Coolest Thing Ever

I heard these exsisted, but I never knew where to find it. Now... here you are. I am 6 posts away from 200. I think I will print it at the 200 mark. There you have it, a journal! HERE

Never done a slide show before, this is my attempt

Free recipe Friday 18/ Last Day

Today is the last day. Last day for my DS tidbit, last day for my Grateful moment (although you're likely to hear a lot more of that stuff out of me) last day of kids off track.
So I will start with my last DS tidbit. John 9: 2 &3
And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest.
I have heard some people say that this means people with disabilities are hear to show how great God is. Jesus heals this man, so I wonder if he meant that he was made blind so God could show his greatness when he was healed. Whatever the interpretation is, I think our kids, all kids with any sort of disabilities are here for our benefit. I think they teach us who are willing to learn, compassion, kindness, and service. I am truly grateful for 4 of 5, she has added an element to my life, that I was in need of. I am grateful to have been made steward of a perfect spirit. I hope that i can live up to what He expects of me.
I am grateful today for my life. For the opportunity to come, and be tried. I will admit I failed miserably at the trials I was given in my teenage years and early 20's. But, I am grateful for a second chance. And I am grateful for repentance and forgiveness. I do not take these things lightly, and I hope my life reflects that. I hope that I can set a good example for my kids.

And for my free recipe. I may have posted this before, but I made this soup for our ward Trunk or Treat, and it really is a good soup.
Brown 1 lb spicy sausage
add 4 cans chicken broth and 4 diced potatoes
Boil until potato is tender.
add 1 can evaporated milk
and a bunch of cleaned and stemmed spinach leaves

And, Last but not least. We are officially potty trained. I define potty trained as 1 week with out an accident, and telling me when you have to go. Even with out the verbal part, she gets her point across when it's time to go. and she has come home from school in the same pants she left the house in (knock on wood) She is even waking up dry in the morning. So, the next step. BIG potty. Now that 5 of 5 is crawling, we need to get those potty chairs outta here. I wish she balanced a little better.

New Things

This is why I love off track. It is 8:30, and the kids are down watching Curious George. I will call them up in 30 minutes to eat breakfast before I put breakfast away. Then I will go run, while they entertain 5 of 5. About 10, they will go play out side until lunch, then we will go run an errand or 2, and we will come home do a few chores before dad comes home and make dinner and eat and relax as a family. No fight to get up and dressed and fed before 8 (3 of 5) no fighting to get out of bed, because we stayed up too late playing in our bed so we are too tired (1 of 5). And no fighting to get them to make their beds so they can play after school (2 of 5). No homework at 4 pm the time husband gets home , so it's a big fiasco.
And after a month long hiatus from sleeping through the night, 5 of 5 slept for 10 hrs. And woke up with a shine new tooth.Well, more of a nub really, but it broke through.

And 4 of 5 woke up with a shiny new shiner. Don't ask. All I know is that I heard he crying, and sent husband downstairs because I was feeding the baby. He came came back upstairs 30 seconds later because she stopped. I'm assuming this is what happened, and she just got over it on her own.

I almost forgot my grateful moment...... I am gratful I can still go to the Temple in peace. My sister sent this email to me this morning.
-I did a little research on this story and found it is true, you can check the article written by the San Fransisco Chronicle... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/26/BAP113OIRD.DTL&tsp=1 . Please keep the saints in California in your prayers. Not sure if anyone has heard about this. I hadn't realized it was getting so out of control. Please keep these Saints in your prayers. Dear family and friends, I had a very disturbing experience yesterday that I would like to share with those of you that live outside of California (or outside of the San Francisco Bay Area). This weekend we have stake conference. Our stake conference always begins with a stake temple session on Friday or Thursday night. Early Friday morning I received a call from the second counselor in our bishopric to let me know that there would be numerous protesters outside the temple, and to remind everyone to stay calm and to drive carefully. The beautiful Oakland Temple is located right across the bay from San Francisco , very close to the city of Berkeley . Apparently the opposition to proposition 8, the amendment that seeks to make marriage in CA between a man and a woman again, has realized the deep involvement of the church and begun to protest right outside of the temple and harass temple patrons. The fastest way to get to the temple from our house is to take the 680 freeway, but the exit is a bit tricky. The off ramp is extremely short and straight uphill. You then make an almost blind left turn, an immediate right and another left into the parking lot. As we approached the off ramp, I realized there would be trouble. There was a backup onto the freeway from cars stalled on the off ramp. As we moved forward inches at a time, we realized this was due to a large group of loud protesters who were standing on both sides of the street, yelling, screaming and waving signs. When we got to the top of the offramp, ready to make our turn, one protester jumped out right in front of our car. It took my husband all his self control to carefully maneuver around him to the left and proceed to the temple. I tried not to listen to all they were shouting at us, but I was shaking as I got to the temple front door. Several of the sisters, especially the ones driving on their own, were crying (which made me snap out of it and go into RS President mode to comfort them). Later, as I was sitting in the perfect quiet of the chapel, I couldn't help but think of Lehi's dream, and the people who mocked the Saints from the big spacious building but 'we heeded them not.' It was a truly surreal experience, I'd never thougth that I would have to go through an angry crowd to get to the temple. As we left late at night, the protesters had dispersed, temple security (who all looked very large and Tongan) stood by the gates. I never saw a single police man. Please pray for those of us in California fighting for prop 8--it's getting kind of scary out here!

Marriage Between a Man and a Woman.

This is a post from a blog I read. I read this the other day, and a it just hit me. This is why I feel so strongly about this issue. Sometimes I can't put words to my thoughts, and this post gave my thoughts words.

