You may be wondering...

... what's up with all the blog posts this afternoon.

It's simple, really.

It all started earlier this week when I had just folded a huge batch of clothes and had them sitting on my nicely made bed.

Insert Elli.

Within minutes of her going into my room unsupervised, she had not only thrown all of the clothes off the bed and strewn them about the room, but had taken the sheets and blankets off the bed, knocked various items off the dresser and nightstand, and was tearing up papers from the desk. Oh, and she emptied Jeremy's very organized card file, which he was oh-so-happy about.

I was too overwhelmed and busy to clean it up then, and in the last few days that mess has multiplied. (That seems to happen a lot around here.) Now you can see approximately three square inches of carpet in my bedroom. Which is why it was supposed to be my project this afternoon. And I would think you would agree, if that was your project for the day, you would rather blog too!

AGH!!!!! (:

How can you not smile?

Xander is a hoot.




This is him getting ready for his imaginary camping trip:




Yesterday Jeremy asked if he wanted to go to basketball practice with him and the other boys. Within seconds, Xander had donned this outfit and was ready to go. I just worry about his lack of personality. (;

Like going back in time...

My little sister, Leslie, and her family came up here last weekend. Her son was getting sclerotherapy the same day as Xander, and by the same doctor. We didn't even schedule that on purpose-- crazy!! Both of their surgeries were successful, but it was obviously not a fun experience for either of them (or their moms!). It is so hard to watch your child hurt.

At least the other kids got to have some fun!!






Leslie's three boys are so, so darling. Whenever we are around them, Jer and I will have flashes of Taylor and Parker at their ages. Trey looks so much like Taylor, and Lincoln like Parker. I'm not sure if you can see it in these pictures, but it really is crazy how similar they are. I am so glad to have them around to remind me of my cute little boys that grew up WAY too fast!




Leslie makes these cutest headbands. I'm thinking I should take lessons...

Sophi's kisses...

...are seriously the best thing on the planet.

Could she be any cuter? Seriously??

Three cheers for Elli!

Elli has been so happy for the last couple of days. Her teacher said that Tuesday was the best day she's ever had-- yay! Yesterday I met her class for a field trip. I wish I had brought my camera-- the kids were all so sweet! It's always good to be around other moms and teachers who understand a lot of what you are going through with these special kids. Something so random-- one of my roommates from BYU has a son with autism who is in Elli's class. We hadn't seen each other for years and then that happens!

I was visiting with her teacher at the field trip, and she thinks that I need to take another shot at potty training Elli. Um, that sounds like as much fun as pulling out my toenails! I am not kidding. But I'm going to try. Elli does usually go on the toilet when we take her, it's just that she doesn't tell us when she needs to go. And she dances around on the toilet and makes all kinds of fun messes. Apparently at school, they have been taking her very consistently (giving her treats as rewards-- she'll do anything she can do for treats) and she is staying dry there. She rarely stays dry here, but then again, I am not at all consistent at taking her. So I guess we're going to give this thing a try. Starting Saturday. I'm trying not to panic.


I LOVE my Elli. I have said before that she is like oxygen to me-- that I just have to breathe her every day. Admittedly I feel more that way when she has good days like these!! (:

She is an angel on earth, that girl.

Sisters

These two crack me up. Their interactions are just so funny. Sophi will try to read to Lexi by running her toes over the braille letters while making up a story. Lexi will try to carry Sophi around like she's her little baby and will constantly run into things and drop her, which they both find very humorous. Lexi will try to teach Sophi how to pronounce things correctly (hilarious!) while Sophi will try to tell Lexi what to do. Sophi will feed Lexi with her little toes while barking at her to come closer, and Lexi will feed Sophi but miss her mouth half the time. They just laugh through it all.

I love them!

Toothless Wonders x 4

This is my attempt at getting a picture of how these four darlings are currently missing their two front teeth. As you can see, it wasn't very successful. (:









Our family just might put the tooth fairy out of business...

Which reminds me, I found it quite humorous that Parker was determined to wiggle his tooth loose while we were down in Ferron visiting Grandma a couple weeks ago. Apparently, he had learned from past experience that the tooth fairy pays a lot more at Grandma's house. I told him it may have just been a one time thing, but he was quite sure it would happen again. He was right. (: