Politics

I have so many opinions on the state of this country. Unfortunately, I don't think what is happening now is going to help. UGH I am not enamored by any one candidate but Hilary is by far my top right now. I don't necessarily disagree with Obama but I feel like he is just not ready. I felt the same about Edwards. I also do not think McCain will lose to him. And the sad part of the whole McCain thing, I used to really admire him. I was, 2 years ago, ready to go for McCain. Then he decided to become Bush's puppet and I cannot follow someone that feels the current administration is doing a good job. We do need change. I will certainly vote for Obama if he is the candidate but I am going to be very worried because I don't know that he can beat McCain. I wish I could give Hilary some pointers too. Like when you are talking to people, look at them. Don't look down, or have that glazed over up in the air look. And the smirks get old. It comes off as smug and although sometimes it is warranted, most people do not like to see someone with that look. She could also do well NOT to follow the polls, as in *what people want to hear right now* and just speak from the heart on the issues. She has so many really good points, make them, without being trite and glib! OK I will get off my bandwagon now...

DON'T BOTHER SLAMMING ME FOR WHAT IS MY OPINION...I HAVE THAT RIGHT...I WILL IGNORE YOU (see post below, Jay will help me LOL)

Morons

Why in the world would anyone ask for pictures of people that are NOT in their life? I am so dumbfounded by the gall. I would NEVER go to anyone that I do not know and ask for their pictures. It is absolutely amazing to me. I have a tendency to want to scream when someone tries bullshit like this but my ever so calm hubby holds me in check. Thank GAWD for Jay. What an IDIOT! OK I feel better now LOL.

Styles of speaking

So in my house Keara and Padraig are the same type of conversationalists. They can recite verbatim every last word their teachers have uttered. Kai is not. The boy will absolutely drive you nuts telling about his day. He will start with one part and progressively wind through the entire day in some convoluted mashed together mess. I cannot EVER understand ANY one area of his day. I will stop him and say "Uh, Kai explain that!" And the answer is always "I just did!" He *gets* it but the rest of us are clueless. So yesterday when he says "...and I had to go into the office with ______ because the scissors were right here (pointing to his eye), and Mrs. ____ said did he do it or did he." I just kinda started to freak because my dearest Kai is sometimes a little mischievous. But I assumed they would call me if he did anything TOO awful. So I never fully understood the WHOLE story but I guess at least this time my boy was NOT to blame. LOL

.....BUT
Last week Kai did start a small fire. He is going to the fire department to have a talk about fire safety and such. Seriously, if there is a line to cross, Kai will do it. He is ALWAYS looking for the next crazy stunt or some reason to do something wrong! UGH

Sick again!!!

I am seriously considering going for the world records in number of times a person can be sick in a row. I swear I cannot get healthy. So I think it's the flu but I don't know. Maybe bronchitis...UGH. I slept in the recliner so I could keep my head up and not wake with the dreaded tightness in my chest. It worked pretty well but the kids decided that today, because you know it's Saturday, they would wake up at 6am and scream. I am seriously going to go insane today. I just want to feel better. So there...my sob story!

Keara doing Lion King

Do you like the feedjit thing or...

does it feel like a hall monitor...ya know you are not doing anything wrong but someone is always hovering, watching your every move. I will remove it if it bothers anyone. If I have readers because sometimes I feel like this is a journal of sorts and I may (not intentional) irritate people that do read. LOL I just started thinking that I am not sure it's good on there...I don't care either way, I just don't want to lose the one reader I do have BAHAAAABAA. (and yes that is exactly what I sound like when I laugh, so don't question it)

Need to get this on video

Padraig was outside playing...

He found a stick and is *fishing* with it. He throws it out and gently reels it back in. Sometimes he gets a snag, sometimes it's a HUGE fish that ultimately *gets away* or sometimes he actually catches the prized fish. He takes it off the line and decides *hmmm should I keep it or throw it back*. It is the most hilarious thing you have ever seen. And he does it for about an hour. Imusttapethatforalltoseesoon!

