The One With The Mean Boy..

Being a parent is never easy. Being a parent of a special needs child isn’t any easier. It is fraught with unknown perils and daily difficulties. I’m not asking for hero cookies, I’m simply stating a fact. I do my very best every single day to ensure that I am raising these crazy chirrens of mine to be kind, polite, and well adjusted little people. And it ain’t easy. But I do what I can. If only other parents tried to do the same. What a world that would be, eh?

Nub is again playing Rec Ball, whilst Dub is playing Soccer. So far, it’s been pretty awesome. In spite of both of them losing every game, and Nub having to forfeit two games(I’m also the Coach of Nub’s team. Do NOT get me started on THAT particular drama. One blog post at a times , y’all.). Tonight, Nub had a game in a neighboring town. A town neither the hubs or I are terribly fond of to begin with. To say that the parents of said team are less than stellar in their sportsmanship would be putting it mildly. The officials? Yeah, not much better. Which I really don’t get. Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our little sweetums about love of the game AND good sportsmanship? Or is that just me? That might be a whole ‘nother blog post too.

Nub’s team played very well. Or most of them did. At one point, we were kicking butt and taking names! We even had the lead. For like a whole inning. And then it sort of got a little ugly. Some missed plays, a couple of iffy calls…you know the drill. But! Redemption was at hand. Our best batters were coming up in our line-up. We could taste victory. We could feel it.

Except not so much. Pitches that were balls were suddenly called strikes. And before you could say The Natural we were done. We lost. Yet again. And not to a team that was any better than us. But to a team that got lucky. I see that more and more, when it comes to games out of town. It is really upsetting to me. There is NO ONE who loves baseball more than me. Well, except maybe my mama and diddy. But I’m the first person to take the good with the bad. If a call is fair, I accept that. Same goes when it’s not. Period. So it’s doubly hard to take to see these really crappy calls and NOT be upset. I just don’t get it. I really don’t.

And now to the part of the story that REALLY pissed me off. As Nub was getting in the car he told us that one boy on the team told him that he was to blame for them losing the game. That it was all his fault. EXCUSE ME? Who in the hell does this boy think he is? I was pissed. I’m still pissed. I marched him right up to his coaches and told him to tell them what he just told me. You should have seen the looks of horror and shame on their faces. They were so quick to reassure him that simply wasn’t the case. That he made an excellent play at a crucial point in the game(true!) and that he was getting so much better at batting(again, also true!) and just how proud they were of him. But y’all? He was crushed. He was trying so hard not to cry when he told them. It broke my heart into a million pieces. He believed that little mean shit. Completely. Until his coaches told him otherwise. And I’m not completely convinced he does believe it. I think there will be repercussions. Maybe not today, but soon.

And I am fully prepared to deal with that. Because it’s what I do. I am Mama…Hear me roar…

Just In Times For Easter…

If you are somewhat of a procrastinator. Or you have three chirrens who manage to take up quite a bit of that lovely thing I used to refer to as Free Time. A phrase that barely, if ever, leaves my mouth these days. Not a complaint. Just the absolute truth. Chirrens are involved, y’all. Who knew?

So, as many of you know we have gone gluten-free(which I refer to as g-free because it really saves time to leave out those extra letters. Kidding. I think it’s cute. And it’s my blog!) and I actually have a g-free blog…but who am I kidding? I can barely find time to update this one, let alone another one. Although, to be perfectly honest? I also have two more blogs. For a total of four. Yeah. I know. In my defense? One I was writing whilst waiting tables. I no longer have to do that, hence no more blog. Anyhoo, I’ve decided it would be easier to just do my g-free recipes on this here ol’ blog. So that’s what Imma do. Starting now. Ladies, and prolly just ladies… I give you the following wicked good dessert, which I have revamped to make it g-free.

Trisha Yearwood’s Key Lime Cake-

Ingredients
Cake:
Butter, for greasing pan
Flour, for dusting pan- g-free
One 3-ounce package lime flavored gelatin- I used the Walmart brand. It’s g-free.
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose g-free flour- I’m using Gluten-Free Mama’s Almond Flour Blend. You can buy it from Amazon. It’s cup for cup, y’all.
1 tsp. of xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder-g-free
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice-fresh squeezed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract -g-free
5 extra large eggs, slightly beaten

Glaze:
1/2 cup key lime juice (from about 25 small key limes or 4 large regular limes)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Icing:
1/2 cup (1 stick butter), room temperature
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
One 1 pound box confectioners’ sugar
Directions
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour one 9-by-12-by-2-inch cake pan.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, granulated sugar, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir to mix well. Add the oil, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until well combined. Pour the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops or inserting a toothpick. Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack.

