VBS and Speech and Fun Camp

This week is even crazier than last week.

Each morning I wake the kids up (not my favorite thing to have to do) and we go to Speech and Fun Camp. It's a fantastic opportunity for us. The camp is in Moreno Valley, and it's a day camp for kids with autism and their siblings. In every classroom, there are teachers and speech therapists there playing with the kids. They do stuff like music and they have a sensory room that is really fun. While they are at camp, the parents are pampered, go to support groups, listen to speakers on all kinds of therapy and treatments and services. These classes and things are completely optional, and many parents just drop off the kids and go relax. Anyway, it's really great. I'm really sad that we have to miss the second week of it, but the kids start school on Monday.

In the afternoon there are various activities available where the parents take the kids places or have classes with the kids on campus. We have to miss a few this week because Micah has his behavior therapy, but the ones we went to have been fun. Yesterday they had a fire truck, ambulance, and a limo come out and the kids got to check them out and ask questions. There was also an art class and a class on laughter therapy that was a barrel of laughs.

After that, we have Vacation Bible School at our church. It's been a blast. This week I am working with middle school kids. I'm having a ball. The kids are having fun too. Something great happened with our VBS this year. A family who was in town for the Speech and Fun Camp looked online for a VBS in the area for the kids to go to in the evenings so that they wouldn't be bored staying in their hotel room. Awesome idea, by the way. Anyhow, they came on Monday and saw that Micah was still wearing his camp shirt and were so excited. The boy who has autism was in Micah's class and they just clicked. The mom told me that night that her son told her that he was praying for a friend who was a boy. He was so excited when he found that God answered his prayer!

Another awesome thing that happened was in my class in middle school. We have a visitor coming who is delayed mentally. She's a great girl to have in our class and is so fun to be around. Her mom came to me when she dropped her off on Monday and started to explain some things about her. I was so happy to tell her about Micah's autism and she was so relieved to find another parent who understands about special needs. God really did something awesome when he was placing kids and workers in our VBS.

I'm super tired every day, but God gives me the strength to keep going. It's not been without incident. Micah decided to run away from Tony yesterday when Tony turned his back for a few seconds. I ended up finding him running down the street and freaking out. Everything was fine, but it always messes me up when Micah does that.

Next week is bound to be crazy too. The kids will be going to school, and there's always a struggle to get back into that routine. Micah's behavior therapist is working with me to establish the homework plan now before it starts. Hopefully it will work when it comes time to actually implement it.

So, maybe crazy is just becoming normal. I'm really okay with that, as long as I can stay organized and one step ahead of the kids.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Yesterday I was in the car with 4 girls (Cassidy was with us) and I asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up. Becca has changed her mind and wants to be president. She used to want to be the first lady, but has since decided that she can have more control if she's just president herself. She figures she could just be a lawyer first until she gets a lot of money and run for mayor first, then governor. She said she can do a better job than Governor Brown and that California will elect anybody. I'm wondering who has been talking to my almost 8 year old about politics....

Zoe wants to be a police officer. She said she wants to give people tickets to jail. Becca told her that if people just got tickets to jail they would throw them away. Zoe explained that she would simply go to their house and put bracelets on them and then put them in the car with her dog. Ali told Zoe that not everyone should go to jail, some of them should just pay money. Zoe said "Hooray! Then I will be rich!" Of course I had to explain about bribes and what the government does with money from tickets. Zoe was less thrilled, but she figured if she still got to "put bracelets on people" she would be fine with the job still.

Cassidy wants to be a farmer or a photographer (not both, that would be too hard-her words, not mine). She said she wants to be a farmer so she can have a horse. I told her that she didn't have to be a farmer to have a horse. She looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

Ali told me that she wants to cheer for USC. I asked her what she wants to do after college. She said "I think I'll be a crossing guard and coach the cheerleaders for USC!" I don't get this obsession with USC, but I'm not opposed to her plans. If her goal in life is to go to USC and cheer, that's pretty good for a girl who is about to start Kindergarten in a few weeks! She really likes the idea of being a crossing guard too. She said she likes telling cars what to do. I really do have a few control freaks on my hands.

I just asked Micah what he wants to be when he grows up. He told me he wants to shoot people into space. I'm okay with a kid working for NASA. That's probably right up his alley. I'm really surprised that he didn't want to go to space himself, though. He doesn't like small spaces for long periods of time, though, so maybe I'm not. Still, normally kids say "astronaut". Micah has never been "normal" though. He's awesome like that.

The twins asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. Becca objected saying that I already have grown up and I don't do anything. That was interesting. After a long conversation about what I do, Ali asked again what I want to be when I "get old". I said, "I want to be like Jesus". Zoe responded "Me too! And I want to be a police!" I told her that I liked that plan for her a lot.

My Crazy Week

This week I am consumed by several different things.

Vacation Bible School is coming and I'm crazy enough to be a part of 2 VBS's in a row. One week I am helping in a 3 and 4 year old class at my father-in-law's church and the next week I am directing the middle school class at my church. I love the idea of doing both but I know I am going to be so tired! I love VBS! I'm still probably crazy for doing both.

On top of all that is the start of my business. I have an Open House for my Clever Container business this Saturday from 1-6pm. It's going to be a blast and I'm having fun planning. Hopefully people will come and the day will be an exciting start for my new project. I am putting in hours and hours of my time into this business and I really hope it takes off. My kids are really starting to get the idea that I'm working sometimes (when they are busy or sleeping, that's what's awesome about being in charge of my hours!). It's working out well so far.

The next is my kids. It's funny how much they get on each others nerves lately. Each of them really need time to themselves once in a while. Micah has it easy being in a room by himself, but my poor girls are all sharing their room. The arguments get old. I'm really going to be excited when school begins because they will be separated for at least part of each day. Keeping them busy just hasn't been enough. We've worked on the house together (scrubbing walls is Ali's specialty!) we've played in the water out in the backyard, done a few crafts, watched a few movies and just had fun. Still, doing things together is getting old. Becca especially wants some alone time. Ali and Zoe could use time away from each other too. Micah really likes that he can tell his sisters to get out of his room and they have to listen to him.

Tony is here sometimes. He is going in to work early a couple of days a week so he can umpire in the evenings. He comes home really tired most of the time. Soon he will be going in early so he can go to his second job after...and if his umpire season isn't over by then I'll never see him. Still, summer will end eventually and things will go back to a routine. All will be fine...eventually.

What else is happening? I'm going to Hawaii with my mother and one of my friends at the end of August/beginning of September and staying for a week. It's going to be fun! I'm really excited. I've been working on travel plans for that too.

I'm busy. That's why I'm taking the time to blog now at 1 am. Insomnia is going to be useful tonight I guess. I should still go to bed. Goodnight!