5 Things...

For all 1 or 2 of you who may look at this blog...
I found an article that is very insightful and helpful in my journey with my son. It is called  5 Things Every Autistic Person Needs .   I have struggled over whether to post anything about autism or my struggles with my son for fear he would come across it someday and somehow feel bad.  But I want my extended family to better understand...because that is how we learn to love.  Some of you may have a special needs child and you will relate and hopefully understand more.  In fact the needs apply in some way to all of us.  Sometimes I think I will never be a good enough parent for my child.  However, I am learning that his uniqueness and challenges are a blessing for me to learn to be a far better parent than I could have dreamed.  And for that I am grateful. 

I love this image for the "Big MAK's" or Big Mom's of  Autistic Kids.

Family Reunion 2011

Summer Field Trip

I haven't done a scrapbook page for months so I really wanted to.  We took ourselves on a little field trip Saturday and so this was what I decided to scrapbook first.  The summer is already half over!  I actually took the kids to the pool last week for the first time so now it feels like we are actually doing a few summer things.

Happy 4th!

 We love to be festive!

Grandma Garrett gets to spend the 4th with us!  Horray!  Leia was a little frightened by the sounds of the balloons being filled up, but she perked up by the end.

Balloon Fest is always a fun tradition.  The Star Wars guys and balloon was a big hit this year.  The coke bottle is the tallest hot air balloon in the world.  They filled it but it did not go up.

And we're just gettin' started.

This was all Saturday.  We did balloons and a family BBQ and fireworks on the driveway at grandpa's house and then everyone and their friends came over to our back yard to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks.  I pass out glow sticks for all the kids and cousins to play with while we wait for the show to start.   A few of our family invite other friends but then there are always a few people that we don't know that show up on our lawn.  Oh well, the more the merrier!

Summer Festivities

The Orem Summer Fest kicks off our summer.  It was good weather this year so we enjoyed the carnival and had some fun.

On the ferris wheel!

Fun Slide!

Kiddie rides!

Rock Climbing!

Fun house!

Face painting!

Gotta love Addie's mustache!

Dad and Levi bought hats for hiking.

"Fanetik" Spelling?

I love how kids do phonetic spelling.  Here is Bre's grocery list for me:

1. furt by the foot

2. guraps

3. slist chees

4. bred

5. cocoo pebls

One of the best reads

This is my favorite book right now.  Thank you Hollie for sharing this with me...very inspirational! 

What? A Warm Weekend?

It's time for a little nature hike up Rock Canyon.

Addie was off with friends and missed out on our adventure.  What is this with kids getting older and too busy to do things with their family?  I don't think I like that.  

Well, it's so nice to have these beautiful mountains so close.  It felt so good to get outdoors.

What did we do in May?

Went camping and sledding at the sand dunes with the ward.

Went to lots of school class programs.  Addie's had a Utah history theme.

Square dancing.

Bre played the piano for her class talent show.

She played Ode to Joy.

Levi got an award for building a rocket in the NOVA program.

Bre bought some cute guppies.

Mom survived her 40th birthday.  Dad made a homemade ice cream cake for her.

The kids did great at their outdoor end of year dance festival.  Bre's class did an Irish Jig.

Levi did a Surfin' in the USA dance.  Addie did the square dancing.  And Leia's preschool class did "The Little Pig Blue's"...very cute.

Leia with her streamers for the grand finale.

Gotta Try This...

Sakura's Japanese Steakhouse is a great place for a family or group to go out to eat.  We took the family their last night for my birthday.  It was priceless to watch our kids faces as our chef wow'd us with his tricks as he cooked everything right before our eyes.  The kids loved it!