Breather

Monday evenings are usually spent waiting in the therapists office, which I really don't mind. However, a night off is always appreciated.  

Thanks to good friends, we enjoyed a great time: a baseball game, followed by a few games of pool. 

Perfection. 

Chatting with Alex

This evening, Alex and I headed over to Target to pick up a couple of last minute items that he'll need at day camp this week.  As we talked about the things on our list, I commented that I would pick up a new toothbrush for myself while we were there.

"No, Mommy.  I don't think so.  That is too dangerous," was Al's reply.

I was understandably confused.  "What?  A new toothbrush?  A toothbrush is too dangerous?!?"

"Yes.  Too dangerous.  Not happening."  He wasn't budging.

Well, ok then.  (I did get a new toothbrush, and he seems to think that is it safe enough, so everyone is happy.)

I can never predict what may come out of this kid's mouth.  He certainly brings an interesting spin to even the most mundane of activities...like picking up a new toothbrush at Target.

Baseball Saturday

Saturday: two baseball games, in hot and humid weather.  Exhausting.

Nope, I didn't play; I was busy playing the role of #1 fan for each of my boys as they played in this Ohio summer weather.  Top off two games with some grocery shopping, a quick walk with the dog (who just started a new wellness plan), and kids who are an evil mix of tired and hyper, and I'm done.

Never mind the piles of laundry, the long list of Team Alex related tasks, and the stack of books that I would like to sit and read.  I'm heading to bed, with an ice cream bar and reruns of The Big Bang Theory.

Don't judge.

4th of July Grinch

We all know the story of the Grinch, that prickly yet lovable character who first despises Christmas but then learns the beauty of the holiday.

I'm thinking the Grinch would also hate 4th of July, with all of its "noise, noise, NOISE, NOISE!"   Of course, the food that typically accompanies this holiday is good, but the thought of singeing all his fur off while holding a sparkler is reason enough for the Grinch to hate it.

In my neighborhood, the backyard fireworks have already started, as they do every year.  The local pyromaniacs choose to light up the sky with their amateur displays, typically either right after the kids drift off to sleep, or as we're fighting to get them to bed.  Two of my three kids are terrified of the noise, and the poor dog will probably also be scared (having just rescued her in September, we haven't yet celebrated 7/4 with her around; since she's scared of rain storms, I'm willing to bet fireworks scare her, too).  My house is full of enough chaos without adding in the extra noise and drama.

Listen, I'm all for fun, and I get that fireworks are a part of this holiday.  But, really, every night for a week on either side of the holiday is too much.  Have some consideration for those around you.  There are many children and dogs who simply can't handle the noise, and their parents are sick of the nonsense.

If your heart is set on blowing off a finger or setting your home (or a neighbor's home) on fire, maybe you could find a quieter way to do it?  And just don't save your (probably illegal) fireworks for your New Year celebration.  I don't like to hear fireworks that night, either.

While the Grinch eventually learns to love Christmas, I just don't see how he would ever learn to love July 4th.  He and I both could do without the noise.

End rant.

Lightening Bugs

When my sister and I were little, it was not uncommon for us to chase down lightening bugs in the summer months.  We would build little houses for them, out of jars or plastic containers, catch them, and then basically watch them suffocate in their new "habitats".  Or, we would pull out their little light-up-thingy and then smear it on the sidewalk to watch the concrete glow.  (Hey, no one ever said we were humane about our bug hunting.)

Perhaps it's because I'm usually rushing from one kid activity to the next in the evenings, or just trying to survive until bedtime, but until this week I can not remember ever seeing enough lightening bugs to give my kids a chance to enjoy them.  The other night, I realized just how many were floating around our backyard.  I made a mental note to share them with the kids, then dragged myself upstairs to bed.

Tonight, while trying to convince the dog to go outside, I noticed them again.  This time, I pounced on the opportunity.  I yelled to Alex to come out and see.  Addie must have sensed something interesting was happening, since Al was supposed to be getting ready for bed yet I just called him outside.  Soon, the three of us were creeping through the yard, hunting lightening bugs.

We spent the next ten minutes or so chasing them; I do not recall ever having so much trouble catching them! It was awful; apparently, another downfall to getting older is that your hand-eye coordination, in the dark, diminishes. Al nearly smashed a few in his attempts to catch one, but finally Addie had a new little friend climbing up her arm.

