Cousins.~

I'm glad that the other Davis family(Lance and Dawn) have a camp their boys go to every year, because it means they get to visit. Dawn, Taylor, and Mason came over yesterday. The boys played in the backyard in the 105 degree weather lol and Taylor and Celia enjoyed inside with us. They were very cute together. I tried taking a picture of them hugging goodbye, but it was blurry trying to capture two three year olds hehe.:)

Relaxing on the American River.

Folsom is so historic and such a great town to visit. Its so neat that after passing over the Bridge into town, there is a turn out to the American River. Its a small hike down to the water on a little path filled with blackberry bushes and big trees. We found a neat spot by the rocks with view of the bridge. Its nice to take our snacks and enjoy it out there. There were kayaks passing by and boats but we enjoyed the ducks and geese the most. I'm glad we have such a beautiful place so close to home.~

Swinging

The day before Father's day we went for a family ride. Brian loves to go shopping for books, so we dropped him off and went to our normal park. It was packed. So, we meandered around until we found this cute little park hidden in a neighborhood nearby. It was a beautiful place and we were happy the play area was empty~! They all liked this tire swing. Some other people came after a while and Spencer got up and started to walk to the car. It was just the right amount of time and fun.:)

Extended School Year~ Its what they do.

Spencer, Celia, and Joseph all get to take the same bus to summer school. I really think they love being together. I can't believe how excited they are. I figured they have been watching Spencer travel on the bus for years. Celia just thinks its what you do. You wake up drink your "greg"(that is what her word for drink sounds like), get ready, and head off to school on the bus. With a backpack of course! She loves to wear one everywhere she goes, which is fantastic for her, just like having a mini occupational therapy session. I love getting all their lunches packed. Providing schedules, and order, including homemade and or packaged food, (eaten together or at school) really strengthens family ties.

My kids are very interested in what each other are into and up to. Emmy loves to hear about Celia's progress and is a real help in teaching her good habits and following through with our goals for Celia. Its amazing! Right now Emmy is determined to teach Celia how to ride a tricycle. Practice a little each day, I tell her. She wonders when Celia is going to get it hehe. Its great to teach Emelie that we can't push her around in her tricycle or she won't feel the need to peddle! Behavioral training at such a young age. Emmy will be such a prepared babysitter hehe:)

Each of my summer school kids get a ID tag on their backpack for riding the bus. It has their picture and their address on it. It makes them feel special and it makes me happy they are taking good care of my little ones while they are away. Joseph says I get two! One for being a summer school kid and one that says I ride with Spencer and Celia to our house! The bus drivers they have now knows all their names and are so nice and I can't help but be grateful for the service they provide to our family. Four weeks of Speech, Occupational Therapy, scheduled times for social interaction, toileting, centers for academics, play skills, and exercise for Spence and Celia's classes just couldn't be any better for them! And Joseph has five buddies in this class from Antelope Meadows and is keeping up his reading skills to make a great transition to third grade. Hooray!

Elephant Ride~

Tribute To Brian:)

First of all I want to thank Jan and Howard for raising such a wonderful son! He is organized and thoughtful and such a good husband, Father, boss, co worker, and great member of our community! A few of Brian's best attributes are that he is calm and level headed. He has a large amount of patience which is completely needed in this family hehe.:) No one is better with Spencer than him. He commands his attention and respect, yet is always loving, kind, and caring towards our sweet Spencer. Brian is the one who leaves church when Spencer acts up and also is the Go To guy when Spencer needs a ride no matter the time of day or night. Brian is observant and considerate. He knows what each of our likes and wants are and gets things for us on a daily basis! He totally spoils us all with our favorite drinks, food, music when we are around him. He does anything to make each of us smile. He is the comedian, clever one who lightens any rough situation and calms us. He is the supporter of our family!! He does a great job. We all are so grateful to have him and hope he has a fantastic Father's Day. We are going to love his best ever steak he grills! Are we blessed or what?!

Fun Friday~

Discovery Indeed!

We loved going to Discovery Kingdom. Misty had season passes and asked us to go with her and we were so glad we went. Spencer doesn't do crowds and lines and Celia was too little for the rides so they stayed home.:) Everything was new for us and what a wonderful variety of things to do! When we got there everyone was excited about the Tony Hawk Ride, a whole lot of twisting and turning like a skateboarder. Emelie let us know how much she loved any spinning rides and we all realized her love for it the rest of the day! She renamed this one super spinning ride (that I couldn't even watch) Awesomeness. Highlights of the day for me were getting completely soaked on the river rafting ride, seeing the tiger show, and riding a huge Elephant! I sure missed the rest of our family, but it was such a great experience!

Matching Eyes~

New Hobbies

Joseph has turned a new leaf! Its not all about video games anymore. He is reading the Hobbit and plans to watch the movie with dad very soon. Also, we had been talking about journal writing lately. Elder Eyring had a talk in General Conference about how he wrote in his journal nightly and tried to think of what the Lord had done for him in his life that day. He expressed what a grateful attitude it gave him and how he gained faith and felt love from our Heavenly Father. Emmy has been writing everyday since Brian's birthday 2007! Being the competitive type that Joseph is and not wanting to be left out Bri gave him a journal and he is recording his daily activities in it! Maybe he will realize what a great life he has since sometimes he forgets all the good and is very contrary! I'm thrilled he is becoming a reader/writer. I'm sure they will help me to remember all these times when I'm older and have lost my memory hehe.

