White Christmas

I chipped away at the ice for over an hour today. The best part about it was having my little man keep me company through it all.

Shhhh.... don't tell our sales rep that we dragged his chair through the snow just for kicks. Crew did surprisingly well but it looks like we'll have to adjust the torque if he really wants to climb the snowbanks;

Crew is really enjoying the holiday lights, the cold, and the snow. The other night while driving around we stopped to look at lights and listen to our neighbors synchronized lights/music. I asked Crew if he "liked" the lights and he signed a definite "LIKE" and then clapped his hands. The sign is coming along:)

WISHING YOU A WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Break

Woohoo! These 3 handsome guys will be home with me for the next 16 days! S saw the movie "Bolt" with his school today. H made two gingerbread houses this week, one at scouts and one at school. Today he had a party with his class. Crew partied it up at preschool also! He came home with lots of interesting treasures. Crew isn't much of a candy guy but he did eat 1/2 of a chocolate snowman today. S doesn't eat much candy either. I guess H will have to make up for his two brothers' lacking sweet tooth (teeth). I'm really craving pizza today. Problem is that S and I are the only ones who would enjoy it.

I don't know how this post ended up being all about food. 'Tis the season;) Have a good weekend.

Artificial All the WAY

With only 10 days until Christmas I did the unexpected today...

Removed tree ornaments

Removed tree lights

Hauled our dried, crispy tree to the backyard firepit in anticipation of future bonfire spectacular.

Vacuumed up a boat load of dead pine needles

Scrubbed and shampoo carpet where tree stand made a stain.

Received refund for Dried Dead Tree

Purchased Artificial Pre-Lit Tree

Assembled beautiful clean 7 1/2 foot tree

Plugged in lights

Redecorated tree

Smiled

Read "The Littlest Angel" to 3 happy boys while snuggling around the Christmas tree.

Indulged in Icecream over Brownies.

Called it a night.

Some days are productive like that! NOT. I learned my lesson: No more live trees for me. It's too much hassle and things get ruined. Oh, and I can get that same pine scent from my Reed Diffuser:)

A Generous Donation

Our battles to get insurance to pay for a power chair have been significant! Its amazing how the loaner chair has brightened our little Crew. We have both primary and secondary insurance. You would think it wouldn't be so hard... but that is Utah for you!!!

Last week I received an unexpected phone call...

Another little boy, JJ, who also has CP and is older than Crew has graduated from his little Koala chair to a newer one. JJ's mom wants to GIVE us his Koala chair!!! I am so touched, and grateful, happy, relieved!

JJ lives in Texas. We are in Utah!

Now I am on a mission to figure out how to get the chair shipped here in one piece. This will be much easier than dealing with insurance, I hope! We are so blessed!

Holiday fun and Road Rash.

I'm not sure if my lack of posting has more to do with feeling overwhelmed or somewhat dissatisfied. Fortunately, I DO have enough sense not to shout those little secrets to the rest of the world. Apparently, when I get in these little funks I forget to pull my camera out of the bag. Sorry, I've got nothing to document the holiday.

I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for just the five of us which was a first. DH was ready to just stay home and take it easy this year. This was a better alternate then dragging 3 kids, wheelchair and various DME equipment 2 hours away to spend the day in a cold church. I ate sweet potatoes for the first time EVAH and they were so good! The mashed potatoes were also a hit and so was the Reese's Peanut Butter pie.

Friday night we stayed with extended family at a Girls Camp lodge that my parents had rented. It was fun reconnecting with family. The little nieces and nephews are growing up way to fast. The whole time we were there I was looking forward to my next run. I'm getting to the point that I cannot live without my runs. I need running and its a great feeling. Saturday morning when I woke up at the lodge I was eager to jump into a run. The road leaving the camp is uphill for about the first mile. When I got to the top of the hill I took off my gloves and my jacket. I was so excited to have made it to the top and set off for a 3 mile downhill course. I had just finished telling myself that it was time to practice downhill running S style. When S and I run he flies down the hills. S says its easy... "just let your body go". So, just as I finished telling myself to not hold back and pick up the pace, I find myself flying through the air. For some reason when I'm in a situation like this my brain processes everything in slow motion. Has that ever happened to you? Anyway, I find myself flying forward on a very STEEP, GRAVEL road! I realize that I am just going to keep on sliding down the road as soon as I hit the ground. Instinctively, I catch myself with just one hand and one knee and then I purposely rolled to avoid turning my face into hamburger. My plan worked quite well actually... not a scratch on my face! My left hand had sharp rocks embedded under the skin with some nice deep road rash. My left knee and right elbow also suffered road rash and now 5 days later I am left with some nice bruises on my knees, elbow, and hip. Truly I was quite sore the day after.

