Vote for Caleb: CHICKEN Club Representative!

My oldest son, Caleb is in the 4th grade this year. 

Our school district divides elementary into K-4th, middle into 5th-8th, and high school 9th-12th. I am AMAZED that this is the final year of elementary school for Caleb. He is an unbelievable child: complicated, loving, smart, awkward, sweet, and Autistic. He still has many obstacles. He struggles in reading comprehension, in his verbal skills, eye contact, empathy, and has some anxiety. Each year he progresses, and with 3rd grade being so devastating for him, we worried all summer about 4th grade. To our surprise, he is doing really well this year. His grades are better, he is maturing a bit, he has several school friends, and he is more aware. He has to work twice as hard to accomplish things that come naturally to the average kid. 

He is now a member of the CHICKEN Club, a club for 4th graders that make healthy choices and say NO to drugs. He was excited to sign his pledge card and receive his membership shirt. Yesterday a note came home about an election for club representatives. It is for students with good grades and conduct, and those kids would be helping with the recycling, setting up chairs for assemblies, greeting guest speakers, and various other school projects. He looked at it and said, "Mom I want to do this."

I was really surprised. But once I asked him why, he couldn't come up with an answer. He is interested but doesn't know why. He thinks he would make a good representative, but cannot give any reasons. I have mixed emotions about this. 

First, I always want to encourage my child, challenge him, motivate him, and let him know with hard work he can be ANYTHING he wants to be. Second, my mind is saying he is not ready for this. He won't win. 

Instead of telling him either of these things, I told him he would have to make a poster and write and give a speech. I told him this would teach him so many valuable things: confidence, verbal communication skills, eye contact, competition. I also told him I would help him in any way I could. 

To help him learn more about himself and his skills, I am going to write down a list of characteristics and have him circle 4. We will discuss what each characteristic means and give examples. Then he can choose the ones he would like to include on his poster as reasons to vote for him as representative for the CHICKEN Club. 

I am proud of my son for taking this leap. I am hesitant because I am his mom, and I know his limitations, but I never want to underestimate him. If he wants it and works hard for it, he can do it! More to come as he makes his poster and writes his speech.

Operation Christmas Child...

It's that time of year again. Even though it is only the first week of November, our minds are quickly shifting to Christmastime. Thankfully, almost all of our gift shopping is done. 

Every year, we put together a few boxes for some children oversees who are less fortunate than we are. I often forget, in the middle of our budgets, spending, stretching, and buying how blessed we are. We are incredibly blessed to have our family, health, and happiness. My boys will each choose a boy or a girl of a certain age, and will donate some of their money to help fill a box with goodies. 

While I was at the store today picking up supplies for our school movie night tonight, I picked up some goodies to fill a box for a girl, aged 5-9. I love shopping for girls since I usually only shop for boys. Here is what I was able to get for her for about $10:

• a journal
• a set of cute mechanical pencils
• fancy erasers
• glow necklaces
• fancy stickers
• a stuffed unicorn
• lip gloss

It's not too late to pack a shoe box for a child this Christmas. Here is the link to the Samaritan's Purse website....we will be paying online to ship so that we can track our packages. Last year, they all went to Mexico. We are hoping they go somewhere overseas this year. 

Peppered bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos...

My husband is on a no/low carb diet. I shudder to even type that because my love for carbs extends further than just breads and potatoes. Carbs complete me. We are soul mates. Being on a low carb diet turns me into the Wicked Witch of the West for sure. 

When my husband announced that he was going to be on this diet again, I immediately bristled. That means an increase in our grocery budget. That means extra grease. That means listening to him gripe about all the things that we are eating that he cannot. Bright side? I don't have to cook that much for him. 

He likes steaks and grilling. I do not grill. But he is getting a little tired of those things. So yesterday I felt like being nice and made him some quick stuffed peppers for dinner.

Here's how I did it:

• 8 oz of softened cream cheese
• 10-20 jalapenos
• bacon
• toothpicks

Wash the jalapenos and dry them off well.

Using a knife, cut the stem off the top of each jalapeno and then cut each in half lengthwise.

Using a spoon, scoop out the insides and discard. Make sure not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth while scooping since the seeds are what gives the jalapeno it's heat. Your face will be on fire!

Fill each half with cream cheese. This would be a good time to add some other flavors to your cream cheese. You could add diced shrimp, bacon, etc...but I just used regular old cream cheese. 

Cut your bacon into thirds. I used peppered bacon because the hubs likes it the best.

Wrap each jalapeno half with a small slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. 

Place on a broiling pan and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, and then broil on high for 5 minutes to help crisp the bacon. 

Quick, easy, and low carb...the hubs loved them! They were pretty tasty if I do say so myself. Next time I am going to add popcorn sized shrimp to them. Yummy!!!

Trick or Treating: Halloween 2012

Oh, Halloween is over! Both of my children have bags full of candy and are exhausted. Can't say that I blame them :)

Every year, our neighborhood makes Halloween fantastic for the children of the community. People come from surrounding cities to our neighborhood for the hay rides, moonwalks, and hot dogs. This year, we filled an ice chest with candy and it lasted a little over an hour. 

It was my turn to stay behind this year and hand out candy, so the hubs went with my friend, Carmela and her kids walking the neighborhood. 

Afterwards, we hit up Sonic for 25 50 cent corn dogs and then headed to Carmela's house. Her husband had decorated their carport and we hung out there to play for a while. While I am not a fan of the spooky, gross aspect of Halloween, I have been teaching my kids that it is a time to have a little bit of fun and dress up. That's it. It's about making memories...not scary, gory things.

Halloween lunch additions...

It's Halloween everybody!!! Good morning sunshines!

To help put my little ones in the Halloween spirit before trick-or-treating tonight, I added a little somethin' somethin' to the lunchboxes this morning....

Please excuse the, yet again, crappy cell phone picture. 

Happy Halloween Y'all!

Club Polk: 70's pep rally/walk/party

Friday rounded out Red Ribbon Week! Today was 70's day and I think the parents might have had more fun than the kiddos, although the kids were having a blast.

my guys and I ready to rock!

The morning started out with everyone dressed in their favorite 70's attire. The pep rally began with some words from our mayor, some police officers, and baseball players. The 4th graders presented a skit on being drug free, and my son Caleb had his first ever speaking part!!!!

Then the teachers planned a flash mob....teachers danced on stage, then the teachers in the audience joined in, then the PTO and parents, and then the kiddos. It was a huge hit. Then we all followed the police and firemen as we went on a 1/2 mile walk around our neighborhood. It was so cute to see all the kids chanting and waving to many of the parents who were out in their yards to watch us all. Once that was finished, we returned to eat popsicles and take a rest.

After the kids went back to class, the moms finished up the decorating, and started popping popcorn for the afternoon's parties.

It was really fun! We blacked out the doors and windows, hung a disco ball and a light machine, made some photo booths, had posters and peace signs everywhere, and blasted music. The adults made a tunnel for the kids to run through to go inside, and then we handed out popcorn and started the party. The kids could run and dance and do whatever they wanted for 30 minutes.

I am so glad the school planned and we were able to provide a fun day for these kiddos!