Holiday 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow

After a wonderful Christmas, Mom, Carly and I got to head up to Salt Lake/Park City together. Just the 3 of us! We had a very nice time shopping, eating yummy food and hanging out together. Carly flew home first and Mom surprised me with a hair appointment to a fantastically nice hair salon-- which I so needed and then graced me with much needed time to sleep in.

Mom did this AMAZING painting for me for Christmas! I LOVE IT! It really is amazing and such an unbelievable gift! Clearly, one of the most wonderful gifts I have Ever received! It looks so much like Daddy! She is wonderfully talented! And I am thrilled to be able to hang this in my home so that I might see it every day, so that my children might see their Granpa every day and that we might remember his presence is with us in our home and always.

For Carly's birthday dinner we headed out for CRAB! It was a fun evening and there are great pictures to prove it!

Happy 29th Birthday, Carly!

Happy 29th Birthday, Car Bear! 29 presents (Mom's good idea), a yummy dinner of crab legs and apple pie a la mode with a candle on top.
So glad we were able to celebrate beside you!
Here's to 129 more birthdays for my stunningly beautiful, undeniably caring, overwhelmingly intelligent, fantastically forever sister and friend!
WE love you!

Mama's addiction turned into Michael Ethan's teether! Boy, that kid has some strong teeth!

I am grateful for...

~ I am grateful for a fantastic 15 year old daughter who decides that Friday night is the perfect time to make an 80's inspired music video with her two friends And her Mom. I got to be the hair dresser and the girls kept laughing at me for reminiscing about how, "Yes! This is exactly how we fixed our bangs!" and "I used to have blue mascara. Isn't that fabulous?" I also got to be the camera person once their choreographing was learned. (Very reminiscent of when Mom would video tape my many fashion shows.) I am grateful for the inhibitions Lexis has and for the strong sense of self she exudes. I am also grateful for the patience these girls had with me once we all realized that their 1st Performance wasn't exactly recorded by me. Oops!

80's Night at Our House

I am grateful for...

~ I am grateful for my amazing kids and their tolerance for their Mother wanting to get just one shot of us all together for Christmas cards. I have the most gorgeous kids and it is time to show them off!





~ I am grateful that Carly thought to take pictures of Sophie for me while she was in Washington. I find myself missing her everyday and I could not do it without the knowledge that she is so happy running where she wants to run at Grandma's. Which brings me to--I am grateful for Grandma! For her willingness to care for Sophie so well and so unselfishly!


~ I am grateful for a brother and sister-in-law who produced the world's most darling Laynie Girl EVER! and who are willing to share her with us with the many photographs they take. Now all I need is some real face time with my niece and well laid plan to steal her away for good!

Braces Off!

This is Lexis happy!
Happy that she has a fresh, new smile!
And annoyed that her mother insisted on capturing the entire afternoon on film!
Today Lexis got her braces off!
She has been counting down for some time now--realistically I think she would say since the first week she had them on. It has been a long process and her patience has been aptly tested. I say she passed with flying colors!
Getting the braces off was a surprisingly (at least from my point of view) easy process. I videotaped the whole thing--which she didn't love-- and will post that soon along with this post. For some reason Lexis concluded that her lying back in the dentist's chair, mouth wide, dentist hovering over with cold, metal object in hand wouldn't make the most entertaining home movie but I disagreed and recorded on.
Her smile is wonderfully beautiful!
While she will have to wear retainers for some time still her mouth is metal free.
A big day!

I am grateful for...

~ I am grateful for Carly! She loves me so wholly, unconditionally and overwhelmingly! While it would cost more money, add additional time away from her home and headache to her Thanksgiving vacation, she didn't give it a second thought as to whether she would stop in Utah to visit us. I LOVE my time with her so much! She helps me with the kids while giving me a break. Takes me out on the town, where we have such a great time together. Cooks delicious food for us to eat together, let's me sleep when I need to and sits with me for as long as we choose talking and laughing and talking so more! I am lucky to have her in my life!

Carly came to town! YAY! She graciously made Utah the first stop on her Thanksgiving holiday trip. Having time for just her and I is always so good for me and this time was no exception. She also helped me with Michael Ethan and we even had a "Thanksgiving dinner" with the kids before they took off to Boise and Carly left for the Tri-Cities.

I am grateful for...

~ I am grateful for Lexis' patience in this past few years as she has had to have her braces on and on and on. She is now counting down in days until they come off.









~ I am grateful for the adoration that Michael has for me as his Mom. While he does not sleep often, when he does he is a true snuggler. He loves to sleep lying on my shoulder or holding my hand or with one arm thrown atop me. He likes to know I am there and I am thankful for his love.

He is Super Smart!

Someone's wiped out! After pre-school, Michael just hangs out, waiting to be picked up and snuggled by Mama---his only want in life. If I would sit next to him all day and all night he would be content. His No No's are NO longer working. He has figured that if he pushes himself hard enough he can still get to his head but will make red marks on his arms from the force. Two for the price of one. At school they have been using his helmet more often. But after the "Emergency Behavioral Meeting" on Friday it looks as if we may have more options to put forward. A plan was made up by myself and his teachers/therapists alike outlining a better plan for his time at school. Also, a USDB person is planning to certify myself and his teachers/therapists in what is called the Mand program. This is a behavior program which will also allow us to learn the most effective way of restraining Michael when he is trying to hurt himself and others. He has come home from school quite beat up in the past week which has had me very concerned. He is also hurting me much more severely than before. His PT, Jay, was saying that it is not surprising that Michael is stronger than me at this point since he is basically 'working out' every muscle in his body non stop through out a day. His concern was for the future as well. Meaning as Michael grows older and bigger, what then? I am looking forward to the opportunity of learning a new program and hopefully that this will decrease his aggressive behaviour dramatically. The consensus at the meeting? Michael is smart, very smart. Now that we can work with.

It's my birthday.. not super excited to be one year older. Lexis had me convinced I was turning "35!" and it was surprising how upsetting I found that to be. Today was a simple day and I was able to spend it with the kids. Lexis decorated my car with hundreds of post-it notes that had all kinds of sweet birthday messages written on them. Grace and Noah helped by filling the inside of the car with balloons plus a giant Diet Coke and equally large box of Hot Tamales on my seat. Two of my favorite things! I made Jambalaya cause I love it even though the kids don't like it as much. They were so very loving and kind all day! I am a very luck 34 year old!