Christmas

Well the day is over and everyone is in bed. It's been an unusual Christmas. It was our first Christmas in Brownwood in our new house. It was our first Christmas that Michael wasn't living with us. We were all a little excited waiting for him to arrive on Christmas Eve. We love spending time with him. Aaron was extremely excited about everything this year. He woke us all about 7:00 yelling "Wake up, wake up Christmas it here!" over and over. So we got up and checked our stockings. (We open presents on Christmas eve in what Mark claims is a very messed up Christmas tradition and what had Santa having to make two visits to our house as I was growing up. We never questioned how he managed that. It is a little strange.) We took Christmas PJ pictures - Michele's one request for this year. I used to take them when they were all little. We watched old Christmas videos which were soooo cute and completely hysterical. Unfortunately, right before lunch time Michael suddenly fell quite ill. He spent the rest of the day semiconscious on our floor. The height of the beds made him sicker or something. He finally felt well enough to move to the floor of Michele's room tonight. Michele's is taking the couch for the night. I hate when my kids are sick. And there was nothing we could do for him. He slept a good part of the day. We're still not sure why he's sick. I still think it may be that he's completely run down from just working too hard at everything. I'm hoping he can get rested and healthy before he has to go back to school on top of working full time. He'll be forced to rest this week since there's not a lot to do here anyway, and being sick, he doesn't feel like doing anything anyway. The rest of the day was mostly checking on him and wishing we could help.

I still enjoyed this Christmas and the chance to be together.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Happy Birthday, Michael!

19 Years!! I know it's sounds so repetitive and cliche, but where does the time go? And it also makes me feel so old to have a 19 year old child. And I didn't start that early on the baby thing, so actually, I really am old - depressing! But I digress (most of the time). This is supposed to be about Michael. (I just typed Aaron and Michele before I finally got Michael down.) Sorry Michael, it really is supposed to be all about you, at least on this post on this day.

What can I say about Michael, but that he's amazed me from the day he was born - sometimes in an overwhelming, "what am I supposed to do with this kid" kind of a way, but more and more as he grew older, in a "Wow - what a great kid" kind of a way. He's wanted for many years now to serve God and please him in the things he does, and I found that because of that, I didn't have to worry a lot about whether he was making good choices or doing things that I found pleasing. I know he's not perfect, but he works hard at trying to do the right thing. I'm very proud of the person he's becoming. He's working his way through college, working a full time job and a few part time jobs and doing an amazing job of staying ahead in all his classes. I don't think I did near as well at that my first semester of college. Anyway, most of you already know all about everything he's doing, so I won't go on about it, but to repeat how very proud I am of him and how thankful I am that we've had the privilege of playing a part in the person he's growing into. What a gift he's been to us.

I know I probably sound really sappy about my kids, but I do feel so blessed in the children God has allowed us a part in raising. They really do give me very little to worry about and mostly lots of joyful moments. And I know better than to take much, if any, credit for the way they are turning out. I just keep thanking God for playing a bigger part in their lives than I could be able to handle right. Most of what is good in them is because of Him. So I thank Him again on this anniversary of my firstborn's first day - for my first amazing child - and for His help in guiding all of their lives.

Happy 19th! We love you, Michael!!!

And I know I said I was going to try to keep up my blogging better, and except for my boys' birthdays, I'd have posted very little here lately, but I really do have lots of great pictures and stuff to post from the last weeks. I'll try to get that done over the holidays, I hope! And if life stays insane, then Michele has a birthday in April, and I guess I'll be back then.

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Today was Evan's birthday. Eleven years old! It was a little anticlimactic because we celebrated on Friday while Michael was still here, but I thought I should still mark the day, on the day. And he's pretty happy since he got everything on his list (at least the original list before all the "Oh yeah, and did you remember that I wanted?s" kept being remembered by him after all birthday buying trips had been completed. He must be pleased with the selection as he's been playing with most of them since then. Got some cute pictures, but if I wait until I can get enough computer time to download/upload I figure I'll never get anything on here, so the account in word only will have the suffice for now.

I heard from Michael, and he and Clayton have made it back to FW after their big (very cold) backpacking adventure, so I think everyone is back home safely from all holiday travels. Are you home, Barb? It's not that I don't trust God with everyone's safety, but I like to know everyone is back where they belong. Let's me rest easier. I'll be in FW on Tuesday, hopefully, barring any major problems. So I'll see everyone there soon - yea!

