Housework Makes You Ugly...

My poor house has been terribly neglected this past couple of weeks. I have had so little time to tend to it. Wanna come help me? I really just want to take a nap. I am EXHAUSTED. But the kids are only at White's for another two hours and I need to get some of it cleaned before they get back. Mopping is a sure fire way to end up with a broken leg or two. They cant remember how slick those floors are and someone always forgets it is wet and down they go....

I have a midterm on Monday (a week early for some reason). I am glad at this point I am only down to two classes. I think I would have lost my sanity by now.

It snowed last night, just a skiff. The kids are so excited, just walking in it brings them joy! Awe, its the little things in life, isn't it?

What an artist...

I have always kept as many drawings the kids have done as I can. I cant keep them all. Especially this one. Bethanie drew this tonight for me when I made my brief stint at HFPE. I loved it. It is on a marker board, so for me to save it meant I had to take a picture. LOL! She is so much like me at this age. I loved and loved to color (still do). She is constantly doing these things!

Jeff and I were off today, TOGETHER! So, we went out to lunch together. Where did we go? We went to the elementary school and ate lunch with our two oldest children. It was NICE! We dumped the baby at "White's" and then we came home and took a much needed nap. It was very nice. Sometimes being unconscious is a GOOD thing! I am just exhausted from this week. We have been going through a lot of emotional things, but I see tender mercies all around me. This picture that Bethie drew for me has I LOVE YOU written all over it. I especially love the part on the lower right were it says, "your child luves you". It makes it all seem worth it knowing that our children do love us. Sometimes it seems like we get so caught up with life and how difficult it can be and we forget those tender mercies, this really reminded me what it is all for, what it is all about.

Ballerina Girl...

Tonight Bethie danced at the High School. They were putting on a program that her dance group was invited to attend called, "Night of 1000 dances". She was in it last year too. Here are some pictures of her and a video clip (hopefully). She was so beautiful! It never ceases to amaze me how shy she is, but really enjoys performing! She is amazing! The song they performed to is called, "The wee small hours". Here is a small video clip of it...

Bethanie is the one on the far right in pink.

I really thought their costumes were pretty this year! She LOVES the tutu's!

Jessica (L), Lydia (M), Bethanie (R)

There are only five on their team. Two were not there yet.

They are tiptoeing in the wee small hours


This is the end pose.



So much fun! I just love that she enjoys doing this!

a better day...

Today was a better day. Tomorrow I will have NOTHING to do, no where to go, no one to bug me (I hope). I look forward to our tensions to leave us.

My sweet baby...

isn't a baby anymore! he just turned ten, and I cant account well for the time! It seems like yesterday when I was just holding him for the very first time. It was just last week when we were teaching him how to walk! A month ago, it seems like he started Kindergarten. I cant believe that he is ten.

We had a fun birthday party for him at a tween club in our town. We invited his class mates and I thought he really had a good time with them, and they seemed to have fun, too!

His mouth is full of doughnuts...

Bethanie and Kerrigan, her dear friend! No, Bethanie does not actually wear glasses, she is going through a phase where she thinks she needs them. We found this cute pink pair at Claire's. LOL!

I snuck a picture of my mom while she was trying to sneak pictures of others!

Madison would NOT look at me for any thing. I caught her playing this video game where you drive and she refused to look at the camera. Stinker! That is how it is when you are TWO!

Three of my girlies!

This club is really neat because it even has its own theatre. We had The Incredibles playing. The kids enjoyed taking a break and going in there to watch some of the movie.

Here is Bethie (a.k.a. May) SHE isn't afraid to pose...she is ALWAYS posing!

Heather came, and she got to play Guitar Hero. She is really pretty good with it!

Here is Jeff. He is still a kid at heart. Yes, that is ME in the background.

Here is Matthew with his class mates opening gifts (we requested there be no gifts but most of the kids brought cards with money). It was so nice of them to be here to support Matthew, even though most of them were a part of his difficult week. It meant a lot to us that he was able to have this kind of peer support!

Here are two of my guys. My dad is there supporting Matthew. He just wants to be close to him. I loved it!

Birthday week for Matthew has always been a struggle because he gets really excited. Even though he has rough patches, I think he still had a good time, and felt special. I love him. I cant believe that Heavenly Father felt we were the family for him! He has taught us so much through the past ten years, and I thank Father in Heaven daily for him blessing us with a son. I cant imagine my life with out our son, or any of our children. It is so interesting because once they are here, it feels like they have been with us forever. . . and truly they have and we just didn't know it until they came to us here. My sweet boy is growing up! *SNIFF*

It's Official...

