The Adventures of the Dork Dots

25 November 2009

Thanksgiving "Break"

Today, I took the kids on an adventure. First we took Kallie a birthday present. Kallie is my best friend's daughter, and she's the kids' favorite babysitter. Then, I took a check to Jackie (daycare). Max was SCREAMING because we were parked in front of her house and he assumed we'd be leaving him there...

Then, as a "treat," we went to the dollar store. They could pick one of whatever they liked, except that Xandri kept wanting candy and I was so mean that I wouldn't let her choose candy (um, dollar store. Stale, old, possibly expired). So, then we went to the shoe store next door. Let's just say that kids shoes could quite possibly bankrupt me. Asa required two pair because he's got 2 gaping holes in the toes of the darling "Team Canada" shoes we bought him in August. Xandri got new church shoes, and Max's feet had grown half a size. Max chose "Spiderman" shoes. They have Spiderman and Iron Man on them. He's also quite positive they have Batman on them. Don't tell him they don't. He'll insist they DO. Shoe shopping for children is my definition of Hell. I'm quite sure that is one of the rings in Dante's Inferno.

After that, the kids went to Aunt Jen's while I braved the grocery store on the busiest day of the year. Whoo. Not recommending... however, I did run into Phyllis Bestor, who I haven't seen in 9 years! She got to see Max, and we talked a bit. It was so very nice to see her. She's the single most influential person in my teaching career. The only other people who come close are Stacy! Miller, Melodie Bestor, and Margaret Mortensen. Phyllis gave me my start, my wings, and my confidence.

Now, we're home and Xan and Asa are fighting in the toy room, Max is asleep, and John is working of a mad after discovering all his day's work has been for naught. Can't wait for the Thanksgiving doings tomorrow!

23 November 2009

Almost Christmas

I find myself exceptionally excited for Christmas this year. I don't know if it's because I've denied myself the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, or if it's because I haven't shopped at all for Christmas this year... but I find I'm excited and anxious to get to Christmas!

I haven't gotten John pinned down on anything Christmas yet, but I am planning to start the decorating while I'm home on Black Friday. I have the calendar planned out, and now I need to find the actual calendar pieces from last year (or make ANOTHER one, which is often what happens). The first activity of the Advent Season this year is to have a Black Friday celebration.

For Black Friday, I have a black tablecloth, black rice, and black chargers for under the plates. We're having a black and white dinner, and I am hoping it will be really fun. We don't go shopping on Black Friday, but I wanted my kids to have something fun to do over Thanksgiving break. We'll start the season then, and have our black rice, black Angus burgers, and Black Forest cake for dessert. I think it will be really fun.

This week, John is taking Jack and Xandri to see Guys and Dolls at MVHS tonight. Tomorrow, John is baking pies with his Varsity boys at our house. On Wednesday, we're getting ready for Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, Mark and Kristen are hosting my side of the family at their house (mom and dad's old house). John is working on the menu... On Friday, we're celebrating "Black Friday" and decorating for Christmas. That's what I have going on this week... On top of that, I have 75 research papers and 100 other papers to grade. It'll be a busy season!

My cousin Cole is getting married this week in the Cardston Temple. A big shout-out to him and his bride Paige. I talked to my Grandma Viv and they are excited. Weddings are times of such excitement... I wish we lived closer and could be there. I think that's been my mantra most of my life. That's the biggest reason I intend to live close to my parents. I want my kids to always have memories of little times and big times when they are with their grandparents. My grandparents never missed any of my big moments, and I enjoyed spending time with them in the summers. It's just the moments like Thanksgiving and Christmas that I wish we'd had more of. I saw Grandma JJ and Grandpa Allan a lot in the winters for Christmas and often at Thanksgiving, but the last time I was home in Raymond in the winter was when my cousin Dustin got married. Before that, I was there when my aunt Barbara got married. I definitely don't have many winter memories of that.

I can't wait to hear how the wedding goes and hopefully see some Facebook pictures of the day.

05 November 2009

Finally Halloween Photos

Asa went as Iron Man eating his dad's maple bar from Scout Breakfast that morning...

Max went as both a pirate AND Cookie Monster.

Xandri was a witch. Jack was a phantom.

