tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44460621248480854932024-03-05T03:03:03.995-08:00Wild AngelsA look into our unexpected but wonderful life being parents of 4 children with Down syndrome.Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-83715200475021976372012-05-17T22:50:00.001-07:002012-05-17T23:15:52.436-07:004 Years Ago!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2012- Yesterday for Crazy Hair Day</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Found him "fixing stuff" with his little drill and of course the safety goggles!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So happy to get his baseball trophy last week</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's right. 4 years ago tonight, we stepped off the plane with our little Serbian. He was so tiny and low tone. Not anymore. Now we wonder if anyone has told him that he is not supposed to be so strong! Boy is he an athlete! He cannot wait until he can play more sports. This year he played baseball and hit coach pitch better than half the team. (And he is by far the youngest player.) He can run, jump and climb like you've never seen. OK--I had never seen. My other 3 were busy but mellow. Max can rearrange a room in 10 minutes. I mean, everything out of the closet, mattresses on the floor, water bottle emptied on the carpet... Max is my "always know where he is or you will pay for it" kid. :-) He LOVES the garbage truck and could watch a landscape crew all day. He loves hats, sunglasses, crazy colored socks, and scarves. He is funny as funny can be. He is smart and figures out everything before I think he can/should. He is so fun to sing with as he uses his funny voices to make me laugh. His smile is the best around. I really, really cannot imagine my life without him! He adds spice to my life making sure it is never dull or boring. Oh how I love that boy of mine. I thank my Father in Heaven for leading us to him! </span></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-46039429178018861502011-12-13T09:14:00.000-08:002011-12-13T11:19:10.900-08:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgGLeDawsXApx27rNrbYvt4YUYtkooJ20rxxn3ICh_cptRAXmpIHvtxMlAiry4W9ZYD9hUM-wl0rOTXJs7uR37JX73dYb83-Cvw2iS8X9Hb9FImBQUtSeKqV4F12KEqRXVvJ3Uf9GASs8/s1600/IMG_9538.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgGLeDawsXApx27rNrbYvt4YUYtkooJ20rxxn3ICh_cptRAXmpIHvtxMlAiry4W9ZYD9hUM-wl0rOTXJs7uR37JX73dYb83-Cvw2iS8X9Hb9FImBQUtSeKqV4F12KEqRXVvJ3Uf9GASs8/s320/IMG_9538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685693756213814258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcRi3VJKf6oLJyNZ85d9RoJKwl1JpIOrkyQEb1n68AwmlO2ajHK13fdSwwOUn6slWElVEqrwBoOtjy2q1Snmt_iy5hO7bIq91U54chQx_5sshpM1erg2swP2u9ACfA33OhfuXl8l3g3gk/s1600/IMG_9520.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcRi3VJKf6oLJyNZ85d9RoJKwl1JpIOrkyQEb1n68AwmlO2ajHK13fdSwwOUn6slWElVEqrwBoOtjy2q1Snmt_iy5hO7bIq91U54chQx_5sshpM1erg2swP2u9ACfA33OhfuXl8l3g3gk/s320/IMG_9520.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685693756363494946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiJQCnL9TCJb5yqCF2QsevPlidCkHrx1FK85bg8zz5h3MrrREpuRSVKbgkgN2CddEUrCp33ykaEqPIGSk2y0eF3mzwFXVcqBC8OXahOxVG2GDzevuC9UTjq81gzTmIOva2Hqou2eTBOJR/s1600/IMG_9554.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiJQCnL9TCJb5yqCF2QsevPlidCkHrx1FK85bg8zz5h3MrrREpuRSVKbgkgN2CddEUrCp33ykaEqPIGSk2y0eF3mzwFXVcqBC8OXahOxVG2GDzevuC9UTjq81gzTmIOva2Hqou2eTBOJR/s320/IMG_9554.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685693742310124642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4bKxJ8owjTUEVorKpJhCZoi44xXWHi_AD55xqjJ814apRJx2ZhyGE-jWd8hL92GK_bTIZZU-pyPwX6ibXseXdSE84R8lVM9hzM4sm9kD72K670WYZKIbEeZmKpevCnfsvESePphU4ymj/s1600/IMG_9771.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4bKxJ8owjTUEVorKpJhCZoi44xXWHi_AD55xqjJ814apRJx2ZhyGE-jWd8hL92GK_bTIZZU-pyPwX6ibXseXdSE84R8lVM9hzM4sm9kD72K670WYZKIbEeZmKpevCnfsvESePphU4ymj/s320/IMG_9771.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685693735943798626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN-t0clwnz9hMNUM6spdeaD9fqxeMCgxXj4GHLgJ57i1T8vd6uNWhmLaaxtB5bNhl9sVZiaUX1yQ7bVkF7hGhP0_SW99-BrMJjUle_uGMG05SiWCtCW9dxRYTng7J6_BX33QUlhtncf-N/s1600/IMG_9765.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN-t0clwnz9hMNUM6spdeaD9fqxeMCgxXj4GHLgJ57i1T8vd6uNWhmLaaxtB5bNhl9sVZiaUX1yQ7bVkF7hGhP0_SW99-BrMJjUle_uGMG05SiWCtCW9dxRYTng7J6_BX33QUlhtncf-N/s320/IMG_9765.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685693734029274802" /></a><br />10 years old! Wow. So, in honor of her 10th, here are 10 things about Tia:<div><br /><div>1. Tia is our little entertainer. She loves to sing and dance and talk. And talk. And talk. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">2. </span>She is super flexible and can tie herself into a human pretzel.<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div><div>3. She's a picky eater and has eaten the same things since she was a year old, pretty much. I'm so done smelling Vienna sausages. But the girl loves them!</div><div>4. She has several celebrity boyfriends. She especially loves Greyson Chance! If you don't know who he is, you tube him. He's adorable. </div><div>5. She HATES to have her hair done! But she also hates to wear her hair down. Everyday she begs for "just a ponytail".</div><div>6. Her favorite color is pink pink pink!</div><div>7. She is in 4th grade and she loves school.</div><div>8. Her nickname is Tia Maria Sophia Tortilla Shnookems Girlfriend.</div><div>9. She has an amazing memory and rarely misses a spelling word.</div><div>10. She is happy most of the time which is a huge blessing! She is just super fun and contagious.</div></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-63772290600449992552011-09-21T10:58:00.000-07:002011-09-21T12:16:34.163-07:00Is this a Reality show?<span style="font-size:130%;">So here are a few more of the funny things my kids say/do:<br /><br />Tyler recently got new glasses. As the woman fit them to his face he turned and looked in the little oval mirror that sits on the table. Then says, "Well hello Mr. Huff." We were totally laughing. I love that guy!<br /><br />The other day my sitter was putting Max down for a nap. We turn the light off by the string hanging off the light on the ceiling. This way the boys can't just get up and turn the wall switch on all the time. Well, this is not a problem for me as I am 5'8" but my sitter is 5'4". She was jumping to get the string and Max says, "Tammy. CHAIR." Like, duh. HAHAHA<br /><br />This is for all you Veggie Tales lovers out there: Tia was saying she didn't want to go to sleep because she was scared. Tyler said, "Don't be scared Tia. God is bigger than the boogie man." To which Tia said, "Oh, your right Tyler." I laughed but you know, it worked.<br /><br />So my allergies have been horrible lately. I woke up and was sneezing and sneezing. Tia asked if I was sick and I told her I think I have allergies. She said with great concern, "Oh no. I hope you're not allergic to Roxy!" Now friends, you need to know who Roxy is to make this story funny. Roxy is Tia's IMAGINARY cat! I assured her I was NOT allergic to Roxy.<br /><br />Now this one I had to wait to tell until was actually laughable to me. Others could laugh much earlier at this story than I could. So here goes:<br />We had an exchange student for 2 weeks during the summer from China. Sweet 14 year old girl who did not speak much English. I woke up the first morning she was here a little before 6 to get the boys. I noticed Tia's bedroom door was open and neither she or our student were in there. I got the boys and as I came into the front room I noticed the front door </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >wide</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> open. As the anxiety began I looked quickly around the house and didn't see them. So I went outside with a boy in each hand and call for Tia. No answer. (Anxiety mounting) Then our student comes running around the corner. Here's the conversation: (She's JR)<br />JR: Tia at park. She need help. I help one, I help two, I cannot help anymore. I come to get you mom.<br />Me: Tia's at the park now?<br />JR: Yes.<br />Me: And you are HERE?<br />JR: Yes.<br />(Anxiety changed to panic)<br />I run inside, wake Kevin up and tell him Tia's alone at the park, here's the boys, gotta go.<br />I take off running for the park. JR is running and only speaking Chinese quietly. (Probably praying I don't kick her out. Poor girl.)<br />So, I round the corner to the park which is about 2 blocks away, I see Tia. And my anxiety decreases. Hooray for that.<br /><br />So, what is Tia doing? She is completely wedged in the baby swing. Feet dangling. PJ's on, bare feet hanging. Legs lodged in the holes up to the fold where the thigh meets the hip. You know the swings with the four holes for babies? Well, they are really for babies!!! So let's recap: Tia convinced JR to unlock the door and take her to the park-- before 6 am--while everyone is sleeping. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Then </span><span style="font-size:130%;">she convinced her to put her into the baby swing. Now she can't get out. Her body weight apparently pushed her into the holes but because she was all the way past her thighs, there was NO getting her out. I pulled and JR held the swing but it was never gonna happen.<br />At this point, what are the choices? I call Kevin who does not answer his phone. So, I tell Tia and JR we will have to call the Fire Dept. JR doesn't understand so I say, "Police." She gets this terrified look and says, "For </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >me</span><span style="font-size:130%;">?" Seriously, people this is her 1st day in America!!! This poor girl! I know she was just being nice and following my daughter's lead. My daughter with NO concern for safety or danger apparently NOT the best to follow.<br /><br />So, I do call the Fire Dept. and Kevin eventually answers and loads the boys in the car to come see if there is anything he can do. As he is loading the boys, Tyler asks where they are going. Daddy tells him they are going to help Tia who is stuck in a swing at the park. Tyler then says, "This is Serious." (Wonder Pet fans will get that.)<br />I was glad Kevin came because the F.D. went around the corner to where I could hear the truck but not see them and they could not see us. Kev ran over and redirected them. I say them. Yes, all 5 of them get out of the truck. People, I am in PJ's. It is not attractive. It is barely 6am. My daughter has left the house without my knowledge and is stuck in a swing. I'm a tad humiliated!<br /><br />I joke with them about it being a slow morning for them and tell them the situation. And yes, they had to take HUGE cutters of some kind and cut the swing up both sides to get her out. So if anyone in my neighborhood is reading this and wondering why one of the swings was cut and cursing the teenagers that must have done it---it was us. Sorry.<br /><br />So how was Tia you ask? Does this tell you? "Thank you firefighters! Thank you so much for saving me firefighters! You're my best friends firefighters!" Social butterfly to the tee. But her legs were fine. A bit bruised but fine.<br />I came home and was ready to crawl into bed for 24 hours as my adrenaline crashed. But no, it was only 6:15 am the day was yet to begin...<br /><br />So now let's vote? Who wants to trade lives? Liars! You just want to be a fly on my wall and watch the mass chaos that is our life. I love it but I need a therapist! Hahaha Seriously, I know that morning could have been disastrous for us and I was truly blessed to have it turn out as easily as it did.<br /><br />Hope I made you laugh today and appreciate your own families. I sure do love mine!