wasn't doing work to help children/families on the spectrum, I'd be working for the Children's Defense Fund or on behalf of children in Africa), I have a responsibilty to leave this world a little bit better for my children or other children than I found it. Now, you can insert any cause that you'd like.
I am a big believer in the theory or saying that "to much is given, MUCH is expected". I believe it is a Biblical phrase (perhaps if anyone out there knows, that would be helpful....but alas, according to my husband, no one reads my blog, so maybe I am talking to a wall, LOL).
Barack Obama ran on that issue when it comes to healthcare. I remember pondering it and thinking about it....For everything I have been given in life (and it is a lot), shouldn't I be expected to give back? I think so. In my example, I am expected to help the newly diagnosed families, create a system for better healthcare, better education...all while raising my boys. I am totally cool with that awesome responsibility....
As we go to Martin Luther King Junior's birthday....I leave you with this thought....
"I have a dream, that one day my children will not be judged on the color of their skin, but on the strength of their character". To me, that is the epitomy of what I want for all of my boys. I want my boys (especially my oldest with autism) to be judged on who they are as humans...the good things that they do, works that they represent, NOT by what they look like (or in oldest's case, by his autism). We, as a society, can do that. I hope.....
I just hope that President-Elect Obama can continue to inspire people to do one thing. It doesn't have to be a big thing, little things count! We need a leader who will encourage us to help our neighbors and create a better sense of community.
I am a big believer in the theory or saying that "to much is given, MUCH is expected". I believe it is a Biblical phrase (perhaps if anyone out there knows, that would be helpful....but alas, according to my husband, no one reads my blog, so maybe I am talking to a wall, LOL).
Barack Obama ran on that issue when it comes to healthcare. I remember pondering it and thinking about it....For everything I have been given in life (and it is a lot), shouldn't I be expected to give back? I think so. In my example, I am expected to help the newly diagnosed families, create a system for better healthcare, better education...all while raising my boys. I am totally cool with that awesome responsibility....
As we go to Martin Luther King Junior's birthday....I leave you with this thought....
"I have a dream, that one day my children will not be judged on the color of their skin, but on the strength of their character". To me, that is the epitomy of what I want for all of my boys. I want my boys (especially my oldest with autism) to be judged on who they are as humans...the good things that they do, works that they represent, NOT by what they look like (or in oldest's case, by his autism). We, as a society, can do that. I hope.....
I just hope that President-Elect Obama can continue to inspire people to do one thing. It doesn't have to be a big thing, little things count! We need a leader who will encourage us to help our neighbors and create a better sense of community.
youngest's birthday
Yes, my little boy turned 4 over the weekend. He had a great day. On Friday, he took in cup cakes for his preschool (evidently, the district wide nutrition program doesn't apply to preschoolers) decorated with little Diego cup cake rings. We picked them up on Thursday and he kept running out to the van checking on them and going "Wow, those are my Diego cup cakes!".
On Friday, we picked up the Diego cake, which we promptly put into the fridge. Youngest knew he couldn't touch it and he would go in and peek and come back out and go, "Momma, it's my Diego cake!". He wore his crown from school all afternoon and went to the bus stop with me and gave his brothers a 'goodie' bag that he gave his friends at preschool.
On Saturday, we had a rolling birthday party. Because of the floods, we weren't sure who could make it. Aunt and Uncle made it in the morning and we had breakfast rolls and cup cakes. Youngest wore his crown from preschool and his Diego shirt.
In the afternoon, Nana and Papa showed up and he had another party with more singing, candle blowing, etc. Then, we went out to dinner to (obviously) Red Robin. He was so excited to have them sing to him and eat his ice cream sundae.
The good news: oldest has been so excited to have his birthday at Red Robin (typically, the song is too noisy for him). He said to me last night, "Momma, I want them at Red Robin to clap and sing 'who's birthday is it?' Brian!' to me."
On Friday, we picked up the Diego cake, which we promptly put into the fridge. Youngest knew he couldn't touch it and he would go in and peek and come back out and go, "Momma, it's my Diego cake!". He wore his crown from school all afternoon and went to the bus stop with me and gave his brothers a 'goodie' bag that he gave his friends at preschool.
On Saturday, we had a rolling birthday party. Because of the floods, we weren't sure who could make it. Aunt and Uncle made it in the morning and we had breakfast rolls and cup cakes. Youngest wore his crown from preschool and his Diego shirt.
In the afternoon, Nana and Papa showed up and he had another party with more singing, candle blowing, etc. Then, we went out to dinner to (obviously) Red Robin. He was so excited to have them sing to him and eat his ice cream sundae.
The good news: oldest has been so excited to have his birthday at Red Robin (typically, the song is too noisy for him). He said to me last night, "Momma, I want them at Red Robin to clap and sing 'who's birthday is it?' Brian!' to me."
LOL/LMAO
Yes, I had a moment this morning....I was going through my usual yahoo news (as I do every morning in addition to my MSNBC news) and ran across a story. If I could figure out a way to publish it, I would.
Basically, it was asking the question, "Is Facebook Good for Moms?". The reporter asked a psychologist friend of hers (who was interested in this question also). The answer was, "YES!". LOL. Here's why (summarized, of course): happy moms are better moms. Moms who did something 'short' like Facebook are happy moms. Why? Because they feel connected to the world (yes, our society is isolating), especially for SAHM. The bigger issue is whether moms are doing Facebook while they should be doing something else (like engaging in a conversation with their children at dinner). Like everything in life, moderation is the key.
We'll see what hubby says after this post (and watching the interview). LOL. I have the backing of a psychologist that a happy mommy is a happy house.
Basically, it was asking the question, "Is Facebook Good for Moms?". The reporter asked a psychologist friend of hers (who was interested in this question also). The answer was, "YES!". LOL. Here's why (summarized, of course): happy moms are better moms. Moms who did something 'short' like Facebook are happy moms. Why? Because they feel connected to the world (yes, our society is isolating), especially for SAHM. The bigger issue is whether moms are doing Facebook while they should be doing something else (like engaging in a conversation with their children at dinner). Like everything in life, moderation is the key.
We'll see what hubby says after this post (and watching the interview). LOL. I have the backing of a psychologist that a happy mommy is a happy house.
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