Burned

Another busy Saturday in the books.

A t-ball game, a couple hours at the water park, and then another baseball game.  I am one tired mama.

Tonight, though, I have the "sunburn chills", on top of my normal exhaustion.  I am rather notorious for haphazardly spraying myself with sunblock (although you can bet every square inch of the kids is appropriately coated), and the end result is always funky, sunburned stripes.

I look ridiculous.

Bright pale, with random splotches of beet red.  Faaaantastic.

Tomorrow, I shall invest in sunblock lotion and cross my fingers that I do a better job the next time I venture out in the sun, which may be a while.  I do not like the sun anyway (#palegirlproblem?), and getting burned is so awful for your skin, so perhaps I would be better off hibernating.  Well, ok, maybe hibernation isn't the answer, but long sleeves, floppy hat, and giant sunglasses will definitely be in order.

Here's to a shady Sunday, at the very least.

Lizard

Friday night. Dance rehearsals. Finally, dinner time. 

We decided to head to the Winking Lizard, or as my husband calls it, "the Lizard". 

When we walked in to meet Mark and Andrew, who went ahead of the rest of us to get a table, Al immediately launched into a meltdown. It's late; he's tired and hungry. When we made it to the table, I noticed the people at the adjacent table snickering and whispering as they steal glances at my kid. 

Not. Cool. 

Although I have no proof that they were truly talking about Al, I may have shot a look over at them to let them know I was watching. I do that. Knee jerk reaction, I guess. 

They saw the look, so I thought we were set. I then noticed the table of foul mouthed guys sitting behind us. 

I don't so much mind the constant stream of f-words, but when one of them started to drop the r-word, I must have had an obvious reaction. 

"That guy is so retar...stupid!" 

Lucky save. I am in no mood to let that one go. Right now they are slinging chauvinistic comments and I can feel my ears steaming. Ugh. 

Hopefully the food is good tonight. I've lost patience with everything else. 

Bubbles

So, this happened today:

Seriously, school hasn't even been out a full week yet, and I'm already dealing with this crap.

Transitions are just the worst.  Any parent of a child with special needs will wholeheartedly agree with that, and I suspect that a lot of other parents would concur.  A change in the schedule brings about an array of difficult behaviors.  It just takes one of the kids to start a chain reaction; when one acts out, they all jump on the Let's-Make-Mom's-Head-Explode bandwagon.  By the time that we get used to summer, and these behaviors level out, it will be August and time to go back to school.  And that will bring another transition. Fun!

After today, I hope the time quickly passes.

Don't be a hater.  Don't remind me of how many wonderful memories can be made over a summer break.  I get that; not every moment of our break will be like today.  I'll enjoy those precious moments just as any other mom would, but until you spend a day with my monkeys (when they behave as they do for me, not as they do for everyone else!), keep your fluffy, sparkly, rainbow-laced comments to yourself.

There may be a ban on bubbles around here for awhile, but I'm certain they'll find some other mischief before the summer ends.

#WhyWeBuddyWalk

The foundation for which I work is hosting a video contest, #WhyWeBuddyWalk, to illustrate the reasons families like mine are inspired to participate in Buddy Walks across the country.

I never realized how difficult film making can be!  There is definitely a reason I am a writer.  I had ten years' worth of Buddy Walk photos, plus three video clips, to sort through to create a 30 second submission for the contest.  Yikes!  Although two friends (and great Team Alex supporters!) contributed video clips for our video, we decided to only use a clip filmed in my backyard in order to stay within the 30 second parameter of the video-maker-thingy.  (See what I mean?  Totally a writer.)

Anyway, this can only begin to illustrate #WhyWeBuddyWalk, but I hope you'll enjoy our video.



Team Alex - #WhyWeBuddyWalk

To donate to Team Alex and the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk, please visit our team page here.

$10 Tuesday

Team Alex, the Buddy Walk team honoring my son, will walk in our 11th Buddy Walk this September. Eleven?!?  Doesn't seem possible, yet here I am, working on my 11th campaign to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio.  Our team's goal this year is to raise $7500, none of which is specifically earmarked for Alex; rather, all of the funds raised will benefit our entire Down syndrome community, providing valuable programming for individuals with Ds and their families.

Last year we started proclaiming the third day of the week as $10 Tuesday.  This is a fun and simple way to not only raise money for our team, but also raise awareness for the event and our mission.  So, each Tuesday, you'll see me post to Facebook and Twitter an announcement to remind everyone to visit our Team Alex page to donate $10.

Of course, the option to donate more than $10 is always there, and we hope that you'll even register to walk with us on 9/21 to show your support for Alex and his peers.  The event is fantastic; what could be better than a big celebration of inclusion and accomplishments?

We also hope that when you see these posts signaling the arrival of another $10 Tuesday, you will be moved to share the posts and help us raise even more awareness of the event (and, ok, raise more money).  It's so easy to share a Facebook post or retweet a statement on Twitter, and those simple acts can really do so much.

So here we go, with another $10 Tuesday!  Click here to make your donation or join our team.  On Facebook?  Please click here to "like" our Team Alex page so you can stay up to date with all of our fundraising efforts.  On Twitter?  Follow me here to stay connected.

Thank you for reading today's post (psst...I'm on a journey to blog every day for a year; I haven't missed a day yet in 2014!), and I hope that if you are moved to support Team Alex and DSACO you will click through the links to learn more.  If you are interested in getting involved with our fundraising efforts, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Go Team Alex!!

Memorial Day

Beautiful weather. Good food. Great friends. Quiet reflection and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families. 

All of these things made for a lovely Memorial Day.  

Close One!

For the first time since 1/1/14, I almost forgot to post. 

We had another busy day, and Andrew is refusing to go to bed, so I would guess that blogging is just not high on my mental to-do list. 

I'll get my thoughts organized and (hopefully!) come back with a substantial post soon. 

First Saturday of Summer

Busy day!  Baseball, dance, ice cream, shopping.  Very tired.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Last Day of School

What a day. 

As of 1:30pm today, all three kids began their summer break. Once again, I amazed myself by squeezing in a whole day of errands into two hours. 

I popped into the kids' school to spend a bit of time at their class parties, then we took off to check off some items on my To-Do list. Mission accomplished. 

I am desperate to get my house in order this weekend, so we can get on a summertime chore schedule and not waste all kinds of time playing catch up with housework. It will take a small miracle to get this place in shape, so wish me luck there. 

5K

I'm not a runner. I don't enjoy running. What possessed me to register for the Down Syndrome 5K?  No idea. 

But, after thinking about it, I realized that I ask Alex to do things that are difficult for him all the time. He often doesn't get a choice; he has to try. If I make him do all these things and expect that he'll try, then I should be open to doing the same. 

Plus, participating in an event which raises money for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio is always appealing. 

Tonight's event was fun, and I'll plan to return next year. Maybe I'll even train for it. 

We'll see how much pain I'm in tomorrow before I start making grand plans, though.  

Alex Strikes Again

Being the last week of school, I've been busy gathering gifts for all the teachers, aides, and support staff that help my kids at their schools.  Andrew's last day of preschool was today, so I had him sign the cards for his teachers last night.  Alex threw a fit, because he wanted to sign the cards, too.  I tried to explain to him that he would sign the cards for his teachers, but not Andrew's.  He was not a happy camper.  Andrew signed his name, I put the cards away, and we moved on.

At least, I thought we did.

When I went to get the cards this morning, I found this:

There's an extra name on this card!

Alex, my ever determined little stinker, apparently waited until I was busy with something else last night and then went back and added his name to Andrew's cards.  You've got to give him credit for not giving up, I suppose.

I'm sure that Andrew's teachers got a kick out of seeing Al's signature on their cards, as they were his teachers several years ago.  What a long way he's come since those days!

Off Schedule

It's amazing to me how one small change in my schedule can confuse me to the point where I don't even know what day it is.

I took yesterday off work so I could attend Pioneer Day, and worked today instead, so all day long I thought it was either Monday or Wednesday (my typical work days).  Since I'm working on Thursday rather than Friday, so I can be off for all the last day of school hoopla, my confusion will only grow.  Imagine my utter state of bewilderment come next week, after I'm off for the Memorial Day holiday.

I'm puzzled just thinking about it.  I better make sure I have lots of sticky notes so I can easily remind myself where to go, who to take, and what to do for the next week or so.

Pioneer Day

Today was the third graders' Pioneer Day.  I was fortunate enough to juggle my schedule so I could volunteer at the event.  I'm so glad I did!

Alex was a little apprehensive about wearing a pioneer costume, but he ultimately skipped off happily to the bus.  I, on the other hand, was maybe a little too excited about wearing an authentic outfit; my mom was kind enough to sew a skirt, coordinating apron, and bonnet for me to wear (yes, volunteers have to dress the part, too!).

We make great pioneers!

The students visited many different stations, where they got to make butter, dip candles, stamp leather, play games, and experience several other activities.  Al's favorite, though, was square dancing.  Anyone who knows my Alex knows how much he adores dancing.  He has been practicing his square dancing steps for the last couple of weeks, and today I got to see him in action.  

He was amazing!  I thought he would be able to keep up, but I was impressed with his dancing.  He looked like he was having such fun, too, which made it even better!  All the kids in his class did a fantastic job with their dancing.  It was fun to watch!

Bow to your partner!

I can't think of a better way to spend a day off.  Only four days of school left until summer break!

Lovely Sunday

What a great day!  Beautiful weather and time spent with family; can you ask for a more perfect Sunday?

We began our Sunday at church, and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening celebrating my dad's birthday.  It was so nice outside (sunny but not hot) that the kids played in the backyard all day.  They were able to spend some time with their cousins, and this evening they put together a "show" for the adults.  It was so fun to watch them work together, and they really did a nice job.

As long as Alex will easily head off to bed, Mark and I can watch last week's episode of Mad Men before we tune in to tonight's installment.  I honestly can't think of a better way to wrap up our day.

Wishing you a great week!

Tiny Dancer

Addie began the audition process today at her dance studio, hoping to join their Company for the upcoming season. 

This girl is working hard, smiling through it all, and is showing a determination and maturity that far exceeds my expectations for her. 

Obviously, there is no guarantee that she will be offered a spot in the Company, but if she isn't, she already has a plan in place: continue to study dance, with new goals in place to help her reach Company for the next season. 

Have I mentioned that she isn't even eight years old yet?!?

No matter the outcome, this is such a fantastic experience for her. She is excited to practice for the next phase of auditions. 

We are beyond proud of our beautiful ballerina. 

Hugs

In the last two days, I've heard of three deaths affecting those around me.  One family member, one community member, and a former AVON client.  All somewhat unexpected, their loved ones are now left to begin the mourning process this weekend.

It makes you stop and think; as difficult as it is, we should not get so caught up in our own daily drama.  Hug you family, your friends, those who are important to you.  Make every day count.

Thoughts and prayers going out, with hopes of strength and peace for these loved ones.

Vacation

Why is it that when you most need a vacation, there is just no possible way you'll get one?

That's all I got today. 

Yaaaawn

Long day.  Longer evening.  Time to watch tv.

G'night.  (And yes, this totally counts as a blog post; therefore, I still have not broken my streak.)

Fumes

I have been on the go, nonstop, today.  I left this house at 9am(ish), and didn't return until 3:45pm.  In that time, I killed a mile-long to-do list, and had lunch with my kids at school.  Tired doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now.  Definitely running on fumes, that's for sure.

But, the fun's not over yet!

I took a brief break from chores to post this blog (so I don't have to sit down to do it later), so I will soon return to the glamorous everyday chores (that never get done every day, let's be real).  Al has track practice later (unless I learn a rain dance in the next few minutes...), and then a music lesson, and then we'll have dinner, homework, and baths to accomplish before I can go fall over in a corner somewhere.

I'd love to say that after school is out (in just eight more school days!), our schedule eases up a bit, but since I'm working now that just won't be the case.  I just need to find ways to fit in lots of summer fun on my days off so the kids enjoy their break.

Wish me luck on that one.  ;)

#DWTS

If you know my kids, you know they love to dance.  It's not unusual to find a kitchen dance party happening at any given time at my house; it's a great way to expend pent up energy, and it's so fun!  I love to see the kids show off all their moves, even if it means listening to the High School Musical soundtrack for the bazillionth time.