04 November 2009

Dental Visits

I know, I still haven't posted the Halloween pictures. I haven't made a concerted effort to find a cord for the camera, and have just been struck by the fact that I have one in the computer bag.

However, yeserday we went to the dentist. Only Jack has a cavity, but both he and Xandri must have teeth pulled. This seems to be standard procedure for our kids. Their impending pulling will be next Monday, long enough to give their dad and the Tooth Fairy a heads-up.

Max adored his visit to the dentist. He was a trooper, and he did the whole process like a champ. He also enjoyed rifling the prize box and getting a ball. Asa, despite being ill, was OK at the dentist. He threatened to puke on the way home, but made it without needing his doggy bag. Hopefully, he'll soon be better, but he sure looks miserable, on day 3. I saw him briefly before work, hugging the toilet bowl. Poor kid!

02 November 2009

Asa Updates

All day long, I've been getting updates on the Little Man. Asa is sick; he has a headache and keeps trying to throw up. So his dad sends me periodic updates...

I'm headed home to see him next; yesterday he was so tired and whiney he went to bed at 6pm (the regular 6pm, not the daylight-savings-6pm). Poor critter. Hopefully he's better tomorrow because they all have "adventures with the dentist" planned. Exciting!

01 November 2009

Halloween Celebrations

Hallowe'en was fun for everyone yesterday. We went to Salt Lake, but we missed everyone. We had a ward carnival and then trunk-or-treating. That meant that the people in our ward didn't come trick-or-treating, so we had an "at-home" night with cider, cookies, popcorn, and John and the 3 older kids watched Ice Age 3. I answered the door a few times, dealt with the fifth migraine of the week, and watched some procedural crime shows. It was very, very nice to fall back this morning! The kids were up at 6 am, however. That was not nice.

Jack's costume was a cross between an evil wizard/grim reaper; Xandri's dress was darling--black with green, very much like a ball gown; Asa was cute in his Iron Man costume (Max loved his mask!); and Max got to wear several costumes. He wore the Cookie Monster costume, a pirate costume, and any mask he could find. He also had several melt-downs and was in bed, asleep, by 6:30. It's hard to be a 2 year old, most all the time.

I have to find the cord to the camera and then I'll post pictures.

30 October 2009

Halloween Celebrations

John has informed me that punctuality at the Valley View Elementary Halloween Parade is not vital. The kids march by twice. ;o)
Jack's eyes were "lit" as he filed past. He does adore a good costume session. For 3 years he was Tigger; once, he was a pirate; another year, he was Septimus Heap from Magyk by Angie Sage. He's thrilled by this season, and everything is an adventure.

Asa is Iron Man today, and he has sung his theme song for me. All the Wee Wolves were darling today! They came in, lined up, and got their KitKats...
Halloween is a good day to be a teacher: Students are beyond creative and clever. I have had one student come as bacon, one as Paul McCartney (the other Beatles are in their classes), a fantastic member of KISS, a cute, cute clown costume, amongst others in the hallway. My copy center friend, Jennifer, is Charlie Chaplin.
I didn't dress up today. Last year, I was so thrilled to be through October that I dressed up AND had a pummingo for the contest. This year, I'm just glad that everything has gone well and that we're on to Thanksgiving!

Here's a flashback to last year's pummingo...

29 October 2009

The NieNie Dialogues

Ever since I saw Stephanie Nielson on Oprah, I've been thinking about my own family blog. Stephanie keeps her blog updated every day (much like I do my school blog) but it's about something simple, something sweet about her kids, family, or husband (Mr. Nielson).

Lisa (Valentine) Clark, married to Stephanie's brother Topher Clark, was my good friend at BYU. I met them both at the same time, in the same play (Hester's Song--English Society, 1993). That's when they met, and they are singularly delightful people. I follow Chris and Lisa on Twitter and Facebook. If I lived in Provo, I'd vote for Steve Clark.

Anyway, I've been wondering what I had to write about... and I guess I do. I just need to take time to enjoy the little moments and celebrate them more.

This morning, Jack came down to ask me about Carrie Jenkins (John's cousin) who came to visit us yesterday. He also visits us about 8:30 each night to share what he's reading and thinking (and we always answer with an exasperated, "Go to bed, Jack!") These little moments remind me how fast he's growing up. Will we have those same discussions when he's a teenager? I don't remember having discussions like that with my mom and dad as a teenager. Dad used to complain about how expensive my books were, especially since I read them as fast as Jack does.