After I fell, I jumped up and checked out my wounds. Realizing I was one mile from the lodge I decided to continue my run. I ran 6.5 miles of hills. Not sure quite how I did it but still glad I did:) Also, I completed my goal of 100 miles for the month of November and that makes me so happy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have a lot to be grateful for... a warm home, food in abundance and a loving family. We are blessed to live in a beautiful area with majestic mountains all around. Our home and community is a place where we feel safe and secure. A place filled with kind, service oriented people. Laughter, Hugs, Respect. Oh, there is so much more...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Leaf Crunching

I love it that this chair (which we don't own but would like too) gives him the freedom to play in a way that he couldn't before. After sweeping out the garage, Crew discovered the joy of crunching this small pile of leaves that had blown into the garage. He steered the chair around in circles giggling as he smashed one leaf after another. Also, while S was mowing the lawn, Crew followed him back and forth across the grass until the job was done. Who would've thought a wheelchair could provide freedom for a little boy. It's interesting this journey... I guess I see things quite differently than I did before.

A checklist.

I saw this on Yvonne's blog. It looked fun so I decided to play along. I'm so grateful for all of lifes experiences. Things I have done are in Yellow. Looks like I need to travel more;)

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch- I don't know what this means?
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb- No, but I've held a baby pig
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon- Just a 1/2
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language- Learning ASL
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing- No, but I've been spelunking
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited to Mt. Rushmore

The Weekend is HERE

I'm looking forward to breaking up the weekday monotony with something different. Running Crew to 3 different appointments this week and working part-time has left me with some anxiety because I don't feel like I'll ever get caught up with everything.

I'm loving that it is still dry outside and plan to go for a good run tomorrow morning. S is running the Turkey Trot tomorrow and I think the plan is for me to take a turn staying home with Crew so Carl can run.

S & H also have basketball.

And then there is "TWILIGHT" with a friend. yeah for me!!! Sometimes its nice to do something brainless even if it is Cheesy;)

So much to be thankful for...

Read no further if you are tired of these gratitude posts! I wouldn't blame you because sometimes it can get annoying:) I have to admit it definitely helps to focus on the blessings because its so easy to go the other way.

H rescued me from a screaming child last night. Sometimes I think Crew just needs a change of scenery. What an awesome big brother.

Gotta love the sound of the piano (not that our piano sounds good really but the concept of a child learning to play...) in the background. Keep up all that hard work S!

New glasses for Crew. We made our way south yesterday to see the ophthalmologist and came home with a new prescription. Today, we saw our favorite optical dude and ordered a pair of new frames with the transition lenses.

Tomorrow is Crew's botox injections. It's kind of strange when you look forward to these things. Also, the "LIMP" is back (which isn't a good thing) but I'm hoping the doc will help me figure it out.

Nieces and nephews-- I love you all! I'm a little bummed that we won't be with the in-laws this year for Thanksgiving. I miss seeing my 8 nieces and 2 nephews on that side of the family. It's been too long. However, I will get to see the 8 nieces and 5 nephews from my side one of which I haven't met yet. Love you Jett!

A good read. Just finished reading "Princess Academy". Can't wait to get "Goose Girl" from the bookmobile.

S is cruising along in the Scouting program and enjoying it. How grateful I am not only for the program itself but for his excellent leaders as well!

Carl is taking the day off tomorrow to come with me to Crew's botox appointment. Afterwards, we plan to do a little shopping at the outlets. Woohoo!

Well that's a good list, isn't it! I'm behind in my blog hopping. My deepest apologies for lack of comments. Hopefully I'll be catching up soon.