So, it seems like a natural progression for us to watch Dancing with the Stars.  This is a show that we can all watch and enjoy together.  This season, it's inspirational as well as entertaining.  Amy Purdy is a thrill to watch, James Maslow is raising awareness for Down syndrome and the importance of inclusion, and it's been fun to see the rest of the cast grow in their dance abilities.

For the first time in a long time, I voted in a reality show competition.  It's probably not a surprise that I cast my votes for James, although all of those in the semi finals tonight are displaying amazing performances.

Are you watching?  Who are your favorites?

Mother's Day

Mother's Day: a special day to reflect on how fortunate I truly am to have these three wild kiddos.

We started our day like any week, by going to church, but today my mom joined us.  It was nice to have her there with us, and we were able to snag some great pictures.  Our day proceeded just as any Sunday does when my husband works; I did chores around the house and watched the kids play outside.

When my husband arrived home, though, I was spoiled with more gifts (my kids all made lovely gifts or wrote notes to me at school), and we headed out to dinner.  Having worked several years in the restaurant industry in high school and college, I know that Mother's Day is a cuh-razy day to eat out.  We went anyway.

I was initially stressed about going, as the kids' "listening ears" had been tossed out of the window early on in the day, but I'm glad we went (the two margaritas I enjoyed helped, too, ha!).  My favorite parts of dinner? When I offered Alex some of my steamed broccoli, and he instead fed me a piece, then put his head on my shoulder and I thought we had a really sweet moment going on.  Then, he looked up at me with his big, blue eyes and said "I farted!"  I mean, who doesn't laugh at that one, margarita or not?!?

Later, Andrew spied a mural at the restaurant which features a beloved local figure, and asked "Is that Jungle Jack Hanna?!?" Indeed, it was Jack Hanna in the mural, but Alex got all excited and shot up in his seat, asking "Where is Pastor Anna?!?  Mr Carrot?" I hated to break it to him that Pastor Anna and Mr Garrett weren't there at the restaurant (Garrett will probably forever be lovingly known as Mr Carrot as far as Al is concerned), and as much as I hated to disappoint Alex, I realized again (for the second time today!) how blessed we are to be surrounded by a church family that so carefully looks after our kids.

Even now as the kids are totally milking a thunder storm (they are all camped out on the couch, as if the storm will last for days), I'm reminded how lucky I am to be their mom.  They drive me crazy on a daily basis, give me gray hairs, and trash my house, but I don't know where I'd be without them.  They are my sunshine, my shining stars, and my little monkeys.  I am so proud of them, and so happy they made me a mommy.

Happy Mother's Day to all the women in my life who have inspired me to be a better mom and treat my children as their own.  I truly could not rule this duck pond without you.  ;)

Rainy Saturday

Rainy days can really take it out of you.

Al's track meet was soggy, at best; we waited through two rain delays and really thought the whole thing was set to be cancelled, so we gave up.  Alex had been begging to go home since we arrived, we were cold and wet, and there was standing water on the track.  Of course, shortly after we left, I saw photos on Facebook of his friends after their races.  Oh, well.  He'll look forward to the next meet!

After leaving the meet we learned that his baseball game had also been cancelled.  My day was suddenly blown open, leaving only one meeting on my schedule.  You'd think I would have the energy to clean the house, knock out a few loads of laundry, and catch up on some reading.

Nope.

I got sucked into Candy Crush, and now might polish my fingernails so they look nice for at least the beginning of the week.  My ambition must have been washed away with the rain today.

I'll look for it tomorrow.

Frazzled Mom Brain

As a busy mom, I have to constantly keep track of many, many things for three other people (and sometimes four), plus myself.  At any given moment, I need to know who needs to be where, what appointments need scheduled (or cancelled...and rescheduled), what products need purchased at the grocery store/drug store/Target/department store, whose friend has a birthday coming up and do they need a card/gift, which articles of clothing are needed for tomorrow (because you can bet they haven't been laundered until the night before they're needed!), which homework assignments are due (or were due, oops), when camp/soccer/dance/Special Olympics registrations open/close, when the library books are due...and for the love of everything pure and good, does the dog need to be let out?!?