The things we can do

...what kinds of things do we take for granted.

Keara struggles with the everyday tasks that seem so mundane for most of us. She cannot yet bath, brush teeth/hair or zip up ALL by herself. Now we are getting there but these are the things that most of us take for granted. I know even with Kai, I tend to just expect him to do these things. He can and it isn't a chore. Keara is trying and one day it will happen but it doesn't consistently yet. It is hard for her to write because she isn't thinking about just what to write but also how to form the letters. Last night we did some cursive in shaving cream and the joy on her face as she accomplished each letter was so wonderful. But she struggles. Math is another area. She can do really complex problems but the little 2-1 still requires 30 seconds of thinking. She also has a weird aversion to the number six. I don't know. I just know that everything I do so easily I now think, wow if I actually had to THINK my way through that process, it would royally SUCK. Like as I am here typing, I am not thinking of how to spell the words, or how to type them, I am just spitting it out. I am thinking more of what I am saying than how I am saying it, does that make sense? It isn't difficult to do that, but for Keara it is pure torture. Just makes me sad.

Her equine therapy started. They just did some getting to know ya type things and grooming. But Keara loved it. I on the other hand, might be in trouble. I will find out next week. I think I may have an allergy, which would really bite. I don't know for sure because I also got what I think is the flu that day. BTW I didn't have the flu a week and a half ago like I thought, this is definitely worse! It really is nasty! Oh and on another front (I'm starting to think I have ADHD LOL) Keara has decided to do her own little fundraiser for her horse farm. She wants to help them. I was so proud of her, to come up with it. Now we have to think of what we can do to raise the money. Any ideas for her??

Off to take more medicine and get the kids from school.

Out of a Rage came something FANTASTIC

Keara had her normal morning rage this am. Of course I am usually calm and I was for about 20 minutes of it. She was kicking and screaming but I am sick and I finally snapped. So I yelled for maybe a minute too. Well we finally turned it around and as I was sitting back crying (because yes, I'm a baby) she was over by herself, tying her shoe. This is a first. I know she is nine but we have tried for years and we haven't mastered it. She would get so frustrated and sad. Today she did it like she had been for years. This is how Keara does motor skills. One day NOTHING, the next not only can she do it but it looks like she has became a pro. I don't understand but I was thrilled. (And yes I cried again!)

Mom - the Partygirl

We had a meeting with Keara's teacher yesterday. All is well! Anyhoo, her teacher says "oh yeah, I heard ALL about the party. Keara was pretty concerned. She said 'I didn't know my mama was a party girl!' " To which I stammered and really couldn't respond. GAH! So I was talking to my mom and she says "Keara was probably wondering about her Nan too!" I asked Keara and Keara said "No, Nan parties ALL the time!" BAHAHA
So I guess I am a PARTY GIRL.

It is over, now I can rest.....aaahhhh

So the big party is over! It was hectic. We drove up on Friday night. Saturday, I went to get things set up, came back to my parents' house and had 10 freaking minutes to get ready. So I was a little frazzled. But once we got there, it was FUN! OK if you must know...Pepe and I became fast friends. I was also pretty chummy with a certain Pinot Grigio and some fabulous vanilla brandy. It should have been a lethal combo but I was the MAN! I did not see the return of any of my friends. Tucked safely in my belly, I only felt a slight quiver the next day. Let's just say that driving in the aftermath was NOT such a great plan. Especially when the drive is 6 hours LONG! But I survived. We danced and sang and plain ole ripped up the evening. It ended at 2am. My back and body knows that I danced HARD. I am especially aware of the one, er maybe five times I slammed into things while trying to maneuver to and fro. My parents had a blast too.

Now Keara was another story altogether. UGH EVERY time we go anywhere, we have to have that night to adjust because GAWD we changed the routine. So we did the first night ritual and I thought OK it's over. NAH Poor Jay who became the DD because his lovely wife was PLASTERED and his inlaws were PLASTERED...he had to talk Keara through a rage until 3am. But....HE DID IT! I am so excited that he was so calm and able to do it. It was good because I COULD NOT DO IT.

