Fall Fun!!! Pumpkin Hunting October 2010

Every year we take a short drive down to Orting where the pumpkin patches are and go to a pumpkin patch called Schloz pumpkin patch. This year we had to go two times due to rain.

The first time we went was to get Elijah's pumpkin, we had promised him we would go that very weekend, we still forget sometimes about how this Washington weather can be. Horribly rainy.

We decided to just get his since our darling Ellie was still to little to play in the rain.

Despite the rain we were blessed with this gorgeous view of the fog rising off the fields.

We even managed to find a pumpkin that was way bigger then Elijah's head, one he was just as thrilled about as we were. Notice his happy face.

Dad and him put alot of hard back breaking work into picking up all those pumpkins and loading them in the wagon. At least they had the rain to keep them from getting to hot and sweaty. Oh and to keep the pumpkins clean, at least the top of them.

But the bottoms quickly got cleaned off in the puddle of water that accumulated in the wheel barrel.

Our second trip was a bit more enjoyable, warmer, sunnier and our little Ellie even got to pick out her own little pumpkin.

She was even trying to sit up, though she has some help and support from her pumpkin friends.

The boys had fun petting and looking at the animals there at the patch and even enjoyed running through the corn maze. We couldn't pass up a photo opp with a huge gourd.

All and all it was a pretty good Pumpkin Hunt!!!
We all had fun and even bagged some awesome pumpkins.

Ellie's sitting up November 2010

What's that Mom?! I can't hear you over your excited shouts.

Yes Thats right world I'm sitting!

Okay I sat up Mom, Really you can stop taking photos now.


As the comments under the photos above show, our Ellie is now sitting up!!! She's not sitting well yet, but she's making progress. She started sitting up towards the end of October beginning of November. She's 8 months old now and slightly behind on her gross motor skills, but I'm not concerned. Also when she falls doesn't have the normal reaction she should have just yet, she won't catch herself when she falls. But hey she's advanced in other places, like speech and social skills, as my Grandpa use to say " As long as that little minds alright, the rest will come and nothing else really matters" and we know her little mind is brilliant already, but I'm Mom I could just be partial.

Chloe's Birthday Party; Elijah's First girlfriend!!!

One of Elijah's friends, or as he likes to say his girlfriend/ his girl had a birthday party and invited Elijah to come and celebrate with her and some friends from school. Of course being the good Mom that I am I couldn't resist and of course said yes ( Dad suggested I go too), So off we went....

They had a pinata and took swings at it...

There was plenty of pizza, cake and candy, for the most part a fun event. A bit crowded, but fun... Elijah enjoyed it and Chloe had fun too.

My grocery trips, also known as my traveling circus!!!! October 2010.

So once every other week, the kids and I head out to do our grocery shopping. Usually our first stop is Winco. For most this wouldn't be a blog worthy, but for our family it always is. As most of our friends know we aren't your average family, though we aren't the size of the Duggars (well known family with 20 kids) we are a large size family so any outing is always a bit of an event. I mean honestly a women with 4 kids under the age of 5 and one set of kids being twins, I get looks like I'm a traveling circus, hints the title. Above is what most people see coming through the store. A cart full of kids and groceries.

Even loading the kids into the van in itself is a bit of an adventure, maybe a short one, but and adventure still. Normally I start with loading the twins as above.

Then the next step in our loading process is Elijah and Ellie, as pictured above. All and all just to load the kids up into the car it takes approximately 10 minutes. And on our grocery trip days I do this approximately 3 times. To unload our crowd it takes about 15 minutes on average, this is done 4 times. Crazy to think huh?! So loading the kids in one grocery trip takes about 30 minutes, to unload almost an hour. Crazy thought huh.

But as a reward we get to see this view. Definitely a wonderful view after a heroic performance. Definitely worth an applaud. ( Courtesy of Elijah insisting I take a picture)

Elijah's Tent Bed. October 2010

My step Mom and I were talking one day and I was telling her how Elijah's always trying to make a tent in his room, failing miserably, then getting mad... My step Mom happened to remember the tent bed she had for my brother and though it would be cool to send it to Elijah. Above is the photo of the tent. This tent bed was my brothers, him and I played with it when we were kids. It's awesome to see my son playing with the same tent bed I played with when I was only a bit older then him... Thanks to my step Mom I got this experience...

My living room is now a Playground!!! October 2010

Adriel showing how much he loves his slide, surfer dude pose.

Ellie giving the slide a go with a little help from Mom.

The often seen sandwich effect as the boys tumble down the slide.

I have to say I'm truly amazed how the Lord works and how he provides for us. This little tikes slide for instance. We had been looking for one for the boys for quiet sometime and was informed something like this would be helpful for them, especially if Adriel gets diagnosed with Autism. I ended up getting this because I replied to an ad on craigslist, initially the lady was trying to sell it, but after telling her about our kiddos she offered to just give it to us. I guess it helped that she also has two kids with Autism or who are on the Autism spectrum. I gave her information and told her that I would help her as I could with resources to help her kids, and she gave me two little tikes slides. A big one that is now inside and a little one that is now outside. Ironically enough shortly after she gave me the slides she moved right down the road from us and ended up becoming family friends. Her youngest son and mine are now best friends and play on a regular basis now. Not only that she also gave us a playhouse that the boys now enjoy. Again it's amazing how the Lord works. We now have a slide inside and a perfect therapy slide.

Ellie Pushing Up!!!! Ocotober 2010

Normal floor time play.

