Autism Awareness Month...

So, the last few posts have been somewhat negative, therefore, here comes positivity. This month is Autism Awareness Month! As most of you know, I work with children who have autism. And as there are some children who make me want to pull my hair out on a daily basis, there are the ones that make me want to be a mother! I love autism. I love the way they move and speak (or don't speak) I love their eyes. I love what they say when they can't speak. I love their quirks and different stems. I work with my favorite little boy who has figured out how to "favorite" Tarzan videos on my iphone. I work with another little girl, who although looks and acts like Mowgli from The Jungle Book, can play the piano and sing on perfect pitch.

I'm not really sure where my love of autism stems from. I have worked with many different children but my first autistic love is a little boy named Seth. Seth couldn't talk and he really didn't care to be around many people. He was 7 years old when I first met him. And when we first met, we bonded. I don't really know how it happened. But I received great joy and satisfaction from being one of the only staff at day camp that he liked to be around. He'd hold my hand and walk me to the swing set or climb on my lap for tickles or kisses

Here is a picture list of my other favorites at my little day camp. I'm not allowed to post pictures of my favorites at work, but just know that I have them! :)

Evan...One of the smartest kids I ever knew. We played games, talked about politics, worked through issues of him accidentally walking into the women's restroom and having his "worst nightmare come true!!!!!" He had a different obsession every day ranging from the Reeses puff cereal rap, timers, banjo music, fashions, and whatever else it may be. I love this child.

Elyssa...One of my all time favorite children. This girl could quote any line from almost any movie. She loved to write stories that were almost identical to Disney stories, except she would substitute in other characters, (usually animals) from other Disney movies. My all time favorite story? Marley and me with Timon and Puma raising Kiara, the worlds worst lioness. I don't know where she got it, but it always entertained me. I worked with Elyssa first in the school district as a sixth grader and we would talk about Harry Potter and any dog movie that was ever made. She asked me one time what my dogs names were and what type of dog they were and to this day, if I ask her what kind of dogs I have, she says, in the same voice as always..."Chloe and Coletrane...Chloe's a rat terrier and Coletrane is a golden retreiver."

Ana

Ana has always called me Breckey. One of my favorite memories of Ana has to have been holiday week at summer day camp. She missed Christmas because she was sick, so when she came to camp the next day, (which was Halloween) she kept coming up to me and saying in her little robot voice..."We going to sing Christmas Carols today??? Breckey...it's Christmas today? I want to sing Christmas songs today?" sooo...with a little sneaking around, and a pretend note from Santa Claus, we had a special Christmas hour, sing along time with Ana. It still freaked her out that she missed Christmas, but she was fine once we got to the pool. (How I got a picture of her smiling? I will never know!)

Johnathan...

This little guy was one of my favorites because not only did he have autism, but he also has Down Syndrome. Which is actually a lot more common than people think, (as will be apparent in my next picture) Jonathan loves singing time with Jenny. He can sing Old Susanna and Yes, Jesus Loves me! I love this kid because it took him 40 minutes to walk to the park with two staff on either side, he couldn't swim in the pool because he would poop on command, and he loved lady bug erasers.

And last but far from least...

Alex...

Alex is also Down Syndrome and Autistic. I love Alex because I have worked with him since he was a sixth grader. Alex is naughty...He kind of reminds me of a sour patch kid. One minute he's sour...the next he's sweet. I could always tell when it was going to be a good day, and when it was going to be a bad day with Alex...Just by asking one question..."Alex, what's my name?" good day answer: "Buh...buh..becky!!"...Bad day answer: "Iiiiii...Don't know." Favorite memory? Alex picking up a piece of goose poop with two sticks and walking up to Haley (my sister and saying) "Haaaayley. Eat Poop." while pushing it to her face.

As the month goes on, I hope people will realize the importance of recognizing Autism. I think people are more aware of it these days, but not so understanding of it yet. These special spirits bring me GREAT joy. :) Happy Autism Month!

Biggest Pet Peeve...

Alright alright alright....After being accused of only writing three posts in the 5 months that I have had a blog...I write again... This entry will be dedicated to my biggest pet peeves. I feel like I should preface this entry with the statement that, I have a lot of pet peeves. I don't know how long this list will be...and I don't know how accurate it will be. I feel like it will definitely encompass the ones that my family and friends all know and have heard about...and I'll probably throw in a few surprises along the way. These are in no way shape or form in order from biggest to smallest pet peeve. Any pet peeve of mine, is a big pet peeve. My wise brother once told me that I should write a book called, My biggest Pet Peeve...

