First Day of Hunting for kiddos

Camille and Elijah took their PA Hunters Safety Course a few weeks ago.  Since I have never taken it myself I also sat in on the class and got certified to hunt.  I have decided to allow the youngins to go first and let daddy teach them the ways of the hunter.  This morning they got up bright and early, for a Saturday, and got ready to hit the woods.  They actually were ready and waiting on Tom....and waiting...and waiting...LOL

 

Tom gave them the whole gun lesson and talk and they finally went off on their way.  Today they are hunting for squirrels and looking for wild mushrooms. 

 

GOOD LUCK KIDS!!!!

 

 

 

 

Down Syndrome Awareness Day #10 - Why God?

I have been trying to go through and clean up photos from the past in hopes of never losing them.  Today I found a disk labeled 2008 Recovery.  This means that they already have been in jeopardy of being lost at one time.  What a better way to keep my favorites than to save them to my blog.  I seriously looked at these photos and felt as though this was my life just last month.  I look at these photos and realize how far we have all come.  I look at these photos and fear that I am not so slowly losing all my babies to a thing we all call life.  On days that I feel like throwing my hands in the air and questioning God as to how he can give me so much to handle, I really, really, need to sit and look through photos like I have done this morning.

There are days where I selfishly do ask "Why has God given ME so much to handle?"  Instead I know that I need to ask how I could have allowed so much time pass by without realizing, accepting and inviting in all the blessings and hardships that God has intended just for ME?  There are hard days, there are hard decisions, there are frustrations like I have never felt before.  Some days with the twins being non-verbal, having Down Syndrome, ADHD and Autism truly just does not feel fair to me.  Seeing other children their age (and younger) playing with one another, communicating, laughing, freely running around with the understanding of safety and not taking off into dangerous situations, and just all around being "normal kids" IS hard for me.  When thoughts like this run through my head I'm often stricken with instant regret for my feelings.  Its so easy to slide into the "oh woe is me" days.   And then..... I sit down for no apparent reason to look through photos and get the reality smack in the head.  We have five beautiful children, some are not so lucky.  We have hard times, but so does everyone else on the plant.  I know that God has chosen Tom and I to parent these five children and to do it with the understanding that He is our guide.  As the kids grow older and their likes and dislikes begin to navigate in different directions we can be assured that God has set this path for us and it is our responsibility to travel it with comfort knowing He is with us. 

My husband Tom has always been my rock when I begin to doubt.  There are times that we are at Children's Hospital about to let our children go into surgery for one thing or another and I am nervous and scared.  Then Tom will stop me with tears welled up in his eyes and say to me, we are so lucky to have these boys, we are so lucky that they are just getting this or that done.  Think of how many parents in this very same building are getting the bad news that their child was just diagnosed with this or that and may or may not be coming home.  That puts our day and situation into perspective.

Having a child with Down Syndrome is not a downer, its not a burden, its not a debt we have to pay for some previous sin, its not some sort of punishment or some freak of nature.  I read silly stuff like this all over the internet, its just nonsense.  Having a child with Down Syndrome is in so many ways just like having children without Down Syndrome.  We have three typical children who get in trouble for not obeying, who get hugs and kisses for doing something wonderful, who we love no matter what decisions they make but often remind them,  just in case, to make the good decisions.  I recently read an analogy on Facebook relating a four leaf clover and children with Down Syndrome.  They are both uniquely rare and to be cherished as such.  Having a child with Down Syndrome gives us that don't have Down Syndrome the opportunity to see how easy we have it, how instinctively we just understand things and how they work, how selfish we are and how much we really need to dig deeper for patience and understanding for that which we do not know.

As I sat down to share these photos I never thought I would type what I did, but I'm glad I did and I hope that sharing this will comfort those who have a newly diagnosed child with Down Syndrome or perhaps open the eyes of someone who looks at children like mine with sympathy or disgust.  People with Down Syndrome are people first with all the same wants and needs as us.  Love and Respect being the first things they need and deserve. 

I appreciate each and everyone of you who already does love and respect my boys for who they are and try to do what you can to communicate that to them.  Take a roll down memory lane with me to the year 2008.

Enjoy!



Back to School - Bawled like a baby... I DID!!!

I have to admit I have yet to EVER cry on the first day of school.. Usually I am certainly sad to see summer break end but relieved to finally be able to tackle the housework and try to get ahead of laundry with kids off at school.  I have been taking photos of my kids with signs stating the grade they were entering way before Facebook.. Tristin is a junior and I have her kindergarten photo :)

WAIT... WAIT... Tristin is a Junior.. That is what teared me up and made me cry uncontrollably this morning.  As I'm watching my kiddos make their traditional first day of school poster I reflect on taking Tristin's photo as an excited Kindergartener about to be homeschooled. Now today I watch a gorgeous young lady still scribbling on paper at mommy's request so I can always remember what grade she is going into and what year it was.  (I am already predicting my forgetful mind wondering what year photo was taken and what grade she would have been in)

Then I looked at my Camille who has definitely blossomed this summer and has taken the lead in being the tallest sibling.  She passed up Tristin by a whole inch already!  She only has a few days until she turn into a mouthy know it all teenager, and I think she's had enough practice this summer to already master it on her birthday!!