For the glaze: While the cake is still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners’ sugar together well. Pierce the cake with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better and pour it over the cake on the cooling rack. Allow cake to cool completely as you prepare the icing.

For the icing: Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Spread the icing on the top and sides of the cake.

Cook’s Note: you can also use three 9-inch round cake pans and make this into a layer cake. I highly recommend making it in the 9-by-12-by-2-inch though. Once the glaze and the frosting go on the cake it becomes a bit too much for a three layer cake.

And voila! A super easy, unbelievably delish g-free cake for your family to enjoy. Mine sure did!

Carte Blanche…

When we bought our house two years ago(tomorrow!) one of the things we liked best about it was the color of the walls. Every room was a lovely peanut buttery shade. Not too dark. Not too light. Just a pretty, neutral color. I was so excited. Our furniture looked gorgeous. I just knew it was absolutely perfect.

And then came the day I went to wipe off every day boy grime from the walls. And that lovely, perfect peanut buttery shade? Came right off. With NO scrubbing. Yep, you heard me. I literally wiped the freakin’ wall. To say I was rather unhappy would be putting it mildly. Turns out the inside of our entire house was painted with the wrong paint. You can’t even look at it cross-eyed without paint coming off the damn wall. Seriously.

So for the fast few months(fine, six months.) I’ve been taping various paint samples to the dining room walls. And pulling them down. And putting them back up again. I have decided on the colors I want to use eleventy bajillion times. At least. I know I want a dark brown for the kitchen. And green for the boy’s room. After that? Well, that’s where I run into the trouble. The hubs is no help because he has given me, wait for it, yep…carte blanche. I have begged, pleaded, cried and tried using my feminine wiles to no avail. He will not be swayed in his determination to have nothing to do with the choice of paint colors. The man is making me crazy. Obviously I cannot be trusted to make these kind of decisions myself. What’s a girl gotta do to get a little help around here? Sheesh…

But y’all, it has rapidly reached a point where we need to start painting. I feel like it looks trashy. And I can’t take it anymore. Next week this Mama is taking her crazy self down to Lowe’s and throwing herself on the mercy of the Paint Department.

And I’m bringing my wiles with me…

Different, Not Less…

Thank you, Temple Grandin. Truer words were never spoken.

I wish other children could see what I see when I look at Nub. It breaks my heart that no one wants to play with him. Or eat lunch with him. They think he’s weird. He is ridiculously bright and I guess that intimidates them. I understand that. To a point. What I don’t understand? Their mean, nasty behaviour towards someone who is different from them. I know that children will be cruel. I get that. But it truly baffles me. Why would you let your child behave that way to another child? Or anyone for that matter?

We have always taught our children that bullying another child, or being cruel, is unacceptable behaviour. Period. They know that they are not allowed to put their hands on anyone. Or to start fights. Now, if someone starts a fight with them then they have our permission to wipe the floor with their ass. Not politically correct, but I don’t care. I’m finding it rather difficult to comprehend why other children think that it’s okay to hit my children. Seriously. What the fuck are these parents doing? ‘Cause it damn sure isn’t being a good parent. Gah.

I have some friends who have children on the Spectrum and I’m hoping to be able to get together with them during Thanksgiving Break. I have one in particular who doesn’t live far, and I think her son and Nub would really hit it off. I hope they hit it off. I’m kind of at my wit’s end when it comes to finding him a pal.

Keep your fingers crossed this works.

Heart and Soul…

Yesterday was a terrible day for Nub. And the rest of us. I was feeling pretty low and decided to pour my heart out on my blog. It took me an hour. AN HOUR. I cried. I erased some of it. Then put it back. And erased it yet again. Just when it was all perfectly dramatical I hit publish.