This is not even a complete list, I assure you.

Just this afternoon, I found myself with a moment alone in the car as I made my way home from work.  Was I enjoying the music on the radio or pondering the chances of rain for tonight?  Nope.  Here's a little peek into my FMB...or, "Frazzled Mom Brain":

"Gotta find Al's uniform shirt for tomorrow.  I wonder if Mark found his other shoe?  Eh, he can wear the mismatched shoes again.  He'll hate that.  If it rains tomorrow we're screwed.  Stuck outside at a track meet with a kid who doesn't like rain?  Swell.  I hope they run on time.  I can't be late for my meeting tomorrow.  I need to call that lady back.  I'll have to find her number on my desk.  I really need to clean my desk off.  The whole house needs scrubbed.  Does anyone really do 'Spring Cleaning' anymore?  Maybe I'll do it on Sunday.  Wait, that's Mother's Day.  No way.  What else can I get Mom?  Not a plant; it might die while they are on vacation and I won't have time to water it.  I don't have time to water my plants.  I should put that on the kids' chore lists.  I bet they would flood the plants and make a huge mess and then the dog would track it all over the house.  The dog!  The dog needs to be let out before I leave the house again!"

And, thanks to my Java Chip Frappuccino Light, this entire train of thought occurred in about 8.3 seconds.

I think it's well past time for me to crash for the night.  We're up and at 'em early tomorrow morning for another track meet!

Hideout

With summer quickly approaching, I've been trying to think of fun, creative ways to keep the kids outside. There are too many indoor traps that will waste away their summer.  While I do believe that they need breaks (it gets super hot and humid here some days!), and as long as they aren't spending the entire day watching tv (quiet time and small doses to relax are fine), I want them to be outdoors.

I would love to build a fairy garden with Addie, and all three kids have an interest in growing vegetables.  I have grand plans for landscaping, so there will plenty of outdoor chores to be done each day.  I also had a brainstorm for creating a simple, yet functional, hideout for them.  With the fenced in backyard, I think I can pull a clothesline diagonally across one of the corners.  Then, I will somehow rig some fabric, creating a "wall" and allowing the kids a space to go into and have secret club meetings and whatever else kids do in a hideout.  Even though I couldn't think of an easier plan if I tried, the kids are so excited for the construction of their new space.

I really hope it works out.  If not, I'll have to formulate a Plan B, I suppose.

What other fun, creative activities can the little ducklings enjoy this summer?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Craptastic Wonderland

It was a trying day.  I noticed that many of my Facebook friends were also experiencing awful days. Something in the universe must be off.

Here's a rundown of my lovely day:

6:40am  - Hit snooze for the first time.

7:15am  - At that point, I had crossed over the "I'll just snooze for a minute" zone into "Damnit, now I'm gonna be late and everyone should freak out" zone.

8:22am  - Herd two kids onto a school bus, just moments after nearly hogtying my eldest in order to get a bandaid on his wrist because he somehow managed to cut himself on the swingset (he does not care for bandaids).  Fortunately, I was able to throw a clean shirt into his bag in case the school frowns upon blood stained clothing at school (apparently, they do, because he came home wearing Shirt #2). Hey, the kids didn't miss the bus, so there's that.

9:10am - I was early for preschool drop off!  This turned into premature hope that today would turn around and become a stellar Wednesday. Those hopes were soon crushed.

9:24am - Ran into the grocery store to pick up a box of Zebra Cakes for the preschool snack on Thursday (they are studying Z this week, of course).  To my dismay, the section of the shelf devoted to Zebra Cakes was totally empty.  Cleaned out.  I asked at the service desk if there was a secret stash somewhere other than that shelf, but learned that they won't get a delivery of the cakes until Thursday afternoon.  Super.

9:41am - Arrived back at home to finish getting ready for the day.  Because Andrew's class hosted a Mother's Day Tea this morning, I went into work late, and therefore had some extra time.  I hurried, though, so I would have time to make a stop at another grocery store to search for Zebra Cakes.

10:08am - Arrived at second grocery store, only to find that their shelves were depleted of the stupid Zebra Cakes, too.  Seriously, wtf?  Why does everyone want all the Zebra Cakes?!?  All of the other snack cakes were fully stocked.  Curious, indeed.

