Score

Birthday scores.





Like father like daughter.

10 9 7

I now officially, have a 10 year old. 1 decade.
She's just cute.
She loves animals. 1 year it was cats, next it was dogs, then lizards, then eagles. Now it's chickens.
The beginning of this year, she was really struggling. She wasn't turning in homework, she didn't care, she would cry every time grades came out and we threatened to put her on A track. Finally, last term I told her, I am not fighting with you at the end of the year. I am leaving what track you are on, up to you. If you want to get your butt in gear, you can stay on D, if you are missing assignments and still getting C's and D's, you have chosen A track. I will not say another word about it. And lo and behold, 4 weeks in a row with no missing assignments, and 3 A's and 2 B's. I don't think I have every been more pleased with her.

9 8 7.

I'll start with my favorite picture of 2 of 6. Yesterday was his birthday. On Sunday the primary sang to 3 of my 6. Because, as most of you know, his is today, 1 of 6's is tomorrow, and 4 of 6 is on Thursday. On Sunday, I had a 7, 8, and 9 year old. Yes, my 2 oldest are less than a year apart. So I guess that means today, I have 2, 9 year old's. That would have never been my plan. And it was hard back then. Luckily, they were my first 2, so that was all I knew.
So today I will tell you a few of my favorite things about him.

He is the best big brother. He will almost always, take time to carry his sisters on his back. They LOVE him. 5 of 6 always says, where'd beebee go?
He is smart. He was talking circles around us at 18 months, and has always gotten straight A's. He's actually scored 100% on his dibles test a few times.
He is always up for a road trip. Which is what we did for his birthday yesterday.
I love the kid. He really is awesome. I worry about him too. He is so sensitive, and worries a lot about what others think, and hates to be embarrassed,. It will put him on the verge of tears.

That's Hot

Another summer is upon us. This time last year, I was 7 months pregnant, and dreading the summer. Luckily it wasn't hot. This summer we won't be so lucky, they say it will be hotter than average. Luckily, again, I am NOT pregnant.
I remember thinking, this summer will be eternal. Then it was over. After I had 6 of 6, I thought this school year will be eternal. And here we are, done next week. We do have a few things planned. Like a co-op to keep the kids busy. But other than that, and piano lessons, I will pretty much just let them run and be kids. After 12 that is. They are mine until noon. We will practice penmanship. Which, is a lost art. Practice piano, do chores, practice math facts, and earn points towards prizes to keep them motivated. I am actually excited about the summer. After we get their birthdays taken care of, it will be fairly laid back.

A Call

As some of you know, I am the Newborn Contact for the UDSF. I love it. I love to be reminded of the raw emotion behind a new diagnosis. Whether it's prenatal, or after the birth.
Some times, it is extremely hard to see the reaction. Most of the time, I have to remind myself, the initial reactions are just that, raw gut reaction. They are a lot of times, ugly. Fortunately, I have only met 1 person, who that gut reaction, hasn't turned to complete infatuation.
I bring this up, because I have been thinking a lot about 1 couple. It has brought to light, and alarming trend. A part of society, I'd rather pretend didn't exist. I have met a few couples of different nationalities, it seems to be more prevalent in the Asian culture, who after birth, felt as if they have been cursed. That they have been given this burden, because they have done something wrong, and this new baby was to bring shame to their family. I met a husband and wife, who got a prenatal diagnosis, later in pregnancy, so the option to terminate was not there. After really struggling with the fact their baby was going to have Ds, he was worried what people would think about them not having an abortion. Like, people would judge him for bringing this little baby into the world. What happened to abortion being a shameful, bad thing. When did terminating a babies life, become the appropriate choice. When did that happen? Do I just run in a different circle? So I didn't see something that has always been?
I am not judging this couple. Gut reactions are just that. Raw, from the gut, and sometimes, ugly. I can say, with almost 100% surety, he will fall in love with this new little person, then wonder why he ever doubted their decision. What I am judging, is this trend towards our lack of respect for life and God's plan. We don't get to choose, who our children will be. Boy, girl, Ds, or Autistic. As a matter of fact, I am pretty dang sure, we picked this. We knew who our family would be, before we even got here. So, who are we to try to change that.
I love meeting new parents, and being most people's first contact with the Ds world. It's a strange and different kind of place. There is nothing wrong with living here, and as a matter of fact, it has it's perks. You usually don't notice it's beauty, until you've been here awhile, you know, gotten over the culture shock. But, once you get here, and acclimate, you would never wish for anything else.