I need to live more in the moment, for the moments, and remember that the important things in life are the moments. I keep the phrase "Life isn't measured in the breaths you take, but in the moments that take your breath away" next to my bed. I need to recognize and celebrate those moments, because they go by so quickly and kids grow up so fast.

25 March 2009

Tooting My Own Horn

I'm almost ashamed to re-print it, but here's what one of my students wrote about me in today's edition of the local paper (The Daily Herald). It's not online, so I'm copying it from the school website at www.timberwolftimes.com.

Written by Kaleo Li as appeared in The Daily Herald, B10, 3/25/09

Overcoming an obstacle is almost always a formidable task, but living through constant pain and discomfort may be even more laudable than that.

Such is the life of Timpanogos High school teacher Jillian Phippen, who juggles major health concerns, responsibilities at home, and duties as an advisor and faculty member on a daily basis.

She suffers from kidney stones, a painful urological disorder, and has had “more than [she] could count,” passing a few of these stones each week. She also experienced kidney and liver failure during her last pregnancy and has to regularly accommodate her life with her case of diabetes.

“She’s had several health concerns, mainly in association with being a diabetic,” says Kori Crampton, a fellow Timpanogos educator.

While having to deal with all these tribulations, Phippen still heads up a journalism staff, teaches 2 ESL classes, keeps herds of rowdy sophomore English students under control, raises four young children, and actively participates in her local Boy Scouts of America program.

One of the most admirable qualities that Phippen posseses is her ability to stay sanguine through all the stresses of her life.

“She’s in a lot of pain, but she’s smiling all the time,” says Cecile Thomas, who teaches Photography at Timpanogos High.

“Mrs. Phippen's unique sense of humor still finds a way to bubble through to keep her and everyone around her smiling. After being filled with radioactive dye for a procedure, she dressed as ‘Radioactive Woman’ for Halloween. You can't get any more optimistic than that," says Sairah Gold, one of her students.

By looking at her Twitter profile, anyone can see the humor and optimism that she infuses into people’s lives. When she had to go in for neurological testing and to obtain an echocardiogram, her status update reflected her positive thoughts: “I get to have more tests. I’ll study hard and not flunk!”

Despite the enormous amount of energy required by all the responsibilities Phippen has, she never gives less than all she can to those who require it, whether it is her children, students, or family members.

“What I like about Mrs. Phippen is that she’s open, . . . and that makes her a good friend. I know I can always count on her to listen to my troubles and to give me advice,” says Irasema Del Castillo, a student at Timpanogos High.

Her Twitter update that portrays herself most accurately says, “[I’m] finally on my way to work! I may not feel well, but hi-ho!”

As an educator, Jillian Phippen teaches more than vocabulary and grammar; she teaches us all how to endure the most difficult circumstances.

30 January 2009

A Phippen Update

You'll get several emails about today... because it's Xandri's birthday but I also haven't written anything on the blog for a while. I was so, so thrilled to see that JOHN had written on our blog. I love that man.

I've been really sick/stressed this week, so at least I didn't have to clean the whole house for guests for Xan's party (we're having it at a pool). My stresses were that I had to be observed (every 3 years), and my pre-observation did not go well. So I totally revamped my room, ordered more "teacher clothes" and am working hard at being to school every day, on time, and really professional. John has completely taken over getting the kids ready for school and there. I have to have good recommendations because I can not lose our insurance. I don't think there are significant problems: I am a good teacher and my test scores show it. I just think, in a year of cut backs, I don't want to be the one cut.

Today, I had a lunch meeting with my boss from the district office. It's always tricky when you're dealing with someone at the district office. This lady wants to be my friend, I think. But, her job is also to find people who are doing innovative things... and I'm really, really good at that. I fear she's going to ask me to present again at the Professional Development session in March. That's kinda scary because the people I work with at my school see me as "the flunk-out kid teacher" instead of the "keep them in school teacher." I don't know if older teachers would see me as innovative. Sometimes I think they see me as "English-Lite," even though I'm using best practices and current brain research. I don't personally know anyone else who does as much reading about brain studies and education as I do. It's my goal to always be on top of what science shows kids can do.