Some hot issues are on state ballots this year. One of those topics is defining marriage. In both California and Arizona stakes have presented special firesides in an effort to motivate members of the LDS Church to vote for such a critical issue. In California, voters had already cast the majority of their votes to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Yet, judges overturned the voice of the people and allowed homosexual couples to marry. I don’t quite understand why or how judges would have the right to overturn the voice of the people.
What is the purpose of voting if a small group of judges can overturn it on their own whim?A well-publicized story about a school class taking a field trip to witness a homosexual marriage has spurred the debate.
States are now struggling to define marriage. Honestly, it’s a definition I never thought we actually needed, but in light of this recent field trip, it’s obvious that our society has denigrated to the point that the very fabric of our society is unraveling. I’d like to point out that if a school field trip included witnessing a Catholic marriage, we’d have the ACLU jumping up and down and screaming that the school had violated church and state and trampled on the rights of students who didn’t want to witness such an event. Interestingly enough, the ACLU has not come to the defense of the students who were offended by a homosexual marriage. It’s interesting to note also, that when the subject of polygamy is introduced, there’s quite a vehement reaction.
In my own experience, many people mock the LDS Church because of its polygamous practice that ended over 100 years ago. People today still talk about polygamy in the early days of the Church and point fingers at the leaders claiming they instituted polygamy for the sole purpose of exploitation and sexual gratification. Today, polygamists can be arrested. After all, it’s legal to have sexual relations with as many partners as possible and to create children, it’s just not legal to marry those partners. While I do not support the practice of polygamy, and those that practice polygamy are not members of the LDS Church, I find it curious that our society is quick to condemn a man if he wants to marry and care for more than one wife, but not if he wants to marry another man.
Isn’t there some sort of lop-sided reasoning to that?Marriage is ordained of God. Marriage is between one man and one woman. Once we change the definition to include a small, very vocal minority, how can we then deny it to any other minority? How can we keep polygamy illegal and allow same-sex marriage? How can we deny marriage between siblings or cousins? We cannot change the definition of marriage and expect that we won’t have to make allowances for other groups.
It’s apparent that Satan’s assault on the family continues to rage. We must fight back. We must define marriage as between one man and one woman. God commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth and that commandment has never been revoked. A same-sex couple cannot keep this commandment. The whole idea of same-sex couples completely opposes God’s plan and defies nature.I do not hate people who choose to live a homosexual lifestyle, but I do not support that lifestyle. I do not think same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Our society is only as strong as our families. Each time a family breaks down, it weakens our society. We cannot allow the definition of marriage to change because we must work to strengthen our families and our society. It’s imperative that we vote to retain the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Today I am grateful for Lots of kids. I love that I have been blessed with 5 unique wonderful children who each bring something different and great to this family. I could not imagine life with out any one of them.
And for my DS tidbit. (can I tell you how happy I am that there are only 2 more of these. Not that I don't like talking about DS, but I am running out of stuff) 4 of 5, like most other people with, is picky. We started her on solids, and she would eat anything. I was excited that my kid with DS was not going to be one of the picky ones that I heard so much about. But, low and behold, 2 years later, if its not Cheerios, yogurt or fruit, it does not go in the mouth. No matter what, if it's on her plate between 5 and 6 in the evening, she doesn't want to look at it. I've heard its a sensory texture thing. But I don't understand why Mac and cheese has a better texture than toast. I have tries not giving her snacks. It doesn't help. She gets down from a meal, and whines about wanting crackers and milk. She would drink milk for a meal, just to fill up on something. (1 of 5 used to do this too). And way, I guess I made that more of a complaint than a tidbit.
Go and have a good day.

FHE

Before I post pictures of FHE, here is the totally cute hat I just finished for 5 of 5. I am now working on booties that match. The picture doesn't do it justice, the color is all washed out.It's a baby pink and lime/sage green. Now my kids all want one, hopefully I can get that many done by the time the snow starts, for real this time.
This is the stuff nightmares are made of. She was "helping"

This is how we quarantined 5 of 5. walker, and sucker. We got about an hr out of her before she realized no one had held her yet that hour.

last year it was 1 of 5 that thought pumpkin guts were yucky. This year 3 of 5 wouldn't stick his arm in there. 1 of 5 was in up to her shoulders.

This is how a man carves. Notice the jigsaw in the background. He started with the tool, then realized that the good old fashion hand power tool was quicker in this situation. I bought 1 dollar pumpkin carving kits, that were really useful.

On My Mind Monday 17

Sorry no post yesterday. It was my turn to host family dinner.
For today's on my mind Monday. Can I tell you how ready I am for this election to be over. And I really don't care who becomes President. Neither on of them, have my confidence. I really think that Barak had a good plan when he decided to go after the 20 something vote. After a lively conversation with my 21 year old brother in law, I realized that the reason he did that was because they are so passionate about what they think is right. To the point that they KNOW they are right. I remember when I was 20. I KNEW EVERYTHING, and no one was going to convince me of anything, and I was going to make people believe what I KNEW to be true. I like that the younger generation is passionate about the election. But to me, it's bordering on fanatical. Just like he told them to do when he was in Reno, get in people's face about it. I don't mind having a conversation with people about things we disagree on. I think it good to hear others opinion and why they believe something. But when they are so passionate about it, that it gets intense, I don't want to talk to them anymore. They have closed off everything you are saying to push what they think. Needless to say, I will be so happy it is over in 8 days.
Today I am grateful for a pediatrician i can run my kids into any time i want. Yes, i am on my way back in for 5 of 5.
And for my DS tidbit. 4 of 5 is pretty clever. She asked if she could have more juice at dinner last night, an d when i told her no, she picked up someone else's cup off the table and asked if she could have that. I said no, that wasn't her cup, so she poured it into her cup, and drank it.

Drum Roll Please.

