This week's news....

I have been a BUSY GIRL!! So I wanted to share the highlights of my week.
Let me begin by saying that I had *NO CLUE* that so many people found my blog so interesting. It warms my heart to have people ask me when I am going to post again. Thanks for the encouragement!!

So let's get down to business:

What am I thinking???
-I have made the decision to homeschool my children. I would like to tell you that I am confident in my ability to educate and impart wisdom and knowledge into two small, amazingly important individuals; however, I am **extremely** concerned that I will totally screw them up. But then I stop and think about the events that have transpired to lead me to this decision and I realize that the boys are getting screwed up in the school system, so I cannot do any worse than that! Besides, I am their mom and I love them. So if you love the ones that you screw up, it makes a difference, right? :o)

But seriously.. we have all heard that "the Lord works in mysterious ways." Well, I have had a few "confirmations" that I am supposed to do the whole homeschool thing.
-The boys have had an AMAZING week. No major meltdowns or temper tantrums. Just the typical, "I am your brother and it is my mission in life to hurt you" stuff.
-Friday was our co-op pick up day. We had to get the milk, eggs, and coconut oil. On the way to the milk, the boys were telling me how we drink the yummy cow milk and that cows are black and white and say "moo!" To me, that constitutes learning.
-When we left milk and eggs, on our way to coconut oil, Josh asked me where we were going. I told him to go get our coconut oil. And he said, "Oh! We are going to the beach!" I was a bit confused and asked him to clarify what he said, and he reiterated that he thought we were going to the beach. I asked him what we were going to do there, and he proceeded to tell me that we were going to climb a tree at the beach by the water to get the coconuts. Now THAT is learning! How on earth he came up with that on his own is beyond me. But since we are now homeschooling and it happened the first week that I, his mother, am teaching him, I know that somehow I imparted this great wisdom to him. (Stop laughing.)
-Allowing my boys to watch Dora the Explorer while I finish up a paper actually was a good thing! I know the opinion of using TV as a babysitter, but as mentioned in previous postings, you are not here, but you can be to take the TV's place and you are welcome to offer! We have been introduced to Swiper the fox who, from what I can surmise, is the guy who tries to foil Dora's adventures. The boys really like him. Their latest catchphrase is "Swiper, no swiping!" and then they say "Oh man!" Well, this morning this whole thing turned into a lesson! Woo hoo!! We drew a picture of Swiper and wrote his name on a piece of paper and then Josh copied the picture and wrote the name too. Art and spelling are done for the day! Go mommy, go mommy! :o)
-Topher is standing next to me as I write this doing a puzzle. He was just naming all of the animals as he put them in the frame. He kept saying "the caw." What the crap is a caw? I know he can say cow.. so that couldn't be it. I looked at the puzzle and had him redo it. He was calling the PARROT a MACAW. Genius. Sheer genius.

My School News
-I had a group presentation on Wednesday and Elizabeth and Dancing Queen (see the Me and My Gang post) came to observe. It was in my *favorite* class of this semester. Our group has really become a little family and everyone did a FABULOUS job. I was so proud. We really set the bar for the other groups. Sorry guys! Of course, we got an "A" because we rock! Guys, is that still cool?
-I also had a presentation in another class about some volunteer work that we had to do. I talked about working with kids with disabilities. Somehow I ended up talking about my boys and autism for 25 minutes when it was supposed to be a 7 minute presentation. Shocker. Everyone kept asking me tons of questions, which I of course was all too happy to answer. I think that I threw them off though when I started off with my friend AirBear flashing the lights and the tape recorder blaring while I read "Brown Bear." I love the dramatics... I think that is probably a good thing considering my life! :o)


Three Little Words
-This was actually going to be it's own post. And I may delve deeper into this subject at a later date. But... have you ever noticed that sentences that contain just three words are the most vulnerable ones that you can utter? I am not just talking about the one that your mind jumped to when you read the title, although it does count. Here are some that I wanted to SCREAM at some point in the last month:
*I need help.
*I am tired.
*I am stressed.
*Are you listening? (not sarcastically.. just more do you really hear me?)
*I feel alone.
*I am tired.
*I need help. (Yes, I know I already said these, but they are worth repeating!)
*I need sleep. (This is not the same thing as I am tired.)
*I feel isolated.
*I needa vacation. (technically a 4 word, but I am the author and editor, so I made it a three word one!)

So yes, I have been feeling vulerable. Being tired and running ragged will do that to you. But I am learning to delegate and to say "No" more often. One of my most important lessons that I learned this week came from the "Wonderpets"... sometimes you have to ask for help, no matter who you are. Enough said.

I do have one more three word sentence that I must share.. and let you know that above all of the other ones, this is the most important and the one that remains a constant in my life regardless of all the rest.
***I am blessed.***

We got jokes!
-I just looked into the living room and saw my 5 year old sitting on top of an upside down hamper. I didn't think too much of it as he is a climber and likes to find obscure places to sit up on. Then I was wondering where the 3 year old was. Yep, he was UNDER the hamper and Josh was sitting on top of him. I am telling you, it never ends!
-The boys heard a commercial for a cake mix earlier this week on the radio. It went something like this:
First Lady - I brought my fruit cake to this party and it has been pushed to the back of the dessert table.
Second Lady - I made this delicious (insert sarcastic smirk from me here) chocolate tort from the boxed cake mix company and it is almost gone!
The go back and forth about how easy and yummy it is and then you hear the first lady say to a bunch of giggling kids.. "Hey, put that down! Its not a football its a fruitcake!" Josh literally laughed for 5 straight minutes at this. He got the joke! Now, you just have to say to him, Put that down! Its not a football! and he starts rolling all over again.
My favorite sound in the world? My boys laughter! It is even better when it is over a joke that they have made the connection to understand. What a gift!


Upcoming Events - In other words, potential storymakers!
-We have a Christmas party tonight at a ranch/farm. We had a blast the last time we went to it... and we are SO looking forward to it! I think that I am more excited than the boys.
-I have been informed by the boys that we are making Christmas cookies this week. Um.. ok! I am game. Please pray for us! :o) Last time we made cookies, when they came out of the oven, Josh asked me where the bricks came from. Nice.

Other Tidbits
-We went to the electric company to pay our bill yesterday. They have a tree in the lobby and the two large desks/podiums were wrapped as presents - right down to the big red bows on top. Josh and Topher ran right up to them and screamed "Thank you Santa!! My presents are here!" Do you know how hard it is to try to stop two boys on opposite ends of the lobby from opening the pretend presents? Then they wanted to help redecorate the tree.
-Usually when we go to Wal-Mart, one of the boys has an "issue." This last time, I was amazed because neither of them screamed or did the "alligator death roll" about anything. They did, however, put on quite a show for the other customers. Both boys starting singing "Life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long" on the top of their lungs in the checkout line. Yes folks, now when you go to Wal-mart, you get a free show! At least these stares were for a good reason! Times like these I just want to zip up in a pocket in my heart.
-I went to see Joel Osteen on Thursday night and had the pleasure of meeting a very nice person who sat next to me. The entire experience warmed my heart and touched me on a level that I cannot seem to put into words. I am thankful and will treasure that night for a long time.

Ok.. I am off to change some laundry and make preparations for the day. Also to referree the boys. That is a job that NEVER ends! Have a great weekend everyone!