My list

of thankful things.

• hot roasted marshmallows and a gas stove the roast them on - just don't ask me to cook on it
• dark chocolate
• molten chocolate from Chili's
• old pictures of my kids - they're so cute!
• new pictures of my kids
  
• my kids in real life
• my biggest kid with us all week
  
• scrapbooks - anyone's and especially my own, although I need more
• down comforter
• feather pillows
• music - listening to it, playing it, singing it, everything about it
  
• computers that work and allow me to keep up with people when I'm far away
  
• clouds
• stars
• many, many more things, but I'm going to
• my bed with a down mattress topper

Good night and Happy Thanksgiving!

Feliz Cumpleanos, Aaron

Today's the big day. Aaron turns 14! We are not at all ready for the party and he keeps adding things. Like 15 minutes ago (after I'd just returned from what I hoped was my last trip to Wal Mart for the day) - he goes to Michele and says, "I think my party needs a theme. How about rainbows... no, PINK, Think Pink..... I just made that up!." Oh dear! I think the package of balloons has 1 pink one in it. Anyway - party details will come later as they are apparently still in development.

On birthdays, it's hard not to look back on the days we've had with our kids - and boy what a journey it's been with Aaron. Life with special needs is an interesting one and one that affects the whole family. It's hard in so many ways, with the loss of dreams we have for our children and there's sadness for the hard things we know our kids will have to deal with in this world that puts so much value on conformity and being normal. It's also a life that bring special moments and an appreciation of all (or most of) the moments with not just the special ones, but the others too, (who are special too, in a different way). It adds a little more joy to all the things, both big and small, that all the kids accomplish. It's not a life I'd change. We (special needs parents) are all often asked, if we could change it, would we choose for our kids not to have whatever they have, which is a ridiculous question for so many reasons, but I think the answer for almost all of us would be that that is not even a thought we would ever even think - changing one part of them would make them totally different people - what makes your child your child is all wrapped up in who they are from the day they are born and how God created them and you start loving who they are before you ever even meet them and you continue to love who they become and if you are really blessed, they become amazing people who you really like too. And I am blessed - my kids amaze me every day and mostly they bring me nothing but joy. And Aaron brings a special joy all his own. He doesn't let me forget that joy, which could easily be swallowed up in the busy-ness of life, for very long. And there's something else Aaron has taught me over time. After reading many depressing books on the subject of austism, which mostly dealt with the fact that they will never really be able to communicate or understand people or emotions, blah, blah, blah...., we did finally get someone to confirm our suspicions. The first thought I remember thinking, was How will he ever know God, if he can't even know himself or anyone else? It took time, but Aaron taught me first, that all the books were rubbish and then with God's help, he helped me come out of the fog and realize that God created everyone with the capacity, and even the need, to know Him - why are any of us here but for that. Now I may never know how he is able to know God, but I know God can reach him even when we can't. That stays truth whether I can see or even understand how. And that has to be enough.

As you all know, Aaron keeps us constantly entertained and he makes our life very full. I'll keep recounting the events and you all can read them or skip them. I'll try to post the party details this weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, AARON!

WE LOVE YOU!!

And while I'm on the subject (well actually I'm off it, but I'm getting back on it), the goofy (changing them) question is no different that asking us, if we could pick a different kid than any of the ones we have, would we trade them off for another - that's slightly offensive if you think about it, although I guess there are people in the world that would jump at that opportunity. Oh well. Thank you, God - my kids are keepers.

And if you made it this far in my post, thank you for listening to the long-winded ramblings of this mother on her baby boy's special day.

Birthday requests

I've been trying to get Aaron to give me some ideas for his birthday. He's kept saying, "I don't know." (Notice the proper use of pronouns.) Finally as I was leaving the house this morning, he followed me out and said, "Maybe you could just get me something that you think I might like for my birthday." And then he reminded me of a couple of games he'd been looking to buy on the internet just in case I didn't get his hint. How far we've come from the last minute crazy lists of years gone by. I'll never forget the year of the reptile. What was it Genny - something like 5 days or so until his birthday, maybe less - and he gave me this list:

• A T-Rex blanket
• A stuffed stegasaurus
• A stuffed narwal (I know, not a reptile, but close enough)
• A brontosaurus pillow
• A comodo dragon that says, "Hey, there's a slug on my tail!"