I went down stairs to put away the apples this morning and counted how many bottles I put up this year.
43 Peaches
15 Apricot
28 Pear
27 tomato
29 Apples
5 chicken.

I would have liked to do twice as many tomatoes, but they didn't do as well as I had hoped. Next year. I am already excited to put our garden in for next year.

Putting Away For the Season

I am done. Completely done. My water bath and pressure cooker are going away. I finished 3 batches of apples this after noon. (thanks Erin) And that's all I have left to do. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on more tomatoes. And I guess if I find a really good sale on chicken I could be persuaded to get the stuff back out, but for now.... So long, until next year. I feel a little sad. A little relieved too. But mostly sad,

I found this article on this blog. I have actually added her to my list, even though I have never met her, because I have found that we have many things in common, and I really enjoy reading her blog.

This is an interesting article by a well-known LDS author and Democrat. He's also a journalist. I think he makes some valid points that we might want to consider before we cast our votes in a few weeks. I found it here. It first appeared in print in The Rhinoceros Times, Greensboro, NC. See what you think . . .
By Orson Scott Card October 5, 2008 Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights? An open letter to the local daily paper -- almost every local daily paper in America: I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know. This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration. It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.
What is a risky loan? It's a loan that the recipient is likely not to be able to repay. The goal of this rule change was to help the poor -- which especially would help members of minority groups. But how does it help these people to give them a loan that they can't repay? They get into a house, yes, but when they can't make the payments, they lose the house -- along with their credit rating. They end up worse off than before.
This was completely foreseeable and in fact many people did foresee it. One political party, in Congress and in the executive branch, tried repeatedly to tighten up the rules. The other party blocked every such attempt and tried to loosen them. Furthermore, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were making political contributions to the very members of Congress who were allowing them to make irresponsible loans. (Though why quasi-federal agencies were allowed to do so baffles me. It's as if the Pentagon were allowed to contribute to the political campaigns of Congressmen who support increasing their budget.)
Isn't there a story here? Doesn't journalism require that you who produce our daily paper tell the truth about who brought us to a position where the only way to keep confidence in our economy was a $700 billion bailout? Aren't you supposed to follow the money and see which politicians were benefitting personally from the deregulation of mortgage lending? I have no doubt that if these facts had pointed to the Republican Party or to John McCain as the guilty parties, you would be treating it as a vast scandal. "Housing-gate," no doubt. Or "Fannie-gate." Instead, it was Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, both Democrats, who denied that there were any problems, who refused Bush administration requests to set up a regulatory agency to watch over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who were still pushing for these agencies to go even further in promoting subprime mortgage loans almost up to the minute they failed.
As Thomas Sowell points out in a TownHall.com essay entitled Do Facts Matter? "Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush's Secretary of the Treasury." These are facts. This financial crisis was completely preventable. The party that blocked any attempt to prevent it was ... the Democratic Party. The party that tried to prevent it was ... the Republican Party. Yet when Nancy Pelosi accused the Bush administration and Republican deregulation of causing the crisis, you in the press did not hold her to account for her lie. Instead, you criticized Republicans who took offense at this lie and refused to vote for the bailout! What? It's not the liar, but the victims of the lie who are to blame?
Now let's follow the money ... right to the presidential candidate who is the number-two recipient of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae. And after Freddie Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae who made $90 million while running it into the ground, was fired for his incompetence, one presidential candidate's campaign actually consulted him for advice on housing. If that presidential candidate had been John McCain, you would have called it a major scandal and we would be getting stories in your paper every day about how incompetent and corrupt he was. But instead, that candidate was Barack Obama, and so you have buried this story, and when the McCain campaign dared to call Raines an "adviser" to the Obama campaign -- because that campaign had sought his advice -- you actually let Obama's people get away with accusing McCain of lying, merely because Raines wasn't listed as an official adviser to the Obama campaign. You would never tolerate such weasely nit-picking from a Republican.
If you who produce our local daily paper actually had any principles, you would be pounding this story, because the prosperity of all Americans was put at risk by the foolish, short-sighted, politically selfish, and possibly corrupt actions of leading Democrats, including Obama. If you who produce our local daily paper had any personal honor, you would find it unbearable to let the American people believe that somehow Republicans were to blame for this crisis. There are precedents.
Even though President Bush and his administration never said that Iraq sponsored or was linked to 9/11, you could not stand the fact that Americans had that misapprehension -- so you pounded us with the fact that there was no such link. (Along the way, you created the false impression that Bush had lied to them and said that there was a connection.) If you had any principles, then surely right now, when the American people are set to blame President Bush and John McCain for a crisis they tried to prevent, and are actually shifting to approve of Barack Obama because of a crisis he helped cause, you would be laboring at least as hard to correct that false impression. Your job, as journalists, is to tell the truth. That's what you claim you do, when you accept people's money to buy or subscribe to your paper. But right now, you are consenting to or actively promoting a big fat lie -- that the housing crisis should somehow be blamed on Bush, McCain, and the Republicans. You have trained the American people to blame everything bad -- even bad weather -- on Bush, and they are responding as you have taught them to.
If you had any personal honor, each reporter and editor would be insisting on telling the truth -- even if it hurts the election chances of your favorite candidate. Because that's what honorable people do. Honest people tell the truth even when they don't like the probable consequences. That's what honesty means. That's how trust is earned.
Barack Obama is just another politician, and not a very wise one. He has revealed his ignorance and naivete time after time -- and you have swept it under the rug, treated it as nothing. Meanwhile, you have participated in the borking of Sarah Palin, reporting savage attacks on her for the pregnancy of her unmarried daughter -- while you ignored the story of John Edwards's own adultery for many months.

There is a little more to this article, but it got a little long winded for me. You can read the rest by going back to the top and clicking on "here" in the third paragraph.

