Rebekah

I just noticed I haven't posted much about Rebekah lately. She is a mostly happy little 3 year old who is trying very hard to keep up with Brigham. She recognizes about 20 letters of the alphabet and talks like she's four. She told a lady in the grocery store today (with a very stern face) "Those are our eggs." :) The lady only looked at them. She likes to help me with my work and is beginning to actually help more than hinder. She has FINALLY learned to stay in her bed and go to sleep at night!! (It only took 14 months.) She recently got a new bed. We got her a twin when Hyrum grew out of the crib and gave her toddler bed to him.

Rebekah is such a blessing in our lives. She has a very strong will, so we are trying to teach her as much as we can while she's little so that she can be a strong force for good when she grows up.

Catching up

This past week has been catching up time for me. I've been trying to catch up on spending time with my children, catching up on house work and organizing that has been put off for 6 months, catching up on lost sleep.

I had forgotten how nicely my children can play together without Marc around to disrupt their play constantly. They will go and play for 30-60 minutes at a time and I am able to get so much of my work done, that I'm catching up on 6 months of neglected work rather quickly. Before, I was having to stop what I was doing every 30-90 seconds in order to keep the children from destroying things or hurting each other. Well, after all our behavior intervention, by the end, I was able to work for sometimes up to 5 minutes at a time, but never even close to 30!

As for the reaction of the children to Marc leaving, they are glad he's gone. Every once in a while Brigham will cry that Marc took _____ home with him. (a shirt, or a toy) I think Hyrum misses Marc the most and just doesn't know how to express it, but he's been doing well too. I am so glad that Marc going home hasn't seemed to damage the children emotionally as I was afraid it would.

Catching up on everything has been nice.

Good-Bye Marcus

Well, the moving date was moved up a day. So, today Marcus left us for his biological family. I have such mixed feelings about this move, I'm having trouble processing the mixed emotions. I am happy for him and his family- that they get to be together. I am relieved to not have to deal with his obnoxious behavior anymore and to get a chance to teach my children appropriate behavior without the constant influence of a child with serious behavior problems. I am very sad to see him go. I am worried about how he's going to be raised for the next 15 years. I am afraid all the work I have done and all I have taught him will be undone. I worry that he won't get the nutrition that he needs. I ache for my children who are going to realize more fully in the next few weeks what this move means to them- a loss of a brother. Sometimes I feel like crying to think he's gone. Sometimes I feel like dancing a jig because of the freedom of not having to have "line-of-sight" constant supervision hanging over my head, and I won't have to kiss ugly bite marks on my babies, and I won't have to plug my ears all the time, and I won't have to take him to all of his appointments all over town. BUT, there is an empty bed in the boys room, there is an empty seat at our table, and there is a scared little boy out there wondering why he can't see his "Daddy," "Mama," Brigham, Bekah, and Hyrum anymore- Wondering why no one sings his "I am a Child of God" to him at night- Wondering why no one knows what he's talking about when he talks about wanting to be a missionary and go to the temple- Wondering what he did wrong to lose 5 people he loved.

Marcus, if you ever read this, know that you were loved by us, that we miss you, and that we hope you have learned enough to become a strong, happy, healthy boy. Even though you turned our world upside down and drove us crazy- we still love you.

Brigham's Dance

Brigham has this crazy dancing that he does when he's happy and full of energy. I managed to catch some pictures of the silly faces and moves that he does. Usually he's singing a made up song at the same time too.

Hyrum's bluff

Hyrum is starting to develope a sense of humor and he gets us laughing regularly. He started this thing where we ask him to give us a high five so he lifts his arms way over his head and holds them there to create suspense.

Then he brings them down and just when you think he's going to give you that five you've waited so patiently for...

He pulls up his other hand and gives himself a five instead.

It's hirarious and makes me laugh everytime!

Painting pumpkins

Looks like Hyrum tried to paint his head as well as the pumpkin.


On Saturday Timothy helped the kids paint their pumpkins that they got from the pumpkin patch while I made dinner in my pumpkin.


Timothy painted "creepy" music on his pumpkin.
They all had a good time, but we were cleaning up paint for quite a while after wards.

Trunk or Treat

Our church had a trunk or treat activity on Friday, and that's all the trick or treating the kids got, but it was more than enough. (Marcus was sick for the trunk or treat, but his mom got to take him trick or treating on Halloween.)

We have a Cowboy...

A Fairy Princess...

And a Lion...
Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Time

Saturday we took the family to a local farm for a "pumpkin patch" experience.