There were a few more, but I've forgotten them now.
Genny and I were trying to figure out how to come up with at least some of these and of course none of them were available, so I managed to make the blanket, the stegasaurus, and the pillow with Genny's help and sewing machine. I found what I hoped might pass for a narwal, but of course he knew the difference and immediately identified it as an angler fish. Can't get much past him. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever gotten anything past him. We tried the come up with some way to approximate the talking comodo dragon but of course the zoo had sold it's last comodo dragon after closing that exhibit. He seemed pretty satisfied with our efforts at least. I think that will go down as the craziest birthday list of all time. You can't say the kid's not interesting. I think this year's requests will be easier to fill. We'll see. And hi Genny and Paige - you girls and me seem to be the only ones left in blogging land - thought I'd note that. I hope the rest of you are well. I'm actually sick now, but I'd rather do this than work. Guess I'd better try to accomplish something though.

Our House

I thought I'd post a picture of our house since you've now seen the insides of my walls. The only one we have of it is from the snows last Easter which is good because it actually looks best dressed in snow. It was built in the 1920s sometime, so it's very old.

And this can be my contribution to the moving along of the seasons too. Fall, Winter, I'll take either one.

Youth (is wasted on the young?)

I forgot this part of the plumbing adventure. I've got the cabinet in and the sink on and I'm fighting with the leaking pipes still. And by this time I'm starting to feel the pain. Aaron walks in and says, "You're not as young as you used to be, are you?" Yep, that pretty much says it all. But I'm still a better plumber than anyone else in the house, so maybe I've still got some life in me.

Adventures in Plumbing

As you may know, I was going to have to do a little plumbing repair today. When I got into the wall, I found the reason. Our resident mouse had chewed a hole through the rubber connector that connects the pvc pipe coming from the sink drain to the old lead pipes inside the wall. I hate mice. We had one in FW once that ate our dishwasher though. At least this was cheaper than that. We'll be setting some traps or poison or something to deal with the culprit.

This was Aaron's answer to the leak - posted beside the sink.

The water ran straight into his room.

This is me and my spectacular plumbing skills at work. I didn't have to cut too big a hole in the wall thankfully.

Me again. And notice the lovely moldy wall from all the water pouring into it.

Yuck!!

My lovely new connector without a hole in it inside my 80 year old wall.

Moldy wall bleached, cleaned up and painted and the cabinet going back in. I rotated this picture, but when it came up here it was back sideways, and I'm too tired to try to fix it. Sorry, you'll have to rotate your head.

And the sink going back on.

That's all Michele got pictures of. Of course then I still had to hook all the hose back up and of course one of the supply lines leaked, so I had to go get a new one. That was after my first trip to three different hardware stores, because all the plumbing supplies were closed. It's Saturday people - when am I supposed to do my plumbing repairs? Thank goodness for Home Depot. Then the drain pipes leaked which really annoyed me. A little teflon tape seemed to solve that problem, so the sink is back in working order. We don't have to share our bathroom any more. Every joint and muscle in my body hurts. Can't quite figure that one out. What a fun day! But I'm thankful I got a little of the plumbing gene from my grandfather. I'm sure a plumber would have charged me a small fortune to do that.

More Aaron

He's counting down until his birthday - 14 days until he turns 14. I can't even wrap my brain around that. I mean Michael 18, Michele 15, and Evan 10 is one of those "Wow, time flew" kind of things but Aaron and 14 just doesn't seem right. He's still changing alot. He now says, stuff like "Hey, 'Chele, can you do this" or "Mom, what does this mean?". And he now uses pronouns correctly and refers to himself in first person. Supposedly autistic people don't understand pronouns and how to use them. He's always known exactly what he was doing, he just enjoyed the game. And he no longer calls himself Darren - he's Aaron now. And we no longer have other names either. (Sorry Stella!) I guess he thinks it's time he grew up and put away childish things. I kind of enjoyed the games and those things never bothered me like they seemed to other people - like the people when he was in school who wrote into his IEP that he would not write his name in a box 70% of the time. I tried to assure them that I did not think he'd write his name in a box his entire life and even if he did, he'd probably have bigger issues than that to deal with, but they were quite adamant about the apparently unwritten rule stating thou "shalt now write thy name in a box." And that was before he started calling himself Daaron and then Darren - probably in response to the boxed-name worriers - they'd have surely been bothered by that. So although he's putting away so many of the games he played - and that's how I've always seen them - as games that he played so that we'd join him in his world - he's interacting with us much more and in what the world would see as "normal" ways. It's is really neat to feel him so "present" with us. He still enjoys his alone time, but he seeks us out much more. It still amazes me how he's changing and so fast too.

