Down Syndrome Awareness month Q&A

So, over on instagram  we're doing some fun and different stuff for the month of October - which happens to be Down Syndrome Awareness month!

One of the things we're doing is a Q&A.  I asked for questions and now I'm answering them!  Today's answer got too long for Instagram - and rather than cut it down I decided to just go ahead and blog my full answer.

Here goes.

Q: "What is the biggest misconception about Down syndrome, in your opinion?"

What first comes to mind is the idea that all people with Down syndrome require a lot of extra support.  When Zoey was denied the right to attend enrichment classes it hit me hard!  These people knew only that she has Down syndrome, they didn't ask any questions, they simply said "we aren't equipped for Down syndrome"!  So for us, not being "equipped" is like saying: we can't keep a close eye on your daughter, help her here and there with fine motor skills, be patient when she wants to observe rather than join in, or take the time to listen closely to distinguish what she's saying to us.  I don't know about you, but when I think of places that provide classes for children I feel like those are all things that should be a given!  Any child could require the same "extra" help as mine, but because of a diagnosis my child was denied - and that needs to stop!
•••
I think the biggest misconception is the idea that people with Down syndrome are somehow incapable (in any way, shape, or form).  People with Down syndrome are accomplishing BIG things!  But ya know what, it's not even about that.  It's about assuming competence and giving people a chance to show you who they are (not what they can or can't do)!
•••
Finally ... I fear that there is a misconception that people with Down syndrome must accomplish big things to be seen as equals in this fast paced society we live in.  Those of us parenting children with Down syndrome are doing so at a pretty incredible time!  We are seeing people with Down syndrome accomplish great things, it's exciting and it absolutely gives us a lot of hope!  but, after how far we've progressed in the last fifty or so years, I'd hate to see the scales begin to tip a different direction - to a new level of "comparison".  I've actually had people write to me regarding this and it breaks my heart!   Our kids are amazing guys, AMAZING!   ... it's not about reading or doing math equations, it's not about knowing all the dance moves or hitting a home run, it's not about awards or fame - they're amazing because they are exactly who they were meant to be!

Happy New Year!

2016.

It's 2016, officially.

I've decided to have a theme song this year, it's a song I've been singing for months.  The more I heard it & sang it, the more I found my own meaning within it.

I came to realize that Zoey is my "fight song".

Many people don't understand and I get it.  I have four children. Three beautiful and amazing humans came into my life before Zoey.  Three little heart throbs called me mama and depended on me before Zoey did.  Annicka, Jericho, & Liam are very much loved.  I treasure each of my children, please don't ever doubt that.  That said, life is different with Zoey.

If life is an ocean, Zoey is my "small boat ... making big waves".  Because of this little girl, my life -our lives- are forever changed.  She set "into motion" a life none of us could have ever dreamed.  She is that "single word" that can "make a heart open".  I've seen this happen.  People who have only just met Zoey have been overcome with emotion, in tears ... not tears of sadness or of pity, but tears of love because there's just that something about her that goes straight to your heart.

She's just a little girl, but she is my "one match" allowing me, us, to "make an explosion".

Explosions of love and adoration - toward her, toward others, and also from her.  She adores us in ways that can't be explained.  She can be a stinker and she's not afraid to be sassy to us, but if we tell her she's hurt our feelings you can bet you're gonna see her face fall, get an I'm so sorry, and receive a big hug!  Explosions of pride.  We are proud to have Zoey and proud to raise awareness of Down Syndrome.  Explosions of thought.  A million thoughts a day run through my mind.  Sometimes I write here on this blog, sometimes I take photos or make videos, sometimes I wonder what more could I do in the down syndrome community - so many thoughts.  Explosions of fear and then calm.  Explosions of worry and then peace.  Explosions of happiness, laughter, learning, growing, progress, milestones, skills, appointments, development, friends, and the purest joy I've ever known.

Over the years, there have been many "things I didn't say" and those things are absolutely "wrecking balls inside my brain".  I'm ready to "scream them loud".  As for the things I've been saying for all these years, feeling so unheard, well I'm going to keep saying those things ... "can you hear my voice this time?"!

Zoey is my fight song.

She makes me constantly want to be better.  To "take back my life" and not let it be full of things that aren't important.  To "prove I'm alright" by showing everyone that she is such a blessing.  Not once has she ever been a burden.  "My power's turned on" because of her and for her.  I can't just let others tell me how things should be for her, I am her mother and I have to know that I have the power to say no.  I have the power to stand up for what is right.  Always.  "I'll be strong" because she needs me to be and because I am teaching her to be.  I have to make the choice to stand strong for what I believe, even when "nobody else believes".  Some people think I'm a pushover, I've even come to believe this ... others think they've seen all the fight I have, but "I've still got a lot of fight left in me".