We got to go through a hay bale maze and a corn maze. The kids each got to pick out a pumpkin. We didn't ride out to the patch because of the cost, but they got to pick one of the pre-picked ones.

They've been talking about it and want to paint their pumpkins now, so we're looking forward to that activity.

A Big Change

Today I attended the court hearing for Marcus. All the attorneys, his caseworker, and the judge all agreed that it was in Marc's best interest to send him home to live with his mother. There were many stipulations placed on her in order for this to continue, but she has come a long way and is well on her way to being a successful mother. I am glad for him and his family's sake that he is able to do this, but I am very sad to be loosing one of my children whom I have some to love. He has turned our lives upside down and has made the last six months the most stressful and hard 6 months I've ever gone through, but I have learned so much in trying to work with and teach him and in the process fell in love with this little fellow. I am going to miss him terribly, despite the relief of not having to deal with his outlandish behaviors. Not to mention the other children who are loosing a brother next week when Marc leaves. I can only hope that I have prepared them to accept this and that we can all work through the grieving process together.

I hope Marc and his mom can be successful in their journey together. I have done a lot to set him up for success as long his mom follows through with the programs I have set up.

I've known and taken care of him (daycare before foster care) since he was 11 months old, now I'm not sure if we're going to see him again. We're sure going to miss him...

Marc at 12 months oldMarc 15 months old
Marc 2 years oldMarc 3 years old
PS-The kids haven't been told that Marc is moving home yet because it will set off their behavior and we don't need any more stress than we already have right now. So if you see us don't mention the fact that Marc is leaving in front of the children- not, until moving day: Nov. 4th.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

Brigham participated in his first primary program today. He did a great job of singing the songs and sitting reverently while on the stand. When it was his turn to say his part, he walked up the the stand, stood the first step of the two-step stool. On the first step you could see his hair above the podium. Then, ever so slowly he rose to the second step. It was so funny watching his head raise slowly - from my position I could see hair, then a little bit of forehead, then eyebrows, then eyes, then nose, and lastly mouth. Then he smiled a goofy smile and he said his line in words I'm sure no one could understand. Then, he hopped down and was done. :) It was so funny I couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes.

For those of you not familiar with the primary program. It is when the children and their leaders take over the later part of our Sunday meeting and each of the children take a turn speaking and they sing the songs they've learned over the past year. It's always a fun day and the spirit is so strong as these little people bare their testimonies of Jesus Christ.

Another 2 year old!

Hyrum is two!

Happy Birthday, Hyrum! I can't believe my baby is now 2. Time flies so fast I worry they're all going to be gone before I ever get this parenting thing right.

Hyrum had a great day today. He got pretty spoiled with new toys and clothes.

He is really into balls right now so I decided to make him a basketball cake.

He also loves ice cream and blueberries so Timothy made him some blueberry ice cream.

Hyrum is a happy little guy. (When he gets enough sleep) he's usually smiling. He says, "hi" and smiles to everyone he sees where ever we are. I think he's cheered up a lot of strangers just by that small act. I hope he keeps up his cheery friendliness. A smile and a friendly hello can go a long way in this fast paced world. :)
He is also learning to talk very well. Just in the last few weeks he's been speaking in sentences almost every time he speaks. His vocabulary continues to expand daily. His favorite things are balls and animals. He is always the first to point out animals where ever we are. He is becoming a good helper like Rebekah. He listens and notices things that need to be done and when he's in the right mood, he'll jump at the chance of helping others.

Marc's first day of school

Marcus started Head start on Friday! He was so excited to be able to go to school. He's very sad that there isn't a bus for his class, though. So, he has to ride in the "white van" to school. His head start teachers are very expereinced. One has been teaching at headstart for 17 years and another has been teaching for about 30. They are amazing teachers and his classroom is full of top quality martials. He really lucked out getting into the program he did, because not all of the head starts around here are top quality.

First day of preschool

Brigham is starting a new preschool. His first day was Tuesday. He was so excited to ride a big school bus. He was all ready about 20 minutes early. Then, about the time his bus was supposed to come we waited outside.
Here he is waiting on the porch. Then waiting in the driveway. Finally, the bus comes!
He got to sit next to his friend, "Miss K", who is the only child care child I have right now. She just happened to be in the same special needs preschool and rides the same bus. (Makes it easier for the bus driver on days she's at our house.)