</span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-23556421893468631832011-08-23T11:45:00.001-07:002011-08-23T11:58:01.825-07:00First Day of School 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F0giVLQ-YNXkpJWy2PmT_qIfmP183cXkAX7OZDn7kNyqixVCuVsJuRRkA4g5UJowQTmyY6JjZqQ33ezVzBO_gmA8d0YBlcIPGeHr_MGqRScNGtIna9VkN8LBb06K2HAnyI2EtUpsxh40/s1600/IMG_8746.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F0giVLQ-YNXkpJWy2PmT_qIfmP183cXkAX7OZDn7kNyqixVCuVsJuRRkA4g5UJowQTmyY6JjZqQ33ezVzBO_gmA8d0YBlcIPGeHr_MGqRScNGtIna9VkN8LBb06K2HAnyI2EtUpsxh40/s320/IMG_8746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644125189438323874" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg-xcaZkchLKOqK2iQhoFhPApsv9TcjG2NbqwLM79RXXosVvvaEqAzvaFPqfPzqdlHw0q6olZy2YbnFq_HcJW1EIuoWIPqNqz-4CV5OVlOMnFi8x8XfbEHwCz_lkYIPZtSp6EmYlygr8Z/s1600/IMG_8751.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg-xcaZkchLKOqK2iQhoFhPApsv9TcjG2NbqwLM79RXXosVvvaEqAzvaFPqfPzqdlHw0q6olZy2YbnFq_HcJW1EIuoWIPqNqz-4CV5OVlOMnFi8x8XfbEHwCz_lkYIPZtSp6EmYlygr8Z/s320/IMG_8751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644125185096849778" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qRsGUHSnrlZJ8hvq4zGA5VX_clxdtENLEAW5XduqHwAVMNNJ9HaaVsAIxW8f0zRpbjlvRgGK3H5Ksg06Cf2JXzTxR06VwuQnpMairYd20FFc8B9T_Hsr0woixLHi6DFu7FQzsvbA7gP1/s1600/IMG_8747.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qRsGUHSnrlZJ8hvq4zGA5VX_clxdtENLEAW5XduqHwAVMNNJ9HaaVsAIxW8f0zRpbjlvRgGK3H5Ksg06Cf2JXzTxR06VwuQnpMairYd20FFc8B9T_Hsr0woixLHi6DFu7FQzsvbA7gP1/s320/IMG_8747.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644125180595343474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4yk2Mb3s43ETeRtWY3vlntBGfAexzlLTrn0yEaWzSX3t4wxy0rBoe7K55fqC2-j6HBzBDcrd7VwrJjLj5hQWdFox4fE_yTXDMwWxBZfnzb6I3iKSAz_rq0V3oeV0JQ06So3W4reCX_hF/s1600/IMG_8741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4yk2Mb3s43ETeRtWY3vlntBGfAexzlLTrn0yEaWzSX3t4wxy0rBoe7K55fqC2-j6HBzBDcrd7VwrJjLj5hQWdFox4fE_yTXDMwWxBZfnzb6I3iKSAz_rq0V3oeV0JQ06So3W4reCX_hF/s320/IMG_8741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644125194433485938" border="0" /></a>Week 3 of school and all is well. We actually have the same aides as last year!!! That has never happened before. I love it. It saves so much time/stress when they already know about my child and his/her capabilities. They can help the new teachers get to know my child quickly too.
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<br />Short post today. Just wanted to get the pics up to show how adorable and awesome my kids are. *smile* I will post more about our fun summer another time.
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<br />Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-42250230307252584672011-05-19T15:45:00.000-07:002011-05-19T17:12:44.536-07:00Our California Adventure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh6EiE5RmihpbPj74wPB4iDuByK4J1c7mrmtc91-60miEoXgacc05qeD5GsxUqxqKHd4aHk57kJqHBHOacJFgZQEoSpOWeSNBGdFYLE2ljbEkSpWGwKAOZwRxf1WWSYz-UK0vaqofgxOK/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeG258VvUJ-uzULIcBN3vV5175eoQsICPN28Sg3w_wUte6uKdO4ePVmZNVUhtQ_4VE56iTidVe3Q4IzfqIwlqiO0dqN8wv32gY58fwaIS6poBvbfU87JpHL3QGeoQ7aLOYuQmL3ePr8Z_/s1600/IMG_7529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeG258VvUJ-uzULIcBN3vV5175eoQsICPN28Sg3w_wUte6uKdO4ePVmZNVUhtQ_4VE56iTidVe3Q4IzfqIwlqiO0dqN8wv32gY58fwaIS6poBvbfU87JpHL3QGeoQ7aLOYuQmL3ePr8Z_/s320/IMG_7529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608563541039924706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69nx9fKV5V7wr4UvR9Lv_jtCy-aIOBPH2J5ng7VLu5cHi6NoilRlxcN-q7IrvMKV5VvP6xkQ_dht98ozjyYZVT9aTSWkbVDLBtpECYhdK9gwk4c0IUxnOUNEUFocAKbBswcqHju2qIKy3/s1600/IMG_7555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69nx9fKV5V7wr4UvR9Lv_jtCy-aIOBPH2J5ng7VLu5cHi6NoilRlxcN-q7IrvMKV5VvP6xkQ_dht98ozjyYZVT9aTSWkbVDLBtpECYhdK9gwk4c0IUxnOUNEUFocAKbBswcqHju2qIKy3/s320/IMG_7555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608580675460311458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUda2yAiIR-fNPkGbgwj4PD2r1ZwdDpjPHSIu4vmTu_jqMQvG08Th0tXdujIRNTvyhqYw0M_VSrqkdftRU-uaU_1QESWtXHnWqqkBhFYG8avSvsPgSQH3MJv8lCAjclM1_s6-vf11jiAMB/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfbYqkJvBagmIC_gTbRjuBTPjHpY6dfaaedDzKRG3CL5QpIbJh5O6rbpl1DlKhb0qqJcwa4OafcEJzXfXQ_11-6Cih7LB3gmSB_gCztYVR1ypAV8hLTtAPxalJgDdcTfMiMqFD4ryE88m/s1600/IMG_7558.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfbYqkJvBagmIC_gTbRjuBTPjHpY6dfaaedDzKRG3CL5QpIbJh5O6rbpl1DlKhb0qqJcwa4OafcEJzXfXQ_11-6Cih7LB3gmSB_gCztYVR1ypAV8hLTtAPxalJgDdcTfMiMqFD4ryE88m/s320/IMG_7558.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608563545207368866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeG258VvUJ-uzULIcBN3vV5175eoQsICPN28Sg3w_wUte6uKdO4ePVmZNVUhtQ_4VE56iTidVe3Q4IzfqIwlqiO0dqN8wv32gY58fwaIS6poBvbfU87JpHL3QGeoQ7aLOYuQmL3ePr8Z_/s1600/IMG_7529.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwBYM2Yn_frPMHlB5kSCbQOi1bu0OA_6tCdMps7K4EKO4UW8s-FPjIRiftZYDR2_b6AbiruiBQGRcyBKIc7Sm2cCM7sp-IXixYsbLkAsOq-i5HQAqdgAfCsG5qSSLYm-6B74rgwqAz1Z4/s1600/IMG_7575.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwBYM2Yn_frPMHlB5kSCbQOi1bu0OA_6tCdMps7K4EKO4UW8s-FPjIRiftZYDR2_b6AbiruiBQGRcyBKIc7Sm2cCM7sp-IXixYsbLkAsOq-i5HQAqdgAfCsG5qSSLYm-6B74rgwqAz1Z4/s320/IMG_7575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608563535428080498" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUda2yAiIR-fNPkGbgwj4PD2r1ZwdDpjPHSIu4vmTu_jqMQvG08Th0tXdujIRNTvyhqYw0M_VSrqkdftRU-uaU_1QESWtXHnWqqkBhFYG8avSvsPgSQH3MJv8lCAjclM1_s6-vf11jiAMB/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUda2yAiIR-fNPkGbgwj4PD2r1ZwdDpjPHSIu4vmTu_jqMQvG08Th0tXdujIRNTvyhqYw0M_VSrqkdftRU-uaU_1QESWtXHnWqqkBhFYG8avSvsPgSQH3MJv8lCAjclM1_s6-vf11jiAMB/s320/IMG_7603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608563551220872770" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh6EiE5RmihpbPj74wPB4iDuByK4J1c7mrmtc91-60miEoXgacc05qeD5GsxUqxqKHd4aHk57kJqHBHOacJFgZQEoSpOWeSNBGdFYLE2ljbEkSpWGwKAOZwRxf1WWSYz-UK0vaqofgxOK/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh6EiE5RmihpbPj74wPB4iDuByK4J1c7mrmtc91-60miEoXgacc05qeD5GsxUqxqKHd4aHk57kJqHBHOacJFgZQEoSpOWeSNBGdFYLE2ljbEkSpWGwKAOZwRxf1WWSYz-UK0vaqofgxOK/s320/IMG_7658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608580664879617842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOafAxLZbOroU4GyYN9DK4dAS3JR7B5zrrJvYYxg3JdIj6bKkfbwaIA4NAJ_ETxowFo-vb4RczTYnn5SoZ-EWKE6QyWxeMDn8sw5ErHczMrpTtvWbC7eSk-6sDxEypVK0fGLBv1BzX9Cl/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOafAxLZbOroU4GyYN9DK4dAS3JR7B5zrrJvYYxg3JdIj6bKkfbwaIA4NAJ_ETxowFo-vb4RczTYnn5SoZ-EWKE6QyWxeMDn8sw5ErHczMrpTtvWbC7eSk-6sDxEypVK0fGLBv1BzX9Cl/s320/IMG_7666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608580668444534962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tG_aVQirRd0NGMTCIhvQROJ0x6JAPOZ6IKMV0Y6D_gJByU4JKL7IQM6V5DNBNf2YKQ1YcKkyciFHm0PPwsYMRqAuUp3zcoXpHgG-0_KMhYIZl25aGTU1n0Wfoa_bTg7Uf5cyaE4hKgL1/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tG_aVQirRd0NGMTCIhvQROJ0x6JAPOZ6IKMV0Y6D_gJByU4JKL7IQM6V5DNBNf2YKQ1YcKkyciFHm0PPwsYMRqAuUp3zcoXpHgG-0_KMhYIZl25aGTU1n0Wfoa_bTg7Uf5cyaE4hKgL1/s320/IMG_7692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608563555112788354" border="0" /></a><br />Tia's cheer team attended the Nationals in Anaheim. It was amazing to see them perform at such a huge venue. There were 5 special needs teams and hundreds of other teams. Tia was in heaven as she cheered for other teams. Every time she walked by a group of girls she complimented their hair, outfits, makeup, something! In her element for sure. She "won" a trophy, medal and national champion jacket. It was great to see the typical cheer teams interacting with our team and really loving their performance. Thank you to Elite Gym in Scottsdale for giving us this terrific experience!<br /><br />The day after Nationals, we went to California Adventure which was a blast! Tyler loved Soarin' California, Tia loved the shows, and Max loved driving the bumper car the best. A really great trip.Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-28084119253711066942011-03-16T15:52:00.001-07:002011-03-16T17:00:06.798-07:00March already?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgslkKdEP9OAfuu3UjqO0QrDzNEgViItSsfKcJuZUq3T-5m_3-GhuLvecaTKbThe7PSXNGiIHZ_jOd5PUEpPnqTqiFE_bRch-5ACSc6Yt4W79lrB94uzFDYRNEuvkjCp4TT2roFw31qX6M/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgslkKdEP9OAfuu3UjqO0QrDzNEgViItSsfKcJuZUq3T-5m_3-GhuLvecaTKbThe7PSXNGiIHZ_jOd5PUEpPnqTqiFE_bRch-5ACSc6Yt4W79lrB94uzFDYRNEuvkjCp4TT2roFw31qX6M/s320/IMG_7117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584831493253308658" border="0" /></a>Ty's 7th Birthday<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f-kTfLnag_MJx9KoXCgx5dBW1nE2yFy8-jFPO207zge_Pl7bsUcIXUlXzdkjejmzAdn-WL9G1NZtq7PejQH8IpQL-jhHB6Eo-HHA7N7sLHbQT2NdNH6m3wz0d4xAJAB7zNvTItY4soK3/s1600/IMG_6928.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f-kTfLnag_MJx9KoXCgx5dBW1nE2yFy8-jFPO207zge_Pl7bsUcIXUlXzdkjejmzAdn-WL9G1NZtq7PejQH8IpQL-jhHB6Eo-HHA7N7sLHbQT2NdNH6m3wz0d4xAJAB7zNvTItY4soK3/s320/IMG_6928.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584819063602462194" border="0" /></a>New Year's Eve<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER9y1h753ctLzFCpNMys8ZIPqJIGY_3FGG857QrN3B7KsomNzTTC6itu7UyKfYD2qMGbYfjPy6tJ6KbDM5ld-JjldOtg_cwRn6BEtURVPbuRmA3rB1zdCzTDTMkqIDYP-XP1gr0Sn1Fvb/s1600/IMG_6870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER9y1h753ctLzFCpNMys8ZIPqJIGY_3FGG857QrN3B7KsomNzTTC6itu7UyKfYD2qMGbYfjPy6tJ6KbDM5ld-JjldOtg_cwRn6BEtURVPbuRmA3rB1zdCzTDTMkqIDYP-XP1gr0Sn1Fvb/s320/IMG_6870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584819058284894242" border="0" /></a>My husband's full costume Risk game. I think if you click on it, it will be bigger.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNKboi1y-JajiQ8FJhHwzaSx1GBEM_lGT4RbQUOk5hpPI1llK0_G4cmRoh4PNBKH03D6xc_bkKTAiO4BwxCM6ogY4zmCBhP8d47166FxxoOokMAqjQ4L7YcvHlg2YuTqLY3EGu14WOWL4/s1600/IMG_6757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNKboi1y-JajiQ8FJhHwzaSx1GBEM_lGT4RbQUOk5hpPI1llK0_G4cmRoh4PNBKH03D6xc_bkKTAiO4BwxCM6ogY4zmCBhP8d47166FxxoOokMAqjQ4L7YcvHlg2YuTqLY3EGu14WOWL4/s320/IMG_6757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584819051333488754" border="0" /></a>The kiddo's Christmas pic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeFYpEi3l6dfhg4DwG9gCroz-SHnrtl2wdbgxfT5vbdik4gkXIHCf42Gtb0jk0-glNPoMUJYsbWYqFWuxEU3pZz5wgJ2xxI39gzKcBEOIe7EtYFZO65mADuTOoAFEupEPfN7FA10r-0Hx/s1600/IMG_6743.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeFYpEi3l6dfhg4DwG9gCroz-SHnrtl2wdbgxfT5vbdik4gkXIHCf42Gtb0jk0-glNPoMUJYsbWYqFWuxEU3pZz5wgJ2xxI39gzKcBEOIe7EtYFZO65mADuTOoAFEupEPfN7FA10r-0Hx/s320/IMG_6743.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584819047886340226" border="0" /></a>Adorable pic of Max one fall morning waiting for the bus.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhWB2yAHXqSGNyhutd6uZ73jhJYem3oBbElNtn71E7En0x2WZwLEmGqDWUxJGurCSdq6-xfxCBVIpbMOfW0cU791_IJSTFw7y_WM3qWFZCu25BHuhyTxfHgRFW8796rR5UkehcBeH64G4/s1600/IMG_6723.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhWB2yAHXqSGNyhutd6uZ73jhJYem3oBbElNtn71E7En0x2WZwLEmGqDWUxJGurCSdq6-xfxCBVIpbMOfW0cU791_IJSTFw7y_WM3qWFZCu25BHuhyTxfHgRFW8796rR5UkehcBeH64G4/s320/IMG_6723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584819040931604546" border="0" /></a>Tia's 9th birthday!<br /><br /><br />OK so it's been a LONG while and my family and friends are not happy with me. I know that few of you actually want to read my blog, you just want the pics of the kids and I don't blame you. However, I will take a second to catch you up.<br /><br />Tia's birthday- My big 9 year old girl had a mommy made Dora cheerleader cake this year. Tia is having so much fun in Cheer this year and it has been an awesome experience. I'm sure it will continue for many years to come.<br /><br />Christmas- was fabulous. Kevin gave me tickets to the opera (Turandot) and I gave him tickets to Pro Bull Riding. We have discovered over 13 years of marriage that we are ying and yang. Sometimes easy, sometimes hard but we compliment each other very well. The kids are amazing at Christmas and I can't imagine it being more fun. They love everything they get and are so thankful. (It was also Max's 4th birthday but we celebrate in May to give him his own day. He is still small and gets asked if he is 2 quite often. Oh well, we can't all be basketball player size.)<br /><br />Christmas Night-The big Risk game. Kev's family has been doing this since before we met. It used to be hats required, now as you can see from above, it is FULL costume. It is only the guys in the family. (Thank goodness because I do not have any desire to play Risk.) Us girls watch a chic flic and hang out.<br /><br />New Year's Eve- This year AZ legalized fireworks for a few days a year so we took advantage. The kids had so much fun doing sparklers and watching the fireworks we bought. It was really nice for us because our kids never stay up late enough to see 4th of July fireworks and we were NOT keeping them up til midnight for New Years. My sister's family came down and the kids always love hanging out with cousins!<br /><br />Tyler's 7th Birthday in Feb.- Added to his collection of Toy Story characters. He had a mommy made Diego and Dora cake and pizza (which for him equals heaven). Lots of friends and relatives over for a great day! I can't believe he's 7.<br /><br />Lately, we have just been busy with school/work, friends etc. We have had a pretty good winter as far as health. AZ got hit really hard in our area with lots of winter junk so we are lucky not to have anything serious. Right now it is Spring Break so I have been trying to keep the kids busy. Zoo, playground, petting farm, etc. Only one more IEP before summer--hooray. My school is the best and we have been so blessed. Hope everyone is doing well. I will try, try, try to update more often.Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-44477327624944548552010-11-15T09:56:00.000-08:002010-11-15T10:50:46.350-08:00HELP A CHILD FIND A FAMILY<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjUF_FEeg4S0_lRUi2dSrTniYIEBaTZ6Xp3iuJo4CS6Cg_FOZEw3TCbl8f9LbX5PgH5u-GYJi_Ywwm3ON80uizj-aAXF2Q0DWuQOPY4x1ursFf35ZqGA2ak0nfDz_tZ-amBnA8bpFYi3b/s1600/jayson-1_120.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjUF_FEeg4S0_lRUi2dSrTniYIEBaTZ6Xp3iuJo4CS6Cg_FOZEw3TCbl8f9LbX5PgH5u-GYJi_Ywwm3ON80uizj-aAXF2Q0DWuQOPY4x1ursFf35ZqGA2ak0nfDz_tZ-amBnA8bpFYi3b/s320/jayson-1_120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539837486671420786" border="0" /></a>How Gorgeous is Jayson?! We want him to find a family!! So....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" friend="" runs="" business="" sending="" centered="" from="" santa="" year="" approached="" me="" about="" giving="" of="" proceeds="" child="" on="" angel="" i="" am="" so="" thrilled="" that="" she="" do="" would="" see="" this="" really="" help="" a="" letters="" are="" awesome="" my="" kids="" love="" get="" them="" each="" go="" to="" her="" website="" and="" check="" it="" here="" s="" the=""><a href="http://www.northpolesecretary.com/">www.NorthPoleSecretary.com</a><br />My friend has a business at Christmas time working for Santa. She sends Christ-centered letters from Santa to children and families. My kids LOVE these letters! This year she approached me about giving part of the proceeds to a child on the Angel Tree at Reece's Rainbow. (See more children on the angel tree at www.reecesrainbow.org I am so thrilled she would do this!!! Let's raise lots of money and get Jayson a family!<br />Here are the details:<br />After Nov. 14th North Pole Secretary will be raising funds for Reece's Rainbow, a non-profit agency that helps fund adoption expenses for children with Down syndrome.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">35% OF ALL SALES WITH THE PROMO CODE: RR WILL GO STRAIGHT TO OUR</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> SPONSOR CHILD.</span><br />Individual letters for your child are $8<br />A letter to your family is $18<br /><br />The letters are very detailed and are personalized for your kiddo/family and come <span style="font-weight: bold;">postmarked from the real North Pole</span>, Alaska. All letters also recognize your child for an accomplishment this year and talk about the Savior,serving and the true meaning of Christmas.<br /><br />This is such a fun memory for your kiddos. This is also a fun way to keep kids on their toes through December... parents tell me that their kids were extra good because they got an early letter and knew Santa was watching them! I have clients who order this as a tradition every year!<br /><br />Last day to order is Dec. 10th.<br /><br />Letters will begin to be sent out right after Thanksgiving for a Pre-Christmas delivery!<br /><br />Please visit the website <a href="http://www.northpolesecretary.com/">www.NorthPoleSecretary.com</a> to order and pay with debit/credit through PayPal. ON THE ORDERING PAGE THERE IS A PLACE FOR A <span style="font-weight: bold;">PROMO CODE</span>. PLEASE ENTER <span style="font-weight: bold;">RR </span>SO WE CAN RAISE LOTS FOR THE ANGEL TREE FUND!!!</div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-20464506647110999092010-10-31T10:01:00.000-07:002010-10-31T10:17:20.890-07:00October Pics<div><embed src="http://widget-66.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2594073385404837478&site=widget-66.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2594073385404837478&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-66.slide.com/p1/2594073385404837478/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2594073385404837478&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-66.slide.com/p2/2594073385404837478/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2594073385404837478&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-66.slide.com/p4/2594073385404837478/bb_t000_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-34469292210261533692010-10-24T17:56:00.000-07:002010-10-24T19:24:06.837-07:00Recent antics<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So people often say to me that I must have some good stories. Mostly this is parents who have children with Down syndrome because they have good stories of their own. Well let me tell you about a few <span style="font-weight: bold;">in the last 2 weeks</span>:<br />Fall Break, we head to the zoo. I purposefully do not put hats on the children because 2 of our hats are at the bottom of the zoo duck pond already. So, off we go. Max in the stroller, the other 2 walking. I brought my respite provider with us as Kevin had to work. Well, we almost made it out without an incident. Almost. My favorite animal is the otter. So on the way out I stop at the otters. I take Max out of the stroller and put him on my hip so he can see over the wall and that's when it happens. Mr. Octopus (aka Max) whips the hat off of a little girl next to us and before I even know it's happened, he has thrown the hat INTO the otter exhibit! The little girl is devastated and immediately begins crying hysterically! I had to run over to the snack shack and get them to radio for someone who could get it out. Which she did, thankfully. The girl was still crying when they left.<br /><br />OK, here's another one. We had a primary program today in church which is where the children are up on the stand and sing for all the adults. Now I knew Tyler was going to have a hard time sitting for the hour in the same chair with nothing to do. (When he sits with us we bring quiet games/books etc.) So, the program goes as planned and both kids get up to the mic to say their parts. Tia added "The End. Thank you." and a few jumbled words to the end of her part but that was fine. Now comes the embarrassing part. The program is done and it is time for the congregation to sing a closing song. Only they can't. Because Tyler is now lying under the organ and won't come out! So I have to go up on the stand and get Tyler out from under the organ which is no easy feat as he weighs 75 pounds and there are chairs with children in them all around the organ. The congregation couldn't see him until I pulled him out looking half asleep and having no clue he was causing a delay. Yes, once he emerged I heard a few chuckles. <br /><br />After church we set off on a hunt to find Tia who was not where she should have been. As I searched through the rooms and halls with one boy in each hand I enlisted help from friends. I began to get really nervous thinking she could have tried to walk home (we live across the street) so I looked out side all around the church. No Tia. I went back in to find her chatting it up with the Bishop and several other men in his office. Oh, that girl and her social habits! It may be the death of me. I'm going to have a tracking devise implanted in her!!! Just kidding. A mom's wishful thinking. <br /><br />So, we set off home where within 10 minutes Max has emptied the entire jar of fish food all over the carpet. (He knocked it down by throwing a rubber duck over the fish tank.) Where was I, you ask? Just changing. Later in the day he climbed up on the piano bench and got my church bag. Normally this would be an OK thing to get down. Not today. Today's lesson was on music and we made shakers with rice and beans. So, he poured those all over the floor. Where was I? Making dinner. Have you guessed that Kevin has not been home today? <br /><br />Max also has discovered he can turn on the bath all by himself. So, fully clothed he will get into the bathtub and turn it on. Luckily this only happened once and we got to him before he was too wet. That is so dangerous! So, we are back to locking the bathroom door. Ho hum. When will we live without gates and locked doors?<br /><br />Now let me tell you that I know I should be happy. After all, Max twisted off the cap to the fish food and opened 2 ziplock bags to empty the beans and rice. This is good fine motor skills. He also does a lot of problem solving. Pushing the chair over to get what he wants up high. I recognize it but it doesn't seem to make it any less irritating.<br />Hope everyone is doing well. I will post pics of Halloween next week. <br /></span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-24971410492786809452010-09-19T08:34:00.000-07:002010-09-19T11:27:37.156-07:00First Day of School 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOE9nKgJLb36J6N3bIAS2l7Bzu_kboZr__LxzxIFZ03lbYwHVgY2JC0mFRA-A5kNrgQgs2u8v5YssM57OIW9rFF48u7sf3iEwTsUGdiYYHSGwXiegIDoIb5a31ermQH4bJBm4GfBKOhkh/s1600/IMG_6384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOE9nKgJLb36J6N3bIAS2l7Bzu_kboZr__LxzxIFZ03lbYwHVgY2JC0mFRA-A5kNrgQgs2u8v5YssM57OIW9rFF48u7sf3iEwTsUGdiYYHSGwXiegIDoIb5a31ermQH4bJBm4GfBKOhkh/s320/IMG_6384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518651001933739010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOTb8YBH467Ztd-rFf6-Fb_-rCs8LXIdb30RvQLv6qBcSHKHlDS_0PPwP65T2dUMYcA4_uPdqhWEaf4Bu_CjCGdVhIwdOsCW8gWMD5nWCH2DL33_h21rOTnAiDwnn620TgUftwet2rqSV/s1600/IMG_6382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOTb8YBH467Ztd-rFf6-Fb_-rCs8LXIdb30RvQLv6qBcSHKHlDS_0PPwP65T2dUMYcA4_uPdqhWEaf4Bu_CjCGdVhIwdOsCW8gWMD5nWCH2DL33_h21rOTnAiDwnn620TgUftwet2rqSV/s320/IMG_6382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518650994734877906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGLaV-PloGwd3t1EiqEWF4-nr_eX2oqTYI_Xw_HOcPxRctgkjxZdQTvFP_M3JA8pe-OKOswKieJ67z9f_EneyMVDf-Uu0qZhmcSLeazXghoyxztMPZDntr5JnUF1yIVyPQwElENW6li7g/s1600/IMG_6395.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGLaV-PloGwd3t1EiqEWF4-nr_eX2oqTYI_Xw_HOcPxRctgkjxZdQTvFP_M3JA8pe-OKOswKieJ67z9f_EneyMVDf-Uu0qZhmcSLeazXghoyxztMPZDntr5JnUF1yIVyPQwElENW6li7g/s320/IMG_6395.