So here's to you, 2016.  A new year.  New goals.  New hopes.  New dreams.

It shall be a year of strength.  A year of new thinking.  A year of standing up and standing strong.  The year of my fight song. 

*lyrics quoted from "Fight Song", by Rachel Platten.*

Embrace It

Happy December!

By now, most of us who celebrate a holiday this season have begun the traditions of decorating!  We got started this past weekend!  So this morning as I sat here, admiring our tree, the words "embrace it" came to mind!

I've already lost track of how many posts across social media I've read in the past week regarding the decorating of a Christmas tree, but the message each time seemed to be: it must be perfect.  There was also a common theme of children helping and parents "fixing" later.

We decorated our tree as a family.  There was a certain teenager who, for whatever reason of the moment, refused to join in; but apart from that it was a family activity!  It was a time of fun & togetherness - with a mama requested group hug at the conclusion!

So, this morning as I sat quietly and gave it a good overview, I noticed things.  Our ornaments must get lonely easily, because they seem to be in clumps groups!  Some of them don't seem to know which way to face.  There's quite a few that are way down on the lowest branches, dangling into the blank under tree space.  Ninety-nine percent of the ornaments are on the "front" of the tree.  We've yet to put anything on top of the tree and, oh look, a random ornament (bought as a toy because it looks like Angelina ballerina) seems to be catching a nap on a branch under the twinkling lights.

Do you think my tree looks "perfect"?  Would it make it into a magazine?  Or be featured on a blog or Instagram page?  Nope.  I know it wouldn't, but I say it is perfect.

It's perfect because it was done in love - with all the excitement and anticipation of this most special season.  What joy my children had, after begging me and continually asking if it was yet "time to do the tree?"!  It's also perfect because it's a memory.  There may come a time where I stand in front of a Christmas tree alone, recalling memories with each ornament hung.  I can imagine myself wishing my children were still small, helping me make what many might call, a messy tree!

So I will continue as I have for a few years now.  I will not "fix" our Christmas tree.  I will embrace it for all that it is and all it represents.

Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving.

As we approach this holiday each year, we make the effort to pay attention to all we have to be thankful for!  There have been years where I joined in with doing daily Facebook posts, sharing something I'm thankful for.  Some years I've even copied that over to the blog.  As we know this blog has been seriously neglected for years now ... I really do want to get back to blogging, but I just never seem to find the time!

I'll be honest, lately I find myself a little less ... shall we say, content?!  On the one hand, this year has brought me so many people ... on the other hand, I feel so lonely sometimes.  So in all these thoughts of feeling a little left out and way too far away from family and close friends ... I decided to stop it.

STOP.

Stop the whining.  Stop the moping.  Stop the pity party.

just.  stop.

... and, as my five year old says, open my eyes!

Open my eyes and not only recognize but acknowledge at least a few of the endless blessings I have to be thankful for.  So that brings me here, to share.  I have a feeling this post might get a little long and it may end being a bit of a wrap up of our year ... and that's just fine with me!!

 (all photos from our Thanksgiving "shoot"!  felt food from Nene's Numnums!)

I am thankful to have my husband home to enjoy this holiday season with us.  Last year he was gone and missed all of it.  It's not easy adjusting to him being gone, then adjusting to him being back - we all have our challenges with that ... but this year, he is home!

Along those same lines, I am always thankful for my husband's hard work & dedication to provide for us.  His job may take him away from us at times, but he has a job.  We have health insurance.  We have dental insurance.  These are things that deserve thankfulness! 

 

I am abundantly thankful to have four healthy children!  We've had a few moments this year where we didn't know if health might be an issue ... but each time we received reassurance from a specialist or test results that were all normal.  This is not something I ever take for granted.  I pray for many parents & children that are fighting big fights.  I also know of many families who have seen their way through the darkest days of illness ... coming through as warriors, some with their sweet ones still by their side and some with their sweet ones gaining angel wings.  I know that health is a priceless gift.

I am thankful for friends and community.  I've talked before about the honor we've had to meet some incredible people this year.  I may have "fought" moving here (you can't truly fight it, so denial is a better word I suppose) but now I wish I never had to leave.  There is an incredible down syndrome community in the area and I have been able to join in more this year, that makes my heart SO happy!  Zoey has some little buddies, too, and that is an answer to this mama's prayers!  Whether face to face or via social media, knowing and sharing with others who "get it" is an incredible thing!

