Each November our family talks about being grateful for all that we have been blessed with. Last year was the first time that Adam and Addison chose to give their Christmas gift up from Mom and Dad and use the money to fill stockings for children their age that have less than we do. This year we had the same lesson and I was so pleased that they once again chose to give up their gifts from Mom and Dad and shop for those with less. Alex even decided to participate this year!
Alex, Ms. Lacey and I visited Target and practiced walking through the store and shopping. Alex did a great job filling his stocking :) He thought he was buying the toys for his brother though. Adam, Addison and I made another trip to Target to fill their stockings. They were both very conscious of what they were buying and if it would fit in the stockings.
Adam and Addison went with me to the church to fill their stockings and turn them in. The stockings are filled and donated to a woman/children shelter in Phoenix. What great examples my little ones are to me, so willing to give up a gift to help their fellow man :)
Addison participated in her first dance recital today! She has been taking dance for the past 4 months and today her class preformed their routines for family and friends at school. I was so excited to be there with Addison to cheer her on. Dadam was able to take Adam to his appointment today at Phoenix Children's Hospital (he is even under the weather) so that I could watch Addison's debut!!
Addison did a fantastic job and here are the videos to prove it!!
Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer were the themes of our Christmas tables this year! Our ward decorated each table based on popular songs this year! We were asked to create a dessert that went along with your tables and I made the melting snowman cookies that I saw on Pintrest!! We enjoyed ham and cheese sandwiches, baked beans and chips and dip. We washed it all down with hot chocolate :)
We ended the evening visiting with Santa Clause! Amelia stayed in my arms while all the kids visited Santa and then at the last minute decided she would sit on his lap as well. Her faces said exactly what she was thinking!! We had a fun time singing carols and enjoying yummy food and friends.
We enjoyed Veteran's Day at the Phoenix Zoo with the Ashton family! All of the kids enjoyed seeing the animals and enjoying time with their friends :) We were a little warm, and a lot of the animals were trying to cool off out of sight, but the kids enjoyed playing at the tree house and water hole!! We only stopped for one photo the whole day. Getting 8 little ones to look forward all at once is a hard task, but as you can see the pictures were animated!
Adam has really enjoyed a few of his books that he has checked out of the library at school. The books gave instructions on creating cars, planes and other moving objects. Adam would go into the garage and use a butter knife or scissors to cut out his needed shapes. He created quite a few amazing vehicles. Adam was also the Star Student at school. Adam enjoyed making his poster and being highlighted for a week.
November 18th Alex had an MRI on his brain at Phoenix Children's Hospital. They had to put him under anesthesia so that he wouldn't move. He did pretty well throughout the procedure. We will find out the results on December 14th. He kept his breathing mask! He liked that it smelled like strawberries. His moose was the stuffed animal they gave him to make him feel more comfortable during the procedure!!
Amelia wore foam curlers for the first time on Sunday the 20th. I didn't leave them in long enough, but she did have a cute wave in her hair. She liked getting to put he curlers in, but sleeping in them wasn't a highlight for her :) Once we took them out she was upset and wouldn't smile for the pictures!!
Addison was able to participate in the Season's Parade at her school the day before Thanksgiving. Each of the students picked their favorite season and then dressed up as examples of things the season represents. Addison chose summer and enjoyed walking around the school with her classmates celebrating the seasons.
Later that day Dadam went to school and enjoyed the Turkey Trot with both Adam and Addison. Dadam was able to run with each of them and eat lunch with their classes as well :)
Dadam smoked Tom the Turkey this year!! He brined the turkey on Tuesday and then Thursday morning stuffed a layer of bacon between the skin and the meat and stuck him in the smoker!! A few good hours of smoking later we sunk our teeth into some yummy turkey and oh ya ribs!!
Each of the kids enjoyed their Thanksgiving jobs once again this year! Adam is getting the hang of buttering the rolls and Addison is a pro at cutting the cranberry sauce. Alex was a little nervous about putting the marshmallows onto the yams though. I am guessing that by next year he will be an expert though.
We were very blessed to have Nanee, Great Grandma Greg, Uncle Jared and Ms. Roxy share Thanksgiving with us this year. We enjoyed a yummy dinner and looking through the adds in preparation for Black Friday. Nanee took the older grand-kids to Aurthur's Christmas and the kids loved it!!
