A Different kind of Valentine's Box

 

So, as we have each year, the kids made Valentine's Boxes for their school parties.  In order to do this quickly (because we always excel in procrastination) I empty some Kleenex boxes and cover them in typing paper, then let the kids draw whatever they want on the boxes.  This usually produces your typical hearts and flowers type of boxes......

 

 

Except that this year my oldest (10 year old) darling was left unsupervised while decorating his box.  I walked in to see what he'd decided to put on his box to find this:

 

 

I told him, "This is a VALENTINE'S DAY BOX, son.  I want to see some HEARTS on it somewhere!"  and then I walked out to help someone else get ready for school.....

I come back to him proudly showing me this:

"I put hearts on it Momma!  Look!  There's (from left to right) A Vampire's Heart, A Zombie's Heart, A Ghost Heart, A Frankenstein's Heart, A Werewolf's Heart, A Mummy's Heart and a Swamp Creature's Heart!"

Well, what could I say? 
I freakkkkking LOVE this kid!
Take if from me folks, AUTISM IS FUN!!!!!!!!
Have a great day.

Updates on the kids.

Enormous Testing update:
#1 son, Sonshine, is Autistic and ADHD with some other assorted delays thrown in just for fun
#2 son, Gator, is ADHD with Autistic tendencies severe speech delay and other asst fun stuff
Baby Girl up next. This is emotionally exhausting! Just in case you ever wanted to try it for SnGs

But the best thing happened!

Proudest Mommy Moment Ever:

while going over son #1s results Dr says, " its obvious someone has worked very, very hard with him for years to see how well he is doing right now." Hubby points to me.

Now, I've always said my kids are the perfect people God intended them to be. But wow, after allllllll these years it was like DUDE, somebody (who hadn't seen it) noticed!!

She also said she sees a lot of kids where parents get tired and stop working with them after awhile and to see how functional he is with the severe deficits he has was great.  That made me kinda sad.  And reminded me of  this:

 ^"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:9

Curing Atheism

Sonshine (9yrs): I don't believe in God any more, just in Ghosts and Goblins.

Me:  Ok, but without God there are no Ghosts and Goblins because God made everything.

Sonshine:  Well, I just don't believe in God now. 

......after a couple minutes of silence.....

Me: You know, if you don't believe in God anymore then I guess you don't believe in Christmas.  Because without God there's no need to celebrate the birth of Our Lord.  So should I call Santa and tell him you're not gonna have Christmas anymore???

Sonshine:  .....deep in thought.....
No, I believe in God!! 



There you have it folks.   Our BRIEF sojourn into atheism.....

I love this kid!!

Don't Steal the Car!!

Being a one car family brings with it some interesting adventures!

Last Friday Subvet had an appointment downtown at the same time that the kids needed to be at school.  Since it takes over an hour to get downtown from our house and the school is less than 1/2 mile away, we decided that the kids and I would just walk to school. 

We told the kids the night before that Daddy would be taking the car to go to the doctor and they'd be walking to school with me. 

We told them again Friday morning.

Daddy said goodbye and drove off for his appointment.


And as we're walking out the front door for school all three kids stop dead in their tracks. 

Stare at the empty drive way....

And exclaim:

DADDY STOLE THE CAR!!!!!  

In perfect 3-kid echo-harmony. 


The entire neighborhood and I then heard   ~~throughout the ENTIRE 1/2 mile walk ~~  variations on "We have to WALK to school today because Daddy STOLE our car!!!"


Poor Daddy, he's in trouble and he doesn't even know it!

How to pass the time.....

Here's a taste of what I've been doing instead of blogging!  Haha!!

Don't forget to "follow"   Made by Mightymom in order to see all my latest creations.  Go take a look! 

We're getting ready for a fun week of VBS this week! 

Had a bit of a mix up in my brain last week.   I was soo engrossed in getting Father's Day stuff made/bought in time I forgot which week it was!   I had my kids all ready to go and excited to the gills about our "surprise" for Daddy on Father's Day....uh, telling them the whole time that it was LAST SUNDAY!!    So, well,.....   we've already had our Father's Day celebrations thankyouverymuch!    I sure wasn't gonna try to un-excite them and make em wait a week cuz Momma was a Mighty Doofus!!  


Gator REALLY likes the Wonder Pets! 

I didn't get a pic of the gigantic "celery" he made from all of the green Duplo (huge) Lego blocks!   I LOVE this kid!!  I really really do!



