Sunday dinner conversation

This was the conversation over Sunday dinner last night (Sunday dinner includes the Donaldsons):

B&C: We saw pictures of Jessica’s boyfriend today

A: Oh yeah?

C: He looks light Jack Black

D: No he doesn’t!

Me: Well they were more referring to his hair style in the pictures, I saw the photos I can see where they were coming from.

B: He is a GIANT! He could almost hit is head on our doorway.

Me (to Angel): He is like 6’4-6’5

O: He’s as tall as Abraham.

LONG PAUSE FROM EVERYONE!

Me: Abraham who (My immediate thought was religion figure …. No clue why I went that direction)?

O: Abraham Lincoln!

A: I knew who you meant (She gave him a knowing smile, it was so cute)

D: Is that with or without the hat?

O: (Looked at Donn inquisitively) I don’t know!?

I'm pathetic

Every other Sunday I cook for the next 2 weeks. I’ve been doing this for about 6-8 months and it works well for our family. I spend one full day (with lots of Donn’s help) cooking to have great home cooked meals for the next two weeks. Some are casseroles and are frozen, some are just chopped veggies and seared meats and sauces or broths that are combined into 1 bag then frozen until the day they get put into the crock pot. Whatever the meal is, it totally works for our family. There is no standing around the night of “what do you want for dinner?” We buy meat when it’s on sale and tailor the menu around what we have or what works for the budget that 2 week period. SUPER SYSTEM for our family.

All that said, this Sunday was a “cooking day”. We woke up and I told Owen that he was going to cook with us. He didn’t argue (yeah!) and we got started. He opened seasoning packets and measured out sauces. Then he did some stirring. We were on recipe 3 (out of 12) and I told him that for each recipe that he helped complete I would pay him an allowance. He asked how much and I told him I would tell him at the end of the day. I wanted to keep him motivated but if it wasn’t enough I didn’t want him to quit. I then walked over to Donn and whispered “YES, I’m paying him to hang out with me” I walked to the sink and said “Yeah, I’m pathetic.” Owen heard the ‘I’m pathetic’ comment and loudly said “NO YOU’RE NOT!” It made me very happy that he defended me.

About 30 minutes later a friends mom called and he was invited to have a playdate (second of the weekend – I’m bragging) so I let him off of kitchen duty. He had a great time on his play date and I loved getting to spend the time with him that I did.

Cost per meal:
Ingredients: $10.00 (approximately)
Labor: $1.00 (cost to have it prepped with Owen)
Time spent with family having home cooked meal each night: PRICELESS!

Hair Cut

So Donn gets mad that Brooklynn is a rag-a-muffin. Me, not so much. I was a total rag-a-muffin as a kid and rocked the sloppy look. Some days Brooklynn spends the time to put her hair in a pony tail but some days she halfway combs it and rolls out the door. DONN HATES THIS! She leaves without tangles but because she has a funky little curl in front on both sides she looks sloppy. I have let her keep her hair long because that is what she wanted, but Monday he said he wanted her to get a hair cut and she agreed so I CUT IT!!! YES I (ME) (SARAH) Cut her hair. I think I did a pretty good job. She lost about 9-10 inches.

iCarly

Donn: (calling me at work) "hey, I share a birthday with iCarly"

Me: "really that's cool"

Donn: "I heard it on Disney Radio on my to work this morning"

Me: "you shouldn't admit that you listen to Disney radio in the car by yourself"

I figured this was a better forum to blab that information. So next time he says he listens to the NFL channel in the morning.... Know it is really Disney Radio.

Homemade Cards

So Owen went to a birthday party today. And call me cheap but we rarely by cards we have the kids make them. Here is what Owen came up with. I laughed so hard!

Brooklynn is so Funny

This morning Brooklynn came into our room all proud of herself that she woke up to my alarm. Donn was still sleeping mad at the world because my alarm is so loud. Brooklynn offered to Donn:

"Do you want to trade rooms? You can put all your stuff in my room and I'll share a room with mommy"

Donn's response "negative".

Importance of friends

Per Owen: Having friends will prevent stress. Stress can lead to health problems. So having a friend can keep you healthy.

