counting down

Oh, I'm counting down till the kids are out of school. I don't know which is more excited. lol So two more weeks, we have finally gotten rain in the dry old south. I've been working on 2 webpages maybe one more to add. Trying to get this stuff done so our summers can be spent fishing, vacationing, camping and whatever else intrigues us.
The part I'm not excited about - filling out all the paperwork reminding me that my middle son is going to high school next year. UGH!! I can say raising three teens at the same time has it's challenges, but with a good relationship just another day at "the office". Today this boss is taking a late lunch while the workers are arguing amongst themselves. lol
M

For the troops

So yesterday I had my family work our annual Cypress Cares golf tournament. It's CC's biggest fundraiser to help us raise some $$ for shipping our care packages over to the troops. They really appreciate bits of home. We are lucky to receive so many donated items, but the shipping is outrageous. It's about $14 a box, but sending 200 boxes adds up. So every fundraiser we can do sure helps. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we had so many golfers show up to play. We haven't gotten our figures yet, but I believe we had a successful event. Everyone had so much fun for this wonderful event. We couldn't have asked for better. Next year I hope we get more golfers and more sponsers for our Veterans that play for free:)

Busy Busy Busy

In all my 16 years of being a parent, I have never been as busy having a home schooled daughter and 2 boys in junior high. Of course it probably wouldn't be so bad if I didn't volunteer for so many things, but I just can't help it. I have the time and it makes no sense to just be doing nothing. I get to see my kids at school, get to know their teachers which has helped rid my youngest of bully issues. I volunteer for Cypress Cares, a wonderful organization that packs and ships bits of home to servicemen/women overseas. Cypress Cares is one of my favorite as a child of a Vietnam Vet, I feel this need to make sure all our men and women know how much they are appreciated. I am also a wife of a fireman, and a member at a different fire department myself. I'm pursuing my EMT actually just gearing up now to take the NR test. pfew I'll be so glad when that is over. Right now I do the website for the department along with --- I almost forgot I do the website for another organization I volunteer with called Krystas Karing Angels. This wonderful group supports families who have lost loved ones due to drunk driving. So yeah, my husband says I'm busy, but I couldn't be happier these are all causes I care so much about.
Of course my kids always come first. I don't want to miss anything and since they are still willing to share how could I refuse?!! lol I'm so blessed.
Right now trying to keep up to date on the fires in Texas, the layoff's of some fireman and police and end of the year hooplah for the kids. Um yeah, I'm gonna be busy for a while:)

oh take the Sheen away

Well, been pretty preoccupied with the kiddos school stuff and station business. It's time to get the kids ready for next school year - YES it's only March. ugh

So is anyone as annoyed by all this Charlie Sheen business? Please take him away already - off my tv, off the radio and please off the internet. I do not get the lessons we are teaching our kids today. "Yes daughter, if you behave badly you get lots of extra special attention" <---- SARCASM at it's finest. I mean really?!! Oh this poor man. "See kids this is what happens to you when you do drugs" that's what I've been telling mine. Yeah, he's getting media attention and I hope he invested his money well because he won't be doing anything anytime soon. Maybe this man can realize the things that matter are his kids and now he doesn't get to see them.

So with that there have been a burst in some great tv shows hitting the airwaves that deal with maybe shedding some happy tears and in the opportunity in witnessing something miraculous. Coming Home on Lifetime - wonderful show about our fine service men/women coming home. Secret Millionaire - another wonderful touching show. Undercover Boss it's great too. The one I always have my kids watch "What would you do?" Just a small list of shows I love watching for the moments and pieces of hope that are there for everyone to see and share in:)

Hope everyone has a great week, month heck day!

Where did the paddle go?

