these are the days: 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

2007 in Review

January 2007

February 2007: Biking while the weather is nice....

March 2007: My mom visited us for a week. Much time spent at the park.

April 2007: Connor celebrated his first birthday with a visit from Aunt Soooz, Uncle Mike and Aunt Terri and a party with family and friends.

May 2007: Tom celebrated his 3*th birthday and Ian celebrated his 3rd birthday on the same day! We spent the day together as a family and had a Diego party for Ian and his friends a few days later.

Enjoying the new swingset-a gift from the family to the boys for their birthdays.

June 2007: On vacation from school, Linda spent a week in Prescott working for a music festival. We also went on our annual "hooray, school's done!" trip to visit Michael and Terri for a few days.

Tom also taught percussion at Paradise Valley Music Camp.

July 2007: Linda celebrated a birthday by reading Harry Potter and having traditional ice cream cake.

We visited Michael and Terri for 4th of July, attending Sierra Madre's little parade, which was a lot of fun.

We also trekked to New York to visit family and friends for a few weeks, spending a week on the beach in Hampton Bays, followed by time upstate.

Ian had a chance to visit the cockpit on our trip.

August 2007: Life begins to twist and turn. Linda returned to working full time for Chandler Schools, all of which happened rather quickly. We also begin Early Intervention with Connor.

A visit to the Challenger Space Center. Actually, was this in June or August???? Hmmm.

September 2007: Ian begins his first season of soccer. He enjoyed the practices more than the games and the best part was the sno-cones at the end of each game.

October 2007: On a break from school, we repainted the bedroom and waited impatiently for cooler weather to arrive. The boys were excited for Halloween, Ian being a race car driver and Connor, his pit crew chief.

Connor is diagnosed with autism on October 1 and shortly after began receiving therapies.

November 2007: After a visit to New York to see brother Chris marry Kristen, who then became an inductee into the Sister-in-Law sisterhood (an exclusive group!), we celebrated Thanksgiving with Michael and Terri visiting us in AZ.

Connor made huge progress in a short time by learning signs for "more" and "please".

The weather finally dips below 110 degrees!

December 2007: My mom came to visit us for Christmas. She left this morning and we are glad that she was able to spend time with all of us.
A part of the holiday photo shoot-one of the photos that made the cut.

2007 brought many highs and lows and we are looking forward to a fresh start in 2008. Wishing everyone a very prosperous and happy New Year!!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Happy Birthday to Sheila-Mom-Grandma-Mother-in-Law!

Happy Birthday to my favorite mother-in-law.......

Grandma

Friend

Mother

Sister

Wife

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip. ~Author Unknown

Love you!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Feast One Hundred Seventy Three

Appetizer
Name 2 things you would like to accomplish in 2008.

1. Meditate every single day for at least 10 minutes.

2. Publish some writing.

Soup

With which cartoon character do you share personality traits?

Wow. I think sometimes I am like Schroeder from Peanuts Gang. He is always very focused on what he is doing and doesn't like when Lucy interrupts his flow. I can relate because I am not a good multi-tasker, I like to concentrate on one thing without interruption and I am a very quiet person most of the time.

Salad
What time of day (or night) were you born?

I think I was born around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Main Course
Tell us something special about your hometown.

No one can spell it. Also, Dunkin' Donuts is the prime hangout on a Friday or Saturday night. That tells you quite a bit.

Dessert
If you could receive a letter from anyone in the world, who would you want to get one from?

My sister-in-law Suz. She writes exactly what it is (not just what I want to hear!) and it always comes at the right moment.

And for my interior advisor, Terri-yes, we DID change quite a bit around since you have left. We put the gray couch in the back room against the divider, the other walls are empty-moved my computer desk next to the couch. In the living room, we moved the tree to the other side of the couch, moved the blue glider next to the tree (now that the presents are out of the way) and put the end table on the other side of the couch. We also brought the bookcase out from the closet and put it next to the tv. We added a stand up lamp near the glider, a lamp on the bookcase and a lamp on the end table. Ian has a new captain's bed, the crib is in the same spot, but the bed and changing table are now reversed. I'll try to take some photos.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Day 12:00pm

These remote control cars are AMAZING!!!

Christmas Day 7:30am

Ian and Connor are up early checking on Santa's arrival.....