I am thankful for family that have been able to visit us!  This summer all our travel plans came to a halt when the hubby had to have surgery.  The thought of not seeing his family was hard, but then they came to us and it was so good!!!  I am also thankful that my parents are able to travel and see us a few times a year - and this year my mom & I got to go on a trip of a lifetime!  How incredible to travel to Australia and see family for only my second time ...and meet brand new family (more on that in a second), too!!!  Family is precious.  I wish we weren't so far from our family, but I am thankful for the times we do get to spend together.

As for the new family, how grateful I am to have met my aunt.  The sister my mom never knew she had.  I got to be witness to a side of adoption I never dreamed I'd be a part of and my mom "got" the sister she always dreamed of.  It was a treasure to meet Dawn and her husband, daughter in law, and granddaughter! 

and finally, I will wrap it all up with being thankful for life.

every day I wake up, I breathe in a new day, I hug my children & say "I love you" & kiss their cheeks!  I wish I always remembered to stop and take in the abundance to be grateful for.  I wish I never complained or felt sorry for myself.  I am a work in progress and I am eternally thankful for the Lord who knows my heart ... His grace is sufficient for me.  So, I will always get up and brush off the dust and say: 

I am thankful.

now, let's feast!!!

down syndrome is a beautiful thing ...

so, you can read how this all started in the description of the video! 

but, I had to share it over here on the blog ...

I am just so blown away by all the support and people willing to be a part of my little idea!!!

walk for wishes ...

this is Coco, an amazing little girl who battled and BEAT cancer!!!

she was able to be the recipient of a very special wish and now she wants to give back!!!

we're in, are you??? 

ZoeyGrace has joined Coco's Crew for a Twilight Walk for Wishes in Sacramento

and we are thrilled to be a part of this!  if you can't join us in person, please consider donating ...

we have set a goal of $100 - can you help us reach that?  

visit this page to donate:

Zoey Grace's donation page!

here's some information from the page:

Join me as in support Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada as we "Walk for Wishes"! What a better way to spend a Saturday evening than to walk with friends, family and co-workers to benefit some very courageous children in our community.

This event benefits the local chapter of Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions in the 37 counties the Foundation serves. Your participation will bring Hope, Strength and Joy to children enduring the burdens that a life-threatening medical condition brings.

A wish brings joy, laughter and a reason to keep fighting a very grown up battle.

happy Memorial Day ...

today we reflect on the many men and women who have given everything for our right to freedom.

thank you.

we are so blessed to have the freedoms we do.

proud to be an American!

shining her light ...

 friday afternoon made me smile.

well, it wasn't friday afternoon that made me smile ... it was Zoey on friday afternoon.

I promised (over on instagram) to share the whole story, so here it is ...

Zoey had an appointment friday afternoon to have an ultrasound of a bump on her back.

no real biggie, she seems to have a lot of appointments for one thing or another,

and we're in an appointment heavy "season" right now!

so we got there quite early and had time to just sit and wait ...

but, that's not really Zoey's style - unless I bring the stroller along, which I didn't

because I'm trying to work on her independence from the stroller.

anyways (this might get really long) ...

she had her Anna doll and was pretty content to play with that and dance around with her 

doll and "lie down" (as she says) on a bench that she insisted was a bed.

there was a young woman there who seemed quite entertained by Zoey's playing and

dancing and I thought that was pretty sweet!

after a while, a mom with two little girls came in.

Zoey was in the middle of the waiting room just spinning around with Anna ...

it was clear right away that this mom was probably having a rough day.

these two little girls were just sort of standing there,

and that's when it happened ...

Zoey reached out and took  the little girl's hand.

she then put Anna's (the doll) hand into the little girls hand and formed a circle with

the three of them: Zoey, the doll, and the little girl.

round and round they went, "dancing" with Anna ... it was so sweet.

soon the other little girl joined in.

as the mom sat down, she looked at me across the room and smiled.

