Sunday, July 31, 2011

Don't Judge Me!

5:00 p.m.,

Sunday.




(You can see where this is going.)




Don't judge...


...you know you wish you'd thought of it. ;)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla








 ~Dedicated to one of my favorite home school mommies: Sunshine Schuppel. A girl after my own heart. <3


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Tate's 7 in 2011!!!

Our baby turned seven today. 
*sigh* 
It's hard to believe that he's already seven.

 (He managed to weasel that Paper Jam out of us one day early.)


Today was not the big party day. We are having two "BIG" parties (one for family, one for friends) in August, since Skyler, Blayne, and Tate have birthdays all in a row.

 BUT TODAY...

Today WAS the day that Tate got to pick out the dinner menu. 
(Skyler begged him to choose homemade Mac & Cheese, but was quickly reminded that he was not in charge of the menu. No. It HAD to come from a blue box!)

 Ahhh...the way to a 7 year-old's heart. :)

In the words of Tate himself, "Easy-peasy, nice & cheesy!"


Note the special birthday cup, which contained this:

 Fanta Strawberry, vintage 2011.

Next was Strawberry Cake with Dinosaur sprinkles.


We added a nice scoop of artificially colored ice cream
to go with the artificially colored sprinkles.


Mmm...


 The special ingredients induced calming effects.


Which led directly to Hyper Drive/Head Spinning Mode.


Not sure I reccomend artificial colors for an ADHD kid (that's still out for debate), but hey...

...it's his birthday, he can spin if he wants to!


It was also the day to spend his 
~HaPpItY BiRfDaY MoOlAh. :)~
(As I mentioned earlier, he actually spent a little bit of it last night, but who's counting?)


LEGO Store. 
(Need I say more?)

Who's ready for more ice cream and cake?
 
Artificially colored, of course!



Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Headaches Are A Pain

So, this is day #4 of a migraine that just keeps getting bigger. It is growing inside my head like a swarm of bees on a bear's behind.

I have no idea what that means, but it sounds appropriate to my pain level.

The migraine meds make me a bit hyper, so I gave in and fed the pain comfort food.

My head is still playing it's crashing cymbals of agony, but my tummy is dancing to a happy beat. :)

Dinner ran a bit late tonight, 
so I started things out with veggies & dip.




While Skyler peeled potatoes, I fried up the meat balls. I know, I know...FRIED meat balls? I had the same thought, but...

The Pioneer Woman, well...


 ...she never lets you down.
(Note: This is especially tasty when served on *classy* paper plates.)
 

That's homemade gluten free gravy on Yukon gold mashed potatoes.

 
You can thank me later.

Of course, I craved dessert.
(What these babies looked like BEFORE powdered sugar.)


Since going gluten free, I have not tried my hand at making 
Russian Tea Cakes. 
Oh! How I have missed them!
 
I needed a quick recipe, so I gave the gluten free Betty Crocker ones a whirl.


They were like powdery balls of delight, that exploded in your mouth.

Buttery. 

Messy.

Delish.
 



So, the next time you have a headache, feed it comfort food. I can guarantee that your migraine will not go away, but your family will appreciate your efforts. 

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla




Monday, July 25, 2011

Manic Mondays (You In?)

I have been wanting to post about Mondays for a while now. They tend to creep up on us, trying their best to smash all our hopes and dreams of blissful organization, and punctual school schedules. They rudely scream insults into our quiet time.



I am on to you, Monday. You're the evil sock villain, who scatters dirty laundry all over my was-clean-on-Friday house.

The nerve. 

I swear, Monday gobbled up my last ice cream bar.

Not cool, Monday, not cool.


But there is another reason why I have been wanting to post about Mondays. You see, I have this feeling that I am not alone. That there is a whole lot of other moms out there, gathering socks, and craving ice cream bars (with white chocolate and pecans).


Let me back up a bit. This is starting to sound a bit...manic.



Tourette's, coupled with ADHD. Asperger's, with accompanying hurdles.
These are a part of our home school make-up. They are commonly called "labels." Things we are supposed to talk quietly and discreetly about (hush-hush). We wouldn't want to disrupt the perfect order of the universe by exposing the fact that our kiddos, OUR HOME SCHOOLED KIDDOS, are struggling with *gasp* "imperfections" too! These are not shameful things. They are worth merit. These are valuable pieces of our children that we should hold delicately; yet firmly. We should lift our chins high KNOWING that these labels are not what define our children, but are a vital part of their very being. A portion of their story, which is still being written. Poetry.

Our children are BEAUTIFULLY made!



What has this got to do with Monday?

If you have a child with special needs, then you know just how menacing Mondays truly are to them. Kids with OCD cringe from the disruption of going from an entire week of school, to a weekend of craziness, back to a MONDAY of school. It interrupts their comfort of predictability, which causes distress on varying levels. Some days go better than others. Some days are like World War III. Some days, you want to spend the entire morning eating a box of ice cream bars, only coming out to make sure nothing is on fire.

I could go on and on. But not today. Today, I have a proposition. A plea. A cry for help...?

 Is there anyone out there picking up what I am laying down??? Am I the only one who would love a community of moms (with special needs kids, or kids with every day challenges) who could offer some support/advice? A sounding board (not a complain-a-thon)? A SAFE place where we can go to ask the hard questions, request prayers, and get support in a non-judgmental setting?

Hey, you in the closet, eating an ice cream bar...I'm talking to YOU!

Okay, moms, here is how it would work. Every Monday, I will come on here with a question, struggle, insight, praise, curriculum suggestion, or whatever else might pop into my head. Just a quick little blurb. Then YOU get to be the sounding board. You get to share your heart, advice, support, prayers, etc., with each other (and me...don't forget me!). Just one great big ol' Mommy Manic Monday bear hug. :)

I'll bring the ice cream bars, but you'll have to come out of the closet. ;)



Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla








P.S. Sorry this is late. I barely got it posted before Tuesday. I blame Monday.