Our first Christmas on our own

We hope all that read our blog, had a nice, safe, happy Christmas. We definitely did, even though, we found ourselves spending Christmas on our own for the first time. It was different. We found ourselves trying to blend traditions from both sides of the family, as well as trying to create a few of our own. Some worked, some need a little tweaking.

We tried to do our own Nativity scene with the kids, but Evan was not about to have a towel tied to his head with a tie. However, Vanessa really enjoyed being Mary and Ben was a very sweet baby Jesus. I am glad we at least attempted it.

We read "The Night Before Christmas" and then followed that with about ten Christmas Carols.

My favorite part was spending a little one-one-one time with Vanessa just before putting her to bed. Vanessa and I spent some time together on a hammock swing we have sitting in our front window. It was snowing outside, so it was really beautiful. We just sat and talked about Santa and his reindeer and how they manage to make it around the world in one night. It really is neat how kids believe in all these magical things. I felt like a kid again just talking to her.

It's a mini-me!

I love to run. I really do, but finding the time gets more difficult with each additional kid. Unfortunately, I am not one of those pregnant women who just gets a baby bump in the front and nothing anywhere else. Running motivates me to eat better. If I can't run, I eat poorly. I tried to run while I was pregnant, but my back just can't handle it. (My abdominal muscles are next on my list.) When I can't run, I get depressed and anxious, and then I eat. What a vicious cycle!

I am doing my best to get back into it again. It's difficult during the winter months. I can't run outside until it is warm enough to take Ben out in the stroller, so I have to rely on my treadmill. That is my problem right now. One of the things I love most about running is BEING OUTSIDE! Don't get me wrong... I am lucky I even have a treadmill, and it has always been there for me, but it's just not the same. Staring at the wall, is not near as beautiful as staring at the mountains (or the sagebrush :) ). So I found this cool mini-me gadget from nikeplus.com. I am really not trying to show off, or anything(well, maybe just a little ;) )... I am just trying to find some motivation. It is a great way to keep track of runs, set goals, compete in challenges and all sorts of things. I can't wait to get started. I am finally pumped about running this winter!

New haircut (for those who care)

OK, so I feel a little dumb posting a picture of myself, especially one that I took by myself (it is a little more up close than I am comfortable with). I wanted to show my family in Ohio my "new" hair. Since turning 30 yesterday, however, I also have come to realize that I really don't have a lot of pictures of myself; mostly because I am usually the one taking the pictures. I am not always jumping to get in front of the camera either. I guess it would be nice if someday my kids could look back and see what I looked like in my "younger" years.

Along the way...

we enjoyed a lot of beautiful scenery during our drive to Utah for Thanksgiving. I wish I could have taken better pictures, but I can only get so much when I am trying to take the picture through an unrolled window in a fast moving car.

We also enjoyed a nice hotel room with a big comfy couch.

Ben relaxed on some "luxury" pillows.

Then, we spent much of our Thanksgiving in a very small town in Utah where Marty's parents just built a house. It is the town where Marty's father grew up. According to wikipedia, the population was 290 as of the 2000 census. There are a lot of farms, plenty of open space, and of course, animals everywhere. Oh, and Nana and "Kappa" live there with their yellow dog, too. Vanessa was in heaven.

Traveling is never easy, especially now that we have 3 crammed into the backseat of our car, but it is particularly difficult with Evan. Any changes from his normal routine can really be upsetting to him. He did have a bit of a rough time, however, we were able to find at least one thing that made him very happy. He really enjoyed riding on the four-wheeler. We never know how Evan is going to react to anything different, but he loved it.


Vanessa also had a ball riding with her "Kappa".


In the end, it was just nice to spend time with family and friends who we don't get to see as often as we would like.

They grow so fast!

Ben just turned 3 months yesterday and I can't believe how big he has gotten in such a short time. I guess that's just how it goes. He is quite chubby. He is in the 90% for his weight, just like his sister was as a baby. He just loves to eat, what can I say. When I was giving Ben a bath the other day with Vanessa's help, of course, I couldn't help but notice how huge he looked in her arms, so I had to hurry and snap a few pictures.


