Kids are Funny

I love kids and I think that is ultimately why I love my job.  One of the biggest reasons I love kids is because it is the best way to explore how we learn about the world.  Now that I am old I take a lot of my knowledge for granted.  Like learning jokes, I don't remember actually "learning" jokes, yet some how I know them.  Elijah today as we were driving pipes up from the back, "Mom, did you know chickens can cross the road?" Real sure that was supposed to behow a why does the chicken cross the road but that was the best he could do because he already knew his answer was to be run over by a car.  

I also enjoy listening to children trying to figure out pregnancy.  Like when I was pregnate, there were many questions about the baby and how it would get out..."Will it hurt? Will there be blood? Does it come out your belly button? How did it get in there?" But the best one came today while we were looking at a picture of a mother in a hospital bed next to a baby and the new dad.  My little friend told me, "the dad is happy because the mom just burped the baby out of her stomach." I was laughing so hard I kept the white board and the picture and shared it with all my co-workers.  If only it was as simple as a burp.  I would have 3 or 4 now for sure. 

We've moved!!

Surprise! We have decided to move.  Not really sure when it was all made final, or even when it happened exactly, but it did.  You may be asking where we moved to, or how we sold our house, or even what did we buy? Truth is we were able to move our whole house, yard and all.  We moved our town and our state.  We are somewhere in the arctic circle.  I am still waiting to see my first polar bear but we are getting another 18 inches of snow between now and Wednesday. Awesome!

Kindergarten

If I write it it might come true, so since I don't want it to come true I am having a hard time writing it.  

In August my baby will officially stop being my baby and turn into my school age kid.  I have been thinking since he was born that I would hold him back a year and start him after he turns 6 but I can't justify it anymore.  I work with the kindergarteners and know what is expected of them at this point in  the year and in some areas Elijah meets and exceeds those areas.  Therefore, I have to come terms with it all..and it's hard.  Registration is the second week in February, I'm floored.

On the up side, Elijah knows 60+ sight words in flash cards and some books.  It's crazy how fast he has added these words.  We only started at the beginning of January.

Snow day

What did I do on my snow day you ask? Oh you know some laundry, walk the dog in the ridiculous cold, wrote some IEP's, and lesson plan. I hate to say it but I'm bored.  I really haven't been at work long enough to really need the day off.  I did have BJ take the little man to daycare just because he would be bored out of his mind here and at school he has buddies to hang with.  

I have to thank God thought, he  decided to allow my body to accept the colds that were going around school.  Saturday I was down for the count, stuffy, drippy, achy, and crabby. Now I'm just stuffy with a small side of coughy.  This long weekend has really helped me recover without missing work.  Could I have worked? Most definitely! Am I happy I could be germy, snotty, and gross in my own home? Yup!

Today is brought to you by the letter W.

All those sick of winter say "I," "I."  

Seriously I am done with winter. We are having our second canceled school day third canceled work day tomorrow with another one pending for Tuesday.  That adds four additional work days to the end of the school year.  Four!  And we haven't even begun February. And since our last away was before Memorial Day now we have to add almost the whole week of Memorial Day to work.  Boo.

However, on a positive note the kiddy germs finally broke through my immune system of steel yesterday.  I was one crabby mommy yesterday with a bit of congestion today.  By Tuesday I'll be back to my old self with an extra day to rebuild my immune system. Fantastic!  

More Olympics

As you know I get a bit obsessed with the Olympics.  Last week I started the Olympic buzz wit home of my older kids and we all know how well that went over...

This week during our group time were checking out the weather for the kids and I thought why not check out the weather in Russia.  Here is what I found out.

Weather in the Chicago suburbs: cloudy/snowy with a high of 8 and a wind chill of -25.

Weather in Sochi, Russia: rainy and a high of 53....

I get it, they have a mountain and all but we have a mountain and gee I don't know...SNOW!

Expiration dates are just suggestions... Right???

Let me tell you something about me...wait this is my blog it's all about me!  But here is another little bit about me.  