Monday, December 24, 2007

A Very Merry Christmas Eve

Make certain you read the previous post to understand the video!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

'Twas Two Nights Before Christmas

Thomas and I agreed to take Trevor for the day and overnight tonight so Cindy could get some things accomplished (she better NOT be washing floors-which she normally does on a kid-free night.) and the boys could have some fun playing Star Wars. Tom took the boys to McDonald's and the library. Following that, the boys came home for a much-needed nap and then we headed over to Aunt Ginny's for an early dinner.

Aunt Ginny has a beautiful house in Scottsdale and we love to visit her when we can. I am especially happy that she is now in Arizona, because I get to know her better on each visit. Ian is fascinated with her walk-in closets and asks to play in them every time we mention we are seeing Aunt Ginny. She made a wonderful dinner for us and carrot cake for dessert. We didn't get to really talk without interruption, but it was still a really nice time. The boys played spaceship and Star Wars in her closet, alternated with running outside on her patio and watching the Grinch. Connor kept moving her kitchen chairs around, at one point moving a chair with Trevor in it. Aunt Ginny said she was exhausted watching them and luckily, everything in her home remained intact, although I am thinking I will need to buy her some Windex wipes for all of the little fingerprints on her beautiful glass coffee table and kitchen table.

We left Aunt Ginny's and stopped by the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale to see the lights. It is free, except for the train ride cost. The mental cost of waiting on a one to two hour line with three young boys was more than we were willing to pay. We walked around a bit, looked at lights and called it a night.

Although the boys are busy little three-year-olds, they are starting to come up with some really funny phrases and that was the best part of the day. Here are the highlights:

Tom and I asking fun Santa questions in the car after Ian's meltdown at the park:
Us: Is Santa nice or crabby?
Boys: Nice.
Us: Is Ian nice or crabby?
Ian: Nice.
Us: Really?
Ian: Well, a little crabby.

Trevor's rendition of Frosty the Snowman with amazing accurate pitch and killer dynamics:
"Frosty the Taka.... Frosty the Goo-Goo Head..... Frosty the Cluck...."

At Aunt Ginny's house, asking me to play Star Wars, I asked to be Princess Leia. The response:
"Mommy, you can be the Girly Darth Vader."

The boys at lunch and dinner, with scintillating conversation:
Trevor: "If I eat this chicken, then it will pop my head off!"
Ian: "I'll drink this milk and pop my head off!"
Note: Apparently your head can pop off for any number of reasons, especially when confronted with a food you don't like to eat.

"I'm the nice Darth Maul. "
"I'm the Good Darth Maul."
With a name like Darth Maul, he's gotta be good.

Ian during the Q&A portion of the car ride:
Us: Is the Grinch nice or crabby?
Ian: He's crabby then he turns nice.

During wishes at bedtime:
Trevor: I wish my mommy goes to work and that Aunt Kathie gave me a Mack truck.
Ian: I don't have a wish.
Connor: Zzzzzz

These two, for all of the craziness that ensues, are a lot of fun.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Aunt Linda's Chicken

Okay, I have to post this because I was thrilled to actually have a recipe with my own name in front of it. The sad part is that I am not responsible for creating or cooking this recipe.

Cindy, my friend of many talents, is quite a kitchen whiz. Perhaps it runs in the family, seeing how her brother Matt is a Culinary Institute of America grad (way to go, Matt!) and her sister posts all kinds of vegan raw recipes that she tries. Anyway, awhile back, she sent me a recipe for some delicious chicken cooked in a really sweet and tasty sauce. Her kids love it and remember, when our kids like something not involving nugget or sugar coating, you know it must be good.

She came over one evening and we decided to make the chicken. Honestly, I pretty much handed her ingredients while she mixed and cooked. It didn't appear difficult at all, but again, she is the one who actually LIKES cooking.

Her son-since we ate this particular chicken at my house-calls it "Aunt Linda's Chicken". I really had nothing to do with the recipe, but Cindy told me today while we were shopping and I was truly happy that someone finds me worthy to put into a recipe title! Seriously, I panic when I get those wedding shower "send your favorite recipe" card in. I have NO recipe and I really don't cook well.

Well, I have spent the evening rearranging my house and putting away a million toys to make room for the up and coming set. Now, I am feeling a little worn out and ready to catch some zzz's.