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518650989082100498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYVY-ISdHHW3ul0Y4rAttvjZMw82VEja3QXLkHOTI5vjVnNeY4tHvIVMx3ui7JHkHhj5Wj4Fpk9A_Ot7DZ6TaQyK1dnYXBJGt1JyawQlMgfTgk4Fcy4-mWenk0gLLdCpOXKxmZ30Ocsr7/s1600/IMG_6392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYVY-ISdHHW3ul0Y4rAttvjZMw82VEja3QXLkHOTI5vjVnNeY4tHvIVMx3ui7JHkHhj5Wj4Fpk9A_Ot7DZ6TaQyK1dnYXBJGt1JyawQlMgfTgk4Fcy4-mWenk0gLLdCpOXKxmZ30Ocsr7/s320/IMG_6392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518650980570592338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gEL16JYQVnkLWaHIJBCv1LFic_u2DwUuE_5xzev6D8L1Dh1g87tbnPYRe659GQMaQO1c8b9fLfnjJ5lSvN6oXygCc5GZ6XSDEXeIMcC5DVHQZS_VDtIJncJkFYtFSmUBAfUubfVQc59W/s1600/IMG_6398.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gEL16JYQVnkLWaHIJBCv1LFic_u2DwUuE_5xzev6D8L1Dh1g87tbnPYRe659GQMaQO1c8b9fLfnjJ5lSvN6oXygCc5GZ6XSDEXeIMcC5DVHQZS_VDtIJncJkFYtFSmUBAfUubfVQc59W/s320/IMG_6398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518650969533514002" border="0" /></a><br />Once again we have been blessed with great teachers this year! We really love our school. The kids are all doing great in typical classrooms. Tia is in 3rd, Tyler is in 1st, and Max is in Preschool. Our special ed teacher is wonderful and T & T spend an hour a day with her for math and reading. Oh math! Why is it just so hard for our kids? I am at the point I need to do some reading and find out how to make it easier for them. I've been lazy about that. I have to admit my focus has always been on daily skills and now that academics are getting more important I am a bit unprepared. On the other hand, my big kids can spell! Wow! I have been amazed at the memorization skills. Tia has 20 words a week and Ty has 10 but he gets the advanced list because the others are too easy for him. Go figure! Max is perfecting colors and shapes. It's funny because he knows Pink but not Green. (Tia is a bit dominant in our house.) Haha!Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-51745408595844666542010-08-03T13:42:00.000-07:002010-08-03T17:16:47.340-07:00Summertime<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99yK-ym1t0AMfQK-2SSaSVWrCMpu1RIPWUKHd8V3uNcrOZFNIddIv0oOiDSuU_4h9m1-xfTPpUEjT-j6GTv26nOnPfMUKAbM1m2vhTcJR6PyRageied1wSbRHXgG_N-LKXy9NpxGDthBE/s1600/IMG_6165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99yK-ym1t0AMfQK-2SSaSVWrCMpu1RIPWUKHd8V3uNcrOZFNIddIv0oOiDSuU_4h9m1-xfTPpUEjT-j6GTv26nOnPfMUKAbM1m2vhTcJR6PyRageied1wSbRHXgG_N-LKXy9NpxGDthBE/s320/IMG_6165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501339095873106658" border="0" /></a> The two big kids getting big. Crazy!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDPw4zOjF9VmIvRqxlHZd46yMGIJbd-UKnqE-uIFvi8E7nQVR6HOEa3WopJZjDracsLhcU1jR8-9ChkW9om3f3bG7tP0j_DYTtfezuHhdmgvFZlxJ4Rng84lhdTPK5quz0nS5rbYgi7I3/s1600/IMG_6336.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDPw4zOjF9VmIvRqxlHZd46yMGIJbd-UKnqE-uIFvi8E7nQVR6HOEa3WopJZjDracsLhcU1jR8-9ChkW9om3f3bG7tP0j_DYTtfezuHhdmgvFZlxJ4Rng84lhdTPK5quz0nS5rbYgi7I3/s320/IMG_6336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501339088539129810" border="0" /></a> Max posing at the ranch<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTijsu7-BFJYNz1heYalBQHZRlbOHTLauEjX2f0Fk7IrfTvhyxp6HMWJgWlKTeTEUpGBbk6eqNapyDZH-PAvL4pqBmmxEju5cg5Rs9mTE0qqUCGPICCVI6Kmply_PpIPDf89Fsq5bKE7R/s1600/IMG_6368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTijsu7-BFJYNz1heYalBQHZRlbOHTLauEjX2f0Fk7IrfTvhyxp6HMWJgWlKTeTEUpGBbk6eqNapyDZH-PAvL4pqBmmxEju5cg5Rs9mTE0qqUCGPICCVI6Kmply_PpIPDf89Fsq5bKE7R/s320/IMG_6368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501339079556595314" border="0" /></a> Tyler REALLY got into painting at the ranch.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66tw27nDFR0nenBR8hxcMmSeu1EtIprAUa80T0yUGs_lBV3kph0Djdqo0SBv6ZHAZxORkU2RrC2avX30SQNMm8WNZUwX1zVbPEwKnWsoDNtlyQi3sCGk40m62RhN0_5MJ0wr8Aho4Mxrr/s1600/IMG_6372.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66tw27nDFR0nenBR8hxcMmSeu1EtIprAUa80T0yUGs_lBV3kph0Djdqo0SBv6ZHAZxORkU2RrC2avX30SQNMm8WNZUwX1zVbPEwKnWsoDNtlyQi3sCGk40m62RhN0_5MJ0wr8Aho4Mxrr/s320/IMG_6372.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501339067406165410" border="0" /></a> Oh my goodness, look who is EATING NOODLES!!! HUGE!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd2MAxk4xiUwOCrtXslWNnB5UPCxdPeQPMdak9PUt2Nrma_B6g58ra5eJe9egUZuvfmwtvNEemG0zneDnts8LF9PzlmMBJ0zllUswPpVFCqrdQDsqrrX9sdIyraX-SowgdC6l8-XEBg-5/s1600/IMG_6307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd2MAxk4xiUwOCrtXslWNnB5UPCxdPeQPMdak9PUt2Nrma_B6g58ra5eJe9egUZuvfmwtvNEemG0zneDnts8LF9PzlmMBJ0zllUswPpVFCqrdQDsqrrX9sdIyraX-SowgdC6l8-XEBg-5/s320/IMG_6307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501338029395089922" border="0" /></a> Tia being sweet with the donkey at WHR.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBK8dY1m9yd-4TqZTq1wt7mIZnY3gvRe_7iy9Zg2aMhvvHBmVgTJB-uKrvx6yG5t4tR2kuJyBMzIJAURHZwaEZrpLVDrbPt7olab069xIkZLQIPaI33UPbJ5VcNrZb2OahEJg2Qd7GSyv/s1600/IMG_6242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBK8dY1m9yd-4TqZTq1wt7mIZnY3gvRe_7iy9Zg2aMhvvHBmVgTJB-uKrvx6yG5t4tR2kuJyBMzIJAURHZwaEZrpLVDrbPt7olab069xIkZLQIPaI33UPbJ5VcNrZb2OahEJg2Qd7GSyv/s320/IMG_6242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501338019988605682" border="0" /></a> A little dress up fun.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs4pVqCtpWa6myzQVsF2L5mAWfRLM8BU2AWy9QMlu3OVikWRNL7j0HE2X_lUDePQmcRxYMTuv5ihM3hGS4NnZyUVf0Sz2fpZYMeEy91o8bErRea3ANAqrs6T-kBIW8Sv5dHN7LuY1nxll/s1600/IMG_6239.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs4pVqCtpWa6myzQVsF2L5mAWfRLM8BU2AWy9QMlu3OVikWRNL7j0HE2X_lUDePQmcRxYMTuv5ihM3hGS4NnZyUVf0Sz2fpZYMeEy91o8bErRea3ANAqrs6T-kBIW8Sv5dHN7LuY1nxll/s320/IMG_6239.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501338013417947650" border="0" /></a> Perfect paparazzi picture!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHdj0ayH1yTWHSVPoacftzVGRwU6yaN0iAHslpV0PpbfjhTm_gC4A9g4ueam7Dqgo4MjvwoLX_MLm12QLB2d153XwvNpOARUFq1LClO0XzFq4ij2UZr0Zj-iFRcJ-fG_yZkCIibC3GUP6/s1600/IMG_6182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHdj0ayH1yTWHSVPoacftzVGRwU6yaN0iAHslpV0PpbfjhTm_gC4A9g4ueam7Dqgo4MjvwoLX_MLm12QLB2d153XwvNpOARUFq1LClO0XzFq4ij2UZr0Zj-iFRcJ-fG_yZkCIibC3GUP6/s320/IMG_6182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501338009664494610" border="0" /> </a>Tia and Tyler in red, white and blue at the 4th of July parade.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUdYiUGSHh-zWvqweoa4xTUVETZlso5-IIWpASjhZxmrcbyTdDtOUrBF__RwYc2r9gWopzbgLNN4el3_0elpEpoXy3nd79YWlAsnTC1BjorRk7j984_FRnNQGj7sCO8V3FrgPa0DZrTp6/s1600/IMG_5983.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUdYiUGSHh-zWvqweoa4xTUVETZlso5-IIWpASjhZxmrcbyTdDtOUrBF__RwYc2r9gWopzbgLNN4el3_0elpEpoXy3nd79YWlAsnTC1BjorRk7j984_FRnNQGj7sCO8V3FrgPa0DZrTp6/s320/IMG_5983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501337998620402946" border="0" /></a> Tyler's Kindergarten graduation with his teacher and principal.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Well so much for writing more often. Sorry. Summers are just so busy around here. Kevin and I went to San Diego to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary which will be on Monday. It was wonderful and weather was amazing!!! Nothing like sitting next to the ocean, reading a good book and having a cool breeze blowing. Fantastic. We rented a little beach cottage in Oceanside. It was really cute. I wanted to stay there forever and just ship my kids to us so we could all enjoy it. Max hasn't seen the ocean yet. Maybe next year we can all go.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This last weekend we took the kids to a ranch a few hours away. It's called Whispering Hope Ranch and it's a camp for children with special needs and their families. They have tons of animals. Cats, dogs, rabbits, ducks, geese, emu, a turkey, peacocks, goats, sheep, mules, horses, cows, llamas... Like I said, lots of animals. The kids had a blast and we met some great families. It always nice to meet other families and see what their children are doing. It helps motivate me to encourage my kids to be more independent and work on additional skills. One of my friends was saying her 8 year old is showering by herself. Have to say, I thought we were a few years from that. I have been teaching Tia to wash her own hair but her hair is long and she is NOT effective at rubbing the shampoo through it. So, we will work a little harder and see what happens. I think when it's your first child you are never sure what they should be doing by themselves. Max did start eating noodle while we were there though!!! SO HAPPY for that! We may progress out of pureed food someday after all. HOORAY!<br /><br />School starts Monday. We picked out our school supplies today. Tyler is ready with his Buzz Lightyear backpack and Tia with her Hanna Montana backpack. Still on the hunt for good lunchboxes. We meet the teachers on Thursday. I'm trying not to stress to much. I do envy people who can enroll their kids in school and be done. No meetings, aides, arrangements, IEP's, worry about friends and teachers, etc. I know most moms worry about their kids so I try not to feel like I am too crazy for being anxious. Tia will start 3rd grade and Tyler will be in 1st grade. Same school as last year which is great. Just new teachers and possibly different aides. The kids are very well known at school so other teachers and administrators look out for them. I think my kids are the only children with Down syndrome at the school now.<br /><br />Our school does not have a "skills program" which is the name for the self-contained classroom. It is at another school in our district so many of the other children with special needs attend the other school. We have been fortunate enough to have our kids in an inclusion setting that works well for us. They have one hour a day of resource or special instruction for math and reading. It has worked great so far so we hopefully this will be a successful year as well. I really just want them to have teachers who like them and challenge them and include them in the class activities. I'm not nervous for Max really. The preschool program is great. His teacher will be new this year so we will see if she has enough energy for Max. Ha ha.<br /><br />So, that's our summer update I guess. I'll write more once school starts.<br /><br /></span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-86806194848632322172010-05-16T15:14:00.000-07:002010-05-16T16:09:49.055-07:002 YEARS!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHR9xLCH3f1xeL3LIQirGP7E5nZ__kf5UE1ZVRdHBAIfpT08WP7ITpVYp2eC-y-NNunR44mOf_Kezu8pWjdbjZzE3Y8vaR0QhihD6xa5uQpMDTa4sevImYmTi7B9QF7b7xV_XjzaYtttg/s1600/P5060026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHR9xLCH3f1xeL3LIQirGP7E5nZ__kf5UE1ZVRdHBAIfpT08WP7ITpVYp2eC-y-NNunR44mOf_Kezu8pWjdbjZzE3Y8vaR0QhihD6xa5uQpMDTa4sevImYmTi7B9QF7b7xV_XjzaYtttg/s320/P5060026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998393026093890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Serbia- May 2008<br />Remember the days he couldn't smile without his tongue out? Love it!