One of Rachel's quirks

A few nights ago I woke up around 3:30 to a strange noise. I thought it might be Kendal kicking the bed frame or something, but as I listened closer, I realized it was right outside my bedroom window. It was a scraping and tapping sound. So I got up and peeked out the window to see if it was I thought- a deer. And yes it was. A buck was totally using my poor little sumac as a rubbing tree. I opened the shade and it ran away a few steps. I could see antlers, but I couldn't tell how big he was. He walked, or should I say strutted around the house to the front. I went to my front window to get a better look and to see if I could tell how big he was. He strutted, I mean a true blue, male strut right up to the stop sign on the corner, gave it a nice rub and slowly walked to the neighbors' yard. The nerve!!


So today was so beautiful, I went outside to do some more fall yard work and look at what I found ALL over my lawn! Little piles everywhere. Then look at my poor little sumac, he rubbed all the bark off in a few places!

My sumac has not looked this sad all summer, it already lost its leaves. There are branches, you just can't see them!

Kendal's speech therapist came today. It went well. It reminded me that the occupational therapist that came last week and told me to get Kendal a sensory rice bin. So when Kelsey went to school, I got out the rice bin I made her and she had a great time. This is a big step for me, I hope you all realize that. I am pretty much a nuerotic, psycotic, control freak, mess hater. This was a big deal for me. Do you see the rollerskate on the floor in the picture? I left in there on purpose because the occupational therapist told me last week that my house is too clean (if she only looked in the bathrooms and under my bed!). She also told me last week that I am too strict. I set limits and then I hold my girls to the limits I set. Since when was that a bad thing? I am not a Nazi parent or housecleaner and my children are not perfect listeners, that is for sure! Anyway, she loved it, but as soon as the rice started to leave the bin in large quantities, we were done with that exercise!
I really loosened up today, as you can tell, I let my girls paint. Kelsey gets to paint every now and then with watercolors, but never with real paint, let alone Kendal! This is another occupational therapist idea. She bought these fun poster paints at our wonderful Kings for Kendal to play with when she came last week. She had just told me that my house was too clean when she got the paints out for Kendal, so I let my blood pressure and pulse hit the ceiling without saying anything when she opened one and handed it to Kendal. As I was breathing quite rapidly watching my 2 year old paint, I just kept telling myself that this lady went to extra schooling for a few years and that she knows what she is doing.

So a few days ago we went to Kings and bought some poster paints of our own. I finally broke down today and let them paint. Kelsey has been asking me for 4 days to paint. I figured the rice escapade went okay (although I still had to vacuum again!!) so what the heck, let the kids paint!

They had a super time. I sure hope it comes out of Kendal's shirt!! See Kelsey's apron? Kendal wouldn't leave hers on!

By the way, my friend Brittany had a little girl last week. Her name is Malia. She came 5 weeks early, but all is well and they came home a few days ago. I can't wait to see her, I bet she is gorgeous!

One more thing, I just started the 7th Harry Potter book a few days ago, even though it has been in my possesion for a few months! I had a quilt to finish when it first came out, and then I just kept telling myself different things I had to get done before I could start it. So, I was too lazy to reread the 6th one to remind myself about the current situation. Could someone please tell me the significance of the R.A.B. locket?