Cold Hands - Warm Smile

Sorry, I am trying new things with my camera and I have been taking pictures like crazy. Here are some fun ones of 3 out in the back yard snow.

Blue Clay and Breakfast Hamburgers

So, 3 LOVES clay--she just really seems to be able to get in her zone when she has clay in her hands. She likes to stick things in the mound of clay and sing happy birthday to random friends (at the top of her lungs, mind you, with quite the verbrato!)

Look, Mom a baby one!

Mmm, smells like... chicken (just kidding, it most likely smells like clay)

Here she is, intently singing "Happy Birthday"

Funny look, but he is so proud!

Here he is hard at work! Flippin' burgers--I sense a career coming on...

9 has his cravings, and they change up quite a bit. Recently it has been hamburgers. So we have been making them for breakfast! He has learned to cook his own hamburger patty! Too cute, he is quite proud.

P.S. Does anyone need a recipe for clay. I have one, it is great. You store it in the fridge and it lasts quite a while--and 3 likes it because there is a lot. If you need a play dough recipe then leave a comment and I will post it...

P.S.S. 13 and 17 are cute too--I just haven't taken photos of their cuteness... (smile)

I finished it!

No, not a marathon (like so many of my friends have admirably done). My new favorite book, On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang! Ah, it was so good! It was such refresher to read a romance that was "G" rated! And so intense in it's mystery and suspense... I loved it. Can't wait for you all to read it and let me know what you think!







You also have to read The Oak Leaves, the prequel to this book. They are both worth the read.











A quote that really hit me was actually in the Author's (Maureen Lang) Note. The author has a son with Fragile X Syndrome and in this quote she is referring to being his mother:

"In Christ, God embodies the heart of a servant, from washing His disciples feet to shedding His own innocent blood for others who are guilty. Perhaps it should be easy to learn from such an excellent example, but for me it came through serving my handicapped son.

I don't pretend to get it right everyday. But I do thank God for teaching me there is dignity in serving, and healing in doing so. When you serve others, as Isaiah put it so eloquently, "your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear."

Beautifully said.

My sisters will be borrowing this book but, if any of you want to borrow The Oak Leaves while you are waiting for them to finish On Sparrow Hill, let me know.

13, A, Batman and X

12 turned 13! Yay! or is it? Another teenager in the house! Will I survive?? Only time will tell...

Helping him cut the cake that our sweet friend W made for him!!

A cute birthday mailbox his aunt, Jessie, made for him.

I love the look on his face when he sees the money that Grandma G gave him...

Jessie and Joel's kids each drew a special picture for him. They were so cute!!

I LOVE to do hair, and sometimes I get creative... This is french braided to look like an "A"

Batman! She loves to put this mask on and play with her brothers! Too funny!

I have been reading this book called On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang. It is a fictional novel based on lives affected by Fragile X Syndrome. It is the sequel to one of my favorite books, The Oak Leaves. Man, it is a good book. It is not just for people affected by Fragile X Syndrome but, really for anyone who enjoys a good read that is clean, uplifting, inspiring and romantic. But, I really love it too, because I catch myself chuckling every time I read about "Royboy" who is the main FXS affected character in these books--because I can relate. There was one paragraph I just read about Royboy and his sister-in-law has started this school and she has painted a bunch of pictures for him to identify and name so that he can learn speech. Anyway, he picks up a butterfly picture and looks at it and tries to repeat "butterfly" when she tells him that it is a butterfly. Then he takes it above his head to observe it's beauty... and then begins to tear it into multiple pieces as she is telling him to stop and then he proceeds to stuff all of it into his mouth. In a panic about him eating the watercolors and paper she sticks her hand in his mouth to fish the picture out and he bites down on her hand... I laughed so hard because I cannot tell you how many times 9 used to do that, and now 3 has done it to me several times. Oh the joys, and I am so glad that I can laugh about it. I mean if I couldn't how else would I get through it. So thanks, to Maureen Lang, who having a son of her own with FXS, was inspired to write these books. Fun read!

Eagles, Horses and the moon

This past weekend my sister asked me to babysit her kids while she and her husband went out on a date. (That is a miracle in and of itself--they don't go out enough!) Anyway, when she brought her kids over, Marc decided to take her three kids, 3 and 9 to go see the eagles. How cute is my husband volunteering to take five kids out to see the bald eagles (about a 2o minute drive from home). I made him take the camera so he could document the occasion. While there is no proof that the kids were there--he took some awesome pictures of the bald eagles and some horses that were nearby and the incredibly large moon that was out that night. What did I do while he was gone with the kids? I made them all dinner...

Flashy kid

So, I am VERY proud of 9. He has Fragile X but he still tries so hard, and his teachers are amazing. He is doing things I never thought he could—thank goodness for good teachers and 9 certainly has that blessing in hand. I had to video tape him doing his flash cards because he does them so fast. On this video he is a little nervous and not going as fast as usual; as you will be able to see because I have to keep lying to him that the camera is off, even though he knows that isn't true. I also think that this is a good video for those who may be curious about FXS. You'll see at the end of the video that he is facing a little anxiety over the fact that he is done with his task but, I am still filming him.


