Ryan's dream

With how busy we've been lately, I am just now getting around to posting about Ryan's big weekend! A few weeks ago, Ryan had the opportunity to meet several of the Oregon Duck football players as well as the coach AND tour the facilities! I am not sure if I've ever seen Ryan so happy and he claimed this was definitely one of the best days of his life! One of Ryan's physical therapists arranged for Ryan to meet his favorite football player, Kenjon Barner. He met with Barner the day before the game and he then showed Ryan around and introduced him to several other players. Ryan was in heaven!!

Kenjon Barner and Ryan

Meeting Chip Kelly

Barner, Ryan and Steve the Friday before the game

Cliff Harris with Ryan

Ryan with Kenjon Barner and coach, Chip Kelly

Ryan in the lunchroom with several of the players

Disneyland

What a busy past couple of weeks we have had! Steve and I just returned from a trip to Disneyland with Jorie. The last time we took just Jorie to Disney, she was 5 years old. When you live in this family, taking trips with just one child, is sometimes necessary to give them that attention they need. Jorie's brothers require alot of our attention. So, this trip was good for her!

The week prior to our trip, Josh came down with what we thought was just a cold bug. Even so, we waited to make our reservations until just the night before our trip just in case Josh wasn't feeling well enough for us to leave him with Grandma and Grandpa. He started doing so much better that we went ahead and made plans for our trip. Josh made it through the 5 days we were away. But, this was a pretty nasty virus and he's still fighting it even now! So nasty that the congestion has been making him vomit! Thankfully, Ryan has not caught it. Please keep him in your prayers that he can avoid this nasty bug! Jorie had it the week prior to Josh catching it. But, was not hit nearly as hard as Joshua has!

We decided for many reasons to drive to Disney. #1, we never know if we will be able to make the trip due to Ryan's health at the time and canceling airline tickets (last minute) can be a tricky thing to do. #2, Steve LOVES to drive!! And #3, we hate flying! Not so much the flying. But, the airports and all the security we have to go through. Try flying with an SMA child, and you may never want to fly again either! With all the security these days, flying with 5 pieces of medical equipment on top of everything else as well as a 300 pound electric wheelchair! Not. Fun. So, quite a while ago, Steve and I decided we would just drive everywhere rather than fly! So far, we haven't gone anywhere much further than about 900 to 1000 miles. So, if it was much further than that, we would probably opt to fly!

We had a very interesting drive down. We drove through a major lightening storm as well as a major dust storm! Something none of us had ever witnessed before (the dust storm, not the lightening storm) :). And soon after we had driven through the lightening, we began seeing fire after fire along the highway from all the lightening strikes! It sure made the drive interesting! We arrived around midnight that night and went straight to bed! We ended up spending 2 very fun filled days at Disney and 1 day just relaxing, going out to eat and a bit of shopping. Was a great trip and we're so glad we had that time with just Jorie. :)

Jorie with Woody!

Jorie posing with her new "Tangled" wig :)

This was an amazing Mexican restaurant right inside Downtown Disney.

She was our favorite character by far. Cruella Devile.

The rabbit from Alice in Wonderland

Waiting for the "World of Color" show to begin

On our way home, we stopped in at Pea Soup Andersen's. So much fun!

I thought it was so funny that one of the most important things for Jorie was getting to meet all the characters. And get their autographs! She was probably just as excited about doing this as she was about going on the rides! And she loved the roller coasters!!

 

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Jorie's birthday party

 We had Jorie's birthday party a bit early this year. We decided to start having it early because in years past when we have waited until her real birthday in October: noone could ever come due to illness. So, early in September seems to work well! She had so much fun! She said it was her favorite birthday party ever! The kids enjoyed bouncing in the bounce houses and the slides as well as all the toys they have laying around. Pretty fun place!

Joshua building with some magnet blocks

Jorie with most of her friends. Two had already left by the time I snapped this picture.

Hoola hooping with friends!

Ready for cake!

Josh's first day!

My sweet 4 year old boy all ready for his first day of preschool!

His hair is still wet from his bath! :0)

His favorite thing in class, of course! The car station!

I was SO proud of my boy today. For months we have been anticipating his start of preschool and have been preparing our boy as much as we could. Knowing he needed to go for his own good; but wondering just how he would do. He is truely the baby of our family. And has been very attached to his momma. Maybe TOO attached. :) I have actually had a hard time even getting him to attend his sunday school class. So, I wasn't sure how he would do in preschool. We have had some concerns about Josh over the last couple of years. For quite a while, we were concerned about his speech. He took speech therapy for a few months and did marvelous! He has grown up so much over the last year and a 1/2. And many of our earlier concerns have faded somewhat. Although, he still has a ways to go, I think preschool will be good for him! And just may give him that time he needs around other kids his own age before he starts kindergarten. As I left him today, his little mouth turned down and I thought for SURE he was going to cry. But, he didn't! And his teacher said he did just fine! Hopefully, that means the rest of the year will go just as well! I'm so glad he only attends 3 mornings a week. I'm not ready to let go of him, every day AND for a full day just yet! :)

10 years ago



10 years ago, I had a 5 year old boy starting his first week of kindergarten.

10 years ago we were just about ready to move into our new home.

10 years ago was our Make a Wish trip with Ryan. We had no idea how long we would have with him and wanted to make sure he got his wish granted before it was too late. Disney World was amazing!!

10 years ago, I married this amazing man!

So many life changing events for our family in 2001. Little did we know, that perhaps the most life changing event for the country would happen on this day, exactly 10 years ago. I will never forget where I was on that awful day. Will any of us?

Professional photo's 2011

 Here are the kids' latest professional photos! This year, we decided to get them taken outside! The first time I've ever had them done outside before. Normally, to take them outside, they charge an extra fee. But, when I found out there was a sale, I called right away to schedule an appointment! I was pretty happy with how they turned out!

 Ryan posing on the bridge. He wasn't in nearly as many pictures as the other two. It was getting colder outside and he can't handle the cooler weather.

 My sophmore!!

 Among my favorites of Josh. Loved how she captured this one of him. :)

 Towards the end of the session, the kids climbed up on these logs. They made for some pretty cute shots. :)

Ryan's first day as a sophmore!

 Ryan all ready for his first day of school. Sophmore year!!

 And he's off! Getting onto the bus with busdriver, Joe. Joe was his busdriver last year too and very nice. :)

First day of school for Jorie!

Today was Jorie's first day of school! She was SO excited and hardly slept last night! Hard to believe she's a 3rd grader this year. We laid out everything last night as I knew today would be busy. And sure enough, it was! I don't think I sat down once all day. Just ran 3 kids from one place to the next. Tomorrow will be much less hectic! Ryan starts school tomorrow. And Joshua will start preschool on Monday. This will be the first time since Ryan was a kindergartner that I won't have a child at home with me. When Ryan started school, I soon became pregnant with Jorie and when Jorie started preschool, Josh was a newborn! So, this is going to be an interesting year. Even though Josh will only be gone 3 mornings a week; I think the quiet house is going to be an adjustment for sure!