The Joys of Christmas!

There is nothing better than Christmas time! Every year we look forward to Grandma and Papa coming for a long visit! We fit in as much fun as we can! For example...

Sugar cookie decorating with cousins and Grandma

Christmas Eve celebration with my side of the family... and that's only half of us! The rest are in other parts of the house! (it's chaotic... but fun!)

The Real meaning of Christmas...

Fixing Santa his goodies!

Slipper time from Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve. It's our tradition! (p.j.'s from grandma and papa... that's a tradition too!)

Christmas morning... finally! We had four happy kiddos!

The mess is cleaned up and the kids are sporting their new Christmas clothes! On our way to the other side of the family for more celebrations!

This was the scene at Grandma and Papa's house before the presents to the grand kids were torn open!

It was a wonderful year 2009.... On to 2010! Happy Holidays to all!

Merry Christmas!

I know with the holidays quickly approaching, I won't be on the computer as much. I didn't collect the addresses that I had hoped to so that I could send each one of you this card. To all of you out there, family and friends... I love you! I am incredibly thankful for each and every one of you! This time of year, I am eternally thankful for my Savior!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Go, go, go... stop!

Mom does a great job keeping me and Brynn busy during the day while the older girls are at school...

but when we get home... I sure keep Mom busy!

I go...

and go...

and go...

until I can't go anymore!

Holiday fun!

I'm a little behind posting this... but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

We always have a good time as a family putting up the tree and all of the decorations around the house! My girls never touched the tree when they were little... I was so worried that Justin would tear it apart the second it was up. But nope! Not interested in the least!

Now it really feels like Christmas! The girls have enjoyed watching a Christmas movie every night before bed! Fun times so far and many more ahead! Happy Holidays!

Little sucker!

Okay... this is so exciting to me! If you read my last post, you can see that J-man finally got the concept of holding his own cup and actually drinking from it! HUGE step! (which just happened Friday!) We went to Speech Therapy yesterday. She wanted to start teaching him how to drink from a straw. (among other fun things as well) She warned me that it would take time. Possibly several therapy sessions. Who knew that it would only take FOUR tries in a 5 minute period! YIPPEE for my little sucker! He really wasn't wanting a drink, but I HAD to get it on video! I am so very proud of my little man!

Best Birthday EVER!

As many of you know, I don't make a big deal out of my birthday. In fact, I usually "wish" the day away. For no good reason really, I guess I just don't like the attention. (But a HUGE thank you to all of you who wished me a Happy Birthday!) Yesterday was the best birthday ever! If you didn't read my previous post... stop NOW and read that first. As you read, we were working on the drinking motion (with toys) in therapy just two days ago. I so badly would love it if he would hold his own cup. Well, watch this!

HE DID IT!
We weren't even expecting it to happen! He grabbed his cup from the table and threw back his head! From that point, I pulled out the camera to capture the amazing moment on video!
And get this... FIREWORKS in December! We have no idea why they were going on, but it sure made me feel special on my birthday! We had a great view from our table at Cafe Rio.
Yippee for a fabulous day!

Happy Mommy!

J-man usually has 3 different therapies each week. Physical therapy, Speech therapy, and Occupational therapy. Yesterday it was time for OT. He was cranky that day, which in turn can make Mommy cranky. He has been hitting himself a lot lately because he can't express himself and most of the time we don't know what he wants. He's frustrated, so he hits. It has been hard to watch and makes me sad. I hope and pray that he can pick up on more signs and figure out that pointer finger so that we can help him. Anyway... It was one of those days. I was so close to canceling his therapy. Can I just tell you.... I am SO glad that I didn't!
The therapists are always loving up on him, which I LOVE. I warned her that he wasn't in the best of moods. Boy, she sure turned that around! He was all giggles in therapy. We have been working very hard to get him to hold and drink his own sippy cup. (We have been told he is very weak in his arms) She decided that would be our focus for the day. She put toys in a tupperware and taught him how to dump towards him and then put the tupperware on his head. (the cup to mouth motion, only more fun!) She seriously only showed him how to do it about 4 times.

Then... he dumped the toys...

and put it on his head!!!

He was getting so many "Yippee's" and "Good Job" from us. It made my day! I know we have many challenges ahead of us, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. I love my Justin!!

UDSF Christmas party!

I know what you're thinking! They look thrilled, don't they?! Actually, the picture would have been darling... but I happen to have a very outdated camera that snaps ten seconds too late! You get the idea anyway!
We spent the evening last night with a lot of cuties! It was our first time going to the Utah Down syndrome Christmas party. The kids had a fabulous time making picture magnets...

and doing the hokey pokey!

Justin was in on the fun too! He can shake it when he needs to!

There were some very talented dancers! I hope Justin can bust a move the way some of these kiddos did when he gets older! They were so fun to watch!
Justin scored a prize of his own when it was time for the Freeze dance! Luckily big sis helped him freeze when the music stopped!

It was good to see a few of my sweet friends that I've made through all of this. I'm hoping to have a get together soon so we can all hang out again!

Turkey and Football!

Thanksgiving was so fun this year! It's always great knowing that my parents will be in town and we will all be together!

The guys and kiddos had a great time playing football outside. The weather was perfect!

Of course Brynn was off in her own world. She found the only spot of snow left and made a mini snowman! Justin and I were watching the game from the sidelines!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thankful A-Z *V,W,X,Y,Z*

I am cheating. I am going to finish my thankful posts in one big one so I can enjoy the holiday season with my family! I have enjoyed this challenge. It has been great to reflect on all of the wonderful things I have in my life! I am truly thankful...

V
I love a good vacation! I am always trying to find the time and a way to go! Always will!

W
I am always up for a good walk. Doesn't matter if I'm with my family or friends. If you want to walk... I'll be there with you!

X
Is there anything better than xoxo's? (Hugs and Kisses) I didn't think so!

Y
Mmmm..... yogurt! I could (and sometimes do) eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Z

I love going to the zoo with my kiddos! This is the first year that we didn't have an annual zoo pass and I actually missed going!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am truly thankful for each one of you. Love you!

Thankful A-Z *U*

U

I am VERY thankful for The UNITED States of America!
"God Bless Our Country and ALL WHO DEFEND HER!"

Thankful A-Z *T*

T

I am so very thankful for my Taylee! She is such a sweet daughter and a wonderful sister. She is seriously a female version of her Daddy. We always joke that we know how he would be as a girl! They are so much alike it's not even funny! Tay Rae is the wild one at home, but the quiet one when we are out! She always knows how to make us laugh... her giggle is hilarious! I'm proud of you and the little lady you are becoming! Love ya bunches sweet heart!

Thankful A-Z *S*

S

This time of year I am always reminded how thankful I am for sunshine! This is when I miss it the most! Here are a few reasons why...

flip flops

family walks

flowers
puffy clouds

pedicures

vacations
picnics at the park
walks on the beach
outdoor exercise
trips to the zoo
boating
summer clothes
blue skies
popsicles
dinner on the patio
oh my....
the list could go on
and on
and on....

Thankful A-Z *R*

R

Reading - We aren't hard core readers around here, but we read. We have always read books to our little ones before bed. It's so fun to watch them read to each other as they get older. (sometimes the older girls fight over who gets to read to the younger ones!) I love to see my kids get into a good book! As for my reading material... US Weekly magazine baby! (Hey... at least I read!)

Radio - I constantly have the radio on! Doesn't matter if I'm at home or in the car... I LOVE music! In fact... my oldest reminds me of myself when I was her age. First thing she does when she goes into her room... Turns on her radio!


Razors - Ugh... could you imagine a world with no razors? How could I possibly survive? We will keep the razor companies in business with three daughters. Too bad shaving is such a pain!

There you go... a few of the "R's" that I am thankful for!