The super honest post

If I tell you that I lay the kids down for a nap because they need it - I AM LYING - it's for me!!

Some days are hard - real hard!

Some days are busy - real busy!

When Dave comes home at lunch and gives each of the toddlers a piece of cake while I am in the bathroom after I clearly told him it was nap time - I might get MAD - REAL MAD!!!!!!

Three people have asked me what school we are from when I am with the toddlers in public.   I love this question because I am so PROUD to say "No, I am the Mom" and the look on their faces are priceless!!  Good Times!!!

I do not like playing with play dough with all 4 of the little ones together.  It takes me way longer to clean it up than it does to actually play.

I love taking the kids to the library.

I always feel guilty if I try to make the kids lunch and not include a fruit or vegetable.  WHY???  Corn dogs and tater tots are a sufficient lunch for kids, right???

If I get to take a nap I can only sleep for like 20 minutes.  What is that all about?????  I use to be able to nap all day - I am so confused!

I Love - LOVE - LOVE the AMAZING people I work with for Belle & Gavin's school needs.  OH MY - I AM SO BLESSED.  We are always on the same page and it is the BEST!!!  Ms. Joann (PT), Ms. Jeanine(OT)and Ms. Cheryl (ST) - I am forever grateful to you amazing wonderful women!!!!

I Love the way Owen says "awhite" for "alright".  Even though I know I should correct him so he learns how to say it the right way, I don't want him to.  (I know - BAD BAD MOMMY)

It is not good that Gavin can get away with murder if he smiles at me.  UGH - I am trying to get tougher - I swear I am.

Sara is the BOSS!!  (being so honest)

When Bellie's physical therapist said she expects she will be taking 10 steps independently next year - I am not going to lie - I cried!!!!

There you have it - some very random but very honest STUFF!!!

I took some pictures yesterday to give you all an idea what goes on here some days.  I will be very honest with each caption.

 Gavin thinks if he puts a hat and mittens on that I will be sure to take him outside immediately.

Owen strips off his clothes as soon as he gets home from school.  Thank GOD I have won the "You are keeping your underwear on" battle!!!  Phew!!!!

 Belle is nervous that I might figure out she took off her pants.

 Although Sara thinks wearing a bathing suit top and big girl undies is a suitable outfit her brother should definitely have his gloves on in the house.  Please take note that she is waiting patiently until he is done with his snack.  This "waiting patiently" does not happen often - so glad I caught it on film!!  YAY - Me!!!

 This is how messy our living room is most of the day.  But the real reason I snapped this shot is to show how Sara knows that she can get Gavin to cooperate with her if she uses food to lure him in.  She has strategically placed his snack bowl in front of her so she can try yet again to put on the mittens she has hidden behind her back.

 This is an example of how organized Sara is.  She is ready to dress Gavin & Belle to go outside  in a moments notice.

 We practice several times a day how to sit like a lady.

 I would say you can catch someone eating off the floor probably about 5 times a day here.  Give or take of course!!

 We do try and get together for a meeting once a day.  It is required that Gavin wear a hat.
On the agenda for next meeting :  Implement Meeting Dress Code.  It should be a good one!!!

 Belle so LOVES this toy!!!!  I can't thank you enough Patty!!!

 Belle can be found this cute - all day - EVERY DAY!!!!

 Gavin can be found this CRAZY - All day - EVERYDAY!!!!!

It is common for Sara to find someone sitting still so she can dress them up or bury them with what ever she can find.  The girl is BUSY!!!!

So that's is what is going on here.  FUN FUN STUFF!!!!

Celebrating Bellie

Oh yes, I think BELLE is a HUGE FAN of a Birthday CELEBRATION!!!  We celebrated all day!!!

The Princess woke up and snuggled with her big brother on the couch!!  This is one of her most FAVORITE things to do!!!

 Then it was time to put on the tiara!!!

 And then time for some pictures capturing the insane amount of SWEETNESS this girl pours out!!!

 The weather was perfect for a beautiful walk with her siblings.

 Her Daddy came home at lunch to Love her up on her big day!!!

 Belle was all to happy to get some hugs from her little sister on her special day!!!

 Belle Loves to DANCE!!!  So that's just what her Big Brother gave her for her Birthday - A beautiful Dance!!!

 Oh My - Can you see the LOVE????

 They ended the dance with a very beautiful dip.  Belle use to be scared to death if someone would do this to her - now she just can't get enough!!!

