Mama Multi-Tasker

Mamas wear many hats during the day--and that seems to incrementally grow during the summer. Today I was a gardener (I was weeding while waiting for Nathan's bus); merit badge helper (helped Jacob work on his Space Exploration Merit Badge); closet cleaner outer and packing helper (Jordan is packing for his mission); fixer extraordinaire (Nathan broke the toilet paper holder and so we had to fix it; cook, shoulder to cry on (teenage boys can be hormonal too); dish washer, taxi driver, and I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting. Kudos to all women (and men) who wear lots of hats to help raise the rising generation!

What are some of the hats you have worn today?

#WearingDifferentHats #MamaMultiTasker

Autism & Chores

Can kids with autism do chores? Yes, they can. I know that often as a parent it is easier to do it for them (since you have to stand by them the entire time), but I have found that Nathan is quite capable of doing little things around the house to help out. Things like helping me take his sheets and put them in the washer, helping unload the dishwasher, setting the table and replacing toilet paper in the bathrooms. He actually doesn't complain about it either (like my other kids)--part of that is because he isn't very verbal...but it is nice to have another pair of helping hands. I am committed to having him help more around the house this summer.

#Chores #Autism

No Second Mother

"Jacob, Noelle is gone to girls camp this week. Isn't it weird not to have her at the dinner table?"

"Yes. It is good not to have a second mother," Jacob responded. :)

He makes me laugh! Cute Jacob.

Spontaneous Canyonlands

Sometimes last minute trips are the best! As we approached Memorial Day, my husband and I realized that we didn't have any plans...so we decided to do something spontaneous! We headed down to see Canyonlands National Park as a family! It was fantastic and not very crowded or hot. What a great time! Another plus was that we were able to get Nathan to go on a few of the short hikes without any iPod to distract him. Baby steps!

#Canyonlands #Autism #GreatHikes

Peach Jam...Better Late Than Never

Better late than never. My mother was here a few weeks ago for Jordan's graduation and we took the peaches I had frozen last summer from our tree and finally turned them into jam....9 months later. Oh well! I guess I'm not very prompt, but it did get done finally;). Yummy fresh peach jam!

#MakingJam #BetterLateThanNever

Modest Barbies

I got tired of seeing naked Barbies...so I decided to do something permanent. All it took was some packing tape, plastic wrap, and white spray paint and now we have modest Barbies. Hurray!

#ModestBarbies

Newsies

Summer is about making memories! I was able to take Jacob and Noelle to see their very first Broadway Musical, Newsies, last week. They absolutely LOVED it! It is awesome to see a performance of that caliber and share the love of music with the next generation. Music...pass it on!

#Newsies #LoveOfMusic