Free recipe Friday 16, another one bites the dust

I have a lot besides a recipe today. for my DS tidbit, I am going to link you to a site for an excerpt from the Today show about a man with DS that wrote a book about history. Then to a blog that I you should go to, to enter to win the book.
And my grateful moment. I am grateful for the ability to run. I love to run. I am grateful that everything of mine, so far, works. I can see, I can hear, I can carry my kids. Our bodies are amazing machines, that if we keep them moving and flexible, they will last us, and work well for us, for a really long time. Hopefully as long as we need them to do for us.
As you see from the title, another one bites the dust, well, it's actually another 2. I am down 2 more this week. After holding steady for 2 weeks, (I am blaming this on the party bag of peanut MnM;s. But hey, that's why I exercise, so I don't have to diet) I am going down again. I am now with in 10 of my goal.
for my recipe today, I am looking at you. I need an apple juice recipe. Do you have one? Please send it!.I will make it and then post it.

Scared Ya

Scared you? Scared me! After the initial call 911 NOW moment. I realized 1, i didn't hear the thud thud thud that usually precludes something like this 2, she has her "raffe" the giraffe that she will not sleep with out and 3, she's snoring.

So at this moment, I am grateful that i have managed to keep my kids alive. I am truly grateful that i haven't had to know the pain that comes with loosing a kid. I wish it didn't take a scare like this to realize how good I really have it.

So for my DS tidbit, kids with DS usually snore. it comes from having smaller nasal passages and sinuses. and a good majority of them end up getting their tonsils and adenoids out because with the smaller passages comes apnea. And if any of you have had to have an apnea machine, you would gladly give up the adenoids and tonsils to get rid of it.

(Yes, I know this is posted on Wednesday, but it is my Thursday post.)

Oh Happy birthday Elizabeth, and my very favorite Stamp, tomorrow.

Favorite Things

For my DS tidbit, I thought I would show you 4 of 5's favorite things. First of which, coloring. Most of the time, she waits until she is out of paper before she starts coloring on herself or the walls, or the floors, or like yesterday, the fireplace. It used to really really bother me. SO instead of getting mad, I just made sure the only thing she gets to color with, is a pencil. That was I can get it off, no matter what it is.

Second. Undoing. Anything. I should have known back when this picture was taken that we were in for trouble. As soon as she started to crawl, she would make an trip down the hall at least 4 times a day, to the boys room and pull out all the clothes out of the dresser. I didn't think much about it, all my kids have done this. But this lasted a lot longer. And now, she likes to "help" put laundry away. If there is no laundry to put away, she puts 1 of 5 's clothes into 2 of 5's drawer, or 3 of 5 ends up with 4 of 5's stuff. I think this is her little way of teaching us to relax, and be more patient.

And today I am grateful to be healthy. I went with husband to see Body Worlds yesterday. What an amazing machine we have. I know it was divinely made, and how grateful I am to have this gift. There are so many things that could go wrong, and so far I have been one of the lucky ones, to get one that works. And when something did go wrong, modern medicine could fix it.

Fun With Friends

I took the kids to Gardner village yesterday. I am trying to put together fun free activities for them while they are off track. We just walked around looked at the witches. In our group there were 3 other adults besides myself, and 15 other kids, besides my 5. So, in short. We were a mob.


Then for FHE I made some sugar cookies and they decorated them. I made a whole batch of frosting, and my kids only got about 10 cookies frosted before they ran out. I only have 2 dozen cookies left with out frosting.

On My Mind Monday 16

I started out this morning completely forgetting that 4 of 5 had school this morning. For some reason I woke up thinking today was Tuesday. And my kids are off track, so it didn't even dawn on me that the bus was waiting for her at 9 am, until he called. Plus, no one got up until 8 (It was a late night last night because we went to a fireside that Kenneth Cope spoke and sang at, and I am in the middle of reading "The Life of Our Lord" by Charles Dickens to the kids, which put the kids to bed at 9:30) 4 of 5 came up and said "mom poop" and by the time I got her undressed, it was everywhere. I didn't have time to get my barrings, when the bus driver called, enough to tell him she was staying home this morning because she didn't feel well. So, I am crossing my fingers. But, she did get a bath before school this morning, and her hair brushed.

So on my mind to day, was a question posed by Cope last night. DO we do the right thing because were afraid of what might happen if we don't? Or do we do the right thing because we want to. He talked a lot about self esteem, and that our bodies were not who we are. They are like our clothes, just something on top of who we are.

For my DS tidbit I am just going to re post the web site i put on my post from yesterday. Yes, I am running out of things to say. Reeses Rainbow.

I cannot believe that it is more than half way through Oct. Before we know it it is going to be Christmas.

And for my grateful moment. I am gratfelu for the Blog. I have to say, It is so nice to be able to keep in touch with people that have moved, or the friends that I don't get to chat with very often. I love knowing what your families are up to, and I really enjoy reading about what your kids have done. Sometimes it is a comfort to know that your kids do the same thing as mine, and the same things frustrate you. SO, Thank you!