Maybe I'll think about making my chicken for Christmas Eve.....

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Happy Birthday to My Singin' Sister

Shannon is one of my very best friends and tomorrow is her birthday! I choose to honor her because she is like the better half of my teaching soul and her friendship is invaluable to me. How I have managed to teach the last six years without her is a mystery.

I first heard about Shannon in 7th grade, when her mother, my English teacher, would interject stories of Shannon's antics into her teaching. Her mother was my favorite teacher, as she was for many of my friends who were in her class. So, after getting a teaching job in the district I grew up in, I taught with two other general music teachers before Shannon was hired. When my supervisor told me who she was, I chuckled because I remembered her although I wouldn't haven't known her if I tripped over her. She graced the halls of Gayhead Elementary and hasn't left, to their very good fortune.

Shannon is a vocalist, so I immediately felt a sense of intimidation because I was not technically a vocal major in college. However, as we got a sense of each other's style and realized how unbelievably similar our philosophies, discipline and styles were-we began a partnership that was rather formidable! We worked on several 5th grade musicals (each one more grandiose until we finally scaled back with the African folktales, my personal favorite) and we organized the holiday singalong for the entire school. We did our end of the year book request days with combined classes, probably having more fun than the kids at times.

Our piano skills were equally questionable. We ended up taking piano lessons with our accompanist and good friend Dan to help us improve our arpeggios and boomchucks. It turned into a competition over who did better on the sightreading examples he gave us (trust me, they were NOT EASY!). During one singalong, we enlisted Thomas to come and play piano for us-but we only gave him the songs we didn't enjoy playing.

At Gayhead, we were constantly mistaken for each other, given the same hair color, height, similar taste in clothing. Some of our nicknames included: The Bobbsey Twins, the Singing Sisters and Murph and Mc. We ate lunch together every day-Shannon with her two Twizzlers, a banana, a piece of cheese and a snack bag of Fritos. We color-coordinated our outfits for the holiday singalong. We went to see our former students perform in the junior high and high school musicals. Shannon even performed in a few musicals, including the part of Sarah in "Guys and Dolls". She even sang at our wedding.

Shannon met Ryan during our years at Gayhead and I remember the grin from ear to ear, the squeaky cute voice when she said "Ryan" and she later married him. He is a band director in the same district and one of the best guys around. (besides my own)

After I moved to Arizona, things have never been the same in teaching. Shannon kept me honest as a teacher, she encouraged me to work harder and made the day in and day out so enjoyable. It was as if we were of the same mind. I loved it and I miss her every single day that I teach. One day, I hope that we will be given the same opportunity to work together again.

Now we both have young children-she with another on the way in addition to her beautiful and energetic daughter and we are emailing back and forth with all of the joy, commiseration and questions that we have as parents. We make it a point to always spend time with Ryan, Shannon and Kaeleigh when we visit New York. It's never enough time, but their friendship is like putting on a warm, cozy coat from the closet that you love. It always fits and it always keeps you warm and happy, always broken in. We pick up where we left off and we continue the best that we can over distance.

Shannon-thank you for being my colleague and one of my best friends. I wish you a most wonderful birthday AND your last one as a mother of one. Welcome to the world of true chaos! My gift to you is whatever I can do to listen and help in the transition. We all love you!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

The Tears Shall Fall Like Rain

As if we aren't all holding onto our precious sanity as teachers during the last week before Christmas, the fierce and independent youth of my household are wreaking havoc. Well, wreaking havoc in their room anyway.

My three and a half year old is desperately seeking independence, yet his motor skills haven't quite caught up to his mental capabilities. Inciting tears when he cannot zip his jacket, buckle the seatbelt or put on his shoes right away, the first time. He is also trying out his demands for sugary treats when his dinner hasn't been finished AND he has been a pill for the entire night. Um, NO. My mother-in-law calls them "love nos". Last night, Ian tantrumed about not getting hot chocolate and cookies at 8pm. I sent him to bed. Put him in the room, got him undressed and let him cry it out. He came out to argue a bit more, so back he went. I told him he could read books by himself with the nightlight, but I was done arguing. He settled down and was asleep rather quickly.

