Tough day

I had a tough day with my boys.

Ryan was so cranky and wanted to be held ALL the time. He has a cold so I understand why he was such a handful.

For Brody it was a lot of things. No words or communication, pulling me all the time to try to get me to know what he wants, fixating on things he can't have or do, not eating what I want him to, messing with his poop, screaming and yelling for absolutely no reason. All of it just got to me. Again, I understand why he is this way but still frustrating.

I feel bad for my bad mood from the tough day. I feel bad for having this attitude. That is the only thing I can control and I let the things I can't control get to the one thing I can control and thus made for bad afternoon and early evening.

My penitence is posting pictures and saying publicly how much I love and adore my two boys in spite of the tough days.

Besides who can resist these adorable children...

Missing

December 2005

Thinking about Cliff today

December 2004

Remembering his funny stories, his sense of humor and the amazing wife and children he left behind. I was happy to love this man and so honored to marry into his beautiful family. I will always be thankful to him for raising such a wonderful man that I feel in love with and married

Thanksgiving food and family

Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving.

I love the food



I love the time with family



I love the cooking and baking



I love the smell in the air



I love the cooling weather



I love the holiday cause it an excuse to be able to have pumpkin pie and hot chocolate for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving!!

S.E.E.K. Arizona

On Monday morning I was lucky enough to be able to go to a little goodbye/graduation for Brody at one of his preschools. Brody goes to two preschools (one is 2 days a week and the other is 3 days a week). It was a little celebration for Brody completing the fall session of the Early Childhood Education program at S.E.E.K Arizona (Specializing in the Education of Exceptional Kids) and a chance for parents to see their child amongst the other children.

We have loved this program at SEEK. It is an awesome program especially for children like Brody. There are 3 other children in his class and each have overall delays or At-Risk for Autism or something like that. Each child has their own therapist but the group acts like a class and there is a classroom teacher and the therapist is there to help each child whether it is with an art activity, socialize with other children, circle time, etc. The people there are such neat people and Brody's therapist, Jenna, is very nice and amazing with Brody. The other thing I love about this program is every other Friday there are field trips or "community outings" as SEEK calls them Brody has been able to go to the zoo, a children's museum and a petting zoo just to name a few.

Brody started this program mid way through but adapted very well. The first two days he cried and screamed when we dropped him off. Now, when I bring him in and Jenna meets us he looks right up at her and Brody smiles really big and without even a second glance at me he grabs her hand and walks back to the classroom.

On Monday during the goodbye/graduation time the parents came at the end. I was a bit of a distraction for Brody and to get him to stay in circle time they used a trick that has helped him before which was to bring in a little office chair that spins and he will stay put (as long as he has the occasional spin). It was really cute - Brody was able to pick two songs during circle time and they sang other ones, the teacher read a book and then at the end before everyone went home each child (with help of course) went and got their picture of themselves which was part of the activity board and each child got the "goodbye" song sang to them

It has been wonderful for Brody and we are blessed that has been able to be part of this program and to have a therapist that cares so much for him and his goals!

9 months old

On the same week Ryan turned 9 months he also got a new Grandpa AND Grandma is no longer living under the same roof as Ryan. Ryan ADORES his Grandma Donna and since he was born Ryan has had a wonderful Grandma to be around a lot. Ryan lights up with the biggest smile every time he sees her. It is bittersweet but because of Grandma Donna's happiness it is more sweet than bitter!

Ryan had a tough week this week with an ear infection in his left ear - even with his tubes! It came with some horrible non-stop diarrhea and a rash that looked like a giant red burn on his bum. He was miserable there for a couple days. But he is feeling a little better and just has a bit of a runny nose left (which you can see in some of the pictures).

Our baby boy is growing and getting big. He has a spitfire of a personality and a couple months ago started babbling and squealing. Ryan can be VERY loud!

Ryan is crawling every where and getting into everything.

Ryan is eager to play with people and wants to be held and then when he is held by someone he is jumping out of their arms for something.

Ryan now has 5 teeth. With those teeth has come interrupted sleep and shorter but more frequent naps - boy does he fight the sleep!

Ryan is already getting ready to move onto the next phase of walking by pulling himself up on stuff. Unfortunate for Ryan though, once he pulls himself up on things he can't always work out how to get down so he just cries - it is actually kind of funny (am I just the meanest mom ever)!!

He is still the cutest thing around and I just love watching him crawl around with his chubby little hands and wrist getting everything from Brody's puzzles (which really makes him mad) to computer cords.

Enjoy the recent pictures

We found out two days ago there will be a wedding

It has been a crazy couple of days. Donna has been dating a man named Dennis for a couple months. On Sunday she said they are getting married Tuesday!!

I have lived with Donna for years. I am very lucky to have a mother-in-law I love and I call a dear friend. I am so glad she has found happiness.

We will all miss her desperately.