They were completely in awe.  We watched the little bug glow, then light up even more, as he crawled around Ad's hands.  The kids giggled, and then Alex asked if he could hold the bug (huge for a kid with sensory issues).  We played with the bug for a few more minutes, and then I shooed the kids inside for bed. (No, of course I didn't show them how you can squish the bugs and make the patio glow!)

The kids have done (and will get to do) many fun things this summer, but it's these little, quiet moments that I hope will stand out in their favorite memories.

In Case You're Wondering...

My children will return to school seven weeks from today.  But who's counting?  Certainly not their tired, cranky, overwhelmed mother.  She never complains.  Not ever.

Reading Rainbow

I've always loved reading.  When I was a kid, Reading Rainbow was a favorite show; it brought together two things I enjoyed: books and television.  It was almost soothing to sit and listen to a story read while primitive animations brought the whole story to life.  And who doesn't love Levar Burton?  

With the recent campaign to bring Reading Rainbow back to kids, I couldn't help but notice a dvd of an episode on a shelf at our library.  I quickly grabbed it, not knowing who would appreciate it more; at the very least, it was something the kids and I could sit and watch together, maybe even during the magical, mostly non-existent "quiet time" that I stubbornly try to enforce every day (and mostly fail at implementing).

Tonight seemed like a good night to introduce RR; not knowing what it was, the kids were intrigued. Andrew just wasn't ready to go to bed, and Addie loves anything that is associated with rainbows.  As soon as it began to play, though, I got worried; it's not like any of the shows that they watch now.  It's more low key and laid back, gentle and soothing.  I figured they might call it boring, and abandon my idea of "quality family snuggle time on the couch".  

I was totally wrong.  They loved it.  

We watched the two episodes on the disc; halfway through, they were already asking if there are more than the two we have from the library.  I will soon be reserving more!

Beyond the quality snuggle time, the quiet, and the relaxed kids, these shows spurred conversations that we probably wouldn't have otherwise had tonight.  "Mommy, do you like whales?  What do whales eat?  How did that manatee get hurt?  Do you like the manatees at the zoo?"

Awesome.  But, as the saying goes, "you don't have to take my word for it!"  Share these with your kids. I can't wait to watch more with mine!

A Whole Lotta Nothin'

I've been sitting here, for the last hour, trying to determine what to write tonight.

I listened to High School Musical 2, playing on my son's iPad (gotta love Netflix).  I watched an episode of Land of the Lost as Mark introduced our five year old to an episode (who knew you could stream YouTube through a blu-ray player?!?).  I comforted the dog, in hopes that she won't pee on the floor during yet another thunder storm.  I did a bit of online window shopping, looking for shoes that might not chew up my feet as the pair I selected for today did. But have I come up with anything interesting to write?  Nope.

As I was sitting here, staring blankly at my computer screen with my chin propped up on my hands, I noticed something crawling on one of my fingers.  I jumped about three feet in the air, flinging the bug (or whatever it was...could have been a baby sleestak for all I know), and pulling something in my back.

I think I'm done.  Monday is officially over.

Fundraising

I do a lot of fundraising.  Team Alex has been around for 11 years, after all!  I write about fundraising at work, I launch events for my own Buddy Walk team and help others come up with ideas for their own fundraisers.  I enjoy it.  I like the competition of team fundraising; I live to see our team on the event leader board.  Yes, I may be a tad bit competitive, but the outcome (lots of money raised!) is worth it in the end.

I've somehow managed to pass along my passion for fundraising to my daughter; at the wise age of almost eight, she is already helping us raise money for her brother's Buddy Walk team.  Amazing.  Addie and I absolutely can not wait to share our upcoming fundraiser with you.  It will be awesome; definitely stay tuned for that!  (Hint: #InclusionMatters)

Right now, we're busy collecting Tupperware orders; until 6/26, you can shop the Team Alex Online Tupperware Fundraiser, and we'll get 40% of our event's sales.  You know you need to either update your Tupperware, or find a way to organize your kitchen, so this is definitely something you should check out.  Go on, shop away; it's for a terrific cause!

Seeing as we have less than three months until the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk, this will definitely not be the last time you hear from me regarding fundraising (remember: #InclusionMatters).  Hang in there with us, cheer us on, spread the word.  One of the most successful fundraising strategies, without a doubt, is a grassroots campaign.  Please, help us get the word out.  We appreciate the support.

Wishing you a great week!

So. Stinking. Tired.

Zzzzzzzz...

(This totally counts.)

Kickball

As we move forward with our fundraising for Team Alex and the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk, we are happy to announce that this year's kickball game will be held on Sunday, 7/13.