Tonight he decided to play with his food at the table, throw it around and then ask for treats. Tom gave him two choices-eat dinner nicely or go to bed. Where did he go? To bed. Where he is still awake, reading his book. We decided to calmly set the tone and not get into arguing matches with him. He is responding better (not great) tonight. I cannot tolerate whining and bossiness with him. Repeat: I am the parent. I am the parent.

Connor is fine, actually. He has even had a dose or two of tough love. After discovering the tv on and off button, he enjoys playing with the tv, turning it to static, playing with volume etc. I signed the word and said NO and move him away from the tv and turned it off. He proceeded to roll around and cry until I walked away. He went right back to the tv and started playing with the buttons. Then, I signed and said NO, closed the tv doors (we smartened up a few years back and got the closing cabinet-a genius moment). He again rolled on the floor for a good while until he found one of his cars. I know he needs to communicate instead of rolling on the floor, but honestly he has to be disciplined the same as my older one or we will have a demon on hand. I know he has autism, but he is a child first and I intend to make sure he is treated fairly but not favorably. If that even makes any sense. My brain hurts from all of the discipline, honestly.

My brother-in-law called last night in the aftermath of Ian's tantrum and I am glad he did. I was feeling pretty crappy, but he always has positive things to say and talk about, so it got me into a more productive mood.

My mother-in-law has reassured me that this is normal. That I also should reconsider the sugar issues because that can make the best of children devilishly moody.

So, the tears fall like rain-theirs, mine-but the greater good is coming.......right?? RIGHT???!!!!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Christmas Photo Shoot

Ahh, yes. It is that time of year when I procrastinate about getting Christmas pictures and cards done until the week before Christmas. Enter two boys who really don't care to be dressed up (or even dressed) and don't want combed hair and you wonder for the slightest second if it is even worth all of the effort. As it turns out, it is.

We took a ride over to South Mountain and walked a relatively flat but rocky path. Connor veered off the path and came dangerously close to the edge of the canyon once or twice. The child has no sense of danger, so Tom was constantly rescuing him. He was relegated to the backpack after that. Ian insisted on holding my hand and walking ahead of Connor and Daddy. Can't let them win.

Here is one simple picture that shows a tremendous amount of progress. Connor has really never pointed to anything until this month. While it still takes a lot of effort on our parts to get these responses from him, he is surprising us with little pieces of communication.

Of course, I am out of order because I am tired and I refuse to go back and change the order.....so here is Connor actually asleep BEFORE the hike. He also fell asleep in the car after the hike. I am considering moving his crib into the van.

Ian in a little body that looks like a boy body instead of a toddler body. I am still trying to fathom how he became a boy overnight.

Now, for those of you receiving Christmas cards from me.....I haven't posted the actual final cuts and theme. You will have to anxiously check your mailbox....but probably don't check until Friday or Saturday, considering the cards are still sitting here next to me...

Friday, December 14, 2007

Friday's Feast One Seventy One

Appetizer
Make up a word and give us its definition.

Well, there is "kip" but I will have to check with T before I relay its meaning. Other than that, I am really not with it enough to create my own new word.

Soup

What is currently your favorite song?

My current favorite song is "Jingle Bells" and "Feliz Navidad" as sung by my special ed class. Basically they don't sing, but yesterday they were singing their little hearts on these two songs, dancing around. Of course, they mostly just sang the words Jingle Bells and Feliz Navidad, I was responsible for the rest, but it was a glorious little moment.

Salad
What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?

I just sent T my list and after much thought, I want a meditation pillow and a iPod thing for my car. We have a $$ limit, so I don't know that both will happen, but either one would be great!

Main Course
Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Lavender reminds me of my two boys fresh from a bath. I HAVE to use lavender soap until they decide on their own. Right now, lemongrass soap for my husband, who is actually using the soap I bought him-probably because I love to snuggle in his neck when he smells so good. Hey, Terri-it's working!!!

Dessert
Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why?

Hmmm. Tough one, considering how little I watch tv anymore. Any of those newsy blowhards who analyze politics and news. Plus, I honestly think those girls from the View have had their day and should move along now. One of them was saying she wasn't sure if the world was round or flat-seriously. That isn't even funny.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Bien Ocupada

Some days I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the end of the day. Seriously. My schedule and Tom's schedule are crazy on completely different times.

