Mommy Rhapsody from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

I get it. It’s almost the 4th of July, and this year, the 4th of the July falls on a Fast Sunday, so your ward has 3 options:

1) Do a patriotic themed Sacrament meeting today
2) Do a patriotic themed Sacrament meeting on July 11th (which feels kinda lame, kinda like singing Christmas Carols at New Year’s)
3) Do an patriotic opening and closing hymn, and call it good.

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Hi there.  I’m sure many of have been DYING (big eye roll) to know the status of my little “situation” so I figured I’d throw you a bone and give an update.   Since my last related post, I’ve had several screening tests, two more appointments with my midwife, one appointment with a cardiologist, an echocardiogram, “the” ultrasound, an amniocentesis, and some bed rest (my uterus did not take well to being invaded by a long sharp object).  All in all it could have been much worse, but nonetheless it has been a trying and long eight weeks.  (more…)

This is quickly turning into the Angelo/Kenny show.  I’m OK with that - everybody loves a good rivalry, either real or edited that way.  I’m rooting for Kenny, myself. (more…)

There is an interesting article in the NY Times, basically saying that dads are stressed too.  And well, yeah, I could have told you that.  I watched a news report about it fully 8 years ago in one of my college classes, that basically said: Wow!  Men are having trouble balancing work and home life, just like women!  And apparently, it’s still news.  I guess Father’s Day was a slow news day for the NYT.

But that’s not what I want to talk about. (more…)

My dad is one awesome guy.Today after church mom tried to get everybody together upstairs.I was in the bathroom at the moment,so when mom called me up I was a little late but hey, better late then never.But when I got up there,they hadn’t even done anything but talk.So I got everyone stirred up.As I came into the room I lept into the bed and started wrestling my dad.Now my little sister thought this was funny so she decided to climb on dad’s legs and she started wrestling his legs.Now this was a problem so now my dad was trying to get my sister of his legs,trying to tickle me,get me in a ball and get me of the bed!This was a little disturbing to mom trying to relax with the madness going on.I have now been thrown of the bed about 5 times and still trying to fight.I eventually get into the ball I was talking about and dad suggested we take a walk.I ride my bike ahead and meet a friend coming back from the pool which is now closed.We go to the playground at the back of the pool.A couple of kids are coming out of the pool finding that it’s closed.My dad gives me huge underdogs and watches me jump of the swings which he’s pushing me on. I don’t get hurt if that’s what your thinking and that he takes me home to get me a bandade and that’s the end of the story.No that’s not what happens.I’m okay and we go home because sis has chosen to be naked in public.I watch a couple of cartoons and go outside.Probably half an hour later dad comes out and asks what I’m doing.So I told him what I was doing and imagining and he goes and looks at the newly built treehouse(which isn’t very new)to see if it’s still there and guess what?(ding,ding)I have a quiz with one question!Q:is it there or not…………(ding,ding)If you guessed there your correct! I end this with a message:My dad is the best one out there.

I know I didn’t blog about Masters, which of course I loved, but I AM going to talk about this season.  And if you’re wondering why the discrepancy, all I can say is I never claimed to be “consistent” or “reasonable”. And so — Eric Ripert is a judge!  Not a guest judge, a real-live, going-to-be-there-every-week kind of judge. This bodes well for the season. (more…)

We live near a large amusement park. I happen to love roller coasters. Sadly, this love is not shared by my family. Neither my son or my husband are into this particular kind of thrill seeking (which shocks me about my son, actually, as we are talking about a kid who went to the ER when he was 2 for a concussion because he was trying to do a flip off the diving board).

Read more at Segullah

This is a story about true love. (more…)

Yesterday I met with Bean’s team of educators and specialists at the school district offices for his semi-annual Individual Education Plan (IEP). I you have a kid on the autism spectrum, special needs, or any other learning disability, be it neurological or physical, you will someday have the first of many of theses meetings. In just over a week, I am back at the University full time to get my advanced degree in Special Ed, so I imagine I will have a completely different perspective to add as I someday sit on the other side of the table, but for now, this is about being the mom, and facing a team of 6 (almost always) women who specialize in educating kids like mine. (more…)

We are on our way to get dinner. Bean has on a pair of extra-small girl’s leggings, an under-armor swim-shirt, and shearling boots. The leggings are almost indecently tight, but it helps him calm down, so I let it go. The shirt is meant for the pool, but the silky fabric and the smooth seams are also good for him, so I let that go too. The shearling boots are lined in sheep’s wool, and it solves the problem of seams in socks, which if you have a Spectrum kid, you know what I’m talking about. I let those go too, despite it being June.

With a spectrum kid, routine is golden. Familiarity is a safety net that cannot be overstated. Sometimes I think it would easier- not to mention more fair- to all of us if I were only Bean’s mother, or only Jeff and Abby’s mother. Because try as I might to balance everyone, the “typical” kids too often get shoved aside in the mad rush to put out the blazing inferno that is Bean. (more…)

Last year, I got all enlightened and wrote about taking classes and learning new things for the summer.  A year later – I’m not even sure what self improvements I initiated!  I think I have an unfinished scarf somewhere.  I never did take that Zumba class.  I know I was really good about writing in my journal, but somehow, that fell apart once school started again in the fall.

This year, forget it.  I’m taking a hiatus from work (something the library was fully aware of once my kids were home from school).  I’m going to enjoy my kids, read lots of books, play tennis occasionally, and spend as much time at the pool as possible.

I hope your summer is just as satisfying as mine!

“You have a very masculine look about you, honey.  Do people mistake you for a boy often?”

Outward: “heh heh” {polite smile} - possibly it was a {frownsmile}, I don’t know.

Inward: I have no response to that.  Am I supposed to be offended? (more…)

On Memorial Day, I spent pretty much the entire afternoon at the pool. My husband was at a conference, so I was flying solo with my kids. Not a big deal, really, but it did mean that I tried to apply sunscreen to my back by myself. I figured I could do it with the spray stuff.

Not a good plan. (more…)