<br /><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyYei2BzxJ_VWwS0b5yNi-7ScJY11kTxo7txsMxvSs3f6JkE6qNp6N6U_lqU3zPTLRp0kHUb5NHKdwhWnsohZ_kob9JXVbfm24kUfPqU6VHsZdrFYIToJOs5fZ2LFNeVzU1TnxLZVGC5J/s1600/IMG_4254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyYei2BzxJ_VWwS0b5yNi-7ScJY11kTxo7txsMxvSs3f6JkE6qNp6N6U_lqU3zPTLRp0kHUb5NHKdwhWnsohZ_kob9JXVbfm24kUfPqU6VHsZdrFYIToJOs5fZ2LFNeVzU1TnxLZVGC5J/s320/IMG_4254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998380538381282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">May 2009</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcesINumeZOUAdwr1yzCff_8zL859Z8uG8nBSU90CoBmzuPS-FNpRWM2YDC6IVd2fg8SQ21m0B5djKg5Kiz3AteTwiqhLiO7zuoyfWnoWO3yIqRmMIuXogsy1Y99k3bwPW5WIkCgTCfBXn/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcesINumeZOUAdwr1yzCff_8zL859Z8uG8nBSU90CoBmzuPS-FNpRWM2YDC6IVd2fg8SQ21m0B5djKg5Kiz3AteTwiqhLiO7zuoyfWnoWO3yIqRmMIuXogsy1Y99k3bwPW5WIkCgTCfBXn/s320/IMG_5793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998379011621042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">May 2010</span><br /></div><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Yesterday was Max's Adoption Day a.k.a. Gotcha Day! I can't believe it was 2 years ago that we were in Serbia. It seems like last month in so many ways. It was such a highlight of my life! Beautiful country and beautiful friends there. We miss them very much!! So, above is the year by year look back. He is getting so big! My grandma was here a while back and was looking at pictures on the wall at our house. She said, "Now, who is this one of?" She couldn't believe it was a picture of Max taken at the Children's Home in Serbia. She said, "He just looks so different now. He looks like the rest of your children." We get that alot. Several of our friends have adopted children of different races and it's funny how even they start to just be part of that family's "look."<br /><br />I think adoption is one of the stronger testimony builders I have had in my life. It gave me a stronger knowledge that God knows each of us and what we need in our lives. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Max was just meant to be in our family. I think of his birth parents often and think how proud they would be of him now. I wish we could share our joy with them to ease what I'm sure is still very painful to them. I hope they are happy and have been able to move forward.<br /><br />Max is the world's busiest child. Kevin nicknamed him Velcro yesterday. He took both boys to the petstore and was amazed at how many things just "jumped" into Max's one free hand. He said "I was holding his hand! How could he have grabbed so much stuff!" I just laughed. Is that mean? =-) Don't you love when dad's experience a drop of what you have been dealing with forever! LOL Max is also the world's cutest child. (Yes, this is fact. I am not bias at all.) His preschool teachers are in love with him as well as everyone at every store we go to. He is getting more social now. He used to be grouchy to people he didn't know who said hi to him but he is gettting better. He is talking so much now. Preschool has really helped that. His favorite thing to eat is yogurt. He likes to color, play musical instruments and be outside. I am excited to start using the pool in a few weeks because I know he will LOVE it.<br /><br />Anyway, so happy for the 2 years we have had with our awesome son and look forward to all the crazy things he will say and do in years to come!</span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-23369652087945405852010-05-02T21:12:00.001-07:002010-05-02T21:43:45.638-07:00Just some cute pics to share<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAEYL7ZSPw5WlPxCNcLKsUNX48Z0Dd5avxiLOXdjCyrzS9BQWgHEnanuYAyI6XViqu81vSqYXiCvRVQsWV71GCoHdrrM2DAw0NhP3mC5UCYegJp8b9nlkZg8KicMaGg2eK5L3HK1lqV6t/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAEYL7ZSPw5WlPxCNcLKsUNX48Z0Dd5avxiLOXdjCyrzS9BQWgHEnanuYAyI6XViqu81vSqYXiCvRVQsWV71GCoHdrrM2DAw0NhP3mC5UCYegJp8b9nlkZg8KicMaGg2eK5L3HK1lqV6t/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466893017497297266" border="0" /></a>How cute is this guy? Yes, that is a spatula he's waving around. Maybe he's the Army cook??<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOhe8_d2EouNzmmN4-7TwQ_2wmbDRGeWO1pqhtlSRbA15xd63S6436VsfYrROJRgE6r6gjHa0W39KNs4a3TI5cxC3xjoyNuCvXSO9AV35SvQMW8hRb6YG4Vd1hUGeyYS5ul8CNyXYEOm7/s1600/IMG_5818.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOhe8_d2EouNzmmN4-7TwQ_2wmbDRGeWO1pqhtlSRbA15xd63S6436VsfYrROJRgE6r6gjHa0W39KNs4a3TI5cxC3xjoyNuCvXSO9AV35SvQMW8hRb6YG4Vd1hUGeyYS5ul8CNyXYEOm7/s320/IMG_5818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466893015025149666" border="0" /></a>Tia dancing with a friend at the Sharing Down Syndrome Easter Party. Adorable!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6J3Moav_zrhvALrC3GYwfhsy3ThThyKRwFjS_TfatahKblKkPgse9xh3jzTGUTja4XKxlhSiI-hD2bZ2B8CNZ3xxvQCOSLd0jlJvmF6p-9Lkt405WcDjY4ohWkFOYTDX7fddQ9kpWvHR/s1600/P4240022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6J3Moav_zrhvALrC3GYwfhsy3ThThyKRwFjS_TfatahKblKkPgse9xh3jzTGUTja4XKxlhSiI-hD2bZ2B8CNZ3xxvQCOSLd0jlJvmF6p-9Lkt405WcDjY4ohWkFOYTDX7fddQ9kpWvHR/s320/P4240022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466892996780233714" border="0" /></a>The highlight of our Spring is playing BASEBALL! They love it! Well, Tia more than Tyler (see quotes below.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpK6PHoHZvx6jkIxoh_3jS5U6Ulf3vN73kix5U0mgqOzPptA7vkg8pOmKtwhiGV-jyleJbzsbZ37kaA6iQKXPVUjnbhzdOmypPHadlr7z06cXC3Hrikdo4EPkI5hKir8I856BLxVUOr99/s1600/P4250023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpK6PHoHZvx6jkIxoh_3jS5U6Ulf3vN73kix5U0mgqOzPptA7vkg8pOmKtwhiGV-jyleJbzsbZ37kaA6iQKXPVUjnbhzdOmypPHadlr7z06cXC3Hrikdo4EPkI5hKir8I856BLxVUOr99/s320/P4250023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466892986195809666" border="0" /></a>This pic is a little hard to see because I didn't want to disturb the moment. Here he is rocking a baby doll. The funny thing is this is a little boy doll we bought in Serbia. He later tucked him into bed. So sweet! I loved it so much because usually he is such a rough and tumble boy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlwe7iYOowdn0v_cDfWX8IEAOE2kZUDilXVDvMqkg1XxUs7SotSHWtMJ1t_YMkiNnbqYIOexXZTCyxMAoJxCt-OAr82UwRKY-Cqe-6XJG7aKrN9Ta5FqDkDHvMg6dVzFOxboZ4NM8nLQq/s1600/IMG_5965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlwe7iYOowdn0v_cDfWX8IEAOE2kZUDilXVDvMqkg1XxUs7SotSHWtMJ1t_YMkiNnbqYIOexXZTCyxMAoJxCt-OAr82UwRKY-Cqe-6XJG7aKrN9Ta5FqDkDHvMg6dVzFOxboZ4NM8nLQq/s320/IMG_5965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466892976837356146" border="0" /></a>A great picture of the kids playing outside. It is getting hot fast so we are trying to enjoy every minute of nice weather.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few recent quotes:</span><br />Tia: It sure was a fun day today.<br />Me: It was? What did we do that was fun? (It was only noon so I couldn't think of a thing.)<br />Tia: You know, went to church, ate breakfast.<br />My thought: I guess I set my expectation of fun too high. Breakfast? Really? Oh, to appreciate every little thing.<br /><br /><br />The other day a boy from church came to our door. Tia introduced all of us and then asked his name. He said, "Nick." To which Tia immediately replied, "Hi Nick, I'm Jonas." (Nick is the name of one of the Jonas brothers. I didn't even know she<span style="font-style: italic;"> knew</span> the names of the Jonas brothers. The important things you learn in 2nd grade.)<br /><br /><br />Tyler was giving me a hard time playing outfield in baseball.<br />Me: "Do you want to bat?" <br />Tyler: "No. I want to be on the team." <br />Me: "Well then let's go play."<br />Tyler: "No. No play. I just be on the team."<br />Me: "What does that mean to just be on the team?"<br />Tyler: "Say 2-4-6-8 and Good Game and do like this" (his hand goes into high 5 position)<br />My thought: Well, we can't all be Babe Ruth!Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-19886833786650605732010-04-24T13:19:00.000-07:002010-04-24T14:21:34.502-07:00Normal?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4G3kCMqoK62TUTfhfzVBeeOHiEAzuaW5bq2J5eVXfnveMhLpTedFK4HL-gN9c0KAY_SffUXckIE7gqm7PA5pzmMrlUilVhhRWxQREawJmj6JGQgoHFLt5awFnH-nCCHcvCOpEf6nly1r/s1600/IMG_5837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4G3kCMqoK62TUTfhfzVBeeOHiEAzuaW5bq2J5eVXfnveMhLpTedFK4HL-gN9c0KAY_SffUXckIE7gqm7PA5pzmMrlUilVhhRWxQREawJmj6JGQgoHFLt5awFnH-nCCHcvCOpEf6nly1r/s320/IMG_5837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463816298267544418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So the other day I was in a friend's house and saw a plaque in her living room that read, "Remember: Everyone Else Thinks We Are a Nice Normal Family". I love this. Typically, I see plaques in peoples homes reading, "Return with Honor" or "Remember Who You Are" but to me just having your teenagers live up to the <span style="font-style: italic;">perception</span> of being in a "nice and normal family" is about all you can ask for some days. LOL</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">I certainly know that others do not view my family as "normal." I am a bit in denial about this most days. I feel like we have a very similar life to those around us. My kids are picky eaters- who isn't, my kids have schedules of therapies and sports- again, like most just with different activities, my kids watch TV and play outside and really enjoy life- like most families. So, every now and then when I am faced with a different reality it surprises me. (You feel a story coming don't you?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Last night, with my husband out of town, I took my babysitter and 3 children to a church picnic at a park. I have never been to this particular park so I didn't know what to expect. I did know that there was a pond which is a HUGE reason I took my sitter. Off subject, why is there a law to have a pool fence in your yard and yet the city builds all our parks with unfenced lakes?! I don't get this! OK, back to the story. So, we park and make it onto the grass just in time for Max to throw his first fit. He wanted to go his own way and not hold my hand. He's three. SOOOO three. Off we go to find a spot to play.<br /><br />I am scanning the park for the playground only to be sadly disappointed. 4 swings and some rocks to climb. 150 kids and 4 swings. I knew then that we could not go near them. If my kids do manage to get on the swings, they are not getting off in 2 minutes for someone else's turn. At least not happily. And I like happily. So, we settle in the volleyball court sand. Thank you to the mom that brought sand toys and let my kids play with them!!! I had already fed the kids because I knew they wouldn't eat with so much going on. (See, I'm not a Spring Chicken.)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, as I am sitting there looking around at families eating and children running around playing I start thinking if this would be possible for me. Could I sit and talk to other women from the church and let my kids run around the pond? The enormous park? To the 4 swings which are out of sight from the armada? To the bathroom by themselves? NO. I could not. But others could. There were little kids, 2-3 year old kids running and I mean running around the pond. This would give me a heart attack. If I let my kids run wild, I can pretty much count on the fact that within 15 minutes one would be in the pond, another in the parking lot and another crying from falling off of something. So there we sat in our contained little space and when all three children had their hair full (and I mean full) of sand, we left. (This would create tantrum #2.) I am not complaining. I love my life. Like I said, sometimes I just forget that it is different than most. I believe I get many blessings through opportunities that others do not get. Perhaps I miss out on experiences that they get but that's what life is about. Learning and becoming stronger people through the different experiences we have. I wouldn't trade. I really, truly wouldn't. </span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-88056156197259816242010-03-31T15:34:00.001-07:002010-03-31T15:52:41.399-07:00Belated pics of my preschooler<div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">My first day of preschool!!!!!