Half Brother's Dad's Other Son

Let me explain before I get into my post. My older brother, is a half brother. Although I never think of him this those terms, he is just my brother. His dad lives in Kaysville with his wife, who he married after our my mom and his dad divorced, they had 3 more kids, and our mom married my dad and had 5 more kids. Which I am the result of. My brother lived with us, and the 4 others besides us until '91 ish, when my parents divorced. He went to live in UT with his dad and step mom. We lived with our dad in NV. Until '95 when I moved here, in with my brother, and my dad moved to OR with the other 4. Over the years I got to know The Larsen's really well. I consider them my family. I don't know what I would classify them as. Not a mom or dad, not an Aunt/Uncle. I don't know, but they mean more to me than just family friends. Their youngest just got home from his mission 2 weeks ago, and we (by we, I mean me and the kids. Bishop was out of town, so husband had to conduct. And I figure, I do this by my self every other Sunday, what difference does it make if I'm in my ward, or some place else) to hear him report his mission.
So today I am grateful for missionaries. I also have a sister , The youngest of the family, on a mission in Chicago. Have you ever sat in when someone gets set apart to go on a mission? It is an awesome experience. There is something amazing about a young man or woman, willing to give up 18- 24 months of their life, to go and teach people about the gospel. You would have to KNOW it is true to be able to share your testimony in a way that another could feel it. This young man, had such an strong testimony. I am truely grateful for the opportunity to be apart of their family. I have also seen the growth in my sister over the past 9 months. She will come back a better person for having sacrificed that time to help others. I look forward to the time when my husband and I can go and do the same thing together.
And for a DS tidbit. I am going to link you to a site that helps place families looking to adopt, with kids looking for homes. There are so many people that WANT to adopt kids with DS. Not just being willing, but wanting to. I think it is absolutly amazing.

To Love a Fat Boy

I thought after eating her spaghetti squash and peas so well, she would enjoy a little corner of a Fat Boy. Apperently Not. (those of you not familiar with the "Fat Boy" it is not a rude nickname for the neighbor kid around the block. It's a super fat ice cream sandwich.)














I think it was cold















She couldn't believe I would do that to her














Today for my grateful moment, I am grateful to have all of my kids and husband at home under one roof. There is no more peaceful feeling, than to know everyone is safe and sound tucked into his or her own bed.
And for my DS tidbit. 4 of 5 is getting so grown up. This morning she got up and walked to the fridge and said "gogurt" which translated means yogurt. I gave it to her she said thanks, went and got a spoon and sat down. She even folded her arms for the ENTIRE prayer. Later on as we were pulling out the garden, she said "no pup, sit" She is really growing up. There were a few months in there, when it was just really really hard. 3 of 5 went through one of those right after he turned 5. After days like the 2 we just had, I think we'll keep her.

Fun Friday

I Love these pictures, This is one of those "blow it up and frame it "pictures








We don't do sleep overs at our house. I'm not starting them, so we don't have to pick and choose who they can have sleep over and I won't let them stay the night at someone else's house. I know most people are harmless. But, I never want them to be in a situation that is not okay. And try to explain to them why they can one place and not the other. So, we just said no, right from the beginning. Here's the exception. Cousins. All of my kids have a cousin that is 2 days- 3 months apart. It's so much fun. GMA and GMPA have them over a lot too, and they can have overnights there. This is our Friday night. I sent the boys camping with their dad, so it was all girls tonight. 4 of 5 went down early. She didn't nap today, and she was done. 5 of 5 is next here in about 5 minutes because "Life " is on right now. The only show I really like. And that will go away with them change to digital TV, we have decided not to do a converter box. Anyway, I'll go watch my show and let the girls watch their movie, then let them go giggle in bed until they fall asleep. (this may be a really late night) I think we will head into SL and do Banbury Cross for breakfast. MMMM old fashion donuts........

Free recipe Friday 16

I am excited today. As most of you know, I am the newborn coordinator/contact for the UDSF

There have been 3 babies born in the past few weeks with DS, and I get to go meet these new moms today. I love this part of the job. There is nothing like holding a baby with DS, meeting their parents, and being there to answer questions, hear their sorrows and know their pain. And is some case, hear the excitement these parents have for this new chapter. It is such a raw experience. I do it for me, almost as much as I do it for them.

For my recipe today, I'll just post what we are having for dinner tonight.

I line the bottom of a bowl with tortilla chips, then pile chili, cheese, cabbage (we always use cabbage instead of lettuce on our Mexican food) tomato onion olive and a dollop of sour cream. It's really yummy, and there's you 4 basic food groups.

Today I am grateful for good friends. I have amazing people in my life. I love that I know people that I can go to when I feel like I am lacking. I add my sisters and my mom to that list of friends. I hope that they feel the same way, I hope I can be a support to them also. I hope that I do for them, what they do for me.

Just Something

A friend send me a link to this Utube video . (okay friend, it's been awhile since you updated your blog I just noticed) This is a link to the blog of the person who made it. Take a moment this morning and watch it. This is my DS tidbit for today.
And for my grateful moment. I am grateful to have my kids home today. 5 of 5 got up and ate at 5. And then woke up at 6:3o. Guess who didn't have to get up with her. ME! My boys came up and turned her music box on and danced with her for a whole hour. If that isn't something to be grateful for..... I don't know what is. I love having older kids. I love that they can get up and get their own breakfast, but still come to me when something is wrong. I smile when they do something nice for each other. Life is at a good point right now. I am content with where I am, and I am grateful for that. I love feeling like I am not lacking, or wanting in anyway.

What were your thoughts on the debate last night? I went in a McCain supporter. But Obama did a really good job.

About a Bus

I have been thinking about this for awhile.... This is 4 of 5's bus. Take a guess at how many kids are on this bus? I'll give you a hint. It's more than 1 less than 3. There are 2 kids on this bus. We all know how under funded our school district is. We all know how much gas costs, we all know that kids with special needs have been promised this service and we all know that special education and preschool services are lacking the money they need to run efficiently.
So my question is.... why are they picking my daughter up in one of those, instead of one of these, or a van.
I think I may pose this question to the school district.