We've had a great time with this event in the past; there's nothing more fun than a little friendly competition, especially when it raises money for a great organization.  We're hoping to raise a fair amount of money, to keep Team Alex sitting pretty on the event's leader board (we're currently in second place...remember, I tend to get a little competitive about such things...).

If you are local and would like to participate, please let me know and I'll make sure you get the details.  If you aren't local, you can still support our cause by donating through our team's Buddy walk page; click here to make a donation.

Thanks so much for support of Team Alex and the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk!

Quality Time

This afternoon, after I arrived home from work, I grabbed my girl and we headed out for Mommy & Me pedicures at a local nail salon.

Addie was needing a break from her rambunctious brothers as much as I needed any break I could get, so we enjoyed our outing very much.  After our toes were polished and sparkly, we did a little bit of shopping before heading home.

We are relaxed and recharged (at least a little bit), and ready to finish the week with these crazy boys.

Loud and Clear

My original plan for this evening was to take the kids to Zoombezi Bay, to swim and play for a few hours. Mark has a work dinner, and it's super hot today, so the kids and I thought it would be nice to go for a bit.

Mind you, this was after a busy morning and afternoon.  We spent time with my sister and nieces while my nephew was at basketball camp.  We went to lunch, played arcade games, and then hit Costco (which, on a "good sample day", is a lot more fun than it sounds!).  After we parted ways, I decided we'd go ahead and give Zoombezi a try, despite how tired I am.

Alas, I could not find my bathing suit.  I've worn it a couple times this year, but it is nowhere to be found.  I frantically searched, as I wanted to get out of the house to avoid as much traffic as possible.  No luck.

"Kids, we have to swing by Kohl's on our way.  I need a bathing suit."  Sometimes, I am a bit too ambitious.

I didn't realize that the kids would have to sit and wait while I tried suits on, nor did I take into account their crappy attitudes (the Witching Hour was upon us, after all).  Their fighting in the backseat quickly led me to turn the car around and return home.  It was an uncharacteristic move (usually I fight through these situations), but I wasn't up to dealing with all the drama, and I decided we would just hang out at home tonight.

After we arrived home, I decided to take on some laundry.  While putting a basket away, I found half of the suit that was missing; when gathering laundry, I found a suit that I completely forgot I had (it's not my favorite, but it would do).  It soon became clear that the missing bathing suits were a message from the universe: "Take the night off.  Relax.  Or, at least try to relax.  The kids will be fine if they chill and watch tv for one evening."

Message received, Universe.  Loud and clear.  Thanks for the excuse to stay in tonight.  But, if you could return the other half of my bathing suit, I would appreciate it.  xo, Jen

Go Go Go

Yet another busy summer day.

Work, shopping, arcade games, puppet show, ice cream...this is all in addition to the typical everyday happenings.

I. Am. Exhausted.

Again.

Tired as I am, I dutifully worked on some Team Alex tasks (have you liked our Facebook page yet??), and am attempting this pitiful blog entry.  As I've said before, it totally counts.

So, hey, if you're reading, you should totally click on the links in this post to donate to Team Alex and "like" our Facebook page.  I would be grateful.

And now, g'night.

Soccer

I love events that bring people together.  The Olympics, football games (especially around here...O-H!), and even royal weddings extend a magic connection to people who may not otherwise conspire.

The FIFA World Cup is no different.

My family enjoys soccer, but we aren't die hard fans.  My kids love to play, but more in the relaxed, backyard kind of games (although our youngest does want to play on a team this fall).  But, if the USA team is playing in a game, we'll pay attention...along with the rest of the world.

We watched the game, and I followed along on Twitter and Facebook.  The boys were chanting "USA! USA!" while bouncing around the living room.  It was nice to have something that we could all enjoy together.

We may not be the biggest soccer fans, but we join everyone else in cheering on our team.  We believe.

Realizations

Having three kids, one of whom has Down syndrome, with busy schedules, I often hear things like "Wow!  I don't know how you do it!" and "You look frazzled!" and even "You just need to relax!".

I usually blow off these comments, with a smile or laugh, and keep chugging through the chaos.  I mean, I really don't know how I do it, I am frazzled, and if I knew how to relax, I totally would.  It's just not that easy.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  Right now, we're still battling the transition issues that Alex experiences every time there is a change; once (if?) we get settled, it will be time for something new to start, and everything will fall apart again.  Sleep patterns are inconsistent, which throws behaviors for an awful loop, and we never know when the next meltdown will occur.