I'm sad to say I missed when talk about this first came out in June of last year. It's come up again due to numbers coming in on the amount of tickets being written to elementary students. Yes, that's right - elementary students. If you haven't seen what I'm talking about the article is here Tickets in schools, What the heck has happened to our society. Now misdemeanors are handed out like once "swats" or "paddles" were when I was a kid. I'm glad to say this isn't happening in the district I'm in, but heard some teachers would love for it to be implemented here. I am totally against this of course, but the way kids are today I see where the teachers are coming from. We live in a sue happy time and everyone wants things their way.
I don't remember when we all became a society of making the mighty dollar more than spending time with family. I long for the days of the Blue Law, when most stores were closed so people could either go to church, visit with family or just rest altogether.
People want to complain about the parenting some kids aren't getting and I don't imagine it not to be true, but we as a society helped by taking the one day parents can enjoy being a parent by making them work. Also, what the heck happened to the paddling days anyway. When I went to school if a kid got sent to the office we all knew what that meant and let me say it didn't happen often. They got paddled.
Kids are not stupid as my son will tell you. He saw it at it's best when he would be bullied, but always when a teacher wouldn't "see". They are smart and no the school can't really do anything. They make a phone call to the parent and then it's up to the parent. The same parent that is practically working all hours to provide for their family.
I wish they would give US, the parents, a choice for our kid. I'd say paddle him. They so far have been great kids in school, but if it came to it well there are consequences to their actions. That is what these kids don't get!!!
So instead of teaching them in a different way about consequences, they get a ticket, a misdemeanor and the parent is really the one who pays. Kids get embarrassed so send them to get paddled AT SCHOOL. Paddling would be a great consequence only because the probably get embarrassed.
Alright enough of me on my soap box. Have a great weekend.

Those pics of candy toss

So I realized I forgot was lazy and didn't ever upload my few pics from candy toss. I'll have to say it was quite enjoyable being atop a firetruck with our Santa and tossing kids, big and small, candy. My kids and I have done it every year since I joined the firestation.
These 2 teenage boys of mine had such a blast as did I. Alli doesn't do the candy toss with us, she hates the sirens and well, with autism it hurts her ears. So she stays with dad or Nana and we go. So my teenage sons and I do our small, but fun part. The best part of our my time doing the toss was hearing my oldest son say, "it makes me happy seeing the kids happiness". Yes this from the child I had to go over flip pages with in elementary to learn to read facial expressions, and who hated loud noises just as much as his sister does. Yes this is my other child with "autism" and he has come leaps and bounds. Whether or not he has autism it would have still made me beam with the comment he made to me. The fact that he has autism only made it a sweeter moment.
My youngest also had a blast and it touched him when he saw a small girl glow after capturing Santa's attention.
When our season of candy tossing ends we get a little bummed, but we remember we have next year. I hope the older they get they still want to go with me like they do now. I get excited at the innocence of children when they see Santa - I think it's what keeps me so young :) lol

New Year's Resolution

So I've decided to be more diligent on my blog. I know everyone says that, but at first when I started this it was my own kind of therapy. I am very motivated in the causes to which I belong and a firm believer that one person can make a difference. I choose to try and be one of those people and hope my children believe they can do it too. It's true by the way. I've seen countless acts of one person coming up with an idea and putting it into action. I have come a long way since 2008 when I the phrase "time heals everything" made me cringe. It's a true phrase I'll give you all that, but at the time when things are at there lowest it's not comforting to hear. At those moments usually it's hard to see past a day let alone to see solace in the future. A future you are clinging onto by fingernails to hope gets better. I've been on twitter off & on for years now, but can say like friends that come at times you need them I have met some crazy, hilarious and innovative people. Some from the world of autism who have comforted and given me insight to my 2 children. Some from the EMT world which I hope after school to be a part of. Some just those that agree and disagree with my politics. For whatever reason I came here to write, I am greatful. I know I won't be sticking to ONE certain topic because I mean really - who only wants to talk or read about one topic. (and if this is therapy lol. I don't typically need therapy on one thing) Either way this is a New Year.