annie blog

Meetings
I go to quite a few meetings at school. This is kind of a given when you have a child with special needs. And since I have more than one child with special needs — well, you get the idea.

Last week, I attended a meeting at my oldest son’s school. The focus of the meeting was to teach all of us — my son, his aide, me and the OT how to use the electronic keyboard/personal planner that he is using at school this year.

So, there we were, squished in a little resource room with extremely yellow walls, bookshelves full of videos and binders, and a trapezoidal table around which we were grouped. Bless my son, he manages to make even meetings be so not typical. How does he do this, you might ask? Well, he kept us laughing by the little asides that he would say to me after doing his part on the keyboard.

For example:

J: That is my speech teacher. Mom, she’s a lot younger than you.
Me: (laughing) Oh, really? Well, thank you, J. Mom needed that one today.

Typing….

J: (a bit mournfully…in a detached sort of way) Mom, I flooded the bathroom today.
(Everyone falls out laughing.)
Me: J, honey, you’ve got to not use a whole roll of paper, okay? That is what does it. Remember that, okay?
J: Hmmm.
(I don’t think that he’ll be remembering…
I turn around to see J’s aide doubled over laughing and silently say thanks that she has a good sense of humor.)

More typing….

J: Mom, I don’t think that E would like to see Hercules, because, at 93 minutes, it might be too long for him, since he is only 4.
Me: J, are you sure that Hercules has 93 minutes?
J: Yes, and it might be too long for E.

So then we notice that the movie Hercules is on a high shelf in the room. Finally, the curiosity overcomes me and I get it down to check the running time. Of course, it’s 93 minutes.

The World According to J
How old someone is compared to someone else = who cares?
Remembering not to flood the bathroom = not important.
Running time of various movies = important.
Laughing = better than crying, always.

The Sign of a True Germaphobe
is when you push the play button on the DVD player with your elbow.

The Sign of a True Germaphobe
is when you push the play button on the DVD player with your elbow.

The Sign of a True Germaphobe
is when you push the play button on the DVD player with your elbow.

More Quotes from J
I really should explain more about my oldest son, J, sometime. Because, I’m sure that anyone reading this who doesn’t know him in person would read some of the things that he says (or writes) and think…..well, I don’t know what they would think.

Maybe I’ll write more about him someday. Just so people will understand. Moving on.

Today, J and I were in the van waiting for my youngest to get out of pre-k. J is always hungry. So he asked for a snack. I told him that he needed to get his hands clean before I would dole out a snack. Usually his reply to this would be, “Okay”, or he would wordlessly hold out a hand for the purell. Not today.

Today he said (with a really funny accent from who knows where), “Sanitize the royal hands, my Queen!”

I don’t know when I became the queen — I do know that other moms in the carpool lane looked in my direction when I started laughing like a crazy person.

I have a feeling that he and I will be laughing in cars for a long time to come.

More Quotes from J
I really should explain more about my oldest son, J, sometime. Because, I’m sure that anyone reading this who doesn’t know him in person would read some of the things that he says (or writes) and think…..well, I don’t know what they would think.

Maybe I’ll write more about him someday. Just so people will understand. Moving on.

Today, J and I were in the van waiting for my youngest to get out of pre-k. J is always hungry. So he asked for a snack. I told him that he needed to get his hands clean before I would dole out a snack. Usually his reply to this would be, “Okay”, or he would wordlessly hold out a hand for the purell. Not today.

Today he said (with a really funny accent from who knows where), “Sanitize the royal hands, my Queen!”

I don’t know when I became the queen — I do know that other moms in the carpool lane looked in my direction when I started laughing like a crazy person.

I have a feeling that he and I will be laughing in cars for a long time to come.

More Quotes from J
I really should explain more about my oldest son, J, sometime. Because, I’m sure that anyone reading this who doesn’t know him in person would read some of the things that he says (or writes) and think…..well, I don’t know what they would think.

Maybe I’ll write more about him someday. Just so people will understand. Moving on.

Today, J and I were in the van waiting for my youngest to get out of pre-k. J is always hungry. So he asked for a snack. I told him that he needed to get his hands clean before I would dole out a snack. Usually his reply to this would be, “Okay”, or he would wordlessly hold out a hand for the purell. Not today.

