TiMe fLiEs...

I cant believe how fast time is flying by! Looking at my calendar, I have only 5 class days left (including the day of finals). YAY! This is GOOD news. I will be very glad to have it over with.

Matthew is taking his tour of the Middle School at 7:30 this morning! I am so excited for him! We decided to take him ourselves before he goes as a class, so that he is better prepared and less distracted.

Bethanie is exhausted. I am not sure she feels 100%. She has a cough that wont stop. Sounds like drainage from allergies. Poor thing!

iNtErViEw...

The interview is now over. I hope I didn't make us out to look like total DOOFS. LOL! It is mostly based on me as the mother (Mother's Day edition) and my feelings about things. They took a zillion pictures (embarrassing). One picture he took of me, I was talking to the reporter and I am blurred out in the background but Matthew was right next to me, his head sideways with a big GRIN on his face. It was hilarious!


My mom got in on the interview too. I am so excited that she was able to be here to be interviewed with us. :O) I love her.

WhAt DiD i Do?

Madison and Bethanie have been having
"problems" going to sleep in the same room, so Bethanie has been going into our room to sleep and we take her back to her bed after she falls asleep. OK, so that worked. But tonight, Madison would NOT go to sleep for anything in the world. Finally I stuck her in Bethanie's empty bed and this is what happened. OY! I am guessing that we will be getting rid of the crib and getting out the todd bed. Oh how I hope we get through the school semester first. I need to get through finals before we make changes like this (and potty training). She does look peaceful.....wait until Bethanie finds out.

NEWS oF tHe DaY...

So, today I found out that on Wednesday, we are going to be in our home, doing an interview with the Salina Journal! It is going to be a feature for Mother's Day for moms who advocate for their children (especially special needs children). Of course, it isn't all about ME ME ME, it is about our family with a Mother's Day theme! It will come out on Mother's Day in the Salina Journal! It is so exciting that we get to talk about our situation and hopefully others will be able to learn from our experiences. Anyway, they are coming to do the interview on Wednesday and take pictures. :OP

BeAuTiFuL dAnCeR..

We have another dance recital under the belt! Bethanie was AMAZING! She is the funniest thing. She is super shy but you put her in performance mode and she is a totally different person. I am amazed by her. I have truly never seen anyone like her before! She was not even nervous!!! I am so proud of her!

She is on the far right.

Here she is after the recital. She is exhausted (as we all are). This recital lasted 2 1/2 hours and it didn't start until 7:00. We had a church activity this afternoon and so we have had a very full day.

Madison found this leotard in Bethanie's drawer. This purple one was Bethanie's very first one. You think we can PRY this thing off of Madison? No way. she wants to be JUST LIKE BETHANIE!! In fact, she was a little JELL-O of Mae (Bethanie) at the recital. Madison really wanted to get up on the stage and dance too. This summer Madison will be in summer dance camp so she will LOVE every minute of it!!!

So ShE dAnCeS...

It is dance recital time! Tonight was Bethanie's dress rehearsal! She is in two dances. There were ten girls in her class to begin with, but there were five that left (economy, I suppose) and so there are five!

This is her tap routine by Hannah Montana (I think) called "My Old Blue Jeans"

Bethanie is the second from the RIGHT.

This is the ballet dance (obviously). It is called "The Wee Small Hours".

This is the one she performed at the Night of 1000 dances a couple months back. She is on the far right in this dance.

I love this picture. I told her to give me some "tude" and she did. Isn't she hilarious?


I love that Bethanie loves to perform. Yesterday morning and this morning were more proof of that. It floors me that she is so shy, yet she loves the spot light! At their morning assemblies at school before school starts, there are about 5 kids per morning that volunteer to go up and have speaking parts. She did two days in a row. She spoke in the microphone loud and clear in front of like 300 kids! I was so proud of her I wanted to squeal!!!

Tomorrow night is her recital. I cant wait for her to get up there and perform in front of her family! How exciting for her! She has really worked hard!



Here is her dance team (Tap and Ballet). Bethanie is on the right in the back row.

"The Wee Small Hours"

"My Old Blue Jeans"

WaRm SpRiNg DaY...

