Thanksgiving 2010

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. We typically spend Thanksgiving with "Uncle Nik" but my parents and brother were able to join us this year. The drive for my parents was trecherous so we were even more thankful for their arrival.
We created a delicious GFCF meal for everyone. It was our first year making a traditional Thanksgiving meal for a group of people. It was a fun task!
It astounds me that we have enough room in our home to accomodate four extra adults This home has a great flow to it and it rarely seemed full of people, even with the guest room unavailable.
We went to a tree farm and cut down a tree together. It was a fantastic experience for the kids. We got some cute photos of the kids near a fire place and outside. Above is a photo of all of us after our tree hunt.
I'm very grateful for being able to celebrate the holidays with our beloved relatives and our dear friend.

Halloween Spooktacular

We had our third annual Halloween Spooktacular with the playgroup. We played games, created crafts, danced, and bobbed for apples. We even ate a potluck lunch. It's so much fun to see all of the kids in their costumes.

Our original idea for our family theme was a nun, priest, two devils, and an angel. Gabriel had other ideas (after agreeing to the devil costume and picking it out!) and dressed up as a Viking. Back to his roots, I suppose. It should make his Poppy happy.

We also went to the RR Museum for some more Halloween fun. The boys enjoyed painting pumpkins. It was a nice family holiday.

Living in the Moment

As a busy mother of three young children, I find it difficult to live in the moment. I am working on this because I don't want to look back in ten years and realize I missed out on everything. I do great things with the kids. I know I do but I am constantly thinking steps ahead and about what needs to be accomplished rather than enjoying the wonderful beings we've created.
Yesterday I let the house remain messy until the end of the day. I won't lie - it was tough for me. My brain doesn't always click when I am surrounded by a mess.
I took Gabriel to school and enjoyed watching the boys walk into the school. Alexander still looks so small when he's next to the other children in the elementary school. I took time to walk Gabriel to the bathroom when he asked and thorougly loved watching him follow through on things he needed to accomplish in the morning.
I took Alex and Lane to the grocery store and let them pick out things they wanted. They snacked on cookies. Hey, why not at 9 am rather than 4 pm?! We went to the nursing home. The kids charmed the socks off the residents and I felt like I was glowing again.
We picked Gabriel up at 2:30 and went to the library. The boys told the librarians that we have bed bugs. We don't but it was really funny to me. They watched a news story about bed bugs and they are obsessed with the idea. I'm a little grossed out about staying at a hotel in a couple weeks but I won't bring up the bed bug story or they won't sleep!
Lane was covered in marshmallows. A big mistake to give them to her in the car but it was cute!
So I challenge you to live in the moment today if you aren't already. Let the house stay messy. Let things sit for a while. It will be there later and I promise you will see things you didn't know were happening.

Mosher's Pumpkin Fun

Lane had a blast at Mosher's this year. She walked through the hay maze with her friends and painted a pumpkin for the first time! We rode on a little hay ride with our friends. She even liked the hot cocoa at the end of the event.

Woof Woof! Bark Bark! Arf Arf!

We went to a play date today with the playgroup. It included treats and a craft with puppy ears. Lane was most interested in the treats! I figured out how to make our own version of puppy chow that is GFCF and it is really good!

Krafty Kids: Savings Time

We went to a fun playdate tonight. It involved learning about saving money by painting piggy banks! Gabriel thought was GREAT. Alexander didn't participate but we brought a bank home for him. Maybe he'll paint it another day. Lane has one in her room with her name on it. What a fun idea!

Autism Doesn't Matter!

I was very excited to be a maid of honor in an upcoming wedding. The dress is currently being altered by a professional seamstress. Hundreds of dollars were spent on the bachelorette party and bridal shower. The personalized gift has been purchased. Plans continued to be made for a third 10 hour drive with our three children, now ages 5, 4, and 14 months.
A week ago I received a text from the bride-to-be stating that the rehearsal and dinner are on Sept 30. GREAT! I already have a dress that will be appropriate! Maybe I should order cute bride and groom tshirts? Oh... I'll have to see if it's in my budget and if it could arrive at my parents home in time.
My return text: who from my immediate family is included?
Just you and your husband.
Oh no... my heart is in my throat. What will I do with my 5 year old who has autism, my 4 year old who has issues being left places since preschool started a few weeks ago, and my 14 month old who has reflux that causes her to stop breathing???
For every out of town rehearsal, we have all been including in the dinner even if we weren't in the wedding. I hadn't considered this being an issue.
I am told by the bride that there is a list of babysitters I can call and they can watch the children. However, we are arriving the day before and I can't see how this will work for us. I have to tell the bride that we can't attend the dinner but I will be at all of the other events.
The bride now calls me on the phone and yells at me - I need you at the dinner. We have suprises planned that evening. This is all about me for a couple hours. AUTISM DOESN'T MATTER FOR A COUPLE HOURS!
I remain calm but thankfully the bride hangs up on me or her phone cuts out. Either way, I am left with that comment. Autism doesn't matter for a couple hours.
I digest this comment. It is clear to me that the bride has not taken one moment to realize that autism does matter. It matters every minute of my son's life. Kids with autism lack empathy, common sense and that inner voice of alerting them from right/wrong, dangerous etc. Not one moment can be taken for granted or assumed that your child with autism is making right choices. He has safety measures in place at school and at home. If I don't keep him safe all of those minutes, I will never be able to take it back or replace him. Yes, EVERY one of those 60 minutes in one hour I am worried about my son's safety. I can't turn autism off any one of those minutes.
This past Monday I was kicked out of the wedding. I was kicked out of a wedding because my son has autism. The sickening part of the story is that the bride is my sister. My son's only maternal aunt.