Kailyn has had a boy free summer and I think she could totally get used to being the only child. Besides for our fantastic trip to Florida she has been hanging out with friends, swimming in the pool and at the beach, going to movies, museums and baseball games, playing with Lily and also loads and loads of just general vegging out. We went and saw the dress rehearsal for The Sound of Music with some friends and had a blast. I hope we can make it to a few more over the course of the year. A West Side Story is playing in October. Kailyn really wants to get involved in plays/drama and I have been searching around trying to find a place for her to take inexpensive classes. So far I haven't found anything but the search continues. She was a huge help at band camp- she kept the hospitality director's grandson occupied wonderfully and did whatever else she was asked. We started our first week of homeschool Monday and things are going great. Anytime we are doing something that she would never be able to do in a regular classroom like eating ice cream during reading time or doodling on paper while I read to her or laying out on the the trampoline doing math problems she makes sure to point it out to me how much she loves it. She also tells me regularly she is quitting school but I guess there has to be opposition in all things. I wish I had taken more pictures of her this summer but I left the camera behind way too many times. Travis and Kailyn at the Mudcats game.
Since I didn't want my 100th post to be about Idol I figured I better post something today. I had some adorable pictures of my niece in her DUKE jersey that I wanted to share but unfortunately her daddy didn't appreciate them as much as I did and deleted them from my camera. Don't worry I have plans to take more. I also taught her how to say GO DUKE and DUKE is #1. Much better then hearing her say Duke is poopy. Her dad taught her that. I wonder how he feels sleeping in Allias' bedroom with Duke memorabilia all around him. Maybe I should get some pictures of that too.
Anyway on to my 100th post. I have been reading the guest posts over at Mormon Mommy Blogs about raising teenagers and wow there are some brilliant, insightful moms out there. I encourage every one who is the mother of teenagers or may someday be to check it out. The post there today was exactly what I needed to lift me up and give me the courage to face another day.
A lot of you know how much we struggle with our oldest son. I often wonder if anyone really understands what we are going through though. If anyone can really imagine the anguish I feel over this child. Tyler is Bipolar. This is his 7th diagnosis but the 1st that actually fits but I am no longer shocked by how little mental illness is understood- even by those who claim to be "professionals". We are in the process of looking yet again for someone to help Tyler in his struggle. I have learned many lessons from being his mother and hope to learn many more. I hope I am learning all my Heavenly Father wants me to. I think I know maybe just a little of what He feels when His children make choices that drive them away from happiness. It kind of feels like someone is jumping up and down on your chest. Breathing becomes difficult and sometimes even standing up straight is hard to do. And as much as you are angry and hurt and bewildered your heart just wants to burst from the love you feel for this crazy, defiant, reckless child who seems determined to ruin his own life. You want to shake him and scream in his face one minute and the next you wish he would just let you hold him in your arms. You wonder why he can't just learn from the mistakes you made? Why does he need to make his own? And there is so much regret. So much looking back and wondering what more could have been done. It is so hard to let go. To let God's will be done. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for this child of mine. I know that He is the only one who truly knows my child and that He is the one that can help him but it is sooo hard to let that knowledge govern the choices you make every day, every hour, every minute. When Tyler was about 3 he got the stomach flu. It was Halloween. Our home teachers called and asked if they could come visit. I told them Tyler was sick. They asked if they could come and give him a blessing. Travis was inactive and the time and I had been a member about five months. I could go into a HUGE long history of all the medical problems Tyler had as an infant/toddler but that would take more time then you or I have. Let's just say he was a very sick baby, but by the time he was three he was doing a lot better physically but continuing to experience emotional difficulties and had trouble sleeping. He was going to a preschool for children with special needs and we were struggling to find answers. My home teachers came over and laid their hands upon his head and gave him a blessing. In all the blessings members of my family have been given over the years there are only one or two things I really remember. I have remembered this particular thing that was said to my son when he was just three years old over and over again. "We live in a day of great medical and scientific advances. New discoveries are being made all the time, but we also live in a day when the Priesthood reigns on the earth and some day all the problems you face will be on the back burner of your life." I am holding onto that promise. I am working on the only salvation I have any control over (my own) and trying to be happy and faithful in spite of my trials. I am so thankful for my AMAZING family and friends and for my Savior. I know that His strength is sufficient for all who lay their burdens at His feet.
Yesterday Lily was hugging Kailyn and then looked up at her and said "Ur my best friend"
It is great to have a best friend! Best friends spend time playing with you. This morning Kailyn was getting up for school and Lily was at the bottom of her bed saying, "Kailyn, what do you want to play? Dollies? huh? come on."
Best friends will even wash your feet. Look at that precious little face!
Best friends share their Easter candy with you- Kailyn has been soooo good about sharing all of her things with Lily- even the things she just got for Easter.
Best friends act silly with you. I was sitting on the couch under a blanket and the girls decided to turn my legs and the blanket into a nest and then a tent.
I know that my Redeemer lives!!!!! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He knows me and loves me and that He suffered so much so that He could help me through the trials and tribulations of this world and so that I could be forgiven of my sins. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that through His Son Jesus Christ I can become everything I am meant to be. One of my favorite scriptures is in Alma Chapter 7 versus 11 and 12 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
We had a GREAT Easter weekend and took LOTS of pictures.
Saturday, Brittney and I took Kailyn and Lily to a little petting zoo. It was put on by a Children's Christian Ministry- they taught the kids all about the true meaning of Easter and let them pet the baby animals.
After church on Sunday we took some pictures outside. The weather was soooo perfect.
Allias giving Lily some lovin'
Kailyn in her Eater dress. She and Lily actually matched. Brittney took a few pictures of them together that she is going to post soon.
All the girls! Love love love this picture. We are tooooo cute!
My psycho family. Kailyn is trying to show off her fingernails- Brittney painted them for her.
It has been a long time since I got all three kids in a picture together!
After church the kids got their baskets and Kailyn and Travis painted Easter eggs.
Kailyn's favorite book is The Penderwicks and in one of the books there are two rabbits; Yaz and Carla. She bought "Yaz" with her allowance a month or so ago and the Easter Bunny brought "Carla" today. She was pretty excited. Lily got a "rabbit" too- she named hers Lexi.
Simple rules- Go to your sixth picture folder and choose your sixth picture. Post it! Tag Six People This is my beyond adorable niece Lily the first time I met her. She was just over a month old. She is now almost two and is still just as cute with a personality to match. I haven't seen her since last summer and I miss her like crazy. I hope she remembers me the next time I see her. She is going to be a big sister and they just found out today that she is going to have a little BROTHER!! Can't wait! I tag Marianne, Britt, Kristine, Shannon, Jessica, Lynelle
Kailyn has had a boy free summer and I think she could totally get used to being the only child. Besides for our fantastic trip to Florida she has been hanging out with friends, swimming in the pool and at the beach, going to movies, museums and baseball games, playing with Lily and also loads and loads of just general vegging out. We went and saw the dress rehearsal for The Sound of Music with some friends and had a blast. I hope we can make it to a few more over the course of the year. A West Side Story is playing in October. Kailyn really wants to get involved in plays/drama and I have been searching around trying to find a place for her to take inexpensive classes. So far I haven't found anything but the search continues. She was a huge help at band camp- she kept the hospitality director's grandson occupied wonderfully and did whatever else she was asked. We started our first week of homeschool Monday and things are going great. Anytime we are doing something that she would never be able to do in a regular classroom like eating ice cream during reading time or doodling on paper while I read to her or laying out on the the trampoline doing math problems she makes sure to point it out to me how much she loves it. She also tells me regularly she is quitting school but I guess there has to be opposition in all things. I wish I had taken more pictures of her this summer but I left the camera behind way too many times.
Waiting for The Sound of Music to start.
Yeah that's a diaper!
Mudcats- can you see the drama in her eyes???