That's just one small component of what we experience with one of the three kids.  We won't even talk about the behaviors that the little one tries to get away with (apparently, he is trying to take advantage of my frazzled state to try and get one by), my disaster zone of my house, or the fact that I haven't found time to hit the gym in nearly a month.

It all just totally hit me, though.  I am ready to admit it:  I am overwhelmed.  I am tired of all the battles we fight to advocate for our kids.  I get ridiculously jealous when I hear of other families, with kids of comparable ages, doing fun things around the city or on vacation, because it is just so difficult for us to pull off the same type of outing/travels and we usually just don't even try to do so anymore.  I want a tidy, organized house, where I don't lose at least three different things a day because I am so distracted by everything else that is going on.

I think the answer to "How do you do it all?" is this: I can't stop to think about it.  I just do it, or face the possibility of sitting around, freaking out about it.  For now, the end result is me looking frazzled, or tense; soon, I hope to figure all that out, or at least start making small steps to being more organized and relaxed. But, as long as it all gets done (or a majority of it, anyway; I have doubts that this house will ever be as clean as I dream it could be!), I can't really worry about how we get to that end point.

Right?

Moon

I keep hearing about this amazing full moon that is supposed to be visible this weekend; something about a "Honey Moon"?  I just stepped outside to look for it, and was pleasantly surprised to discover how quiet and peaceful my backyard is at this time of night.

Quiet, peaceful, and dark.  Very dark.  Within moments, my appreciation for the stars turned into an apprehension about not being able to see what was around me.  Coyotes?  Giant spiders?  Errant neighbor kids?  I quickly high tailed it back into my well lit home.

I never did spot the Honey Moon; perhaps it is too cloudy?  I'll just scroll through Facebook, because certainly someone, somewhere, has posted a picture of this glorious full moon.

Did you see it?

Friday Night

My boys will not go to bed.

At first, they were cute and snuggly and we enjoyed an episode of Peppa Pig together.  Now, though, they are whiny and tired and we're all over it.

In fact, as I desperately try to post a blog for today (so as to not break my streak!), the little one is shrieking that he can't find Ice Cube (his penguin Beanie Boo, not the rapper) while the bigger one yells at him for being so loud.

Time for bed.  Waaaaay past time for bed.

G'night.

Evening Stroll

Our laid back, super tolerant, rescued beagle (Maisey) is a bit overweight.  Aren't we all, right?  But tonight, in the spirit of wellness, I decided to take her for an evening stroll.

As soon as the kids caught wind of my plan, shoes flew on feet, and out the door they went.  So much for my peaceful little walk.

My kids, like others, don't walk so much as they run.  Everywhere.  If they're not running, then they are bouncing, skipping, dancing...anything but walking.  Maisey soon caught on to their groove, and our stroll became more of a brisk trot.

Maisey moved even faster when she discovered a baby rabbit dart across a neighbor's front lawn.  She about pulled my arm out of its socket, and when Addie realized what Maisey had spotted, she flipped out.  "No, Maisey, not the baby bunny!"

Not one to be left out of any dramatic moment, Andrew quickly chimed in, screeching "No, Maisey, don't eat the nature!!"

Shaking my head, I somehow got everyone back on track, and we finished our walk.

They all better sleep well tonight.

Evening Out

Friends. Wine. A fundraiser. All components of a lovely evening out. 

A lovely, much needed, well overdue evening out. 

I really need to do that more often. 

Team Alex

As you may or may not already know, my family participates in the Columbus Buddy Walk, to honor my son with Down syndrome.  This year, Team Alex is celebrating our 11th walk!

To help drive our fundraising efforts, I just sent out a message to our previous supporters.  In an effort to reach even more people with this information, I thought this would make great material for Tales from the Duck Pond.

And so, I give you today's blog.

June 10, 2014

Team Alex is back again and ready for our biggest year ever!  Registration is open; you can sign up to walk with us on Sunday, 9/21, at Crew Stadium by visiting our team's fundraising page.  We can't wait to see you there!

If you are a business owner (or know someone who is!), and would like information about becoming an event sponsor for the 2014 Columbus Buddy Walk, please contact me ASAP.  Team Alex will be credited with any sponsorship dollars we bring in this year.  This is a very exciting change to the fundraising incentives!  There are many great benefits to event sponsorship, and I will be happy to share the details if you are interested.

