Catch-up

We had a CRAZY Christmas season...and since I didn't do much blogging during that time it will mostly be told in pictures!

Gingerbread houses with graham crackers and the Michaelson's. It has become a tradition to have an FHE with them and gingerbread houses!

I love this one of Indie poking his head into the picture! Lately he has finally decided he wants to smile for the camera.

Annicka's Christmas program! Of course she was on the front row and we couldn't see her from where we were sitting. That's how it goes, right?

A Bethlehem Village with lots of crafs for the kids put on by Westlake Community Church. A woman Scott works with invited us to go and it was a lot of fun!

Their little church even had a rock climbing wall in one of the kids' play rooms. Indie made it to the top on his first try! Surprise, surprise!

Indie was sitting in Milo's swing and I was trying to take a picture when he decided to get out and I caught it right before he did a face plant!

And of course chubby Milo! I love having a FAT baby! (His weight was in the 80th percentile at his 2 month appt!)

I had to teach preschool one week...this is how daddy took care of Milo so I could concetrate on the other kids.

And grandma and grandpa Copple came into town and stayed with us and of course the kids had to get the stomach bug that has been going around, so Park and Annie were throwing up and Indie had diarrhea, so no party with the whole family. Thankfully no pictures of that! And Annie and Park got to roast marshmallows with a kit Annie got from the white elephant exchange with Scott's family.

And building gingerbread trees with grandma!

It looks like we forgot to take pictures of Christmas morning and our ward party, and several other things we did over the holidays. Oh, well! That's how it goes!

Indie's Assessment

We had Indie's assessment with the school district on Wednesday. It went something like this..."Indie come here, let's see what toys I have to play with." Indie would then proceed to run away or crawl under the table because he cannot be told to sit down and match objects to their picture, or to string beads on a string. Can he do these things? Yes...will he do them is a better question. And the answer is no, especially if he thinks you want him to and even more especially if it's an adult that he doesn't know. So after about 20 minutes of fighting him and trying to get him to do something (they even bribed him with candy) even the district people gave up on trying to get him to do anything. And consequently he scored in the 1st percentile on everything. Then I sat and filled out several questionnaires...and Indie ran around, I kept trying to go get him when one of the district people said, "oh, don't worry about him, there's nothing he can get into and so and so will watch him." Of course I believed her. I assumed that since they assess three year old children there all the time that she knew what she was talking about. After about 15 minutes I hear some lady say, "is anyone missing a child?" and automatically without seeing him I say, "he's mine!" and sure enough he was. Apparently he found a door that opened to the rest of the Kids on the Move building and was wandering around upstairs, on the other side of the building. One of the girls that works with Indie recognized him and said I must be downstairs in the assessment center. That's my child! *sigh* Well, he qualifies for the special needs preschool and will start right after his birthday in January! It will be really good for him. We haven't seen a child psychologist yet to have him diagnosed. I'm still debating whether or not to do that. I have a feeling they will tell me he has PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) which basically means he has developmental delays in more than one area. I feel like it all stems from his Sensory needs. He's just too busy getting input that he doesn't learn the same way other children would. I know what's wrong and what to do to help him, so does he really need a label? I don't know. We'll figure it out. For right now, he'll start preschool. YAY!

Six Weeks and a Blessing

 Yesterday Milo turned six weeks and we blessed him. First, thank you to Rolyne and Lori for helping me write his blessing while Scott gave it to him and to Kaylene for taking Indie off of my hands so that I could be there for it! I've written a letter to each of my kids as they were born and usually I've done it within the first couple of weeks of being born, and already six weeks have flown by, it's time I do that now. So, don't feel obligated to read any further, although, obviously you can if you want.

Milo, how glad we are to have you in our family! My first chubby baby! It took a while before you decided it was time to join our family and we are glad you finally made it. I didn't expect a third boy in a row, but after we found out you were coming and had chosen a name I felt like you were already apart of our family. I could feel your presence strongly and not just because you were trying kick your way out! Looking out from this side of your life I have lots of hopes and dreams for you. Most of all I want you to become a good man. One who is concerned about others, and one who is a good example of our Savior Jesus Christ. One who respects others, especially women. One who serves others whole heartedly. One who freely forgives others when they make mistakes, especially your parents. One who is honest. You already have a good example in your dad to look to. As I am writing this you are sitting in your bouncy chair, just looking at me, smiling every so often. You are a happy baby, but I can tell that your spirit is old, and much more mature than mine. I see it in your eyes. I felt it before you were born. You have two older brothers and an older sister who love you so much! It is so fun to watch them with you and the love and concern they have for you. Each baby that has come into our home has brought more love and you are no exception. I'm always amazed at the love I feel for my children and how that love expands with each one. I also feel the resposibility that comes in raising all of you. Your father and I pray everyday to know what we need to do for each of you to become good and honest people, and how you need the gospel taught to you. I hope that you will be able to learn of a Father and Savior who love you because you can feel that love in our family. We love you, Milo!

Milo's Blessing 4 Dec 2011

Continue in good health during your infancy
Learn what your parents teach you and apply those teachings in your life
Desire to learn about Jesus Christ and the scriptures
Be a good boy and do good to others
Desire to be baptized, follow the Savior by joining His church
Desire to receive the Priesthood
Knowledge to press forward
Choose to serve the Lord on a mission and to be married in the temple
Be an example of Jesus Christ

So for Annie's and Park's birthdays we got them a combined gift of the entire set of "Harry Potter" movies on blueray. We watched them all together. (Am I crazy for letting my 7 and 5-year-old watch all of them? No nightmares...yet.) Now all they can do is run around with anything that might resemble a wand and say things like "Turn on-ify!" or "jump up-icus!" And so I respond with things like "Eat your dinner-ify!" or "brush your teeth-icus!"

Happy Birthday, Park!

 Park has officially turned 5! Happy Birthday to my sweet Park! You bring so much light into our home. You are a good helper and love to laugh. You are cautious at first but once comfortable you can be as crazy as Indie. We sure love you!

 Park got a Pegasus Beyblade for his birthday, he was pretty happy with it!

 And of course I have to put in a few pictures of Milo. He is now 4 weeks old and is starting to smile.

Happy Birthday Annicka! & Milo's 2 week!

Happy Birthday to Annicka! Since her birthday fell on a Sunday this year we had some of our celebration on Saturday by going to Jumpin' Jacks (this seems to have become a tradition).

On Sunday after church we had cake and ice cream (just us...I don't feel much up to entertaining yet.) and opened Annie's present!

 Annicka, we are so grateful to have you in our family! You are the best oldest sister we could have asked for! You are so patient with your little brothers. You are growing into a beautiful young woman...next year you will be baptized! We can hardly believe that you are almost old enough for that! WE LOVE YOU!

 We've realized that Milo's birthday is exactly two weeks before Annicka's and Park's is exactly two weeks after! Craziness! So Milo was two weeks old on Sunday and today we had his well child check up. He is now 9 lbs 1 oz and has grown nearly two inches! He is definitely getting bigger! His jaundice is getting much better, he only ended up on the billi lights for about 24 hours (thank heavens!) and although his eyes are still a little yellow, he is looking much more normal. What a handsome little guy!

Happy Halloween!

Well, it's over, but the kids made a HAUL with the candy. The problem is that I'll probably eat most of it! Oh well! I'm nursing, right? Here are the kids just before they left to go trick-or-treating. Annicka was an African princess, Park a pirate and Indie, Superman!

 Enjoying some candy!

 And just a couple of cute pics of the older ones holding Milo.