No more pencils, no more books, . . .

We survived another school year!!

Can't believe it is over.

 

Christopher had another challenging, but great year at school.

 

 

I love his charter school and he has had amazing and supportive teachers. 

I have been an emotional wreck knowing that we may be moving soon and that this was his last year at that school. 

I have spent two days a week all year long walking into that school, chatting with the secretaries, students, and teachers. 

 It breaks my heart to say goodbye.

I sent Christopher to school with his surprise lunch (a lunch full of all the stuff I wont buy him throughout the year). 

 

 

He had a great last day.

 

 

 

 

 

Andy also had a wonderful year at preschool.

 

 

I put him in preschool for the social aspect and it worked!

 

 

 

He has become a lot less shy and was so excited to go to school everyday.

 

 

His teacher is my beautiful friend who lost her husband only a year ago to a drunk driver. 

 

 

She is raising 5 children by herself and running a preschool.

I adore her and admire her so much.

 

 

She was a wonderful teacher for my Andy and he had such a fun year.

 

I am so grateful for good teachers!!  Let's hope this trend continues :)

 

Yay for summer!!

 

Sunny days . . . .

It has FINALLY warmed up here in Idaho and we are enjoying every minute :)

 

 

 

 

 

Again! . . . .

I am soooooooo far behind on my blog . . . . . AGAIN!

You will just have to resort to pictures and a few words.

But, like they say, a picture's worth a thousand words?

So, I should be covered. :)

 

First, my wonderful, funny 93 year old grandfather passed away.

 

 

It was difficult for all of my family because of the amazing impact he had on all of our lives. 

I spent nearly every Sunday of my life at his home and his favorite chair is so empty without him.

 

 

Second, we had a nice Easter.

Grandma Eva sent some Angry Bird Easter egg dye in the mail and the boys had so much fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their baskets had silly little things in it, including a spongebob jump rope.

Christopher pulled it out and said "Cool!!  A spongebob weapon!"

Boys will be boys.

 

 

 

Third, the kids have been doing well at being cute . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth, I have been so busy this month promoting Autism Awareness for my boy.

I've been sending out letters and buttons and raising awareness (annoying people to death) on facebook.

Love this kid!

 

There ya have it . . . . .

Hello out there?

 

Anybody still read this thing?

 

I've been pretty terrible at posting.  I guess 3 crazy boys are my excuse :)

 

I am posting today for one thing, and one thing only - TO VENT. 

 Oh, how I need to vent!! 

 Feel free (if you still read this thing) to look over this post and wait for some pictures of my adorable baby :)

 

Just so ya know . . . .

I know my oldest son.  I know what he likes.  I know what he does NOT like.  I know what makes for a bad day in Autism World.  And yet, people still do not trust that I know this.  People who have no clue what autism is about.  Let me give you an example . . . .

 

The other day I knew our day was going to be a doozy.  Christopher missed the bus.  He missed the bus because I forgot to remind him to keep walking and not to play in the snow until he got to the bus stop.  Yes, I have to remind him of this every day.  When something goes wrong in Christopher's schedule, his whole day can be affected.  I anxiously got all my kids in the car to go to school.  Just then, the phone rang.  It was his therapy place.  His occupational therapist was sick and so they only needed him for an hour.  His therapy is clear across town.  To bring him there for an hour is ridiculous for me.  Packing and unpacking all the children is like a circus.  I told her to just cancel his therapy for the day.  I told Christopher and told him to tell his teacher.  Another change in his schedule and he was getting even more anxious.  I got him to school and then his therapy called back and decided that he needed to come.  Ahhh!  Now I have to change his schedule for a 3rd time!!  They insisted and so I called the school and changed it again.  He had a rough day at school after that.  Ripped papers, wouldn't do his handwriting.  His teachers ask me if I forgot to give him his medication that day.  Nope.  They ask me if I can do more volunteering.  I barely had a shower that day.  No makeup.  I tell them not this week.  They don't know that in my heart I would spend every day in that classroom if I could.

 

We survived all that. 