Go Vote

You can't complain if you don't exercise your right to vote.
That is all.

Kinda Funny, Kinda of Dangerous

Please note, no children were hurt in creating this post. I came across this last night.
Then she saw me.
If she sees me, she has to come to me.
There she is. (Trent also took out the battery pack when he put it down, so nothing bad would happen. One of us has to have our children's welfare in mind)
2 of 6 had to find and point out hazards in the home, to become a bear. As you can see from this post, it wasn't hard. Please note, no children were hurt in creating this post.
We gave her a piece of licorice the other day. She had it stuck everywhere. Her head, her rear....
But she was happy.

Can You Feel it in Your Bones

Every time the phone rings during dinner time. 2, 3 , 4, maybe 5 times during the meal. Yesterday I counted 6 of them.
Can you tell it's election time? Mike Lee calling to tell me why I shouldn't vote for Bridgewater. Or vise versa. Or my favorite.... Bob Lonsberry calling to tell me the reason he was fired from his radio job, was because he was a Bridgewater supporter. I count down the days until the interruptions end. I actually called both of their campaign headquarters and asked them , nicely this time, to take me off their list. I even asked them if my friends and I should all take turns calling them 15 times a day. I am so tempted to do it. Get a phone tree started to harass the harassers.
Any one in?

5$ Entertainment

Trent found this roll of batting for 5$ and brought it home. The kids have had so much fun on it.
It's almost worth keeping packaged up, so they can play on it. Almost.
Hopefully soon, we won't have the room for it.
Because this room will have it's furniture back in it.

