For All You Desert Dwellers

Today was 4 of 6's first day of school. She was so excited. So excited in fact, I woke up to her in my bed, because she was up before the crack of dawn. Wide awake. Looking at me. Waiting for me to wake up, so she could "go to school now mom?" (you see, last night at about midnight, 6 of 6 woke up, and SCREAMED. Until about 2. I am trying to establish better sleeping habits, and weening all at the same time. SO I tried rocking, patting, ignoring and nothing worked. But I did not give in and feed her. And honestly wouldn't even worry about weening her, I'd just let her do it on her own, but her teeth have gotten pretty painful). I didn't even notice her climb into bed with me because I was so tired. I was also awaken to the noise of rain thunder and lightening, and 49 degree temps. Yup, that is just west of us, and it is snow. Of course, it wont stay up there, but....
This is what we've had the last 3 rain storms. Our yard has flooded 3 times, and washed away newly laid grass seed twice.
Guess who's 1 this week?

Manners

Old picture, nothing to do with post.

So, I walked to Smith's this evening to rent a movie from Red Box. Trent is out camping with the scouts (something, that once upon a time, I dreaded. I really disliked putting kids to bed a lone, and going to bed myself, alone. Now, I kind of look forward to the alone time.) and a movie for them, sounded like I nice treat. As I am walking, I am behind a young couple and I notice another guy up the street and he yells. 'Hey $%^* head, what the *&%^& you up to'? I'm thinking, wow, that's disgusting. They meet up, and I move on, ignoring whatever they are babbling about. I then get to the store, and overhear a conversation from 2 18-20 yr olds talking about how, the one guy hurt his ankle jumping out a window, and if the cops weren;t out the front door, he wouldnt have had to do that. I get my movies, then head inside where I hear a lady yelling at her, who ever he was, husband/brother/ uncle that he was a &*^^% idiot and if he moved faster, things like that wouldn't happen.
I feel like either, the older I get, the more crude people become. Or, the older I get, the more sensitive I get. I have encountered this a lot. I remember, when people used to watch what they said, in the presence of adults, or little kids. I don't find I get the same courtesy. Why? Why are people so less willing to be kind, uplifting, sympathetic, thoughtful, considerate. It makes me want to hibernate in my own little bubble. It has even made me consider homeschooling. even moving. What do you do? Is it coming from a generation of people raising kids like this? Is it a cultural issue. Would we be able to find someplace better? I'm sure it has some, well maybe a lot, to do with where I live. We are next door to a grocery store, and even closer to a gas station. How many 'family oriented' people go to a gas station to do more than buy gas. Maybe I'm stereotyping, but the people that hang out around, or frequent the gas station, are the greatest offenders of this. And the ones who skateboard out side my fence are the second greatest. I mean, can you not look around and see you are right outside someones house? Maybe instead of revving your motors as you are pulling into a parking lot, you could look around. So, is that enough reason to move? To try and change things, Would I be fighting a non-winnable battle? Just causing myself more grief? Would it be worse or better in a different state, or city, maybe what I experience is mild compared to other places. Are we just inundated with crudeness and vulgarity, and thoughtlessness and we are not going back? I find it disheartening to think that this is what we have become. Or, have things always been like this, and now I'm just uptight with little kids to think about. Really, the noise doesn't even wake me up anymore. I guess it's like living next to a train. You just get used to is. But, the profanity I will NEVER get used to.

YAHOO!

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=coolwhipandfamily&ei=UTF-8&fr=clearspringff

Have you ever done a yahoo search of your blog name. Weird. I guess it has been keeping track of my activities. Like who's blog I have commented on. It's a good thing I'm not looking up things like 'How to Take Over the World'. Although.....
And in other news. I feel bad for Elin. You know Tiger Woods' wife. A divorce is bad enough. But to have your husband's extra marital crud, plastered, then your reaction. Then his reaction, then his rehab, then his parents reaction. How on earth is she supposed to work through this. And why are people so interested in other people's pain. Leave these guys alone. Just like the Enquirer, and TMZ, these people stalk celebrities. I know you can safely say that it comes with being a TV/Movie star. Maybe it does. But I think it's funny that most people couldn't tell you what charitable organizations someone like Aniston is involved with (If any) but you know all the people, probably in order, the has dated in the past 2 years. Not looking for the good in people. Just the dished dirt.

