notes

H is a very sweet kid. Often I will find notes on my computer, bed, or handed to me. He loves to write and it is sweet to read his messages. This week I got two letters.

The first said:
Mom I love you SO much!

The second said:
Dear Mom,
I hope you get 100 present

Isn't that just so sweet? He is a very good boy and I am lucky to have him!

Making a list

and checking it twice! I've been busy all week checking things off a list as long as my arm. Some items are school related, some Christmas related, some trip related, and some just related to the everyday duties of a crazy mom. Here are a few things that were on my list:

Make a bow board

Finish grading

Polar Express - lots of photos for this one! Can anyone enlighten me on why my kids feel the need to get their "claws" out for photos?

Finish edits for advisor

Find dog immunization records

H1N1 shot for kids and myself (will mostly have that one checked off)

Christmas cards

Christmas shopping

Wrap presents (H has been kind and helps me with this)

Bank

Post office

Ward party

School party

Find someone to collect mail and water plants

Clean the house - I think this has been on the list at least 3 times - funny

how it always reappears

Finish C's quilt - didn't turn out perfect, but she loves it!

Oil change

Water plants

Make treats for many events

Throw baby shower - this was for a friend who is expecting a girl on Christmas. The photo is of the table setting for the event. Cute if I do say so myself.

Pack - this one is still on the list!

There were some things that weren't on my list, but apparently were necessary. Like C dressing me up - not sure what she was thinking on this one.

Hopefully I finish everything on my list before Sunday!

Fall flashback

So I have a confession to make...I am so happy the semester is over and get to fill my schedule with the things I really want to do, but I miss Fall! The weather, the leaves, the activities (pumpkin picking, baking, etc.) - fall just makes me happy! I found these photos in my phone and I think they show why the season is the best.
A fall view on my walk to the office.Claire visiting mom at school and playing in the leaves. She was jumping in them and having a great time!

I guess I will have to wait out this horrible cold weather so I can see another beautiful fall - in about 9 months.

My son sings!

Some big developments around our house. Used to be that H wouldn't sing in public. He knows how but seems like he was intimidated, embarrassed or just wouldn't sing until he knew all the words. Well he sang in public twice! Once for a church activity, once for a school concert. It was great watching him, especially with his school buddies. Here's the proof! He is in the far left front row in the school one. Sorry it is so small the ones I zoomed in on were all blurry.

reason for the season

Sorry to spoil the Christmas card surprise, but Saturday at a Christmas activity I caught C with a nativity set perfect for kids her age. She even rocked baby Jesus and gave him a kiss. It was so sweet to watch and I was very happy I remembered a camera. This will be a fond memory forever!

my hero

hung doors at my house (you should have heard C scream with joy), put on the doorknobs, put the trim on the fans, helped clean (even C's room), and made dinner for the kids yesterday. Isn't he swell? I really wouldn't be able to do it all without him!

What a wonderful...

...day for a snow day. I had planned on staying home today anyway to finish off a couple of school projects. H helped occupy C and they played for almost 4 hours in the snow. WOW! I finished my school work, got exercise by shoveling the drive and sidewalk, and enjoyed kid time. Look at those smiles.

WARNING...this post contains ranting

I just have to get this off my chest. Did all of you realize that the rates of children born with Down's syndrome are going down. At first this seems very positive right? Well the reasons are upsetting. Apparently with the increase in pregnancy screenings many doctors are recommending abortion, and many individuals are choosing to abort a child when a test shows that they will be born with Down's syndrome. I don't mean to get on my soapbox, but does that mean that people honestly feel a life with a disability is not worth living. The truth is that many of these parents-to-be are just not being given accurate information about the abilities of individuals with this disability. In addition, many people do not realize that these individuals are very capable of growing into very productive members of society. I think it is a shame that our world has come to this and I am mad that doctors would ever recommend abortion for a child because they will have a disability. ARGGGH! I don't think any of these individuals have met Jackson, a boy with Down's syndrome, who was the highest reader in his kindergarten class (he knew how to read before he entered school). Who knows maybe he will someday be a doctor and tell all the other doctors off! What needs to be done is clear. People need more education - to make good decisions and change outlooks outcomes and for those with disabilities.
Thanks for listening, I think I am done - for now.

Milestones

One for me and one for C.
C truly demonstrated that she is a child of the 21st century (soon to be the 21.1 century). Today she learned how to use a mouse with a single click to blow things up on the computer. What is her generation called anyway - GEN - Z? She was initially excited by this task, but grew bored after a while. She was helping a friend with her dissertation study. She is trying to analyze mouse use for small children and how hand eye coordination is related to how they do on the task. The hope is this can be applied to kids with motor challenges in the future. Anyway she got 5 stickers and loved spending time with another adult - who was great at giving attention! It was a pleasure to listen to all that went on from the other room. She is such a crack up (asking for stickers for her brother too, telling about her friends, explaining that her name starts with a C and mine with an S, etc.). What a cool kid to raise.
For me it is official that I passed Comp 1. This happened a little while back, but the end of the semester is here and so I have been preoccupied and not reported it here. J and I celebrated by going on a date! That was wonderful.
Now hopefully I can get everything else done by the Thursday when all my deadlines are here. I am in good shape so far, so as long as nothing crazy happens (I am knocking on wood - consider my history - appendix with John, etc.) I should be good.
I am looking forward to two weeks off. They may be tiring weeks, but it will be a change of pace and time spent with my family! Hooray!