I lost my extra class to cut backs next year. That will be GOOD for me. I'll be able to grade papers and do things at school and less at home. I will also NOT be teaching ESL/Hispanic kids. I'll have 2 sessions of honors English, journalism, back to special ed, and 2 regular classes. It will be nice to have a bit of change. I like that. It makes me be fresh and exciting for students. Summer school is still up in the air. I don't know if they'll be offering it, but if they do, I'll volunteer because I have all the lessons, copies, etc. already made and ready to go. I still think I teach remedial English better than anyone else I've seen. I *care* about the kids and try to reach them. I think of each one of them as Dave. It gives me reason and purpose.

I'll also have a pay cut. That's a bummer, BUT, Xandri won't be at preschool next year, so that will really help. It's an extra $300 every month that we will save. There's a bill in the legislature that wants to move the cut off date for school to July 1st, so I may not have a choice as to whether or not to send Asa to kindergarten. I don't know quite what to do about that. He'll have had (already) 3 years of preschool. If I hold him back, he'll have 4 years of the same preschool. Maybe I should send him to another school---but there's no Challenger or Montessori in Orem. I guess I could send him to an all-day kindergarten and then have him do grade 1? He's ahead of all the other kids in his preschool. He knows all his colors, most of the alphabet, he's a whiz with songs and lyrics, and he's drawing well, too. He can spell his name, Xandri's name, and he can read Jack and Max, too. He's really, really bright. His teachers say he's exceptionally good natured, pays attention, and is very focused (for being 3). I'll need help looking for ways to help him. August is not a good time to have a baby. I wasn't planning it, though, and he's the sweetest thing on earth. I know I don't have favorites, but each of my children have something unique and beautiful about them.

Jack is inquisitive and interested. He's funny and creative. He's artistic and very detail oriented. He's a lot like John. He made this amazing, moving dragon for Xandri's birthday gift. He has brads that let the legs move. His reasoning for a dragon was that Xan loves princesses and most princess stories deal with dragons. That's so logical, and thoughtful. What a great gift!

Xandri is dramatic, flamboyant, and her mother's daughter. She's my comeuppance.

Asa is my little old man. He's got a lovely, sweetness about him that makes everyone love him. He's cute, funny, and really insightful. He notices the world and expresses his thoughts and feelings in amazing ways. I don't know if it's because he's a such a cute age, but he's really special. He's simply amazing.

Max has grown and developed so quickly in the past month. He's learned to pout, to smack people when he doesn't get his way, and he sticks out his leg (I think he's trying to kick people) when he's mad. He bites, too. However, he's also a great kisser, understands everything you say to him, and wants things HIS way, RIGHT NOW. He reminds me so much of my dad. He not only looks like dad, he's got the same aggressive, insistent personality. He's absolutely fearless, but he still loves his mama and being snuggled.

I ordered Xandri the prettiest clothes to fit the doll Grandma Max bought her for Christmas. They came from a Chinese seamstress, and they are amazing quality. I paid so very, very little for 6 outfits ($50 total--Ebay). They are lined, gorgeous fabric, some even hand-beaded. GORGEOUS. She'll love them. I got her 2 movies, some hair things, a super-soft bathrobe (pink, of course) and 2 birthday "My Little Ponies" sets. I spent about $100. As she gets older, that same $100 won't go very far!

Well, that's the first installment on Xandri's birthday. More after we spend the day together! So much to do tomorrow. I'm excited for Saturday!

28 January 2009

Our Right-Brained Girl

Our little girl is right-brained. Right-brained people are typically creative. They're artists, musicians, and the like. Now, Xan is creative and she likes to color, but that's not how I know she's right-brained. And, it's not in the fact that if she needs to think about something she looks up to the right (she does this when she's making up a lie--it's true).

Here's how I know she's right-brained. For the past several weeks, Xan has awaken every couple of nights crying. She's sitting up in bed, scared. Her eyes are open, but she's fast asleep. It's very weird. I try to calm her and the only way I've found is to get her to wake up. Once she's awake, the crying stops, she lays down and goes right back to sleep. I know she's awake if she can answer questions like: "Who am I?" "What's your brother's name?" "What's 2+2?" While she's still asleep, she can't answer those questions. Strangely, she never remembers any of it in the morning.

