California trip

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A good week

It has been a busy, fun week.  Emily performed in the community play, Seussical. She had fun and we are glad the practices are over. We took out the canoe and enjoyed an evening at BeaverDick park. On the 4th we watched a two hour parade, in which Emily was in the marching band. Her band then performed a small concert in the park. We did some geocaching, had a barbecue, and watched the 6 minute fireworks show. We also blew up a few army men with firecrackers. Happy Independence Day!

Summer has been fun so far. We played some Frisbee golf with Carissa and Callen. Tony and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary by having a nice dinner at the Sandpiper. We watched a soccer game and an airshow with some friends from Preston. Erik turned 19 and had an x-men cake. We have seen grandpa and grandma a few times, but haven't made it up to Montana yet. We try to keep doing things that make us feel like we ate on vacation. In august we are taking a REAL vacation and going to California.

Eating pineapple

My pineapple finally got ripe. While mom was here we cut it. It was only about the size of a grapefruit, so by the time it was peeled and cored, we each got about two bites. It was delicious and we are going to grow another one from the top of this one.

Shattered Window and MRE's

While Tony was in Texas last week, the side window of my van spontaneously shattered, out of the blue, while sitting in the garage.  I can't find any reason for it!  Luckily there was a place in town that was able to replace it the next day. Cleaning up all the glass was not a fun job.

Our family has a tradition of eating from our 72 hour kits on conference weekend.  Here we are preparing our MRE's for dinner.  It is kind of fun, and we try to make the food in our kits healthy and appetizing.  Tony and I put on our packs and hiked around the neighborhood, to make sure we can carry them.  We really enjoyed the uplifting messages from conference and the time spent at home together. 

Love/Hate Relationship

Today I am feeling rotten and just need to vent a bit.  I am tired. I am sad and frustrated.  Nothing big and bad or horrible is going on... just regular, everyday life.  Dealing with children with autism has been a huge blessing, and a huge challenge.  Most of the time I am fine with it, and just keep plugging along, but every once in a while I get discouraged and angry and overwhelmed.  Today is one of those days.
I get tired because everything just takes so much work.  Just getting through a day with meals, clean clothes, clean bodies, homework done, etc.. takes so much more effort than for "regular" families.  I have to constantly remind, check up on, give directions, and help.  I want my kids to be independent and able to take care of themselves.  To others it often seems like I am "over-parenting" with the constant reminders and instructions, but I have found it is the only way to teach skills and habits.  My kids are not being lazy or irresponsible (most of the time), they have a disorder that makes it difficult for them to process instructions, to remember complex tasks, and to communicate their needs.  They need so much repetition and specific instructions that it can be overwhelming!
Sometimes I feel like I am the only one that understands the affects that autism has on the boys. I find myself getting angry that I have to remind others that the boys process information differently, that they need more reminders, that they need more help than others.  I feel like it shouldn't be my job to teach them what autism is and does, but that they should know.  Often I can't even express my feelings because I don't want to be too soft on the boys. I don't want to baby them or cause them to be less than they are capable of, and I try very hard to push them, but I feel caught between their abilities, and the demands of those around me.  I have a hard time stating this, so writing it out helps me to express my feelings.   I know that we are all doing our best.
I feel so lost sometimes... trying to figure out what they are capable of, how much to push, when to be gentle and when to get tough...( I feel this way with Em too, so I know it is how all parents occasionally feel). I feel very alone sometimes because there aren't very many people I know who are parenting young adults with autism and I don't have anyone to ask when I have questions and concerns.  I hate feeling left out when other parents are talking about their kids activities and accomplishments.
I don't want to be a whiner, and most of the time I feel very blessed and happy.  I just need to acknowledge that sometimes it is hard, sometimes I cry, and sometimes I get angry.

Erik is an Eagle

   

                             Erik finished his Eagle project almost a year ago.  We finally had his award presented to him on the 28th.  I feel bad that we didn't get announcements/invitations sent out to family and friends... The Court of Honor snuck up on me!  Anyway, it was a good evening, with many ward members there to support him.  I am so proud that he did it!!!!!  I am also grateful to have both my boys finished with scouting... it was a really good experience for both of them and they had some great experiences that only scouting could provide for them. 

Holiday drive

Since the kids had no school and Tony didn't have to work yesterday, we took a drive. We ate lunch in Idaho Falls and did a little shopping. Then we drove to Swan Valley and got square ice cream at the Rainy Creek store. It was good to enjoy the sunshine and do something different.