Art Fair

Last Night was the BTE Art Fair. This has always been one of my favorite school events and this year was no different. This year, like last, I played a different role, FACE PAINTER. I have lots of fun, mostly because I interact in some small way with about half of the BTE students. It is great because I get to see them all and say hi. I just love my girl scouts! My face just lights up when I see them. Angel paints faces with me. Yesterday was her first day at a new job so she was a trooper for doing it.

Brooklynn had lot of fun running around school talking to her friends and playing. Owen huddled in a corner with 2 friends playing a game (fine by me since he was with people!).

Here is my face painted, I thought my mustache would inspire others and it did!:

Here is Brooklynn’s art work:

I do not have a photo of Owen’s work. By the time I was done painting I could barely make it to the car I was so hungry.

"Fix Him"

I have a friend that continues to mention a “treatment” that they think I should try on Owen. They think it will “fix him”. It takes every ounce of composer I have not to, well, RIP THEIR FACE OFF. I think the first time it was mentioned I politely explained “there is nothing to fix” my job as his mom is to give him the tools to work with what he has (or find those that can) and I feel that I am doing that. I explained I do not feel that aspergers is a “disease” that needs to be cured.

It has been mentioned about 4 times since that first time. All with a hint of “it’s your job as his parent”. So much of me wants to unleash an arsenal of profanity. I haven’t yet (please, all be very proud, but also note the YET!)

*GIANT CAVEAT – This does not mean that I think I am above parenting advice or advice in general. BUT if it is to “CURE” something that I don’t think needs curing, keep that to yourself.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Grateful to other moms!

Brooklynn has a very full social schedule.  VERY full, we have several birthday parties each month and I am grateful that she has so many friends.  I would like to add that she has good taste in friends also, I have yet to worry about the kids she hangs out with.  She has a wide variety and they are all very well-mannered and friendly.   Owen on the other hand doesn’t have the social schedule that Brooklynn has.  I think it is partially by choice.  He prefers quiet conversation and doesn’t like to go outside (this crosses off 75% of most boys his age) and since he doesn’t usually initiate conversations he is held back a bit in the “making friends” department.  I remind him that it is QUALITY of FRIENDS not the QUANITY of FRIENDS.  He is smart enough to understand and so far this is good enough for him.  He values the friends he has and he’s good with it.   This past weekend Owen was invited to his first birthday party of 3rd grade (yep , his first, kind of sad, but I’m hoping that there are just less boy birthday parties – PLEASE DO NOT CORRECT ME, my gentle heart cannot take it).  Owen was invited to this same boys birthday last year (a sleepover and made it to about 2:30AM before I was called to come get him “he just wanted to come home, he didn’t feel good”.  This didn’t upset me, I was more worried that the parents were never going to let him cover over again).  So when we got the invitation again this year I WAS SO THANKFUL! And OWEN WAS SO EXCITED.  All week he talked about how it was going to be “Epic” and “How he was so excited”.  He gave serious consideration to the gift that he got him, it was very wonderful to watch him think of someone else.   Time came to go to the party.  I dropped him off and gave the mom my cell phone and home phone numbers just in case and thanked her for inviting him.  All night I checked my phone waiting for a call.  Hoping that he would either make the whole night (or call before I fell asleep).  NOPE! 2:30 I got the call, “Owen is ready to come home”.  The best part and what I am so thankful for, not even a hint of judgment in this mom’s voice.  No “it’s 2:30 and your son is keeping me awake” it was one mom talking to another mom with only caring in her voice and I was so so grateful, I’m sure a houseful of nine year old boys is exhausting and add a needy one to the mix can’t help!  When I got there, Owen bolted to the car, I collected his things and I thanked her for trying, and her response, “We’ll try again!”   If my arms weren’t loaded down with his backpack and sleeping bag I think I would have hugged her.   Thank you God for people like her!  

Do you have a disability?