I think we totally skipped Spring and went right on into summer! Crazy days, I say! It is near 90 degrees today! The kids are enjoying themselves as though it were summer! It is great to see them have a good time, playing ToGeThEr outside!!!

p.s. Visit Brother Blog to see updates with the school situation...

SyMbOLIsMs...

It seems so long ago, when we had our back yard tilled up. It hasnt been more than two weeks, maybe three. It cant have been! We have been waiting, sometimes so impatiently for any sign of new life, new little grasses starting. Patience. I am not a patient woman. I suffer from this more and more as I age. Patience is a life long lesson for me...apparently Heavenly Father isnt pleased with the progress that I have *NOT * made on this issue thus far in my life. He tested me years ago thru infertility, and finally that was conqured after 10 years of painful waiting, trying to be patient. He has tested us through varying events since. Now, quite possibly I am learning it through grass. Hmm.

To apply this *symbolic* theory, I must look at things in my life now to view the reason I am so full of anxiety. I have come to the conclusion is that I am just not at all a patient woman. I want it done and I want it done now. As far as I am concerned, the day we planted the grass seed, it should have started to come up...I need to let time take effect. Some where along the line, we have fallen into this instant society trap. We have instant communications, instant food, instant educations, instant every things...I just have to wait for it all to work out. What was that saying I posted a while back? "Today's Test Is Tomorrow's Testimony".

WaY tOo SeRiOuS...

Sometimes life can be pretty heavy. In fact, it can be all consuming and suffocating at times. Life is overwhelming. I try to keep my head out of the doom and gloom by looking for those little glimmers. I found one thing to watch that is so fun and light! Madison has learned how to blow bubbles...

I just love her sweet little voice...her sweet little face. That is such a gift! It really puts everything into perspective.

Would someone please..

tell me to go to bed? I have a huge day, and in just 4 hours, I have to get up and face it. I am wide awake and my brain is really working. ARGH!

I wish I could shut my brain off as easily as I can my computer. Wouldnt that be nice? I can easily click a button to put my computer on "Sleep Mode". Where is my brains sleep mode button? Hmmm?

DiStRaCtIoNs...

**SIGHS** I have homework that HAS to be done. I feel like giving it up completely, simply because I just don't have the brain power at this point to invest in it. I feel so overwhelmed with my thoughts. I am trying to keep this straight, and that straight, be here and then be there when I am supposed to. Where is this child, where is that child, is this done, do I have pants to wear to class tomorrow, do I have milk for the kids in the morning because I have not had time to go shopping? I just want to give it up! I ONLY HAVE 9 CLASS DAYS LEFT. I CANT!!! I just can not concentrate on what has to be done. I am on a time line of events that HAVE to be taken care of immediately and I have so much research that needs to be completed. My brain is on fire and I just wish things would slow down.

I hope things go well this morning. We have (@ 7:30 a.m) a suspension hearing we have to go to because one of our kids has been suspended from school. Then right after that, I have a class. I am also meeting with my advisor at 1:30 just before my 2:00 class. I have a presentation to deliver for that class, that I was supposed to give last Friday but I had to miss class to deal with this stupid school situation with our kiddo. My DH has to go to Salina to take an exit test for his classes and he has graduation practice. He will be gone. My poor mom has to come into town and babysit my children while I am away.

Oh-hohohoho. I am listing things again. I have to stop doing this! *pant, pant*

Lazy Sunday Afternoons...

One of our favorite past times on Sunday afternoons is to take a nap. Mind you, only three out of the five of us do this (my two oldest children are eternal non-nappers). So, today, THEY went to Whites and WE are taking a nap. Seems like the events of this past week have been very difficult and stressful, and time consuming.

Jeff is struggling to complete two of his three classes. He has the one finished but he wanted the other two finished by now. We have been taken over by other immediate responsibilities...needless to say, we will both be up late tonight to play "Catch Up". Napping today is strictly necessary or else we wont be able to stay up later tonight to accomplish what needs to be finished before tomorrow.

The sweetest advice...

My dearest friend offered up this advice to me some time ago...it really is true...

"TODAY'S TEST=TOMORROW'S TESTIMONY"

ChAnGeS...

