Our Week

Monday, as MLK day, was a school holiday.  We meet Kathie and Grandma at Burroughs Park.

Bella adores Samuel!!

Wednesday I took Bella to the orthopedist.  Lizzy was able to go to Horizons (thanks to Becca for picking her up).  She made this beautiful star.

That night at YW Jessi and Sammi had so much fun with parachute games.

This week we didn’t eat much with so many of us sick and just not wanting food.  But we pulled off two meals.  I found an Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook – so very English food.  One day we had Bangers and Mash (and learned why they are called Bangers :)  ) and a meat and potato pie. (super yummy!!)

 

 

 

 

Brother moving beyond puffs and onto cereal.  Playing in his new room.

Bella loves to see herself!                          Playing in the beans

Look how big Brother is getting!!              Bella had to jump in with Brother in the sink!

ISU items are popping up at our house!

Brother loves water!!       This poor boy – we are working on standing and standing is so very scary!! There is nothing in front of him.  He doesn’t like it AT ALL!  But I want him to work on walking as well, so we keep pushing him. 

I ordered some special jeans for Joy with her Christmas money.  The company, Downs Design, called me on the phone and sent me two different sizes so I could make sure and get the right fit.  I cuffed them and they will hemmed them and will send them back.  I am so impressed!  What an amazing company!!

Bella made a noodle necklace,   Grocery shopping with the babies – love normal things!!

Brother and Jessi checking out a cool app           Lizzy’s new bedspread – she loves it!

Saturday – one happy Becca.  She recorded all of her songs and scales and sent them to ISU.  Now we just wait to see if and how much of a scholarship she’ll get.  Jessi played basketball with YW.  (Sammi was still home sick.)

That night we had a family dinner.  Sammi and Bella were sick, so I stayed home with them, but everyone else went and had a great time!

  Adorable Brother!

ALEX!!

Alex will be 14 months old on Sunday.  During PT today I was teasing him that it’s time to start walking.  He can’t stand independently yet, so I’m a little premature, but a Mom can always hope, right? 

On a whim we decided to put him in sister’s gait trainer – and this was the result!!!

LOVE IT – so grateful we have all of Bella’s equipment for Alex to borrow!

An awesome thing about the gait trainer, as he continues to use it, is he’ll be able to explore and learn to walk without bumping into things.  A safety box for him since he can’t see where he’s going.

Also got a State of Texas Eye Exam paper in the mail.  It’s the official paper that ophthalmologists have to fill out for people to prove they are blind.  Reading “legally blind” and “prognosis permanent” still creates a pit in my stomach.  Kinda of a best of all times, worst of all times kinda of a day!

Love ya Alex!

Our Week

Monday Jessi needed a picture of just her face for an English project, which started the camera flashing…

Becca is loving her Ballet class……and because I’m raising heathens….grammar must be easier to understand on the counter

For Family Home Evening we made Freshly Squeezed Lemonade.  It was awesome (look at Joy’s face!)  We ate meals all week from a cookbook based on Jan Karon’s books – which means Deep South cooking.  We ate well, but I would not say anything was low cal!  :)

Beautiful Sammi

This week’s therapy shots

Isn’t Brother so handsome?  He got a new Braille book in the mail this week!  So fun!

Tuesday night was Becca’s Senior Recital.  Her Orchestra Director was a half hour late, so we waited and waited and waited.  But he finally got there and she performed.

This was my favorite song, Celtic Medley.

Wednesday I took Brother to the eye doctor.   Afterwards Brother and I grabbed Becca and Sammi and went to Wendy’s for lunch. Becca is home early for finals.  She LOVES fries and frosties together. 

Lizzy’s Rodeo Art.  This one is titled “The Sun God.”  Linda took her to school on Wednesday since I was gone with Brother.  Thank you Linda!

 

Brother has caught the virus going around.  He needed lots of cuddles.  Poor Joy finally went back to school, but she was sure tired afterwards!

 

Wednesday night for mutual we did Mall Madness.  The object is to find members of the ward that have dressed up and are walking around the mall.  It’s pretty funny.

I’ve become a hick or something.  Presenting my two child stroller…..

and then some beauty….a pansy from my front yard

Friday the kids had off of school. I love this shot – everyone eating lunch and reading! Happy heart.  Becca loves her Friday naps.  But beware, she who sleeps on the couch is in danger of the laundry pile.

Friday night we watched my brother and sister while my parents went to the temple and out to dinner.  They had a great time.  Becca and Nathan went on a date to Walgreens (more medicine for Alex, Sam, and Bella – we are on a first name bases with our phar techs) and then to Sonic.  Nathan was sure that his reputation was shot – a date!??!!  We reassured him that it didn’t count as a real date since Becca was his niece!  But we had a great time teasing him!

Later Lizzy went to a home school Tween activity.  They dressed up and played.  She had a lot of fun!

Saturday we went on a hike on Gourley Nature Trail.  I love hiking and nature.  There are so many hiking trails in Houston, but we don’t use them.  It’s so hot here!  But it occurred to me that it’s not hot right now!  This is the only Saturday in January that we didn’t have a thousand things to do, so we went…and I loved it!  Here’s a map of the location – very close to home!

to keep it realistic, my stubborn, no I mean determined child, refused to walk.  A half mile with a five year old in your arms seems much longer!

She was sure there was a squirrel in there and if she kept talking to it, it would come out! :)

Dipped ice cream cones afterwards!!

Brother loves to play the piano

Bella adores the Wii – her favorite game is Just Dance 3 – she outlasted even Lizzy!

Another video of Brother.  He’s just so cute!

We have now completed half of the school year.  18 weeks till summer!!! Yeah and sad!  Can’t wait for the kids, but this makes Becca a second semester Senior.  Ugh.

To finish, cute Joy who loves to make Bell laugh!