Man, I love him, and I am so proud of all his accomplishments.


Now, for a little laugh... (Names have been left out to protect the guilty)


Someone was in a real goofy mood and found one of the kids ski masks--didn't quite fit--made for a hilarious night! He looks like a wrestler or is reminiscent of Spider Man's first costume (from the movie).

Magnetic Sisters and a White Out

OK, so we had our sister's day again!! Yay, it is now official that we will be getting together as sister's once a month. My sister, Kirsten, wasn't able to be there because of school, but we had 4 out of the 5 of us. Chelsea was in charge of the craft and we made magnets--they all turned out so cute and it was fun to see everyones creations. Jessie's were my favorite because she drew pictures of her kids so that they had a magnet for their refrigerator art! So cute!

We did sister's day at Tynelle's again so when Daniel got home he made us some pina coladas!

Then I started home... it was snowing a little and I was thinking, well, it's just a light snow I'll still stop by the grocery store and get what I need. But after the grocery store it was a white out. I had to take the back roads home with my lights off so that I could see! Crazy!! What the heck, why is it whenever we have sister's day the snow goes crazy! Oh, well, I made it home safe and sound and it made for an adventure!

Here are the pics from Sister's Day!

magnets

Jessie creating

Chelsea gluing on magnets

The Piná Coladas

Mmm mmm!

Aloha!

Missionary Training Center

Bryan went into the MTC today! I set up a blogsite for his mission so you can check that out throughout his mission the next two years.

The pictures from today are posted here.

I also have a link for him on the right side so you can check when I have updated his letters and/or pictures.

Twist and Shout Performance

Many of you were not able to make it to our Twist and Shout performance on December 20th. I am finally posting some short clips of my favorite parts. Watch, and enjoy–sorry you missed it–it really was fun!

Winter Snow

I mostly had to post this because it was scary seeing my face pop up every time I brought up my blog! Tee Hee!

Our back yard, the chairs are almost covered!

Our "barn"

just pretty snow...

This has been a beautiful winter so far. So much snow. I love snow! Really, I am not kidding. I hate driving in it, but, I love playing in it, and building snow sculptures. I love the fact that it makes you want to stay inside and cuddle in a warm blanket and watch a good old movie. I watched the old "Sabrina," with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, over the holiday and started "Roman Holiday" also starring her with Gregory Peck. Man, I LOVE old movies. There is just something about the simplicity of them that I enjoy. Movies now try so hard to make everything so "real," dreary and hard to face--maybe, I just want to get away from "real" and just enjoy a few hours feeling blissful. Maybe that is why I enjoy cartoons like "Horton Hears a Who" or "Kung Fu Panda." Just happy, with a little lesson to be learned and we laugh and enjoy it.

I also want to mention that my dad's side of the family Christmas party was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! It was such a blast. I don't have any pictures and I wish I did, I forgot my camera, but, it was full of balloon popping, gloved present opening, duct tape, movie's famous lines, basketball, soup and ice cream. But, most important family! Thank you all for being so wonderful... I love you all very much and I am so proud to call you family. I am so blessed.

Last night I had a get together with my immediate family. I love them dearly. They are one in a billion. I am so blessed.

My nephew, Bryan leaves on a mission to Chile on Wednesday. I had the opportunity to teach him, and raise him for a time. I am so blessed.

Updates, Instructions and Santa's Special visit

Before (taken in September on my computer)

After (taken today from my computer)

OK, so everyone has been asking me about my "Candida Diet." (You can see it a lot in my face-hence, the pics) So here it is. I lost 3 pounds in the first 18 hours I started it, in the first 3 days I lost 7 pounds and I had lost 10 pounds in 10 days and have continued to keep that 10 pounds off even during the holidays. NOw, everyone freaks out when I told them I lost 10 pounds in 10 days thinking that I starved myself--I wasn't starving--I ate a lot--really I did. I ate all day long, I ate a lot of celery, avacadoes and nuts to curb my cravings for chocolate, candy, sweets or breads. As far as my strict first 2 weeks, I had NO sugar--that meant no milk (lactose), wheat (gluten), or fruit--but, I thought restricting fruit was rediculous so I still had fruit but I cut out fruit juice completely. I have now been working my way back into regular food again. So far so good, I have gotten a little sick to my stomach when I eat sweets or pasta, but, sometimes it is worth--right?

Then, I have had many ask how we made our Christmas ornaments on Sister's Day. Here is the best I can explain it on the blog:
-You buy the wedding favor tins (we got them at Walmart)--they are about 1 inch deep and 2 inches round.
-You take the lid off of the tin
-trace a circle over the picture you want to use
-cut out the picture and place in the lid of the tin so that picture faces outward
-with a tack poke a hole in the deeper part of the tin on the top side
-poke wire through and bend it to keep it in place
-put double stick tape on the rim of the deep part of the tin and place lid back on to keep in place.
-bend wire into a cute curly shape to hang easily on tree
-you can decorate at you want, ribbon tied on wire, double stick tape around edge



Also, I was so busy I never posted these awesome pics of our special Santa Visit! Thanks Kris Kringle--my kids were so excited to see you.