Last Day

Today my kids go off track. Which means, 1, they can sleep in. CAN if the operative word. Will they? Sources say no. Well 1 of 5 will until I make her get out of bed. But I think she does this because her job is to get her sister out of bed, and she really really dislikes this job. And if she waits long enough, I come down and get her up to go potty. Which is pretty typical of any job she has. And by long enough, I mean 7 am. Once upon a time, EVERYONE was up at 6:30, except me. Now 5 of the 7 of us are up and going by 6:30. 6 on a bad day. 2 my house will inevitable be Tornado Alley for about 3 weeks. When they are in school, I at least get 9-3 in a semi straightened house. 3, moe can have some buddies to entertain him. 4, we can go do some fun stuff during the day. The library might be on that list if they can find the missing movie. (We bought Indiana Jones last night, and they can watch that when they find said movie) 5, Maybe if they stay up a little later, they will sleep in.... egh, not going to chance that one. 5 of 5 will still be up at 6:30.
And for DS tidbit. I guess this could be part of my grateful moment too.I love the friendship of the DS community. I love that i can meet anyone that has a child with DS, or other relative with DS, and have an instant connection, and something in common. I am grateful for the friends I have met, through this group.

Today

Today I am grateful for a baby that feels good enough (finally) to sleep through the night. Poor kid has had such bad ear infections, that she hasn't (including me) had a good nights rest in a while. Here's to good ears!
For my DS tidbit. (this is getting hard, there really isn't that much to tell you about DS) I guess I will tell you that adults with DS have an early onset of dementia, and Alzheimer's. I have heard it's because the gene with the extra chromosome is the one that carries the Alzheimer's gene.
I doubt I have all the chromosome and gene terms correct. I don't really quite understand how that all works. I understand it when I see it or people tell me about it, but trying to explain it to someone else..... doesn't work.
So i was down rummaging though boxes of clothes from 1 of 5, trying to find winter clothes for 4 of 5. I found 2 long sleeve shirts. What happened to all of her 3 and 4T stuff. I know she had winter clothes. Was she so hard on her stuff that I had to get rid of it? I know that was the year she liked to pretend she was a cat, and crawled around on her hands and knees so the knees are worn out of all her pants, but I don't need pants for her. I need shirts. I actually found a bunch of fleece pants for her for 3$ at the end of the year at Kohls. I don't get this shirt problem. I guess she will be wearing boy shirts this winter. Which I really don't mind, except the pants she has are pink, pink and purple. They don't make very many boys shirts in pink purple or pastel blue. So, if you see me and 4 of 5 around, and she's wearing pink pants and a red shirt.... just know she is warm.
Have a good Tuesday.
Just an add on. I have been tagged by a friend wanting me to share my "quirks" I'll try to come up with 6.
1. My babies have to be wearing a onesie. That's all there is to it. I can not get them dressed with out putting on the onesie first. And, if that wasn't bad enough, it has to be a cute one, usually carters. I could care less what was on top of the onesie.
2. Beds HAVE to be made. it is a must.
3. I check on my kids before I go to bed, to make sure no one has taken them out of the house. Sometimes I wake up at night to check. I get them out of bed in the morning wondering if they will all be there. And If husband goes to get them, in the morning, I am wondering if they are all there until I see each and everyone of them. And I will ask him when he comes back upstairs.
4. My towels have to be folded the right way. my kids are not allowed to fold towels until they have perfected my technique. Or, come up with something better. And in that case, I will learn a new way, perfect it, and they will not be allowed to do it until they get it better than mine. (yes, I will be folding the towels in my house FOREVER)
5.Dishes have to be done. I don't like dishes in the sink, on the sink or on the counters. Dishes will be done after dinner, immediately. None of this waking up to dinner dishes stuff. I don't want to do them before bed, I don't want to do them in an hr. Just get it done. The only time there are dishes in my sink, is if the dish washer is full. I will not leave food in a pot on the stove. Pots and pans get done first.
6.This is one, I'm sure the majority of people have. I will not go out of town, with out cleaning my house. There is nothing worse than getting out of the car after being there for 3-10 hrs and coming in to a dirty house. Or trying to unload stuff from a trip into a dirty house. Or coming home to a mess.

On my mind Monday 15

On my mind Monday. Husband and I were having this conversation last night about why we were voting for who. Then I logged on to MSN this morning, and here was my point against Obama. These are the people behind the man. These are their morals. And most of the time, people vote for the person, most like them selves, someone who will support their ideals. I'm not saying Barak is like them, he has been married to one woman. And I like that about him And that he hasn't been divorced. But too me, something I have been trying to teach my children..... guilty by association. He has this huge support group of morally bankrupt individuals.

Anywho, for my DS tidbit. A story. 4 of 5 was following me around yesterday, and she was watching me clean up a crayon mark on the floor that she had made. She looked up at me and said. "yes! Nice work mom"!

And for my grateful moment. I am so grateful to live in a country where I can choose to go to the church that I want, and to say prayers in my home or in public, read the books I choose and raise my kids the way I know is right.

October 12th.

I try not to blog on Sunday because I don't want the computer on. But it was already on because it wasn't turned off last night, and I really do want to complete the DS challenge. So for today, I will tell you about a few of the features that people with DS have, a few that all of them have, and a few that some may not have.
All of them have a thick nuchal fold. Which is the thick skin at the back of the neck. This is usually detected in the U/S. Some have a simian crease which is a singular line across the palm. all of them when they are born, are floppy, called hypotonia. They have a flat nasal bridge, and "almond" shaped eyes. And usually have a space between their big and second toe. Usually they have heart defect, pulmonary hypertension, and have and increase risk of leukemia. Although, they are more likely to beat this type of cancer, than the general population.


