The year is over, what did I waste it on?

Well here we are at the end of another year. It was a good year, I was productive, the kiddo matured and learned things so I suppose I will call it a success.

Highlights of the year in no particular order:

We laughed a lot! We laughed at movies, each other and the great sense of humor and crack up things Maddy says.

Bruiser has firmly taken charge of the house and we are all better for it.

This year I made more time for friends and fun. Lunches out and spending time with friends is always a priority now. I hope to do it even more next year.

Maddy has really come a long way. She is more confident, she has matured, and she found a friend. I can honestly say that Maddy has better peer groups, more positive activities, and real friendships. This is not something she had in public school.

I went to Vegas twice! Once with the husband and once with my Mom. Both trips were great. I really hope that the hubby and I can spend more time away just the two of us.

Hanging in our computer room is a movie poster with the hubby's name on it. Movie not released yet, but another step closer to his goal. Progress was made this year and soon all his hard work should pay off.

I am able to stay at home and we don't have to eat mac and cheese and beans and rice for dinner every night. This was a good year for us and I think that 2010 will be an even better one.

Happy New Years to all!!

Sleep over

Tonight Maddy has one of her friends sleeping over. I am always so pleased when this happens. When you have a special needs kiddo/teenager it is hard to find a good peer group for them. It is difficult to find some one who is close in ability, with the same likes. Someone who enjoys Maddy for who she is and not someone thy put up with her because they feel they should.

Maddy now has a friend who is a true friend. They text, they giggle, they are so happy to see each other. It makes me all warm and fuzzy to know that for tonight Maddy and her friend can be themselves and have way too much fun.

This week at the Davidson House

Last Saturday was The Group Christmas party and fun was had by all. As always lots of laughter and catching up on the previous year or 20. My Dad came this year and was able to see friends he had not seen in more years than any of us want to count. We took generation pictures of the attendees and it is pretty cool to have 3 generations of The Group. We have a summer party planned so I can't wait to see everyone again.

Maddy has really started to ask specific questions about sex and about how things actually work. Found some good stuff online that I printed off, but the hunt is now on for a good book to let her have. I don't think it has crossed her mind to look stuff up by herself online and I sure hope to keep it that way.

I started back on the two projects I have been putting off for a while now. When we did the computer switch-er-roo I lost over a thousand pictures and the Letter of Intent I had almost finished. The pictures were recovered but are now a jumbled mess and no longer in order by year, event, families, etc. I almost have them all back in general event files and then I will get them all in the correct year folders.

For the Letter of Intent I have found most of my handwritten notes that will help with all the chronological order work I had done. My goal is to have both of these things done by the end of the year. I know I can do it!!

This morning I had breakfast with one of my favorite people in the whole world. She is one of those people that by just being around her I feel better about the whole world. She still teaches so we make sure that the last Friday of every semester we have breakfast before school. The times I am with her or the other wacky World History Crew members it makes me miss teaching, but I know that what I am doing is the most important thing in the world. Words can not express how thankful I am to be able to make a different in Madeline's life.

Sunday Maddy is supposed to start Special Olympics Basketball. She has always liked to shoot hoops, so I hope this is a wonderful, fun, positive experience for her. Thank goodness practice is after church on Sundays so it saves me from another trip to The Woodlands.

Hope every had a great week and has the best Christmas ever!!

Changes in Christmas

This year no gifts will be put out from Santa. All the presents are under the tree. A couple of years ago when we put Santa to rest, she still wanted to have presents put out. She also is very quick to tell people that Santa does not come to her house, Mrs. Claus is the one who takes care of her Christmas.

While I was getting everything ready this year I asked about the leaving things out or just having everything under the tree and she agreed that all under the tree would work for her. When you have a special needs kiddo you usually get to hold on to child-like traditions a bit longer, but it is time to move past them and continue with helping her mature.

The years of staying up late to put out Christmas were fun, but I am looking forward to a more adult Christmas this year.

Maddy Conversations

Yesterday when Maddy and I were out and about I happened to see a Ford Edge. I told her that my Mom was buying one and would be picking it up next week. My Mom is not a very tall person. (Let the record show I did not call my Mother short!) As we were walking by the Ford Edge Maddy asked me "Will Banma be able to get in out of this car ok? Or will it be to tall for her?"

