Reflection

It is New Year's Eve and I am home with the kiddos while Ricky is working. As I sit here thinking back over the past year, reflecting over our accomplishments, I am amazed at how far we have come in such a short time. Let's break it down:

This past year, Laney: had her 1st birthday, started babbling and talking, started signing, started crawling, started walking, and is feeding herself, drinks from a straw, she has had 2 set of tubes in her ears, had her adenoids removed, had multiple hearing test (she finally passed the one under anesthesia), had multiple eye exams and has endured drops being put into her eyes to help strengthen the weak eye, became more of a mommy's girl, went to her first professional baseball game and first minor league hockey game, had the flu, and celebrated her 2nd Christmas....

In the coming year, Laney has to look forward to her 2nd birthday, beginning the transition from Early Intervention, hopefully she will begin to speak more words, get better at feeding herself, drink from an open cup, will start running and maybe jumping and do even more climbing. We have high hopes and expectations for our daughter and hope for nothing but the best for her in the coming year....

This past year, Logan: played soccer in the Spring, Tball in the summer, and Golf this fall, joined Cub Scouts, earned his Bobcat badge in Scouts, earned multiple other badges and awards in Scouts, was in the Christmas Parade, passed Kindergarten and started 1st grade, made the A honor roll for the first time ever (it was the first time he was able to earn letter grades, not just an "S" or "I" or whatever other letters the use for kinders), got his first loose tooth (although it has yet to come out), stayed in a hotel for the first time in his memory, went to his first professional baseball game and first minor league hockey game, learned to read so well he has now moved on to chapter books at age 6, became more independent...

In the coming year, hopefully, Logan will continue to read more and more, continue to want to play sports (golf is his love right now), continue to be an amazing big brother and help teach Laney the things she needs to learn. We high hopes and dreams for our son...he is an amazing child and so loving and caring. He is my baby and always will be.

I love both of my babies with all my heart and hope for the best for them and our family in the coming year...

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!

Gingerbread Lane

Last night, the hubby, kiddos, and I headed out to a local high school to make gingerbread houses. It was called Gingerbread Lane and was sponsored by the schools Early Childhood Education students. It was also completely free which made it even more awesome. The kiddos even got to see Santa while we were there. We had alot of fun....

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Winter

It is really feeling like winter here in the South although we have no snow (the kids are sad about that but not me because when we get snow, we loose power and that is no fun). The Christmas decor is up and the presents are wrapped and under the tree. Logan received a letter from Santa the other night and I am so glad because he has really improved with his behavior and listening.

Laney is walking everywhere now and still jabbering up a storm. She is signing more now and is getting better at it each day. She got the H1N1 vaccine last week when I went for my TB test and Tetanus shot (from which my arm is still sore and it has been a whole week now). I have to go back for more vaccines for the CNA program I was accepted into for next semester. I am super excited.

Logan is doing great in school...he was on the A honor roll and still is. He is super smart and loves reading; this makes me very happy. He loves to read books to Laney and is a superb big brother. He is really enjoying Cub Scouts and received his Bobcat badge a few weeks ago. We are so proud of him. Now they are working on their Pinewood Derby Cars...not my forte so Daddy has to handle that...lol.

I will try to post some pics throughout the holiday season but we will be a bit busy so I will just try my best.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

The Farm and Other Photos

Today, we went to a farm not far from our house with the DSAC we are involved with. We had a blast playing with the other children and also doing the fun things on the farm. Below, I have posted some photos from over the past month or so...enjoy!!!

Logan on the big slide at the farm
Logan and Laney on the pony

Laney...drinking through a straw (learned today)

Logan riding the pony ( I was so surprised and proud)

and again...

Laney on the big slide

Logan again

Laney in the hay maze

riding the car thing...

Daddy and Laney ( i love this pic)

Logan at golf lessons

Laney prior to her 2nd set of tubes

Laney again before her surgery

Laney-bug

Sheriff Logan

Update...

Wow! It has been a month again and the time as flown by so quickly. I have so much to update it is hard to know where to begin. Let's start with Laney and then I will update on Logan. It is easier to remember if I think one at a time...lol.