I am- A mom. first and for most. it is my most important title.
I want- to have no car or house payment.
I have- an amazing life
I wish- 4 of 5 did not have a snotty nose AGAIN.
I dislike- clutter. And I dislike being mad (I hate the word hate, it is such a strong word. I am trying to rid it from my vocabulary)
I fear- Someone taking my kids. Or, something happening to them.
I hear- The Wiggles
I search- for the library movie 2 of 5 brought home, and 4 of 5 lost
I wonder- What I will be doing next year
I always- Make my bed in the morning. There is something about walking into a room with an unmade bed.
I usually- start getting ready for church at 9 in the morning, because i don't do well when i am trying to hurry.
I am not- a complainer.
I dance- I don't dance
I sing- When I am happy, and when I am sad, because it's hard to be unhappy when you are singing
I never- look at my kitchen floor and think, wow, this is nice.
I rarely- Let my baby cry. I don't like that sound.
I cry- when I'm pregnant
I am not always- organized. I really try, but i have so much going on.
I lose- I don't think I do loose things often enough to say I loose one specific thing.
I'm confused- when people steal. I don't get it. We had some things taken out of our shed a while ago. I just don't get it.
I need- To start reading scriptures with the kids before school in the morning. That is my goal for the new year. I know, it's only Oct. But time goes so fast, I need to start planning way ahead of time. Otherwise, it comes and goes before I know it.
I should- go see what the kids are doing. It is really quiet. maybe I'll just close my eyes and pretend they are all playing nice together, and 4 of 5 is not into something she should be into.
I dream- Of a big huge green garden, and a dozen fruit trees to go with it.
I TAG- Call. Hamula 29 babies litnak and my TX buddy Oh, and how about Tarrant.

And for my grateful moment. I am grateful for my oldest. She is the reason I am where I am today. If she hadn't come when she did, thank you to a Heavenly Father who knew me, and what I needed, I probably would have more mistakes under my belt. After we had her, we decided we were not going to raise kids in that atmosphere, and it wasn't fair to do that to her. So, we changed, made it a goal to make sure she and future kids were raised in an eternal family, with parents that were going to do their best at raising them.

Saturday is a Special Day.....

It's the day we get ready for Sunday day.
Today I have accomplished-
12 pint of tomatoes
7 quarts
7 quarts of spaghetti sauce


My kitchen floors
3 loads of laundry
a little shopping (I found 4, 3 lbs bags of walnuts on clearance for 3 bucks each)
Not accomplished, the run I wanted to do this morning. Still willing to go with you Call, if you're up to it.

Why the milk picture? I was just a bit amazed at the fact that we had 5 gallons of milk in the fridge, and we will drink it. Have we really gotten there? I remember not to long ago, 1 gallon would last us 2 weeks. We aren't even close to the peak. I need a cow. I have figured out how to cut back spending on everything except milk. And I refuse to drink powdered milk. It brings up horrible childhood memories.

So today I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. The tomato's I am doing are a neighbors. Her husband just had surgery, and she was overwhelmed. And, these needed to get done. I think we salvaged 50lb before it froze. I love to bottle, and I am grateful I can help others while I am doing it.

And for my DS tidbit. Today it's just a story. I spent the day up at Primary's with 5 of 5 yesterday. While there I met a cute little girl who had a cute mom getting tube too. She was probably 18 months. I just love how these kids attract people to them. Everyone said hi to her. (yes, some just stared, but I imagine they will get to a place that it won't be so foreign) For the most part people are very accepting and understanding. People don't stare to be rude. in most cases, don't call them "R" to be disrespectful. (I won't say it because I know it rubs some people the wrong way) Mostly, people are compassionate, and understanding, and accepting. Sometimes, they can even feel love for them immediately upon meeting, just because of the sweet spirit they have. All kids, all disabilities, bring out who people really are. Some it's not pleasant. Most often, it is amazing.

Free recipe Friday 15

My job for today is done. It only took 4 hrs, and i only got about 1 day behind in laundry and bathrooms. (I did get my tub washed, twice). But, the apples are done. This was all we got this year. Last year our tree gave us 5 times more. So many so, I was begging people to take them. I guess this year it was my pears.
Which brings me to my grateful moment/ I am not only grateful for the opportunity, and knowledge time and space to can an apple, pear peach, or anything i can get my hands on. I am grateful for the desire to do it. With out wanting to, i couldn't. My next goal is to learn to can meat.


I am doing my recipe today because tomorrow I will be with this one at Primary's getting tubes. We have to be there at 6. which is good and bad. Good, because she can't eat after midnight, so the earlier, the better. Bad, because it pretty much blows Friday out of the water. Oh well, there is always Saturday right?
So for my recipe, i am posting my devil egg recipe. Not so much a recipe, as the ingredients. These rock....
So just prep the eggs, you know, boil peel cut in half and save yolk in a bowl. Smash yolks and add 1/4 cup mayo. this is for a dozen eggs. Add 3 tbs whole stone ground mustard, 1 tps horseradish and 5-10 dashes of green Tabasco. depending on how much you like it. fill into cleaned out whites. top with 2-3 capers and a dash of paprika.
These are a family favorite, and since we have more eggs than we know what to do with (if you need them, you know where to get them. We are getting about 4-5 a day now)
And for my DS tidbit. I thought instead of pointing out something unique and special about 4 of 5, i would point out how much the same she is. She has a bad day when she doesn't get enough sleep. She goes out of her way to get in trouble on said days. Some days, I have just had enough of her. I have those same days with my other kids. They are few and far between, but they happen. She took about the same amount of time to potty train as my other kids. There was a distinct day, when she "got it". She has a favorite toy it's a pink bear that she walks around licking. (she licks everything soft. If it looks soft, she has to lick it. Weird, i know), and she loves blue. 1 had a speckled bear 2 had a Tigger 3 had a Blue. ALL of them have LOVED Sponge Bob. She will eat yogurt everyday for a week, then not want anything to do with it for a few days. 1 of 5, it was stove top. 2 of 5 was top ramen 3 of 5 was cheese sandwiches. at 3, all of my kids loved to color. they could stay busy for hrs with a box of crayons. (although I have to remind her that we color on paper more than i had to my others) And I expect the same things out of future kids. She is pretty much made from the same mold. She is ours, they are ours, and we love and treat them just the same. I won't go out of my way to do more for her, than I would my other kids. I hope my kids don't feel like there is anything I wouldn't do for any of them. The same.