He's not feeling well tonight. He said his lungs and his stomach hurt. (And odd combination.) He's also never been able to articulate how he felt if he was sick - we'd basically never know he was sick at all until he was very ill, and even then, he wouldn't tell us anything was wrong. We'd just have to figure out on our own - like when we knew he had strep throat because he was drooling profusely because he couldn't swallow and when he broke his arm and only told us it was "bent". If it hadn't been bent we'd have never known it was broken. Both required rushed trips to the emergency room. I'm not sure how to take it now that he can tell us he's feeling bad and how. I worry that he's really sick only because he's never told us before. But then I figure that's changed with everything else, so I'll just watch him I guess. I always hate for my kids to be sick anyway.

I will miss seeing everyone in FW as we'll not be there this weekend. Michele and I saw a Star Telegram in the DQ tonight. (We stopped in for Catfish Friday Night - woohoo.) We were tempted to jump in the car and head that way, but we'll stay and try to get some things done here. I might unpack a few boxes. Got to play plumber first - got a leak in a wall - that should be fun! We hoped to do some fun stuff to the house like paint or plant some flowers, but we probably won't even have time for the unfun stuff that needs doing the worst. Maybe we'll post pictures of Michele's room. It's getting really cute. She has a little more time than I do.

No Prince

Michele and Aaron and I were in Michele's room today looking on the internet for something that Aaron wanted to buy and we heard him making kissing sounds. We turned to see him kissing one of Michele's many frogs. He said, "I'm kissing it to see if it will turn into a prince.... It's not." with this serious expression. So he tries one more time and then says "Nope - still the same." and then he tosses is over his shoulder. He had this little twinkle in his eye. I'm sure you had to be there, but it was so funny if you were. I think back to the days when trying to get any eye contact or any language from him was practically impossible and now he's a comedian. Of course then a few minutes later he was inconsolable in tears because I got orange soda instead of grape - oops. (I tried to make a guess at the store and guessed wrong - I should know better by now. I mean what are cell phones for?) It's the whole "gotta keep even numbers of things on the shelf" thing. He's definitely still autistic, but he's an autistic comedian at least. He's so cute lately.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

So I was leaving the house this morning and of course Aaron's the only one of the kids up - he usually ignores me of after the "Good Morning, Ma". But this morning, he asked me where I was going (work), and am I going to be home tonight (probably for lunch), so I'll see you tonight, right? (yes, okay). So as I'm going out the door, he says "So Long, Ma! I'll see you tonight." and then starts singing "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work we go", complete with whistling which he's just learned to do and waving. He serenaded me all the way out the door. He also told me he was waving, just in case I missed that part, I guess. Believe me, I didn't miss a thing. Goodbyes are another of those social things he's never felt a need for, so another big deal for us. He has no clue how we're jumping for joy on the inside when he makes these big leaps - he'd be annoyed if we made a big deal about it. So we go along with it like it's business as usual. Wish we could acknowledge the change - maybe he'll eventually get to a point where he can accept and even look for our approval and excitement in his accomplishments. Who knows - he's certainly not following the textbooks in all he's accomplished this far.

He's also started calling Michele "chele" which is what we all call her, but she's been Winifred Michele for quite some time to him. These changes seem socially based to us in that it seems he's trying to conform to what other people are doing, not because we've worked to achieve that conformity in alot of these insignigicant (to us) things like the names he gives people, but because he's realizing the differences and trying to make changes to be "like everyone else". I'm sure all the experts and (I know all the) non-experts would totally disagree with the way we've dealt with Aaron all these years, but it's really gratifying to see him developing in a natural progression and making changes because he sees a difference and apparently has an understanding of some sort of need to conform and is comfortable making those changes. Michele said "I think I'm going to miss being Winifred Michele". There's that bittersweet in the growing up process - but we still rejoice in it. And he gave her a nickname of Curly Hair so maybe that will soften the blow. He seems to be working on nicknames for everyone. There's apparently a difference in his mind between nicknames and the alternate names he's given us for years. He's making changes so fast it's hard to keep up with him lately. So I'll keep posting here so I won't forget it all. I wish I'd had this when they were all little - it goes so fast and you lose so much in the busy-ness.