 

When he got home, he asked if he could play at a friend's house.  I knew that he was feeling a little anxious, but someone that day had told me that I worry about him too much and that she didn't get what the big deal was.  I doubt myself.  Am I an overprotective mother?  I let him go to his friend's house.  He comes home and starts into his tantrums, his anxiety, his anger.  He is soooo hard to calm down.  I am frustrated and tired. 

 

Then, a few people from church call to tell me about a relief society activity that night. 

 I tell them I won't make it. 

 

"There will be babysitting there!"

Me :  "I'm sorry, I just don't think I will make it and Davin won't be home until late."

"Oh, just come!  You will be fine!" 

I can tell in their voices that they do not believe me and think that I am just trying to get out of coming.

 

I get off the phone feeling antisocial and like everyone in the world knows it.

On top of all this craziness I have two other children to take care of, a house to clean, meals to make, homework (it takes him almost an hour to write ONE sentence), and my church duties on Tuesday and Sunday . . . . all without a husband (he is working hard for our family this busy tax season :) ) 

Some days it is just too much.

 

I have one thing to ask in all of this venting -

If you know someone with a child who has ANY form of autism, GIVE THEM A BREAK!  If they are antisocial, it is not because they want to be.  If they can't make it to that birthday party or that easter egg hunt, it is because they are protecting their child.  If they sound overprotective, it is because they have to be in order to survive their day.  

 

I know tomorrow I will feel better and I will move on with my life - loving my son and all of my blessings along the way.  But, for today - I am tired. 

There ya have it :)

You should be in pictures . . . . .

 

I am sooooo far behind on my blog. 

So, I am going to post a marathon of pics with very little words. 

Enjoy??


In January -

The baby was cute,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and, Andy had a birthday where he wanted EVERYTHING Star Wars Angry Birds and a birthday cake with Darth Vader, sprinkles, and pink writing :)

 

 

It was a fun, busy month!

 

It's the most wonderful time . . . . .

What a month!!!

 

We are exhausted!  We found Matty passed out on the floor a lot. :)

 

I cannot believe how fast this month has gone and how much we have done . . . . . . .



I turned the big 30!

Davin surprised me with a new camera!
I loooove it!!

I entered a calendar contest for the local paper.

They put one of my pictures of Andy in the newspaper

and I won first place in the calendar contest! 

 

Matty's picture is on the front and I won $100 (still waiting on the money . . . hmmm).  They also put one of my Yellowstone pictures inside the calendar. 

 

I've never won anything so we were super excited!

 

Christopher had a Christmas program at school.

They did so well and it was so fun to see all those sweet 1st graders singing so beautifully.

 

We celebrated Christopher's 7th birthday.

He got to go play at a friends birthday party that day with all his friends from school.

Later that night we went with Grandma and Grandpa Catmull, Rob, Jen, and cousin Ryker to Pizza Pie Cafe.  This is his all time favorite restaurant and he was in heaven.  There was even a Santa Claus there handing out little toys. 
He made and decorated his own cake this year and he was so proud.

He was so excited to go to Great Grandma's house to open all his presents and he was pretty sure it was the best day EVER!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bought Davin's parent's car (love this car) and sold our old Camry. 

We loved that car and it was a little sad to see it go :( 
We had had that car since Davin and I started dating!! 

Matty went with me to the DMV and it was cooooold! 
Good thing he had his cute hat :)
 

 

Andy ate a christmas cookie from a neighbor and had an allergic reaction.  We think it was the anise in them. 
Luckily there are not many things containing anise!

 

 

We had a marvelous Christmas!

On Christmas Eve we travelled on the terrible terrible roads to Grandma's house and barely made it up the icy hill to her house. 

What an adventure.
 

We had a long, cautious drive home that night. 
The kids decorated cookies for Santa and Davin and I drank egg nog and watched "It's A Wonderful Life".  Love watching that movie with him every year.

 

Santa came and the boys could hardly contain themselves waiting to see what he brought.

 

 

 

We had an angry bird themed Christmas this year.  I found a whole set of angry birds for each boy and they also got the new Angry Bird Star Wars toys.
 They are in heaven playing together.

 

We spent Christmas day in Idaho Falls with family and as Christopher says

"My favorite part about Christmas is being with allllll my family.  Together and cozy." 

 

 Agreed.