10:25am - Arrived back at school for a super cute program hosted by a sweet group of adorable preschoolers.  I received several darling gifts from Andrew, which I will keep and admire forever.  I should note that I am a severe pack rat and truly mean it when I say "forever".  I should also note that this part of my day was completely exempt from the "Craptastic" status.

11:45am - Made it in to my office, later than I anticipated, but I was ready to jump on my task list. Obviously, this ambition made it a perfect day for my computer to take 15 minutes to perform a system update, therefore throwing me even more off schedule for my abbreviated work day.

3:04pm - Went tearing out of my office, to pick up Alex from school for speech therapy, only to remember that the van's gas light was on.  Ugh!  If I didn't stop for gas, then we'd be walking home later.  I also discovered that my car charger no longer works, and my phone was nearly dead.  Fun!

3:30pm- Picked up Alex, and suffered through a 12 minute tantrum because I forgot his freaking Goldfish for an afternoon snack.  I finally convinced him that a giant chocolate chip cookie from Starbucks would taste way better.  At least he didn't ask for Zebra Cakes.

4:22pm - Arrived at Al's speech therapy appointment (early, again, in the same day!), and had a short while to do some reading (not leisurely reading, but more like homework).

6:03pm - After sitting in traffic for slightly over an hour, we made it home.  Rush hour traffic can suck it.

Once I was home, the day (finally!) started to improve a bit.  My mom found the Zebra Cakes and sent them home with Andrew this afternoon (big points for Nana!).  The kids put on a big outdoor dance production after dinner, which was cool by itself (it's finally warm enough to sit outside, hooray!), but the dog chose to take a big poop right in the background of their performance...while Mark was recording it.  We couldn't help but laugh.  Gross, but funny.  It's almost bedtime, which means I finally get quiet time to enjoy without being disturbed (that is, if the Maisey stops barking at the birds and other dogs outside).

Maybe the key to having a bad day is to sit down and list out all the bad things that happened, like I did here?  After reading it, I realize that none of it is truly "bad", but just kind of irritating; some of it is even funny (or perhaps that's just my witty personality shining through...sure, let's go with that).  Plus, it did help me appreciate the good things about my day even more that I might have if things had been uneventful.

Whatever the answer is, I'm hoping to not spend another day in Craptastic Wonderland tomorrow.  I wish the same for you, too.

Headache

Boo to headaches.

High stress levels and bright flashes of light (like reflections of the sun on a passing car) can be an ominous combination, at least for me, in that it can trigger an ocular migraine.  I was not in the mood to deal with this, which is probably why one struck.  Trust me, these are the least fun things ever.  Eventually, a dull, throbbing headache settles in and sometimes hangs out for a few days.  This particular episode seems rather mild, but I've spent some time sending emails tonight, and I am more than ready to call it a night.

Sleep well, friends.

PS - how is it only Tuesday?!?

My Favorite Things

What is a blogger to do when she can't think of anything to write?  (This especially applies to the crazy bloggers who challenge themselves to post every day for a year.)  She posts another list, that's what.

And so, I give to you:

My Favorite Things
Favorite food: pizza (I mean, c'mon.  It's absolutely the most perfect food.)

Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite song: This is a tough one.  I love music, and have an appreciation for all types.  Just today, I was listening to this, this, and this; all similar, I suppose, thanks to my undying devotion to a local radio station (my kids rock out to the Ramones, Jake Bugg, and Alt-J because they have grown up with this station...way cool). There are really too many songs to consider, so I guess I will skip this one.

Favorite color: This is also a tough one.  My favorite color to wear is black, and that's just because I think I look nice in it.  I really can't choose just one color, so I'll steal Addie's answer to this question: rainbow.

Favorite tv show: Right now, we're back to watching Mad Men (hellooo, Don Draper!), and I also enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.  (All I need now is for Brian Williams to get a Sunday night program and I could watch all my television boyfriends on the same night!)  I have no problem admitting that I have a sick obsession with watching reruns of favorite sitcoms (Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Big Bang Theory).