Internet!!

We finally have internet at home! So now I can post at home and add pictures. But not now, because I think my head's about to explode. We have a phone too, but it's mostly just annoying. I didn't really miss it at all. I'm going to go find a dark room and try to stop this headache. Maybe I'll post something later if it stops.

Hello?

Any one out there? I think we're all too busy, because I'm missing reading as many new posts from everyone. I'm back for the weekend to my sick girl. She went to Iowa for Anna's wedding and was going to spend the week here visiting, but she came back sick and spent the week in bed running fever without Mom to take care of her. ( A whole week in Fort Worth and all she felt like doing was sleeping. That's bad!) She said she enjoyed the quiet though. I took her to the doctor today and she has bronchitis. When I told him she keeps getting this same thing every 6-8 weeks, he said it's very possible her asthma is back. She had it as a toddler, but outgrew it. I sure hope it's just bronchitis, but I'm afraid it's the asthma. Her temps back up to 103 this evening. I'm a little worried that it's that high even with tylenol. Pray that the antibiotics work quickly. She's so pitiful right now.

(Oh, and Paige, I'd love an update on all your little guys and the walk the line club. No pressure or anything, but they are entertaining.)

Good Morning, Ma!

That's how Aaron greeted me this morning. He's never initiated greetings of any kind. He doesn't really even like to respond to them. So this was a big deal. These moments that Aaron springs on us are both exciting and bittersweet in a strange way, if that makes any sense at all, like any milestone with our other kids maybe. I guess it's a sign that even Aaron is growing up and gradually growing away, which of course is what we want, but those moments always feel even more profound with him. Reminds me of the Karen Kingsbury books Let Me Hold You Longer about how we notice all the first with kids but seldom notice the lasts. I guess with Aaron we notice those changes more and are a little sad maybe, but really excited that he's made such a huge leap for him. Like when we had to take Kate (our foil daughter which he made because he couldn't talk me into providing him with a real sister - "It's really easy - You just go get them at the hospital" - Yeah, right!) complete with beach wardrobe - hand me downs from Michele - to Galveston last year. All the kids were slightly horrified that they were having to help cart their "sister" around, but then shortly after that, we found Kate rolled up in a ball and set aside. With no fanfare or warning or anything, Kate was no more. We'd had her for several years by this time - she was even in our church directory pics - I know people thought we were strange, but that makes for a neat memory now. Michael and Michele were in Green Bay for a month and when they came back to find that Kate was gone they were really sad. We all were, but we knew it as a huge growing-up thing for him too. I know - we're all CRAZY! But back to the greeting of the morning. I responded to him with something with a "sweet" in it because that's how I refer to all my kids except him when I'm thinking clearly (sweetpea, sweetie, sweet-whatever - they probably all hate it, but are too nice to say anything). Aaron doesn't like sweet or nice anything because "it's yucky". But instead of getting upset with me, he said, "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that." So I say "I'm sorry." And then he says, "You don't have to be sorry." Maybe you have to be really familiar with Aaron for that to seem like a big deal, but trust me, it's a big deal. It seems like since we've always tried to join him in his world when we can, he's trying harder all the time to join us in ours. I just had to share, and I know at least Genny's always up for a good Aaron story. And this may be the only way I ever keep a record of those moments. I never seem to have time to stop and write them down.

SUDS!!

I don't think I even had time to share this with anyone personally while I was there this weekend, so I'll do it here. I was met upon my return to F.W. with Michael telling me the dishwasher was leaking. It's fairly new, so I was a little concerned that it was already broken. Anyway, I pulled it out and started it running so I could check all the hoses. I didn't see anything leaking, so I just let it keep running to see what would happen. I did think it was odd that the water coming through the hose to the top spin-sprayer look very foamy, but since I don't usually have it pulled out and uncovered, was willing to see what that was about. So I'm cooking supper, and suddenly, I see foam start pouring out the bottom of the door and washing across the floor. When I opened the door, there was foam all the way to the top. It was like an "I Love Lucy" episode, (sort of). So after I ran for towels to stop the flow, I called Michael downstairs and asked who had started it and what kind of soap they had used. He asked, and the guy who had done it (who shall remain nameless, because I'm just thrilled somebody there washes the dishes) came and said that he thought it was one of several bottles that he pointed out under the sink, none of which were made for the dishwasher. It was somewhat strange because he's used the dishwasher before many times (as I said, he's the only one who really keeps the dishes washed). I think he felt really bad, but I just thought it was very funny. It takes way more than that to get me worked up and I was thrilled it wasn't broken. Anyway, after about 5-6 runnings(?) of the dishwasher, we were finally foam free and ready to wash. And that was one very clean load of dishes. So hopefully everyone will choose dishwashing soap carefully from now on. Michele and I didn't think to take pictures until about halfway through the defoaming process, so they aren't as impressive as they could have been, but you can get the general idea.