So, lets just say, one of our children has been pulled out of school and we are going to battle with the school system now. It is looking like legal action can not be avoided. :O( The last two days have been very difficult. If you want to read, visit the brother blog.

A Beautiful Mind...

As most of my loved ones that come here to read about my day...you know that my oldest child, Matthew is autistic. He has Asperger's. With that comes specific fixations on certain objects. He will fixate on these things for long amounts of time...generally 3 years or more per fixation. As he is growing older, maturing more, his interests are changing. At school he has decided to dig for fossil rocks. This has become quite the interest for him, and has gotten him into a little trouble. Recently we had to go to the school and "arrange" for him to be able to find rocks (limited to 2 or so a day) and put them in a "toolbox" of sorts, and he can bring home his treasures on Fridays. So, yesterday, not a Friday, he snuck one in his pocket. It was JUST FOR ME!!! This rock is GORGEOUS! It has shiny flecks in it, and has beautiful colors. It is such a symbol of his love for me. I will keep this rock and display it proudly. It was so sweet to know that when he saw this rock, I came to his mind. That is so wonderful because usually his world is so full of himself and his own interests. It is fairly rare that he thinks about someone else when he is fixated. This is such a positive thing that he has done! This rock also reminds me of him and my feelings toward him. There are so many hard, non pleasant things in his life, but seeing those beautiful flecks in that rock reminds me that for him, there are those glimmers of hope and joy! I know that as he gets older, he will have many other fixations. This one brought ME joy, something he extended on his own. That is such a miracle. A small one, but a miracle no less...

Trust = Free Pass...

So, I am just about to leave for my first class today...English Comp. II. As I am heading toward the door, the phone rings, and I noticed it was the school where two of my children attend....that is NEVER a good feeling to see that number show up. So, I answer it and find out that it is the Director of the CO-OP wanting to talk about one of our child's IEP. OK, so I have to do this, she is busy over 5 districts, and it was important. But I KNEW I was going to be late for my class. I hate being late to anything. As I am talking with her, the thought comes to my mind, "OK, Stormy, you are going to be late, you cant avoid that. Email your instructor to tell him something came up and you will be late." I knew that the chances were very slim that he would look at my email before class. But I also knew that he would get the email later, saw what time I sent my email and I would not lose attendance points for not being there because technically I let him know BEFORE class. Whew! With me so far? Good.

Finally I get out the door, even more later than I would like to have been. I am driving and round the corner to the college when my cell phone rang. It was the college. That isn't such a bad feeling to see THAT school number show up. It was my instructor telling me not to bother coming in. None of the students (all 18-20 year olds, except me and I am old enough to be most of their mother) read their assignments. I told him that *I* read them and he was all, "I KNEW YOU DID, but don't worry about coming in today because I chewed the class out and they are all reading very quietly". BWAHAHAH!

So, reflecting on my life, I can see how it benefits a person to actually WAIT to go to college when you actually want to be there to learn things. It isn't such an issue to get your work finished because you have a different set of priorities. So, since I didn't have to go to my first class, got to keep my attendance points, I decided to go and work out during that time instead...

I worked out for 65 minutes. I earned 11 activity points, and I did several different exercise machines. My arms are dying at this point and I am feeling the burn. I KNOW this is a good thing, even though it feels like my arm muscles are burning in HELL!

Rada Cutlery...

I am placing an order on Friday if anyone is interested, especially the local friends. These are great knives and products backed with a lifetime warranty. The company's name is Rada Cutlery. Let me know if anyone wants anything from the catalog, OK?

SoRe MuScLeS...

So, we ALL know that I went and tortured my body yesterday, beyond reasonable limits. I am FEELING THE BURN today! In fact, my poor left arm is hanging there like a useless piece of meat. Awe, like Emmy said, I know I did something right! I keep telling myself that.....I KNOW it is worth it. It just doesn't feel so much like at today. LOL! I know that when I look at this graphic, I don't want to look like that. This could be my motivator. Should I post her on my fridge and food closet? :O)

I bRoKe A rEcOrD..