Last night, our strange little ritual occured while Jill was away. I was trying to get he to answer my standard set of questions and she couldn't. I had just asked her what 2+2 was and her eyes went up to the right and she couldn't say. So, I asked a new question, one, incidentally, I'd never asked her before: "What are the colors of the rainbow?" She rapidly replied: "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet." I asked, "Who am I?" and she couldn't answer. She was fast asleep and could rattle off the colors of the rainbow. Our little girl is right-brained.

04 January 2009

New Year, New Ward

Today, John and I were part of a very emotional realignment of our stake. Our dear bishop, who has only been serving for 3 years, was released because he was part of a new ward. We have enjoyed our bishop and his 2 counselors, and they have been exceptionally good to us.

John was then called to the new bishopric as the ward clerk. He had previously been the executive secretary. Ward clerk will be a bit less work for John, which is nice. We will also gain 200 extra people in our ward: that means our young people, primary and MIA will both be increased. Our primary will double, which is wonderful.

It was a fast Sunday. Jack was fasting for a good outcome of the realignment. He has such a sweet spirit. He was so very worried that he'd be separated from his best friend (who lives next door) and his other friend who lives behind us. We tried to explain that wouldn't happen, but he was so grateful when we told him how it was divided. He will get another good friend in the ward which will be great.

It was an emotional Sunday, but it was filled with good feelings about people whom we love. We love them because we have served with them, doing the work of the Lord. What could be a better way to separate from one another, knowing that we will still see each other, as we are serving the Lord. It reminds me of my favorite scripture: The sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger meet after a long period of missionary work and are thrilled to find that they are all strong in the gospel; and when the time comes for them to separate, they separate knowing that they are going about the Lord's purposes, that are great. Surely the Lord's work is great, and it asks us to love one another where ever we are in the wards of Zion.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus will bring us all back to Him and to Heaven: forever and ever. The best news is that when we work with and for the people who surround us, we gain such love and attachment that we are sad when we can no longer serve with them. That kind of sadness is beautiful because it is meant to be repeated in every calling we ever serve in. The Glory of God allows us to grow and love and for that love to grow exponentially by allowing us to serve and love more and more. It's preparing us to love everyone we meet and become more Christlike.

Alma 17: 13

13 And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.

30 December 2008

Remembering 2008

Once a year, I try to wade through the thousands of email I have cluttering my inbox and archive the important ones and discard the mundane. As I was doing that, I came across a blog entry on someone else's blog that made so much difference to me now than it did when I thought it was so meaningful last year!

Last Christmas at this time, we worried that Max was potentially blind and that he might not be normal. That was such a blow because all of Christmas is centered around a perfect, holy infant who saved the world. Prayers on our behalf, simple tests, and Max learned and grew to be perfectly normal, a joy, precocious, special, and even a bit more advanced in some areas than his siblings.

Then, in September, we learned that Jack was deaf in his L ear. What a shock. We had to wait to see how deaf, and then for surgery to discover how much he could be helped. Prayers on our behalf again have given us blessings beyond our wildest expectations.

What this blog post reminds me is that we are all parents of special children. Our children each have needs that we didn't anticipate, and often that we wish we could remove from their pathways. We all have children hoping for the very possible scenario. Most of us learn to live with worst-case scenarios.

I often wonder if it was fair of me to bring 4 children to a home where their mother is often so ill she can't take care of herself let alone them, but they have a mother, and she does love them enouth to have given anything, everything to have them. Sometimes it's not the child who's need is special.

This post is from http://hollandpostcards.blogspot.com/2005/07/thoughts-on-holland.html

FRIDAY, JULY 08, 2005

Thoughts on Holland

The post looking at Welcome to Holland and Have a Nice Trip, along with the wonderful insight of Andrea at Beanie Baby, has had me thinking quite a bit since I read it.