I dropped Blah Blah Blah. No more of it. My instructor was very nice about it. He is going to paint my seat gold and put a permanent "WET PAINT" sign on it so no one can sit there. He also said there will be a dim glow in the room where I once sat. ROFLOL! Anyway, he agreed with me that it would be very difficult in keeping up with this class at this point. I missed every day last week (not of my choice).

I talked with my Human Growth & Development instructor after class today. I was worried about my grade, and because I have missed so much class, thinking it might be best to drop it if it would be too hard to get back what I have lost. I didn't realize it, but on Monday next week, we have our MID TERM!!! She assured me that I am doing very well. I got an A on my make up test on Thursday (my mind was so distracted) and she said that if I cant come to class some times, she would allow me to do an independent study where I don't have to go, but just do the work. She said she trusted me and thought that if it came to that, we could do it. WHAT A RELIEF!!!

I talked with my English Comp. II instructor about some of the issues of last week. He has also been very understanding with my situation. I was 20 minutes or so late for class today because we were busy causing heads to roll at the elementary school and board office. But he said that he gave a small quiz to the class this morning before I got there. He said I didn't have to make it up, and it would NOT affect my grade. WAHOOOOO!!!!! Can I say, the pressure cooker feeling is going away?!?!

Another POSITIVE: Matthew had a GREAT day at school, at least so he says.


Another Positive: (can you tell I am focusing on the positive?) When I got home from picking up kids from school, the college had called and said that they received some scholarship info from me but they need my High School transcripts. Who knows, maybe I will have some scholarships coming to me that I CAN accept. That would be nice if that happened.

Anyway...there you have it.

Oh, by the way, it isn't the nice fun post I had promised earlier. That is still to come...

So stressed...

At the risk of whining about life in general, which I DON'T want to do here on my blog, I just wanted to say that I could just throw up. My nerves are shot, I have to go and find some way to go to the next class today and try to focus on things. If you are interested in what is going on, I have not posted it on here, and wont. But on the brother blog, Our Life With Asperger's, within the next day or two, it will be posted. Be prepared, it is long. It is 8 pages in a word document. I have thought whether or not to post it, but I believe that part of educating people about Asperger's, and how it affects OUR lives, it is necessary to do so. I will change names, and it will be with **** instead of the last names. Give me a day or two to get it together.

My apologies for the mood change on the blog. I promise, this evening I will have something really fun and happy posted.

A special award...

I have had a great honor bestowed upon me. I was given this award by a very special woman. Her name is Linda Joy. I have known her for a few years, and she is such a kind, spiritual person. I love how she says what is on her mind, but she is so gentle in her ways. I feel so grateful to know her (and her family). Visit her blog by clicking her name. I will be giving this award within the next few days, when things settle down here. But first, I wanted to thank my fans, the academy, my husband, and my children. Oh, I cant forget my parents, and...Oh, sorry, I got carried away again. 'My bad!

did i mention...

i got a scholarship for next semester. it is through the cloud foundation. i cant accept it though because i have to be enrolled for 12+ hours. i wont be able to take that many hours next semester. as it is, i have already dropped my blah blah blah course (geography) and not by my choice, and after this week, the rest of them might have to go too. that isnt something that makes me happy. i have put in a lot of hours and work, just to see it go down the tubes. i guess that is what motherhood is about. i have had to make plenty of hard decisions lately, this one should be the easiest to make, but it hasnt been so easy...but i would do anything needed for my children. :O(

No Mood...

To blog. It has been a terrible day. Any insights of something positive you wish to share? Leave me a comment.

I cant imagine being two...

She is scared!

Poor Miss Madison! The weather has been really pleasant outside. Warm, in fact for February. Today, while I am sitting here blogging, Madison is eating her lunch before she settles into a nice afternoon nap. A HUGE fly, I mean huge, landed on the table next to her. Before I knew it, she let out this very loud blood curdling scream (got my attention quick). This thing scared her to death. Now she is just trying to cram in her food to get done. Poor thing! I cant imagine what must have been going through her mind! It has been a while since she has seen a fly, and this one wasn't teeny! So, I killed it, as any good mother would do to protect her young. She is traumatized by this, and now her word for the day is "fly".

A friend of mine is doing a give away...

http://ekrausch.blogspot.com/

Check out her blog! She made this and it is dang cute!

Go to her site and leave her a comment to enter into her contest!!

PINEWOOD DERBY TIME!!!