Tomorrow, Keara starts her equine therapy. I am so beyond thrilled. I will report later.

More Crafts

Crafting He!!

So this weekend has been crafting from hell weekend! The kids needed to do their V-day cards and of course they didn't have HM ones (or they sold out the places I looked). Anyhoo, Keara wanted them, so being the overly obsessive, have to please kinda mother that I am, she was gonna get the damn HM cards! It was a little more involved than I had hoped but the good news is they are DONE! (Top)

The boys did theirs and Kai also made a box for collecting them at school. But my crafting did not end there. Keara also has this big project to do. It's about Thomas Edison. They had a bunch of written work but then they had to dress a mannequin too. So we did that today as well. Up above...(had to move it to the top so you could see it bigger)

But that is not the end to my craftiness...oh no I must continue because I am also still to get done

• a plaque that I have already painted but need to do stenciling and then add the picture I may or may not decoupage or just clear coat



• party favors for my parent's anniversary party next weekend



• picture boards for party



• pictures in frames for party



• slide show that I somehow said "oh yeah, totally not a big deal, I'll do it"



• rice crispy (and I do not know how to spell that) cards for V-day

And somehow during all that, I need to pack and OH YEAH...STOP FEELING LIKE A BUS RAN OVER ME! I think I may have the freaking flu in the midst of all this!! So that is my vent post for the day!!

Do we have to?

I am so sick of parties in the classrooms. UGH Every occasion from Chinese New Year to V Day to Ground Hog Day, there is a damn party. I don't mind every once in a while but why EVERY frickin' one? It is too much. There is my rant for today. Maybe I should do that, have a daily rant! What do ya think??

Bedtimes

UGH, My kids go to bed at 7. Yes I know that is early, but they have to get up at 6. They NEVER get up easily, there is always the whines "I want to stay in bed, I'm tired, why do I have to get up?" So I keep it at 7, at least until they can show me they are ready for a later time. Keara might move up but not the boys yet. Anyway, Keara came home really mad at me the other day. She says "Mrs. ____ said that an appropriate time frame for 3rd graders to go to bed is between 8 and 9:30. Mama, you are wrong and I am not doing what is appropriate for my age!" UMMM, That really pisses me off! I KNOW my kids and I do not think it is APPROPRIATE to tell kids at school when a bedtime should be. I know she was probably trying to reach those kids that stay up to all hours but the one she affected was mine! I really wish they wouldn't do shit like that. This isn't the first time they have done it either. So now I am thinking about saying something to them because I just don't agree. Of course me being me, I probably won't say a word. But I have had to undo all the damage ALL weekend. This morning, I was fortunate to have Keara do as she always does, not want to get up, and I said "see that is with going to bed at 7, can you imagine if it was later?" She actually agreed finally!

We are no longer accepting members

OK so last night I decided, we are no longer accepting members into OCD club. I was/am sick so my mood was far from happy. You see the routine that we must go through every evening is excessive. Keara has to have the comforter under her, covers pulled to a certain height, lights just so, water, pillows aligned and stuffed toys in their proper place. (I'm sure there is more cause she keeps adding to the routine.) I have put my foot down on more than one occasion which leads to a 20-30 minute meltdown, which in turn leads to Jay melting down and then I cry! I know I am a baby. Anyhow, I have a limit and last night they reached it. Normally I am the peacekeeper, last night I was the dictator. So first before bedtime, they needed to clean up the playroom, it was a disaster. I asked and warned. They were just being shits. So, I started erasing TV shows (tivo). I erased all but like three. They were so unhappy, but guess what happened? They cleaned the friggin room. When bedtime rolled around, they had become shits again, as is the case almost every night. (oh and I have to go off on that subject next...bedtime) Anyway, Kai decided that he needed to be like Keara. Ok this has been coming on for awhile but I just haven't bothered to fight it, I should have but sometimes I just cant kwim? Last night I decided to just blow. UGH I hate it when I do that. I said to everyone "ok from now on there are no routines, no lined up stuffed animals, no checking lights, no cover drama and no fussing about it. I live with a bunch of freaking zealots, and I am going loony!" The kids just kinda looked at me. I think I did get the point across at least to Kai (he reminded me this morning "hey mom don't forget to fix it so my comforter goes on top not under me!" ) Keara just kinda said "I guess I can do change, like that time when...." And that is when my mind went off to another place because Keara tells stories from when she was 2 like they were yesterday. After I fixed the kids, I went into the kitchen and I touched the counter. I rubbed it with my unsanitary, totally germ filled hands and told Jay to "Get OVER it!" He stood behind me with a bleach bottle and towel! It didn't work for him, he still put EVERY GD piece of pepperoni on the pizza in a pattern, x amount of centimeters apart. Oh well, I can't save everyone! But I will keep Kai from becoming one of the members!

