3.4.2013 My little princess...

I wonder how much longer this little princess will BEG to do the dishes...

3.3.2013 Our Weekend

 Our weekend was a busy one.  We had gymnastics on Saturday (Eli walked across the balance beam all by himself!  First time!) came running home and got ready to go to a birthday party.  It was a bit of a drive away, but worth it!

 

 The blurry birthday boy!  Brayden turned 2!  He had a Mickey Mouse birthday party, and had Cars playing on the TV.  It was a dream birthday party for Eli...

 

 Eli (and daddy) trying to help Brayden blow out the candles...from very far away. 

 

Delicious cake!

 

Eli spent a lot of time in Landon's bedroom...I wonder why...I think I need to hire Chrissy (Landon & Braydon's mom) to paint Eli's room. 
We had a really nice time at the party.  The food was delicious, as usual, and the company was great.  We always enjoy going over there!

 

Today we got up and went to church, came home for a quick lunch, then headed to the park.

 

Leah looking for Lions...

 

If she finds one Eli will defend her :)

 

Happy boy!

 

It was actually a pretty cool day today-Edgar would say it was downright cold.  We walked to the top of a tower and it was really windy up there...and with the wind, 55 degrees DID feel quite cold.  I regretted not putting on their Mickey and Minnie hats that my mom made for them...hoods just don't work as well...

 

A random squirrel eating a tree.

 

Leah looking for flowers.  At least that's what she said she was doing.

 

Climbing in some kayaks.

 

Eli thought he would join.  Then we thought that might not be a very good idea.  We'll have to go back sometime and rent a canoe and go for a real ride.

 

It really was a nice day if you could stay out of the wind.

 

That little smile makes ME smile :)

 

 Cutie pie!

 

 After our walk we played on the playground for a while.

 

Swings are always a favorite.

 

Especially when you get a ride with mommy and go 'as high as the trees!'

Fun weekend.  And now it's time to get the kids ready for bed, get school clothes laid out, and prepare for the week. 

3.1.2013 Because it's March...

So, it has been a while...to say the least.  But I decided I had to start again sometime, otherwise I will never have a place where I can look back on all these thousands of pictures that I take.  Do you ever worry you will forget the moments that make life wonderful?  I do...and that's part of the reason I take pictures...and the main reason I post them here.  So I can look back and not forget.  SO, since it's March, and the sky looked like this:

 I decided it was time once again to attempt to post my memories here once again.  We'll see how I do.  BUT, today my kids were being especially cute, so I grabbed the camera I begged my husband for almost 2 years ago, dusted it off, and took some pictures of their cuteness.

 

Initially I couldn't find the camera, so I looked in the back of the van.  Eli discovered where he wanted to play.  He played back there for a long time.  I think he needs a tree house :)

 



Leah rarely stays in one place for very long.  She seems to always get this serious look on her face when she's about to get her picture taken.  She really isn't all that serious of a kid.  Dramatic is the word I'd use for her...

 



There's her smile :)

 





Eli enjoyed running in the fresh air.  He's been running around.  A lot.  In the house.  A lot. I think he needs more exercise...or a running partner.  Maybe a dog...cuz his mommy ain't runnin' lately...

 

Happy boy!  He's been in such a good mood the past few days-he's been so silly lately.  He's started making little jokes, which are so funny to me.  They really aren't that funny, but when Eli says 'It's so cold outside!' when it's 80 degrees, and then snickers cuz he knows it's really not cold, it strikes me as funny.  Maybe to no one else, but to me it is!

 



 He has definitely gotten the hang of his tricycle.  We need to get him a bigger bike with training wheels.  Daddy's going to have a riding buddy soon!!

 

 Leah is actually catching on to the tricycle pretty quickly too.  She can't be left behind!

 

Just cuz he's cute...

 



She looks a little sassy in this picture...hmmm...

 



So...Eli was really into the whole picture thing today.  Most pictures I took he instantly wanted to see the picture on the screen.  So I thought it would be fun to let him try taking pictures.  This is the first picture Eli has ever taken...and I gotta say, I think it's one of my favorite pictures of Leah ever.  The boy's got talent :)  I didn't crop it or anything.  Perfect picture!  He apparently needs a camera of his own.

 



Of course...this was his second picture ever.  He's gotta work on his consistency... ;)

 

Until tomorrow!

9.10.2012 First (and second) Day of Pre-School!

I can't believe this day has arrived.  The day I'm sending my little boy off to school.  When Eli was diagnosed with ASD last April, this was the biggest thing I dreaded.  I was okay on many levels with the diagnosis, but sending my boy away to school?!  I was NOT ready for that.  I had several months to prepare myself for this day :)  Now...it's just pre-school, but it's a pretty big step for me...as my mom said 'One small step for Eli, one giant leap for mom'.  It's very true.  I'm pretty sure it was a harder day for me than Eli.  BUT, we made it through.

 

 Eli's supplies were (what else?!) Lightning McQueen.  There's  Lightning McQueen thermos inside the lunchbox too.  My boy needs to take his friends to school with him :)  I had the lunch packed and his backpack ready the night before.  We needed to be out the door by 7:30, and when I'm not used to even getting out of bed until that time, I knew I'd need to be ready the night before :)

 

 My handsome little guy all ready for school! (Unfortunately, I think this is the wrong color blue for the school...oops.  BUT, since I think he's one of the only ones in Pre-K that actually wear a uniform, I don't think his teachers will care.  He has lots of red shirts too...Red, White and Blue polo shirts are the acceptable uniform colors)

 

 This is the best smile I got :) 

 

Leah wanted to make sure she got in on the action too.

 

 This is what he does when I pull out the camera and tell him to smile :)

 

 Eli's teacher.  She's SUPER nice, and from what I hear, wonderful with this group of kids.  Eli's class has 5 other kids in it so far, so it's a nice student/teacher ratio (there is also an aid in the class).  They are very organized.  As soon as we walked in the room Eli put his backpack away, and was given a place at the table and was told to pick out a toy to play with.  They keep these kids busy all day.  In his IEP meeting I was told they change activities every 5 minutes!  That makes me tired just thinking about it!  These ESE teachers are amazing people.  I am so blessed to have Eli in a class with such a talented teacher so dedicated to making sure he's successful!

Now...I did okay during this little process...only a few tears shed.  I just came home and let Leah watch TV all morning, and I pretended Eli was in there with her ;) 

 

 Monday I took Eli into school myself.  BUT, there is a bus just for his class that comes right near our house, so Edgar and I thought he would enjoy riding that.  It arrives at about the same time I would have to leave to take him to school, so it just seemed more convenient to let him ride.  And, I gotta say, bus drivers are just the best people in the world...of course, I might be a little biased ;) (Love you dad!!)

 

 AND, Leah can come out in her PJ's :)

 

 Here comes the bus!

 

 Getting on board!  There are seat belts for the kids (Seriously, why don't ALL buses have seat belts?) and an aid on the bus as well.  They take him right to his classroom, so there is no confusion or getting lost for him :)

 

 Off to school he goes!!

Eli's teacher called me after he arrived to let me know that he got off the bus with a big smile on his face (Gotta love a teacher that would do something like that!!) and came right into the room as happy as could be, sat down and started playing.  That's my boy!

So, we've got 2 days down.  So far so good.  Eli seems to like it.  He goes 5 days a week from 8-2...but I decided I need my buddy at home by 12:30, so I go and pick him up then.  The teachers are fine with the early pick-up, and it makes me feel better having him home :)  The past 2 days when I get him he seems quite wore out :)  He's doing good, though, and adjusting better than I thought he would. 

We pray that this would be a good fit for him, and that it would only continue to help him where he needs help...and I know many of you pray for him too, and that means the world to us!

9.9.2012 Happy Birthday Ethan!

Time to celebrate Ethan's birthday! 

 

 Krista made his cake-she's so good!!  Ethan had a 'music' birthday party.

 

 'Happy Birthday to you!'

 

 I had no doubt in my mind that Ethan would 'explore' every inch of his cake :)

 

 YUM!

 

 Eli...

 

...and Leah enjoyed a cupcake too.

Eric & Leilani had a bounce house for the kids too...which I failed to take any pictures of :(  The kids had a blast and Eli did NOT want to go.

Happy Birthday little guy!  I can't believe you're already 1!!