Friday night we did our bi-weekly grocery shopping (just with Owen Brooklynn was chilling with the Donaldsons at movie night). We were about half way thru when Owen and Donn had to take a bathroom break. I could tell that donn racing to make it in time. Donn came back laughing because he said that Owen asked him why he took the short urinal and left him the tall one. Donn said he was rushing because he really had to go and just went for the first one he got to, Owens next question "what are you disabled or something?". He cracks me up!

Confidence

Over the past Two weeks the 3rd-5th grade has endured what is called MAP Testing. It is a grade level aptitude test (Missouri Assessment Program) that for Owen, and all other Missouri 3rd Graders, tests them on Communication Arts and Mathematics. Early in the school year Donn & I met with his education team to update his IEP and decide what if any modifications or allowances needed to be made for Owen to take this test. i.e. extra time, possibly allow him to type his work rather then write with a pencil, or someone to take his dictation. We ended with no modifications and rolled the dice, crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. I looked at it as learning experience, this is his first time taking the test and if ANY modifications were made his scores would be excluded from the school average. I had faith that Owen’s grade would help the average not hurt the average.

It is preached to parents “make sure your kids get a good night sleep, have a healthy breakfast, ‘BEST FOOT FORWARD’ type of stuff”. Each day during the testing cycle, I would pick Owen up and ask him how testing was and he would say “good” or “fine”. At the end of week two when it was all over he said “I don’t think I missed any”. No anxiety there…. I’m glad we decided for the no modification. Regardless of how he did, I’m proud of his confidence. The feeling of leaving a test and feeling good about it – THAT is a great feeling.

Picky Eaters

I cook 99% of the meals my family eats from scratch. No boxes. I plan the menu out at least a week in advance there is a good balance of lean proteins and veggies and just enough bacon to say I made it. There is no 'alternate' meal option, they know they are going to eat what I've made or go hungry (do not comment on the malnourished size of my children, they are meant to be skinny) anyway, at dinner last night Owen is making random commentary about how he likes all foods (as a comeback to Brooklynn's complaint about the onions in my cobb meatloaf) "everything except yogurt".

Me: why don't you like yogurt? Is it the texture?
Owen: no, yogurt is for females.
Me: what?
Owen: mostly females eat yogurt, not males.

What kind of twisted kid am I raising?

You Are A Monkey

Brooklynn has a sacral tumor at the base of her spine. She was born with it and they told us not to worry so we don't. The way I deal with things like this is to mock them (it's my way of coping - go ahead judge me). Since Brooklynn was old enough to remember we told her that she had a tail (yes, I am very cruel) Owen knows and says the same thing, we call her a monkey because monkeys have tails and apes don't, things like that.

Fast forward to tonight when we are telling the kids about an the plans for the cruise we may be taking. It will include a stop in Honduras and an excursion to visit monkeys. Brooklynn says she doesn't want to visit monkeys because she is afraid of them and Owen flatly says, "you shouldn't be afraid, you are one of them". Brooklynn was less then pleased when we laughed.

I don't know if Owen was joking or if he thinks she actually has a tail and is a monkey. If he was joking I am filled with pride that my Aspy is so quick witted and funny. If he really thinks it is a tail and she is part monkey I have failed as a parent and have some serious correcting to do... Shoot!

Never Ask A Question You Don't Know The Answer To

During dinner the conversation went like this:

Me: Owen, when I get old will you take care of me?

Owen: (really long pause) well?

Me: OWEN!

Owen: (another really long pause) If you call me first, and you reeeaallyy need it and you need food I'll give it to you.

....so if I was counting on Owen taking care of me in my retirement I need a stronger plan B.

Earn It Back

Over something ridiculous, Brooklynns favorite toys of the moment have been ‘put on restriction’ (the toy – her Littlest Pet Shop figurines). I was very upset with her so I probably gave her toys a harsher punishment then Brooklynn deserved but they are banished to a box in the basement for three weeks. It was that or the trash can so Brooklynn was just fine with restriction. We are 4 days into the incarceration and last night I asked Brooklynn to sort some laundry (at this point in the blog I wound completely understand if everyone pictured me napping all the time and my kids as slave laborer, it is true, they probably do more chores then most kids their age, but I had to and I think I am better for it, I have a strong work ethic and I am bound and determined to instill the same in my kids – I digress) and fold a load of kitchen towels and put them away and empty the dishwasher. There was only a small amount of “but, mmmoommm” involved and at the end of it she was allowed to select ONE pet to be set free. She was SO excited. I explained to her that her hard work was ‘earned’ this pets freedom. I saw her wheels turning, I think if we had a fence she would be painting it right now in an attempt to free them all.

