tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81461230372285128672011-07-08T07:56:04.040-07:00Martinoreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-20070685174251864282010-01-20T10:36:00.000-08:002010-01-20T10:36:26.510-08:00

First off - for those of you that don't know - Gastronomic is the study of the food and culture.   My oldest son - Joey - is currently touring France with his group from the Restaurant School of Walnut Hill College.  It sure sounds like he is having a fabulous time.   One of their dinners over in France consisted of Ballotting of Rabbit with Foie Gras, Baby Rack of Pork and Chocolate Dome with

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-90473591351469404902010-01-18T07:18:00.000-08:002010-01-18T07:18:47.682-08:00

M continues to do well tolerating his cast to much of my surprise.  It has almost become commonplace now that he can't use his right hand although he continues to bang walls and other objects with it when he becomes mad.  School has allowed him to type instead of writing and like his teacher said - who ever knew one could type so fast with a cast on.  Life goes on.

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-43427801076579035782010-01-12T04:38:00.000-08:002010-01-12T05:48:13.728-08:00

I forgot I even had this blog -- only until I was searching for something completely unrelated and I came upon my own blog in the search. Now how cool is that! I won't even try to summarize the last 7 months -- I will try to update regularly for my resolution for 2010. As of today Matt is sporting a new look for the next 4 weeks. He injured his thumb back in December catching a football his

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-51086669505589311902009-06-17T10:45:00.000-07:002009-06-22T10:16:49.838-07:00

Well, the boys did it.. Congrats to them. Both earning awards for perfect attendance - M this last semester, and D the whole year. D receiving the Presidential Academic Excellance Award and of course their 5th grade diplomas. Where has the time gone? As both boys got off the bus this afternoon, I had D excited the summer has finally begun and M running to me crying that school is out for the

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-3551501691352863082009-06-13T06:11:00.000-07:002009-06-13T07:01:58.021-07:00

Why haven't I posted in a while..Why does some days seem like it can't get much worse..Why was I the chosen one..Why do we have love ones taken from us..Why does death even have to exist..Why do some days I just want to throw my hands up in the air..Why do I wake up some mornings and wonder what will the day bring..Why do I smile and let everyone think I am okay..Why does life have to be so hard

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-71716027010038934722009-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-15T06:04:13.223-07:00

I am pleased to announce that D has been selected to receive the “President’s Education Award” for academic excellence. D was selected for this prestigious award based on his outstanding work habits and advanced scores in both reading and math on the PSSA in Grades 3 and 4 and solid classroom academic performance in Grades 3, 4 and 5. I am so proud of him! He will move onto the middle school for

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-11177633652585456722009-04-26T10:59:00.000-07:002009-04-26T11:26:19.101-07:00

Saturday April 25 2009 was the 3rd Annual Sesame Place day for children with Autism which was sponsored by Variety - the Children's Charity (Philadelphia, PA) and what an awesome day we had. The boys were a little hesitate about going because they were big boys and not preschool kids. When I told them we were going they thought about Big Bird, Elmo, and all the other characters and they

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-5421803698995763262009-04-12T08:14:00.000-07:002009-04-12T08:47:54.981-07:00

The boys were excited to see that their baskets had surprises in them when they woke up this morning at 7. It is getting tougher to take pictures of them -- one saying this morning -- don't take a picture - my hair is sloppy, I need to go get dressed. So at the moment only a pic of both boys while digging thru their baskets. I did happen to come across pictures from when they were 4 years old and

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-19864067610030854292009-04-12T00:10:00.000-07:002009-04-12T08:40:50.640-07:00

The Easter Bunny, in case you’ve been living in a cave, on Mars, with your fingers in your ears, is an anthropomorphic, egg-laying rabbit who sneaks into homes the night before Easter to deliver baskets full of colored eggs, toys and chocolate.And just how did the Easter bunny come about. If you go way back, though, the Easter Bunny starts to make a little sense. Spring is the season of rebirth

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-14651879923118781922009-04-04T05:37:00.000-07:002009-04-04T06:16:40.629-07:00

Ok, so we are four days into April and the 1st has come and gone. But the memories I have of this April Fool's day in previous years are so vivid. I escaped this year with no pranks - a few jokes from the boys - but now relieved as on the 1st I walked around literally on egg shells waiting for a prank. By the way, M continues to joke each day trying to fool us - his understanding is it that APRIL

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-21298944797226236262009-03-20T04:07:00.000-07:002009-03-20T04:53:59.557-07:00

Great website to find many family type free items. You must check it out.http://www.5minutesforgiveaways.com/Definitely check it out!I am currently trying to win the Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush: Info from their website:"This product is the Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush by the Sunstar’s GUM® brand. The toothbrush comes in fun colors of blue, red, green and yellow, and in the shape of a crayon.