And it disappeared. At which point I cried some more. I don’t think I can recreate it. The moment has passed. And I’m not feeling it today, so I don’t think it would be the same. Sigh…

It did make me feel better though. I also realized just how much I miss writing on my blog. Yes, I know. I’ve said that eleventy bajillion times before. At least. Doesn’t make it any less true. Trying to find time to write hasn’t really been a priority. I’ve been busy with the boys and dealing with Nub’s Asperger’s the best way I can. I’m in Mama Mode hardcore. Which is all well and good. But I need to be in Me Mode too. Finding a way to carve out a little slice of time for myself needs to be something I do every day. Even if it’s only a few minutes.

I think it would make everyone happier in the long run.

http://misszoot.com

Not to be confused with my own personal, rather small, Bucket List. Now that we’ve cleared that all up…and we are all on the same page I shall commence with the Fambly Bucket List. I totally borrowed this idea from my friend Zoot, not knowing at the time it was from her. I kept thinking the girl in the picture looked awfully familiar though. My ever astounding powers of observation are pretty magnificent, no?

1- Go to the Farmer’s Market

2- Have a water balloon fight.

3- Have a water gun fight.

4- Go to the dollar movies.

5- Name chalk art photos.

6- Go to a baseball game.

7- Camp out.

8- Sign up for the Summer Reading Program at the library.

9- Take a hike.

10- Make friendship bracelets.

11- Catch fireflies.

12- Watch fireworks.

13- Make homemade popsicles.

14- Go on a picnic.

15- Go to DQ for some ice cream.

16- Go to an outdoor concert.

17- Make a Summer Cake.

18- Go to the BEACH.

19- Visit the Ice Cream truck.

20- Star gaze.

21- Sparklers.

22- Play frisbee.

23- Tye dye our own t-shirts.

24- Fly a kite.

25- Plant some sunflowers.

26- Watch the 4th of July Parade.

27- Temporary tattoos.

 

And I think that oughta keep us busy for a little while.

Summer Update!

Wow. I suck. I’m not really sure where the time has gone, but I really did mean to post an update about Nub’s Asperger’s and various other things. None of which I remember. So you’ll just have to take my word on it that they were cool. And fun. The best laid plans and all that, I suppose. Gah. Anyhoo, on to the updates…

We officially received a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome the first part of May. And while it didn’t really come as a big shock to us, it was still difficult to see the words in black and white for the first time. It was also suggested that we switch Nub to a Gluten Free diet in order to help with his lack of focus. I met with the pediatrician and he agreed. I’m sorry, but I can’t put my eight year old son on psychotropic drugs. He’s EIGHT. So not an option. Thankfully, his pediatrician and his team at school agree with us. So that is one less thing to worry about. I’ve been reading(we all have actually, grandparents included!) and doing tons of research on Asperger’s and gluten free diets. I feel pretty comfortable with both, as of right now anyway. Without sounding like I’m tooting my own horn, I am a pretty good cook and I enjoy it immensely. So I’m looking forward to new recipes and the challenge of creating yummy new dishes for us to try. As for Nub? He seems pretty matter of fact about having Autism. Which is good. It doesn’t change anything about who he is as a person. He is still my same sweet, funny boy. He just sees things a bit differently than we do. And that’s fine too. We signed him up for baseball(and Dub played soccer) at our local rec center. At first we were a little worried about how he would do. He LOVED it! And he was pretty good at it too. His coaches were amazing and so patient and kind. They won only two games, but that didn’t stop him from having a blast at each game. He was so excited to receive the final game ball for Most Improved Player. You could have seen the smile on his face from the moon! I cried(and I may have teared up a wee bit whilst typing this). All in all it was quite a successful season. And we look forward to doing it all over again in the Fall.

Moving on to other news…I am officially the proud mama of a third grader AND a first grader. ZOIKS! I don’t even want to think about the fact that in just two short years I will be completely chirren free during the day. Lalalalalalalalala, I am not thinking about you Worst Day Ever. Seriously. Shut up. Dub is VERY pleased with himself because he is not a baby anymore. He is in first grade. Serious bidness, y’all. And Bub is just happy to have his “Bubbies” to play with every day. We have lots of fun stuff planned for the Summer, including a trip to the BEACH. Which is desperately needed right about now. I can’t remember the last time we actually went on vacation. Sad. But totally true. Although I also can’t remember what I did last week. Gah.

So there you have it. An actual post. From me. I know, right?! And now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Curious George to watch…