So – the ‘something ridiculous’ that she did to land her pets in jail. Saturday morning she got down the donut holes and Owen asked her for one (this is a stray from his normal breakfast routine, and she darn well knew it) and she quickly shoved all FOUR of them in her mouth so he couldn’t have any. I lost my mind! ONE, he asked for ONE! Her justification for making a greedy piglet of herself “Four is the number that I eat for breakfast so I couldn’t share”.

One thing that I can say about both of my kids – neither of them like seeing the other one being punished. I think it was as hard on Owen to see me almost throw away the Littlest Pet Shops as it was for Brooklynn. She threw herself on the ground begging me not to do it, so restriction it was. Brooklynn would have done the same thing, and pleaded for leniency for Owen. Sweet kids, I hope the protection lasts a lifetime!

This Kiss Could Last Forever

So Owen and I were ‘flipping the laundry’ together (moving the clean dry clothes to a basket, wet clothes to the dryer and another load in to be washed – I needed to explain because I have no idea what the rest of the world calls it – at our house it’s ‘flipping the laundry’) and I asked him for a kiss. He planted a gentle kiss on my lips and held it there. He pulled away and said we could do this forever and went back to holding his gentle kiss. I smiled and he pulled away and said well probably just for 2 and half days because you die of dehydration after 3 days. I guess he thought kissing me for 2 and half days was safe then. I love him!

Blue Light

Yesterday was the start of Autism Awareness Month.

I need to take a moment and say that I am very very very (VERY) proud of my husband. He is very supportive of our son. I can honestly say I don’t think he has any disappointment in the fact that he has autism or that isn’t going to follow in his dad’s high school athlete footsteps. This acceptance and unconditional love, I think, is an essential part of the process and ‘therapy’ for child with any ‘disability’. With a parents acceptance of who you are, you are able to do so much more. Just think if you had your parents disapproval as an obstacle to overcome…

Donn is amazing with Owen (Owen is easy to love, he is a fantastic human being!)

“Blue Light” is the bulb in my porch light. Donn changed out the bulb on April 1st. I think technically we were supposed to do it on the 2nd, but if I had my way we would leave it out all year making it Autism Awareness at our house all the time. Shouting “clearly, we support a cause”. The kids haven’t noticed, but they will and I’m looking forward to it when they do. I think tonight will be the night, because Carys leaves thru the front door and she is an inquisitive kid. Good luck Angel, you will have questions on the way home. XoXoX.

The Sequel

FYI - Owen tends to go shirtless when he is at home. I don't know if I should attribute this to fabrics bothering him or not but regardless, he gets home from school on Friday and doesn't put one on until Monday morning unless we are going somewhere. The weekend uniform (since age 6) has been pj pants. He has recently had a growth spurt and when he got up from the dinner table I laughed and told Donn "we REALLY need to get him some new pants" Owen chimed in and said yeah can we get the sequel to these pants. LOVE HIM!

100 years of Girl Scouts

Today was the birthday bash celebration for girl scouts. It was a lot of fun, a little (a lot) over crowded. But I am proud to report that the 6 scouts that I took were impressively well behaved. All of them. I am a lucky leader.

Boone Trail Singers

BTE Sings!

Boone Trail

Boone Trail Singers Struggle

Boone Trail Singers

THE BEST PRINCIPAL

I LOVE MR. SCHULTE! I REPEAT I LOVE MR. SCHULTE!

Tonight was the performance of the Boone Trail Singers and I was so excited.  Owen has performed one other time with the BT Singers, at Boone Trail Days, and he did really well.  His only downfall that day was that he sat down, but overall it was a BIG WIN. 

Today he walked across the stage and looked out and SHEER PANIC washed over him.  It was so sad to see it.  I recorded it, because I am that mom and it was my plan to record it anyway. 