I'M BUSY!

Do you ever have those days, where you know that you have the most awesome kids in the world?
A lot of the time I beat myself up for weird/naughty/irritating/odd things my kids do. The question 'what can I do better' is a constant in my head. Today I went to a get together with some families who also have kids with DS. My girls were so good. They put swimsuits on when I asked, they got in and out of the water when asked. When one of the little girls accosted 6 of 6, 4 of 6 said 'that's my ____ be nice' They got in and out of the car, to and from the car.... To some that may not seem like a big deal, but to moms with kids with a disability, it's a successful day when that happens.
Although I did realize, when I was sitting there watching 3 kids and watching the other moms hang out, talk, be social, I am lacking the ability to have a conversation with people. I can't take my eyes off the girls. I have done it before and lost them. We had a UDSF meeting at a park one time. I took all the kids and asked the 3 older ones to watch 4 and 5 of 6. I delved into the meeting and wasn't watching for about 5 minutes. And wouldn't you know it, 4 of 6 wandered off to the playground at the other side of the park. So, I am sacrificing my social life to stay on top of what my kids are doing. Is that over bearing? I don't feel like I need 'me' time. I will have plenty of years to have friends. And I will never get these years with my kids back. So I'm busy. Crazily so. Gratefully so. Happily so.

Ready... GO!

I love the first day of school. My kids love the first day of school. They were very excited this morning.
The only disappointing part was finding out 3 of 6 wasn't in the same class as his BF. He would have been, but I switched teachers. So it was my fault.
I have 4 of them in school, 3 full day. Then it dawned on me.....5 of 6 doesn't go to school for 3 more years. Why does that seem so far away?

Anticipation

It is the night before the kids go back to school. Outfits picked, bags packed kids in bed sle... um, no. Kids in bed wide awake.
I think it was a semi-productive summer. We practiced hand writing. But not enough. We practiced piano, but not enough. We didn't go out to a lot of activities because we did a co-op instead. I never understood the argument for traditional school 'summer is too short on the track schedule'. My kids are always way ready for school to start. 7 weeks is enough. I like the track system so much, I may keep them in this school even after the new one opens. I don't want the traditional 12 week summer, with no breaks in between. I know the argument 'just wait until you have one in JH, you won't want them on different schedules'. But, 4 of 6 in on a traditional schedule, so we already have conflict. I don't mind.
Speaking of 4 of 6. We worked on her name this summer. She finally calls herself ____. Before, when you'd ask her what her name was, she'd say 'Me'. Yup, you are 'me' but..... so now we taught her, her name. Baby steps.
I'm excited for a new year. And their first track break, we are lugging them to Disneyland. How's that for a make it through the first part of the year bonus.

Goals

I notice a lot of people put their weight loss goals on their blog. I don't, because I don't want to say it, when I'm going in the wrong direction. I had been feeling really crummy, out of shape, like my clothe weren't fitting anymore so I hadn't stepped on a scale for about 2 weeks because I didn't want to 'see' my failure. I have been running or walking everyday, and was just feeling discouraged when I decided to do it anyway. Down 4 more. Weird. I am now 8 from my goal. Well, not my goal, but my pre-6 of 6 weight. I am 18 from my goal. After that, because I am done having babies, I can start working on the 20 I have built up from loosing all but 5, in between each kid.
My problem is this. I have no idea what 130 looks like. or 140, or 150, or 160 for that matter. Since weight is such a taboo subject, I can say 'hey you look like you are at an ideal BMI, how much do you weigh?' Does my neighbor who looks fit, weigh 10, 20 or 50 less than me. Not only that, I don't know what 130, 140, 150 ect looks like on me. I don't have a full length mirror in my house, and haven't for 4 years. Maybe I should get one? I usually go with what size clothes I'm in. A size 10 is my goal, but what does that look like? Every once in awhile I will catch an episode of Dr. Oz, and see him weigh someone. But my TV has a 6 inch screen, so that isn't much help.
Anyway. That's what I'm thinking.