This morning we were in the car running errands and the Lady Gaga song Paparazzi was on the radio. Maddy asked me what Paparazzi meant and so we started talking about how they take pictures of celebrities and that sometimes they can go to far. We then discussed that when you become famous you are inviting people into your life and you have to understand that privacy is something you are giving up. After a few minutes she looked at me and told me she was happy to be a "Normie". Because when you are a "Normie" no one cares what you look like when you are food shopping.

She then went on to tell me all about the Family Guy episode that was on last night. She loves Family Guy and I am thankful that a lot of the jokes go over her head as they show can at times be downright crude. For those not familiar with Family Guy I am including a scene that both Maddy and the hubby find to be hysterical.

Help from readers

I have a question that bothers me every year at Christmas time. I have looked it up before and the answers I can find do not satisfy me.

Why is "My Favorite Things" played as a Christmas song? In the movie, it is during a summer thunderstorm to help calm the children. There is one line about packages tied up with strings. How does this qualify as Christmas?

The one explanation I have found is that the sounds conjure up winter images. I don't buy it! Anyone have any other ideas why they play it at Christmas?

Party this Saturday

This Saturday I will be having a party at my house. While parties during the holidays are not unusual this is a pretty cool party to have. This party has been around for about 40 years or more.

When my parents were in college they had/made friends with 3 other couples. Throughout the years I spend many a day with them and their families. We are just called The Group. That seemed the best way to describe it, however, Gang of Random Spontaneous Fun would probably be a better description. When I was growing up there were parties for any occasion that we could find an excuse to get together. There was the Christmas party every year and their was also the dreaded 40th birthday party. I will have to do a whole post on the 40th parties!

As the years passed people moved, babies were born, spouses have changed, but once a year we all stop and gather to remember the good ole days and share what has happened in our lives over the past year. The party rotates between houses and my generation has also taken over part of the rotation as well.

This Saturday when about 20 people come to my house ranging in ages from 2.5 and up (people older than me, but not old!). My house will become their house and we will spend the afternoon and evening laughing, sharing and wishing we did this more than once a year.

It is my hope that everyone has a party like this in their lives. If you don't then you should start one!

My new favorite website

I love this site and the comments. I have actually thought about digging up some old photos that would definitely belong here.

Awkward Family Photos

Enjoy!!

The sky is falling!!

Help!! What is this white stuff that is falling from the sky? Hope to share some fun snow photo's soon.

Maddy and Christmas Cards

Yesterday I had Maddy write the inside message of Christmas cards. I like for her to do the things I love about the holidays. I am sure that is does not mean as much to her as it does me.

If you would like for Maddy to send you a Christmas card toss me an e-mail with your name and address and you can own a one of a kind Maddy Christmas card. Please know that her hand writing is legible but far from perfect. This could be a fun way for her to practice. If you want a special note written or for her to write about a specific topic just include that in your e-mail.

If you would like to send Maddy a Christmas card or perhaps a gift contact me via e-mail as well. I know she would LOVE to get cards in the mail from people who are interested in her.

Can't wait to hear from peeps contact me at jadavids@gmail.com

Cheese and Ranch Dressing

Cheese and Ranch Dressing make everything better. So does chocolate. I can't have any of them and so far I am still alive. The doctor wants to see if I might be lactose intolerant. I had NO idea that everything has freaking milk in it.

In the morning I consume massive amount of half n half with my coffee and I have learned to switch to Non-Dairy Creamer so coffee in the morning has been saved. I am still waiting for Fabio to show up at my door since I bought some I Can't Believe it's not Butter yesterday.

So far so good on the no dairy products and last week I lost 3 pounds, but I have to admit I miss cheese! One of my great easy dinners here at the house was Chicken Parmesan so for now I will have chicken and watch the family enjoy the good stuff.

In the mean time I get to enjoy foods I have not had in ages, like a wonderful rye bread I found. YUMMY!!

Car Conversations

Maddy and I spend a lot of time in the car and this is when most of our conversations take place. She will often make a statement and I challenge her to provide proof. The following conversation took place last week.

Maddy: I know every line in the movie Twilight. You know I saw it 25 times right? Especially the scene in the cafeteria.

Me: Ok, what did Edward say to Bella the first time the ran in the woods?

Maddy: I don't know that line.

Me: How about this then, what did Bella say the first time Edward appeared in her bedroom?

Maddy: MOM!! I don't know that.

Me: What did Edward say to Bella in the cafeteria?

Maddy: He said, "Blah blah blah". (She quoted the line) See I told you I know all the lines!!

Me: Well not really you did not know the first two I asked you.

Maddy: Those scenes did not matter, so they don't count.


I suppose it is all in how you look at things.