Pet peeve #1:

People chewing loudly

Now, we've all been there. We've all sat in the library, frantically studying, while Charlie Smith sits next to you, chomping away on an apple, a whole carrot, a stalk of celery, and a pack of gobstoppers to finish off his brain meal. I remember sitting in the library, boring holes into the side of their face as they chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed, oblivious to the fact that I couldn't hear anything else. I know, I know. Some people on here, (mainly my family) will say that I have too sensitive of ears. They will say that I take it too far by moving away from the person I sit next to at the dinner table. They will say that I am being too much of a baby. I will say...try having JOWLSY be the only thing you can hear while trying to write a lit review for a sociology class!

Pet Peeve #2

Movie Talkers/texters.

This seems like a pretty standard pet peeve, so I won't say much about it, except for, I have a GIFT for finding and sitting next to these people in a full theater. I will also say that this pet peeve extends to people who commentate during a movie. "Harry, HARRY! Don't walk on the ice!! You are so stupid...Oh hell, the ice is going to break and he's going to fall in isn't he...does he die here...DOES HE DIE HERE!?" From the words of my dear friend, Sarah Tidwell...SHUT UP. One...He can't hear you...and Two, you sound like a moron being at a Harry Potter movie and not knowing what is going to happen. I'm sorry. The books have been out for YEARS now...there is no excuse to have not read them. (besides illiteracy, that would be a legitimate excuse.)

Pet peeve #3:

Narcissists...otherwise known as Jeff Skibitskey

Pet Peeve #4

Hipsters: my definition...People who think they are cooler than they really are...

They talk different than their real voice. They sing different from their actual speaking voice and they dress to make an annoying statement. There is a huge difference between people who are authentic and true to who they are and people who are "legit".

Pet Peeve #5

Injustice

I really hate when things aren't fair. I always have. I don't like when the man takes advantage of the little guy. Case and point? My friend being towed in stupid Provo, because we parked at the laundry mat. The initial fee of being towed, $175...add in 35 dollar fee for the actual tow and another $65 for after hours. This all for PARKING IN AN EMPTY LOT. It's unfair to me because, sure there were signs, but none of us are from Provo, or live in Provo. I didn't know that they towed that strictly. It's the same reason why I wouldn't shop at Albertson's in Rexburg. People take advantage of college students and the fact that they have no money and there is nothing you can do about it! It is ridiculous. If you couldn't tell, I'm still pretty bitter about it.

Pet Peeve #6

Geese at Silver Lake Park.

I know...I know, I faced my fear of these beasts at Park and Rec day camp. However, they are still obnoxious. They poop everywhere and scavenge for little kids' food like the bullies they are. I hate those jerks. They aren't afraid of anything...and that includes a whole day camp of kids with special needs who AREN'T afraid of the geese.

Pet Peeve #7

People who drive green Subaru Outbacks with ski racks on the top in the left lane 10 miles below the speed limit.

When I am stuck behind a car in the left lane...it is almost always inevitably a forest green subaru outback. I say almost always because sometimes it is white...but whatever color it is...it is always slow and always causes me anger.

Pet Peeve #8

having to get a new phone because something disastrous has happened to my old one

Disaster #1: Phone stolen by a child I worked with at school.

Disaster #2: phone dropped in the toilet

Disaster# 3: phone broken in half after dropping it in a parking lot

Disaster #4: Phone sliding off the couch into a glass of water on the floor.

Disaster #5: iPhone falling out of my sweatshirt pocket while in a full on sprint, therefore shattering the screen

Disaster #6: Cracking the new screen just enough on my iphone so that it wouldn't work, therefore forcing me to get a new one

as you can see...I am one who has bad luck with phones...I now have the most protection anyone could ever have on a phone...

I'm racking my brain trying to think of other pet peeves I might have. I'm sure there are plenty that my family can attest to, however due to the fact that i don't want think of any other ones, people can just add some they might think of! :)

Fat Tuesday

Well, today surely does feel like a Fat Tuesday. I just ate a big bowl of Red Beans and Rice that my lovely little sister Haley made on Sunday. Whew...I feel like my guts are going to split. Other than that? Today has been a pretty crappy day. Why, you may ask? I will tell you. The first reason is that it snowed last night. I know, I know, it's March. It still snows in March. I don't care. I'm done with snow and crappy drivers that drive like poop because of the snow.

