Fun Day

We had an awesome day today. We started out going to see Tangled. How fun!

Then we went and did some music lessons followed by family pictures and ice-cream. (May I just say that I have the coolest friend in the whole world. I called her up last night and asked her to come do some pics for us today. She was not only willing but happy to do so. She is wonderful!) These were two of my favorite pics. No, we're not putting them on our Christmas cards, but I am posting them here. I hope they make everyone happy!

Thanksgiving to my Mom and Dad

It's Thanksgiving Eve...well, no not any more... it's after midnight.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Today...er... yesterday and today I did two things. One thanks to my Dad, the other thanks to my Mom.
Daddy, guess what I did all by myself. Yes it's the back-splash for my new kitchen. Even though you taught me how to do tile, I have never done it alone. You have always been there in the past to walk me through the hard cuts and measuring and such. I missed you terribly and thought of you throughout the whole process. I still need to grout, but the tile is all in and I feel like it came out beautifully. YEA! Thanks for being a great teacher. (Check out my edge on the long wall. It started out with perfect halves on one side and ended with whole tiles on the other. Good planning or just luck? Perhaps it was just a good teacher...) I am especially pleased with my edging. You know me I can't do it all boring and blah. So I made it pretty. The cuts weren't as hard as I thought they would be, and they sure make it fun. I think I need to replace the blade on my tile cutter. Remember how we debated about buying it? It's been worth every cent we paid for it.
Mom, guess what I did. I made pie. Like real pie from scratch. And I couldn't resist making little ones for Dad and the boys, I think I will even let them eat them for breakfast...hey, it's a vegetable! Yes it's aunties crust recipe. (Thank you again for making me that cookbook, I love it and when I want to do some REAL cooking I always pull it out first. I'm also using one of your salad recipes, and of course your stuffing.) I also have an apple pie in the oven right now. It doesn't look as cool as yours always do, but it's from scratch. I can't compare with the master, but I love that you gave me the tools to at least come close.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. I'm thinking of you both in so many ways today!

My Birthday Present

It's almost done! YEA! My whole house is a disaster area, all aside from the kitchen that is. This is what our living room/dining room has looked like the last few days. And there are boxes of dishes and food everywhere. I feel like I can't get anything done simply because the kitchen is in transition. Proof that the kitchen is indeed the heart of the house.I wish I could get better pics, but the space in the kitchen in REALLY tight. Those of you who have been in my kitchen know what I am talking about. It's called a galley kitchen. In other words...tiny! But it sure is beautiful. Here is the microwave and a sample of the cupboards. They have an antique finish I just love. I wish you could see it better in the pics. You'll just have to take my word for it. Here is my stove, some drawers and my beautiful granite counter top. The color is just yummy to me.

My cool faucet. I love these kinds of things, different and just fun! It's on the left side of my "D" shaped sink.

And last for today is my beautiful new light. I hated that old rectangular florescent thing. I love this. It's just pretty.

We're so lucky!

The other day we were all together somewhere and someone commented on all of our boys. When we got in the car Blue Tiger said, "I think our family is the luckiest family in the world."
I asked him why he thought that.
"There are three reasons. Because we have all boys in our family, because we are Christians, and because we get to stand in a different place in the carpool line at school." (This is because often I am being pulled to the side of the carpool lane to have parent/teacher conferences on a regular basis. I didn't realize it was a cool thing for the boys.)
Then last night he told me. "We have so many blessings, we don't have any more room to receive them."
YEA Blue Tiger. I am grateful that I am lucky enough to have you as my son.

The Moon

EZ has been studying the moon in science class. We have been keeping a record of what the moon looks like (at least on the days/nights that we can see it). I always have to look up in his notes or ask the older boys which way is waxing and which is waning. I told them yesterday that I just needed a song or something that would help me to remember. So Star and Blue Tiger came up with one for me.
(It's to the tune of Jingle Bells.)
Waxing's on the right, waning's on the left,
These are phases of the moon you'd better not forget.
Oh moon phases, moon phases,
they are really great.
Oh what fun it is to learn how the sun affects us....
(or something like that.)
The funny part is...it really did help. I can remember now that waxing is on the right and waning is on the left. Too funny.