Elijah is in the MIDDLE SCHOOL!!  Whhaaatttt???? My middle child is in the middle school?  He is actually pretty excited and laid back about it.  The girls both seemed nervous and concerned about meeting new people and making all new friends, Elijah has no worries and he is ready. Last night as girls were picking out their first day of school outfits here is how our conversation went:
Elijah: "Why do girls have to do that mom?"
Me: "To be prepared for their first day"
Elijah: "I'm just going to throw on the first thing I can grab in the morning"
.. That's my Boy!

And finally, the twins are entering 2nd grade.  They participate in the Autistic Support classroom in our public school.  Having children in a special education classroom can be and just plain ole IS stressful.  I am hoping for a better year for them and plan on taking a more active role in their education.  They deserve the best and I pray that God leads me to help them get that.  When I told them that they were gong back to school today and riding the bus to go see their friends they both signed "NO!".  I always say they are the mouthiest non-verbal kids I know...LOL

Now off to canning my garden goodies.  Today's agenda.... Salsa!!!  Have a Great Day Kids!!

Elijah hits double digits

10 Years!! 10 Years Old!!!  

My first born boy, Elijah, has hit double digits   His beautiful brown eyes still melt my heart every single day and his personality keeps me on my toes from day to day.  Some days he's a comedian, some days he's an inventor, some days he tries to see who he can irritate the most, some days he's a big ole snuggle bug.  Elijah has really grown this year and he sure loves to play baseball.  His birthday present is, of course, a ball game with dad and papa on Friday.  They are going to State College Spikes because 1. its a ball game and 2. Mountain Man from Duck Dynasty will be there and that's equally exciting for the guys ;)

Love Ya Buddy!!!  Enjoy #10 and looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years bring!!

Mission Five Kids off to school..... ACCOMPLISHED!!

*WHEW*  Seriously worked up a sweat this morning getting them all off.  And...And... Not ONE tear shed...LOL it was to darn busy..

Posting pics real quick so I can go out for coffee with my dear friend Kristen.  A celebration cup of joe :)

sweet sweet Tristin a freshman already

My Camille, she's a gem!!!

cool backpack from his baseball team

Annual HUG your sibling photo was no easier than the last...LOL

2012 Hanzely Family Reunion

Great Grandma Hanzely with all her great grandchildren, what a beautiful photo!!!

It seems like it has been such a long time since our last reunion.  We try to  hold them every other year but we have had a few weddings over the past few years that we went three years since our last reunion.  Since Great Grandpa Hanzely passed away we began holding the reunions down at our family pond instead of at the Great Grandparents house to make things easier on Great Grandma Rita.  Our last reunion the Hanzely boys attempted making a water slide down the hill into the pond.  It was, of course, a big hit so this reunion they worked hard to top the last water slide and make this one even better... OH BOY did they!!!!

There was a water pump that took water out of the pond, through a hose at the top of the slide.  The slide was made up of first a layer of cardboard, then plastic from Uncle JR's greenhouse, and rubber tires along the edges to keep from going off the plastic.  I would guess the slide to be about 40+ yards long, down a nice steep hill into our very fun very large pond.  The slide was for sure the big attraction of the reunion this year.  Everyone showed up in their suits ready to take on the hill.  So much fun, so many photos, I just had to make a montage of all the fun to share:

Hidden Treasures on my iPhone

 I recently received an email message telling me that my iPhone was reaching maximum capacity in memory.  I was wondering how in the world this could be because I really don't have a whole lot on there.  Low and behold I look at my photo album and see that I had over 800 photos and about a dozen videos.  I never hook up my phone to my computer (guess I better start) so I uploaded all the photos to my computer and sat and looked through them today.

My children ALL steal my iPhone from time to time and from the photos I saw today, apparently they ALL take photos when they steal my phone from me.

I have to admit I totally enjoyed looking through them all and sure laughed more than once.  Here are a few I must share:

ELIJAH photos:

one of the twins rubber fidget toys broke and this is how Elijah decided to use it.....

Do NOT attempt this at home!!!!

CAMILLE's photos:

Random Twin Photos:

Looking through all of these photos almost makes me feel as though I just unpacked my summer clothes only to find a $20 bill stuck in a pocket of my shorts :)  I may just have to ask my kids to take my phone more often and take some photos, its kinda nice to see things through someone else's view..