Any Given Sunday

My kids wake up at 6:30, pour themselves enormous bowls of cereal, watch cartoons, run outside and squeal with merriment about the possibilities of the coming day.

And then I tell them that it's Sunday and time to get ready for church, and MIRACULOUSLY they all fall ill. And I mean like, I have the plague, ill.

If you are Timothy, your "whole self" hurts. That's as specific as he can be because he is very, very sick. Obviously.

Aly starts "coughing" and fake sneezing and says that she cannot possibly go anywhere because she is very sick. Sometimes, she cries. It's impressive. Really. (I know my parents are laughing right about now because at the ripe old age of 2, I was labeled a con artist. and boy was I a good one.)

Bryon just kind of looks sad and says "no?" Like it's a question. He is seeing if he has the option to say no.

Bryon, thankfully, takes it like a man and wears whatever I put on him.

Aly cries as I force her into a dress and brush her hair, then complains that it's the wrong dress and she needs piggies RIGHT. NOW.

Timothy fights like I have just told him that he is about to be taken to the place of his execution. Again, impressive. I just wish I wasn't the one getting kicked in the face. I wish he was half as vicious with strangers.

Eventually, we get there. Most Sundays. Some days, it is just not worth the fight.

Timothy continues his reign of terror, but the other 2 settle in and remember what a good time they have at church. Let's be real... I only take them to the fun parts. Mama can only handle so much.

YET! After all the fun and the singing and the treats, I am guaranteed a fight the very next Sunday. All my kids are like Dory. You know the fish that ooohhhh! Something shiny!

The 4th Power Puff Girl

Timothy and Alyson really like "PowerPuff Girls."

Never heard of them? Lucky.

They fight some super bad guys like Mojo Jojo and Her, a boy vampire.

Tim has played this game before, but usually in the pool and always with an invisible bad guy.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday I had to go pick him up early from school because he attacked 3 of his teachers in the name of fighting crime. Like seriously, one of them was knocked into a wall. And apparently he tried to rip off one of the ladies shirts. Crime fighter or boob man? You be the judge.

Long story short, Timothy is in lots of trouble with strict instructions not to "kill" anyone and the PowerPuff Girls are no longer welcome in the Avery household.

I Won An Award. I Feel So Important.

I am officially an award winning parent. It's weird. I was honored that I was asked, and then I realized that the organization is kind of a big deal and that the award is kind of a big deal.

Then it felt weird. I mean, I don't parent for the awards...

I didn't ask to have special needs kids and most days I just feel like I am trying to keep my head above water.

In any case, it was a huge honor to be recognized by the American Mothers organization. Truly a group of great ladies continuing to promote motherhood in a day and age where people don't think it's all that important anymore.

Craziness.

If you are interested... here is a link to my interview. Yep, they even interviewed me. AND I answered honestly. So, everything you never really wanted to know about me is right... HERE.

My Daughter Looks Cute In A Mustache

I am not 100% sure why they wore mustaches for the kindergarten pride assembly, but she looks adorable in one. And I was a little teary eyed at the thought of it being my LAST kindergarten pride assembly. She is growing up too fast. It's painful.

End Tables

This post is mostly to show my mom what I've been up to lately.

I totally re did my end tables and repurposed them into nightstands for my bedroom. They will look great with my new headboard that I am making from an idea on Pinterest. (fingers crossed)

Oh the dark ugliness.

 

So much brighter. The color exactly matches the accent color in the fabric I chose for the headboard. (it's actually a curtain. it's awesome)

See mom, keeping busy. I learned from the best that I can take on any project and make it awesome.

Love you.

 

Approved!

Just got the award letters in the mail which means that my boys can go to a private Autism school in the fall. I could not be more excited.

After years of upset and disappointment and having people tell me that they are doing the best they can and telling me "no," I had enough.

I knew there was something better and I found it. Not only did I find it, the state gives me the money they would have given the public school that the kids attended.

Lesson learned. Always trust your instincts and NEVER settle for less than the absolute best for your kids. Special needs or not.

New Beginnings

In 4 months, very little about my life will be the same. I cannot wait. We got a house in Gilbert. Not just "in Gilbert", but in a prime freaking location. About 45 seconds from the pediatrician and 3 miles from the dentist. I have already reestablished my entire life in a 5 mile radius from my house. What can I say... I'm a home-body.

I also found the most AMAZING school for the boys. I want to cry it is so fantastic. We had evaluations on Saturday and the boys won't stop talking about the new school. Bryon wants to go back bad!

After years of trial, error, and disappointment, I finally feel like we have landed in an amazing, loving environment for my sweet boys. Not sure who is more excited... me or Bryon.

Aly will enter a much better school and I already have my drop off/pick up pattern established. I am good to go.

I've been getting a little overzealous (Scott would say crazy), but I am refurbishing furniture like mad to make my new place a little more homey. I'll post pictures later. Mom, you would be proud.

I'm trying not to put all my eggs in one basket and assume that this move will solve all my problems, but with all the changes we are making at once, it is going to change a whole lot of them.

Happy Dance!