365::31

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

(sorry about the underwear photo Lucas....but when I walked through your doorway this morning and saw Trevor getting you dressed for church, well it just had to be the picture of the day!)

365::30

We are really into games these days. I LOVE how you are so patient with her and how you guys are playing games on your own. (I don't think that would be if you has a typical sibling relationship, UMMM.... can we say Lucas rubs you the wrong way most days?!?!) This is her gift to all of us.....patience:)
I heart weekends.

365::29

365::28

Mom, Today is a GREAT day, I LOVE today. I get to do morning announcement and Dad is coming in to volunteer for mileage club! (Life doesn't get any better than being 7 does it?)

365::27

Mornings are a three-ring circus around here.

365::26

Making some yummy apple oatmeal cookie muffin things for our after school snacks....

365::25

What you guys are doing at night when we're folding laundry......

365::24

After spending the weekend learning this game.....Trevor is pretty much now unbeatable at Stratego (smart kid!)

Remembering....365::23

Shirley T. Prager

January 23,1924-January 12,2007

You will always be in our hearts.

A copy of this poem (old and yellowed) was found on Nanny's bulletin board, this is how she would want to be remembered for it was the giving to others that gave her the most joy.

To Remember Me--A Poem by Robert N. Test

by Robert N. Test, American Poet

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face, or love in the eyes of a woman.

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil.

Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

things about her that I'll never forget.....

The way she loved her family so much with all her heart and soul, and how she cherished every minute of them

The way she never threw anything away---she saved every plastic cool whip container and every plastic bag

The way she gave of herself, even when it was hard or she was tired.

How she was so involved in her community, church and neighborhood, she had too many friends to count.

The way she always remembered everyone's special days.

Her home cooking, her card playing, her conversation

The way she always sat on the end of the table so she could get up if anyone "needed anything"

HOw she always told everyone how much she loved them and how special they were to her.

How she spent time with me when I was a little girl, teaching me to sew and cook and do girl things (I wish you were here to teach me more things now...)

The way she loved music and played the piano.

The way she hugged and never wanted to let go.

The lunches she packed "for the road"

I miss you Nanny....your life touched mine in so many ways, ways that I am still realizing to this day.

We rejoice you and your long, beautiful and meaningful life
:)

Night with a legend...

Read here for Josh's amazing experience in Boston last night and to see photos!

365::22

Wer'e brushing our teeth all by ourselves!

365::21

remnants from Breanna's very first REAL play date today. Honestly I never expected her to have a Best Friend in preschool. IT is amazing. and Ella is a sweet girl. I'm grinning from ear to ear. I don't care what else happens in her life, I just want Breanna to have friends.

365::20

We just don't have good luck with appliances. Our new temporary fridge. Our other one is out on the front porch keeping the food cold until we can turn this one on (24 hrs from transport

I am told) I think it may stay longer than we planned b/c I kind of like that it is magnetic!

PS. I'm back to work tonight....It's hard on my eyes, but
I'll get through it somehow. I had some worrisome visual fluctuations, but the doctor says my eyes are great...just a little dry. My vision is much better now that I have been using the artificial tears more regularly. Stay tuned for the full story.....

365::19

For those of you who have never been a part of an IEP or PET meeting consider yourselves blessed. It is stressful trying to prepare....to make sure that you say everything that you want to say about a time in your child's day that you are really not there for. Sometimes if feels like your child is picked apart, piece by piece and then put back together again. We're so used to it, (and over it) that it doesn't even really phase us anymore. We're VERY fortunate to have such an outstanding team this year. It is amazing to sit back and think about a room FULL of about 10-15 people that you would have never have known if your child did not have a disability. People that all have a vested interest in your child and making her life better. A pretty amazing thing......

365::18

All ready to go out and play in the fresh new snow today!

365::17

Bowling (although this picture doesn't show what a JOY a certain almost three year old is every time we take him somewhere) and Trevor's first sleepover tonight--what fun!

365::16

First game of the year...and this kid was on fire!

365::15

I definitely don't need to "rest" my eyes as much today. The puffy-ness in the lids has gone.
They are still red and feeling pretty dry today. I'm still praying everything turns out OK. My vision is nothing short of a miracle however. 20/20 on the first day post-op. The dry eyes are not affecting my vision at all---just uncomfortable. It is January after all....

365::14

cooking dinner.....

There are just so many "helpers" around here....

365::13

4 Hours post-op and doing well...I'll share my whole LASIK journey when I'm able to use computers for longer....stay tuned:)

A REALLY special Thank you to My Mom and Heidi for helping me out today....this would not have been possible without you

!

365::12

The last day I'll be wearing THESE glasses:) (hopefully....)

365::11

Oh, no...not another Monday!

365::10

Jumping around and playing with my friends at the Maine Down Syndrome Network Winter Holiday party. A day full of friendship, support, family and hope:)

365::9

Thank you so much to Mike and Michelle for sharing their beautiful daughter Leah with us. Lucas (surprisingly) couldn't get enough of holding the baby:) not to mention the fact that he said,"Mom I think we need to change the baby's diaper because she pooped---PEEYOU!"

happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to a wonderful and inspirational Mother, Friend and sister. I hope all your dreams come true!

365::8

My boy, you are a character!

The other day I asked you what you were doing and you responded, "Mom I'm just breaking the whole house!"

365::7

patiently waiting for my pizza......we NEEDED a night out:)

365::6

Me: Lucas do you want to take a walk down to the bus stop to get Trevor?

Lucas: Sure, let me grab my backpack.

Love this.

365::5

Our second annual January carpet picnic

365::4

Back to school.....

365::3

Today.....

We made a sledding hill right in our very own yard going all the way down into the woods.

We shoveled and snowblowed, and fixed the snowblower two times.

we were bums all weekend, didn't go to swimming lessons or church (they might have been cancelled anyway), we read, wrestled, played and listened to music. We are recharged and feel peaceful inside, ready for the daily grind of school, and work tomorrow.

365::2

Looks like fun doesn't it? I think we had almost forgotten the phrase" Wow, we can't really even leave the house with these three kids" until today. Let's just say two of them almost got left behind having a crying fit on a path that they had walked before, MANY times, on colder days when the path was icier. It was so beautiful though, the snow all stuck to the trees. We're ready to hunker down for the weekend, cold and blowing snow outside for three solid days. WE have out audio books from the library, our warm drinks, our games and our shovels (b/c the snowblower just broke!) ...Bring it on!

365::1

Our traditional New Year Orange Juice toast. Happy 2010!