I mean, a whole hearted smile.

my heart skipped a beat.

my little girl was shining her light and bringing smiles to the faces of adults

who a few minutes before looked annoyed, upset, and just plain bored!

this playing went on for a good fifteen minutes,

until the lady was called back and the little girls left.

it was precious, watching my sweet Zoey interact with these two little girls ...

it was surprising and funny, watching my fiesty daughter be quite bossy - and even more surprising

to watch the little girls just follow her lead and do everything she said!  haha!!!
before it was our turn to go back, the young woman said to me "she just made my day" -
finding Zoey quite adorable!!
we had our appointment and Zoey did great!

we ended up leaving at the same time as the mom & girls - and all the little girls

were saying goodbye to each other.

and that was it.

but that wasn't it.

you see, I've been having some inner struggles lately.

I've been feeling down because I don't understand why my daughter can't 

be accepted the way I feel she should be.  

I feel frustrated reading about how other children with down syndrome

are in "gen ed" classrooms and have "full inclusion" ...

but the district we're in wants to put Zoey off in a "special day class" where she'll

spend nearly all of her time only with other children who have "special needs".

why?

why don't they see what I see?

my daughter ...

knows shapes: circle, square, rectangle, triangle, heart, oval, star, diamond, octagon ...

knows colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, gray, black, brown, white, silver, gold ...

knows her name: she can recognize it, she can tell you how to spell it, and she can write it ...

she can also identify a few other random letters and numbers ...

her speech has improved leaps & bounds over the past year ...

she has made amazing progress with potty training ...

she has made progress with several gross motor skills ...

she has made progress with several fine motor skills ...

she loves to draw and color ...

she loves to learn and seems to pick up on things quickly ...

she loves to play with other children ...

I know she's not where a "typical" five year old going into kindergarten would be ...

but that leaves me questioning - does that mean those other children are?

is she behind, even within the realm of her "special needs"?

the past two weeks have kinda blown me away.

I mentioned in my previous post that some of our favorite instagram-ers (that's a word, I say so)
live right here in our area - and, yes, for whatever reason that is awesome to me!!

I went and saw "Where Hope Grows" and was amongst a room of mamas and families

that all love someone with down syndrome - that was amazing!

and afterward I got to finally meet some of these ladies I have only known online ...

and after chatting with the lady that introduced me to this group,

combined with reading I've done and observations I've made,
and then this day and what I witnessed - which truly touched my heart as a mama ...

I've come to the conclusion that no, Zoey is not any sort of exception.

our kids are no different than other kids.

they're each going along at their own pace.

they're each finding their wings ...

they ALL deserve to fly.

they were ALL meant to fly. 

  

there's a lot of changes occurring at our house in the upcoming months ...

one of those being that Zoey will be coming home for kindergarten next year!

I pray that I can give her everything that she needs.

I pray God gives me the strength and wisdom to seek out what is

best for her education and to do everything I possibly can to help her on that path!

I pray wisdom for the people at the charter school we go through

and that they also will provide everything they should for Zoey's education and needs!

I pray that God will provide us with friends to spend some time with!

(my best friend is about to move and so are our neighbors - leaving my boys without any close friends)

I pray that my children attending public school will be safe and will learn and thrive! 

I pray.

I pray that the limits that some people put on children like Zoey will one day vanish.

I pray that she will be accepted, just as she is.

I pray that everyone will see her and those like her for the amazing people they are!

I pray that.

and I thank God, every day, for blessing us with Zoey Grace!!!

 

chromosomally enhanced ...

do we have to talk about how I've totally failed this blog?  about how I keep promising it -and my kids reading this in the future- that I'll get back to it?  about how it really is our family "scrapbook" and I'm gonna have all these years of photos and stories missing?  about how instagram has taken over, and the find of chatbooks did not help the blog's case?  no?  oh good!!!

let's talk about Zoey Grace then, shall we?

the IG world started opening up for me about two months ago!  I realized that shops (for me, this means kids clothing & accessories) have IG pages to promote all their adorable stuff, I realized that there are shops out there that design absolutely amazing stuff for kids rocking their extra 21st chromosome, I realized I need a second income because I love buying all that cute stuff for Zoey Grace!  ha!  

anyways, here she is in one of our most favorite shirts!  it's from Littlest Warrior Apparel and we love it!!!

ya know what else I have been finding on IG?  this year has opened my eyes wider than ever to  the growing population of kids and adults with down syndrome on IG!!!  I have been amazed to find  out that I have been following some people that live right here in our area - that really blew my mind!  I also have found that many, many of the folks I follow on IG who have littles blessed with that extra chromosome have adopted those precious blessings - I love that!!! so here's to all the rockin kids, the rockin parents, and IG ... I mean the blog, haha! o

it's New Year's Eve ...

well here it is, 2014 is (literally) nearly over! 

the year is nearly over and yet I still have quite a few photos that haven't made it

onto the blog yet ... oh well, I don't think 46 posts (that's for the whole year, I might add that

in 2011 I had 317 posts, that year was my all time high as far as this blog goes)

merits me having a book printed this year ... so if I could schedule in time for me to blog

and manage to catch up in 2015 - I'd still have all my 2014 photos within one book!!!

what a year it has been.

another year of saying "see ya later" to my hubby ...

the past few months have been spent as temporary single mother status!

never easy, but having him away has given me the opportunity

to try to achieve some things that seem more a challenge when he's home.

