Mixed Nuts: Family Fun Yard Day

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Family Fun Yard Day

This is what Mat has nicknamed the day (or in this case, the weekend) before Christmas each year where we are outside all day (or again, this year - ALL weekend). We are getting our yard all ready by trimming and planting and fixing it up nice. It is a lot of work, but fun too. The kids enjoy just playing outside and running around, and this year, Arlington even helped us with some of the work! We did it all day yesterday and I forgot to post, so I appologize! We will be working on the yard again today and tomorrow will be reserved for getting the inside of the house all picked up!

This week was busy with the kids Christmas parties and finishing up with work and getting last minute presents. We are so close to Christmas! We are all excited and can't wait! We never would have thought we would have had our little boy by this Christmas, and are very blessed that he is here with us. Now our family is complete.

Arlington had her Christmas party this week and is really getting excited for Christmas. Mat is taking her to another Christmas party this afternoon just to help get rid of some of her energy! She REALLY wants to open some presents. And this week, Arlington finally started asking questions about Santa. The newest one, "How does Santa get to all the houses in just one night?" Hmmm... I knew this day would come. She is starting to wonder about how he does it all and what is real and what isn't. She still VERY much believes in Santa, but knows that Frosty and the "snowmeiser" are not real. But she knows elves are real because they MAKE the toys! She is funny.

Finley has some new words. She says book, up, down, and she says "no, no" all the time! Everything is "no". Great.

Cainan has really gotten happier this week. He is getting a little less sensitive, which is nice. He seems more playful. We are starting to figure him out. When he is really tired or hungry, EVERYTHING bothers him. Otherwise, he is pretty good. He is doing the sign for "up" and he tries to say "down". And he is working on "ball". He is getting pretty good!

I will probably not post on Christmas day, but I might Christmas night after the kids are in bed.

To all of our family and friends have a very merry Christmas and know that we are thinking about you and we love you! Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Here are some pictures: