Summer is Almost Over

The kids go back to school in one week.  I can't believe the summer has gone by so fast.  The older I get, the quicker the days go by.  We had a great summer.  I think we always want to do more than we have time or money for, but I think this summer was pretty neat.  I wish I could have spent an extra three weeks in Utah, Colorado, Missouri, and Kentucky this summer. We had such a great time in each place.

The children keep me busy when I'm not dreaming of playing.  Hence, the shortness of this post.  Seth is beckoning for me, make that demanding my attention.

To be continued.....................

Summer Adventures #1

This summer on part of our vacation, we stopped to see Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Justin, and Ryan. We were heading home from Utah and stopped to visit them during the Fourth of July weekend.  It was so much fun!  We even were lucky enough to have Aunt Sandra drive back with us!

We enjoyed feeding the ducks at the pond near Rhonda's house.  Uncle Justin even caught one of the ducks!

Enjoying the playground as well, all the kids!  We had to much fun at Rhonda's!  The neighbors shot off fireworks, and let me tell you, it was one of the best shows!  I don't think Missouri has any laws against fireworks.  I thought those big huge fireworks they shoot off at firework shows had to only be shot off by a professional.  Apparently not in Missouri!  It was so fun!!!!!

A very fun and relaxing fourth of July holiday!  Thanks for letting us come and stay at your place Rhonda and Justin!  We miss you!

Seth's Progress with the CI

On May 15th, Seth hit his sixth month mark since the activation for his Cochlear Implant (CI).  Our audiologist told me that the goal for someone with a CI is to have them saying single words by six months post activation and two word phrases by 12 months.  Well, Seth is saying two word phrases and longer!  We have been very blessed by his progress. One phrase that is easy to understand is "open the door". We are trying to add more words to his vocabulary so he isn't saying "open the door" when he wants a bag of snacks opened!  He also loves to watch "Signing Time".  Seth's favorite sign is for shoe (closed fists and clap together).  He always wants to go outside so he'll walk around signing shoes and then I'll ask him what he wants because although I think signing is important and I understand what he wants, I also want him to know that he needs to vocalize it as well.  He knows, but sometimes he wants to be stubborn as well.  He's a fun little guy!

Does the size of the flowers given you determine who loves you most?

Ok, so I had to post this picture.  As you can see, Todd and the children gave me flowers for mother's day, but Alex found the tall purple one in the forest.  It is just so funny to look at!  I think it's about three feet tall! It is called Allium, and it is a member of the onion and garlic family.  Deer don't like them, that's why it is growing in the forest.  I know you love me best, Alex!  You gave me the tallest flower!

IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE PURPLE FLOWER, LOOK AT THE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND THEN LOOK AT THE CEILING.  YES, THAT IS A FLOWER, NOT JUST SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have the best two moms!  First, my own mother.  I am grateful for my mom.  She is always concerned for me and my family and is always interested in what the children are doing.  I love her very much and am grateful that she raised me up in gospel.  Where would I be without knowing what purpose I have in life?

And my second mom, Carolyn, Todd's mother.  (I don't like the title "in-laws" because to me they are my family as well.)  I am grateful for Carolyn and all she has done for our family.  I'm grateful she raised up her children in the church as well, or they would be no Todd, well for me to marry anyways!

And lastly, Happy Mother's Day to any other woman who taught me or was an example to me in any other way!  

One of my buddies

So this past week was Spring Break.  It was kind of a lonely Spring Break.  I was planning on doing some fun things with the children.  At the last minute, we decided to let Alex go on a camping trip with his scout troop.  They were willing to take on all the food challenges we have with Alex.  We were so happy for Alex, as it can be a burden to care for Alex if you are not use to taking care of a special needs kiddo.  I was actually sad when he went.  I was happy for him, but sad not to have him home.  About a month ago or so, Alex decided he didn't want to go to school anymore.  So, instead of struggling with the school district, I decided just to keep him home.  It has been a great experience.  For me, the best way to learn to love each one of my kids is to just spend more time with them.  Since bringing Alex home, there's been less temper tantrums and I am enjoying "hanging out" with Alex more.  That's why I missed him so much, I guess.  So the rest of the kids and I spent the week cleaning and staying up late watching movies.  It was nice and relaxing; gave me lots of time to ponder and think about how I can homeschool better, what I can do to help the children more, etc.  

Playing Catch-up

It has been forever since I last blogged.  And I'm not very good at keeping family and friends up to date on all the happenings around here.  I will begin with Dane's birthday, which was before Emily's birthday, but for some reason I posted about Emily's birthday and not Dane's.

Dane got a pretty cool remote control helicopter  It's pretty tiny, but he's gotten pretty good at getting it to fly steady.

Alrighty, so I already posted on Emily's birthday, so we are going to skip to Kate's.  The morning of Kate's birthday, we took her and Alex to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  Even more special, Grandma and Grandpa Stailey were able to come with us!

Then that evening we had cake and ice cream with the family. 

Grandma and Grandpa Stailey got Kate a couple of books, which she read in about four days time.  Kate is a huge reader.  We have at least 200 hundred books in our house and she has read them all.  We check out books from the library almost every week.  We are always picking up books at the thrift shop as well.  

A rare photo of Alex.  He doesn't like his picture taken.  You have to take it when he is least expecting.

This is usually what happens when you take a picture of Alex.  He makes that all too characteristic smile of his and turns his head away.  That is why this one is fuzzy!

Teeth are still broken.

Uncle Bret and Aunt Tammy and baby Jackson drove up on Kate's birthday to be here for Dane's baptism.  We were happy to have them come!

Me holding Jackson and Seth.  

Saturday was Dane's BIG day!  He was getting baptized!  

Dad and the baptism boy!

Uncle Bret being silly while waiting for the baptism to start. (Aunt Tammy and baby Jackson)  Disclaimer:  I have no control of my children when they have a camera in hand!  

Our family and friends who came to help us celebrate!

(Bob Stanford, Bret, Tammy, Jackson, me, Todd, Seth, G-ma Stailey, G-pa Stailey, Silvia Stanford,

Josie Thomas, Dane, Kate, Nadia Emily, Karsten

Sabrina, Dalton, Kady)

One more thing I wanted to post:

BEFORE

AFTER

Got his teeth fixed!  Unfortunately, in one week he will have a root canal done on the right one.  The left tooth is looking ok.  We'll just keep an eye on it.

Ok, funny story I just remembered, but I don't want to forget!  After Dane's baptism, Karsten got left at the church by mistake.  He had taken his shoes off in the gym, and when it was time to go, he went to the gym to put his shoes on.  The rest of us headed out to our cars to head home.  Because we all came in three different vehicles, I suppose no one thought about making sure everyone was accounted for!  

We had been home about 45 minutes when a police car drove up our driveway and out jumps Karsten!  I was so scared when I realized we'd forgotten Karsten!  Apparently, he had taken so long putting his shoes on, that everyone at the baptism had left.  Karsten went outside the chapel, saw there were no vehicles in the parking lot, so tried to get back in the church.  Unfortunately, it was all locked up.  So he crossed a six lane road to head home!  He knew how to get home, we don't live that far from the church, maybe a three minute drive.  He said he had waited for the road to clear before crossing.  Apparently by the time he got all the way across, someone had spotted him and stopped and asked him if he was lost.  He said yes, and the driver called the police to help.  Karsten couldn't remember his address (until he got home and I reminded him that is was 621 and he finished the address for me!  I had him repeat our address several times in the past, but did he realize that was the address of his home?  I don't know, maybe he was just too nervous and forgot.)  He told the police officer that he could show her the way, and he did!  Scary, scary!  Thank goodness there are still kind and caring people that Heavenly Father has sent to watch over our children!