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Since the holidays are such a busy time, we decided to celebrate my
birthday (Dec 22) at New Year's this year.
Jordan and Canaan gave me the best birthday gift I have gotten
EVER! They got me a bark collar for Biscuit. I was elated!! And it
has worked very well, and improved dog-Mom relations around here
tremendously! A close second was Hannah's gift to me, some very
good quality running wear, so I can run in the winter weather without
freezing too much. Very thoughtful and appreciated gifts.
birthday (Dec 22) at New Year's this year.
Jordan and Canaan gave me the best birthday gift I have gotten
EVER! They got me a bark collar for Biscuit. I was elated!! And it
has worked very well, and improved dog-Mom relations around here
tremendously! A close second was Hannah's gift to me, some very
good quality running wear, so I can run in the winter weather without
freezing too much. Very thoughtful and appreciated gifts.
Let's all just sit around on
Jordan! What a boring life
my biggers would have
were it not for our littles!
Jordan! What a boring life
my biggers would have
were it not for our littles!
Cute
kitty.....
kitty.....
This was a really fun gift sent to us from some
dear friends of ours. They are called Cranium
Tubes and they are really cool. You can make
all sorts of structures with them, and here the
little ones worked together and made a
clubhouse all by themselves with no help! I loved
seeing them work together and be so creative
with great success. They were so proud.
dear friends of ours. They are called Cranium
Tubes and they are really cool. You can make
all sorts of structures with them, and here the
little ones worked together and made a
clubhouse all by themselves with no help! I loved
seeing them work together and be so creative
with great success. They were so proud.
| Yes, well.... Eden of course. |
I LOVE this series of pictures. We had a lovely day last week, and Eden and Maggie went out
to dig and play and make mud castles and play with trucks, and I sat outside for a long time
just delighting in watching them play. This is the good stuff....
to dig and play and make mud castles and play with trucks, and I sat outside for a long time
just delighting in watching them play. This is the good stuff....
A typical evening in our house.
My sweet girls. Eden has been
dressing herself lately in some really
cute and creative outfits. In this
picture she is wearing two shirts (one
sparkly), two skirts, and polka dotted
leggings.
dressing herself lately in some really
cute and creative outfits. In this
picture she is wearing two shirts (one
sparkly), two skirts, and polka dotted
leggings.
| Maggie's 7th Birthday! |
Starting the day with homemade
waffles and strawberries, by request.
waffles and strawberries, by request.
She requested a princess theme. The
last time I made a doll cake was for
Jordan's fifth birthday, and it did not
come out as well as this one. I was
really pleased.
last time I made a doll cake was for
Jordan's fifth birthday, and it did not
come out as well as this one. I was
really pleased.
Money from Granny and
Pop! So exciting!
Pop! So exciting!
We played some games, like searching
for treasure in the back yard, and here
we played pin the kiss on the prince
(or princess).
for treasure in the back yard, and here
we played pin the kiss on the prince
(or princess).
Look at this face! When Silas's turn
came he was VERY unhappy about
getting lipstick put on him. I should
have had Canaan take his turn first.
Canaan is such a good sport.
came he was VERY unhappy about
getting lipstick put on him. I should
have had Canaan take his turn first.
Canaan is such a good sport.
And we all were quite amused at
Hannah getting lipstick put on her. I
think Canaan has worn lipstick more
times in his life than Hannah has.
Hannah getting lipstick put on her. I
think Canaan has worn lipstick more
times in his life than Hannah has.
She is the only one who not only
missed the prince, but totally missed
the whole poster! She cracked up.
missed the prince, but totally missed
the whole poster! She cracked up.
And when my turn came, I got on my
knees and inched forward, and Art got
in front of me to get the kiss. I was so
surprised.
knees and inched forward, and Art got
in front of me to get the kiss. I was so
surprised.
| Magie got some make up for her birthday, and Jordan did some makeovers for the little girls. |
Here is Maggie in the incredibly cute
outfit Mrs. Cindy and Mr. Homer got for
her. Little breakdancer, she did some
dancing for us. Look at my big, seven
year old girl! How on earth did this
happen so fast?
outfit Mrs. Cindy and Mr. Homer got for
her. Little breakdancer, she did some
dancing for us. Look at my big, seven
year old girl! How on earth did this
happen so fast?
January 25, 2010 Update:
The month of January has flown by! The highlight was Maggie's 7th birthday! It was a great day.
Check out the photos.
What else has been happening this month? Well, Art has been working! This is fantastic, and it is
wonderful to see him going off to work each day. This contract is almost over and we are
anticipating the beginning of a large project for Motorola in South Florida, hopefully in February.
The down side of contract work, however, is that pay does not come until 60 to 75 days after the
work is completed. So, our last income was in November, and we are understandably eager for
the next paycheck! But we are hanging in there, and anticipating some good work at least for the
next couple of months. We are so thankful for those who have blessed us over the past several
weeks, especially over the holiday time. You know who you are, and we hope you know how very
much you are loved and appreciated. I don't know what we would have done without your help.
Silas's health insurance has finally be straightened out and he is covered again. When our
COBRA ran out the end of November, we had a difficult time getting Silas covered because of his
pre-existing conditions. We are thankful that everything was finally resolved. He was able to go
for his appointment to the orthopedic surgeon last week. His back looks wonderful and they are
very pleased. He is so much straighter now, and doing so well. They would like to his next
surgery the beginning of May. This would be an adjustment to lengthen the titanium rib. This
adjustment is made about every six months, but the surgery is much less invasive than the surgery
to put all this hardware in. He would be out the same day or the next day, and the incision, instead
of being from the nape of his neck to his bottom, would only be a few inches long. Still not looking
forward to it, but seeing how much this has helped him, we are very thankful that this procedure is
available and that we have found such a marvellous surgeon.
We are looking forward to Hannah's birthday the end of this week. She will be 19, but shhhhh...
she is not real happy about that. She is preparing for her black belt test in Taekwondo which will
take place this spring.
Canaan has started classes at college and is doing well. He recently had a disturbing setback.
His neurosurgeon had him try weaning off of his epilespy medications to see if he still needed it,
as there are many cases of those whose epilepsy was at the onset of puberty who grew out of it
after puberty. His epilespy has been completely controlled by his medications since he started
taking it three years ago. However, the experiment did not go well, and he had a major seizure a
couple of weeks ago. He is now back on his medication full strength and has had no further
problems. We are very thankful that there is a medication that works so effectively for him,
because we are well aware that so many people with epilespy do not have this blessing. At the
same time, it was a difficult experience for both him and us, and we are still recovering from that.
Besides that he is doing great at school and is an amazing, strong, funny, loving, helpful young
man.
Not really any other news that I can think of. The weather was beautiful today and the little ones
had a great time out in the big, back yard. These are the days I especially love the freedom of
homeschooling, and being able to say, "It's too beautiful outside to stay indoors today. Go out and
play!" Tomorrow it's supposed to rain, and by the end of the week, there may be snow. Enjoy it
while you can!
The month of January has flown by! The highlight was Maggie's 7th birthday! It was a great day.
Check out the photos.
What else has been happening this month? Well, Art has been working! This is fantastic, and it is
wonderful to see him going off to work each day. This contract is almost over and we are
anticipating the beginning of a large project for Motorola in South Florida, hopefully in February.
The down side of contract work, however, is that pay does not come until 60 to 75 days after the
work is completed. So, our last income was in November, and we are understandably eager for
the next paycheck! But we are hanging in there, and anticipating some good work at least for the
next couple of months. We are so thankful for those who have blessed us over the past several
weeks, especially over the holiday time. You know who you are, and we hope you know how very
much you are loved and appreciated. I don't know what we would have done without your help.
Silas's health insurance has finally be straightened out and he is covered again. When our
COBRA ran out the end of November, we had a difficult time getting Silas covered because of his
pre-existing conditions. We are thankful that everything was finally resolved. He was able to go
for his appointment to the orthopedic surgeon last week. His back looks wonderful and they are
very pleased. He is so much straighter now, and doing so well. They would like to his next
surgery the beginning of May. This would be an adjustment to lengthen the titanium rib. This
adjustment is made about every six months, but the surgery is much less invasive than the surgery
to put all this hardware in. He would be out the same day or the next day, and the incision, instead
of being from the nape of his neck to his bottom, would only be a few inches long. Still not looking
forward to it, but seeing how much this has helped him, we are very thankful that this procedure is
available and that we have found such a marvellous surgeon.
We are looking forward to Hannah's birthday the end of this week. She will be 19, but shhhhh...
she is not real happy about that. She is preparing for her black belt test in Taekwondo which will
take place this spring.
Canaan has started classes at college and is doing well. He recently had a disturbing setback.
His neurosurgeon had him try weaning off of his epilespy medications to see if he still needed it,
as there are many cases of those whose epilepsy was at the onset of puberty who grew out of it
after puberty. His epilespy has been completely controlled by his medications since he started
taking it three years ago. However, the experiment did not go well, and he had a major seizure a
couple of weeks ago. He is now back on his medication full strength and has had no further
problems. We are very thankful that there is a medication that works so effectively for him,
because we are well aware that so many people with epilespy do not have this blessing. At the
same time, it was a difficult experience for both him and us, and we are still recovering from that.
Besides that he is doing great at school and is an amazing, strong, funny, loving, helpful young
man.
Not really any other news that I can think of. The weather was beautiful today and the little ones
had a great time out in the big, back yard. These are the days I especially love the freedom of
homeschooling, and being able to say, "It's too beautiful outside to stay indoors today. Go out and
play!" Tomorrow it's supposed to rain, and by the end of the week, there may be snow. Enjoy it
while you can!