Several years ago we changed our spending habits and the way we view our  finances.  Around that time we really cut back on our non-essential spending.  That unfortunately took away a lot of my shop for fun time.  Because that was gone I strongly looked forward to grocery shopping every week.  It was something that had to get done and I was spending cold hard cash.  I was getting great at finding "deals" to save the money I needed while still getting all that we wanted.  I admit we did get some odd things bit all was good.  It was also good that we have income extra storage space in our kitchen because I became queen of the after holiday sales and storing things for the following year.  For example, I have the die to make Easter eggs, a ginger bread house and two boxes of candy canes all in the cupboard right now.  I do admit I TRY to buy things that won't go bad, but some times I forget we have that thing until it's too late.  I didn't mention that I have had that ginger bread house since the Christmas before last due to me forgetting about it twice.

 

Now unintentionally this forgetfulness has impacted parish able food as well.  But some of the things I completely disregard the expiration date.  Like a bottle of Italian dressing as long as there is not mold in the bottle, I think it is still edible.  If cereal is past it's date, it's okay.  I have however, come to find out that sometimes that date may be for your overall safety.  I recently (as in 3 months ago) I found a can of crescent rolls in the fridge. I typically buy these when they are on sale because we have so many quick dinner ideas for them.  So this day when I found them they were the only ones in the fridge.  No biggy, I peeled back the label and BAM! The can explodes.  So much so that I was now standing at the counter with my hand throbbing, the can across the island and crescent roll dough on me, BJ, the counter, and I'm sure the floor.  I the. Hear from upstairs, "Whatw as that?" Ooh thing dear, just your lunch.  BJ was floored about to get really made and contact the company.  He grabs the can, looks a t the expiration date...oh you know only Oct of 2006!  Yeah that is a six.  As in before we even moved into this house... Wow!  They still tasted fine, just a bit flat not very puffy.

BJ however, does not share my disregard of experation dates.  I came home last night to a pile of candy, and some other stuff on the counter that were past the expiration dates.  He even threw my jar of crushed garlic (I don't use it much so it has taken while to use.  Apparently he tasted it and said it tasted funny.  It'ts straight garlic, of course it tastes funny.  It's raw garlic.  Alright I'll clean up a bit, but every time I throw away food that was past it's date I have a sad moment knowing that the money and time put into (fill the blank).

Therefore, if we ever all die or get sick, you may just want to jump to the conclusion that is was because of bad food.

Fire

A couple of months ago a coworker of mine had her house catch on fire.  The cause of the fire was an electrical issue that was set off by her crockpot.  Since the fire we have talked a little more each day about it, but it does make me think about things.  Here are some of the things that the whole ordeal has make me think of.  

1. I am thankful both BJ and I have family with extra living space where we could live for a short period of time.

2. I want all of my pictures stored on the internet so I don't have to worry about that.

3. I have come to the conclusion that other than the living things in the house I feel I could replace everything except Elijah's favorite stuffed animals.

4. I constantly think about not having the dog in the crate when we are out hoping that would give her a chance to live.

5. I have a continus list of things that are plugged in of where fires might start.

6. I wonder if people would know where to find me during the day.

7. I want to redo my kitchen!

It makes you tank that's for sure!

Happy day off!

What did I do all day you ask? Lay around? Sleep? Fun stuff?

Nope! I cleaned my whole house.  I always hate cleaning the house.  I know it is a 5-6+ hour activity and physically exhausting at that.  I actually haven't deep cleaned the house since around Thanksgiving and I found some gross stuff.  During that time I moved things in our house that have been in place since we moved in.  Yeah that was bad.  

This time I started last night and did some of the "easy" rooms. I typically have only about 5 hours of attention/energy to clean the house so by starting the night before I figured I could get everything done.  I did real well today I even Cinderella style cleaned the floor, although I didn't talk to any mice while I was doing it.  The only room that didn't get done was the master bedroom. But I hate doing that room myself.  I ALWAYS come across stuff that has come from my huaband's pocket and I never know how important it is or what it is half the time.  So that room is still blah but the rest of the house looks great! 

