Holiday Madness...

Now that the madness of the holiday season has passed, I am going to be able to focus more time here...

So between shopping for presents for everybody, planning a holiday meal, getting the house ready for company and school things for my son, it has been a mad house around here. Christmas though was a success!!!! Always love when that happens, but before I tell you about Christmas let me share some good news about my son.

We were invited to the school for an award ceremony because Bugaboo made it on the honor roll! So proud of him. We we also had to go to the school for an IEP meeting because he was showing such vast improvement that they wanted to retest him. After this retesting it was decided that they wanted to move him to a program with higher level of curriculum so as not to hold him back, which is incredible. I mean my husband and I are completely shocked about how much he has gained in the last year. When Bugaboo was first diagnosed with Autism he was also diagnosed with a global developmental delay, after the retesting they said that he shows absolutely no signs of the delay anymore. Hubby and I are so incredibly excited about this. We were also invited to the school for a special holiday program put on by all of the special education classes. It was wonderful. Hubby and I were also so happy given the fact that every student in the audience from the general ed classes were so supportive and welcoming of all of the special ed kids. It was wonderful and heartwarming. Given all of this good news we were very excited about the holiday.

Now for Christmas, we held it at our house. We had a wonderful meal. Lasagna with wheat noodles and marinara specially made at a winery that is delicious. It just makes the lasagna taste so much better. Plus garlic bread that we made from french bread, melted butter with minced garlic and mozarrella cheese and a salad. We also had an amazing spread of cookies and breads made from scratch from both my mother and mother in law. The food was amazing.

We started the morning opening stockings from Santa and the kids were thrilled. Just some small gifts and snacks filled their stockings that they opened in their special Christmas pajamas that they got the night before as we tracked Santa online.

 As the kids opened their presents, Hubby gave me mine. A special charm bracelet in which each charm had a special meaning from our lives.

 The way he gave it to me though was even more special. He typed up our story and for each page that he had written he gave me a charm. It was sweet and romantic. It of course made me cry and I couldn't have been happier. He tends to be romantic on Christmas, I mean he did ask me to marry him on Christmas eve 12 years ago.

Hubby is a big kid so while he got me sweet and romantic, I got something for the kid in him. A new 4 wheel drive, remote control truck that can go up to 60 mph that he and all the men in our house on Christmas played with for hours. While he got that, the kids got  a new air hockey game that they are loving, not to mention me and hubby had an epic battle on it this morning. Here is a picture of the kids playing it. 

So how was your Christmas? Tell me about the food, the gifts, the drama, the family...

Anything or everything is welcome, I would love to hear it. I hope your holidays were filled with a lot of love, laughter and memories that will last a lifetime. Until next time, I will just continue on this journey of an everyday mom...

Christmas Decorating

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, we have started decorating for Christmas. My kids have gotten really excited about the upcoming holiday. They are so thrilled about Santa coming. Every time they see the Christmas tree they say, "Yay!!!! It's Christmas!" I love their enthusiasm, excitement and enjoyment for the holiday. When they look outside and see the lights on the neighborhood houses they shout, "Look at the pretty lights!" I love the way a children's belief in the holiday magic rubs off on us. It makes this season brighter and more filled with joy at least for me.

I figured I would share some of our Christmas decorations with you. The first is our nutcracker, garland, and stockings on the fireplace.

Our Christmas tree, the kids helped put ornaments on it. It was a fun evening.

Our small town on snow. Eventually we will add to it, maybe some more snow, trees and possibly old vintage cars.

Our small dining centerpiece, the wooden reindeer and two LED candles. It is new this year, we got it at Lowe's. We were very excited about it.

Please feel free to share your own Christmas decorations. I would love to be inspired by anything you are willing to share. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I would love to hear about all of your experiences.

Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving...

I love fall, the colors, the weather, the food, Thanksgiving, spending time with family...I love the idea behind Thanksgiving, how people come together, share, are gracious and thankful for all the good in their lives. Fall just makes me happy.

I visited family in Kentucky one year during the fall and the leaves changing colors was unbelievably beautiful. The way that a tablescape during fall can look with pumpkins, candles, acorns is lovely...I enjoy the way we can bring nature into decor. Fall incorporates so many wonderful things

This year my mother is hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Since Hubby and my father were diagnosed with Type II diabetes, we try to create healthier food options for them. We make traditional Thanksgiving food items but with less carbs. Sometimes we are successful, other times not so much. Last year we made mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes, that was not so successful. It definitely did not turn out as we had anticipated.

This year instead of turkey my dad is making a prime rib roast. Now I enjoy turkey, but prime rib roast is delicious. I'm not exactly sure how my dad is planning on preparing it, but I found this recipe online and it looked yummy. What do you all think? What is your favorite meat to have on Thanksgiving? I am not a fan of ham, although Hubby enjoys it...so I'm glad they are not making that.

My favorite side dish is stuffing, particularly the way my mom makes it. She incorporates celery, carrots, onion, apples, hot breakfast sausage and cranberries into it. The combination of flavors is delicious. This is the splurge I have on Thanksgiving. If there are any leftovers I always take them home. I get to enjoy it all to myself  because Hubby and the kids don't like stuffing...What is your favorite side dish? What is the one item that makes it Thanksgiving for you?