WW

Peas New Stuff and a Story

Looks like the computer picked the order of what I talk about first.
So, I have decided to try my hand at a quilt. I have never put one together, short of working on one that has already been set up, I didn't know the process. (I know, bad Mormon) I can honestly say I still don't. But, I love matching colors and patterns. I cut up a bunch of my remnant fabrics, and started piecing them together. It's not super even, but by the time I put the last few pieces together, I think I figured out how to make it even. Now I just need to put some batting and a back on it.
And here is the reason why we plant peas. I have never gotten enough to freeze, because my locusts, I mean kids, get to them first. There really is nothing better than a home grown pea. The store bought frozen ones can't even stand next to them.
And ta da! We are ready to paint!. Trent will put up molding this week, and I will paint next week, or Saturday. (hint hint Kayla) Then our carpet is ordered..... All we need is a delivery and installation. I am hoping to have it completed by the kids birthdays.
And now to a story. And a soap box. It is 7:50, and the kids are all ready to leave for school. We usually leave at 8:05 so we can beat the congestion of dropping kids off. Parents aren't too nice about it, so I try to avoid it. I think, let's just leave, it's better than sitting around here. I get out to about the Tarrent's house and notice the neighbor boy running down the street. He's autistic, although in the past 6 months I have noticed a HUGE difference in his coping and behavior skills. SO I pull up next to him and say, you need to go home, I bet your dad is wondering where you are (mom works dad is home during the day, then they swap) He says no, I need to go get my little brother.
Well, where did he go?
To the store.
Ok, go home, I will get him
So I drive around the back of the store, and pick the little boy up. I get back to their house, and the little sister is out side naked except a shirt. I ring the door bell. No answer. I ring again, nothing. About this time the oldest comes up.
Where's your dad?
I don't know.
Is he sleeping?
no.
Can you get him?
No, he's busy.
What is he doing?
Listening to music, I think.
So by this time, I go get the neighbor a few houses down, Do I take them with me, I'm not leaving them here. But I can't just take some ones kids. About this time, the dad pops out. He had been in the shower. So I leave the kids, say 'lock them in' and take the kids to school. Everyone made it on time. Luckily, I had left early, ran into the little boy, and found all the kids before they were gone further.
SO, ask me why I didn't call the police? Because, I put myself in their shoes. These parents, the mom especially, try really hard. The have 2 autistic boys, and a daughter who just follows in her brothers footsteps.
Also, I have an escapee. They have 3. It's hard enough to have 1. I have had her leave, luckily she was found by a nice man. I would have been devastated if someone had called the police. Another neighbor has kids she can just go let play outside, and they stay home. If you don't have a kid with a disability, you have no idea. I am also under the firm belief that the parent has the right to raise their children as they please. Short of sexual abuse, the parent is the steward of their children. I have a neighbor who claims to home school. She does not. But it is not my decision. If she wants her kids to not read, that is up to her. I do not get to judge, or criticize. Parents get to discipline how they choose. When you start letting others tell you how to raise your kids, you get a society of lazy parents who loose their desire to be responsible for how their kids turn out. I don't want people telling me that I have to seat belt my kids, treat them with chemo if they get cancer, and feed them certain foods. Those choices are mine as the parent. Well, really they aren't, If I don't make the choice the state thinks I need to make, they will be made for me. By them either taking them out of my care and doing it themselves if they are sick, or giving me a hefty fine if I don't buckle them. Yes, I know, it is safety for the kid to seat belt them. Yes I do buckle them. But, I shouldn't be forced to.

Yard

Here is what 4 of 6's forehead looks like. It looked like this last year too. Then after 6 months it healed, and she discovered the scar was fun to pick too. So we are back to this. I need a straight jacket. Just for 2 weeks, until it heals again.
We finally have peas. I got a picking on Monday. Not enough to add to a meal, but enough that everyone got a handful.
And the grass thus far. The bare patches will get grass seed after the newest spreading of seed germinate. Baby steps. I get excited and throw a bunch of seed down, then go to water it and realize that my eyes are bigger than my time.

My job this year has been the yard. Trent is working on the inside, and the outside desperately needs attention, so.... that's me. Problem is, I also have a house to run, kids to get too and fro, homework to keep on top of, exercise, appts, ect ect ect. So on Saturdays, I spend all day out in the yard, usually with a baby in tow. You should see what the inside looks like, by Saturday evening. Then By Monday it looks like no big people live here at all. Such is life right now. Some days I accept it, and I am happy. Some days I struggle with all of it. Such is life.
We are also, quickly approaching our week of birthdays. I am looking for something for 4 of 6, that has a touch screen that will play learning games. Something DS like, with out a DS price. Have any ideas?

Helpful

She tries. She really does.
But how do I help her know what she can and can't do. Like you cant put the baby on the bed/couch. She will fall off.
Luckily it wasn't more than a bonk on the head.
Or how do I stop her from picking that same spot on her forehead? Any suggestions?

Little Lou Lou

I neglected to post on her 9 month mark. I am in denial. She is still this small, and cuddly.
The whole thing would be way worse, if she weren't the sweetest mild mannered, happiest baby I have ever met.
Her smile is infectious. She will sit and smile at you until you look at her and smile back.
Whenever we go to family functions, everyone comes to see Lucy 1st. Then, oh yeah, hi Trent and Kelli. She loves to stand at the door with Trent when he greets people in Sacrament meeting, and smile at them. Then They talk to her, not Trent.
She is amazing.
I don't have stats on her size, because unlike my other kids, I have a hard time remembering when she needs to go in for well child checks.
I am sad this year has gone so quickly. Expect tears at her 1st birthday.

Wordless Wednesday