Today was the Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts! It was also the Blue & Gold Banquet (it is an annual banquet where boys get awards they have earned)

The theme was Mexican for the banquet. There was a lot of DELICIOUS food. I guess I am only going to have cereal for supper because I ate way too much. :O(

This is Matthew's Pinewood Derby car. He designed it and painted it by himself. We helped him glue the neat-o stuff on it, but other than that, it was all him!!!

Bethie-Beth and I worked on her car together. I bet you cant tell what it is! :O)
Isn't it cute? She also painted it by herself, with the exception of me doing the outline trimming.


The cars: The red car is a Pinewood Derby car of Jeff's when he was a kid. It is nearly 30 years old. Matthew's is the blue, and then Bethanie's pencil car.



Matthew's car took 2nd place in BEST IN SHOW! This is the second time he has won in this showcase. His first year was an American Flag car that was really neat and it won first that year.

This is the prize he won from being 2nd in Best in Show.

Here Matthew is getting several awards he has earned. Some of them include citizenship, aquanaut, craftsmanship, fitness, and scholar. GREAT JOB, MATTHEW!

Let the race begin!

Matthew did O K in his race. I think he was around 7th or 8th place. He also held up really well emotionally for not winning.

But he did get some prizes. He won $5.00, a Frisbee, food coupons and things like that. All of the kids are winners!

We saw lots of cars race, some creamed others, some crashed and burned. The cutest crash and burn is this one...
She just couldn't take it anymore! We found the nearest corner for her to lay her sleepy head.

OK, now it is time for the OUTLAW races. Bethie is impatiently waiting her turn for the chance to race her car.

Sadly, we didn't have the weights placed very well in her car. It always started off ahead of the other cars, but then it would slow down dramatically at the end. She was disappointed a little, but she had made some new friends so that was short lived. She would rather play with them. LOL!

Here she is with her car on the track!

It might not have been the fastest car on the track, but it was the best one! Well.....so was another...

Jeff raced his old red car. The one that was nearly 30 years old. He WON 2nd place and got a Smurfy trophy, and a taco! LOL! GOOD JOB, JEFF!


It was a wonderful turn out, all of our parents were there and our sweet niece, Heather. I love days like this...it is what makes memories.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I hope you have found a little time to do something special with your sweet Valentine(s) of choice!

We did most of our stuff yesterday because my DH had to work today. :O( But he did find a way to say I love you by sending me some pretty flowers and a balloon.

The kids just LOVE Valentine's Day. I think that what ever the holiday, that one we are celebrating at the time is their favorite, with the exception of 4th of July. Matthew doesn't care for it. I think it is because he doesn't like the noise of the fireworks. I remember when he was a tiny baby, I would have to be inside with him while he cried and cried. Nothing could soothe him! Bethanie, of course, loves every minute of it. Madison will too.

Anyway, hope you have a great day!!!

Kansas State Senate SB 104

Visit the brother blog for a recap of our visit with the Kansas State Senate @ http://lifewithadhdaspergers.blogspot.com/

A Unique Experience...

Today my husband and I had a very unique experience. Let me start by going back a week or so. Jim, who is a Licensed marriage and family therapist, approached us about giving our testimony before the senate committee. Apparently the bill (SB 104) is before the Kansas senate that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas will not reimburse these providers with these credentials. Jim works closely with one of our children, and he is very valuable to our family, so he approached us and asked us if we would go and share our story before the senate committee. We were HONORED to say the least! So, on to Topeka we went. Together we wrote our story, and brought one of our favorite pictures of our son in his cub scout uniform, displayed it while my husband stood up and shared our testimony. We were representing families like ours from all over the state. This is not the first time this bill has been up in the senate, and probably wont be the last unfortunately, but you have to make the baby steps to gain any ground.

It was a scary experience, but it was really really neat to do! We could not, however, have done this without the help of our parents. Jeff's parents had to go with Matthew on a gifted field trip to the K-State campus for a chemistry field trip. Neither of us were able to go because we were in Topeka working on this senate bill, but Matthew would not have been able to go on the field trip without someone there to help with him. Madison had to go with my mom and dad for the day, and Bethie was in school. We had family spread out so far just to help us. I am SO THANKFUL!! THANKS MOM AND DAD!!! I take such great comfort in knowing that my children are safe in the arms of grammy's and grampy's when we are not able to be there! ! !

This is us, just after we testified today. We couldnt get one of us together, so we took turns. LOL! After the session we were in, we toured the Capital building, since I had never been in there before. Very interesting and a lot of history!

Crazy days...

February is always busy...I don't know why, but it is.