This year for dessert my mom is making a triple berry crisp. She made this for an event that we had earlier this year and it was a crowd favorite. Since it is made out of berries, it makes it healthier and better for Hubby and my dad. She used steal cut oats for the crisp. She altered the recipe in slight ways to make it healthier and it was unbelievably delicious. I can't wait to have it again. What is your favorite dessert?

I am looking forward to our meal this year, plus the family time tomorrow. From my family to yours, wishing you a wonderful and yummy Thanksgiving. We hope your day is filled with lots of laughs, love and memories that will last a life time. Feel free to send any Thanksgiving stories or recipes. Until next time...

Some of the Frustrations of an Everyday Mom

Being a parent is the hardest job in the entire world. Constantly worrying, second-guessing your decisions and trying to teach your child everything they need to know is difficult to say the least. You aren't always appreciated but one look, smile, hug or kiss from that child can shift your entire day. I never knew I could love someone as whole heartily or unconditionally as I love my children. They became my entire world from the moment I found out I was pregnant. There are definitely frustrated moments where it feels like I have completely failed at being a parent and then other moments where I know I must have done something incredibly right. It is a roller coaster on a daily basis. 

Every child is different and their needs, strengths, consequences all need to be based on each child, which means there is no one correct way to be a parent. There is no book, blog or opinion that is correct for every child in the entire world. Having an Autistic child adds the difficulties already facing us as parents. Every autistic child is just as different with their needs and triggers. The things I write here are my own personal experiences. One of the great difficulties for Hubby and I with our Bugaboo is that he isn't able to communicate all of his needs to us. For the past couple of weeks he has been behaving in ways that are not normal for him. He is acting out in ways at school that he never did before. He had always thoroughly enjoyed school and transitioned easily from each activity. Unfortunately, we have no idea what has triggered him and he is literally incapable of telling us. There haven't been any changes in his home life. It is so hard, frustrating and saddening when your child needs something and you have no idea what it is. It makes me feel like I am failing my child. I would give anything to make him happy, to make his life easier. I know that he gets frustrated with his inability to communicate. He makes that clear. Hubby and I do everything in our power to help him. We feel that he teaches us humility, strength and courage because our Bugaboo has it in spades. Living a life where you can't communicate fully, where you are affected by overbearing sensations with noise and vibrations, lights and tastes, it has to be extremely difficult. As his mother, I want nothing more than to take every single difficulty away from him. I love him unconditionally and want nothing more than what is best for him. I want to protect him, guide him and be his strength to lean on when things are too difficult for him. I am only human though. Between work and traffic I am out of the house 60 hours a week. There is a limited time everyday for me to give him everything, which then makes me feel guilty for working outside of the home. I struggle with myself about if I am doing the right thing. But those few moments where he will say mommy running to me with the biggest smile and a hug and a kiss make every moment worth it. The times when he says I love you are life altering. I feel the same way about my Doodlebug, her complete joy to be with me, her snuggles and everything she gives to all of us is life altering. 

Life isn't fair or easy. It is a struggle to move past the frustrations and stresses to the happiness we all want. A lot of times it is a choice to let it all go and just enjoy the moments, at least for me it is. Being a parent will continue to be the hardest job of my life but it is also the most rewarding. The love I feel for my children and the love they give in return makes it possible for me to deal with anything else. I will continue to do my best no matter how many mistakes I make, and trust me I will make a lot. It's part of the journey of an everyday mom.

Share with me some of your frustrations as a parent or even just as a human being. Let me know how you feel, how you cope or what makes you happy. Let it all out, I want to know it all. Maybe we could help each other on this journey of life :) Until next time...

Just an Everyday Mom

First let me tell you a little about myself. I am an everyday, normal wife and mother of two children. I am 31 years old. My husband and I have been together for 13 years, married for 9 of them. My husband is 36 and was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes last year. My firstborn is my son, my Bugaboo, who is 5 years old and was diagnosed with Autism last year. My second born is my daughter, my Doodlebug, who is 3 and acts like she is going on 15. I was a stay at home mom for 3 years until we couldn't afford for me to be able to do that any more. Now I work as a buyer/purchasing agent for a metal fabrication shop that focuses on Aerospace and Defense custom pieces and prototypes. I am also a certified event planner. I worry, stress and just try to get through each day with my sanity intact. I am sleep deprived, hard working and doing my best. I love my family more than anything. Everyday is a struggle and busy.

So why start a blog...

As a mother, I question my decisions constantly and make mistakes. There are times where it would be nice to just feel like I am not the only one, that someone gets it and gets me. My sister-in-law recently had a baby and it seems to be nice for her to share her concerns, worries and struggles with me since I can understand exactly where she is coming from. So starting a blog that shares real life, real decisions, real mistakes seemed like a place for other everyday moms to see that someone gets their struggles. I will share my struggles, mistakes, stresses and successes. I will share ideas, hopes and dreams. I will share recipe ideas, party ideas and all of my typical mommy things. I will share my journey through life with you as an everyday mom.

Please join me on this journey and share any questions, concerns or your journey's with me. I would love to hear from you. This will be a safe place, a non-judgemental place to share the struggles of mommyhood, wifedom, working or staying at home. Until next time...