But I cant celebrate just yet! Probably tomorrow I will be full of agony...I worked out for 60 full minutes. I tried some new things working my waist and my upper back and arms. I also did my regular stuff (bike, elliptical machine and treadmill). I am already sore. I came home and took a hot bath to try to get a jump on sore muscles. I really didn't want to go work out today. But I don't regret it. I never do, and I always really have to just remind myself that I WONT regret it. I have to do tons of positive self talk to get me there. Certainly none of it would happen without my IPOD and cell phone. I find it is a great time to text. ;O) My record I broke? Working out for 60 minutes straight. I earned 9 points (Weight Watcher) so its like earning a free lunch! LOL!

EaStEr & ExErCiSe...

The kids had a blast for Easter. They loved the Easter Bunny goodies, having family here and all the food (especially the desserts). It was a great day having many of the people I love in our home.

Now, the consequences for this are, I feel miserable (because I ate way too much all weekend) and now I have to go pay the price...working out after my first class....OY! I soooo don't want to!

EaStEr DiNnEr ReCiPeS...

Visit my sister blog to see some delicious, yet simple, Easter dinner recipes! I spent the day preparing my Easter dinner. My family is coming, and so is Jeff's parents. I am excited. I have really grown to enjoy hosting special dinners for my sweet family! Plans for the day?

Easter Egg Hunt (golden eggs are the special ones)

Huge meal...Menu:

Ham

Stuffing

Baked Beans

Deviled eggs

Pineapple Yams

Carrot Salad

Scalloped Potatoes

Rolls

Brownies

Lemon Pie

Confetti Cake

Sugar Free Angel Food Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cheese Cake

Do you think this is enough for 12 people??? ;OP

Then, for the afternoon events...nap!!!

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE, I LEARNED
FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket
Walk softly and carry a big carrot
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears
There's no such thing as too much candy
All work and no play can make you a basket case
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits
Some body parts should be floppy
Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans
Good things come in small sugarcoated packages
The grass is always greener in someone else's basket
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare
To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey

HAPPY EASTER!!!

EaStEr FuN...

It's tradition!! Every year we color Easter eggs. The kids LOVE it! Bethanie was really artistic and did lots of nice designs on hers. She really likes to take time to make her things pretty...

I think Matthew only colored a couple. It isnt his THANG. He also hates me taking pictures because the flash hurts his eyes. At least I got him to participate!

Bethanie is working on her egg art! She is so precise! She will end up putting stickers and other things on her eggs.

Madison totally enjoyed coloring the eggs. Forget about those little metal helper thingies, she used her hands. She looks like a big bruise now. :OP

cOrrUpTiOn...GrAnDpA sTyLe...

When I am not looking, this is what "White" Papa lets the kids get away with. Madison LOVES the thrill (because Bethanie does) but when she goes down, her face is like she is scared to death!!! I struggle to even watch.

Today's joke on the lower right side bar...

WOW, I guess she has issues...more like, HE has issues! I know it copied small, but if you want to see it, click on the actual joke below.

DeAtH & 6 yEaR oLdS...

We were minding our own business, eating a happy sloppy joe for supper, the sun was shining in through the opened deck door, when all of a sudden, BLAM. Something hit the door, very hard. We all jumped in our seats and got up and ran to see what it was. This side of our house rarely has any action, but what happened was a sweet little girl cardinal flew face first into our window. The impact knocked her to the floor of the deck. Of course, we were all looking at it. I knew immediately the poor little bird was dying. I closed the door and proceeded to comfort my very traumatized 6 year old daughter. She has seen death before, in the form of smashed squirrels on the road, or bunnies, or deer...but never anything like this, so personal. Her heart was broken. I tried to get her to sit down and eat her food while I snuck out the back door and on to the deal to get rid of the poor little bird, who had already died, and I almost succeeded. My plan was a good one, though not well thought out. I was going to tell her that it got up and flew away, but she saw me from the back door. She KNEW that I had gone and picked it up in a wal-mart bag and was going to throw it in the trash (harsh, I know, but she caught me). Anyway, she has cried off and on all night. She is so broken hearted. She was very interested, though, when I told her that Heavenly Father has birds in Heaven and that she was likely there already. I hope she can move on tomorrow. I am so sad for her broken heart, though I am glad that she has such deep feelings like her mom. :O(

BaKe SaLe...