An acquaintance of mine [a local sister in the same 'sorority' chapter as I] wrote this essay/letter that I keep filed right next to Welcome to Holland. I keep a file of sorts,,,,

a collection of postcards. Some are simple little quotes. Some are a paragraph or two. Some are just postcard photograph with a simple hello and a stamp from the time and location. Some are longer essays filled with many facets and some are books, such as Pearl S. Bucks, The Child who Never Grew. The words are different, the perspectives and experiences are unique,,,,,but the common thread is the same. We are sisters in a sorority of Motherhood, traveling to places that others may never get to experience or even understand. We are all richer and wiser from our travels, although our bodies, minds and souls sometimes have gotten worn, battered and bruised from the trip. Our luggage doesn’t always arrive or our connection never comes, So we need to adapt the best we can. But we are travelers, the world over, and our journeys are the journeys that make a life full of wonder and full of new horizons.

So I share with you this piece, and I hope it finds its way into your 'collection'

To You, My Sisters
© Maureen K. Higgins

Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day. I've looked for you on the internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores. I've become an expert at identifying you. You are well worn. You are stronger than you ever wanted to be. Your words ring experience, experience you culled with your very heart and soul. You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world. You are my "sisters".

Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority. A very elite sorority. We are special. Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members. Some of us were invited to join immediately, some not for months or even years. Some of us even tried to refuse membership, but to no avail.

We were initiated in neurologist's offices and NICU units, in obstetrician's offices, in emergency rooms, and during ultrasounds. We were initiated with somber telephone calls, consultations, evaluations, blood tests, x-rays, MRI films, and heart surgeries.

All of us have one thing in common. One day things were fine. We were pregnant, or we had just given birth, or we were nursing our newborn, or we were playing with our toddler. Yes, one minute everything was fine. Then, whether it happened in an instant, as it often does, or over the course of a few weeks or months, our entire lives changed. Something wasn't quite right. Then we found ourselves mothers of children with special needs.

We are united, we sisters, regardless of the diversity of our children's special needs. Some of our children ungergo chemotherapy. Some need respirators and ventilators. Some are unable to talk, some are unable to walk. Some eat through feeding tubes. Some live in a different world. We do not discriminate against those mothers whose children's needs are not as "special" as our child's. We have mutual respect and empathy for all the women who walk in our shoes.

We are knowledgeable. We have educated ourselves with whatever materials we could find. We know "the" specialists in the field. We know "the" neurologists, "the" hospitals, "the" wonder drugs, "the" treatments. We know "the" tests that need to be done, we know "the" degenerative and progressive diseases and we hold our breath while our children are tested for them. Without formal education, we could become board certified in neurology, endocrinology, and physiatry.

We have taken on our insurance companies and school boards to get what our children need to survive, and to flourish. We have prevailed upon the State to include augmentative communication devices in special education classes and mainstream schools for our children with cerebral palsy. We have labored to prove to insurance companies the medical necessity of gait trainers and other adaptive equipment for our children with spinal cord defects. We have sued municipalities to have our children properly classified so they could receive education and evaluation commensurate with their diagnosis.

We have learned to deal with the rest of the world, even if that means walking away from it. We have tolerated scorn in supermarkets during "tantrums" and gritted our teeth while discipline was advocated by the person behind us on line. We have tolerated inane suggestions and home remedies from well-meaning strangers. We have tolerated mothers of children without special needs complaining about chicken pox and ear infections. We have learned that many of our closest friends can't understand what it's like to be in our sorority, and don't even want to try.

We have our own personal copies of Emily Perl Kingsley's "A Trip To Holland" and Erma Bombeck's "The Special Mother." We keep them by our bedside and read and reread them during our toughest hours.

We have coped with holidays. We have found ways to get our physically handicapped children to the neighbors' front doors on Halloween, and we have found ways to help our deaf children form the words, "trick or treat." We have accepted that our children with sensory dysfunction will never wear velvet or lace on Christmas. We have painted a canvas of lights and a blazing yule log with our words for our blind children. We have pureed turkey on Thanksgiving. We have bought white chocolate bunnies for Easter. And all the while, we have tried to create a festive atmosphere for the rest of our family.

We've gotten up every morning since our journey began wondering how we'd make it through another day, and gone to bed every evening not sure how we did it.

We've mourned the fact that we never got to relax and sip red wine in Italy. We've mourned the fact that our trip to Holland has required much more baggage than we ever imagined when we first visited the travel agent. And we've mourned because we left for the airport without most of the things we needed for the trip.