Team Alex already has many great fundraisers in the works: an exciting campaign is coming soon from I Heart Garments (keep an eye on the Team Alex Facebook page for more details - be sure to "like" us while you're there!), a Tupperware fundraiser, the ever popular Team Alex Kickball Game (set for 7/13...save the date!), and our annual City BBQ fundraiser.  If you have any ideas for more fundraisers, or would like to host a fundraising event at work, church, or social group (Dress Down for Down Syndrome, etc...), please let me know!

We can't wait for this year's Buddy Walk!  We hope to see you there.

All the best,

Jen Franklin Kearns

Captain, Team Alex

Schedules

Weird.  For the first time in months, we have free evenings.  Evenings with no sports practices, no dance classes.  Crazy.

I'm almost uneasy about this.  Unstructured hours?  Nothing good can come from that.  Something might get cleaned; papers may be organized.  Nobody really wants to see the top of their desk, right?  And what fun is it to select clothes out of drawers instead of half-unfolded piles in baskets?

I don't know; perhaps it won't be so bad.  I am behind in my reading; it would be lovely to sit and read in the comfort of my own home, and finish a book without renewing it from the library eight times.

At any rate, I won't complain too much.  Before we know it, we'll be back to our six-night-a-week chaotic schedule that we know and love.  Or loathe.  Whatever.

Recital

Looong day. Good, but long. 

The recital was a huge success, and I am so proud of all three kids. They were great, and the whole show was fantastic. 

I'll blog more details later this week. 

Worn Out

Special Olympics track meet.  T-ball game.  Swimming.  Dinner out.  Watching Frozen again.

It's been another crazy busy day, and I. Am. Done.

We have a big day tomorrow (dance recital, yay!), so we're all taking it easy tonight.  Bedtime soon.

I hope you're having a great weekend!

Dress Rehearsal

I love the kids' dance recital. They work so hard all year to present their routines, and it is so fun to watch all the performances. 

But, before we get to the recital, we have to get through dress rehearsal. This year, that meant spending 4+ hours at the theater this evening. Yowza. We're all exhausted, but I can tell that the show will be fantastic. 

Can't. Wait. 

Manners

My kids are silly, loud, and can be absolute monsters.  I accept this.  They are great kids, but like most children, they can be also be little nightmares.  Such is life.

One thing we have always stressed with them is the importance of good manners.  There is no option there.  I may be a "pick your battles" kind of mom, but if you're my kid, I better hear "please" and "thank you" come out of your mouth.

Fortunately for them, my kids do pretty well with this, even without reminders.  Today, I took them out to lunch, and listened to them order their drinks and meals (something else we've always stressed; they need to learn to speak up for themselves!), with the appropriate "May I please have..." requests.  When their food came, the shift manager (who brought the food out) heard a cheerful round of "thank you!" as he set down their plates.  I was satisfied to hear them use the manners we've reinforced since they could talk (or even before then, since Alex learned to sign before he could speak; you can bet he could sign "please" and "thank you"!).

After the bill was paid, and our server dropped off my receipt, she hesitated long enough to compliment the kids.  She commented on how well behaved they were, and mentioned their nice manners, and told them that even her manager came to tell her that he also noticed those things.

The kids beamed.  I beamed.  It was a nice moment.

Of course, shortly after that, Alex threw a big wad of cheese on the floor of the grocery store and refused to pick it up, which resulted in a stand off.  We won't talk about that, though.  I'm still enjoying the brief moment where someone saw how well behaved the kids can be.  I'm allowed to do that.

Reading

So, I am almost finished with a fantastic book, and I can't wait to see how it ends. I can't break my posting streak, though, so take this short blurb as today's entry. 

What's the last book you read and loved?

Battles

I got a lot of advice after my son was born and we learned of his Down syndrome.  Suddenly, there were experts ("experts"?) at every turn, offering words of advice on everything from what to feed him, which therapies to start, and even tips for hiring a special needs attorney.

I remember bristling at that suggestion, thinking that if it ever came to the point where we thought we needed an attorney, then the situation would be so off base that we would just remove him from whatever was causing the problem.

Alas, first time mothers often make mistakes on which they later reflect in amazement.

I never imagined that I would have to spend hours revising IEPs, or that I would worry incessantly about the words I chose, so as to not affect the reputation of my family and negatively impact a situation for my other children.  I never thought I would have to nitpick every last detail about my son's schedule, both at school and for extracurricular activities, to ensure the highest level of inclusion.  Some days (years!) I worry more than others; some activities cause more stress than others, while still other situations leave me banging my head against the wall. And, on the flip side, sometimes I find myself in a complete state of astonishment because I don't have to work at all to find the right balance for Alex because the party on the other side of the scenario just gets it (church programs and dance studio, I'm referring to you here...).  That situation doesn't occur often, but when it does, I find myself happy but also frustrated, because shouldn't it be that "easy" all the time?!?