Make it a great day folks!

Am I really thinking of doing it AGAIN???

Have you heard of Autism Speaks???   Take a look!


Well, I guess  my 5 mile walk for March of Dimes last year did NOT kill me, but DID help to raise $700 to help with preemies like mine.    And I have come across a shorter family walk for a different non-profit that I feel even MORE attached to The 2012 Dallas/Fort Worth Walk Now for Autism Speaks!!

Where does the money that Autism Speaks raises go?
From the Walk Now for Autism Speaks website:

Our participants continue to tell us they want to ensure that as many dollars as possible raised through Walk Now for Autism Speaks go directly to provide critically needed research and family services. We have listened and we agree. Walkers and donors will know that more of their pledges are having a direct impact on our mission.
For example:
$250 Can provide four (4) Transition Toolkits
$500 Can provide nine (9) 100 Day Kits
$1000 Can provide twenty-five (25) Community School Kits

I'm excited about this fundraiser and I hope you'll get excited with me. 

Bovine Surgery in the AM

This is the cow you couldn't kill.



My sister gave this cow to my kids SEVERAL years ago......I think 4 years??  I'll have to ask her.
Due to space restrictions the cow ended up in Sugars' room.   I think it will be her lifelong companion.....I won't be surprised to see it in her dorm room in 15 years!

However, this cow will frequently spring a leak as its seams pull apart.  So when we see a fair amount of stryofoam snow on her floor I go into the Bovine OR and stitch him back together.  I'm ALMOST to the point where there's more seam that I've sewn than original.  :-) 

He came through the surgery well, and, as you can see,  is fat and happy again.  Ride em Cowgirl....



Our other morning activity consisted of Gator-boy's role play.   Can you guess who he is??

Exciting Day

I'm very excited to finally be able to start posting items at Made by Mightymom on etsy!!

This rosary is beautiful! Check it out!

In other news our oldest son, who I thought would never talk, read, have friends....and so on and so on....is getting an AWARD AT SCHOOL TODAY!!! He's earned the "Most Improved Student Award" from his 2nd Grade Teacher for the year!

Oh I'm sooo proud!! Of course, the ceremony is at MY equivalent of 2 in the morning! But I told hubby even if he has to prop me in the chair and poke me when it's time I GOTTA BE THERE!!!

:-)

Make it a Great Day folks!

First Communion

 

This has been an exciting weekend for us!  Sonshine had his First Communion on Saturday. 

 

We've learned, once again, to watch what we tell the kids.  Earlier this week Hubby told Sonshine that the reason he didn't take the wine at Communion is because he "breaks out in spots, like Charleston, Chicago, Los Angeles"  (it's an old joke from AA).  On our way to the dress rehearsal Sonshine keeps asking me "what color are the spots with those names that Daddy breaks out in?"  Since I had NO IDEA what he was talking about I called Hubby to find out and he said "just tell him big red spots".   Okay, question answered, no problem. 

 

Saturday at the First Communion Mass,  I'm right beside Sonshine to help him stay focused.  As he's sitting back down beside me after taking the Host (and wine)  Sonshine says to me, "Momma, I don't think I'm breaking out in big red spots!!".  He then spends the rest of the Mass pulling his pant legs all the way up and feeling his belly and head to see if any big red spots have shown up yet.  While I spent the rest of the Mass busting a gut trying not to laugh out loud!!    

Friday Fun

I had a 3 hour nap this morning while NO ONE called my beeper needing help!  Yippee!!   Now I can run some errands and get in some exercise.....Oh yeah, and I'M OFF WORK TONIGHT!   It's a GOOD Friday people.  A VERY GOOD Friday!!!!

Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds. — William Wordsworth

"I can't do my homework because it's almost summer and I have to practice swimming!!!"

Never seen anyone practice swimming in the living room floor before........love the colors of that "water"!!

 

I Lost 103 Pounds! | Yahoo! Health  This article led Hubby and I to discuss a motivational speaker who said that to achieve your goals you only have to do one thing.  Example, walk for 20 min at the same time every day.  no more no less.  Every. Single. Day.  Rain or shine or tired or busy or sick.  Every Day.  The dedication and perservance of adding this one thing into your routine is the hardest thing to do, and yet when accomplished will change your life.  So, I'm pondering this.  I should see if I can do it.  But WHAT do I choose to do?  I'm gonna do something like walking......I'll figure it out tomorrow.