Reason #2 why today=crap? I am sick. I am sick again. I have BEEN sick since December...pretty regularly, and I blame a man...nay, a zombie at work who has had walking pneumonia for SEVERAL weeks and refuses to call in. He comes to work, zombie-shuffling around, whooping and coughing and snotting all over the place. Picture a long haired, bearded, sniffling zombie and you would have my co-worker. It is frustrating to say the least.

Reason #3 why today sucks? It just does. this is a picture list of things that could only make my day worse...I feel if I do this, maybe it will make me realize that today isn't SO bad.

two reasons for this picture...there's a bird on his head and it pooped..

he's digging into a septic tank...that would be worse than my day...

I know this isn't a real picture...but I'm pretty sure that getting jumped by a shark would equate to a bad day.

A black hole in the midwest would definitely make today worse...

stepping on a snail while running would definitely make for a bad day...

And last...but NOT least...

I cringe to even post this picture, but if I've told you once, I've told you all a thousand times: If birds spontaneously drop dead from the sky, I will not leave my house, I will not help in the aide to clean them up, and I will not go to work until they and their little feathers are disposed of properly (which means they are completely out of sight). Someone, (preferably not my zombie co-worker,) would have to pick me up and drive me to work and then be privy to me curled up in the fetal position with my hands over my ears, while I hum, "I am a child of god" with my eyes closed. This would be the ultimate bad day.

This list has definitely given me some insight to what I consider a bad day...the fact that two of them contain birds, shows me that I have a serious phobia. All in all, it's still a bad day, but I am willing to believe that tomorrow can only get more beautiful. (as long as birds don't fall from the sky)

Spring, Oh Spring, Wherefore art thou Spring??

Anyone else feel like it should be spring? I am counting...literally counting the days until this cold weather is done! I am listening, at this very minute to The Decemberists new album called The King is Dead and this song is on right now, called January's Hymn. These are the lyrics

On a winter Sunday I go
To clear away the snow
And green the ground below

April all an ocean away
Is this the better way to spend the day?
Keeping the winter at bay

Boy oh boy...I sure am sick of January. It's only the 9th, but I always feel like January is the longest LONGEST month of the year. This is how I feel about the weather outside...(the lady on the left)

I always feel somewhat lonely in January. I wonder if this is the way most people feel, or if it's just because I've lived up to what I was most looking forward to for two months. This could be the flip side to why I shouldn't celebrate Christmas for 2 months before it happens. After the season is over, then I'm left as everyone goes back home to their regular lives. It's very odd.

This Christmas, however, was an amazing one. I love my family SO much. It was very simple, and not filled with mindless gifts and surprises. It was filled with each other and happy memories. December 28th, I went through the temple for the first time. It was amazing...everything I expected it to be. It was just so wonderful...Everything happened at once, and now it's all sort of over...Stupid January.

I think I need to find something to look forward to now. Maybe I'll plan a trip home or something so I can have something to plan and be super excited about. Or, I have a better idea, how about I be super excited about the life I'm in right now?? Hmmmm...that sounds like a greeeaaaat idea; however, it's easier to be happy in life right now, when I have an exciting event to look forward to. Anyone else with me on this one?

I am going to make a list of the places that I could go right now...people make lists at the beginning of the year right? Maybe I'll make a list of things that I want to do this year...however absurd they might be...

1. I want to train for and run a half marathon...eventually leading into a full marathon... 26.2 miles? No big deal, right? If I write it on here, then I am more likely to do it...hopefully!

2. Record another cd, and start playing in more places...this would require a few more songs on my part...I suppose that I should get writing...

3. Do a session in all of the temples in Utah:

St. George:

Logan:

Manti:

Vernal:

Monticello:

Ogden:

Bountiful:

Salt Lake City:

Jordan River:

Oquirrh Mountain (done):

Draper (done):

Mount Timpanogos:

Provo (done):

4. Go on a trip. Either home, or somewhere fun and exotic. I would love to go to a different country, but I'm not sure when that could possibly happen this year!

5. Become financially secure...this does not mean have lots of money, it means be out of debt and have a pretty good savings.

These five things, I believe are things things that I can look forward to and feel excited about this year...mostly the marathon...how fun would THAT one be to tell people about...yeah...I just ran a marathon...