Colors

A good friend of mine introduced me to this gem of a song this week. It's called 'Colors' and it's by April Smith and the Great Picture Show. I simply love it and had to share!

A little panicked

And thus it begins.

This morning I have the kitchen cleared out and have moved a bunch of the living room furniture so our workers would have some space for work stuff.

How could I have not prepared my boys for this huge change? We had talked about getting a new kitchen, but I didn't prepare them for the fact that it would take several days or that everything would be moved while the new kitchen was being installed.

So...this morning EZ kind of did a little freak out and then focused on one very visible thing.The microwave in the living room. I told him it was just for a few days until we got our new one. WRONG THING TO SAY!

He doesn't exactly like "new". We moved into our new church house several months ago and he still tells me how he doesn't like the "new church".

He found a little step stool to sit on and told me he was going to sit and watch it. (I think to protect it from being taken away.) You can tell exactly how he feels by the look on his face.When Puppy heard us talking about the new kitchen this is what he said, "But I will miss this kichen." ...I won't.

Happy Veterans Day!

To our Veterans.

We know you voluntarily serve.

We note your sacrifices.

We appreciate your time.

We thank you.

You are in our hearts.

You are in our prayers.

Happy Veterans Day.

Happy Birthday Dad

This year for Dad's birthday we did things a little differently. Dad gave each of the boys a present. Yes, it's backwards, but the boys sure loved it. (We did get gifts for Dad too.)
They each got a pair of footie PJ's. They LOVE them. Yes even the older boys love footie PJ's. I can't say I blame them. I'd probably wear them too, but I'm just not sure how my hubby would feel about me in footies...
Here they are in their new PJ's. They were SO happy. We may have to start this as a new tradition.

Autism

I got a phone call this week. It's like many others I have had in the past, but this one was a little different because of who it came from. I have dreaded it, but suspected for a while now that I would be getting it. This was the first one from a close family member.
My sister-in-law called and told me she and her sons teachers were pretty sure her son is on the spectrum. He has an appointment on the 18th with a specialist, they expect a diagnosis then. She is stressed to say the least, and in the stage we all go through when we realize that our children will not grow up the way we once thought they would.
We had a very good and candid conversation. She asked me questions. Several of the usual questions including one of my favorites and the one I get asked the most... "How do you deal with it?"
That's a good question. How do I deal with the child? How do I deal with the disorder? How do I deal with the guilt? How do I deal with the schools? How do I deal with the behaviors? How do I deal with the emotions (both mine and theirs)? What exactly is "it"?
I am very fortunate. The three of my sons who are on the spectrum are all on the more mild side. They have their issues, and I have to admit I worry about them constantly, but they are happy boys. None of them have terribly violent or destructive behaviors. They are awkward but all enjoy being social. We encourage them to learn and do things that "normal" kids do, but often find we wish we could expose them to things but worry how they would deal with the exposure. We also constantly wonder what the future holds for them.
We love watching their progression. When breakthroughs come we celebrate. When breakdowns come we try to have patience. We pray. We wish. We hope. But most importantly...we love.
They are after all children. Children of ours. And children of God.
So, how do I deal with it?
I just do my best.

BAH!

This morning EZ was panicked as he walked through the house calling for Dad.
"I need Dad! Where's Dad?"

I calmly took him aside and explained Daddy was at work.

His reply~
"But I need the I-Phone."

Sorry Dad.

More Costume pics

In addition to Elvis and Star Trek. We had Two Star Wars guys...(Blue Tiger and Star) ...a Ninja and Super Why!

Yes, a good Ninja can even kill with a shoe! ;)