Superbowl

OK so I am not a Giants fan but HELL YEAH! I so do not like the Patriots. I have been waiting for their first loss ALL damn year! It was one of the best Superbowls that I can remember. I was drugged for half the game but you know I actually think that made it better. LOL I wasn't super impressed with the commercials. I did like the Bud Light fire one and the E-Trade baby. The rest could come or go. I think there should definitely be a rule about those commercials though. I think they should mandate funny. I mean WTF with some of them?? Plus for those of us that are not so, um er, smart, they should use common references, not obsolete ones. I had to ask Jay like 5 times, UH WHAT??? Of course he knew! That shit! Anyway, pretty enjoyable game though. I was impressed and I actually kinda liked Eli yesterday, SHHH do not tell! I am SAD that football is over. BOOHOO!

My ALLTIME FAVORITE commercial

The Milestones

Last night Keara and I saw the Hannah Montana Movie. I was concerned because Keara has never been able to handle movies. They usually are too loud, too crowded, to warm, too something. Keara has needed to leave in the middle of movies and we have just not made seeing them a priority. She is often scared even watching shows like The Backyardigans. So this was also a test of sorts. She has wanted to go to a concert now for quite some time but because I am not willing to leave in the middle of a concert (I know I'm mean) she needs to be able to handle it. And for those of you that do not know what handle means, let me try to explain. (Although to truly understand you would need to witness this first hand. Trust me until you do, it is unreal. Her teachers that have not seen it, say things like "I cannot imagine" or "she is just so sweet". Those that have seen it, say things like "Oh yeah, she definitely LOST it" or " I wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't seen it." I just laugh because well I LIVE it daily. ) Handle simply means to control her worst impulses at least while we are in the moment. This could be anger, like a chair being thrown across a room, or it could be the shrill that can deafen you, or it could be the urge to *grind* as in certain private areas, or it could mean hiding under a table. There are many possibilities but none are appealing. Anywhoosen, back to last night. I watched her watch the movie, because it was like watching her take her first steps or eat ice cream for the first time. She was dancing and singing and her little tic was on overdrive (again, something you have to witness first hand...she has a spazzy little tic with her hands that is truly engaging to watch.) She was NOT bothered by the noise, or the crowds or the other two dozen sensory issues that normally make her batty. She just enjoyed the show. Again, to some this doesn't seem like much but for me it is so awesome. A couple of months back we had a Family Fun Night. Keara has never done well with these. This one was for the Kindy and PreK. So as you can imagine the activities are geared for them. Well we bought the kids each 10 tickets (went a really long way). You could go on rides or get food or play games. Keara decided to go in the air jump room thingy (no idea what they are called). She has NEVER been able to last the entire time in there...not only did she last but she enjoyed it. I was the mom on the side CRYING! You see, if you have never, in 9 years, seen your little girl do something fun without worry and just being a kid, you cannot understand how wonderful it feels. Last night was another one of those moments. I just don't get them very often and it is so great. She is hitting some milestones...now if they would come more often! But I will cherish every little bit I can.