Now I need to have company over so people can see my beautiful house, before Fridays because I am anticipating the house to barf again.  

P.S. Thanks to my family for taking my boy for the night and day so I could get this all done! It was greatly appreciated.

Never Underestimate

Never underestimate a good pair of underwear!  You never think about how much it really matters until you either don't have a great pair when you put on that great pair.  If your undies are too big you are constantly readjusting, walking funny from the riding and the bunching, if they are too small they are pinching and ridding and just plain uncomfy.  Again a small pair of undies will make you look fat and that is never a confidence booster. Therefore, when you find a good pair buy a bunch so you feel great and are in a great mood!

Missed one

I was doing so well, but I missed yesterday.  I have excuses if that counts? I could also post twice today and make up for it.  I also had a great post idea while I was getting ready for church but in the time it took to go to church and shopping and have lunch I have forgotten what I wanted to write about.  Boo in me.  So instead I will tell you about last night.  Oh you know, we went to see Frozen for the THIRD time in the theaters.  Yeah I know my child knows almost every song by heart and sings along.  I know my child also knows 50% of the lines throughout the movie but still, we went anyway.  We have even gone so many times that he has decided he wants to be a prince because he can't be a princess since they are Girls. It is really cute. 

What can I say, I am a Disney girl at heart and I will do anything in my power to make my child a Disney boy.

Apps

It is no secret that I am not the most tech savy person but ever since the bond between my tablet and therapy was made I love finding ways to make it useful.  I have a handful of apps that I use for teaching but I also have a ton of apps as reinforcers.  In a 15/ 20/ 30/ 45 minutes session having quick reinforcer is nice.  Back in the olden days, you know, before tablets, bubbles were the number one choice of most therapists, board games were a second, and piece earning were the third.  All of them worked the same way... You do X number of sentences/sounds/target behaviors you get bubbles/ a turn/ pieces of the puzzle or track.  

Since moving to then school my session times are shorter but the need for reinforcement is greater.  Therefore, finding an app that will give me a quick brake for my friends is needed.  I now have a few favorites here they are:

Most Toca Boca apps make my list but specifically Toca monsters or Toca kitchen.  Simple start point pick food, cook food, cut food. Followed by a simple end point food has been eaten by the monster or the person.  To make it even better, most of my friends think the monsters look like Monsters Inc monsters.  

My second favorite is the Lego game.  I actually think it is just called Lego and to make it even better it was just upgraded.  The old version let you drive you car over the landscape, collecting coins to earn different choices, until you get the end where you "build" a 3 part trophy.  In the upgrade they made it more 3D but still fun.  Elijah could play this game for hours if allowed, but again it has a nice start and a nice end.  Love it.z

Sometimes I Forget

When I work I sometimes forget why these kids need me.  I forget with language disorders things that we learn so quickly takes months or years to learn for these guys.  It's not until I start a basic unit on the Olympics and break out vocab such as team, coach, competition, and country to a group of older elementary students.  Once I realize the level of difficulty with these words it becomes an instant word game for me.  

Team becomes class

Coach becomes teacher

Competition becomes games

Country becomes... Okay I got nothing it stayed country. 

This is why I love my job.  There was know prep for that one.  After 15 minutes of going over those words I don't think they sunk in.  For the next 6 weeks we will work on those words several times a week and I will view success if one or more of them adds at least one new vocab word.  

For the next few weeks I have plans for team building activities to encourage working together not competing against each other.  We are also going to encourage cheering each other.  We are going to make personal flags that show personal likes, hold "practice" on our Olympic events, and hold competitions.  Our competitions will be basic relay races, family feud type activities for what makes a good listener and good friend, as well as singles events but I haven't thought of those yet.  

Oh I'm so excited for the next few weeks!!!

What Does Your Mom Do?