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCArOT0B4-09JdSfYVVbfOPe1zTlwGWYWdpTjdwknamgwQvUz0d1qvmNywS19eU_23QKgZAYuQCbIukj8dHg_qDbGYSK80VCIVrb2b04P9I7_L_gEH6qYOTVSMIv5C3LsoZu_LmLLBgKVq/s1600/P1040085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCArOT0B4-09JdSfYVVbfOPe1zTlwGWYWdpTjdwknamgwQvUz0d1qvmNywS19eU_23QKgZAYuQCbIukj8dHg_qDbGYSK80VCIVrb2b04P9I7_L_gEH6qYOTVSMIv5C3LsoZu_LmLLBgKVq/s320/P1040085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454930767517128050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first pic makes him look so big and then you see the second picture where he is not even as tall as the door handle. SO CUTE this boy!</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_04Oq2gObRojjJc7LI-ouvhfofsg0xjWHKPMoihWKwzQg-yZRFYodBkCOqaifc46cerdMGzk6lVB-Iwf9XRfOBK0ZB78iQlZ5xwPNLLRtYvNf35sL6VosXT2gewbtZqqzsbeQT2qbQ6ik/s1600/P1040092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_04Oq2gObRojjJc7LI-ouvhfofsg0xjWHKPMoihWKwzQg-yZRFYodBkCOqaifc46cerdMGzk6lVB-Iwf9XRfOBK0ZB78iQlZ5xwPNLLRtYvNf35sL6VosXT2gewbtZqqzsbeQT2qbQ6ik/s320/P1040092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454930776844035330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yAsBIPyVjJmbchnZmgMVW1b1N7jFbRR2D5i7hT5e76Z9CTIZp87btPDtEz-gSBm9F_peZA78uVtbCGa0RC_x40OH3cPeq-1FVzONePPn9U2MBMaTf_21i944tQlmthcxB7tKHdCsk6Js/s1600/P1040100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yAsBIPyVjJmbchnZmgMVW1b1N7jFbRR2D5i7hT5e76Z9CTIZp87btPDtEz-gSBm9F_peZA78uVtbCGa0RC_x40OH3cPeq-1FVzONePPn9U2MBMaTf_21i944tQlmthcxB7tKHdCsk6Js/s320/P1040100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454930977038772370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >Ready for school. Backpack and all! Here is Max walking with his teacher on January 4th. Isn't he SO little? Yes, the boy next to him is 5 and in his class! The kids in his class LOVE him and so does his teacher. He is loving school. He has gotten sick a few times but we expected that. Nothing serious, just preschool, winter junk. I don't put him on the bus yet. He would probably love it but I would miss the 20 seconds of joy I get watching him walk to class with his friends and teacher. He is doing great and already picking up so much information. He is talking more which is always good. Sorry so short today but I wanted to get those pics up.</span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-36841018974368984182010-02-23T20:03:00.000-08:002010-02-23T20:28:21.008-08:00Happy Birthday Tyler!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYzIV30Jh1eaD56glU3RwqhWyS4zVTMZf2gIX2XiM4mL8-Hhoc7PMymv4T3s3U_XrjySGJqFeTbcjtR1eLA1EHZty0CoANHCbLd1DhBiYj6Gi9OvE4fT9zFWDEmEPVtm-w6qz0VI2qrzs/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYzIV30Jh1eaD56glU3RwqhWyS4zVTMZf2gIX2XiM4mL8-Hhoc7PMymv4T3s3U_XrjySGJqFeTbcjtR1eLA1EHZty0CoANHCbLd1DhBiYj6Gi9OvE4fT9zFWDEmEPVtm-w6qz0VI2qrzs/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441660817701082338" border="0" /></a>This is in January before he goes into surgery for his tonsil and adenoid removal. That was the only smile we saw for a few days. It was a LONG 2 weeks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrTHD6q4pwQ0cMD6PoIm8pS5EaTuW9Kz5bfZYY-czAthCadmxKsf9708YI17BF5hRAvO5ioxI9yYird6Kp6atuvrqOp39lRV8e3PgeQVxsQWYfIlnSZLxY95UYWzlndxZVq2qkXOWTJER/s1600-h/P1180103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrTHD6q4pwQ0cMD6PoIm8pS5EaTuW9Kz5bfZYY-czAthCadmxKsf9708YI17BF5hRAvO5ioxI9yYird6Kp6atuvrqOp39lRV8e3PgeQVxsQWYfIlnSZLxY95UYWzlndxZVq2qkXOWTJER/s320/P1180103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441660810220876898" border="0" /></a>Are you sure Tyler is the little brother?? He out weighs her by 10-15 lbs. So cute!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5vJycqJlIi2J1WPF-bVCwUpdGwT82pzpbnV1izxYv4LOWjGnDvAeHRSWyIySWBrl1id_gagEDHg5CCTW_58s6xj4ZEor-Siy7zAEgNJJiDRWQerftkXy2oDuUeD-ZrIKdE20gHESMVUm/s1600-h/IMG_5632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5vJycqJlIi2J1WPF-bVCwUpdGwT82pzpbnV1izxYv4LOWjGnDvAeHRSWyIySWBrl1id_gagEDHg5CCTW_58s6xj4ZEor-Siy7zAEgNJJiDRWQerftkXy2oDuUeD-ZrIKdE20gHESMVUm/s320/IMG_5632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441660800794370322" border="0" /></a>Tia is giving him a birthday hug while singing Happy Birthday.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVibWeOLdSPxGcdP2H2N-crGQ1yZin_rtDgjrp2PTUoZuuIQEwzxUAoQ8fJeNeesShy0kL4fbWOw1QmtQLWIJrpSMJD6AEmWjCIh5FH3LaU-CJ54ztuR2XHtxKfIPTUYq6xkRkusYHTGd/s1600-h/IMG_5631.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVibWeOLdSPxGcdP2H2N-crGQ1yZin_rtDgjrp2PTUoZuuIQEwzxUAoQ8fJeNeesShy0kL4fbWOw1QmtQLWIJrpSMJD6AEmWjCIh5FH3LaU-CJ54ztuR2XHtxKfIPTUYq6xkRkusYHTGd/s320/IMG_5631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441660789884113346" border="0" /></a>This boy waited ALL day to eat cake and ice cream!!!<br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Happy Birthday to my Tyler today! He is 6 years old. Amazing. He changed his request for his birthday cake 3 times. First it was an alligator, then a hippopotamus and finally a race car. I was glad not to do the hippo because that may have been above my amateur abilities. He sure is a cutie and we just LOVE all 65 lbs of him. A friend of mine calls him "her hunk-a-burnin' love"! He loves to watch TV, play on the playground, and eat pizza. He is super funny and loves to laugh. He thinks the word "buns" is the funniest word on the planet. (Oh, 6 year-old boys!) He loves school and his friends (once he gets there) but tries to convince me he's too sick to go to school on a daily basis. "I can't go to school. I have a cough. I'm VERY sick." His sister is his best friend and every morning they plan a "play date after school" with each other. He is a great big brother and a good helper to mom. He is a daddy's boy 100%. He and daddy go to the pet store <span style="font-weight: bold;">every </span>Saturday to see all the animals. He loves the zoo and would watch the elephants all day. The hippo is his very favorite animal but we don't have one at our zoo. He is a stubborn and wonderful boy and adds joy to my life every single day! Happy Birthday Bubba!!<br /></span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-79797267322753092382009-12-28T16:34:00.000-08:002009-12-28T16:45:44.508-08:00Holly Jolly Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN_J8MS0edJo3S2Bxxs5s0eLnJPUVHpMDwXA9NVPSaGAI17JdsfXEN4Ggjvfi5nAdKPESDgxWr1pum0hIvbTVD6Uzcap-5lKgVFjMlUyM3fA8-juNCh-h6F_G1RrJEK4hBCkjbnbKfmRp/s1600-h/IMG_5426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWN_J8MS0edJo3S2Bxxs5s0eLnJPUVHpMDwXA9NVPSaGAI17JdsfXEN4Ggjvfi5nAdKPESDgxWr1pum0hIvbTVD6Uzcap-5lKgVFjMlUyM3fA8-juNCh-h6F_G1RrJEK4hBCkjbnbKfmRp/s320/IMG_5426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420451841024020546" border="0" /></a>The 3 cuties in the wagon from Grandma!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MTUwtpnKcS8Y9GzrLzvyE21TvUD1qGhijzTlIb1WuG3vqPljZmrcSCJuAqKFKddhyphenhyphenB0oYIUkLSodBDDAWAoso7tfvS9bgiOla_eXbcl67FYdj3AM1ooQ88ys1Siqnzja-9KlH67gVaUn/s1600-h/IMG_5486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MTUwtpnKcS8Y9GzrLzvyE21TvUD1qGhijzTlIb1WuG3vqPljZmrcSCJuAqKFKddhyphenhyphenB0oYIUkLSodBDDAWAoso7tfvS9bgiOla_eXbcl67FYdj3AM1ooQ88ys1Siqnzja-9KlH67gVaUn/s320/IMG_5486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420451840209908482" border="0" /></a>Tia and Max swinging on the new play set.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg336nfcw_qYBjl-ca0CfCEAKt0AidYBN-vXsiUHqiWLZUXSykq3rxRadS-0-6jUOwUNbQKzhMZ-neyEpytVgdHGznWhjEAmibhUtdk7fYZwpAEdgtKxDXMlGuVQHLyET6D5q0Xr0ySNPb0/s1600-h/IMG_5527.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg336nfcw_qYBjl-ca0CfCEAKt0AidYBN-vXsiUHqiWLZUXSykq3rxRadS-0-6jUOwUNbQKzhMZ-neyEpytVgdHGznWhjEAmibhUtdk7fYZwpAEdgtKxDXMlGuVQHLyET6D5q0Xr0ySNPb0/s320/IMG_5527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420451828461655650" border="0" /></a>Tyler getting ready to slide.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0Cgj2XzHOzHOV8bX5ZjYZbOrXlodnQohnxV7VoL5GNRwwqOAgr3YWq6_kZhE9DgVg7t7OLIVAhx1jo8dIQ0exoLbzz5aph3zKEcfAOHUoxoVP81ER59OauVBHjl8e9TrY-4wknvUMB1u/s1600-h/IMG_5465.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0Cgj2XzHOzHOV8bX5ZjYZbOrXlodnQohnxV7VoL5GNRwwqOAgr3YWq6_kZhE9DgVg7t7OLIVAhx1jo8dIQ0exoLbzz5aph3zKEcfAOHUoxoVP81ER59OauVBHjl8e9TrY-4wknvUMB1u/s320/IMG_5465.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420451820793416690" border="0" /></a>The cutest house cleaner ever!!! He loves his new vacuum and can usually be found with a hat on.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We had a wonderful Christmas. Kevin built an awesome playset in the backyard that we managed to hide until Christmas morning. The kids went nuts with excitement when they saw it. It was really fun. They got great presents and and had lots of fun with cousins. <br /></span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-19750923865316730392009-12-23T16:29:00.001-08:002009-12-23T16:50:35.489-08:00A Special Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNd6AF_IPNQEAdsh2Zbwe5XvVvY6AXCHc1yhLH4D7GkBv6Pp08zlRa68vYDNjW9mcO1L7CDcA_qEamnOnnxeZrSW7xTXvNGXnaIgrFTPtjJHFOzDHbokbgOpaNjlUMv_sXWrTPrAZWqqP/s1600-h/IMG_5355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNd6AF_IPNQEAdsh2Zbwe5XvVvY6AXCHc1yhLH4D7GkBv6Pp08zlRa68vYDNjW9mcO1L7CDcA_qEamnOnnxeZrSW7xTXvNGXnaIgrFTPtjJHFOzDHbokbgOpaNjlUMv_sXWrTPrAZWqqP/s320/IMG_5355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418593995627522354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgKDo7eTS93o0nTuqe402UOioFKknzwBtDaw4aw_EY0mD8KMu73luNcqeapdFZ03ACFrWPfaFEZsHC137REB7Py12AXnBRIm_B6mFFf-Xi1U-tsW3iJl9bbEmoBtAZgokqBkVQGiQHNpn/s1600-h/IMG_5368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgKDo7eTS93o0nTuqe402UOioFKknzwBtDaw4aw_EY0mD8KMu73luNcqeapdFZ03ACFrWPfaFEZsHC137REB7Py12AXnBRIm_B6mFFf-Xi1U-tsW3iJl9bbEmoBtAZgokqBkVQGiQHNpn/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418593989893812098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbvOOGzhr7lxJWSY4RIDxro97xQ9jehkNFVtKyVhilOog7q5MURXf_hHaYzI2ttdpNOzItWKs75f2Xv-d5S7S1p9AqFCDwCz_VoAHeuamWq5yOGHb5J2Mrk0nIKLdQCo4w4RjDjhc_NEP/s1600-h/IMG_5291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbvOOGzhr7lxJWSY4RIDxro97xQ9jehkNFVtKyVhilOog7q5MURXf_hHaYzI2ttdpNOzItWKs75f2Xv-d5S7S1p9AqFCDwCz_VoAHeuamWq5yOGHb5J2Mrk0nIKLdQCo4w4RjDjhc_NEP/s320/IMG_5291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418593981434330402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ncoDitTSvhnJBcgoFezfemAcHo8EDJTDQWvouAD6jt0RsCQoncgIdVCbwk7X7yL6roUC1-bDonkt7XzmUyUZAx5n3s3XpGJPit8ncNb9ahb_jKUNQexypCRPYXqlnmgYTSA_7SUNmC5J/s1600-h/IMG_5257.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ncoDitTSvhnJBcgoFezfemAcHo8EDJTDQWvouAD6jt0RsCQoncgIdVCbwk7X7yL6roUC1-bDonkt7XzmUyUZAx5n3s3XpGJPit8ncNb9ahb_jKUNQexypCRPYXqlnmgYTSA_7SUNmC5J/s320/IMG_5257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418593974309815618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last Saturday was a special day for our family. Tia was baptized! We are so proud of her for choosing to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. She was on cloud 9 all day. We are so thankful for our family and friends who came out to support Tia on this amazing day. I love the month of December. For our family it is a birthday filled month with Braxton's birthday (he would have been 11 years old this year), Tia's 8th birthday, and Max's 3rd birthday on Christmas Day. Can you believe he's going to be 3 on Friday?! Stay tuned for Preschool pictures in January. Wow! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are so blessed with family and friends and hope everyone reading has a happy and safe holiday. May you all be able to focus on the true reason for the season and reflect on the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-8254871224928404292009-11-23T12:44:00.000-08:002009-11-23T13:34:49.537-08:00Halloween and other stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Z_siOaMP4LjH91mJV4l0x_88XnhWcYbu1uhjUjrR2VskE-o1fK7-a9vMJeNrtvbkPIX4Qy4FhAs2k6BnYLghrEahIQZU8b1HiQJ3b6OYTOoUVXBVfmTCCnnKGXkmyucrC31Xl_vQF0G/s1600/IMG_4919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Z_siOaMP4LjH91mJV4l0x_88XnhWcYbu1uhjUjrR2VskE-o1fK7-a9vMJeNrtvbkPIX4Qy4FhAs2k6BnYLghrEahIQZU8b1HiQJ3b6OYTOoUVXBVfmTCCnnKGXkmyucrC31Xl_vQF0G/s320/IMG_4919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407414860010431906" border="0" /></a>All 3 kids looking in the same direction!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl_qXfIZlaglrwYU0VBXo6QykEMAHq5LfWX4Yzo280TB85kWUMaOZo_262h1VuhLFtAiieG7rk5iTwlCy7DvDgKTkzQ5Q8_nrux9E9RNTTf13JtPPKaLxjzi56-RjlmekbLMXEfW_H5Gc/s1600/IMG_4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl_qXfIZlaglrwYU0VBXo6QykEMAHq5LfWX4Yzo280TB85kWUMaOZo_262h1VuhLFtAiieG7rk5iTwlCy7DvDgKTkzQ5Q8_nrux9E9RNTTf13JtPPKaLxjzi56-RjlmekbLMXEfW_H5Gc/s320/IMG_4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407414850764761538" border="0" /></a>It's not fair that he is SO photogenic--but I love this picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGO_4wCzgIJKEbQS2U-ewfif_dViRQezwamIdcXdpA58-pKZ8A1_RrIR5LpjNR6YTUVCY91R6x9ZBbQmnLJofHSaBGHx2ec2E0Cv3A-j9Fjx_qoISibRTEpBVqPkUpwfJ5DiATSbV9PSs/s1600/IMG_2274.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGO_4wCzgIJKEbQS2U-ewfif_dViRQezwamIdcXdpA58-pKZ8A1_RrIR5LpjNR6YTUVCY91R6x9ZBbQmnLJofHSaBGHx2ec2E0Cv3A-j9Fjx_qoISibRTEpBVqPkUpwfJ5DiATSbV9PSs/s320/IMG_2274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407414849403190610" border="0" /></a>Our small but mighty Buddy Walk Team this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6y9LWv2SccHZzQJPtFQV9mnj1r-aLefwQdTWO2zyAFAWkriCzj3bVm5IBQU_QgtMPcnRkFgmpwiEEn677ve2Ldvb7zS4R3SKmw9SLd6O07TbgiaRj5pDZyUGRyauUoqYnJTjlziJMoBh/s1600/IMG_5021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6y9LWv2SccHZzQJPtFQV9mnj1r-aLefwQdTWO2zyAFAWkriCzj3bVm5IBQU_QgtMPcnRkFgmpwiEEn677ve2Ldvb7zS4R3SKmw9SLd6O07TbgiaRj5pDZyUGRyauUoqYnJTjlziJMoBh/s320/IMG_5021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407414838618932034" border="0" /></a>Daddy's birthday present. He loved it and so did the kids!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo1E29gnILsOiOtUrFgYjb7ycUQz6cT1z0NOqfvIwOylqb1O0fBLMYU8UqzNgI7-1IDExyi5GUlIKgf_G-BXYTNUvYXcJUU-PIflVgwfhaF3M5H7sW4sQ4qjI2H6oEhjV1dafUfnYrQA/s1600/IMG_5056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBo1E29gnILsOiOtUrFgYjb7ycUQz6cT1z0NOqfvIwOylqb1O0fBLMYU8UqzNgI7-1IDExyi5GUlIKgf_G-BXYTNUvYXcJUU-PIflVgwfhaF3M5H7sW4sQ4qjI2H6oEhjV1dafUfnYrQA/s320/IMG_5056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407411585923375938" border="0" /></a>Halloween- Tia as Tinkerbell<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZQgp1FjJxRuO8RDW-d_tcr2UEMhYsE_M8ZE8mu5NovhjmaHB59htO88ttTK9sSa9S_4BKAo4P_QCH-SEPJfJ-mHQCRxQ1uEbiS6SCy0EmgsDEkiTXjmEeMY8uOebCY19AaNGcnnQ0vjK/s1600/IMG_5053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZQgp1FjJxRuO8RDW-d_tcr2UEMhYsE_M8ZE8mu5NovhjmaHB59htO88ttTK9sSa9S_4BKAo4P_QCH-SEPJfJ-mHQCRxQ1uEbiS6SCy0EmgsDEkiTXjmEeMY8uOebCY19AaNGcnnQ0vjK/s320/IMG_5053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407411581976185698" border="0" /></a>Tyler my astronaut--every good astronaut needs a teddy bear right?!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvgDWs-2hxr2el-c3d-xIRFiqp8JD_kBUIn5207BVJEyNUsgStPKsheqiLR9Mid6BSceFHB_ps8fpHjwDYj6pwWU5NN20yLU3sDOhXbzFgzvgE9MwgNzw5aw_kCI_q9A3S9db8xxipgEb/s1600/IMG_5049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvgDWs-2hxr2el-c3d-xIRFiqp8JD_kBUIn5207BVJEyNUsgStPKsheqiLR9Mid6BSceFHB_ps8fpHjwDYj6pwWU5NN20yLU3sDOhXbzFgzvgE9MwgNzw5aw_kCI_q9A3S9db8xxipgEb/s320/IMG_5049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407411575954991634" border="0" /></a>If I had a UPS man this cute, I would order a package everyday!!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So why don't I blog anymore? Well, mostly because life is busy but also because I now have an account on Facebook and if I have spare time for the computer I go there. I love Facebook. It is such a great way to hook up with old friends and find out how everyone is doing in a glance. But, I know I need to get much better at blogging.<br /><br />School is still going well. I am stress a bit because Max will start preschool in January and I am not sure I am ready to leave him for 2 1/2 hours a day, 4 days a week. He still seems too little for school but I remember thinking that about Tia and Tyler too. The teachers are so great at their school and I know he needs more than mom to really develop his skills. The class is made up of children with special needs as well as typical kids. The class sizes are small and he will get Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy at school as well as home now. He is SUCH a busy boy. He never stops moving and learning and discovering. He will keep the teachers busy for sure. He reminds me of Tia at that age. Tia never stopped and we even had a psychologist tell us she probably had Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) when she was 3 years old. Totally NOT the case anymore. I mean, she talks a mile a minute and will perform at the drop of a hat and is full of energy BUT she also does great in school and focuses well and sits for long periods of time. Hopefully, Max will learn to sit longer eventually too. =-) Tyler is my couch potato. He likes to play board games and cards and things he can do in one place for the most part. He is a climber though. I'm convinced he would be a lot less active if it wasn't for Tia's influence.<br /><br />So, we all got the Swine Flu last month. It was OK but Tia got pneumonia from it. Funny story about that: We wake up on a Sunday morning to Tia having a hard time breathing and really pale. So I tell Kevin I am taking her to the ER and we decide to say a prayer before she goes. After the prayer Kevin tells her that she will be just fine because she has a "prayer on board". So, she told every person at the ER that daddy said a prayer so she won't be bored. It was so cute. She is the most pleasant sick child. All the doctors and nurses couldn't get enough of her. She made them take her dolly's blood pressure every time they checked hers. And everytime they did any procedure she thanked them and told them she was all better now. Too cute!<br /><br />Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving on Thursday. I know we will. We have so much to be thankful for!!<br /></span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-53602241453483263312009-09-28T13:20:00.001-07:002009-09-28T14:35:30.164-07:00School is in session<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_lWGDq2dtNKNHSkL6cUE2HorScPPLWPCbRgpPdvzd8yxGAWypas2Q0oYg2bi99BZaC_T1UZzZWk66s_78joJSJSvh4u2kXqMZb4-_NU-57QHPjL3_GEj4Jrk-lacOvGF19srp7p9VcEt/s1600-h/IMG_4862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_lWGDq2dtNKNHSkL6cUE2HorScPPLWPCbRgpPdvzd8yxGAWypas2Q0oYg2bi99BZaC_T1UZzZWk66s_78joJSJSvh4u2kXqMZb4-_NU-57QHPjL3_GEj4Jrk-lacOvGF19srp7p9VcEt/s320/IMG_4862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386633296884373634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">School is going really well for the kids this year. It is our best year yet. Both Tia and Tyler are in regular classrooms with aides. Both of their aides are terrific this year and they both have teachers who are happy to have them in class which makes life so much nicer for them. The resource teacher is great too. Ty goes 30 minutes a day and Tia goes 1 hour a day. We found out 2nd grade homework is much more demanding than 1st grade. However, after parents complained, they reduced the load a few weeks in. Hooray.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Max and I go to the gym most mornings and he plays with the toys and other kids. He loves it. He loves his one-on-one time with mom all day too. He is talking a lot more now and has over 50 words. He understands about everything and is a great little helper. He will start preschool in January which is crazy because he still seems so tiny. His backpack will be to his knees! He will love it though. I remember thinking Tia was too little too. She started preschool in 18 month-2T clothes. Tyler has never really been "too little". LOL Anyway, that's the Huff update for now.</span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-55450621741984076132009-07-25T22:31:00.000-07:002009-07-25T23:39:13.405-07:00Kids in JulyPictures of 4th of July at my sister's house!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfdsmB13NBpzZaakBHgDwG15MqWuStSr_fJkFkXlEJyOBfs_ov2kMHCTJxNY5EuAxCAk95GC6UaamshRjZk1lIbedjT9LP1NupSnM4cJs73IanyLcgnRNr1aa717f3zUBlwPh3afPMeu/s1600-h/IMG_4381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfdsmB13NBpzZaakBHgDwG15MqWuStSr_fJkFkXlEJyOBfs_ov2kMHCTJxNY5EuAxCAk95GC6UaamshRjZk1lIbedjT9LP1NupSnM4cJs73IanyLcgnRNr1aa717f3zUBlwPh3afPMeu/s320/IMG_4381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362654131067260418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSkP2NgoXOKIWYOMb9hs2OS1_YQMfISEjAHL8TEpQHFD2w4ZoVrFk83rwG9NGTQy0NOhOyjTPCpwNbSXgc5H_mIWzfQ0XYAbi1_PiJF0dW7A01yIcs5xqOG6DF5D7FxkWmz-2j9KSqohp/s1600-h/IMG_4367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSkP2NgoXOKIWYOMb9hs2OS1_YQMfISEjAHL8TEpQHFD2w4ZoVrFk83rwG9NGTQy0NOhOyjTPCpwNbSXgc5H_mIWzfQ0XYAbi1_PiJF0dW7A01yIcs5xqOG6DF5D7FxkWmz-2j9KSqohp/s320/IMG_4367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362651820696495282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cqhfagNZlhR7-4HSxLFrkerl2E3Vpch2QQLLPtmqVJjcZVutnFn_U2WdxJUdauP3XJC6BFKWY37I6OsyVG2K3YrjaNo5lBL2XwvrzJmoMkU8hc3v7gujnl5A713QuwOg7TkBHiDM_-HF/s1600-h/IMG_4352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cqhfagNZlhR7-4HSxLFrkerl2E3Vpch2QQLLPtmqVJjcZVutnFn_U2WdxJUdauP3XJC6BFKWY37I6OsyVG2K3YrjaNo5lBL2XwvrzJmoMkU8hc3v7gujnl5A713QuwOg7TkBHiDM_-HF/s320/IMG_4352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362651808225806258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I guess I better post this month before July runs out. I am definitely keeping busy. I am really nervous for the kids to start school soon. I don't do well until I know they are settled, with a good aide, in a good classroom. We'll see. Ty will be in Kindergarten and Tia will be 2nd grade. There was no half-day Kinder at our school so I will be pulling Tyler out at 1:30 everyday. That way he can continue his therapies at home another year without rearranging his schedule. He's going to be exhausted for a few weeks but he's not much of a napper anyway. It will be fun to have only Max home during the day. I know he will really miss T&T though. He loves to follow them around and do everything they do. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So, I decided for this post I would tell a few funny things my kids have said. I have a journal by my bed that is specifically for "Tia-isms" and I need to get one going for Tyler too. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tia is a singer! She sings morning, noon and night. She used to sing the correct words to songs but now likes to add her own. For example the other day she was singing, "Rockin Around In Tia's Room" and "Bring Back My Dolly to Me". She told me one day that she wanted to sing the garden song. I said, "What garden song?" She said, "You know mom, 'Oh My Garden, Oh My Garden, Oh My Garden Clementine." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tonight as Tia was going to bed:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tia: " Good night mom, good night Movers" (Imagination Movers TV show featuring 4 guys)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tia: in deep voice "Good night Tia, have good sleepers."