Date Night

Travis and I rarely go out by ourselves, but tonight we were able to go out. We went to a local University's Men's Basketball game. We left our kids with a young woman from our ward. (This was really hard because this is only the second time we have done this, and one was about 3 years ago).

The game was fun. Travis and I went with his Mother, Step-Father, Brother and Sister-in-law. Our team of course won, which is always a nice bonus. I liked that Travis and I got to spend a few hours relaxing. The game didn't last that long and we told our baby-sitter that we wouldn't get home for another 2 hours. So we wondered around Target looking at all the different things. I have to say that after looking thru Target, I still like Walmart better! Then after Target we went to Albertson's to buy a pork roast for some sweet pork meat that I make. (IT IS SOO GOOD! JUST LIKE CAFE RIO).

I have realized as we were coming home, that I have everything that I have ever wanted in life. I have a wonderful family, children and an amazing husband. I don't have a house, but I love where I life. I get to stay home with my children, which not everyone can do. I just have a wonderful life! I may have my up and downs but over all I am very blessed. I need to remember to thank my Heavenly Father for my wonderful blessings. I just wish everyone could be as happy as me!

Flash Back Friday

Feburary 2005

Functions....

You would think that going as a family to places, such as a church event would not be stressful and laid back. Not with my family!

Tonight was the Blue and Gold for our Cubscouts. Travis is the Cub Master and I am a Den Mother Assistant. So we kinda have to go to these things.

It started out fine, and the boys were running around enjoying themselves....no big deal it was before it started, we are good. Then we start. They can color on the tables but after seriously 2 minutes of that they were tired and wanted to get up and run again. Meanwhile we have skits, and songs and things going on that we don't need Brandon or Nathan to be running around during. So finally 1/2 hour later it was time for dinner. By this time, I had had it, fine you want to run around, do it, but stay out of the way. Although I had to put a stop to Nathan jumping of a table in the forer. We get them a plate of dinner, hot dogs! Their favorite, they will eat really well....nope. We would take a bite, then get up and run around. Sit down, take a bite, get up and run around. Just contstantly. Then after another 20 to 30 minutes later we start doing the awards. Now I am letting the boys go in and out, because lets face it, when I try to hold them and strain them they go hay wire and scream, (I tried this first thing with Nathan). But after Nathan and Brandon both tripped on the microphone wire I had enough. I couldn't do it anymore. So I took the keys from Travis (between award giving) and took the boys home and put them straight to bed. So 40 minutes later they are out.

Some people may look at me as a bad Mother because I cannot control my children and that they run wild. Yes they do this, but I would like anyone out there who think they can do a better job to try it. Take my place for a day and see how long you can last. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people judge some poor Mother on how their child is acting. They don't know the background of the child or if they cannot control themselves in public like my children. Or they could even be something else that the naked eye cannot see. So I say lets we all don't judge other people too harsly, and maybe give a helping hand. And also a look that you give can be harsher than any words you may say. So smile too!!

I know I am blessed with these boys for a reason and I love them to death! I know that I was given them because I could provide the best for them as well as I needed to learn from them. I am constantly learning from them and I love and appreciate them. I wouldn't trade my children for children who didn't have autism. Autism is fun once you get to understand it!

Brandon's Tooth

Last Sunday Brandon told us that his tooth hurt and that he needed to see the dentist. So I had him show me his tooth and low and behold it was loose! Brandon's first loose tooth! Oh is he growing up so fast! So Brandon nursed his tooth for the next 3 days. He was constantly moving it either with his tongue or his fingure. By Wednesday it was loose enough that it was started to hurt him. So I asked him if he wanted me to help pull out his tooth, he told me yes. The first try I wasn't able to pull but I knew it was close, so after a little bit of hand flapping on Brandon's part, he let me pull again, and his tooth came out! Brandon was so excited and happy! He wanted to take his tooth to school and show everyone. I was able to convince him that we needed to keep the tooth safe so that the tooth fairy can take it. He quickly saw the reason behind leaving the tooth home. So that night he was completely excited and fell asleep quickly. Then the next morning when he found the crisp dollar bill next to his pillow he was so excited he ran all over he house showing everyone the tooth. Then he had to type on the msn messanger to Dad at work that the tooth fairy came.

Now since then we have had to teach him more about money and what we do with money. We aren' t completely there yet but he has the concept. So he is working hard to try and earn more money so that he can buy a toy.

It is always a shock to be going from day to day and then out of no where you get a sign that your child is growing up. I remember when I lost my first tooth and now my son has lost his first tooth. It makes you realize that the time you have with them now is limited and makes you want to spend as much time with them as possible.

* Don't ask me how Brandon managed to loose his shirt in the middle of the night.

7 Years

Seven years ago I was sealed to my best friend and loved one. We have come a long way, moving 5 different times, 5 different jobs and 3 children later. We often tell each other that we couldn't imagin loving the other like we do now, and think back to when we fell in love and how much we loved each other then, to now, were our love has grown and expanded.