Monday is the worst for me because my first school is about 40 minutes away and I normally drop the boys off. However, timeliness, as my family and friends know, is not my better quality. Due to exhaustion last night, I figured I'd gather my teaching materials in the morning...only to find that they were not in the place I'd originally thought. So I ended up drawing half-assed posters (Julie, you would be horrified!) and used them all day. Ian was crying about how I am always working and breaking my heart because I promised I would drive him to daycare and ran out of time to take him. Now Connor is starting to realize that I am a VIP to him too.....my heart has been broken one too many times today alone.

School was fine, except for this SEI class that Tom and I are trying to muddle through. I spent a good portion of my prep reading SEI class assignments and hunting down a person to get me information I need to complete them. Rrrrr. Got a peppermint mocha on the way home with the Starbucks gift card T gave me this morning and got the boys home. Ian, in some crazy growth spurt, was hungry for snack twice and ate all of his dinner, so I was trying to get dinner on the table, clean our kitchen floors from the Cheerios this morning....as Connor's therapist was due at 6:30pm. Tom had a dentist appointment that I forgot about and he seemed to be having a off day too.....so we both are hanging on by a thread.

I took Ian Christmas shopping tonight while Tom kept Connor at his appointment. We ended up at the used bookstore where he carefully picked out a book for his little brother and one for himself (a preschool workbook on math-aren't you proud, Fun Aunt Terri?!). We also went into one of the furniture stores and sat on all of the new couches. Then, we went to the mall and looked at sneakers (no buy), hunted for the new Cars cars which was a bust and then we hit Borders for hot cocoa, restrooms and we picked up Daddy a Christmas present. Ian was a little disappointed that the mall actually closes at 9pm (in New York, it was always 9:30pm!) but he cheerily added, "Mommy, when the gates go back up, then we can come back again!" Ah, my little budding consumer.

After coming home, getting Ian to bed, we then had to look at this SEI class once again. I feel bad because I encouraged Thomas to take the SEI requirements online last year and he doesn't really do well with the online writing. So, what do I do...but encourage him to take the 45 hour course with me online. He is more of a discusser than a writer. He would thrive in a classroom setting where you can debate and talk all class long. Not my bag, but I can see how it works for him. So he wanted to discuss the assignments with me while I was busy writing and I really didn't want to discuss because I was busy writing..... So-I AM SORRY. He is busy slamming things around, so I figure he is probably not happy with me. It's been a long day. Neither of us gets a moment to decompress by his or herself alone in the house, so by the time the evening falls, we are crabby, tired, not feeling well or all three. I need time by myself, so he does, but we never seem to want that time at the same time.

Now, I am going to try and go to sleep and not think about the Cars cars the boys don't have yet, the SEI class, the crabby dispositions.....meditation break.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Hark Phoenicians, What Falleth From the Sky?

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain. ~Author Unknown

Ian, October 2006

Thursday, December 06, 2007

What is......

A writing prompt from Can Teach

What is...

What is something you dislike about yourself? I wish I could speak louder, but I don't.
What is something you do well? Speaking softly. Ha, ha.
What is your favourite room in your home and why? Anywhere where I can sit quietly.
What is a good neighbour? One without dogs outside all night long. PUT THE DOGS IN AT NIGHT!
What is the worst thing parents can do to their children? Not disciplining and not being involved. Spend time with your kids and keep the expectations high.
What is your favourite time of day? Whenever I am the only one awake in the house.
What is your idea of a dull evening? Falling asleep on the couch!
What is the best way to treat meddlesome people? Thank them for their advice and whether I take it or not is my choice. I am too nice most of the time on that.
What is something you are optimistic about? My son Connor's future.
What is something you are pessimistic about? Education right now.
What is your most indispensable possession and why? My pictures of my boys, I love remembering all the stages of their little lives.
What is the meaning of "He laughs best who laughs last"? I don't know.
What is your favourite song and why? It changes. Today it is the Hanukkah song Ian and I are singing in the car.
What is the best birthday present you ever received? A day off to read a book.
What is the best birthday present you could receive? A day off to read a book.
What is something that makes you feel sad? When my son ignores me.
What is your favourite book and why? Right now, I am reading "When Things Fall Apart" and it is changing my life in little ways.
What is something that really bugs you? My messy house.
What is something that really makes you angry? Kids without manners.
What is the best advice you ever received? Accept people for who they are and where they are at. An insightful sister-in-law told me that once.
What is your favourite holiday? What makes this holiday special? Halloween. It is fun to watch my boys dressed up and having fun.
What is your favourite day of the week? Friday
What is your favourite month? Why? May-done with school!

