Our Halloween.

We spent this Halloween with one of Trevor's best friends and family. Trevor and Niall were a Clone trooper and Darth Vader. The weather was perfect and warm, and the rain held off just long enough. It was a great neighborhood for trick-or-treating with sidewalks and lots of houses. We enjoyed pizza and beverages before hand and then hit the streets. I'll never forget little two year old Lucas, strutting from house to house in absolute awe about the whole process of getting the candy. No matter how much candy he got his bag was never too heavy for him to carry! I think at one point he was dragging it on the ground. He was so cute and little going up to each doorstep proudly and loudly saying "Trick or treat" and " Thank you.." So cute!

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Happy Halloween!

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Some days......

Are harder than others. Here you are in your Ballerina costume, all dressed up for the preschool parade. You hate it. I'm not sure why I thought you would enjoy dressing up as a princess ballerina for Halloween. It's just one of those holidays that I don't really look forward to b/c I'm just reminded of how you don't really understand it yet. You don't remind me about it days or weeks in advance. You don't really care to pick out a costume. I know the year it happens, I will be surprised. Each year is getting better, but for this year you will still ride along side your brothers in a stroller or in the car, not really wear a costume and not really collect any candy, but you will be happy and that is all that really matters anyway....

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My favorite little book light.....

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My Mad Face....

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During dinner preparation the kids love to "help". Every Monday in fact, Trevor plans, shops for and prepares the "Monday meal" (not bad for a seven year old!!). This is also a good time and opportunity to work on fine motor skills. Tonight we were peeling, taking apart, and counting our orange pieces before eating them (also a good way to get them to eat fruit--have them prepare it themselves!)

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Hopefully the last day wearing these glasses for a while....eye exam tomorrow and then back into contacts-YEAH!

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Lucas had a great night last night sleeping in his big boy bed for the first time! We had been talking to him for weeks about not getting out of bed, and today when it was nap time he went upstairs and got into bed all by himself. I was amazed. We got a brand new (old) set of solid pine furniture for the boys room off Craigslist. Honestly, they practically gave it away to us. Bunk beds, mattresses, shelves, dressers---these boys are all set!

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We're so excited to sleep in our new beds!

Gotta Run....

We have a NEW BLOG called Gotta Run..... Check it out...

It's all about Josh's journey in fundraising and training for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Boston Maraton Charity team. I added the donation link to the right.

Thanks so much for your support, the Marathon will surely be a defining moment in our lives.

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As much as I love close-ups (I take too many)...sometimes you just gotta back up a little. My front yard, right now with three little ones running and playing. It will pass by in a blink. Love this.

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Got my iPod and I'mm all ready to go for a run with you Mom and Dad....

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Because I love this shot. And I don't have any photos from today, but I went on a field trip to Hannaford with Trevor's class, played with one little boy outside digging in the dirt, made three meals and cleaned up from them, dropped off and picked up from school, Hugged, kissed and rubbed backs, sat through two swimming lessons (and tried to figure out a schedule for next session) , tamed several tantrums, AND what day would be complete without a trip to the doctor (Breanna probably just has a cold...) PHEW...what a day.

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Playing together peacefully (for the moment)...

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leaning out the door to try to catch one (notice the shorts). That's right it's snowing! October 18th, the earliest snow that I can remember--Oh MY.....

Track and Field

They ended off the season with a track meet. The kids could choose to do from one to seven events and each got a ribbon. Trevor chose all seven. They ended off the meet with the 400 (1/4 mile). Everyone got a blue ribbon for that one. We're so proud of you Trevor! You had so much fun!

Bre's 5th Birthday Party

Today we gathered our family and friends in a low-key party to honor Breanna for her fifth Birthday.

The party was at 3:30 after Lucas' nap. I set the table up for the party at around 2 and ran outside for a minute to grab the cooler. When I came back in, Breanna was seated at the head of the table, party hat on ready to go. She said, Day" and "cake " , practiced blowing out her candles and blew her little birthday horn. It was honestly one of the cutest things I have ever seen.....It really touched my heart that she understands her birthday for the first time this year:)

Who was there: Mom and Dad, Gammie and Gampa, Trevor and Lucas, Helen, Phil and Emily, Kristen and family.

Gifts: 5 little monkey books, a purse, little wooden animals, a bubble blower, fingerpaints and smartwool socks and a disco ball.

Other Highlights:

The kids playing wildly outside and in...

Pizza and cake

Bre blowing our her candles

Kevin making us laugh with his diaper jokes.

Breanna's cute birthday outfit

The balloons

The campfire

The disco Dance party

Her smile:)

as usual there are too many pictures.....Enjoy!

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You were waiting and practicing for this moment all day, you couldn't wait for your "day" party!

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this boy..... (love that Clifford hat!)

Loves to count 1..2..6..7...8..9..10

Loves to be outside

says words like already, never, actually and unfortunately.

Is always eating or drinking, begging for food or drink, or getting into the snack cabinet...