In the past few years I have made some changes in my job.  I went from working in the private setting getting most of my clients with private insurance between the ages of 3 and 7, to working in the homes with clients between birth (realistically 18 months) to 3 years, to working in the public school setting with the Autism program.  During all that one thing still was the same I am still a speech path.  In my current job I work with visual cues, visual schedules, and visual everything.

As a mom, my little child has grown to an almost 5 year old and is a great child.  Don't get me wrong I love my child but let's face it. He is an only child and being so most of our lives revolve around him. If we say let's play a game, he gets to pick the game. If we ask for suggestions for dinner and he gives us a good one, we cook it. However, now he has figured it out and will whine/cry/be utterly obnoxious.  I was at my wits end, lots of yelling at my child and sending him away because I was so frustrated with him asking and asking and asking the same question with the answer not changing.

What did I do you ask? Oh you know, I meshed my first occupation with my second occupation and created this: 

Seeing as most of our issues revolve around technology that's what we are working for.  He has to earn 10 "stickers" for iPad and 20 "stickers" for extra tv time.  Some ways to earn stickers are independent tasks like the getting dressed, brushing teeth, and feeding the dog. Where others are adult directed like working on our reading, and cleaning up. Yet there are still others that are randomly given such as no whining, and no timeouts.  

This chart was a simple make (other than the laminator not working), I also found the stickers that have been sent to us in the mail, I laminated it all and put velcro one the board.  I also attached the side strip with velcro so that can change as he gets better at these and gets older.  We will see how it goes tomorrow, but I already know it will work.  

Just a Taste

Yesterday BJ fixed the garage door!  It opened and closed all by itself! It was wonderful I didn't have to get out of my car I even stayed warming. Then the temp dropped again and the door refused to open grr. I do, however, have the world's best husband that came out and opened the door for me.  Come on warm weather, I need my garage to open.  

Timber!!!

Timber by Pitbull featuring Ke$ha

It's going down, I'm yelling timber

You better move, you better dance

Let's make a night you won't remember

I'll be the one you won't forget

Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)

Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)

Every time I hear this song I think about my cousin Katie.  And for the next 15 min I giggle thinking about our time together when we were kids.  We had and I'm sure we still do have a a wonderful special relationship. We would only see each other 3 days a year after Christmas but we were two of the three oldest of all our cousins so we hung out a lot before the others were around and after the others came around we were too old to play all the kiddy games.  However, before those others came around we had to entertain ourselves and we did so by making up games.  One of our most favorite games was called Timber!  It was a simple game we would stand at the end of two mattresses on the floor (also known as Katie's parents bed) and we would fall stiff as a board back on the bed.  We would do this for hours and hours on end.  As we got older we modified it to us holding pretend weddings to our crushes and after we were pronounced man and wife we would fall back on to the bed and laugh for hours. We would do this so much I think we were the reason for this: 

 Therefore as long as this Timber song is popular I will laugh and remember parts of my childhood at least until the song starts to go crazy and dirty.  Then I just sing the first part over and over and over.  

TIMBER!

Nap time

I will confess, my child might just be 15 and still be required to nap on the weekend because I need to nap. I don't necessarily need a nap both days on the weekend but Sunday is a definite requirement.  Since we have been in this house I have curled up on the couch every Sunday unless there has been conflicts, like holidays or family gatherings, and have taken a nap. In fact, our Sunday is like clock work. Wake up at 7, got to church, so shopping either costco or Meijer, eat lunch, nap, laundry, dinner, bed.  It's the best thing ever.  I know that Elijah doesn't need naps everyday, but he does still needs mid day sleep at least 3 days a week or else will become a basket full of whiny pouty mess.  And if I miss my nap...I am crabby, I just don't function right.  I have even let Elijah nap downstairs with us on occasion to encourage the activity.  Okay maybe I will just push the nap thing until after the non-conceived next child is 2. So that is already looking at 3 years from now...it's cool for a third grader to nap...right? Poor kid with a loser mom!

And in case you are wondering my lip is still swollen and gross and painful.  

When a doc talks...

LISTEN! 