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-53715820884560747372009-03-13T12:07:00.000-07:002009-03-13T12:34:32.130-07:00

Some days seem like what I have learned about behavior modifications has been disintegrated and doesn’t exist – while other days that are so awesome I wonder why every day can’t be like it. I titled this blog one step forward and knowing that somewhere down the road I will be posting one that is titled two steps back but acknowledging there will be another step forward. I was told this week

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-38996918483541162582009-02-23T16:57:00.000-08:002009-02-23T17:20:51.447-08:00

Living in an apartment has its ups and downs - especially when M is having a rough day and decides to have a meltdown that last hours at a time. But its those other moments that make you smile and forget about those meltdowns. Having Asperger's makes it hard for one to understand literal statements. Simple everyday statements like: Get up on the table to color so no one runs into you - so

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-39014440610170836912009-02-21T05:07:00.000-08:002009-02-21T06:24:09.301-08:00

and i have no idea why. I slept pretty good, but I wake really feeling miserable - missing all those that left this earth before me. I am thinking about my dad, mom, brother, my grandson. Today's date has no relevance to anyone so why am I feeling this way? It's almost like I feel - okay whose next? I even sit here making myself envision just one thought that brought a smile to my face with each

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-37495119571895467982009-02-19T13:15:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:41:12.129-08:00

Ok, we all rose to this rank by our children: "You are the meanest mom".. Well I have once again (probably the thousandth time) been told this. The issue this time... D got a cool bike from his older brother - a hand me down - and he wants to so badly ride it. Then why don't he you probably ask.. well here we go .. I am the meanest mom because ... you ready for this .. this mean mom is making

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-56383765224498258012009-02-05T13:56:00.000-08:002009-02-06T11:50:34.686-08:00

My prayers was answered -- we got almost 6" of the snow. I had some time to enjoy it with D my outdoorsman, but M didn't want to go outside cause it was "too cold". Well, I will be getting him out this weekend as the temps are suppose to go in the mid-upper 50's (only to hear a possibility of another storm coming our way mid-month. We will see if this fans out). M started OT to help with his

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-18241595585910328852009-02-01T15:38:00.000-08:002009-02-02T03:16:05.240-08:00

I want snow - and lots of it. I remember in the good ole' days when I would go out and build my snowman and forts. Those good ole' days are still with me. I am still a kid at heart - just wish physically I felt like it. Just two days away and each station I listen to in regards to this storm I hear it will be a hit or miss. Dam, my career should of been in meteorology. I can make lots of mistakes

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-53208877305871604192009-01-22T05:59:00.000-08:002009-01-22T06:24:39.788-08:00

I just read a news article that tells me single mom's need to remind themselves to take itty-bitty time outs. My so called itty bitty timeouts I get is when I need take care of personal business - you know - my timeout room is in the bathroom. Gosh even the experts tell one this: "Time out should be done in a boring place such as the bathroom, the hall, a stairwell, or other area where there

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-76880138743454784122009-01-20T11:21:00.000-08:002009-01-20T11:29:34.651-08:00

OK, so what were you doing at approximately 12pm when Obama was sworn in? I was handing a Blue Gatorade to one of the students and told him to mark this day down in history. Will he remember 20 yrs from now what he was doing when the nation swore in the first black president -- probably not. I probably wont either -- but this day is significant in 1st - not only for the inauguration but for:-

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-9696852231549524602009-01-18T06:07:00.000-08:002009-01-18T06:17:55.820-08:00

I wake up and see that I can make a 3" snowman - total height. I have this deep desire to go sledding - I hope to make it happen before this winter season is over. Busy day ahead between doc appointment, wash, shopping, cleaning and watching the EAGLES. Started a Home Rule Contract that got a lot of non-compliance to sign but as soon as the boys realized all privileges are revoked until it is

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-31258173513345224962009-01-17T06:21:00.000-08:002009-01-17T18:14:28.300-08:00

How can one get the daily scoop without knowing a bit more about us all. Let's start here and now. I am a single mom raising the twin boys who will be 11 this year and have been raising them on my own since they were two. I also have 2 older kids J who attends college ft and works pt - he is my future chef (and btw - he did an awesome job this past Thanksgiving cooking dinner for us all). C is my

Martinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-50374687617347255672009-01-14T06:08:00.000-08:002009-01-14T06:20:12.577-08:00

Well today marks minus 2 to the big 50. Just another day I tell all - but really -- is it??? I started the day by waking up the boys - M having alot of trouble awaking - and whispered in his ear -- on this day today 48 years ago - something very special happened. He mumbles - "what". I said mommy was born. M is curled up under a thousand blankets - at least that is the way it seems as I

Martinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8146123037228512867.post-2512041726060901442009-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:002009-01-03T18:26:23.208-08:00

This year is going to be so much different than any of year - any! I lost my first and only grandson on December 27, 2008. At a tender age of 16 months - he earned his angel wings after a battle with Krabbe's Disease. I've lost love ones in the past - my dad in 1988, my brother in 2006, even my mom on August 3, 2008. This lost is so much harder. My heart breaks for my daughter - what a wonderful

Martinoreply@blogger.com1