Laney: did not have her eye surgery but goes back November 24th for a recheck; went to the ear doctor for a follow up hearing test, which was inconclusive again and one of her tubes had come out and the other was almost out. The decision was made at that moment to insert a second set of tubes and do an ABR (a hearing test done while Laney was under anesthesia). She had this done on November 3rd and she did great and she passed her hearing test!!! WooHoo!!! She has started all of her therapies at home now. We just felt safer because of all the flu germs having her home for therapy and I am so glad we made that decision. We have the best therapist! She had amazing therapist when she went to rehab for therapy but the therapist we have now have clicked with Laney. She is sailing right along. Laney is taking many steps now on her own. I am sure she will probably be walking alone by Christmas or soon after. We got her a new set of SureSteps (her braces) and those are helping so much. In speech, she is learning more signs and catching on so quickly. She loves the praise she gets when she does her signing. In OT, she is really working hard on sorting and stacking objects. She will do great as long as I am not in her room with them. I like to go in at the end to see what she has been working on and she will not perform for me...stubborn girl.

Logan: golf lessons just ended this past Saturday and he had a blast and learned so much. He is also in Cub Scouts and will be receiving his Bobcat badge next Monday night. We are super excited. He won 2 games of simon says tonight and earned the honor to lead the Pledge next week at our Pack meeting. He just got his first report card last Wednesday and he was on the straight A honor roll, received an award for perfect attendence, and got a Kid with Character award. He is growing so much right now and it is amazing watching him transition into a young man.

Lastly, this past Friday afternoon, we had the honor of having our portraits taken by a professional photographer, for free as part of The Littlest Heroes Project. It was amazing! She was awesome and if the preview photos are any indication, I am not going to be able to choose between all the pictures taken. She is so talented and Laney was "in the photo mood" and took wonderful pictures. I will share the link to the proofs as soon as I get it. I can't wait to see them. If anyone is interested in applying for The Littlest Heroes Project, go to www.littlestheroesproject.org. This project is available to families with children that have chronic illnesses and diseases. It is a wonderful opportunity and we are so grateful to have been a part of it.

Where did the time go?

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted on here. Lots of things have been happening and we have been pretty busy with no end in sight it seems. So what have we been up to you might ask...

Laney did not have her eye surgery. Dr. Eyeballs determined that when he took the last measurements, when she looks across the room, she doesn't have the problem of her eye turning inward, that only happens when she looks at something up close. We go back in November to check her again. We may not have to do the surgery at all but still not sure. We may be able to try bifocal glasses to try to correct the problem since she is getting a little older now. It is just a game of wait and see.

Laney has started her therapy at home now. We decided this might be the best for her because of all the flu and H1N1 going around, we want to limit her exposure to those germs. We had our first visit with the OT yesterday and she was great. I think she is really going to work well with Laney. Our first visit with the new PT is tomorrow morning. I hope that goes well also. Laney has started saying more words now...she can say: mama, dada, pawpaw, bite (or bak bak we arent sure but it does mean food), bubba, bye-bye, oh, uh-oh, and she has said something that sounds like thank you once. She is also using her signs more effectively now. She only signs "more", "drink", and "bye-bye" but we are still working on it. Our next sign to implement is "eat". She is really starting to take off walking as well. She can still only take a few steps with no assistance but if you are holding her hands, she wants to run. She is cruising a good bit as well and climbing into the recliner. She is just really making great strides in her fine and gross motor skills here lately.

Logan is still not liking first grade. He says he doesn't like his teacher. I am not sure if it is because he is bored or what is going on there. We have our first teacher conference next week and I plan to discuss this with her at that time. She has booked her conferences for every 15 minutes but I will discuss everything I want with her at that time and not feel rushed so she can hurry home. He is doing really well on his grades and things like that but the reading is boring to him I know because his reading level is well beyond what they are working on now. He was reading things like they are working on when he was in preschool. He is an awesome reader and he loves to read. I am so glad of that. I hated reading when I was little but I love it now. Hopefully because he sees Ricky and I reading he will continue to enjoy it. My parents never read books or magazines so I didn't have that influence.