He had a great day at school. He said he got to play with play dough, and play in the sand box, and they got to make banana bread, but it was too hot so they couldn't eat it at school so he brought it home in a bag and ate it for lunch. He's very excited to go back tomorrow!

I hope this enthusiasm for school continues for the next 15-20 years!

Brigham is 4!

Happy Birthday, Brigham!

For months Brigham has been talking about having a brown dinosaur cake for his birthday. I've been trying to think how I was going to come up with a dinosaur cake that looked good. I finally decided to do a 9 x 13 pan and cut out a dinosaur with a pattern Timothy had come up with. But, when I went to stick the second layer of cake on top of the first it landed funny and parts fell apart and I decided the cake was too crumbly to cut and move around to shape into a dinosaur. (especially since I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cake creations.) So, as It fell apart I decided it was going to be a dinosaur scene with rocks and then I would wash Marc's toy dinosaur and stick it on top. This is the result. Brigham was a little disappointed when he first saw it because he was expecting a cake shaped like a dinosaur, but I reassured him that this was his dinosaur cake and he was happy with it.



Blowing out his candlePlaying in the yard after cake and ice cream

For a few weeks he's been telling everyone, "I want a pink ball and a purple ball and that's all my presents." So, his nana and papa got him some pink and purple balls plus a lot of other toys as well. Timothy and I got him other gifts also. I forgot to get pictures of him opening his gifts. Oh, well. Thanks to grand parents for the gifts you sent also. He was pleased with everything he got.

I can't believe I have a four year old now! He's sure a blessing in our lives, though. He's sweet and thoughtful, observant, and has a great sense of humor! When I can't find something I can ask him and he usually knows where it is- he's that observant! His sense of humor keeps us smiling all day long. We sure love our little Brigham.

Need a laugh?

These children are becoming more and more verbal and with that comes better reasoning, but their reasoning still isn't quite sound, yet and so they keep us laughing everyday with the things they come up with!

One day we were eating celery as part of dinner and I asked Brigham if he wanted it with peanut buetter or cream cheese. He said, "No, I don't like celery today. I only like celery on Wednesdays. Is today Wednesday?" (Lucky for him it wasn't.)

We always help the children brush their teeth before bed. Timothy asked Bekah if she wanted him to help her or me. She said to him, "You can't help me brush my teeth, you're a boy!"

Back a few months ago we were looking at a birthday card for Marc and I told them it said Happy Birthday to Marc. Brigham said, "No that not say Happy Birthday to Marc, that say Happy Birthday to cake!"

Bekah was watching Daddy work out side and she said, "What we can do with that Daddy? He's outside. He's silly. He need to do homework." (I guess Daddy does a little too much homework if she thinks he always needs to be studying.)

We've been having discussions lately about how Timothy isn't my Daddy he's the children's Daddy. And my Daddy is Grandpa Dave and my Mommy is Grandma M_. Daddy's Daddy is Grandpa F_. I asked Brigham, "Who is Daddy's Mama?" Brigham replies, "Brigham Young!" (Gram-Gram don't be offended- he was being silly. On other occasions he says, "Gram-Gram".)

One day we were talking about the temple and Brigham pipes up and says, "There was agave nectar at the temple!" (Maybe I've indoctrinated my children with healthy sugar and refined grain replacements a little too much.)


These children sure keep us going with their humor!

Super Daddy!

How many kids can one Daddy fit on his lap?
FOUR!

A new way to sleep

Brigham has found a new sleeping position.
I had left him on the recliner to rest/fall asleep while we waited for his brothers to drop off. I came out to move him to his bed and found him like this.
Crazy boy! Yes, he is upside down. And yes he is sound asleep.

Mama, wanna go da beach...

Mama, wanna go da beach. Tuesday we go da beach? Mama, wanna go da beach. Tuesday we go da beach?

That's pretty much all I've been hearing for the past few days.

We told the kids we were going to make a trip to the beach on Tuesday and we finally made it.
Five of us had a great time and got a little or a lot wet depending on the person.One person, the main questioner of the questions above, was not happy to be at the beach. He decided he was scared of the beach. We've taken him to the beach before and he was just fine- no problems. But this time was different for some reason and we can't figure out why. But, the rest of us had a good time.

Hyrum got knocked over by a larger wave than he expected and fell in, but we just sat him in the sun for a few minutes and he was ready to get back in the water.


They also had a great time in the sand.







It was so nice to be able to spend some time together as a family doing a wholesome recreational activity. We were all exhausted by the end of it all and everyone slept on the way home except the driver (me).