How do other moms do it?

Kyrie wants so bad to take care of her 2 babies at the same time. It's no easy task, she finds it very hard and frustrating! She holds her babies out to us and shows us what to do with them. You have to cuddle them, pat their back and say, "OooH". If you don't do it right it is very upsetting to this little mother.

HELP!!!

Okay so I remember way back when Dusty was 2 and started dressing himself. Some of the outfits (ok, most of them) were totally mismatched. I would usually let him wear the clothes he picked out, unless we were heading somewhere. For a few months I would change his clothes before leaving the house, but then I learned that it didn't really matter and was just greatful that he was dressing himself. Sometimes it was really hard and I wanted to intervene. Now him being 7, I have had lots of experience in letting him dress how he wants to. He usually picks out the dorkiest things to wear (he has nice stuff in his closet, he just won't wear them!) but it's not a big deal to me anymore. Well, not too long ago I was talking to Chris and told him how I looked up to those parents who let their children be themselves and help them be who they really are. So what was I to do when Dusty came out of the bathroom looking like this? It was on Monday (Presidents Day and no school) and I had a lot of running around to do and the kiddos had to go with me. Dusty really wanted his hair like this, so it stayed that way all day, in the stores and all.

And it almost killed me!

This is Hayden with his best preschool buddy, Preston. Preston is crazy about Hayden, I love it! This kid has the cutest personality and his everyday excitement is unreal, but when it's his birthday and Hayden shows up, WOW! He was jumping up and down and screaming for Hayden, he ran up and grabbed his hand and took him into the play area at McDonalds. He makes the funniest faces and poses whenever someone takes his picture. He is so fun and such a great friend to have. I love how much he loves my Hayden.

Spring Fever

The boys are being wishful for some warmer weather, they spent amost a full week camping, at three different campsites.
The family pretended it was warm enough and bundled up for a much needed bike ride

Kyrie decided to get all comfy-cozy in the bike trailer and she missed out on the fun at our destination

We are anxious for SPRING!

Ky

Kyrie has been working on a few things lately...

Like how to share toys with her friends

She has also been looking for that new perfect "do"

and how to feed herself with a spoon.

2010

Kyrie is now 13 months! She has such a cute personaltiy and we are all crazy about her. She really adds so much to our family. It seems she learns new things everyday. After 3 weeks of walking she is now running. She goes up and down the slide all by herself, she gives kisses and has the cutest little wave. Last Sunday another little girl her age walked up to us and Ky wrapped her arms around her, patted her back, laid her hear on her shoulder and kept saying, "Oh". I bet she did that for 2 minutes. It was SO precious! The other little girl just ignored her and kept going after the toys. But it was the sweetest thing. She brightens up our world! She is quite the talker and jabbers all day, but is also saying quite a few things. She says: mom, dad, ya, thank you, bye bye, take it, I get it, I got it, here you go, Uh oh, cucka, and love ya. She also is now a lover of chapstick and lotion (just like her mom!).
Ky had her first taste of Cheetos and she loves them.
I was able to join Hayden for a bear picnic at school. They spent the week learning all about different kinds of bears. One day he came home from school and asked if bears really are real! There are 16 kids in his class, and I wish that I was one of them. I love to go in and help, his class is SO much fun, I am already regretting when this school year will be over. I love those kids and he has the most AMAZING teachers, teacher aids and speech therapist. I am already trying to think of a gift to give them at the end of the year, but so far I am clueless. I need to get them something good, they have been so wonderful and I truly appreciate them. Hayden has been working really hard on being able to write his name. He has been practicing at home everyday. A few days ago one of the teacher commented that she has really seen a difference the last 2 weeks with his handwriting. I was so excited to hear! He has been working really hard on that and his speech. Way to go Mr. H! This kid teaches me so much and gives me an opportunity to love in ways which I never thought possible. I am so greatful for his giant spirit. When he was younger I was told several times that his spirit was just too giant for his little body. He is such a fun little boy and is still capturing older girlfriends with his twinkling eyes. Love ya buddy!

What amazing children I have! They crack me up everday.

This is how we spent our New Years Eve. Then we were in bed by 9:00. We are such great partiers! Chris was out of state using up his 3 deer tags.