But we, sisters, we keep the faith always. We never stop believing. Our love for our special children and our belief in all that they will achieve in life knows no bounds. We dream of them scoring touchdowns and extra points and home runs. We visualize them running sprints and marathons. We dream of them planting vegetable seeds, riding horses and chopping down trees. We hear their angelic voices singing Christmas carols. We see their palettes smeared with watercolors, and their fingers flying over ivory keys in a concert hall. We are amazed at the grace of their pirouettes. We never, never stop believing in all they will accomplish as they pass through this world.

But in the meantime, my sisters, the most important thing we do, is hold tight to their little hands as together, we special mothers and our special children, reach for the stars.

25 December 2008

The Magic of Christmas Day

Please click on the title of this to get to more picutres. I have a Facebook link that will take you to the pictures and you do NOT have to have a Facebook account to get to them.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14604&l=f8bde&id=1149311414

We had a wonderful Christmas morning. John and I have been blessed with amazingly obedient children (Okay, Jack can't remember to shut the back toor, but it's not that he doesn't WANT to), and Xandri teases her brothers mercilessly, and Asa is silly beyond measure... well, Max isn't obedient, at ALL, but there's still time), and they did rush down to see if Santa had arrived, and when they saw he HAD arrived, they were good sports about waiting for all of us to go down together.

We opened some presents, and then our delightful children allowed us to have a breakfast break! We had wonderful home-made buttermilk pancakes (John doesn't even LIKE pancakes, but they are my and the children's favorite food), bacon, fresh (not from concentrate) orange juice, and Christmas crackers. The kids all wore their cracker crowns (except Max, who wadded his up in a ball immediately).

Now we're off to visit the rest of the family. The gifts are opened, the games have just started.

Merry Christmas to all of you. We love you, and we love spending the day thinking of you and wishing you all the best, only the best, this season.

17 December 2008

Sharing the Spirit of Christmas

My whole life, I have been taught that it's better to give than to receive. It's a motto I've tried to instill in my children: Jesus was given 3 gifts, and they could "ask" for 3 gifts, but could expect no more.

I've tried to create for my children that it's important to be "secret" about their givings, to not gloat or take "credit" for what has been given. I think we're doing a good job of that.

This past month has been hard; the city of Mapleton is holding on to a bond that was paid to make sure that parts of John's development were done properly. Even though that part of the property is done, the city hasn't released the bond, and the development has to wait to continue until they have money to start on the next phase. That's also meant that they haven't been able to cut paychecks to the staff who works on the development, John included. Of course, we've been expecting to be paid any day now for a couple of weeks. It's like watching the Feds and banks squabble over money and how it's to be paid out. It's frustratingly slow.

Yesterday, we were in the unique position of being the Sub-for-Santa family: not donating, but being the recipients. I suddenly looked at all the stories of kids who say "We gave, never knowing we were poor" because that's the way I felt. Having the Bishop in our home, knowing his great love and support for us and to us really put a different spin on Christmas for me.

We are extremely blessed that we have a home; we bought Christmas months ago and our kids will lack for nothing; both John and I have a job, and more importantly insurance, but we are so richly blessed by people who are generous and giving and wanted to make sure that until John was paid, we could take care of the necessities. How amazing people are at Christmas.

I have felt mighty sheepish, knowing that we could not have prepared for this in any other way. We did everything "right" and can pay our bills, but life in America for average working people (especially people who work on, for, with building and homes) is very hard.

I've also been grateful for the Relief Society as they've taken care of meals for us because John has had the flu for a week, and I'm still struggling all the time with kidney stones. Our neighbors are good people who love each other. What a great opportunity it is to be on the receiving end of such love, to know that we are in someone's prayers, and to know that we are being watched over by those who surround us. That's the real lesson I've learned this Christmas: it's not just what you give, but what you receive from being part of the gift. Even though the blessing might be in the form of money, it sure feels like love to me.

Maximum RIDE!

Darling Max has SUCH an attitude! What a darling kid he is, but in small doses. He's noisey, in the extreme!!

He has started to strut his stuff around the house. He lurches, and as he lurches, he screams. His favortie phrase is "NO!" He will cling to me, directing me around the house and say, "No!" He never says "Yes" (he used to say it...).

Max loves the telephone and picks it up (especially my cell phone) and says, "How do?!" It's adorable. However, when banging my cell phone on the floor, it is not terribly funny.

