My Life is Hilarous!!!

First of all Summer Break officially starts tomorrow and already my living room is full of, nerf weaponry and wooden swords.  What the HECK?  He's 15 now, when will this end.....wait, some of those weapons are my husbands so apparently this will never end!!  As I was typing that he walked in with this fancy guns.....it's a vintage Star Wars gun that belonged to Ron when he was a kid. 

It's like he knew what I was talking about.  So now it's time for CONFESSIONS OF A CULINARY GENIUS.  I love Tater Tot Casserole.  I've evolved many recipes into one I use often and it's become my own.  I always think about making Tater Tot Casserole when I don't have Tater Tots.  So the last 3 times I've gone to the grocery store with no list....I've bought Tater Tots, so we now have so many bags (3) they have to go in the extra freezer.  So last week I decide I'm going to cook dinner before I  went to work at 2pm, so Ron and P would have dinner when they get home.  (I am generally not that nice, but something came over me that particular day)  I procrastinated long enough that by the time I put the casserole in the oven I had enough time to shower and get to work.  So I put it in the oven and went to take a shower.  The timer went off 5 min before I had to leave.  I take the casserole out of the oven and was like.....ummmm...why does it look so short, and wierd....well it's because I FORGOT THE FREAKIN' TOTS that's why?  So it was totless Tater Tot casserole.  I declared it was the Holy Ghost reminding me a diabetic like myself doesn't need all those carbs.  I texted Ron and explained it was a new creation, it was "Add your own damn Tots, Tater Tot casserole.".  I personally ate it without the Tots, it was decent, but when you shouldn't have carbs, you crave them even more.  Sigh......

Summer Vaction Begins:

When I got home from work today I asked Perry what he was going to do on his first day of Summer Vacation tomorrow........He proclaimed....."I'm going to sleep really late and play video games all day....dont' judge me." Ha Ha Ha Ha.....Don't judge me, where did he ever hear that from. 

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

preheat oven at 375

1 lb of Ground Beef

1 regular size bag of Tater Tots

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 onion

2 cups of shredded cheese

couple handfuls of Orgnaic frozen green beans

1 cup of sour cream

1/4 cup of milk

salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef with chopped onion, throw in the green beans when the meat is almost completely brown.  This will soften them up a bit.  Drain grease.  Mix in soup, sour cream, and milk.  Pour that into and 8x11 pan.  Top with half the cheese, put on the Tots, and another layer of cheese pop in the oven and bake for 30 min or until Tots are brown and crispy. 





 The man totally ate that totless casserole all week.  He never did add any tots. 

Mobile Blogging

I've had this ap for a while and haven't used it. So here goes blogging via the iPhone. So I didn't win the Mega Millions. Although that $1 ticket made for all sorts of fun dreaming and fun conversations.

Perry was being mean to me so I told him if I won he wasn't getting any. He quickly apologized. Then when we didn't win, he said "what do we need all that money for when we gave each other",and then he kissed my cheek.

I sure do love that kid!

Death?

I've been in desperate need to blog lately, but really have had no words.  In the past month I've had 6 different deaths that people close to me have been dealing with.  Crazy....there was another I learned of today, and decided, that's enough I'm stopping at 6, and I'm going to now stop counting.  The month isn't over.  Wondering has it always been like this and I just haven't noticed? 

No crazy kid stories to tell.  He did have to start putting on deoderant everyday last week.  He came home from school, and gave me a hug, and I was like "WHOA, DUDE......!"  You can not be that kid!  So I show'd him where his deoderant was, informed the man that, that simple hygene procedure would need to be put into their morning routine stat! 

I ventured to Cbus for my birthday and Abby made my favorite cake.  We had a nice time hanging out!

This is probably the lamest blog post I've posted in a long time, but I posted which is a giant miracle. 

Confessions of a Night Owl

I haven't written a good kid related blog post since Confessions of a Meat Hoarder, so here goes.  My precious child, has not missed a day of school since 3rd maybe even 2nd grade.  He's never sick, and if he is it's usually the sniffles, and can still go to school.  He's had perfect attendance for many years now. 

Today I wasn't scheduled to work until 1pm.  So I could sleep in.  Which I intended to do so.  Until I recieved a frantic phone call from one of Perry's teachers.  Perry had fallen out of his chair and layed on the floor and would not get up.  Sounds super scary.  I attempted not to panic, I said is he ok?  She wasn't sure as it wasn't in her class it was his other teachers class, she was going to head to the nurses office and see if he was ok.  She was going to call me back.  It was 7:30 am, not my favorite hour of the day.  So I got up, still not panicing, although slightly concerned.  Went into Perry's room to investigate, found his ipod and his iphone under his pillow.  These are the items that are suppose to be given up each night when he goes to bed.  I did not follow through the night before (parenting 101-fail) so therefor, no policing happened and I'm certain his illness is called SLEEP DEPRIVATION.  Wasn't certain of the diagnosis, until I went to the school and picked him up.  The school nurse called and said he was definately out of it.  So I went and got him, was greeted by his super concerned teacher.  Perry is well loved and his behavior is very predictable.  He is funny, very polite and well mannered and never gets in trouble.  So for him to just fall out of his chair and not respond was a bit concerning.  My diagnosis was spot on, the boy was exhausted, because he had not slept.  He came home and slept for 3 more hours.  His lack of sleep had truly made him sick.  He got up to the ultimate punishment, you could tell he was very tired, so he was forced to shop with me, with no ipod or phone, and guess what they are on lock down for an undetermined amount of time. 