Friday Feast One Hundred Seventy One

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?

I bought Candy Land for my son's Christmas present-the new book style format, which locks and fits on a shelf. Kudos to whoever designed this new packaging format-LOVE IT.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.

Oh, boy. I don't believe in being your child's friend. Be a parent.

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?

Hmmm, Antonio Banderas?

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

I feel like most of my lessons are learned the hard way! Otherwise, I don't learn them very well! The hardest one is that some people will never change for you. So you have to change your way of thinking to accept them without trying to change them or feeling resentful. I am still working on that, but it took years to get there.

Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

A quiet, neat room with a desk to write, a nice comfy pillow to sit and think on, nice b/w photography on the wall, my iPod player. Of course, I would not mind a specky sauna/steam room/jacuzzi after this weekend.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Quote for the Day

I read this quote today:

You don't have to see the whole staircase: just take the first step.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I usually need to climb the whole staircase. Sometimes if I don't reach the top, I don't know what to do. At this time of year, when the days are shorter, schedules are busier and time is fleeting, my need to feel a sense of control over my little world becomes very obsessive. Multi-tasking has never been a strong point for me. I like to work on something and do it extremely well. Right now, the weeks are swirling in constant appointments, classes, work, boys, holidays and all.

My husband told me the other night that he feels like I cannot do anything for myself until all of my other tasks are done. So true and he knows me very well. Tonight, I spent almost an hour and a half obsessing over which toys need to be put away for awhile and wondering why toys are continually strewn about the house, which turned into how the furniture is set up and my stress escalated from one simple task. I am working hard to let go and not worry about things that aren't so big a deal. Tonight, I am going to sit quietly for ten minutes and practice my emptiness, so I can feel less overwhelmed.

The other problem is that I wrote an article about autism to actually submit. I have it here in my computer, tucked away. It was due on Friday. I could not bring myself to submit it even after telling people-figuring that would force me to do it. In the end, I drove myself crazy because it wasn't perfect in my own eyes. I am disappointed in my own lack of faith in myself, but not surprised. I will find other chances and maybe I'll learn that the first step isn't as bad as I think it is. This time, I wasn't ready.

So, stumbling on this quote, I am going to try to remember that I only need to take one step at a time and not worry so much. So bear with me, sometimes this time of year is more melancholy for me and if my posts take on a crazy spin, just remind me to just take the first step.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Ready....Set.....GO!

We have one amazing little boy who has made strides farther than his little legs reach. In his play therapy, she was using bubbles and having him say "GO" before she would make the bubbles. He started trying to say, "Ready, set, go"-all three words. He did it several times. Then, she was saying "Bubble" to him and he said clear as day, Bub-ble. Only once and haven't heard it again, but he said it.

Finally, we worked on the sign "Please" and at the dinner table, I brought him his food and asked him to say "Please" before I gave it to him. I did the sign and said the word, then helped him make the sign. Then, he did the sign and said "eeese" on his own. Thomas was in another room and came running out and missed it. But he was able to do it again that night, plus again this morning.

Maybe the synapses are firing-finally. The signs are helping so much and he is really trying to verbalize. We don't know what will stick, hopefully ALL of it. But his little voice is finally being heard.

Of course, when I returned from Girl's Weekend, Connor basically ignored me. He walked past me, he laid on the floor and ran his truck on the floor. Not until we did some jumping on the bed, did he finally interact with me. You take what you can get from him.

Alexis talked to me today about his routine at daycare and how routine can make or break his world. She always gives him a snack and a drink in his favorite spot after naptime. Today after nap, she put him down with the other kids to let him play, forgetting the snack and drink part. He lost it and she couldn't figure out why until she realized that he expects to go right to snack and drink. Do not pass GO. He likes to eat breakfast right when he wakes up too-goes right to his chair. So, routine is making a difference in his moods.

