Jan 4, 2012

Wednesday tag....

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?   
fun
creative
adventure




2. Do you like shrimp? What's your favorite way to have it prepared?
Sure.  But only when grilled.  



3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so, when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?
No not yet.  I will do it this weekend when the little ones aren't here and when I have time.  I will be sad to see it all come down as I love to sit by the Christmas lights and enjoy the glow of them.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?
Only at Halloween.  We tend to watch quite a few in the run up to Halloween.  

5. ice skating~sledding~ skiing~snowboarding...of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

All.  

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

No not really.  I lived in a village and we would make dens and things at odd times....but I didn't have a hide out ever.

7. What's a place or space that motivates you?
Canmore.  It inspires me and refreshes me and makes me feel calm.  I feel so much better after a day or two there any time :)  

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today was such a fabulous day :)  Gorgeous weather - fun with friends, fresh air, sunshine, movie time, dinner....watching the Triops, Abby grew crystals....throwing cream puffs at the girls hahahaha  :)  

:)



:)

Morning games...



This morning was spent chatting, playing games, and getting ready to go out.  

The latest addiction in this house apart from Minecraft - seems to be 'Tiny Towers'...as in the picture above...and the girls have to constantly show me their latest little characters going up in the elevators!!  Wearing funny costumes!!!  It's so odd!  But I guess it's addictive!  

A couple of weeks ago it was Sims.  Now it's Tiny Towers :)  

Yesterday we were playing Abby's new horse card game - thats a good one!  we also played Trigger - another new game we have from the same series as Spot It!! It is such a GREAT game!  So funny!  We made soooo many mistakes with our true and false answers hahahaha  :)  It makes you feel like a fool at times but so many laughs :)  It makes you forget your left from your right too :)  




A very important blog post to read!!!


You can read the original BY CLICKING HERE

(I am posting this in the hopes that my Ex husband Lloyd will read it - or his parents - and that he will finally stop using this word around my children inappropriately.)


Being Retarded

All around me, people use the word retarded without a second thought.  Sometimes, I’ll say “Um, dude, really?” and they’ll say “Oops, my bad!  But really!  I was being so retarded!”
Sometimes, I let it slide.  I realize that it’s a word that’s ingrained in our society’s vocabulary and people use it without a second thought to its meaning.
But what does it mean to be retarded?  Well, I know what it doesn’t mean.
It doesn’t mean not being able to choose something for lunch despite 100 choices in front of you.
It doesn’t mean not being able to find your car keys.
It doesn’t mean saying the wrong thing to a person.
It doesn’t mean forgetting your best friend’s birthday.
It’s not something to describe yourself as when you’ve spilled your coffee, or tripped on a crack in the sidewalk.
It’s not something to describe your computer, car or phone.
According to  Merriam-Webster Dictionary  the word “retarded” means -
: slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress
For me, it’s not just any old word – it’s my daughter.  My beautiful, bright, happy, loving, amazing daughter who is slow or limited in intellectual development and academic progress.
In our household, being retarded means something different.
It means not being able to fully care for yourself.
It means not understanding what the doctor is going to do to you.
It means not being able to explain what hurts when something hurts.
It means not being able to ride a two wheeler.  Or read.  Or ever be able to live on your own.
But ever the optimist, I also know that retarded means…
…never realizing the negativity behind the word retarded.
…never knowing the insensitivity surrounded the word’s usage.
…never realizing the ignorance of people.
…never knowing how other people view you.
Being retarded also means…
…loving unconditionally.
…finding joy in the smallest of things.
…being self-confident.
…not realizing that there are limitations.
…innocence.
 This is Maura.  Her diagnosis?  Cognitively disabled.  Which means retarded.  When you call yourself retarded, you’re also calling my child stupid.  Because you use the word as just that – another form of stupid.
Let’s get something straight here.
My daughter may have cognitive issues.  She may have delays.  She may never live on her own.  Scratch that.  She will never live on her own.
But Maura is not stupid.
In her own way, Maura is very smart.  Maybe smarter than us at times.  She has more self-confidence than anyone I know who’s called themselves “retarded”.  She is the best judge of a person’s character than anyone else I’ve ever known.
Yes, she is slow to learn things.  But she is not stupid.
I know that most people don’t use the word “retarded” maliciously.  Most people I know use it in a self-depreciating way.  And when I point it out, they go “Oh wow!  I’m sorry!” and they truly feel like a heel. But the thing is, you’re still using it in the way that people who do use it maliciously use it as – to describe stupidity.
So why not just use the word “stupid” instead?  Because I know what “retarded” is.  I live with it in the form of my daughter.  And in our world “retarded” doesn’t equate to “stupid”.
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