I went in for some dental work today.  I don't do well with the drilling part of dental work so I requested that they didn't skimp on the novican, and she didn't.  She even gave me a booster 2 hrs in.  I was a crabby girl when I woke up this morning, mostly due to the fact that the main event dental procedure wasn't even my fault.  When I was 16 I had a cavity filled and since then it was decaying underneath so the dentist needed to take out the old filling, get out all the new decay, and put on a crown.  As she was fitting me for the crown they realized they needed to grind down a bit more tooth but the first bit of novican was wearing off so I got a bit more.  After it was all said and done the dentist and the tech both reminded me I needed to be very careful because I was still numb.  Actually I should even wait to eat or drink until I could feel things.  We'll an hour after getting home I was hungry and thought I had feeling enough to eat.  I made toast and away I went. Three quarters of the way done I realize the bread has blood on it...that's odd...oh wait... I run to the mirror and sure enough I had taken a bit out of my lip. I was done eating then. Now I have a swollen lip a sore jaw and achy teeth.  Awesome! Next time I will wait to eat. 

Brick wall

It's hard for me to believe that I had just had 2.5 weeks off of work. I feel like I have been working nonstop for at least a month.  The reality though is it's just been 3 days. And they were not the hardest days either.  The kids have been great these few days.  Happy, compliant work bugs.  But I have to say I really miss my 8:00am roll out of bed time, along with my afternoon nap.  That is probably the real reason this week has kicked my butt.  On the up side of things all the teachers feel this way. I have teachers who have lost their keys for three straight days only to find them at the end of every day. I have seen teachers looking off into space for moments on end before they realize what they have been doing.  Please note thoughts (unless I'm just that exhausted I can't remember) I have given you a small window into my life.  Thanks for coming back, I know I can be a bit scary/weird sometimes, but let's be real, that's why you love me.

Dear Garage Door,

Dear Garage Door,

You are a key part of our home.  You keep our home protected and more importantly our stuff protected.  When we moved in we even upgraded you to have the motor out on so, so we wouldn't have to do any of the hard stuff ourselves.  However, I have a bit of a beef that we need to discuss, your function is to open and close to let us out and in.  When you decide it is too hot and don't want to close all the way and you make us sit outside playing "hit my button as fast as you can" it's not fun.  It actually makes us late for work and crabby.  And when you decide it's to cold to open and need us to physically get out of the car to encourage you to open that too makes us crabby.  The cherry on the top of this wonderful Sunday though is that now you are refusing to close.  Come on!!!!! It really is obnoxious. I realize that you have the upper hand in this deal because you know we won't get rid of you but this is a plea to work with the rest of the house.

Sincerely,

The home owners.

How did the first day go?

How did the first day back at school go? You know after 2 weeks and 2.5 days off school? Oh about just like this...

Yeah between all the teachers upset that they couldn't take mid-day naps and the kids who still went sure how they got to school today it was quiet and delightful. I was proud of myself for not falling asleep between meetings or while at my desk. I even remembered that it was Wednesday and I went to my second job. However, with that being said, I am sleepy and I think my bed is calling my name.  

Personal pet peeve

Backward emoticons.  

Alright let me show you all :) right way, (: wrong way.  

We read from left to right. Trust me on this one it took me long enough to learn it I don't think I will forget anytime soon.  That being said when your emoticons are backwards it looks like you are starting a phrase surrounded in brackets or parentheses.  By the time I figure out you are showing your emotion I have to read backwards to find out how you feel. Plus you can't do all emotions backwards :D, yup no backwards equal. Now I'm still by no means an expert on emoticons seeing as there are still a handful that I have no clue what they mean.  

Good grief I need to get back to school...

I confess...

I said I wasn't going to do it but here it is! 

Yeah you see that right feels like -42. I have, however, come to the conclusion that after -5 it all feels the same, COLD!  I walked the dog both yesterday and today and yeah cold is cold, painful, and breath taking.  I am very thankful for my warm home and faithful heater.

I also have to confess that on this semi snow day I sent my child to daycare so I could actually get work done.  That being said I should probably stop blogging and start working!