We are all a little moody this week. Tom and I are jumping through a 45 hour hoop to keep our teaching certificate by taking a class online. So far, it is a repeat of the 15 hour class they made us take last year. He's mad, I am crabby too. Ian is worried that one of us is going to leave him and not come back or leave without him, so he is wailing when one of us leaves. It breaks your heart everyday. Yet, how one little boy can love the two of us so completely is astounding. Tonight I fell asleep in his room, waiting for him to settle down. And he cuddles up to me and says, "Mommy, I love you." I fell into a very peaceful, happy sleep. It's great knowing how much you are loved and needed.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Friday's Feast One Hundred Seventy (aka Sunday's feast for me!)

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney World. I hate spinny rides and I truly cannot stomach rides that drop you from great heights. It is worse the older I get.

Soup

How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?

I am usually very quiet and soft-spoken when I feel uncomfortable. Which I guess is most of the time, some might say!

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?

Depends who I am talking with and the exact subject. I dislike discussing with people who have a narrow viewpoint, especially about religion. My favorite person to discuss with is Suzie. We are on the same page with this stuff and no judgment, no down the nose treatment. I actually tend NOT to discuss these topics with most people, only a select one or two.

Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?

No, I never get a flu shot. I don't give them to my boys either. I feel like sometimes you gotta go through flus, chicken pox and all. I had them as a kid, no vaccines and I am still here to tell the story.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?

Maybe 2-4 on watching my own programs. Usually less, unless I am feeling ambitious about a certain show (Heroes). Then there is our dose of Backyardigans, which is probably 6 hours over the course of a week. Yes, I watch Backyardigans with my kids.

Christmas Meme

Wrapping paper or gift bags? This year is a mix. I bought several large felt toy bags for the boys this year and I plan on using all of my paper up so I don't have anymore. It feels wasteful each year, so I am going to be paper and tree-friendly from this point on.
Do you have a Nativity scene? Oh yes....On Magnolia Road on Long Island, famous for gaudy Christmas decorations.....there is a house that places a nativity scene where you see Frosty the Snowman and the three wise man. It's great. Tom and I ALWAYS look for Frosty and the Wise Man and talk about snow being the fourth gift.
Do you like eggnog? Not really.
Favorite Christmas movie? Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? I mail them. Of course, I used to make cards, but I am resorting to photo cards this year and last year.

Easiest person to buy for? Me?? No, just kidding (sort of). Probably Ian. Definitely not Connor.

Real tree or artificial? I had a real tree once after my brother-in-law and sister-in-law helped us choose and bring one home (inside joke alert: my kid will NEVER have boogers like that!) and it was a mess. We have had fake ones since, all from my wonderful friend Nora, who appeared to have extra trees every year.

Angel or star on the tree top? We have a lopsided star.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? If I think someone else will love and use/cherish it more than I.
Favorite Christmas song? Any of the classics from the Ella Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas CD-our favorite.

Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, I traveled so many Christmases between two and three houses, that I am content to be home for the next several years so my boys can enjoy being in one place. I really didn't like always having to travel, so down goes the foot and home I stay.

White lights or colored on the tree? I actually like white, but we have colored.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Breakfast. I don't like making a huge meal on Christmas anyway, except breakfast.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Friends, I am a music teacher. Amazingly, I haven't sung myself silly yet this year-normally I am sick of holiday music long before Christmas arrives after singing it 8 hours a day. Yes, I absolutely can name all of the reindeer.

When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving or on a day when I am feeling completely off my rocker.

When do you take down the tree? Whenever we get tired of it.

What is your favorite place to go at Christmas? Maybe a walk around the block, otherwise home in my pajamas with my boys.

Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning. But I have to watch everyone open their gifts separately for some annoying reason.

What do I love most about Christmas? Christmas has always been bittersweet for me until I had my boys. I love watching my son's face when the cookies are gone in the morning. I love the meltdowns from present overload. I love finally giving my boys what I longed for and starting new traditions.

Photo Meme

Here's the deal. Type the answer to each question into a Google image search, and then pick an image from the first page of results.

1. Age at next birthday... (NOT 60!!!) (this picture is for Tom more than me)

2. place I'd like to travel...

3. favorite place.... where I happened to be this past weekend

4. favorite objects..... do they surgically attach these?? Where do I sign up?

5. favorite food...... I heart NY.....pizza!

6. favorite color...... the color I wear every single day, no matter what anyone thinks.

7. nickname......

8. place where I was born..... a bit obscure, it's in New York, Hudson Valley, very long name that I had to spell every time.