Loves writing, drawing, painting and Playdough

Loves getting into my purse

Is obsessed with Gum (and lolipops).

Breaks, or creates a HUGE mess with everything he touches.. (he's ALL boy)

Sleeps 12 hours a night (FINALLY!!!)

gives the best hugs, kisses, I love yous and cuddles

I can never stay mad at him becuase he is just so darn cute!

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This 3 year young washing machine...is gaoing to be the end of me! It has been broken three separate times over the last month, and now it is going to cost about $200 to fix it with a new control board. We had to coordinate someone going to the laundromat last night-UGGH! Yes, worse things could happen, but aren't washing machines supposed to be workhorses? This one is too delicate for my taste!

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Reading together. Love this.

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It's HERE! and it's fantastic!

......And I wish I had a photo of Grandma, Mom and I at lunch today to celebrate my birthday last weekend. It was a special time, thank you guys! Wish we had a whole weekend together:)

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Today....we went apple and pumpkin picking!

A quite peaceful walk around the orchard....a wagon ride.....picking apples up high with a picker (and shoulders)......picking our pumpkins, perfect for carving..... a mini cherry pie and some mini pumpkin whoopie pies and fresh cider....UMMMM.

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It's getting cold here, daytime temps in the fifties. We are still spending much of our days outside, running and playing, making up games and taking walks in the woods. The evenings are coming earlier and we head inside for a crock-pot dinner and cuddling by our first fire of the year. AHHHH, the best parts of fall here in New England.

You guys.

Seeing you two playing TOGETHER outside today for hours just melted my heart. You were talking to each other and REALLY playing together for the first time that I can remember. Just the best gift ever.

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Love this day, Thank you so much for all the calls, e-mails, cards and gifts! I sure did feel special:)

Here's to you Kevin

Happy Birthday to a brother with a kind heart and a patient soul. Hope your day is filled with happy memories:)

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Mom, I can't wait for Christmas....

Why?

Because it is really fun!

Why?

Because you get to spend lots of time with your family.....

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Ice cream for breakfast for the birthday girl!

You are my sunshine.

You.....at FIVE~

Calls me "Mom" (Love that!)
Loves all her five little monkey books
Loves to watch her "shows" Curious George, Clifford, Cyberchase
Doesn't quite understand birthdays yet but is getting there (counts to five on her fingers)
Is totally underestimated (even by us)
Asks for what she wants (FINALLY!)
Goes to preschool five days a week for four hours and then some
Loves Horseback riding (every Friday)
Is hoping to start adaptive dance soon

You wear your backpack into school and hang everything up yourself

You help unload the dishwasher, clear the table, and cut fruit

You eat a cheese stick at every meal

You love icecream but no other sweets

You like eating at your "own table"

You prefer plastic or baby silverware
Her favortie toy is her Cash register
Loves wrestling, tqackling, tickling, football and soccer
can walk next to me in the store (without getting lost)
Can count and recognize numbers up to twenty (and sometimes beyond)
Can read some words
Knows her colors, and letters
Recognizes her name and picture
Is starting to write some letters
Loves pointing to pictures in books and naming things
Loves playing with the little girls at school on the playground
Loves her little people Music in the car and asks for her "song"
No longer wears diapers to school (and not very often at home) and is making good progress.
NEVER gives up.

You are amazing, joyful, and our inspiration, I can't believe it's been five years.....

Happy Fifth Birthday Pretty girl! We love you!

this week.

I was really inspired by this story today.

What's going on this week? Me, being a little overwhelmed is what is going on. FIrst let's start with Bre's school meeting Monday. Everyone at school is just fantastic, except well one person who is a difficult personality to deal with. It just so happens that she is in charge of what is Bre's weakest area right now. So, about 5 phone calls later I figured out what to do with that situation. Then, my washing machine broke AGAIN. Then, a case of conjunctivitis (it is torture having to wear these glasses I tell you!). Then our in home Aide called out sick for the fourth time in three weeks when Josh had a whole bunch of errands to run this afternoon. So I'm calling our caseworker there to try to figure out what to do about all these sick calls and dealing with that difficult personality. This is on top of school, work, appointments and other acitivites going on this week. ALL I want today is someone to say, " how can I make your life easier today..." I don't think that is going to happen:) There it's all off my chest:)

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Lunch.....complete with a little love from Mom.

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Your first pack meeting tonight .....my little cub scout!

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Lately....we've been having trouble with naps.....

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Half Marathon completed! Congrats Daddy:) We're all so proud of you!

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just cheerfully doing our our nightly chores....

Today's inspiration. ATTITUDE.

Attitudes
The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company a church a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

And so it is with you we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.

Charles Swindoll

(Thanks Ali...for your awesome class, and thanks Mom for sharing the moment with me:))

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another tooth lost...this makes six!

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The best thing about having Grandparents around...is all the unexpected (and natural smiles) that are so great for photographing:) (Thanks Mom!)