Bathtub Buddies

Funny thing about bath time photos is that seems to be the only way I can get the twins in a shot together these days. They are busy boys and usually both going in different directions. So when its bath time, I have captured them in one spot where they both love to play together.

I got Adobe Photoshop Elements for Christmas and I'm still learning how to use it. I didn't realize that there were so many functions to learn to make a photo look nice. Thanks to my friend Kacy, I learned how to bring out color in a black and white photo today... THANKS!!



Splish Splash....


Caleb


Isaac



Every single day I thank God for blessing me with these boys!!!

45 Minutes One Way!!??!! and A Wish

There is a new autism center opening in Ridgway, PA. Today they held an Open House. I was going for two reasons. To represent The Arc of Jefferson County so that I might be able to provide information to our own clients and two as a parent of two children with Down Syndrome and PDD Autism. As soon as I stepped into the facility a big smile came across my face because this was the kind of place I had only read about on the internet or in books.

I am one of those crazy mamas that tries real hard to give my kids everything. Thus, we actually have a sensory room in our house. Its no where as developed as this particular autism center, but for a home version I think its pretty cool. Both boys have been diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Trying to research this and find someone to help me provide them with the right kind of sensory has been like banging my head against the wall... I should note here that head banging is something that both my boys do on a daily basis.

I am so convinced that a sensory room is the way to go with my boys that I asked for a sensory room as a wish. Both boys qualified for a wish via the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We thought about what to chose for a few weeks. I know the big wish most people choose is a trip to Disney. Although I KNOW the older three would absolutely love love love to go there (never been there before) I know that being in a busy place like that with all the noises and lights and commotion, that would be WAY WAY WAY too much for the twins. In my opinion I think that would be the last thing they would wish for, at this age. You see this was such a challenge for Tom and I because the boys are completely non-verbal. We wanted something that would give them hours and hours...and hours of joy. Wish #1 Finish our basement into a sensory room Wish #2 and outside play area with swing set and toys. We are anxious to see how it all turns out.

So has anyone else traveled so far for therapy?

Does anyone else have a child with SID?

Snow Day #1

Today was such a beautiful snow day. I love when we get a such large accumulation in one days time. The snow today is airy and light and just dusts everything within sight, its breathtaking. While I am not a fan of the cold weather during the winter months, I certainly would feel like I were missing something without the beauty and awe of snow.

Today I went outside literally to shovel a path for my dogs so they would go to the bathroom outside and not in my house. The more I was outside, the more I began to play in the snow like a child myself. It must have been catchy cause Elijah dressed himself and came outside to play with mom in the snow. When we came out the dogs came out with him and I have to say I have not laughed so hard in a long time watching Rosco our little pug puppy literally drowning in the snow. The snow was deeper than he is high. I couldn't capture just how funny it was with photographs, wish I would have had the camcorder charged....but here's what I got:






The dogs got smart and realized they could follow in Elijah tracks:


Then Elijah and I decided to fall backwards off the deck into the snow





I really had a fun playdate with Elijah and the dogs today :)

They sure don't have their mama's eyes.....

Mom (with no makeup...hey its a snow day today)

Tristin

Camille

Elijah

Caleb

Isaac


I love love love my brown eyed kids. They obviously get these from their very handsome brown eyed father :)

Notice their shirts say CAUTION............

Oh yea, Caleb and Isaac are full of mischief when they want to be. I sat and played with the older three children for a little bit and left Caleb and Isaac alone in their bedroom to play for a bit. They have lots of toys in there and usually they are pretty good at keeping themselves entertained for a little while. If they need something they come out and let me know, so its not unusual for me to put them in their room for a few minutes of alone time with each other so that I may have some alone time with the other three.

I went into check on them and low and behold....the below is what I found. They had pulled over their diaper shelf that had all their lotions, powders, wipes, diapers, etc... and of course I did not screw the lid shut on the baby powder so they took advantage of it and covered the room with an almost full bottle of sweet smelling powder. I ran for the camera because this was one of those moments you see on TV's Funniest Videos or something. I tried not to laugh as to not encourage this to ever happen again, but boy was it hard. And the funniest part of the whole thing was that neither boy seemed to hide what they were doing as my other children would have. They were more like, "Hey mom, look what we're doing... We are making a BIG mess!!"

Gotta love them!!

BUSTED!!! Caleb was the one performing the act:



Poor Isaac was totally covered in powder:




Was Caleb whispering to Isaac "Do you think we're in trouble?"


They are too Cute!

Caleb's Cuteness....

On cold snowy days when there is not much else to do, what a good time to get out the camera :)   I should have titled this OH NO time to wash the windows, but I thought the whole thing was so cute I better not scare anyone away from reading this...

We recently got some new furniture, a sectional, due to the size of it there is only one way to put it in our living room.  Unfortunately, we knew that because the couch is right under our bay window the twins, the cat, the dogs, and who knows who else will end up in the window sill.  Its to tempting not to at least try.  For this reason I have removed all the plants (after one was thrown and dumped on the couch), knick knacks, and any decorations I used to put into the windowsill to make room for the bodies I knew were going to be there.

Today I come into the living room to find Mr. Caleb sitting up there LICKING the window and then drawing in his slobber...UGH!!!!  Disgusting..but cute.

Catching him in the action:



WHAT???


Ok I know I'm CUTE!!!!

Fun with Big Sissy #2!!!

The twins always love when we pull their pop tents out and put them up in their playrooms.  Today we got them out and it was so cute cause they immediately took two chairs in there and then came and handed me a ABC video to watch.  Camille came in the room and they started dancing in circles and grabbing her hand to pull her in the tent with them.  They love their Millie.  She's such a good sport and got right in and made them so happy.


Then Elijah Hopped in....kinda scrunched for room :)

From the Top:

Camille and Caleb:

The fun you can have with dishsoap, a straw, and a cool big sister!

Tristin wanted to do an experiment she read about in one of her books and asked me first if she made a mess and cleaned it up could she blow some bubbles on the kitchen table.  The words "if I cleaned it up" sold me on whatever she wanted to do.  So I walked away for a few minutes to do something and this is what I came back into the room to see:



Well, obviously when I realized she was blowing tons of bubbles like this I knew the twins would get in on the action too and it was actually quite cute to just sit back and watch them and take photos.  Enjoy!
Isaac was really into it, so much that he got a front row seat but sitting up on the table:



Then he offered her the best gift he could give for playing bubbles with him for so long:



Caleb got in on the action too and had a really good time:




Thank God for Great Big Sisters :)