Today we had our sweetest niece ever (Heather) come over and we made sugar cookies for Valentine's Day. We were going to do this with her at Christmas time, but as usual, things were too hectic and we didn't get it done, so I PROMISED her we would do it at Valentine's Day. I am glad we did...I love spending time with her.

So here she is with my girlers doing their thang.

Heather and Bethanie were quite careful on how they decorated. We only made three colors of frosting, purple, pink and white, but we had lots of pretty Valentine's sprinkles for the cookies.

Madison ate about 4-5 cookies. She was in HEAVEN!

Here is Heather and one of her pretty creations. This was one of my favorites because she used all three colors, one inside the other...


Here is Princess Bethanie, doing what she loves to do...COOKING! She LOVES doing this kind of stuff! She is such a big help to me. I just love having her for my little girl! (Madison is like, UMM! I get to eat her cookie!!!)

Here are some that I did. Four of these went to my mom and dad...one went to my tummy.

So we went to our Stake Center (an hour away) because our Branch was invited to be a part of the Ward activity there. They had their annual Chili Cook-off and Pie contest. Last year my mom and dad won best tasting and most popular chili (something like that). So they took Chili again this year. I also took a pot of Chili. I had planned on making it like my mom and I do, but Jeff told me he thought I should make White Chili. That isn't my favorite soup, but that is what I took. While there, we had to give our soup a creative name. Mine was called, "My husband made me make this". :O) The categories were the hottest chili, the most unique chili, best name, and best taste (or something, I cant remember). Anyway, I ended up winning! My White Chili won the most unique. LOL! Isn't that hilarious? There was one other White Chili there besides mine. So I got a neat certificate and a Dairy Queen gift card.

I have to tell you...the hottest chili? It was the HOTTEST thing I have ever ate. I had a tear that started down my cheek but it dried up quick because it evaporated from the heat! No kidding, grown men were crying! Lips burned off and women were pulling their children off the streets to get away from it.... (sorry, I got carried away a little). It was really a lot of fun though. SORRY MOM AND DAD, I thought your chili was really good. I voted for you!!!

So after we got home, it was like 8:30 p.m. One kid was sound asleep, the other two were right behind. So we got them to bed, and the rest of the day began. **SIGHS**

I had to come strait home and make a sheet cake for tomorrow after Church. We are having a Valentines Soup Supper right after Church. I am also making dinner rolls which are just about to go into the oven (it is 11:30 p.m. right now). After I made my cake, I had to write my thesis paper because I wont be in classes Monday. Jeff and I are going to Topeka to do some Lobbying against Blue Cross/Blue Shield, so I had to have it finished and emailed to my instructor. I am missing one test (wont be able to take it until May). Then after that is all finished, I get to go to bed, sometime tonight I hope.

Tomorrow is a new [busy] day. I know it is all going to be OK, but when things start to pile up like this, it is then that I start to suffer panic attacks. SO FAR this semester, I have not had any, but there is one brewing if I am not careful.

My White Chili

I will post the recipe on my recipe page in a couple of days

Pinewood Derby Time!!!

Matthew and Jeff are here, working on Matthew's awesome race car. It is a metallic blue, will have a rad engine on the front and pipes on both sides. Its going to be so cool!

The Blue & Gold banquet is next Sunday. We also have the Pinewood Derby the same day. Lots of food, lots of fun, lots of awards!

Bethanie LOVES to make her own Pinewood Derby car. This is her second or third one. At the races, they do what is called, "The Outlaw Race" where anyone who wants can bring a car and race them. They also get prizes for things like best in show, fastest car and stuff. The finished products will be shown when they are ready! Hang tight, I guarantee they will be done before NEXT Sunday. LOL!

I'm so...

tired, that all I can ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. *SNORT* Where was I? Oh, I am so tired that all I can think about is going to B E D. It isnt even 8 yet. I am NEVER in bed before 11:00.

Traditions...

I love Valentine's Day. I love the whole spirit around it. One fun thing we do as a family every year is-I make a home made Valentine's box and put it out a week before Valentine's Day. I tell the kids to think of each member of the family, and secretly put a Valentine of any kind in there for each person in the family. By the time Valentine's Day gets here, the box is usually bursting at the seams! It is a really fun thing to do and a good way to be thinking good things about one another! Anyway, here is my box this year. It is 7 p.m. and the kids got home @ 3:30 pm from school, and there are already several things in it. LOL! Maybe next year I need to invest in a large tote box instead of a shoe box. LOL! ;OP

Neat-O...

So, despite my Topsy-turvy start to the day, things are getting better.

