Get your Diva T-shirts here!

I have a running joke in my drama workshop: if you spout off for whatever reason, you are bound to be "honored" with the Diva T-shirt. Not that there is an actual shirt.... but so far, most of the kids have earned a turn wearing it! (The director has "Diva" TATOOED on her forehead, so don't get all smarky with me saying maybe I should be wearing the Diva T-shirt!)

Ha ha!

The past few weeks have been a roller-coaster of ups and downs:

Downs: The theme of October so far seems to be "waiting for the phone to ring". It can make a person crazy: waiting for a call back. No one calls back anymore. They don't even return emails!? It's crazy. I can't imagine advertising myself as a "caring educational resource" and then never responding to client inquiries. With this whole Alannah process we are obligated (and is our pleasure, of course) to arrange and participate in all kinds of therapies and trainings. This whole thing has been going on since JUNE and we are still struggling to connect with some services. It makes you wonder about parents who are not educated or resourceful. It makes me wonder how many of them "fail" but not for lack of TRYING. How sad for them and their families!

And, of course, none of the 8 or so services that we are working with currently ever communicate with each other. We spend most of our time sorting out contradictions instead of actually working toward measurable goals. It is just not right. It is not fair.

Sigh.

Ups: Have had several wonderful weekends full of family and friends!
Mom and Dad were here with the kids a few weeks ago and we enjoyed a great time going to watch Alannah march in the half-time show at the football game. She was the only girl to not drop her flag.

We visited the Action Wildlife Animal Park in Goshen, CT which was a lot of fun. The kids got to feed a bunch of animals in the petting zoo and then Dan almost got eaten by a baby cow who reached out and nipped at his shoulder. (seeing how big the BIG cows were, it wasn't as scary as you think!) He thought it was cool, and it didn't hurt him, so all's well that ends well I suppose.

Aidan has been spending some time with new friends she is meeting at her new school. We have enjoyed getting to know them. Scott taught one of her friends how to split wood. I don't know who Alex likes to visit more--Aidan or the woodpile!

Angela and Kennedi were here this past weekend. We had fun visiting Six Flags New England. They have all of the Halloween things going on. They were not excited about the scary parts, but it was fun to try out some of the rides and family shows.

I sang in a concert Saturday night with my Laurel City Singers group. Sunday we went to NY to watch the football game with Scott's friends.

My drama group is performing a little play for the Talent Show next week. They are doing a great job. Today we added props. Thursday and next Tuesday we have a mini-dress rehearsal before the main-show Wednesday night.

I am working pretty steadily now, which is good.

I have a few Halloween costumes to work on still, a birthday gift for Erica and one more baby gift. It is getting chilly, so not sure how much longer I can sew out in the garage!

Mom and Dad are in Texas for a couple of weeks, so they will miss the snow and cold....for now!

There! I knew if I listed my joys and sorrows the joys would have it.

(AMEN!)

A really good day

It was the most beautiful, crisp, Fall day here in Ct.

Not only did I get most of the bedrooms cleaned, I did laundry and even hung a bunch of stuff out around on the deck. Since the kids were here this weekend, it seemed like laundry has been going on all day..... arrghhh.... I am also cleaning out drawers and filling donation bags. Everyone grew this Summer!

Susie is able to use many of Aidan's hand-me-downs. Dan needed all new things, but I lucked out at Goodwill in Torrington--ended up with almost all new name brand things for under $3.00 apiece! I never appreciated school uniforms--otherwise Aidan would have worn us out of house and home this year. She is getting to be a very picky dresser. Alannah isn't, so I know she will enjoy the bag of my stuff that I sorted out to give her when she comes for her visit on Wednesday.

Scott is having a blast trying to rebuild a really nice high-end computer monitor he and Dan found at the dump. (are you sensing a trend here in the Graboski household?) He ran around to various Radio Shack type places today and then spent an hour with the solder iron. Aidan seemed to enjoy helping him.

I am ending the day cooking chili and apple crisp. Between all of that cooking and the fresh-off-the-line laundry, the house smells amazing. I am super hungry after all that work, so hopefully dinner will happen soon!

Definitely a KEEPER

I was going through Dan's and Susie's papers this morning, and I came across a little booklet Dan made in school about the flooding in Owego. It was a neat project to get the kids talking about and working through the trauma I imagine invaded their little lives.... luckily Dan was saved from most of that tragedy. Anyways.... there were three questions asking what he did and who helped him feel better about the flood. All of his answers said: "Mom", or "A hug from mom" or cuddling with mom".

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)