I'm thinking about doing something new.

*zoobers* I told you I could do it..

I'm still doing it!

One day during floor time play I noticed Ellie doing something new, much to my surprise and to Ellie's delight I noticed she was pushing up on her hands. As the picture above shows. She starts out happy and then goes to pure excitement as she zoobers in success. It's amazing how quickly she's growing and changing. At only 7 months she's pushing up. She may be slow in her gross moter skills but as the picture above shows, she doesn't seem to be too concerned about it! I'm excited to see what each new day holds and all the progress she makes.

The Twins, A change in our toys. Trying to encourage speech. October 4th 2010

The boys toy shelf ( no longer have the bunny, long story)

Close up of the boys Toy shelf.


A while back I attended a "Special Families of Pierce County" meeting. The subject of the meeting was speech delays. Since Adriel and Mathias have speech delays I figured I would go and see what ideals they had. They had some therapist from a therapy center in Federal Way as speakers. They asked people at the meeting to volunteer to come up so they could use them as examples to help give us parents ideals. I was one of the first volunteers and explained our little Adriels situation, how he had regressed and despite all the work we do with him still wasn't coming up with many if any words. One of the things they suggested was to put toys in sealed containers and to only give the boys the toys when they brought them to me, pulled them out or brought me to them and to encourage them if I noticed them taking interest in them or looking at them. I've not had much time to put this into practice, but do try. I've not noticed any new words yet or them bringing them too me, but with time I'm sure they will get it.

Our Anniversary, married 5 years!!! October 3rd 2010.

Josh and I on our first date.

Josh and I after we were married.

Josh and I at Bridal Cave in Missouri. I was 7 months pregnant with Elijah.

A family photo.

Josh and I after the twins were born.

Josh and I when I was pregnant with Ellie


Hard to believe this year Josh and I have been married for 5 years. We've been through alot in our marriage, 2 moves, 3 births resulting in 4 kids and several fights. But through it all we are still together. I'm so happy that we've been together for so long. Josh is truly my best friend. Who better to share your life with then your best friend. Just a few memories above.

Akalaya's Birthday. October 1st 2010

As many of you know we have an older daughter in Missouri (Josh's step daughter, but those are just words, she's Josh's Oldest daughter), this year our Akalaya turned 9 years old. We are so very proud of her, she is still top of her class and still very passionate about being a vet, though there has been recent mention of being president of the United States of America. Anyways she's just like Momma and a very skinny little girl. Topping the scales at a whopping 50 some odd lbs and very tall ( not sure how tall, but about as tall as my grandma) Akalaya got to many toys to mention this year. I can't believe it's been nine years since I had this gorgeous baby girl. My precious little girl, born 6lbs 6 oz 19 inches long. She's come along way from that. Am proud to be her Mom. Can't wait to see what the years bring. Happy Birthday my girl!!!

Ellies 6 Month Well baby check up ( at 7 Months) 09/24/2010

We went to Ellies well baby check up this last Friday and Ellie did well. I am noticing though she's starting to develop some stranger anxiety. She had to give everyone her famous " stare" and access what they were all about before she would flash them her huge grin and some weren't even lucky enough to get the grin, it depended on what Ellie thought of them. Ellie at her well baby check up at 7 Months old, ( though it's her 6 month well baby check up, doc has been booked) was 14 lbs 10 oz and 26 inches long. At her last weight check about a month ago she was 14 lbs and 25 3/4 inches long. So she hasn't grown much. The doc says she looks healthy, though he wants me to watch her development closely. Primarily because her older brothers delays. But thus far all seems well. The only other thing he didn't like was that Ellie won't put her feet flat to the ground and try to stand herself up, but I'm sure with time this will develop. As her Mommy I think she does this because she doesn't want to be put down on the floor because she's spoiled. But I could be wrong. We will see and with continued work I'm sure she will come along just fine. She goes for another check up in 3 months for her 9 Month well baby. I'm excited to see if she's gonna stay a skinny mini. We are certainly hoping so.

First day of School ( 3rd year) September 15th 2010

Elijah was very excited and totally ready for school this year. So much so he actually drove Mom up the wall for a month prior, because he was so bored. Elijah loves school and I'm totally proud that he does. He does great in school and from what I was told last year by his teacher Elijah scores the highest in Math and Language. The teacher told me that his vocabulary is far more advanced then most kids his age and he scored the highest math scores in his class. Granted this might not be saying much because he was in Early Intervention Preschool this last year. But it says alot to me and still makes this Momma proud. This year Elijah has a new teacher Mrs. Oliver and is in what they call a blended class. Meaning he is with typically developing peers as well as peers with different disabilities. For example, kids who are deaf on one side, sensory kiddos, ADHD kids and Autistic kids. Any mental or health problem that would hold them back in a normal class setting. Elijah's only issue seems to be his social skills and attention. He just can't seem to focus. Which I'm certain he got from Momma not Daddy. But that's why they have classes like this to help these kiddos be where they need to be to be successful academically. I as Mom am a bit nervous for Elijah this year because the class size is larger. Elijah is one of those kids that needs to be the center of attention and does better in a one on one setting. Though I do know he can do it if he really tries. We will see. There is talk of if Elijah starts falling back in school I will pull him and do home school. But thats way down the road. I'm not capable of doing it this year. We are excited to see Elijah grow and learn this year. I'm excited to see what this year brings, he's only done better and better as each year passes.