Also, my husband's grandfather passed away last week from cancer so we were not able to participate in the Buddy Walk this year. I was very sad about that but we needed to be with the family and that is what is most important. We will have a big blast next year though. I am already looking forward to it. We have been busy with Logan playing golf and being in Cub Scouts as well. We are having the big fish fry we put on every year with my in-laws next weekend and that will be awesome and so much fun. I have also been staying pretty busy with school as well for myself.

As for now, that is all I have to share but I will try not to let it be as long between post next time. Laney has a hearing test tomorrow so I will try to post tomorrow evening how that goes. I think she can hear me just fine but whether she listens or not, well that is another story...

There was a little Princess...

There once was a little princess whose name was Laney and now she has turned into a monkey...she has started climbing today. She cruised over to Ricky's recliner and climbed right in and sat down. It was so cute. Of course when I was recording it, she fell out so we have that and my scream on the video...as soon as I have a chance, I will upload those to share with everyone but just wanted to give the update that we now have a monkey in the house.

Yes, We are still here...

I know everyone was wondering where we were since there have been no blog posts lately but boy have we been busy. Here is the recap:

We took Laney back to the eye doctor for her follow up week before last. Dr. Eyeballs decided that we should go ahead and schedule her eye surgery for whenever was convenient for us. Unfortunately, he only does surgery on Mondays and I am in school on Mondays and Wednesdays. So, we scheduled the surgery for Monday, October 5th, the only Monday I am out of school until mid December. I didn't want to wait until December because I didn't want to do her surgery around the holidays. We did her ear tube and adenoidectomy a couple weeks before her birthday this year and I didn't like that so in a few weeks my little princess will have the operation on her right eye to correct the exotropia strabismus. She has to go back to see Dr. Eyeballs one more time before surgery on the 24th for one last measurement. We have also discontinued the eye drops we were using to "patch" her left eye to strengthen the right eye.

Also, Laney has taken a few steps here and there but nothing too major and nothing to get excited about...until yesterday. Last night, we were playing around with Laney and she took several steps. The most she took unassisted was 5! Yes, that is correct, she took 5 whole steps before falling into my arms. We were so excited. She is getting more and more confident and gets so excited when we get her to walk to us. I can't wait but then again, she is going to be into everything. She is a bit destructive ya know. Ricky and I were talking tonight that her PT will be so excited to see her Monday and see what she has now learned how to do. I am just super thrilled I was home to see her first steps. I was scared she would take them at therapy and I wouldn't be there (since I have started back to school, Ricky now takes her to PT/OT). She is also signing "more" regularly now and we have started working on adding a few more signs. She knows how to do them but is too stubborn to use them when we want her to. Oh well, it will happen, sometime.

Another reason we have been MIA is that my mom had surgery and had some complications from that and ended up in the ICU and eventually on a ventilator. She was very ill for over a week and then we started seeing improvements and she is lots better now. She was finally sent to a regular room and still doesn't remember everything that went on. She did say that it scared her to know she "missed" a week of life and can't remember anything from then. She is on the road to recovery now so we are very happy. It was very hard to see her so sick and to know that she could die from the complications. It scared us and her as well. Thankfully, she improved and is healing nicely now.

Still, we have another family member that is terminally ill and we have been dealing with that as well. It is my husband's grandfather (his stepdad's dad). He has cancer and they have now called hospice in for him. He is having a rough time and his children are alternating spending the night with him and grandmother. It is very difficult to watch him suffer but we know that he will be in a better place when it is his time. It is so nice to be able to spend this time with him and we do cherish it. We are so thankful we are allowed this time because we know that is not always the case. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

On to Logan now. He has started Cub Scouts and is very excited. We have bought his book and will start working on earning his first badge this week. This will be something that Ricky and Logan do together (I will fill in as needed but I think it best that Dad deals with all this out doors stuff...we all know I am an inside kinda girl). He also starts his golf lessons this week. He is super excited about that as well. He doesn't understand why we haven't bought him his own set of clubs yet. We have decided to wait to make sure he likes golf and if so I think that will be a great gift to ask Santa for.

So, I have lots of pictures and videos to load and share with you but just haven't had the time to do that yet. I will soon though...I hope...