Favorite ice cream: Hands down, a trio of Jeni's Salty Caramel, The Buckeye State, and Dark Chocolate. Perfection in a bowl.

Ok, I'm done with this.  The more I write, the cheesier I feel, and I'm also realizing that I don't really have strong favorites of anything (well, except for maybe ice cream).  Do you have any favorites that you feel compelled to share?

If nothing else, I posted something for today, therefore keeping my streak intact.  Go me.

Track Meet

Today, Alex participated in his first Special Olympics track meet. What a day. 

He was excited to go, but when we arrived, the chaos of a new place overwhelmed him a bit. By the time the coaches arrived with uniforms, he had no intention of changing his clothes. After some persuading, he put the uniform on (read: we gave him no choice but to wear it), but continued to insist that he wasn't going to run. I had to escort him to the infield when his team entered the stadium (which, I'm fairly certain, is discouraged), and strongly suggested to him that he get in line with his friends (read: gave him no choice but to comply). They finally called his division and started lining kids up, so I have him a nudge and he got into line, and then I bolted up the field a bit. 

For as much as he complained that he wanted to leave, the kid did a great job. He placed third in his division for the 50m dash, and fifth in his division for the softball throw. 

I think the best part of the day, though, was seeing how proud he was of himself for his accomplishments. He and I went to the grocery store this evening, and he had to tell anyone who would listen that he "ran fast, got a medal". His story was met with such enthusiasm from complete strangers, which just puffed him up even more. It was awesome. 

Another meet is scheduled for Saturday, and I'm hoping he will be more cooperative at the beginning of the event. Probably a long shot, but a girl can dream, right?

Date Night

Finally, a night out. 

Of course, being a Saturday, everyone else is also out. I'm not a fan of big crowds; rude people in big crowds really set me off. Unfortunately, you'll find both in a busy restaurant on a Saturday night. 

But, our server is pleasant and the food is great. The break from the normal chaos is fantastic. 

And so, I won't complain. 

Weekend Anticipation

Friday.  Finally.  I mean, seriously, finalllllly.

It wasn't a bad week, just very busy, and I'm ready for a break.  With a late Easter, and a very early start of summer break (the kids only have 15 school days left!), I feel like we're cramming eight weeks of activity into four.  It's exhausting.

But, I think it's funny that I regard the weekend as a "break".  Welcome to May, where there is at least one activity already on the calendar for every single day.  Weekends are no different.  Tomorrow, we have Alex's first baseball game of the season, a birthday party, a fairy garden workshop (that's just a girls' activity while the boys are at the birthday party), Al's music lesson, and then Mark and I are getting out for the rare date night.  Sunday is Alex's first Special Olympics track meet, and if we're still standing by that afternoon, we're hoping to get some yard work accomplished.

I need a glass of wine just thinking about it (sadly, I ate all my WW points for today, so the wine will have to wait, ha!!).

I'm really not complaining; my kids are happy and enjoying all their activities, and it makes me happy that we can accommodate such a fun schedule for all of them.  It just amazes me that this month will speed by as quickly as April did.

It will be July 4th before we know it...which is just the spring board into Birthday Palooza.  Time really does fly...

Dinner

Thursday evenings are especially busy in our house, with two of the three kids having dance class after school.  Trying to get everyone fed and in bed on time can be a challenge.

Enter "Kids Eat Free" night at Earth Fare.

Seriously, this is one of the best deals that I've found.  Eating out can be expensive for a family of five, but Earth Fare offers free kids' meals with each adult dinner purchase of just $5.  How amazing is that?!?  The food is terrific, kid friendly, and consists of great choices.  There is something for everyone on the menu. Tonight, the five of us ate for $22; it could have been even less, but we allowed the kids to choose root beer and lemonade (the kids' meals include water, but not the other choices) and Mark enjoyed a huge salad from their awesome salad bar with his tasty sandwich (my meal, pizza and salad, was only $5!!).

So, a crazy busy night (this is picture week at dance) was made a little less stressful because we ate out and didn't have to spend a ton of money (typically, a meal out, even at a quick serve place, is anywhere from $25-35!).  Everyone has full bellies and is now ready for bed...whether they like it or not!

This post contains my own opinions and comments.  I was not compensated for my efforts.