I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas (Just Like The One We Had Two Days Ago)

Our tramp may not make it to spring!
LW is just the perfect age for Christmas. So much fun.

Tickets to Wicked!

Lip gloss in the stocking. A girl can never have too much lip gloss, right Moog?

For Christmas we got a Guitar Hero World Tour Box with a Little Worthy in it.

Morgan couldn't help but pose the little man with her bling. Peace Out.

There was no road in front of our house for a few hours!

Our Dad is a most awesome breakfast chef. He is wearing the cute apron Gramma Gail made for Kim. Isn't he so adorable?

Even Tom Cat had a good Christmas. Plenty of boxes to explore, and even a treat from Santa.

Kate spent the morning laying on the couch, but she perked up at about noon and and has been playing madly with her new toys ever since. We knew she didn't feel well because she asked us to open her presents.

Merry Christmas!!! We have to go now--Our band has been busy touring. You haven't seen anything, by the way, until you've seen Big Worthy on the microphone. He is SO MUCH better than Billy Idol. Rebel Yell never saw him coming.

All I Want For Christmas is. . . Healthy Children

cheese!

My kids were sick last week. You can always tell when Little Worthy is sick, because you have to wake him up. Usually he starts his day by impatiently waiting (sometimes for an hour or more) for his lazy family to wake up. He is the only morning person in our family. Last week he just wanted to keep sleeping, so there was no question that he wasn't feeling well. Fast forward to this week, when he had his class Christmas program. Needless to say, he wasn't prepared after missing so much school. It was hilarious to watch him--he just sort of pouted his way through the program. I did get him to smile for the camera after it was over, though.

So just when I thought we were through with the yuck, Kate started complaining (last night) that her ear hurt. This was after we decided to check her out school earlier in the day. She had been being "non-compliant", which often indicates that she isn't feeling well. She screamed and screamed last night, until she finally gave in and let Daddy give her some tylenol. When she woke up this morning, she went straight to the couch, told me "Mom, my ear is broken," and hasn't moved since. It's almost 6:00 P.M., by the way. For my energetic little girl, something is definitely wrong. It turns out she was right, she had ruptured an eardrum and liquid was oozing out of her ear. Poor baby. She's been a trooper today, but I just hope she is well in time to enjoy Christmas.

Now the latest development is Morgan with a headache.

So, Santa. I'm not asking for much for Christmas. Just kids that are healthy enough to appreciate your visit.

Elf

Today was the last day of Morgan's play, The Toys Take Over Christmas. The little ones were so excited to see Morgan and Santa Claus. I think Morgan really enjoyed being part of this production--she's obviously a Glover. Big Worthy and I are proud of her and the way she strives to try new things and do her best, even when it's outside of her comfort zone.

This is the first time that Kate has EVER been chatty with Santa. It was really fun to see her be so brave. She said she wants a kitten for Christmas. Anyone surprised? At least she didn't say a cheetah or a tiger.

Worthy wouldn't sit on the big guy's lap, but he was brave enough to tell Santa he wants a fish for Christmas. Apparently my children think we are a farm of some sort.

Here is our lovely elf.

Worthy felt special after the show, chatting with the cast. He told two of them, "I like your voice."

Moog, I hope this is the first of many productions. Thanks Striped Happy Girly Goo!

Two Steps Forward and One Step Back...

The two little ones and I are home today. Little Worthy is feeling yucky, and Kate is feeling just yucky enough to be a potential behavior problem at school. So we're having a break. I feel very blessed to have a job that is flexible. My family takes priority and my boss is so good about that.

Last week something happened at our house that I have been wanting to blog about. Those of you who know about autism, or who have had interactions with Kate, know that perspective is a big deal. Kids on the spectrum usually have a really hard time understanding that other people have different perspectives. They have "mind blindness," which becomes apparent very early with autistic kids. As an example, you will not find a baby with autism who points to objects. They don't bring toys to you or show you objects, because they simply don't understand that it is necessary. They can't see that your point of view differs from theirs. As they grow older, this can lead to all sorts of trouble. With Kate, we are constantly reminding her that other kids have feelings, that she doesn't always get to go first, that she should share. She has an especially hard time with empathy. So, I know that was long, but...