We sure do love the chubby little guy. It's amazing what a new addition can do for a family. He really is a good sweet baby. He sleeps through the night now and always wakes up smiling. I wanted to share a short clip of what I get to wake up to every morning (or at least most mornings).



What more could I ask for.

4 out of 7 were a little better in Ohio

Well, the new computer is finally up and running just in time to post some Halloween pictures. I must say that I miss trick-or-treating in Ohio. People really get into it there. Since Vanessa was born we have spent 4 out of 7 Halloweens in Ohio. Vanessa's first Halloween was spent in Utah, but that didn't really count because she was a little too young to go door-to-door (only 5 months old). Then we spent two in Ohio, then one in Arizona, then two more in Ohio, and now our first in Washington. (I know we move way too much). At of all those years, this year was definitely the most disappointing. Only about half the houses we went to were giving out candy. Maybe other neighborhoods around here are better than the one we live in. Anyway, we then went to the trunk-or-treat in our ward. I will say I have never seen such a turn out for a trunk-or-treat in any of the other wards I have attended, but it still just isn't the same as going house-to-house. Oh well, it was still fun getting the kids all dressed up and they still ended up with PLENTY of candy.

Vanessa insisted on having a green face. I'm not sure how great it looks, but it is better than the alternative. This is the second year Vanessa has wanted to wear one of those scary white ghost Halloween masks (you know, like the one from the movie "Scream"). I have no idea why. Luckily she is willing to compromise.







I can't believe Vanessa wore that same red devil costume 6 years ago. They grow so fast!



This is the first official picture I have of just Ben and Evan together. Shortly after this was taken Evan grabbed Ben's cheeks, and Ben burst into tears. Even Evan can't resist those chubby cheeks!



Trunk-or-treating is so much fun!



I had to get in this picture of Ben smiling at his Dad just before bed.



Well, I hope all of you had a fun and safe Halloween too!

broken monitor

I wanted to let everyone know, (while I have access to Marty's laptop) that our computer monitor died on us just over a week ago. We just ordered a new one, so I hope to get back to blogging again soon. Hope everyone is doing well.

Something a little personal (A Re-post)

I first wrote this post in 2008.  I have gone back and forth (as I do a lot with many decisions in my life) as to how personal I want my blog to be, but entries about our own personal experience with autism keep creeping their way back into my blog, so I guess there is a part of me that wants to keep sharing.  For a while, I thought I would just have a separate blog for those experiences, but hey, who am I kidding?  I barely have enough time to write in one blog.  So I thought I would re-post this entry, and start over again with an occasional experience here and there for the same reasons I gave below- I just need an outlet, so bear with me...


At first, I really wanted to keep my blog very basic. I did not want to post anything too personal or revealing to anyone who actually knows me (I tend to be somewhat of a private person). I even decided to start a separate blog for these "personal" thoughts. However, I think I have changed my mind (and I hope I don't regret this). Before, I get into anything too deep, I must confess that I am not a writer (maybe you have already noticed). English was never one of my stronger subjects. Luckily I have a husband, who is much more gifted in this area than I, who has been able to help me improve a bit with this weakness over the years. However, I still have a long way too go, so just bare with me.

For some time now, I have wanted a place where I can go to share my feelings, thoughts, experiences about my life and family with a son who has autism. I have kept most of these thoughts to myself for various reasons. However, I think everyone probably needs an outlet for something. We all have unique experiences, challenges that change our lives forever. I have definitely had my share of those experiences, as I know many of you have, but nothing has struck me like having a child with autism. This has truly been a life-changing experience, and yet I know I still have a lot to learn from it. I know my life will continue to change, be challenged, and be blessed because of this special experience with my son.

My view on this disease has also evolved and I feel the need to share this simple, non-scientific perspective with others. I know everyone's experience with autism is unique. Everyone deals with it in their own way. I am not here to judge anyone on how they have chosen to tackle this disease.

So, basically, every once in a while I am going to break from my usual family update, to share an "autism experience". I think that this is just something I need to do.