Today he said (with a really funny accent from who knows where), “Sanitize the royal hands, my Queen!”

I don’t know when I became the queen — I do know that other moms in the carpool lane looked in my direction when I started laughing like a crazy person.

I have a feeling that he and I will be laughing in cars for a long time to come.

Sandwiches
Okay, this recipe is by all means NOT gourmet. Actually, now that I think of it, none of my recipes are gourmet. But, this sandwich is good and is, in my mind, a step above the average sandwich. Also, it is quick to prepare and it is as easy and as speedy to make one as it is to make 10. And, you can’t say that about a panini, no matter how much you love them. One more thing, these sandwiches are easy to customize — just leave off the tomatoes, the basil, the turkey….whatever if you have picky people to serve. Also, you can make these even better by using nice rolls and fresh mozzarella.

The easiest dinner. Seriously.

Pesto Turkey Melts
Thinly sliced smoked turkey
pesto
garlic
salt and pepper
Mozzarella cheese, fresh or regular
hot dog buns or similar rolls
one or two 14.5 oz. can(s) diced tomatoes, drained
extra virgin olive oil

To begin, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and 3-4 cloves of minced garlic. Cook this until fragrant (like 30 seconds) and then dump in the well-drained tomatoes. Cook , stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until nearly dry. Turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble: Place the number of rolls that you are using on a broiler-safe pan. Spread the inside of the rolls with pesto. Top with turkey, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese — in that order. Broil until golden brown or until done to your liking.

We like to have these with sweet potato fries and fruit.

These are yummy, y’all.

Sandwiches
Okay, this recipe is by all means NOT gourmet. Actually, now that I think of it, none of my recipes are gourmet. But, this sandwich is good and is, in my mind, a step above the average sandwich. Also, it is quick to prepare and it is as easy and as speedy to make one as it is to make 10. And, you can’t say that about a panini, no matter how much you love them. One more thing, these sandwiches are easy to customize — just leave off the tomatoes, the basil, the turkey….whatever if you have picky people to serve. Also, you can make these even better by using nice rolls and fresh mozzarella.

The easiest dinner. Seriously.

Pesto Turkey Melts
Thinly sliced smoked turkey
pesto
garlic
salt and pepper
Mozzarella cheese, fresh or regular
hot dog buns or similar rolls
one or two 14.5 oz. can(s) diced tomatoes, drained
extra virgin olive oil

To begin, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and 3-4 cloves of minced garlic. Cook this until fragrant (like 30 seconds) and then dump in the well-drained tomatoes. Cook , stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until nearly dry. Turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble: Place the number of rolls that you are using on a broiler-safe pan. Spread the inside of the rolls with pesto. Top with turkey, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese — in that order. Broil until golden brown or until done to your liking.

We like to have these with sweet potato fries and fruit.

These are yummy, y’all.

Sandwiches
Okay, this recipe is by all means NOT gourmet. Actually, now that I think of it, none of my recipes are gourmet. But, this sandwich is good and is, in my mind, a step above the average sandwich. Also, it is quick to prepare and it is as easy and as speedy to make one as it is to make 10. And, you can’t say that about a panini, no matter how much you love them. One more thing, these sandwiches are easy to customize — just leave off the tomatoes, the basil, the turkey….whatever if you have picky people to serve. Also, you can make these even better by using nice rolls and fresh mozzarella.

The easiest dinner. Seriously.

Pesto Turkey Melts
Thinly sliced smoked turkey
pesto
garlic
salt and pepper
Mozzarella cheese, fresh or regular
hot dog buns or similar rolls
one or two 14.5 oz. can(s) diced tomatoes, drained
extra virgin olive oil

To begin, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and 3-4 cloves of minced garlic. Cook this until fragrant (like 30 seconds) and then dump in the well-drained tomatoes. Cook , stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until nearly dry. Turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble: Place the number of rolls that you are using on a broiler-safe pan. Spread the inside of the rolls with pesto. Top with turkey, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese — in that order. Broil until golden brown or until done to your liking.

We like to have these with sweet potato fries and fruit.

These are yummy, y’all.