Heres how it went down, all the kids walked on stage (there is about 30 or so) and Owen was about in the middle.  I looked down for 1 second and looked back and he was gone.  Donn and Mamaw and Papaw and Brooklynn and I exchanged looks and searched the group seeing where he would pop up - cue the principal arriving on scene gently guiding Owen giving him a little pep talk and convincing him to stand on the steps.  At this point I didn't yet know what the problem was.  Then the first song came and I saw the pleading begin.  He was starring at me silently PLEADING that he "couldn't do it".  Song #2 was no better, the pleading continued and it seemed cruel to make him stand there.  Donn and I headed toward the back of the stage.  The principal was already there with him and he was encouraging him to "just stand in the back, no one would see him and he could still do it".  Donn and I sat on the floor in the back and watched from the back and smiled our support.  Thsi is where, in his shirt and tie, the principal sat on the floor and held Owen's hand and gave him the support he needed.

I don't know another person that would have shown Owen that kind of love and support and patience and kindness.

Mr. Schulte is a wonderful person and a wonderful principal.

The Best Gift

This morning I work up more than an hour before my alarm clock.  Let me start by protesting this experience.  This is a huge punishment on most days.  I need as much sleep as possible, I don’t sleep well on a normal basis so to take any of the little bit I get away is a cruel joke.  This morning I decided to treat myself.  I took my cell phone (which is my alarm clock) into Brooklynn’s room and crawled into bed with her.  Last night she wanted to lay with me and I didn’t so good so I sent her away.  I felt a little guilty but she kicks and spins and just generally hard to sleep with.  BUT in the early morning when she is sleeping her soundest she sleeps like a rock.  I crawled into her bad and she rolled over and said “You’re the best mom ever, I love you” (THAT WAS THE BEST GIFT, GREATEST WAY I COULD HAVE STARTED MY DAY)  I actually was able to grab a few more winks sharing her twin bed cuddling up with her.  Time is short, I’m sure there will be a time when she will send me away, I’m going to grab my moments now while I can.

Play Date

I’m impressed with my kids taste in friends.  (At this time I am going to say a little prayer that this continues their entire life, but please Lord, PLEASE LORD! Let it continue thru the difficult teen years and early twenties)  Anyway, This photo is Brooklynn chilling on the deck with a newer friend from Girl Scouts.  She lives in the neighborhood and is just a really SWEET girl.  My favorite part of this play date was their relaxed “we are actually grownups” style.

Do you love me Yes or No

Since Carys started coming to our house after school she and Owen have become very good friends and as a result Brooklynn has become a bit jealous.  She gives Carys a hard time about ‘loving’ Owen and Owen a hard time about ‘loving’ Carys.  This is all fine and well as far as I’m concerned.  Owen thinks she is wonderful and has flatly told her “you are my second best friend”. Gotta love the specifics, I have ranked you and you are number 2.  But it wasn’t meant as hurtful and Carys, thankfully knows Owen and knows him well enough to recognize this as the genuine compliment that it was.

Yesterday Carys decided that she needed to get the bottom of the teasing that Brooklynn was sending her way and clear up any mixed messages.  She pulled Owen aside and addressed the issue with a note.  See note below:

I love that we as moms are tracking this relationship from the beginning.  One day, if they end up together they will either love that we have done this or resent that we were so mettlesome.  Oh well, you have to give them something to talk to their therapist about, right?

Little Scientists

At Girl Scouts this week we were “Home Scientists”.  It was fun to watch the girls get excited about the different experiments (okay, it was fun for me to be so excited about the different experiments).  We are fortunate to have a group of moms with a wide variety of backgrounds and one of the moms is a biologist (I am super impressed by this because science was never a strong subject for me, but one I always liked) and she brought in coats and gloves and safety glasses for all the girls, can you say EXCITING!

Temple Grandin

I attended an Asperger’s/Autism lecture a few weeks ago held at Lindenwood University and I was moved to tears.  Temple Grandin was inspiring and insightful.  I was given a needed boost that we are moving in the right direction with Owen and my biggest question “How and When should I tell Owen about his Asperger’s?” was answered.