(for example, the house is quite torn apart currently - as I go through boxes, bags, baskets, etc. in another attempt to get this place all organized ... my theory is the same as always, if everything had a place it wouldn't be such a disaster all the time ... we'll see how true that ends up being ... if, that is, I actually do make it through this slow process to the side of actual organization!  I've managed to that only once before in my married life - and that was three kids and far less stuff ago!  we shall see!)

it's also given me time.

time that I need to spend in prayer.

time that I need to study the word of God.

time to spend with my children.

time to learn more about myself.

I have this goal to really give a lot of effort toward working on, what I like to address as,

character issues.  whether within myself or within my children - there are

absolute things that I am trying to eliminate (ie: name calling, fighting, angry outbursts, etc.).

so far I don't feel I've made much head way ...

BUT

I believe the Lord can change me, first and foremost ...

and in turn, my hope is that I will be a positive role model for the children

and they will also incur some positive changes in behavior.

I know I can't do it. 

I also know that God can!!!

I believe.

I have faith.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also have this goal to get all of this years "good camera" pics up on this darn blog!

whether that means there is little to no editing or not, I am getting 

more and more determined to get back to blogging!

so, shall we begin -and end- with Christmas morning?

here it is ...

 this was Christmas Eve ... I love a good "Santa's been here" pic!!

 this year "I" decided to really scale back ...

I did the "three gifts" idea: a want, a need, and something to read!

in addition to that, each child got a "Santa" gift

(which actually I ended up just putting a $30 limit on Santa - this worked well so that

I could give Zoey the "big" gift for her and also the boys their "big" joint gift ...

 but it all still added up to right at $30 per child!)

in addition to those four gifts, I assigned each child a sibling to buy for ...

this way instead of a bunch of dollar store junk (which is how you have to do it when you

have four kids all buying for each other) each child got another nice gift!

it also was meant to help foster some attention and care for siblings who tend to squawk!

so, right there each child got five nice gifts - or more if it was a multiple

piece/item type of gift!

bring in the grandparents, aunt, uncle, & cousins - and my kids were beyond spoiled!!!

 opening her Santa gift!

 despite the face, he was quite excited about his Minecraft tee shirt!

 so many presents!!!

 he loves Christmas morning!!

 we forgot about the stockings, usually it's tradition to open those first!

so we did them sort of in the middle, but toward the end of the gift opening!

(notice in the background I have mugs out, ready for hot cocoa - and I had cinnamon rolls

in the oven ... after all the unwrapping and fun they were excited for a fun breakfast!)

 Zoey, trying out her tricycle from Nana!

we are going to really be working on learning to pedal!!

 can you believe it?

I didn't take 1.1 million pics of Christmas morning!

it was a little hectic, I'll be honest, with daddy on skype - I had to prop

up my phone when the battery got real low and I had to plug it in!

at one point I was holding my phone, trying to video tape, and trying to take photos!!!

I really just wanted to enjoy it.

to watch my children's faces light up with each gift ...

to see their surprise and delight ...

to look at their newest priced possession ...

so that's what I tried to do!

Happy New Year!

2015 holds much for us, I am sure of it!!!

Christmas littles ...

be still my heart (I know, I say that a lot - I can't think of a better way to describe

the feeling I get when viewing certain photographs of my sweet little ones) look at these two!

I wanted to title this post "Christmas babies" ... but given that the "baby"

is nearly five, I decided to go ahead and give them my second favorite title of "littles"!

did I mention Zoey Grace is nearly five?

did I mention how crazy that is?

did I mention that I miss having a baby?

sigh.

anyway, I caught a couple photos of these little ones of mine before church tonight ...

looking all cute and fancy (pretty nice dress Zoey has there, huh - $4.50 at Once Upon A Child)!!

and this one, this photo, when I saw it - awwwwwwww ...

the sweetness of little sister adoringly smiling at big brother, it is just too much!!!

and big brother, looking even more like his daddy now that he has

a big boy hair cut (we went and got that fixed this week at the barber shop, fyi) with

that grin - he is definitely daddy's little clone!!!

 haha!  

can't really tell Zoey to say "cheese" ...

or we get all sorts of variation of faces such as this!

and look at that impish grin on the boy - my my!