We were priviledged this year to spend 24 hours alone with no children. Travis's Mom and sister April were kind enough to take our 3 children from Sunday night to Monday night.

Travis and I enjoyed sleeping in until 8am but staying in bed until 10am. We went to see a movie, put together a puzzle and had a nice dinner out. We just relaxed mostly and enjoyed each other's company.

I know that I have the best husband in the world who treats me wonderfully and who is the best father to my children. I love him dearly and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him and more.

Tooele

This past weekend we went to Tooele for Travis's brother. We had a special event that gathered all of the family together. Saturday night we all ended up in the same hotel. All of the children were so excited. Travis's sister April was up from Vegas visiting and she had her two little girls there, Sierra and Brittney. Brandon and Nathan just love them and are always excited to know that they will be there. We were all able to get rooms next to each other and that created the need for the kids to "apartment hop". When we first arrived Brandon was so excited and started calling our room, our apartment, so it has stuck with me. We were on an end, and then next to us was Grandma and Grandpa Walker with April and her girls, and then next to them staying together was Wayne, Melissa, Derrek and Rose. Later that we found out that Grandpa and Grandma Hendrix were staying in the same hotel as well.

Shortly after we arrived and the children had found where all the beds were, tested them in their ability to keep us warm, bounciness and snuggle capacity. After that we decided the best thing to do was to go swimming. So we all got geared up to get into the pool. The kids had fun but an hour later we all got hungry. So we all got dressed again (threw our wet cloths in the tub) and went to Carl's Jr for some dinner. Our plan was to let the children run so they would be extra tired that night. John and Jacque and their two kids (Carson and Riley) joined us for dinner. After eating and deciding that if we still wanted to swim longer we needed to go, we left and went back to the Hotel to swim. Now our rooms were outside the main lobby area where the pool was located. We are in Tooele where is still rather cold outside really cold....snow on the ground cold. Now picture that and us putting on our wet swim suits and running to the lobby to hop into the water. It was quite funny.

In the pool that night all of us got into the water (except April, she didn't "want" to swim). I couldn't believe how much Brandon liked the water. He was jumping and splashing and dunking. Just scaring me, because I KNOW he cannot swim. (Guess what we will be doing this summer). After about an hour of swimming we decided it was bed time and got out of the pool. It is amazing how fast you can run when you are dripping wet!

So after the kids are in bed, Brandon, Nathan and Kimball went to sleep rather well. Travis and I were very excited and splurged on watching some extra TV. (We don't have cable at home). This was a bad mistake because 2 hours later Nathan woke up coughing. He ended up coughing all night. It got to the point where Travis had to go to Walmart to get some medicine to help his cough. So around 2am, Travis gets Nathan in bed, and 2 hours later Kimball wakes up and is ready to start his day! So needless to say we didn't sleep well.

That morning we all got dressed and went to church with John and his family. Now for us church isn't always that fun. Try to make two boys with autism and ADHD sit still for over an hour? Not the easiest thing in the world to do. But they did manage with only a few moments of crying and shouting. Kimball was in heaven because he got to sit on Grandma Walker's lap the whole time. But during church Nathan and Kimball fell asleep to make up for last night. I was quite jealous and wished I could curl up and go to sleep too.

After church we went to John and Jacque's house for some lunch. The boys had a blast playing with all of the cousins but were ready to go home. They had had enough change for one day.

It was a fun two days to spend with family members. I always love it when we all get together and talk and chat. We were even able to start planning a few more times for us all to get together again.

Valentines Day Parties

I was looking through my blog and I realized that I had forgotten to post about the busy Friday the 13th. Since Valentine's day is on a Saturday this year, all the school celebrated it on Friday. I was able to go to both Brandon's and Nathan's classes. For Brandon's class I am the room mother so I got to plan the activities. We decorated bags for our valentines, frosted cookies and made Valentine hats. Since this is my 3rd party to plan for Brandon's class it is pretty easy now. The kids are used to me and really like my crafts. Kimball even had fun making a hat. He really liked his hat!
After Brandon's party, Kimball, Brandon and I went over to Nathan's school to go to his party. Unfortunately we missed half of it, but we were still able to see him. He had fun seeing Brandon and Kimball there.

After Nathan's Party, we all came home and went through the Valentine bags. The boys got a lot of candy!! They were nice enough to share a few pieces with Mom! Early that week, Nathan's made Valentine hats too, so I couldn't resist making them stand together with their hats. I think they boys are getting used to the idea that Mom likes to take pictures and expecially with them all together. We all had a fun day!

Nathan wanted to show off his "heart glasses" too!

Valentine Decorations

I have been wanting to post this for sometime, but kept forgetting. My wonderful cousin Jan shared on her blog a website Skiptomylou.com after visiting it, I was hooked! I immediately started making several of the different projects there. I made the crocheted hearts and the cling ons! They were so fun and easy that I plan to make cling-ons for every holiday. But I wanted to share my craft.