Slacker

I know I have been a slacker but I do have a good excuse...we have been super busy here. I started school and then Logan started school. My mom is sick and has had to have surgery and is currently in the ICU and probably will be until sometime next week. Laney has had therapy as usual but Ricky has been handling this on Mondays while I am in class. Busy busy busy!

Laney has her follow up eye exam this coming Thursday. We will see how her eye has changed and I guess talk some more about the surgery. Rick's mom is going with me and Rick's dad and step mom are coming to our house to get Logan off the bus in case we aren't back in time since the appt. is in Charlotte. She is doing so great though. She is getting really brave and bold and has taken a step or two here and there. She is finally signing!!! She has had the ability to do it for a while now but she just wouldn't do it for us. I would see her do it randomly but not in context but now she is doing it...she is signing "more". I have a video of her doing it that I will upload soon. Now hopefully she won't be stubborn and will keep up the momentum and pick up the other signs we want her to begin using. She really likes the praise I give her when she signs for me so I think it will be smooth sailing now. I am super excited.

Logan had his first week of 1st grade last week. He does NOT like it. He has homework every night and they don't play everyday like they did last year in Kindergarten. He has reading every night and unfortunately, the books they send home for him to read are way below his reading level and are very boring to him so that causes some conflict. Logan is a great reader and has been reading level 2 books since early Spring. We don't want to move him up to level 3 until I am sure he gets the comprehension part of it first but I think he is pretty much ready now. I can let him read me a book and then ask him questions about it and he can answer them correctly so I think he is retaining the information he is reading. This is very important because they have AR test on library books that he earns points for. He is also already watching "toy reviews" on youtube and telling me things he wants for Christmas. Boy he is prepared huh...

I have some photos of Logan's first day of school but I have yet to upload them to the computer so as soon as I do, I will post those along with the little video of signing Laney.

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday

Please vote

Please go to www.wsslfm.com and click on fearless fathers. Once there, click vote now and vote for TIM BUCHANAN! He is trying to win Taylor Swift tickets for his 2 daughters and backstage passes. He did an awesome job portraying Taylor Swift! Vote as often as you can and as many times as you can until Aug. 28th! Please support Tim!

Thanks bunches. Oh and don't forget to watch his video as well. (his is the last one on the 2nd page of videos)

6 years old

Happy 6th Birthday!

Sassy

It seems that Laney is a nosey and sassy little girl. She loves to be all in your business. It is really cute but when she gets older boy are we in trouble. She is such a social butterfly. She loves getting attention and will show herself to make sure she gets it. Hmmmm, I am so wondering where she got this from...

Logan is getting excited about school starting back but he is even more excited that once he turns 6 years old he gets to do chores. I am sure this excitement will wear off but I am amazed he is looking forward to it. He didn't even care that I told him he would earn money for doing chores but later he said he could take his money to buy toys. We will see how long it takes him to catch on that he has to do it on his own without us assisting all the time. His starting chores are: brush teeth, take bath, and clean room daily. The first two are a given but sometimes he shows out when it is time (because it interupts playing) so the goal is to make it more of an uneventful habit. He starts this on Monday (the day after his birthday).

Wordless Wednesday

New

Today Laney had a new ST come out since her last ST bought a home in another town and is longer working in our area. (We were sad to see her go) I had met this new ST once before today but couldn't really remember her but I am so pleased. She is going to be just exactly what Laney needs. She has a louder voice than the previous ST and Laney responds better to someone that can be more firm sounding. Keep in mind I loved our previous ST. She was awesome and made so much progress with Laney. I was so sad to see her go.

Alas, today was also the 6 mth IFSP. Perfect timing since the new ST wants Laney to have speech twice a week instead of just once. She wants to be able to work on oral motor/language one day and feeding the other day. We kept most of our goals because we generalize them so that we don't have alot of picky little detail goals and we added one. These meetings are always so love/hate for me. I hate having to put a time frame or "schedule" on my daughter's abilities and progress but I know that it is just for her benefit so that we have a regimen for her to follow.

We also bought Laney a new pair of tennis shoes. They are her first official pair of big girl shoes...LOL. She did NOT like it when I took them off so my MIL could pay for them. She also was pulling boots off the shelf like she liked them too. I think I may have a shoe diva on my hands...she is truly her mother's daughter.

I also found out today that "Grammy's" son and his girlfriend are expecting...it's a GIRL!!! I am so excited for them. I told them that now Laney will have someone to grow up with.

These next few weeks are going to be busy and hectic. We have a birthday party this weekend at the skating rink for my friend's son...he will be 5. Next week is Logan's birthday and he will be 6. We are having his party on Saturday and he keeps telling people that I am changing his birthday. Too cute! We will have his friends at the party and then on Sunday his great-grandparents are coming over to eat cake (Sunday is his actual birthday) and play with the kids. I will post plenty of photos and probably some videos too. Oh and I start college and Logan starts 1st grade. Lots of things going on here the next few weeks...

Wordless Wednesday

A video of Laney

Here is Laney...she has learned how to dance and she loves Elmo. Too cute. We pressed the button and she just started dancing. We had never seen her to it before (and this was the first time she played with this Elmo...thanks Grammy). We laughed because it was so adorable. Sorry if the quality is poor but I recorded with my phone. Hope you enjoy! I have other videos too (now that I figured out how to upload them from my phone) that I will share another time.

The Princess' Eyes

We took the princess to the eye doctor yesterday for her follow up exam. Ricky was able to take off work and go with me to this appointment (finally). This was the only doctor he had not met so far...he was glad to go and I was so glad he was with me once we arrived.

Before I tell of the appointment, I should tell our sightings...we have noticed she has been turning her right eye inward for awhile now, hence the repeated visits to the eye doctor. Now for the past couple of weeks, we have noticed she is also turning her left eye inward but it is at the same time as the right eye. We have been thinking it was getting worse instead of better even though we have been putting drops in her left eye once a week (this is supposed to be like patching the eye but she won't keep a patch on her face so we had to go this route. It makes her left eye really blurry so that she is forced to use her right eye. It is supposed to make her right eye stronger). So here is what we learned at the visit...

Laney did great for Dr. Eyeballs. He said it was the best reading he had gotten on her so far. He saw her right eye turning inward lots of times and said to us that he thinks it is getting more pronounced. We agree. So since her vision is great and she is not far-sighted, glasses or bifocals are not an option for her. (that is good and bad...lol. if she had vision problems, glasses would be the first thing to try and it usually works but since no vision problems, we can't try that route) He said sometimes they will try a botox injection but that is a temporary fix and he doesn't think we should try that and neither do we. She is way too young to start cosmetic surgery...LOL! His recommendation is that she have surgery. I almost cried when he said it even though in my heart I knew we were headed that way. The thought of my baby girl having surgery is just scary. I know we have been so blessed and fortunate that she didn't have to have heart or intestinal surgery but it is still hard. We have had ear tubes but that was a hard day for me too. I can't imagine what other parents go through with the major surgeries. We are so thankful we haven't had that (yet...you never know what the future holds). So below I will post an explanation of what is wrong with her eye and some information about the surgery. He said he anticipates her having the surgery within the next 6-12 months. (we have to wait until she is using both eyes equally and a few other things he mentioned but I forgot.)

*Laney has what is called strabismus but the type of strabismus she has is called esotropia (this means her eye drifts inward).

*Having eye muscle surgery will strengthen the eye muscles which changes the alignment of the eye

*The surgery is considered outpatient and she will be put under general anesthesia. She will get to come home the same day. There is no patching of the eye required afterwards. We will only have to use antibiotic eye drops (this is the normal protocol...something could always change or go wrong)

*The surgery consist of Dr. Eyeballs making an incision in the tissue of her eye called conjuctiva to get to the sclera (wall of the eye) to reach the muscles that are attached there. He will then cut the tissue and reattach in a different location (this is called recession).

*Dr. Eyeballs will cut on the eye itself, not the skin around the eye and the eye is NOT removed from the socket during this procedure.

I got all this information from this website: http://www.childrenseyefoundation.org/getdoc/7efd480b-4e92-42a5-84ec-9b813054ae95/Patient-and-Parent-Guide-to-Strabismus-Surgery.aspx

It has lots of information so check it out for more information. I gave just a bare bones overview explanation of what happens.

Dr. Eyeballs wants us to start putting the drops in her eye every other day for now instead of just once a week. We return in 4 weeks for a follow up and they will dilate her eyes at that exam to recheck her vision and so forth again.

Time

Time...it just seems to evaporate in front of my eyes. I have great intentions of all the things I need to get done but most of them never come to be because I simply run out of time. Where does it go???

I have now signed up for classes at the local community college. I aim to get my Associates Degree in Early Childhood/Special Needs. I am taking 4 classes this semester along with trying to work some as a substitute teacher and Logan will be in 1st grade and of course all of Laney's therapy and doctor appointments. I will be busy but I am confident I can handle it...hope Ricky's up to the challenge of me being a zombie...LOL.

Laney goes back to see her eye doctor tomorrow. Ricky took the day off to go with me this time since he has never met this doctor (he has at least made an appearance at all appts so far except this one). I am a little worried because her eye seems a little worse and the other is turning in alot now as well. I don't know what all this means but I am anxious to see what he recommends. I am not sure if I will get a second opinion right away because Laney goes to the Down syndrome clinic in November for evaluation by all specialist (they are all at one place and it takes the whole day almost...so I am told) and I may just wait until then. I guess we will decide once we here what Dr. Eyeballs has to say about it tomorrow. (Side note...I am giving all her doctors nicknames because it will be much simpler to blog about it that way and of course I don't want to use their real names without permission).

She is trying really hard now to walk. She will take steps but only holding on to your fingers or cruising. She is too scared to let go yet. I am hoping she will be able to take a couple steps at the Buddy Walk this October. Just a few steps is all I ask...

We got the report today from her developmental evaluation last week. It shows she is having some mild to significant delays but as I understand from the lady that came out, some things are dependant upon others and if she can't do something just yet, then she can't do the things that come after it. Once she learns to do certain things, her scores will come up because she will be able to do more. I know that makes no sense but it is the simplest way to explain it. For example, if she can't walk yet then of course she can't run so she doesn't get those points and it counts towards her delay. They said she is really high functioning it appears and they think she is doing really well. I struggle with these test because they are so conforming. Of course no toddler is going to perform on command...they never do. I just try to keep that in mind when I get results.

Logan is getting closer to his 6th birthday and starting 1st grade. I am more upset about him starting 1st grade than I was him starting kindergarten. Strange huh. I told Ricky earlier today I just might cry when he starts this year because now it is "for real". He gets letter grades instead of just and "S", "N", or "I". He only ever got "S" of course but you know what I mean. Now he has to start reading books to take test on them, not just for the pleasure of it. All big changes coming this way; let's hope I am ready for them.

Loganism

I was browsing through some new blogs I found last night (while Laney was napping) and Logan came in here...this is the conversation that followed...

Logan: "Moma, who is that little kid?"
Me: "Just a little boy on a blog I found. He has Down syndrome like Laney."
Logan: "Like in that book we read?"
Me: "Yes, like that ."
Logan: "He kinda looks like Ben." (ben is the boy in the book we read.) "What is Down syndrome again?"
Me:"Down syndrome means that they have an extra chromosome."
Logan: "What's a chromosome?"
Me: "It's what makes us who we are."

Anyone out there reading this have any suggestions on how to explain to my very inquisitive almost 6 yr old son what a genetic disorder is? We have read books about Ds but he ask more difficult questions...aka...the chromosome question. How do I explain something I didn't learn about until high school to my 1st grader?

My Life

Logan's Tball trophy...He is so proud

She was sick the day of his trophy get together...can't you tell

batter up...at his last game

this is just too cute!

she found herself in the mirror...she was kissing herself

Summary

I know it has been a few days since my last post. We have been busy. This past weekend we went to Atlanta to see some baseball games. It was really nice and we all had fun. We got to see Greg Maddux's number retired and some fireworks after the game and then on Saturday, we toured the CNN center and got an autograph from their rookie pitcher. The kids enjoyed it as well. I will post some pictures as soon as I upload them from my camera.

Yesterday, Laney had a developmental evaluation and a visit with her caseworker. They tested her cognitive development and her language skills. Per the test they used, she is at a 13 mth age equivalent for her cognitive abilities and at a 11 mth age equivalent for her language abilities. Last week at therapy, they tested her using the Peabody test and she is averaging 11 mth for Physical Therapy and 14 mth for her visual motor skills and 7 mth for her grasp. She is doing really well overall and it is hard to hear these numbers from these test because she is a toddler...she has a mind of her own. Some things we know she can do the correct way but she is stubborn and won't do it when they want her to so that affects her scores sometimes.

Logan has decided he doesn't want to play soccer this Fall but he wants to play golf. What a strange kid he is...LOL. I can't believe it is almost his birthday and he will be 6 yrs old and starting 1st grade. He is growing way too fast.

Memory

Well, I am such a nerd!!! I was so excited about making the cupcakes in ice cream cones that when I finished I totally forgot to take a photo. I am so mad at myself. They were so pretty. I made them red, white, and blue since it was July 4th and everyone seemed to like them especially the kids.

That night after the birthday party cookout and swimming, we took the kids to see some fireworks. We were so close to were they were shooting them from that we kept feeling the ash fall on us. The kids were tired but they made it through and after it was over, Laney passed out. She liked them until the finale when it was really loud. Before they started, they had bands playing and they even did a small re-enactment of the battle of Kings Mountain. It was awesome! They even had the canons there and let me tell you...LOUD!!! They fired off their muskets too. I have never seen a re-enactment before and now I really want to see a full on one done maybe at Gettysburg or somewhere like that...you know, one of the big battles back then. (If you can't tell, we like history here)

I took a few pics that night but haven't uploaded them yet. I will try to do that soon. Logan has had a tball game every night this week and we have one tonight as well. None tomorrow but we do have one really early Saturday morning and that is the last one. Tuesday they will get their trophies when we all meet at Dairy Queen. He is really getting the hang of this ball thing now though and he also says he doesn't want to play soccer this Fall but he wants to play golf. We shall see. Currently he is pretending to be a Ghostbuster and we all have to pretend to be different people from the movie...thanks Ricky for playing the video game and letting him find out about that...haha.

Laney is doing really well. She is walking while holding on to your hands now and when she is tired she will sometimes turn around and look at you and say "UP". It is so cute.

Last, I want to share with you some funny things Logan has been doing lately. Last night at the tball game, we switched dugouts from the one we normally use and after he finished running the bases, he started to the wrong dugout. We all started yelling at him to come to our side and he looked right at me and held up his thumb and first finger to make the "looser" symbol. We all died laughing and we asked him what that meant and he said "winners, duh". Too funny. Also, last night when Ricky was leaving to go back to work, he gave me a kiss and Logan jumps up and says "alright, enough with the kissy kissy". Don't know where he heard that from but it was hilarious. He says some of the funniest things. This weekend they are going to "Grammy's" house and I told him that last night when he was going to bed. He responded with...

Logan: "Am I spending the night?"
Me: "Yes"
Logan: "Do I have to behave?"
Me: "Yes"

I then shut the door and busted out laughing.

Wonder

Well, this is me of course...lol

Logan playing outside

Laney...she wanted me to pick her up

they play so well together

see...he is a great big brother

this is mostly how Laney spent her time at the yard sale fundraiser

family photo at yardsale fundraiser

Logan taking a break at the sale and wearing Laney's sunglasses

me and Laney at the yard sale

Just wanted to share a few pics with you since I am finally getting around to uploading them on the computer.

The kids are both doing well and loving going swimming everyday. Laney is being devoured by mosquitos even though I am spraying her with repellant. So sad and I know they itch but we are trying all sorts of things to find something to help. Any ideas, email me or post a comment. Logan is learning how to tell jokes now...they are really cute too.

Tomorrow is July 4th and we are having a cookout/birthday party for my FIL whose birthday is this coming Wednesday. Busy day. I have made a cake I saw in a book. They are supposed to be Liberty Torches but I am changing it up a bit and just making them with red, white and blue icing and putting tiny flags on top. I will post pics after I get them finished. I will just say so far too cute...they are baked in ice cream cones. Can't wait to share them with you.