 

Make sure you have a great day today my friends. 

Another Gator Creation

I have been trying to chronicle all the cool things that my Gator Boy makes out of train tracks.....

Here's one from last week.

For the rest of his creations click here.

Ending the week with a true LOL moment!

What you see here is an actual, real, honest to goodness email exchange between Sonshine's 2nd grade teacher and myself about him. This makes me laugh so hard I can't breathe!

from yesterday

TEACHER:
Sonshine got his (discipline)card changed today because he drew and colored with his pencil on his Library book. He is now on chapter books and it takes him longer to read them so he can't take a test every day. Our procedure is that they read a certain number of picture books and pass tests over them and then
move on to the chapter books. He has done great on the picture books and the chapter books are on his reading level, just longer. Of course, this is a change for him, and it is going to take a few days for him to adjust. The library did take his book away since he wrote on it. He will be able to go get a new book tomorrow.

from this morning
ME:
well I think I put the fear of God in him. or at least fear of losing all his Tooth Fairy money to pay for a replacement if he draws in another Library book :-)

TEACHER:Ok...Here is the funny part. This happened after I wrote you about the book. He did take the book down to the library and returned to the room. About 30 minutes later I had to go to the library and return something. I asked the librarian what Sonshine said to her and she said that she had never seen him. I called him down and asked him what he did with the book. He stopped, dead in his tracks, said "Oh, here it is." and went out the door. He had laid the book down on the rug in front of the Library door. There is a colorful "picture" of boys and girls on it and he had fixed it so the book blended in and you didn't notice it. Yes, I had just walked by it and not seen it. (Oh, he is definately a smart one, don't ever let anyone tell you different) :) We did talk to him at that time about the fact that he can't cover things up and be untruthful about things. I was proud that he didn't have a melt down and that he said that he was sorry and would never do anything like that again. I honestly (when he headed back to the room) was laughing so hard that I couldn't do anything else about it.

By the way, I love your Son and he is such a joy to work with. My oldest daughter has subbed in his "social skills" class while his teacher was out on maternity leave and he definately won a place in her heart. I am so thankful that God blessed me with teaching him this year.



I am so grateful to the teachers who have loved my boys through every school adventure! This has been a really hard year for Sonshine, yet he continues to keep us on our toes...and in stitches!! This is no novice teacher either! She's the team leader with MANY years of experience teaching 2nd grade!

Honestly! Set the book **just so** on the carpet so it blended in!!! What a goofball!!! People, I really DO mean it when I say this:

AUTISM IS FUN!!!!

Fun Times

I've been eating a LOT of salads lately. Trying to exercise, but that hasn't always worked out for me. But the weight is starting to slowly drop. So I'm happy......

This is exactly how I felt after I put Feb and March up on our dry erase calendar. Suddenly realized that the surgery is a month away!! I'm so overwhelmed!! I did, however feel better after I sat and realized all that hubby WILL be able to help with even after his surgery. Sure does make me appreciate him even more though!!

Why yes, we are making a poster for school at 3:45AM. No, it's not due till Friday. Why now? Because we're both awake!!! That's what happens when Mom works nights from home and Sonshine is a very Early Bird! He's frequently up and ready to start the day at about 4am. I figured why not take advantage of it and get some stuff done! :-)

from left to right it says "A fox bat has big eyes. A warthog bat has big ears. A vampire bat has big eyes." The colors didn't come out right but the big upside down bat is on black felt, the other two are on a dark blue "sky" fabric. :-)

We may have seen this too many times--


Hubby tells the 6yr old to eat his dinner.
Son: no
Hubby: yes
Son: no.
Hubby: yes.
Son: yes.
Hubby: no. HEY WAIT A MIN!! You're gonna eat that.
Son: no.
Hubby: yes.
Son: yes.
Hubby: ----eat!!

Make it a great day folks!

Two Christmas Miracles in One Night!

First, early in my night came a page from a man who found one of our Pediatrician's wallet in a restaurant parking lot. Found the business card inside and called to try and return the wallet. I've never had more fun paging a doc!!!!

Then, later in the morning I sat listening to my 8 yr old who we thought would never walk talk or have independent thoughts sit by himself and read every word in a brand new book he's never seen before!!!!! He got upset when called away before he'd finished the book! :-)


As of this morning I have wrapped all the gifts and hung all the Christmas Cards I've received! It really IS starting to feel like Christmas!!