Notice how few dishes guys consider to be a full load. But, as I said, I'm just glad someone washes them.

Guys - gotta love 'em (I guess) - I've certainly got more than my fair share of them.

The Internet is working at home and Michele is cooking supper, so I'm going to try to post some pics from Groom. I'll do a few separate posts in case it decides to shut down on me.

I'll start with cross pictures because I like them. For those who don't know, Groom is home to the tallest free-standing cross in the Western Hemisphere. I don't know if you can tell how tall it really is from the pictures. It was evening, so we got to use the sun for some nice effects.

The cross stands in a large circle that is surrounded

by a progression of scenes of Jesus carrying the cross.

The shadow of the cross. That's a great song, by the way.

After you make the entire circle, there is a depiction of the

last supper and then up a hill, the crucifixion.

A view of the cross from the hill.

There were a couple more, but it kept cutting off before it finished uploading, so I'm going to try to post this much and maybe add the rest later.

Because of my AMAZING editing skills...

This is Michele by the way, anyway I edited the picture of Michael that was on the last blog. So I decided to post it. I think this looks better.

Good luck at your first day!!!!!!

First Day of School

4 Months

4 Years

18 Years

I'll ask the question again. How did our babies get so old? Time flies so quickly. Michael's first day of COLLEGE is tomorrow. He will be attending The College at Southwestern. He'll be taking 4 classes and working 30+ hours at McKinney Bible Church. I think that job will involve less stress than the managing job at Sonic. (Dealing with the crazy people all day was getting at little old.)

I hope you have a great year. I know you'll work hard.

I love you, Michael!

My cute little skiers at 6 and 2!



My cute bigger skiers!

We gathered those pictures for Senior Recognition Service but thought I'd share them here, since those were kind of hard to see.

The other kids have started school already. They usually start with some enthusiasm, which quickly fades. We're still in the enthusiasm stage right now. Evan keeps telling me I'm the best teacher EVER! Of course, I'm the only teacher he's ever known, so with no competition, I'm not sure what sort of endorsement that is. Michele is insisting that she's going to finish in two years which is a year ahead of schedule, according to her age and starting point (since we moved her up a grade) - we'll see if she will keep up a pace to accomplish that. Aaron is still uniquely Aaron. I'm still looking for a language course in Swahili for the budding linguist. He was concerned last night that he can't type as fast as me - was becoming quite disturbed by the fact. I finally convinced him he just needed to keep practicing. He's been quite a good (and correct) little typist for several years (thanks to Timon and Pumba) compared to my texting children. They type very much like they text. They are very fast, but a typing teacher would probably have a fit watching them, and I'm pretty certain their method is not the most efficient. Note to self - pull out the Mavis Beacon (or Typing with Timon and Pumba) and try to convince them they'll thank me later if they master typing the correct way now. Teaching them all (or the three remaining ones, I guess) gets more challenging all the time especially while working too. I sometimes wish for the days when they were small and we all sat around learning together, studying anything and everything, reading wonderful books together - those were very special days. I'm so thankful we had them. I hope they've shaped in a small way the great kids they are growing in to. I love you all!
I hope it's a wonderful productive year for all of us.

And I hope this post works, since I've skipped out on work all day to figure it out.

And since I think I also figured the picture thing out, I'll post some of the other kids "doing school" soon. I'll see if this post works at all first.

I couldn't figure out how to get rid of these pictures, so I'll leave them here at the end. I'm afraid to mess with this post too much more in case I mess it up.

Just Trying...

to figure this stupid thing out for my mom (this is Michele by the way) and it wont let me download any pictures. does anybody know why???