Silas' dinosaur cake:
Lilly's teddy bear cake:
And, Sophie's castle:Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Birthday Celebrations
Last weekend, we celebrated Silas' 3rd birthday, Sophie's 5th birthday, and my niece, Lilly's 1st birthday on the same day. Mom made a cake for each one of them. I don't think I have to tell you how hard she worked on them. Thanks Mom!
Silas' dinosaur cake:
Lilly's teddy bear cake:
And, Sophie's castle:
Silas' dinosaur cake: Lilly's teddy bear cake:And, Sophie's castle:
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Future Carpet Cleaners of America
One of their added chores for letting their rooms get so dirty while I was recovering from surgery was to clean all the spots off my carpet:
I could have just used the carpet cleaner to clean the carpet, but I was so mad at them for letting their rooms get to this:
I could have just used the carpet cleaner to clean the carpet, but I was so mad at them for letting their rooms get to this:
These pictures don't really do it justice, because you can't see the carpets and under the beds. Their bathroom was even worse. So, if any of you are needing your carpet cleaned, I can send them over and they will do it for free!Saturday, August 28, 2010
Just Like Daddy
Henry got out of the shower and came into where I was last night. He said, "Look mom, my hair looks just like daddy's." Yes, Henry, it sure does!
Friday, August 27, 2010
God answers the cry of my heart . . .
I woke up this morning sensing God's presence, thinking about the things he has done in my life. It is amazing to me what God WILL do when we have the courage to believe in him and his word. It reminded me of something that happened to me a year ago . . .
Most everyone who reads my blog knows that my oldest son, Samuel, was diagnosed w/ Asperger's Syndrome when he was around 3. He is high functioning, and for the most part, seems like your average kid. He has difficulty making friends and being in large group settings w/ other children his age. There is so much information out there on autism, it is overwhelming. Not only that, but I always felt so helpless to read that there was no cure and my child may grow up and not lead a normal life (get married, have a family). So, I chose not to read it or believe any of it. I chose not to change his diet or put him in special classes. I chose to shut it all out and trust God, because HE gave me this little boy.
So, I would arrange for us to get together w/ other families that have boys his age. I usually found him off in his bedroom by himself not wanting to play. I watched children be mean to him, push him down, and see that Samuel didn't even realize they were being mean to him. It has been hard for me to watch this over the years. It has been hard to watch him struggle w/ his school work, trying to put words together that end up making no sense, seeing him play baseball and wanting to be able to hit the ball, but instead striking out again, trying to be friends w/ the boys in his class at church only to have them get up and move to another table or chair away from him. I think those things would be hard for any mother to watch. But, I just continued to trust God .
One day last year, Samuel's piano teacher had spoken to me about him being more and more distracted. I had noticed this, too. I explained to her about him having Asperger's and like most well meaning people do, she forwarded me a link w/ information on Asperger's. The website contained a blog of a young teenage boy who wrote about his struggles w/ Asperger's. One particular entry I read was about a day that his brother got asked over to a friend's house to play, but he was not invited. He couldn't understand why people didn't want to play w/ him or be around him. He was so angry and just wanted someone to ask him to play. I closed the link and began to cry, wondering if my son felt these same things. Right then, I prayed. It was a simple prayer, "Please God, don't let my son go through life w/out having a godly friend. "
Not five minutes had gone by when our phone rang. It was a boy from our church. He had just called to see how Samuel was doing and to see if there was anything he could pray w/ him about. I listened to the conversation, which lasted about 2 minutes. Samuel hung up the phone w/ a smile on his face. He told me that Kyle wanted him to go swimming w/ him sometime. I told him that would be great! Samuel went back to reading in his room and I went to my room and cried and just thanked God for hearing me right then.
Now, I know that Samuel has lots of friends (called siblings) that live w/ him and love him. And, I know that God has given him so MANY gifts and talents. Samuel can tell you the order of the Kings of Israel, if they were godly or evil and most times, how they died. He loves to read his Bible (which is what he is doing most of the time he is in his room alone). I am thankful that his heart is God's and I will take that any day over him being just your average play in the dirt, wrestling, getting into mischief boy any day. I am thankful for this perfect gift that God gave Aaron and I and I do not take it for granted. And, I am also thankful that when we have the courage to trust God, he will never fail to answer our prayers.
Is there something that God wants you to have courage to believe him for today?
Most everyone who reads my blog knows that my oldest son, Samuel, was diagnosed w/ Asperger's Syndrome when he was around 3. He is high functioning, and for the most part, seems like your average kid. He has difficulty making friends and being in large group settings w/ other children his age. There is so much information out there on autism, it is overwhelming. Not only that, but I always felt so helpless to read that there was no cure and my child may grow up and not lead a normal life (get married, have a family). So, I chose not to read it or believe any of it. I chose not to change his diet or put him in special classes. I chose to shut it all out and trust God, because HE gave me this little boy.
So, I would arrange for us to get together w/ other families that have boys his age. I usually found him off in his bedroom by himself not wanting to play. I watched children be mean to him, push him down, and see that Samuel didn't even realize they were being mean to him. It has been hard for me to watch this over the years. It has been hard to watch him struggle w/ his school work, trying to put words together that end up making no sense, seeing him play baseball and wanting to be able to hit the ball, but instead striking out again, trying to be friends w/ the boys in his class at church only to have them get up and move to another table or chair away from him. I think those things would be hard for any mother to watch. But, I just continued to trust God .
One day last year, Samuel's piano teacher had spoken to me about him being more and more distracted. I had noticed this, too. I explained to her about him having Asperger's and like most well meaning people do, she forwarded me a link w/ information on Asperger's. The website contained a blog of a young teenage boy who wrote about his struggles w/ Asperger's. One particular entry I read was about a day that his brother got asked over to a friend's house to play, but he was not invited. He couldn't understand why people didn't want to play w/ him or be around him. He was so angry and just wanted someone to ask him to play. I closed the link and began to cry, wondering if my son felt these same things. Right then, I prayed. It was a simple prayer, "Please God, don't let my son go through life w/out having a godly friend. "
Not five minutes had gone by when our phone rang. It was a boy from our church. He had just called to see how Samuel was doing and to see if there was anything he could pray w/ him about. I listened to the conversation, which lasted about 2 minutes. Samuel hung up the phone w/ a smile on his face. He told me that Kyle wanted him to go swimming w/ him sometime. I told him that would be great! Samuel went back to reading in his room and I went to my room and cried and just thanked God for hearing me right then.
Now, I know that Samuel has lots of friends (called siblings) that live w/ him and love him. And, I know that God has given him so MANY gifts and talents. Samuel can tell you the order of the Kings of Israel, if they were godly or evil and most times, how they died. He loves to read his Bible (which is what he is doing most of the time he is in his room alone). I am thankful that his heart is God's and I will take that any day over him being just your average play in the dirt, wrestling, getting into mischief boy any day. I am thankful for this perfect gift that God gave Aaron and I and I do not take it for granted. And, I am also thankful that when we have the courage to trust God, he will never fail to answer our prayers.
Is there something that God wants you to have courage to believe him for today?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Another First
Nic finally cut his first tooth yesterday. Even during the pain of cutting it, he was still a good baby and hardly made a peep:
Silas' hiding place
Silas is always asking for a snack right when I am making dinner and I tell him "no, dinner will be ready in a few minutes." The other day, I happened to look up on the staircase and found these wrappers laying there. He had taken his fruit snacks (after being told no) and snuck upstairs to eat them where I couldn't see him :) Oh, that boy!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Six Flags
This is our 2nd year to participate in the Six Flags reading program. The kids are required to read for a total of 6 hours and then Six Flags sends them a free ticket for gate admission. I even get a ticket for being their teacher! Last week, during the hottest temperatures of the year, we loaded up and went to Dallas. We spent all day Thursday at Six Flags and it was soooo hot. But, the park wasn't that busy and we didn't have to wait in any lines to ride the rides. The kids got to ride as much as they wanted! A couple of times, Silas didn't even get off of the ride, he just waited for them to start it back up. We had a great time! Here are some pics and a little video at the end:
Notice Sophie getting her head in the corner of the picture :)
So sweet!
This was the Titan. Only Lauren, Sadie and I rode it. Afterwards, I wished I hadn't!
He was such a good baby that day:
Look at Silas' face:
Aunt Sue and Silas sharing some nerds:
Nic loved the feel of Sylvester:
I love this picture! It looks like Sam is telling his brother what to expect:
Nic keeping cool by eating cookies and cream ice cream!
Notice Sophie getting her head in the corner of the picture :)
So sweet!
This was the Titan. Only Lauren, Sadie and I rode it. Afterwards, I wished I hadn't!
He was such a good baby that day:
Look at Silas' face:
Aunt Sue and Silas sharing some nerds:
Nic loved the feel of Sylvester:
I love this picture! It looks like Sam is telling his brother what to expect:
Nic keeping cool by eating cookies and cream ice cream!Monday, August 9, 2010
Another Metal Mouth in the Family
Lizzy will never forget the date that her braces were put on: 8-9-10. I took her in this morning and she did great! She is feeling a little sore, but has already tried to get me to buy her some gum while we were at Wal-Mart!
I wish they sold these contraptions to parents of girls! When they start talking too much, you just make them put these on :))
Almost done . . .
BEAUTIFUL!!!
I wish they sold these contraptions to parents of girls! When they start talking too much, you just make them put these on :))
Almost done . . .
BEAUTIFUL!!!Back to School Bootcamp
This past Saturday, our church held a back to school bootcamp for our community. We gave out school supplies, haircuts, immunization shots and served hamburgers and hot dogs. The four oldest kids and I volunteered to help. We gave out over 700 bags of supplies and had 40 children come forward for salvation!
Henry, Lizzy, Hannah (Lizzy's friend), Sadie & Sam:
Some of the bags of supplies. There were many more in the cage behind:
Sadie, Henry & I handed out the bags of supplies to the kids that came through:
Part of the skit they performed every 15-20 minutes: (the bootcamp started at 9:00 and ended at 1:00) Yes, this guy is actually inside the vending machine.
Lizzy & Hannah were part of the Praise and Worship team:
Praise & Worship team:
Sam worked the computer and did the music for the services:
Henry, Lizzy, Hannah (Lizzy's friend), Sadie & Sam:
Some of the bags of supplies. There were many more in the cage behind:
Sadie, Henry & I handed out the bags of supplies to the kids that came through:
Part of the skit they performed every 15-20 minutes: (the bootcamp started at 9:00 and ended at 1:00) Yes, this guy is actually inside the vending machine.
Lizzy & Hannah were part of the Praise and Worship team:
Praise & Worship team:
Sam worked the computer and did the music for the services:Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Nic the Tick
Here are some recent pics of Nicolas. He will be six months old on the 16th of this month. He is such a happy baby and a joy to have!
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