This is his phone and his ipod both in there lockdown prison, AKA my dresser drawer.  Someone will be going to bed super early tonight.  I think I'll let the public decide.  How long should I leave these precious items in their prison?  Keep in mind he does not need his phone to communicate, we still have the house phone and he is not social so he is never without one of us.  He did however attempt to plead his case to get his phone back.  He said I sure hope I'm not lost somewhere without my phone.  I asked, where will you be lost?  He said the forest.......Ha Ha...cuz we here in the suburbs are surrounded by "the forest" that he is forever getting lost in. 

Perry being an only child he gets away with more than the average child, because I have nothing to compare it to, it's learn as you go parenting.  Funny todays Fairfield Middle School announcements email included an attachment warning about the risks of insufficient sleep.  I'm pretty sure they sent that right after I left the building. 





IKEA Life Improvement Project

In the summer of 2006, I was part of the United Way campaign with my place of employment, which was Ohio National at the time.  As part of the campaign we got to visit some of the facilities United Way supported.  One of those places we got to visit was The Stepping Stone Center.  I remembered the name Stepping Stone Center from when I had worked at Kings Island and I was in charge of their picnic when they came to Kings Island.  And I thought the name of the place was cool, but had no idea what they were about.  So with Ohio National we got to tour the facility and meet some of the people who got to take part in some of their programs. 

Fast forward to 2010.  I was approached by my boss at the time Shane at IKEA, that they were doing a contest for a nonprofit organization to win $10,000 dollars for their organization to use however they would need.  This is called The Life Improvement Project  Why me?  I thought.  The organization had to fit the IKEA values of helping kids, and could not be offiliated with a religious establishment.  This was a challenge for me as I am so involved with Boy Scouts (a scout is reverent) and my church, I had no idea of one that was not religious based.  It's who I am......Then I remembered......The Stepping Stone Center!  And so the investigation began.  They met and far exceeded the criteria for this project.  And so began the building of the presentation.  This was no easy task.  I recruited some work peeps to help, we arranged a tour of the facility, and then we had to write up a proposal using 500 words, and how we would spend the money.  Touring and hearing about all the work they do was the best part.  Meeting some of the kids and adults they help to learn basic life skills was humbling and rewarding.  As a parent of a child with special needs, I can appreciate the work that they do for kids with Autism, and behavioral problems.  I am fortunate to be in a school district that has programs to help kids with special needs and learning difficulties, and that Perry has learned to cope with his limitations that he's able to stay in a regular school.  Many kids don't have that priviledge.  Stepping Stone Center had programs who help kids who are unable to learn in a regular school enviroment.  They have teachers who are able to work with kids one on one to help them learn in a way that is most comfortable for them.  This is huge for kids with severe autism.  And what happens to these kids when they become adults?  It's hard for them to get a job, or learn normal everyday life skills.  Stepping Stone Center is equipt to help with these concepts.

 Heres a Group shot of us and some fo the Adults

Here is the Desk area in one of the program areas that could use some organization

Heres a Student in the school age building writting his name on the project board.

Last year we made it to the final round but did not win in the voting round, where only 5 projects were rewarded the $10,000 dollar grant.  This year we submitted our project again, and this year each of the 36 stores in the US get $10,000 for a project that wins at their store.  My friends and I have been feverishly begging for votes.  In creative ways......it's been 2 weeks, and I am just now posting to my blog.  Tomorrow is the last day of voting. 

Please help us win this year!

Text to: 62345

Message: Life97

Christmas 2011

What a truly blessed Christmas we had.  This was the first year that Perry looked so grown up.  I'm thankful he still got toys.  It will probably be our last year of toys for the most part.  I am happy to report no Legos in my home this christmas!!  Only a Lego sorter.  Maybe theres a end to Legos in my home?

1. All big boxes contain Clothes...ha ha!, 2. Perfect sign, 3. Marshmellow, 4. Lego HP 5-7, 5. P's excited about presents, 6. Perry got his first phone

My baby boy looks so grown up with his fancy iphone.  So far he's been quite responsible.  He's only had it for less than 24 hours, and when he's left the house he's been with us, sooooo, so far so good.  I've recieved numerous "wwwwaaaaazup" text messages, and he's let me know verbally each time he's sent me a text immediately.  "mom I sent you a text, did you get it yet, now send one to me."  Oh what fun we will have. 
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

1. Ornaments, 2. Abby and I, 3. Cookies at the Mugrages, 4. Niedermans Farm, 5. Opening Presents, 6. Making Breakfast, 7. Love, 8. Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, 9. Monster Cookies, 10. Candlelight Service, 11. Muffins, 12. Paul Youngs Nativity Scene

If you click on each tradition it will give you a more in depth description of each tradition.  I find that as I get older how important traditions are to me.  I enjoy sharing them with the people I love.  Love to everyone, and I am looking forward to exciting things in the new year!

Diagnoses

So on thursday, October 20th, I was diagnosed with Type 2, Diabetes.  What's that mean?  No more coca cola, no more McDonalds Sweet T, less food intake, definately less sweet stuff and bread!  I've been pricking my finger and testing my sugar for a month now.  I think I got a handle on this.  I watch my carbs, and sugar, and I can keep it in the normal range. 

When I was first diagnosed it was super scary as I didn't know what it all meant.  And would have to take shots, because that I wasn't down with at all.  The doctors office told me very little. She prescibed a few meds, that's I've been taking, I read a few blogs, and the Diabetes website.  It took me about 10 days to get my blood sugar in a normal range and I've been around normal ever since.  So far no shots, lets hope I can keep it that way. 

My official follow up visit is Black Friday, we'll see then where I go from here.