I had a treatment for fibromialgia yesterday, and it often leaves me bruised, so I switched sides of the bed last night with my husband. I didn't hear my alarm clock go off this morning, he did but tried to snooze it and turned it off instead. He isn't used to my alarm clock. So we woke up half an hour late. We had to really hustle and bustle to get the kids ready for school. Then my dad came to take some fixtures down in my bathroom that had to go back to the store so I didn't get much chance to get ready for my first class. I get to class, we go to the library to do some research for our thesis papers and everyone else got a computer but me, so my instructor let me leave (at 9:20 a.m.) which was WONDERFUL. He knew I had already done some research so he wasn't worried. I also found out my Human Growth class was cancelled at 2:00 p.m. today. YAY! So now all I have is my Blah Blah Blah class (World Geography).

FEELING LUCKY!

OK, four more people need to sign up for something special made by me! DON'T FORGET! Its free, it costs nothing to you!!! Sign up on the post below this one titled Feeling Lucky...(you didnt see a boogie in my nose, did you?) (watch the video above)

Feeling Lucky...

Feeling Lucky?I saw this on Linda Joy's blog and it sounded fun!! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.(hopefully sooner than later)
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange:)

The catch? Oh the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me you did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! ** Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Diva Girls...

Both of my girlers are hams. Bethanie, if you have noticed in any snap shot I have taken, strikes a pose. I swear it is totally a natural instinct for her!

If Bethanie does it, so does Madison. I have always hated posting naked pictures of kids, and I never have, but this one was hilarious. After I took the picture, and told her she was cute, she took this hat off, bowed and said, "Thank you, thank you!" I couldnt stop laughing. Just hilarious.

BWAHAAAAA!!!

So, in my Comp. II class, we have to share our thesis statements for our argument papers. I was telling the "kids" in my group that the topic I have chosen is really quite a great debate (well, among many women, anyway). I have seen many women (mostly in email land) take very strong and opinionated stands on this issue (Breastfeeding vs not breastfeeding is another one, but I am not about to venture into that topic in a college English Comp. class). Anyway, one kid in this class-who was in my music appreciation class last semester asked me how old I was. Awe, I never get tired of college kids asking me this question...it happened last semester too, and you know, it never ceases to floor me when that happens. I asked him to tell me how old he thought I was. We were discussing his topic which is whether the drinking age should be lowered or not. LOL! He was like...I thought maybe 25 or something. GOOD ONE! LOOK AT ALL THE SILVER (and I don't mean in my pocket). I don't LOOK 25. I am a long way from that. LOL! If the truth is known, I dont even want to go back to my 20's. I like being in my 30's. Or I will when I get there ;OP !!!

I am sure he was embarrassed for even asking me and looked for a nice way out. LOL! Should I take it as a compliment? <>

Well-FINE then!

Waaahhh! I cant get anyone to help me with opinions on my paper. I know everyone out there is allergic to school, but if you have any thoughts one way or another on the issue I have mentioned previously-(SAHM or Working Families with 2 incomes) please email me. It seriously doesn't matter to me what your opinions are, I just need to know it. Also, the poll is important because this will give me percentages. It is only my mom and I that have voted. HELP PLEASE!

Its Monday, and its FEBRUARY!!!

I guess Mr. Phil (the groundhog) predicted 6 more weeks of winter...After my first class (Eng. Comp. II) I went and worked out for 30 minutes. It was rather intense. I am always afraid that I will pass out because of the pressure fluctuation from the exercising (the Intra-cranial Hypertension), but so far, that hasn't happened. So I felt so good after my work out, I treated my self to a cheese burger....so self defeating. It's OK though, I will just figure it into my points. :O) Now I need to go shower again for the rest of my classes.

A birthday party...

Today we celebrated my brothers 37th birthday. He is the one that has had 2 major heart surgeries in the past two years. He looks great! He seemed happy, which is good to see. We all had a great time being together. We need to do more of that. I love my brother and his family.

Here he is in his kitchen with Bethie next to him. I think that is Matthew's arm. I'm not sure. He always finds a way in the picture somehow.

From left to right-Matthew, a friend of the family, Sunny, Bethanie, Heather and Madison. These are all the kidlets in the family (on my side) plus a friend!



Left-Right-Ron (my dad), Terry (my mom) Jeff (my husband) Doug and his daughter (Sunny's friend) and Matthew who made his way into the picture! LOL!

Ann-Sunny's wife, and my sweet SIL.

She makes a mean meatloaf. We also had baked potatoes, spic rice, and chocolate pudding cake for the birthday. Hey, I just noticed, we didn't have ice cream! Oh-well...its for the best. I was way too well fed today. LOL!