*after I typed that, I decided I really should look up the exact definition of impish

before posting: 

impish

adjective

inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun; mischievous.

 

yep, that about covers that sweet, baby faced, boy!!!

 

 

 

 

everyone with me now, awwwwwwwwwww!!!

 

 and because it's still sooo stinkin adorable, we'll revisit this one with a different photo effect!!

we are trying to make the most of these days ...

ok, I am trying to make the most of these days!

it's Christmas break now!

time to clean house and enjoy each others company, I say!

Merry Christmas season to all!!!

transformations ...

so last week, I took my shaggy haired boys in for haircuts!!!

I have a real love/hate relationships with hair cuts ...

I love how refreshing it is to see my beautiful sons' faces and eyes!

but I sort of end up missing their shaggy locks, too!

here's Jericho - before:

and Jericho - after:

I really like how it looks when it's styled, when it's just washed and dries-

and he doesn't want to stop long enough for me to style it - it's just ok!

what a smile, what a boy!!!

and here's Liam - before:

and Liam - after:

what a silly face - that boy is just like his daddy!!!

so, yes, I finally did it - finally had the courage to get him an actually "short"

haircut!  I thought it looked adorable all slicked to the side ...

however, the lady cut it so that it HAS to be like that - or it's all long

on one side and short on the other ... hmmm!

so I'm gonna have to have that all fixed!

he is perfectly happy with it, I'm sad a little bit about it - 

but I think only because daddy didn't like it,

so now I feel bad!

oh well, can't put it back now ... and he is nearly 7, after all ...

he needs to look like a little boy!!!

(but I do miss that long hair, it's always been his look, so 

I totally understand what daddy is saying)

he's so funny!!!

in other news, I think I finally finished up the Christmas shopping!

(aside from "teacher" gifts, it's weird that there's still so many -

even though I'm homeschooling two kids - but they have their enrichment

classes teachers and their ES, so that's five right there!  then Zoey

has her lead teacher and "helper" and speech therapist,

as well as two bus drivers!  I'm not even doing anything for

Annicka's teachers and I still have 10 "teacher" gifts - lol)

I'm not gonna lie - the last two days were a bit stressful with all my looking

online and figuring out just what to get!  it's super fun that the kids'

grandparents and aunt and uncle send me money to do some shopping ...

but they didn't have hardly anything on their wish lists,

so I had to really get creative in deciding on gifts!

in the end, though, I stuck to my plan and did the "three gifts" 

from us (mom & dad): a want, a need, and something to read!

then a "Santa" gift!

 (which was set by a per child budget - so for the boys it's an individual gift as well as a shared gift) 

and a sibling gift 

(this year I assigned each child a sibling to buy for, so everyone still has cool stuff and not just dollar store junk)

then all sorts of goodies from Grandma, Nana & Grandaddy, Auntie Layla,

Uncle Kris, and cousins Dominic, Katie, and Willow!

I may have decided to pull way back this year,

 but they are certainly still plenty spoiled by family!!!  :)

so, that's the update for us ...

I hope & pray everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season ...

making lots of memories and spending time with loved ones!!

it's that time of year!!!

 Buddy the elf has arrived and the kids are finding that fun (mostly Liam, Jericho enjoys being a part of "helping") ... he's doing things a bit different this year!  if you're interested, check out this blog - that's what we're going off of http://www.crayonmarksandtigerstripes.com/!!!

the tree is up and so are lights and inflatables in the front yard!  that's as far as we've gotten so far!!

the other day Zoey happily posed for these pics ... I think the "new" camera (as in, the expensive nice one that she has probably forgotten about - therefore, it's new to her) was acceptable in her eyes, since she's so used to my phone being the camera - lol!!!

and boy is she growing - looking at these pics makes me realize just how big she is getting!  I can't believe she's nearly five!  it makes me sad.  it also makes me miss having a baby or little one around here ... she keeps me plenty busy, as do all of the children, but honestly I've got some baby fever in a big way!  hahaha!!!

anyway, I keep the hope that I will get better about blogging again ... at the current time I just rely on the fact that I still have preserved memories via instagram!!!  it's not the same, though!

more pics to come soon, we've done some fun stuff for the season!