We made a little dent in Black Friday, but we didn't have a need to wake before sunrise to begin our shopping. The mall was busy and the three hours of shopping was enough for me to appreciate being a part of the Black Friday Tradition!
As always, we have so much to be grateful for. We are glad that our family and friends were able to share in another amazing day of Thanks!!
Ghost Toast and Creepy Eggs were on the menu at our house this morning! The kids enjoyed getting to pick their different shaped eggs and toast :)
Alex was very excited to take his hat and flag to school with him. Dadam went to an NFL game while in London and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the home team. The flags were placed on all the seats and Dadam brought a few home for the kids!!
Alex had his Fall party today and enjoyed getting to wear his Pirate Costume at school. Another little boy in the class next door was dressed as a Pirate too. Alex thought that was the best, I am not sure the other little boy was as excited about matching as Alex was :)
Amelia was excited to join Alex at school. She was a puppy dog until she got to hot :)
Alex and Amelia enjoyed a lot of fun activities. I love the pictures of them decorating the cookies. Amelia ate the frosting right off the wooden stick and Alex just licked the frosting off the cookie and threw the cookie away :)
Tonight we enjoyed Halloween with the Ashton and Simpson Families. We had a great time chatting, eating yummy food and trick or treating. Harry Potter was well represented tonight with two Harry's, two Hermione's, one Ron, one Hedwig, one Professor Dumbledore (Dadam), one Professor McGonagall (Mom) and one Bellatrix Lestrange :)
Adam (Harry Potter), Addison (Hermione), Alex (Ron), & Amelia (Hedwig)
We enjoyed Taco Soup, Mummies, Apples with Caramel, Root Beer with dry ice &; Butter Beer for dinner. Since we had so many Hogwarts alumni this evening the Butter Beer was a must, even the adults liked it!!
Another Halloween has come and gone...such wonderful memories. Our family truly is blessed :) I feel like the luckiest Mom in the world to have four amazingly happy children that make my heart smile!
Our morning started bright and early this morning and full of purpose. The kids and I attended the Phoenix Autism Speaks Walk at Tempe Town Lake. The event started at 8:00 am and can I just tell you it was PACKED!! We arrived at 8:10 and the lines were already crazy. We did the 1 mile walk and enjoyed the booths and activities that were made available to all of the participants.
The cotton candy was being passed out by a dentists office! You had to take a tooth brush in order to get the cotton candy. Amelia had a fun time eating and coating her face and hands with sugar!!
Face Painting was a big hit with all of the kids today :) I was really surprised that they all not only wanted it done, but sat for the process. As you can see Alex and Amelia's aren't as detailed as the older two, but they were very excited with the results!!
The whole event was truly amazing. This was our first time attending the Autism Walk. We have participated in the Crohn's Disease walk for a few years now and I must say this was so much more. The kids and I has a wonderful time and truly felt loved and supported. Alex and Addison saw therapists and Doctors that have worked with them through the years. Seeing them there was a real treat.
We headed out early so that we could make it to the last two hours of church. I truly think we could have been there at least another good hour. Thank you to everyone that not only supported us for this walk today, but supports our family everyday with such love and understanding. We are truly blessed :)
Harry (Adam), Hermione (Addison), Ron (Alex) & Hedwig (Amelia) were dressed to impress tonight. After enjoying dinner at the park across the street from the church we dressed in the parking lot. I asked a man at the park for a birthday party to help tie the kids ties because I don't know how and Dadam is still in London! We made our way to the party and let the Trick or Treating begin!!
The kids had a great time visiting with their friends and of course scoring big on the candy!! Some of the cars had games for them to play which they really enjoyed. Amelia didn't really understand what was going on. She enjoyed sitting in the wagon and having people give her candy once in a while :)
The kids entered the Costume Contest and I am happy to share that they WON for Best Superhero category :) How much fun is that!!!
Amelia decided to get out of the wagon and once she did the fun really began! She really enjoyed the homemade root beer and music. The kids danced, enjoyed a few pieces of candy (mean Mom), and the homemade root beer. What a fun night :)
Teacher by trade, Mother by choice! Being a Mom is nothing that I expected and everything I expected and more. I have four wonderful children and they are each special in their own ways. My job each day is to love them care for their needs and make sure that no one takes advantage or gives them the shaft. The industry calls me an advocate, but Mom works just fine for me :)