Temple said (and this is super paraphrasing, so please Temple, do not sue me) “I hate it when 12 years come up to me and tell me about their autism or Asperger’s, I want to hear about their science projects! AND they better have pictures of it on their IPODS!”  Everyone clapped at this.  I took it as, who cares when as long as when you do they know this is NOT who they are it is just a part of who they are, it DOES NOT DEFINE THEM.  I’m not closer to deciding how or when I will tell Owen but I have less of a need to tell him.  I am in no hurry.  I know what dies define him is his overall GREATNESS.

Not Too Hot

Since Brooklynn wastes the shampoo it has forced us to put the shampoo on the high ledge in the shower.  It’s a bummer because even though the kids are old enough to clean themselves we are still forced to go in and give them shampoo.  It isn’t all bad because a good mom hair wash is needed every couple of times.  Let’s be honest, a kid just doesn’t do as good of a job.  The other day Owens shower lasted all of 8 seconds and I barely made it into the bathroom to get the shampoo.  He had the water off and I hustled him back in to his “mmmoooommmm” complaining.  I turned on the water and he instantly started in with the “not so hot”… Really Owen, do you think I’m going to singe your skin, my entire arm is in the water.  I tell him “Owen, it isn’t that hot” He responded with, “Hot water will raise my blood pressure”

WHAT!?

Okay, I had to go there, “Owen, where did you read that?”

Owen “I learned it on Wii Fit, it asked me if I wanted health tips, I said yes”  The best part, he hasn’t played Wii Fit in 12 months.  I wonder how many luke warm or down right cold showers this kid has taken to avoid high blood pressure?

The Shower Death Trap

Brooklynn is a shampoo waster! She drizzles it on the shower floor and splashes in it creating this bubble haven that she plays in.  She fills the shower cup with shampoo and water and pours it out and plays making even more bubbles.  She thinks this is just the best time ever.  I hate the wasting sure, but even worse then that the soapy floor becomes a DEATH TRAP for the next person to step into the shower.  As the first person up in the morning I now have to step into the shower on high alert ready to brace myself for what might happen! DANG IT!  We have taken steps to correct this but seriously one slip and you can never relax in the haven that is a hot shower again.  SO SO SAD!

Moves Like Jagger

We went to an 80’s Girl Scout dance and Brooklynn BUSTED out some amazing moves. It was a great time.

A Hero Named Jesus

I do what I can to own my short comings, I promise.  I fail, on a regular basis, to look thru my children’s backpacks.  I think this is for two reasons.
1.       They are gross, especially Brooklynn’s.  She uses it as a catch all and thing or piece of paper that makes it to the bottom of the bag ends up covered in food crumbs (YUCK)
2.       They are both really good about doing their homework, so if it’s important to go back they are on top of it.
The down side, I sometimes miss the great stuff that they bring.  Well I don’t miss it, it’s just delayed.

I digress… Over spring break I decided to PURGE the beasts that are the backpacks and emptied them (After I emptied Brooklynn’s I actually had to bring the vacuum cleaner out and VACUUM out the bottom of the backpack, she has major issues). I looked at every piece of paper. I gave Owen the riot act for every paper that he didn’t get 100% on and gave Brooklynn a high five for anything that was nearing a C. They are different students and should be treated differently. Anyway, I was awe struck when I found this in Owen’s stack of papers:


The best part, it had clearly been hanging on the wall of his class room or hallway.  I was pretty proud of his outlook and insight.  Owen, he’s my Hero too.

Father Daughter Dance

This is the THIRD year that I have asked Donn to take Brooklynn to the Girl Scout Father Daughter Dance.  To me it is a no brainer.  If there was a mother-son event, I would be all over it.  Owen would have to beg me not to drag him there.  This year I finally convinced him.  I was super pumped.  A few days before the event I suggested he take her to dinner and make a date night, he declined, just not feeling the greatness that is “the Father-Daughter Dance”.  The day of the dance comes and he changes his mind, they are going to go to dinner.  Brooklynn has a new dress (a Christmas present from Mamaw) and shiny black shoes.  I paint her nails and curl her hair – it is important to her that I do her hair with the same number of curls that I had when I married Daddy – “that’s how he likes hair mom”.  She looked so pretty!  Donn got her a corsage that matched her dress perfectly.