Beggars can't be choosers, though.  I'll enjoy these rare occurrences whenever they arise.

I've seen the term "Warrior Mom" applied to mothers of children on the autism spectrum, but I think it is fitting for all mothers who are fighting for their children.  While mothers of children with special needs might find themselves with more cause to battle schools, government institutions, healthcare companies (the list could go on and on, I'm sure), all moms who advocate for their children are Warrior Moms.  Our armor? The tough skin that you have to develop to take all the nonsense, set backs, and other struggles that come with this territory.

And let's not forget the dads!  I so rarely hear about the fathers of children with special needs and their advocacy efforts.  They may not be the vocal parent at the conference table, but they are just as involved in the process.  Advocacy is definitely not a one-person show.

While Alex has been blessed with many great teachers, therapists, and cheerleaders, we still spend a lot of time making certain that he has every opportunity available.  I tend to be a "pick your battles" kind of mom, except when it comes to matters of inclusion.  I don't mess around there.  I'm trying to relax this summer, and take a break from the constant looking-over-shoulders that I find myself doing during the school year.  So far, it's been difficult to step away; it's now to the point that I feel that I'll miss something if I let my guard down for even a few weeks in the summer.  It's pathetic to think that, right?

I'll always feel that way, though.  I suppose it's just one of the many pieces of this big advocacy puzzle that we're still trying to put together.





 

Table for One

Another challenging day in the ol' duck pond.

Alex is really feeling the transition from the structured school routine into the less structured summer routine. Yes, we have a schedule for summer, but it's not as defined as his schedule during the school year, so it takes him weeks to adjust.

I wanted to take the kids back to the zoo today, but Alex didn't want to go anywhere because he thought it might rain (it was kind of cloudy).  We compromised, and decided to visit the library and grab some ice cream before heading to his speech and occupational therapy appointments.

He loves the library, and who doesn't enjoy a good ice cream treat, so I thought we'd have a great afternoon.  It was, for the most part, but my kids have learned the art of screwing around in the car, with the thought that Mom can't do anything about it because she's driving.

Ugh.

I can not stand to hear screaming kids in the car.  It's nonsense.  It's not safe.  It makes me crazy.  Yet they continue to do it.  I've stopped the car, taken away privileges, yanked electronic devices out of their sticky little hands, but I have yet to find the magic solution to their minivan shenanigans.

So, imagine the headache I had when we finally got home this evening, after hearing them yell, laugh, scream, and fight in the car in between all of our destinations today.  It was ridiculous.  I escorted them inside, said hello to my husband, and then said goodbye as I walked out the door to go have dinner, by myself.

I had a lovely meal at Pei Wei, dining quietly and uninterrupted, and even read a couple chapters in a book that I'm really enjoying but have a hard time squeezing into my schedule.  It was glorious.

And now, I'm back home, the headache down to a dull roar.  The laundry needs some attention and the dishwasher needs unloaded, and I'm certain there is something I could be doing for Team Alex, but I'm going upstairs to take in another couple chapters of my book.

Here's hoping for a more peaceful Tuesday.

Ice Cream

I don't know if I've ever met anyone who does not enjoy some type of ice cream.

I was born in a smallish town, which had several family owned ice cream joints.  We could walk down to the end of our street and get an ice cream cone out of an old caboose.  It was awesome.  After we moved to Columbus, we lost that piece of small town charm.  We had a Dairy Queen right across the street from our first home, and that was cool (and it was before DQ went super corporate, so that location was more of a hybrid), but it wasn't the walk-up type of ice cream joint.

I still miss that.

Don't get me wrong; we have great options for ice cream here, so I'm not complaining.  I love treats from Jeni's and Graeter's, as do my kids.  But, sadly, neither one of those fine establishments has a Smurf cone. Ah, the Smurf cone; a childhood favorite.  This concoction consisted of blue soft serve ice cream, a marshmallow hat, and candy eyes.  Perfection on a cone.

Today, I saw several posts from Facebook friends that mention an ice cream place not terribly far from my house.  It seems to have that element that I miss about my trips for ice cream as a child, and I'm very happy to hear that they have a Smurf cone.  I am definitely excited to check it out.

Seriously, I might have just declared tomorrow as National Ice Cream for Lunch Day.