Last week Worthy stole a jolly rancher from the grocery store (I know, this could be a post in itself). After he was caught, his Dad told him that he would have to return the jolly rancher to the store. We would not pay for the candy, so he would have to apologize to the people at the store and figure out a way to pay for it or make it right. Of course he cried. We thought he had moved on, when later...

Big Worthy walked into the living room to find Worthy sobbing uncontrollably. Kate had her arms around him, patting him on the back and assuring him, "It's okay, Worthy. I have a nickel and I will give it to you. And you don't have to worry, because they don't put kids in jail. I promise. It's okay."

So great. Empathy, for sure. She loves her little brother.

This Is For You, Richie...Comedies

In honor of Richie, I decided to come up with a list of my favorite movies. This is an extremely difficult task, I've discovered. So after much soul searching, I have decided to narrow my picks down to several different categories. And now (drumroll, please), my favorite comedies of all time (note: the order has a tendency to change, depending on my mood at the moment. And another note: most of these are my favorites simply because they are so darned quotable).


1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off. "This is my ninth sick day this semester. It's pretty tough coming up with new illnesses. If I go for ten, I'm probably going to have to barf up a lung, so I better make this one count."


2. Best In Show. "We met at Starbucks. Not at the same Starbucks but we saw each other at different Starbucks across the street from each other."


3. So I Married An Axe Murderer. "I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offside, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow."




4. This Is Spinal Tap. "This goes to eleven".


5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! You mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!


6. Better Off Dead. "I want my two dollars."


7. Napolean Dynamite. "Girls only want boyfriends who have good skills."


8. A Fish Called Wanda. "How very interesting. You're a true vulgarian, aren't you?"


9. Wayne's World. "I once thought I had mono for an entire year. Turns out I was just really bored."

10. Office Space. "Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler."

My Promised Things-That-Make-Me-Happy Post

Happy Tuesday, Y'all. Here are some of the things that make me smile today:

1. My job. Sometimes it can be frustrating, especially when there are babies and families that need my help, but don't follow through with their end. I hate to see babies suffer when they could be making developmental gains. Yesterday, however, was such a great day. I had 3 separate, incredible home visits. Each one reminded me of why I love my job. My team does make a difference for kids and their families.

2. My home. This morning, as the wind was howling all around us, I felt warm and safe and cozy in my home with my family. The Christmas decorations make me happy and cozy, too.

3. My husband. Yesterday Worthy was "sick". Sick of the house, that is (shhh...don't tell his boss). When I came home from work he had cleaned the little kids' rooms--not as easy as one would think, unfortunately--and had dinner going. It filled me with peace. Thanks, Worth. I'm working on finding someone who will pay him to stay at home and be my house husband. Any takers?

4. My sis. For my birthday, Jen got me a jewelry making class. I'm going to Farmington this weekend for a sister visit, some Christmas shopping, and creativity. I'm really looking forward to it. I laugh when I'm with her.

5. Caffeine. I can't help it. I'm weak. I'm on my way to Bluff right now, and I'll stop off for gas and a diet coke. Aahh, the simple things. (This is dedicated to you, Nancy).

Wally Lamb

I just read The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. I don't remember being so caught up in the characters in a book in a long time. Have you ever read a book, and weeks after you're finished you still wonder what the characters are up to now? Or are you ever suddenly reminded of a vivid scene or character? I can't seem to let this one go. It was that good. I had read another of Wally Lamb's books, I Know This Much Is True, and I remember feeling the same way about it. Wally Lamb is a master of storytelling and of character. So my sister reminded me that I should read She's Come Undone, also by Wally Lamb (his debut novel). I absolutely could not put this book down. By the way, you can find a great list of her favorite books if you link to her blog. She's a bit of a book snob (in a good way, gosh). So I trust her list. Plus, she and I have this weird history of buying each other the same gifts, having the same thoughts, and saying the exact same thing at the same time. I think we're psychically connected.

*******DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!******* These books are not for the faint of heart. There is a fair amount of sex and language in all three books. In the dedication of The Hour I First Believed, Lamb says in his dedication to his mother, "Sorry about all those four-letter words, Ma. That's the characters speaking. Not me." I personally believe that characters, in order to be real, have to be unedited and harsh sometimes. It doesn't bother me, as long as it's not superfluous and it adds to the character and story. But I will probably go straight to Hades, so you may not want to join me there. If it will bother you, don't read it. I'm just sayin.'