Max also says, "I do!" as he wanders around the house. He also says "I do it!" and is so proud of himself when he does things. He's adorable when he snuggles, but when he's tired and snuggly, he BITES. He's bitten my face only moments after giving me a big smooch.

He's so darned determined. He not only has my father's face, but he has my dad's drive and ambitions. He's fiercely stubborn (and he gets that in double measure from his dad and me.)

He's absolutely beautiful, but he can be a total terror. He goes off of all furniture face first, but he's figured out how to slide from the top of the stairs all the way down (laughing demonically).

He's the child who looks the most like the Prestons... and he's the one who reminds me most of my brother David. He's also shorter than all the other of our children. His little legs are short and cute, and he's not nearly as tall as his other 2 brothers were at the same age. He's a tease and he doesn't take teasing well. He's the baby, for sure, for sure.

08 December 2008

Christmas Catchup

I wanted to post as I have pictures, but I haven't had my camera near my harddrive in a while. Here's what's happened recently.

We've gotten into the full Christmas swing. On the 5th, Jackson went to visit Dr. Robins and got a good bill of health on his L ear. While the very upper levels of sound have been affected, his middle-range, the speaking and low range is normal now. As long as he protects his hearing, he'll be great. The implant is working well and Dr. Robins was pleased. He said that most people don't get such a great result.

On Friday night, the kids got to come to school for the National Honor's Society babysitting evening. They had a marvelous time, and even Max had a great time. His diaper failed, however, and he required new clothing. He came home in a cute yellow NHS shirt. We wrote our letters to Santa when we came home that evening, and then put our shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill.

On Saturday morning, the shoes had been filled with delicious hand-rolled peppermint candy canes, and we cleaned the house and had a St. Nicholas Day feast. John made a gorgeous turkey, sweet-potato soup, candied yams, candied carrots, green bean casserole with hand-breaded Frenched onions, and cornbread-foccacia dressing with cherries and sausage. Everything was yummy, and Xandri loved the sweet-potato soup. She was tempted to lick the bowl.

Jack gave a talk about the secret of giving at church today. He read a message by President Henry B. Eyring, and he read the whole thing by himself! He's amazing. It's awesome how kids learn to read. Xandri is totally engrossed in figuring out what letters form which words and how they do it. She's interested in being a good reader. Asa has figured out "A's" and can find all sorts of A's. He's great at big and little A's---because his name contains both. ;o)

Yesterday, we got to celebrate Maddie Sue's 7th birthday (one day late!) We went to Jen & Joe's and her party was wonderful. Maddie enjoys everything so much. When we sang Happy Birthday, we added "Ho Ho Ho" in between each line, and each time we sang "Ho, Ho, Ho" she'd blow out one of her candles. When she got all the candles blown out, she raised her hands in victory and said, "YAY!" She was as excited by a box of popcorn and a Ziplock bag as she was her other gifts. She was super excited by "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas" which Aunt Anna gave her.

Tonight, we're going to drive around looking for places to leave Christmas Pixie items. Then we're going to catch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. We DV-R'd it last night and will discuss it for Family Home Evening.

The season passes so quickly! I can't believe it's already December 8th... If I don't take time to actually DO things with my kids, the days would just disappear. We have scouts and pixies to do tomorrow (and a board of review---and I'm supposed to go to Relief Society's dinner). On Wednesday, we're going swimming for the first time at the Lehi Legacy center. We got a year's pass to the Legacy center and I want to go at least 3 times this month while we have time off. On Thursday, my visiting teachers are coming. On Friday, John and I are going on a date... we might even make it to the temple! On Saturday, we have breakfast with Santa Claus with the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation at BYU and the ward Christmas party, and our lives are busy, busy, busy.

I often wish my children played instruments or danced or did other things, but quite honestly, I can't figure out when we'd squeeze them in. We leave home each day at 8am, and we don't get home again until 4 or 4:30 every day. Then it's homework, clean up, dinner, reading, and bed... When could we squeeze more in? I guess the moms who don't work have superlatively talented children. Now that Jack can hear, we're going to get him playing his guitar, and hopefully... the rest can get some musical training, too.

27 November 2008

Fun Photos!

Most recent photos: (These are all Facebook links).

how people this album by sending them this public link:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12679&l=06f1b&id=1149311414