The absolute BEST part of the night, hands down, no question… Donn said when they got home “I regret not taking her the last two years, we had a great time, we danced all night”.  I wasn’t glad in the “I told you so” kind of way, I was glad in the IT WAS THAT GREAT – kind of way… A memory was definitely made.  The second best part when Owen & I got home (we decided to go on a date too, we went to dinner to Angel and Carys) Donn and Brooklynn were cuddled up on the couch together.  AWESOME!

Screw You!

The entire family has started playing Words With Friends (scrabble-like game via the internet) and it has been a great way to keep us all connected.  Anyway, Owen loves it because this is the only avenue that he has to TEXT! And we all quickly realized that he is a trash talker.  He plays a word, he sends you a text “take that”.  Stuff like that.  About a month ago Kaelyn called Donn really upset.  She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or if she should cry.  Owen played a word and then texted her “Screw You”.  She thought for sure Owen’s account had been hacked because there was no possible way Owen would use such language ever, but especially toward his big sister, whom he adores.

We walk into his room and ask him, "did you just text your sister, ‘Screw You’?”

Owen: “Yes”

I think at this point Donn had to walk out of the room because he could not control his hysterical laughter, yes, looking back it was so shocking it was funny.  But COME ON, he’s impressionable, we had to go in guns blazing,

Me: “Do you know what that means?”

Owen: “No”

Me: “It means you don’t like them, you want them to go away and you think they are jerk, it is a BAD word”

Owen: “oh, then screw it”

Me: “NO! that is a bad word too! The only time you should ever use the word SCREW is when you are talking about TOOLS!”

Owen: “Okay”

There was no way I was going to explain anymore definitions of screw to my 9 year old.

Fast forward about 5-10 days.  Owen explains over dinner that he is nervous about the speech that he will be giving the following day.  I am instantly irritated that over DINNER I am finding out about a speech and we are now going to have to scramble to prepare for it.  I search in his stack of papers and when I find if comment (something) and Owen responds with “atleast we’re not screwed”.  I almost lose my mind!  Dad is quick to jump into what he sees is going to because WWIII at our house and he says “you don’t realize he just repeated you do you?”

Me: Oh.

Well, don’t I feel small.

Carys!

 I need to introduce Carys as she will surely be a recurring character in this blog. As Brooklynn’s long time BFF and daily visitor to the Longwell house most stories and events include her. I feel like she is another daughter and her mom, Angel, has become one of my closest friends. When a few days go by and I don’t see one or both of them I get lonely and so do my kids. Both girls fit into my family just perfectly, Donn harassed Carys like she is his and Angel like the sister he never had. We cook together, craft together, visit and support each other. Having this close friendship fills me with gratefulness. As a bonus, her family is wonderful to Brooklynn, her first time fishing was with them at their family farm. How great is that!

Play Outside... Who is this kid?

Anyone that knows Owen, even a little bit knows he is the definition of an "inside kid".  Sure, his love of electronics lends itself to the indoors but add in his allergies to all things that grow and not a huge passion for playing sports (or with others), I practically have to pay him to play outside [NORMALLY].

Out of the blue yesterday Owen walks out of his room and says "I'm going to play outside, is that okay?" Once I regained my composure I sent him outside and watched him from the window.  He took Brooklynn with him and stood outside for a second or two.  Then he came back in and asked if he could invite our neighbor outside.  2 minor miracles in one day. 

He played outside for about 30 minutes and then came back in. Then about 2 hours later he went back out.  Then again after dinner.  THREE trips outside.  On the third trip I went out with him and we played catch and he hit the whiffle ball with a bat.  It was praise worthy.

Welcome Back to Blogging

So I haven't blogged in more than a year.  I realize that I can't realistically catch you up on months and months and months of the goings on in my family, so I will pick up with the now and hope that best friend rules apply (you never have to explain why its been so long when you call a best friend after a hiatus).