Decorating Day 2, and other stuff...

I found just the COOLEST thing ever at Hobby Lobby!!!!!

See the pieces get smaller AND the puzzle gets harder from the left to the right! We're working on it in the early morning hours. Since both boys routinely wake up between 4 and 5 yet no one needs to be up till 6. I'm thinking once Christmas is done I'll pack it back up with the decorations and it'll be our December tradition to work together on it!

If I see any more "Family Puzzles" I will be sure to grab them! This is so much fun!

I love puzzles! and so do the kids, so this is a really great find for us.

Sonshine decided to add some things to our shopping list the other day....

BWAHAHAHAAAA!




I'm deciding what gets put up this year. I figured that since I already have a red tablecloth I didn't need to change it, but instead threw the Santa one over the piano for a new look.

I like it!

Meanwhile the table gets my absolute favorite and fun Christmas placemats!



These are clear circle mats, with red and green circles and SPARKLES!!

These old ladies wanted a turn out and about....



And of course when John Friendston flew back in from the North Pole this morning he found a new spot to sit for the day.....

:-) getting there.....

Happy Monday!!!

Watched the Muppets Christmas Carol yesterday with my oldest....at 4am!! Nothing quite gets me in the Christmas spirit like that book or movie. I think the Muppets did a GREAT job with it!



A Christmas Carol as told by my 8 yr old "Well, Scrooge was a bully! Then these ghosts came and showed him that he wasn't supposed to be a bully. And then he became a buddy and spread love and good cheer to all. ".

Works for me........



Makes me happy when my kids sit in front of the TV looking at a pile of books!!!!


Go on a field trip.....get on the news!!!! COOL!
I went to The Science Place in Dallas with Sonshine's second grade class. We got to see them filming putting the sharks in the display tank for the new exhibit.
The result is yes, my boy was on the news. And it's not online nor do they have copies of the broadcast. So unless someone out there actually recorded it then I've missed it.



Oh. My. Goodness.
I am actually thinking about going to a grocery store with all 3 kids in search of cranberry sauce ON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. Just to please my son.

I must have lost my mind, will someone please come help me find it??

(fortunately, a friend in town came to my rescue and donated one of her extra cans to the cause of a happy boy!)



Hubby needs to have a partial replacement of his right knee. Because of our night/day schedule he's going to wait till March when I have 2 weeks of vacation to have it done. All prayers are appreciated. For his thoughts on the situation, read this.

I'm really looking forward to the Post-Thanksgiving dinner that hubby is gonna cook for us on Wed!!

Make it a great week folks!

Train Tracks!

my kids have this knack for building with the train tracks and other toys....

For example, this morning we have:

The Christmas tree and stockings hung over the fireplace

Here Gator is pointing to the ornaments that are hung on the tree

Sonshine is pointing to the presents that are wrapped and placed under the tree

Gator is showing the "tiny little star" that is at the top of the tree

And here is a closeup of the chimney and stockings.....nice fire they got going there huh?

About a week ago we had the scarecrow:


Which got me to thinking I should keep a chronicle of the things they make with them.....


We have Jesus on the cross...

We have bridges....

the Indian...

the Knights

The snowman

the covered bridge

the life sized Jesus on the cross

These kids are amazing sometimes!

Autism is Fun!!

my forecast for this week.

Just in case you hadn't noticed, the Dallas area is experiencing a heat wave....yes, it's hot even for Texas!!

my kids are all in day camp at church this week, and my oldest, Sonshine, is in a Land of Make Believe camp where tomorrow, so he tells me, they will be planting magic beans so that he can climb the beanstalk to visit a giant. Given that the boy is Autistic and literally believes a beanstalk will sprout from his planted bean I have been trying to prevent the disappointment when no beanstalk grows. I've told him that I think it's going to be too hot for the beans to grow.

However, he's got that covered....

He sat down and had a chat with God about how he needed it to be warm, not hot, and to rain tomorrow so the magic beans they're planting will grow and he can climb the beanstalk. He assures me it's all settled and God WILL make it rain.....if he's right I may flip my lid.

I'll keep you posted......
My real, no joke forecast for tomorrow says:

Sunshine. Very hot. High 108F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Low tomorrow night is 82.



Oh, and the Movie Quote is from Hope Floats....a very cute little movie you should rent if you have the time.