On another note, Tony was sustained as second counsellor in the Bishopric on Sunday. It happened very fast so we couldn't invite anyone to be here.  Dad will ordain him as a High Priest on Thursday and he will be set apart at the same time.  We are a bit nervous, but also very excited for this chance to learn and serve.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

We were blessed to get tickets to the Sunday morning concert. Even though we had to get up really early, it was well worth it. Spectacular production! We were moved to tears by the beauty and sweet spirit.  Then we wandered around Salt Lake, rode the trax, gave our snack to a homeless man, went to the library, ride the jingle bus, and saw temple square lights before heading home. It was a great weekend!

Heritage park

We headed to Salt Lake for a fun weekend. We went to the Heritage park and enjoyed their old fashioned Christmas activities such as making ornaments, live nativity, carolers, fresh donuts, a train ride, and warm gingerbread. Next went to Kent's home and enjoyed their hospitality and hot cocoa.

Beautiful sunset

View out my window tonight....

Star wars at KMart

I took the kids to do some Christmas shopping today.  These guys were at the store, promoting toys for tots. My kids thought it was really cool!

Christmas tree

Last night we finally got the tree decorated. We usually do it the day after Thanksgiving, but we are a little behind. Christmas excitement is in the air!

Jacob at work

It has been requested that we post more pics of the kids.... Since we haven't done anything too exciting you get to see us doing our boring, everyday stuff.  This is where Jacob spends most of his time as he does his school work.  He is in his third semester at byu-i, studying graphic design. He works really hard at his classes and we are proud of his efforts!

Emily at the fair

Tonight was a stake yw activity. All the girls showed a project that they have been working on for personal progress. On Emily's left you can see her cross stitch. It was fun to eat fair food and see all the things that people have been creating.

Kind of Funny

Yesterday was a beautiful day here.  The sun was shining and it was comfortable to be outside in long-sleeves.  We took advantage of the nice weather and mowed the lawn one last time before putting the mower away for the winter.  Then, I decided to hang up the outdoor Christmas lights because I hate doing it when it is icy and windy.  So... I've never mowed the lawn and hung Christmas lights on the same day! 

It is good to have Tony back from his trip to D.C.  He had a nice time at his conference, and really enjoyed hanging out with Scott.  I enjoyed working on some projects like patching the living room ceiling, fixing towel hooks that had pulled out of the wall, making freezer meals, putting scrapbooks together from our family trips (clear back from 2008), and organizing our family's important papers and documents. 

One more odd thing.... did you know that chickens will hunt and eat mice?  I was rather amazed to see mine do just that today!  Weird.......

Dirty Jobs

This has been a week for getting some of those yucky jobs done.  Erik and I crawled under the house and changed the water filter and furnace filter.  I cleaned out all of the little strainers on the faucets... (we have 6 sinks in the house!)  I unclogged the kids tub drain... gross!  The chicken coop got a good cleaning before winter sets in.  ( 2 of my 4 chickens are going to the butcher on Saturday.... one isn't laying any more, and one eats it's eggs as soon as they are layed!)  I got the last of the apples canned and dried... they were starting to get soft and some were moldy.  I also burned the pile of sticks and weeds that has been accumulating all summer.  I am thinking that I am looking forward to the big storm that is supposed to hit this weekend, so that I can do some jobs that aren't quite as yucky!!!

Pumpkins

After a hard freeze last night, all my pumpkins are now visible.  We each picked one to carve for Halloween, then gathered the rest to give to family and friends. I am sad and also glad that my garden is pretty much done till next spring.

Power out

Monday was really windy and we didn't have power at our house. By 5pm it was still off so we met Tony on campus and ate dinner at the cafeteria. Then went to the library so Jacob could finish his online homework.  Still no power at home so we played Clue and ate fudge in the manwaring center for FHE. We got home just as it was getting dark.  We lit the kerosene lamp, found flashlights and got our jammies on. Then gathered around the lamp and took turns reading aloud " The lighthouse of Alexandria".  Just after prayer, the power came on as we were getting into bed. It was a great evening!

Pineapple!!!!!!

 

Sorry this picture is so grainy... cell phone.  After getting back from Hawaii a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to grow a pineapple.  So, after eating the delicious fruit from the grocery store, I saved the top and got it to grow.  It turned into a monster plant that pokes your eyes and grabs your arms as you walk by.  I was just trying to decide whether or not to keep it, when yesterday I saw this little gem poking out of the plants crown!!!! I am so excited that it is finally making fruit!  I will keep you posted on the progress of my new little darling.