As you may or may not know...April is Autism Awareness month. So in preparation of that, our local autism support group put on a bake sale to help fund some of the weighted blankets, books and different things. The lady who runs it is FANTASTIC. So many people committed to bringing food items for the bake sale (at Wal-mart). Also, many volunteered to work it. Sadly, only one teacher and myself showed up. I brought 5 different things, and they sold immediately. I felt bad for the poor woman who runs the group because no one showed up to work or bring baked goods. Thankfully the teacher (the one I did practicum with) and me, Jeff's mom brought 3 things of cookies, and the gal who runs it baked until 3 am, so there were plenty of things. Its just sad when people say they will do something, and people count on that and then they don't even bother to follow through or let people know they cant for what ever reason.

Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Every year, the Wesleyan Church puts on a city wide Easter Egg hunt. It is so much fun. There are like 20,001 Easter eggs. They have it set up at the city park, and age groups are roped off. We are out numbered with children so we strong armed White Grandma and Grandpa to come with us. We had to twist their arms really hard. But they came, and we divvied up kids. I chose Madison for a couple of reasons. The main one is that I have had to leave her an awful lot because of my schooling and different meetings and responsibilities that I have had. Another reason is that this is only her second time doing this! I wanted to be with her. I terribly missed being with the other two, but one mom cant do it!

Madison was so excited. They started the hunt a little late, so it seemed like we waited for EVER and a day. Madison collected 12 eggs before the hunt began. LOL! She just couldn't wait!!!

She is holding on to the tape. The wind was sooooo strong. Poor thing! She almost blew away a couple of times!

During the race...it always reminds me of a huge vacuum. There are tons of kids, and tons of eggs. They scoop up the eggs very fast, clean up the ground and it is over before you realize it! All of the kids had several eggs, and goodies in side!

After the egg hunt, we took the kids to the little petting zoo they had set up. This was a new baby calf. Madison loved this little "doggie". He was really clean and soft, and warm in the sun light.

YES!!! Finally some pictures of Bethanie!!! She is such a hoot. Every picture I snap of her, she is posing for. What a natural! LOL! She is holding this little baby chick. It really loved Bethanie. He fell asleep in her hands and he was quite comfy. She now wants a chicken. Get serious!!!

This was shocker of all shockers! Matthew isn't especially comfortable around animals. He is awkward around them and doesn't understand them very well. he was totally interested in the baby chicks and baby ducks. He even kissed a baby duckling. How fun! He loved it!!! I love seeing him so tender with one of God's creatures!

We tried to let Madison pet the little chicks. She really wanted to but we were afraid she would squeeze them to death. So when she tried to pet them, she ended up POKING them with her finger. They would shake their little heads like, "What's up with that???" We quickly moved her on to the bigger beasts...

These are baby goats. She thought they were "doggies" again. One little boy picked one up next to her. He was a year or two older than Madison. The little goat baaaa'd and Madison thought it was hilarious. The next thing she did was try to pick up a goat kid too, but it was too big for her. She doesn't know she is little...

It was fun. The kids had fun, they always do. Lots of goodies, lots of fun. Hippity Hoppity Easter is on its way!!!

So PrEtTy!

The day didn't start off so well. The kids were frightened when the electricity suddenly went off, and the sound of the quietness of the house woke them. Well, the girls anyway. Matthew was already awake. It was still black outside and the girlies freaked out. So I got them each a flashlight. The power went off and on for a few minutes, just enough to try and kill some of my electronics (none have died that I know of). But once we all get up and look outside, this is what we saw! It is a very WET blanket of snow. Just perfect for making a snowman, if there were enough. So, I got the older ones bundled up and off to school. When Madison and I got home, I pulled some snow off the van into snow balls and showed her how to throw them at the ground. She thought this was the neatest thing ever...then I threw one (gently) at her and she could not believe that was even a possibility. So she started to grab handfuls to toss at me. It was great fun, until our fingers started to burn from the snow....

Now she is watching Curious George.