GGGOOOOOOODD MORNING!!!!!

This morning at about 5:30, i awoke to this noise, that sounded so far off in the distance that i fell back asleep. It was this kind of wail, moan whimper. About 6, i woke to a full blown wail. I go downstairs to a very upset 4 of 5, give her a drink, lay her back down. About 10 after it starts again, husband is in the shower by now, so i go back down tuck in again. It's now 6:30, and it's a scream. I go back down, husband is off to work, and she has thrown up..... everywhere. So i run a tub, pull sheets off, start the washer. As soon as I get her in, she poops. So I pull her back out, drain rinse and disinfect the tub, run a new bath, and put her back in. By now the machine is done, put sheets in dryer. I wash her and her hair wash her pull her out, and she starts heaving again. Lean her over the tub because I don't have time to get her to the toilet. Besides, I doubt she would go over to stick her head over the toilet, with out a fight. And she throws up in the tub again. I clean her up again, get her dressed, then go clean out the tub, again. I go up stairs to make sure the other kids got breakfast. As soon as i get up stairs, 4 of 5 is screaming again. I go back down, and she's had another accident. Note to self, put a pull up on 4 of 5 if she has the flu. Clean her up, yet again. So, it is 7:30. I have scrubbed my bathroom, done a load of laundry, fed 4 of my 5 kids, dressed 4 of 5 twice bathed her twice and cleaned up throw up twice. What have you done today. Now, go have a good day.
And as my grateful moment.... I am grateful most of my kids are going to school today. (although this was the morning I was supposed to go talk to their classes about DS) I know, not really much to be grateful for, but at this moment, it really really is what i am grateful for. I'll come up with something better later.

Nothing Good

Did anyone watch the news last night? I know the buzz was all about the debate, but did you catch the story about the new test for Down Syndrome? You know, the one that will make it easier to know if you maybe carrying a baby with DS. One that is less invasive, one that will not put the baby at risk like an Amnio? Here is a link if you missed it. My heart is heavy. The statistics already put termination of a pregnancy at about 90% after a diagnosis. I know there is a percentage that choose not to have an amnio because of the risk to the baby. But they have just taken that factor out of the equation. Plastic surgery and this test, we are well on our way to wiping out everything that seems imperfect on this earth.
I know there will still be people that don't want to know, and don't care if their baby might have a "syndrome" I know there will always be a few that will find out their baby has Spina Bifida, DS, and other disabilities and accept it for what it is, a blessing. And I hope they will be blessed for their desire and ability to take care of who they have been given.
So today I am grateful for all those mom's and dad's that have taken and lived up to, and survived, and even loved the challenge of a disability. And for the siblings that have helped and become better more compassionate people because of them.

FHE

We went up to South Hollow last nigh for dinner and some fall pictures. I've heard it said, quite a few times, that the west side is a desert. There are no trees, and it's void of beauty. But i am here to tell you that it is absolutely not true. We may not have the Wasatch, but we do have the Oquirrah's and the Stansbury range, that nestled deep in them, you run into this. By the time we got there, ate and took picts, it was getting dark, but you can See by the leaves on the ground, and the trees in the background, it is a beautiful place to come look at fall colors. We love living out here, and we love looking for new beautiful places out here. I challenge you who think of the west side of the valley as a desert with out trees, to come out and look around. Do what we do. Pick a spot on the map and go to it. Ask the Scout Master where some cool places are out here.......



This next one is right after 5 of 5 hit 4 of 5 in the eye with a cookie wrapper
I loved this picture of 1 of 5
And 2 of 5 is always a goof. Such a fun kid
And 3 of 5, he's a lot like 1. Just there wait for someone to go with him.
For my DS tidbit. I think i have decided to talk to the kids at the school about 1st the differences between "normal" kids and kids with DS. Then all of the things they have in common, and point out there are many more things they have in common, than differences. And I like the book idea, I think i will head to the library this afternoon. I would like a few of the activities I hear lily's mom knows....

And I'd like to point out something I've noticed about DS, and heard a few other moms say also. It seems in the progress of a child with DS, that they have a few days where they grow by leaps and bounds, then they go backwards for a few days. They seem to go in a crab like side to side progression. Which makes any forward momentum, slow. I have noticed this especially since we potty trained a while ago. She would have 3 really good days, no accidents, then 2 days where it was like we had just started. (luckily we're to the point that it's a good week, then a bad day) But we have that also in just normal everyday. We have really good, "knows what she is aloud to do" days, then a day that she is coloring on walls and taking toys from the baby . Anyone else noticed that?

And my grateful moment. Today's i am grateful for healthy kids. I was reading this blog this morning. I do not know what her life has been like, other than what i have read on her blog. I do feel compassion for them, and gratitude that i haven't know the pain of having a sick baby, for more than 3 weeks (4 of 5 was in the NICU for 19 days, 3 of 5 for 7 days and 1 of 5 for 11 days). I haven't had to live the NICU life for very long, and I couldn't do it for over 3 weeks. I remember on her 18th night, crying because I could not keep this up anymore. My kids were living with GMA, I was up every 2 hrs to try to feed her sleeping in the car in the parking garage because if I went home and slept in my bed, I wasn't going to want to get out. It was a hard time, but it was only 19 days. And now, all of them are very healthy and active. And for that, I am grateful.