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tia: in normal voice, "OK I will."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tyler: "What's today?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Me: "Today is Thursday. We eat breakfast, play, Heather comes, then after lunch Denise comes."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tyler: "Oh. Eat breakfast, play, Heather, ice cream and cake, then Denise." (totally straight faced)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Me: laughing "Ice Cream and Cake!?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Tyler: Curls up in a ball laughing so hard! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This from my son who frequently asks for pizza for breakfast.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, Max has more words this month. One of which is (drum roll please) Mama!!!!! Yeah! Finally. He has added this month, "Please", "Fish", "Down", "Frog", "Car", "Up", "Help" (which is adorable by the way--"Hep Hep") and a few more animal sounds. He already had, Shoes, Ball, Go, Daddy, Daisy (the dog's name came WAY before Mama by the way!), Hat, Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Hair, All Done, and a handful of signs. I am super excited he is communicating more. He is very pleased with himself! I will try to record some of his words but he is pretty shy about performing for the video cam. We'll see.</span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-73463127128545781102009-06-16T09:12:00.000-07:002009-06-16T09:59:41.837-07:00"Birthday" Party for Max<div>Max's fun smile! Can't you just hear him laughing when you see this picture?!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqU9O8miWBNbaEFACXepDTgb76SkA9WbvuyfDdKapU4_F37q3oFPiAY_ub_Hpj6Ra21dNu7hBTZdZTYnHTpVMFm8zkvy3E1I6wexM63AtGhU44vhz4NuuSUmwfEtqWWvA5lNzcqMl9kBdt/s1600-h/IMG_4290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqU9O8miWBNbaEFACXepDTgb76SkA9WbvuyfDdKapU4_F37q3oFPiAY_ub_Hpj6Ra21dNu7hBTZdZTYnHTpVMFm8zkvy3E1I6wexM63AtGhU44vhz4NuuSUmwfEtqWWvA5lNzcqMl9kBdt/s320/IMG_4290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347961748346678930" /></a><br /><div>Max on the bouncy slide in the back yard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF3f90WuccCqGq2wJKahR_KURO7vS1Ju-0vgifPh_Jui6IOnPsbFjutSZ15chvOoMcM4aPBx_iw3bzzonvGTRmq-Sn7wD8l4T9cmdeRiGcthyphenhyphenexwffi-6G3_kL2TMmhB4O5JHagdZB9Cr/s1600-h/IMG_4255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF3f90WuccCqGq2wJKahR_KURO7vS1Ju-0vgifPh_Jui6IOnPsbFjutSZ15chvOoMcM4aPBx_iw3bzzonvGTRmq-Sn7wD8l4T9cmdeRiGcthyphenhyphenexwffi-6G3_kL2TMmhB4O5JHagdZB9Cr/s320/IMG_4255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347961747125624306" /></a><br /></div><div>Since Max was born on Christmas Day, it is difficult to do cake, presents, etc. on his actual birthday. So, we decided to do it around his "adoption date". It is close to Memorial Day so we had a family pool party/birthday party. He loved opening his presents and playing with his new toys.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-tBbYozcx8OT6yiaQnpDYK3UwH_sxO7nCFV1OPf8jvxyb09ZRJkgYDSYEdOBYVCI_BhN7TM78o93HyYUa7eNjs9Gcid-ioZwnSW20-6DLqRki75-BTccVpnkHq1nBl4p8ESbn77S8awc/s1600-h/IMG_4136.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-tBbYozcx8OT6yiaQnpDYK3UwH_sxO7nCFV1OPf8jvxyb09ZRJkgYDSYEdOBYVCI_BhN7TM78o93HyYUa7eNjs9Gcid-ioZwnSW20-6DLqRki75-BTccVpnkHq1nBl4p8ESbn77S8awc/s320/IMG_4136.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347961741992748162" /></a><br /><div>Max LOVES balls so I made him a soccer ball cake. He didn't eat any of course but he danced when we all sang Happy Birthday. He was much more interested in getting back in the pool than hanging out to eat anything.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYN78Q88QMKVIr3JykBJIyk_4cyr3JZzHsvkDpDeiGoKXNSeN025WuqEdJZOBZ9y4-zLbun8MkznPFwo60zlqvxTkQAdtKJ1gCU9bSOYHEOTeBv3-dk98I6ul1z5USjCtxSQXRa_6vDlq/s1600-h/IMG_4091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYN78Q88QMKVIr3JykBJIyk_4cyr3JZzHsvkDpDeiGoKXNSeN025WuqEdJZOBZ9y4-zLbun8MkznPFwo60zlqvxTkQAdtKJ1gCU9bSOYHEOTeBv3-dk98I6ul1z5USjCtxSQXRa_6vDlq/s320/IMG_4091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347960968419938722" /></a><br /></div><div>Rub-a-dub-dub, 3 cuties in the tub<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG7oewLglqM1ZUDaXngDcCrTtqHU_G009orP_rg-RWMPc5E4LTYDKaaoEs7lQWr_PNZc5teQMBtMBQZ9z_k9eiTKCbZ9urDET71IwpNrytx-LwV2s_teFfULIYFIkFkX_KWOTnN1Clcxj/s1600-h/IMG_4078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG7oewLglqM1ZUDaXngDcCrTtqHU_G009orP_rg-RWMPc5E4LTYDKaaoEs7lQWr_PNZc5teQMBtMBQZ9z_k9eiTKCbZ9urDET71IwpNrytx-LwV2s_teFfULIYFIkFkX_KWOTnN1Clcxj/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347960963517293970" /></a><br /></div><div>Tia and Tyler at the award ceremony for baseball. This was Tyler's first year and Tia's 3rd. They LOVE their coaches and teammates and are always sad to have the season end.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmRCQXWcIV_IurBl3Ao9rSsh8X18DeB87vRjeWy_5H3OVn3i3cdOGnDZpfcDAglec3fyD3yB02KvHU4KY8QebVtHLlOw0e-MYpfurl3VJqHjtBv8bqSwbzrubNrudn7-k8bAjLIpgb0lI/s1600-h/IMG_4041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmRCQXWcIV_IurBl3Ao9rSsh8X18DeB87vRjeWy_5H3OVn3i3cdOGnDZpfcDAglec3fyD3yB02KvHU4KY8QebVtHLlOw0e-MYpfurl3VJqHjtBv8bqSwbzrubNrudn7-k8bAjLIpgb0lI/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347960959420806834" /></a><br /></div><div>Tyler's graduation from pre-school. He will be in a regular Kindergarten class next year!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLXv4ZbvR4IUiTBfGC_HPM20OQrZaKuO3CDYtohXWa5QOwWtoLbR5M1MvDxpYyDxr6jvIazPe7nljY7wyoiNHSoZajLTPAIGO559mkX2R5Vh5sOTfJ_U4Kt3_xVRQDkU0mYP8zZmbyV3f/s1600-h/IMG_4070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLXv4ZbvR4IUiTBfGC_HPM20OQrZaKuO3CDYtohXWa5QOwWtoLbR5M1MvDxpYyDxr6jvIazPe7nljY7wyoiNHSoZajLTPAIGO559mkX2R5Vh5sOTfJ_U4Kt3_xVRQDkU0mYP8zZmbyV3f/s320/IMG_4070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347960952132980466" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-26738577620716594812009-05-17T18:43:00.000-07:002009-05-17T21:13:09.879-07:00GOTCHA Anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDyzdJSXdoSlvcge7MZwe6-bOOujcwPEu3FXjZ4ZguyuXHZH8Z4qZYfhYQmmCiPhb3TaPLbDK1BCQISUb7afQDYVknuquIOsReMj4_cCNSiVZqcAcZifcnb4qS3MvEelggtoUHKrw6fmx/s1600-h/IMG_3993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDyzdJSXdoSlvcge7MZwe6-bOOujcwPEu3FXjZ4ZguyuXHZH8Z4qZYfhYQmmCiPhb3TaPLbDK1BCQISUb7afQDYVknuquIOsReMj4_cCNSiVZqcAcZifcnb4qS3MvEelggtoUHKrw6fmx/s320/IMG_3993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337010564988461618" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friday, May 15th, 2008 was our official papers signed- Gotcha Day. Today is our Home One Year Day!!!!! How amazing to have our sweet son for a whole year now! He is just doing so wonderful.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His 2 big areas of challenge are language and eating. He has about 8 words and 8 signs but we haven't gotten much further with that in a while. I think he has been so focused on </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">moving</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> that he has put speech aside for a while. He walks everywhere now and loves to put his cool new orthotics on. Which of course I thought he would hate. What do I know?! He will pretty much only cooperate with his physical therapist if they are outside. He LOVES to be outside. Right now it is over 100 degrees here so we are in the pool almost every day and he is in heaven. Yes, my baby who hated the bath, now loves it and loves to swim! (Well, float.) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Max also loves to eat but only pureed food. We have been going to feeding therapy but he is still not into eating solids yet. Hopefully soon. Any ideas are welcome, by the way. He puts solid food in his mouth like he wants to like it but then immediately makes a face and spits it out. His therapist said he will just do it one day and never look back.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So who is Max at age 2 years, 5 months? Max is a handful who loves life. He is a climber and right now has a big</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> forehead bruise to prove it. He is ALL boy! He loves balls and cars, trucks, buses and rocks. He has a laugh that is SO contagious it makes strangers in the store laugh. He is smart and loves to figure things out. He loves to take off all his clothes which is pretty funny but we hope the phase ends soon. He also likes to put stuff in drawers and other containers so you never what you are going to find where. Today I found the remote control in the clothes hamper!! I would have been looking for that for days! Lucky I came across it before it got washed! Tears come to my eyes as I think of all the blessings Max has brought to our life. What a fun little "wild angel" he is.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-74683200155897512892009-04-10T21:21:00.000-07:002009-04-10T21:25:29.131-07:00<div><embed src="http://widget-51.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2449958197314347601&site=widget-51.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197314347601&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-51.slide.com/p1/2449958197314347601/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197314347601&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-51.slide.com/p2/2449958197314347601/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2449958197314347601&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-51.slide.com/p4/2449958197314347601/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446062124848085493.post-23774950822362036622009-04-10T07:49:00.001-07:002009-04-10T16:47:20.647-07:00WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO:<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I know, I know I haven't blogged in forever!! Max has been sleeping in the den where the computer is and thus making the computer inaccessible when he is asleep. Well, since I usually blog when the kids are asleep I am out of luck for a while. The original plan was to have Tyler and Max share a room. The problem was that one kept waking up the other either in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. So, we moved Max for a while. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Max is walking great now. He walks a lot more than he crawls. I've been buried in paperwork to get ready for Tia and Ty's IEPs for school. An IEP is an Individual Education Plan. It determines the goals for the next school year and which classroom they will attend. So, Tia will be in a regular 2nd grade classroom next year with one hour a day in the resource room for help with math and reading. I am happy because that is what we really wanted. Tyler's IEP will be in a few weeks, I think. I hope his goes well too. They are both doing so great. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway, we had a wonderful Spring Break. We went to Grandma and Grandpa's in Missouri. The kids had so much fun at the St. Louis zoo, Silver Dollar City, Branson, riding a horse, visiting an alpaca farm, meeting new friends, and so many other great things. The kids were really well behaved and did SO great even with a lot of time in the car and on the airplane. Tia and Tyler are at a good age where they play well together and can entertain each other in the car. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I will post some pictures of our trip later. I can't get it to work right now.</span></span>Shawniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03484661800816910768noreply@blogger.com1