Dusty still has been using his creativity. He loves to hang his stuff on the wall and I have been thinking of using the magnetic paint so that he can stick his displays with magnents, so his whole wall won't be covered with tape residue. But then last week he made his own bulletin board so that he can stick everything to that. How cute is that? Now I'm not so sure what I want to do. For now I think that the bulletin board will do the job. I love his creativity, and want him to put it to good use, and I think the bulletin board is just too cute to get rid of for now. He is still creating his own books, his latest, one about clowns!

Dusty is so sweet! This morning I was running on my treadmill and he came and asked me a few questions. I got upset, and told him "you know I cannot hear you when I'm running on this thing, let me finish!" By the time I was done he was crying. I felt so bad when I found out that he was trying to make me a surprise breakfast all by himself. He was making french toast, and had toasted 2 pieces of Texas toast in the toaster and wanted to know what to do next. So I explained it to him and he made us all French toast for breakfast, and it was so yummy! This kid is so good to have around. He is such a good helper. He loves to take charge of Family Home Evening, and plan the whole thing out. He comes up with very creative things to do. He has already told me what the game is going to be this next Monday. He is going to throw wads of paper in the air and we have to catch one. We will then open it up and read the written word and determine if it is a real word or not. I love this boy!

Last weekend Grandpa Scott came out for a quick visit. It was fun to have him! We didn't plan on telling the boys about his visit, and a few times we slipped a little but they never caught on! Hayden got to go to the airport, and didn't know who we were waiting for and was surprised to find out who it was. Then Grandpa went with me to get Dusty from school. Dusty boy caught a glimpse of him while he was waiting in line in the hallway, and came out the doors with one of those grins that he tries so hard to hide but is impossible to. The boys loved having a visitor!

Family Fun

Right after Christmas Chris bought us some cheap tickets to a Nuggets game.
All Hayden cared about was his Icee and planning that next time we be closer so that when prizes are thrown or dropped we may have an opportunity of getting one!

Dusty concentrated on his cotton candy

and Kyrie spent her evening making friends with a lady with Downs Syndrome. I think that Chris watched the game, not sure though. I spent my time trying to keep the kids happy. It was fun though, thanks babe!

Life Is Not Easy

This morning I was looking over the Vernal newspaper online as I do every Thursday. I usually just glance over it, I hardly ever read an article. But once in awhile something grabs my attention and for some unknown reason the obituaries of the young always are an interest to me. Today there was an obituary about a 12 year old boy. It talked about a few things that he was good at and loved to do. Near the end it said, "Life was not easy for -----, he had challenges many did not understand". That just kinda hit home for me. We have special challenges in our family, which most people have NO idea about. It takes a toll on our whole family and it can become very draining. Some people have seen a glimpse of it and brush it off as nothing. But to me and my family, it is HUGE.


These challenges quite often arise in public. I've had several strangers confront me and give me their very cruel opinions or comments. Some of them have been very traumitizing to me. I've learned to try my hardest to disregard their reactions. They certainly don't know what they are talking about, they are clueless about our situation. Some people smile, they have probably been through it a time or two and are just glad it's not them. But for us, it happens almost everywhere we go, and also at home. Some people are angels. I have had a couple of strangers help me through the most trying times of my life. Most recently while dealing with our special challenges in public, a stranger in the distance locked her eyes on mine. As she got closer she stopped. She talked to me for a minute and told me that I was doing my best, and that I needed to put a smile on my face and stand up tall. I just wanted to bawl. In fact I did, I later called Chris to tell him about it and couldn't hold back the tears. I have had maybe a handful of strangers through the years that have made a difference like she did that day.


Sometimes I can also brush our issues off and laugh about them. But it can be hard since we deal with them almost daily. For the most part, they are getting much better! I hope they go away! I have learned to be on the defense about these challenges, because of some of our past experiences. It can also be a very sensitive subject, with the emotions so close to the surface ready to explode.


What I need to do IS stand up tall - every time! I need to forget about me. My child is not doing this to me. My child has challenges most of us don't understand. I don't think that even he, himself understands. I know my child, but I certainly don't understand. We all have challenges, some of them last minutes, some for our whole life. My child most definately has challenges, and life has not been easy for him. But as I read the obituary this morning I was able to see our issues in a different light. These are his challenges, it's not about ME! I am not the victim. I have to stand up tall, instead of feeling beaten down all the time. I have to be there for him, to help him through it all. I love my child. I love my children - all 3 of them!