What Fun Looks LIke

I was filling out my FAFSA for school, printing coupons and making a shopping list for tonight.  I saw this as it was happening but didn't connect all the parts until I was done.  Oh well, at least they were all entertained and quiet...even if I did just mop the floor:)

It's Official

Nathan is four today (although we aren't talking about it at all since as mentioned in a previous post he believes he has been four for two days now)!

 What do you say about Nathan that I haven't already said on the blog before...  He's just Nathan, and that in itself describes him enough.  He loved being able to go to the Big kid area at the gym today.  The worker said he went around and tried out everything they had and was obviously excited about all of it.  We love our middle child:)

Choo Choo Choo goes the train

 Sunday evening train building, complete with show obstacles, Dragon's guarding the way and tunnels

Party like it's your birthday

Nathan did not understand that his party was Saturday and his birthday is not until Monday.  When Ben tried to explain, he actually ran to his room crying.  So, this year, Nathan's birthday was the 29th of January:)

 Four cream cheese oreo balls with candles.  Nathan has never really liked cake that much, so this year we had something yummy for everyone. 

 He could not for the life of him blow out those candles

 K and A finishing their mac n cheese.  The rest of us had some really really really (can I say that since I made it?!) Mexican soup and homemade tortillas.  I guess you could say it was a Diego theme, haha.

 Presents begin

 Kate and Addy kept saying "Thank you!" when Nathan would open his presents.  They assumed they were theirs as well.

He was in Heaven...

Rub A Dub Dub

Three girls in laundry baskets...

What a way to watch t.v.  This also means I actually had all the laundry folded.  This has since changed with the new rounds of laundry:)

Graduation Day

Today I had my last IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting for Bailey.  He has officially tested out of Special Education services.  He met every benchmark well before projected in the plan, and so we all agreed he would now be done. 

The above picture is his.  He drew it to illustrate one of his poems.

This 

reminds me

of Mount Everest

Skiing up, climbing up

All of it is hard to do 

So don't climb Mount Everest

Typical Bailey humor!  I am a little teary just thinking about how hard he really has worked and how "easy" at times he has made it to have a child with special needs.  We are very proud of him!

Mooma

Today we went down to the Bay area to be at the grave service for Mooma.  She passed away last Friday and did not want a funeral, just something small at the burial.  I dug up old pictures that had turned into a must take for each baby.  It became a tradition we had to make it down to see her with each new baby in our family to get the Mooma picture. 

Mooma comforting a crying Bailey in 2001

Mooma with Emma in 2004

 

 

 Little Nathan and Mooma 2007

 Meeting the twins (Kate top, Addison bottom) in 2009

Her passing has been expected for a while, but has also been a day everyone was happily waiting for.  Mooma could no longer see or hear very well.  She had lived a long life in which she was one of the most peaceful and kind people I have every met.  She was a tiny little thing that everyone loved and respected.  We are grateful she was able to meet each of our children and look forward to seeing her again someday.