Okay now this is HUGE!!!  Belle for the first time EVER - on her 4th BIRTHDAY - Played with a toy!!!  I mean Played Played.  Thank you LOCOCO Family for this Amazing toy.  Belle played for about 30 minutes, she would toss this sound maker and when it hit the floor she would just laugh.  Then - she would go GET IT AND DO IT AGAIN!!!!  OH MY!!!!!!  I took a video too - it was that EXCITING!!!!!  HUGE!!!!

 Guess what Conor gave Belle for her Birthday???  Yep, her Most Favorite Thing - A DANCE!!!!!

 And Lots & Lots of KISSES!!!!!!

 SO MUCH LOVE!!!!!

 Even Owen pampered Bellie all Day!!!!  He kept saying "Happy Birthday Princess"!!  She just soaked it all up!!!

Grandma Karen stopped by to wish Belle a Happy Birthday too!!!  Gavin loves to be the center of attention too so he made sure to capture Grandma's attention constantly.  He is something!!!  Look at his SMILE!!

 Um, did Belle enjoy her Birthday cake???  I am just not sure.

 Did Gavin enjoy Belle's cake???  Not sure about that one either.

 Birthday Kisses from Big Sister Tay!!

 More B-day lovin from Daddy after cake!!!

 I can't think of a better present than a Dad looking at his Daughter with that much LOVE!!!!  My oh My Bellie - you sure are adored!!!!

 This girl can NOT get enough KISSES!!!!!

 Belle was so Happy that Gretchen and Tyler came to visit her on her super FUN day!!!!!

 She LOVES feeling the vibration of everyone talking or humming.

 After such an Amazing day it was time for bed.  Belle tried to play with her piano present before she went night-night but Owen & Sara made it kind of difficult.

So that's That!!!  I don't think Belle would of wanted to celebrate her day any other way.  She was Loved, Kissed, Snugged and she DANCED!!!!!

4 Years Ago

Four years ago a Mother delivered a little blue eyed baby girl in Simferopol Ukraine.   I have no idea how that day played out.  I picture a beautiful woman telling her husband, "IT'S TIME".  I am guessing that the husband was nervous and so excited to finally meet the little one that had been growing in his wife's tummy.  I imagine them racing to the maternity ward to deliver the sweet child they had created.

I have no idea at what point of that day they were told that their daughter had Down syndrome.  Maybe they realized when they saw her?  Maybe the Doctor told them?  I can only imagine that this information was a shock.  I also believe that they felt helpless in a country that just isn't accepting YET of Down syndrome.

I PRAY with all my heart and soul that they held her, kissed her and told her how much they loved her.

I can't even imagine how difficult it was to leave their precious daughter behind.  

I do know that I am forever grateful to this couple for creating this masterpiece that I am blessed to call my daughter.  I want desperately to meet them, hug them and tell them how the little girl that they brought in to the world has BLESSED US ENDLESSLY!!!  

Thank you GOD for the Birth Parents of our Amazing Daughter Isabelle!!!! 

Dearest Bellie,

Happy Birthday Princess!!!!   You have brought us never ending JOY and a LOVE that we could of never even dreamed of.

WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!!!!

Both Sides!!

Wow - I just read the Most Amazing Post!!  I have to share with all of you!!!!  Please take a few minutes to visit this BLOG and read this incredible GOD directing story!!!!

We can not judge - EVER!!!  It is not our JOB!!!!  This post is the most PERFECT reminder of this!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!

http://pudgeandzippy.blogspot.com/2012/02/keeping-open-heart.html

Love: Owen, Belle, Gavin & Sara

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Last night we filled our Valentine treat bags for our friends.

Walmart makes Valentine cards with our pictures on them.  Isn't that Awesome?

Before we left for school Mom had to take some pictures in our Valentine Shirts.

She took a Gazillion pictures.

Owen & Sara had parties at school and they had so much fun and got tons of treats!!

Before lunch we went to a nursing home to hand out Valentines to all the Grandma's and Grandpa's that live there.  We gave lots of hugs and kisses too.  The Grandma's & Grandpa's were so nice to us and we want to go back and visit them again real soon.

We have to go take a nap now because we are very tired after passing out 100 valentines.

We hope you are having a wonderful Valentines Day!!  We sure are!!!

Love,
Owen, Belle, Gavin & Sara

Our Daddy Plays Hockey

 The boys!!!  Not sure where Nick was for this picture???  He was there though!

 The little girls!

The kids LOVE watching Daddy (#8) Play HOCKEY!!!

Daddy came to see his fans after his first game.  Belle was pretty busy listening to her MP3 player!

Gav was so surprised that his Daddy was under that helmet.  So so so SWEET!!!!!!!  I am pretty confident that Gavin will be on that ice with his Dad very very soon!!!