I also let my dog poop in the street and didn't clean it up, I'm not planning on showering today, and I'm loving my peace and quiet!

Stay warm!

Wonder what snow looks like?

Well I'm not going to show you. If you want to see what snow looks like please go to Facebook and look at any and all people who live in any of the northern states. Also if you want to see the temp here open up your weather channel app and see for yourself. Instead I will show you my boys together on the couch watching dad race cars.  

I love both my boys and my youngest boy loves his daddy. And my oldest boy loves his son. 

P.S. Go Hawks!

Life: According to the grocery store.

I know you all were hoping to hear about my thrilling trip to the grocery store today. That's why I am going to tell you all about it. 

I decided today that I didn't want my last day home from break crammed with crazy normal Sunday activities therefore, I went shopping today.  Now please understand that the word grocery is a weird word for me and I never feel like it is spelled right so bear with me if I'm not even getting close or just stop using the stupid word.  Anyway, off I go to the store with the little one in tow and what do you know the entire state of Illinois has decided to escort me through the store.  How sweet.  It was so crazy there was a selection of 3 carts two with the wheels broken and constantly trying to make a right or left turn and the third with rusted sharp metal pieces.  I naturally chose the rusty cart. I let Elijah climb around in the cart for a bit to make sure his tetanus was up to date and headed to the pharmacy to get some meds for my leaky nosed hubby.  The isles were packed!  I looked but I guess all the free samples were gone.  Then off to the 70% off broken Christmas section, because we all know my addiction with a good deal, nothing there either.  Headed to the soap/detergent isle where apparently all the magic cleaning soap that does your clothes and dishes for you was gone too. My appear look of surprise invited a nice lady over to explain to me the difference of the soaps she buys. Dawn is the best is what I got from that meeting. The rest of the store was full of people. It wasn't until I was at the check out that the lady explained to me the end of the world is coming tonight, tomorrow, and Monday. Oh right the 3 inches of snow and cold weather induced a crazy panic for all to shop right now!  So if the end of. The world comes it was nice knowing you all at least I'll have food and clean dishes.

What do you do?

What dou you do when it is 10 degrees before wind chill, and there is 6 inches of snow on the ground, and your dog can only stand for 1 minute before her paws start to freeze but needs 5-10 to do her business?

Why you tape your child's baby mittens to her paws of course! Good thing we had two sets.

 

Poor thing hated it at first at least was able to stand the temp. long enough to get what she need done. I can't wait until Monday when the high for the day BEFORE wind chill will be -10! When did we move to the North Pole?

I have a problem

Several years back B.J. and I needed to get our finances in order.  In other words we needed a budget and needed to stick to our budget.  In that process I became in love with bargin hunting.  In fact, the end of May beginning of June is my favorite time of year because it's garage sale time! I also spend a lot of time price shopping during the other 11 months so been I see a deal I know it and grab it.  However, here is where my problem comes it.  I sometimes get blindsided and forget just because it's a dollar doesn't mean I need 100 of them.  Biggest culprit is clothing for my child and toys for work.  I just realized how bad I was with buying clothes for Elijah when I was sorting though his old clothes and found I had over 20 long sleeve shirts for him. That means during the whole winter season (6 months) I would have only had to wash his shirts 9 times.  See problem.  New goal, don't do that again.

Good by Christmas

 It's that time of year again to put Christmas back in boxes and shove it back into the attic until November. With all of the sparkle and glitter goes all of the childhood excitement and joy. Some where in this process we opened a box that holds lack of sleep, headaches and crabbiness. Let me tell you I didn't invite that in but it is here. We have also come to the reilization that over the last few weeks behind the tree all of Elijah's toys were reproducing and now we don't have room for it all. This also is the best environment for crabs to join our festively day as we can't come to any sort of agreement as what should go to make way for the new crap I mean stuff.  Ahhh welcome 2014 I can't wait to see what you bring to us. Preferably less crabbiness, less crap, more fun, more family, and more friends.  Oh and more time!