BBQ and Swimming~

Enjoying Our Yard~

I've been so pleased lately at how much the kids are enjoying the backyard. We can stay out there for a long time and everyone is happy even Spencer who is such a wiggle worm that he never sits still. He has pulled over his trampoline next to some stacked up plastic chairs and lays out there with his feet up just singing and smiling in the sunshine. All the kids want to help me garden and are right there helping me to prune any bushes or water!! We have nature lovers! They also practice skateboarding and scootering, Celia is learning how, but would rather we drive her around the yard.~ In the summer we use our back patio to eat almost all of our meals, and with it being so warm lately we BBQ a lot. Today I used the BBQ for hamburgers for lunch and we swam in the hot tub. Okay maybe I should have let the kids in there as a pool before now, but they are really enjoying and appreciating it. I BBQed again for dinner this time Raspberry Chipotle Chicken. I was told I didn't make enough food. I think that means they liked it:)

Project Organization!

I am trying to adhere to the old adage; Less is More! We have a sweet little Spencer that obsesses about his clothes and changes several (like 9 times, no joke) a day. I have worried about what might happen if I remove his ten billion outfits from his wardrobe and let him wear what he had worn already that day! This maneuver has been many months in the planning. Luckily, I have help via a behaviorist through Capitol Autism services. She is a consultant to me once a week to help with Spencer's behavior! Together we will tackle the constant changing which as you can imagine amounts to insurmountable amounts of laundry! Ive gotten Joseph situated with hangers enough for ten pieces of each. I am learning so much. One thing I've learned is I am not going to wash old clothes or clothes that have holes , or towels that I've had since we were married?! I can feel the weight lifting off my shoulder already. After three yard size garbage bags of clothes gone, I feel great. When we had our floors redone, we moved everything out of each room and threw away so much that had cluttered our lives. Three trips to the dump and I still think we could go more! It is SO much easier to clean and to straighten and it feels great. We cannot take anything with us in the next life, why do we gather so much in this one to the point of bogging ourselves down. I have major plans for a garage overhaul and making our shed into a bike/scooter home. I wish someone would have told me when we were first married how much i wouldn't need all this "stuff". And that acummulation of things can choke you! Now I look at all my clothes/shoes/decorations and feel I don't need anything. Hooray :)

Me & Bri at the Game

Brian doesn't like to cooperate for photo opportunities! He and all his brothers pull goofy faces. I thought this one trumped all I've seen of those silly Davis Boys!

Rivercats!

You'd think after going to the games as often as we do it would be boring, I say no way. Last night was by far the most interesting baseball game I have ever been at! Some highlights were that we got to see several home runs! We were entertained by many fans, one in particular taunted the other team's third baseman, number 26. It was like he was Carlos Mencino doing a comedy act. He was trying to get his goat and it was genuinely hilarious. Also, I caught another ball.:) One for Emmy this time. We got to see a shortstop fly straight up into the air going for ball that was way over his head. I thought he would do better in the high jump or dunking in basketball lol. One player, a designated hitter, busted his bat. It flew in between first and second base, with pieces grazing several players. We did have one of our team get to steal first base in all of that commotion though.:) Also, one player bunted, the catcher grabs it and nails the at bat player right in the back on his way to first lol, oops.. We had four different pitchers on our team. The"closer"choked and we lost our 4 to 1 lead. We did however get a new pitcher, (a reliever I think, Brian was teaching me all the names for stuff) who was a side arm. Weirdest way to pitch, but was very cool. It was a great time even though we ended up losing the game 6 to 4. We stayed all nine innings and went to In n Out after with the kids. It was a memorable game and a great time!

Perspective~

I learned earlier in my life that all pain does go away eventually. Recently, I have learned that unpleasantness does too! We've all heard the saying; Life is full of peaks and valleys. One day can be filled with mishaps, annoyances, stresses, and various burdens. The same day however can be full of pleasant weather, kind words, memories of happy times, or gratefulness to be alive and well. If I chose to focus on the negative it would be depressing. Even someone with an "Ideal" life could find reasons to complain. Instead of wallowing over the messes, the broken objects, the bruises, the headaches, or heartaches, I say there is too much to be happy about~~ I have a wonderful marriage, four beautiful really good children, and so much comfort, support, and love in my life. Everyday I take a hectic morning, afternoon, or evening, and try to find some peace and happiness. Its possible! I am so grateful to Brian. He really helps me and our children to be happy. This week I am forgetting the flood for the second time on our new laminate, the garage that can never be straight, and the screaming from Spencer that no one could ever ignore, and I'm enjoying the beautiful backyard, the time to myself I have while Celia is at preschool, the choices and opportunities I am blessed with, and the amazing way others in public are kind and courteous to me! Now I'm off to go play Volleyball. :)

Celia can Read!

Celia loves to read books and it seems she has began to memorize or recognize things she sees often. She has been saying "Celia.. C L I A." She hasn't figured out there is an E in her name, but we praise her quite a bit for her vocalizing. We have been drawing pictures for her on paper when trying to distract her in church or other places we like her to stay quiet. Now she tells us what to write and then can find any name or thing we write when asked with full accuracy. So far she can read Celia, Emelie, Emmy, Mama, Daddy, Joseph, Spencer, Dora, Boots, Backpack, and Rah Rah. It is really fun and we all enjoy adding new words to her visual vocabulary.:)

Spencer & I

Spencer, sitting on my lap. He loves to watch the other kiddos and be around the family.~

Finished Duties

Emmy was holding up her bag, showing off how many weeds she had picked, then smiled. It was over and Celia was being very entertaining! Now she could go to her friend's twelveth Birthday Party!

Fun Pulling Weeds!~

All ready for the last concert of the Year~

Four Children, Four Schools~

I'm so happy to live in the area we do to have the district with so many great schools! Emelie is at Antelope Crossings Middle School. She has all GATE(gifted and talented education) classes there. There is a group of teachers that really stretch the kids and teach them so many aspects of learning. They teach them to be organized, to be great presenters, and welcome creativity and different perspectives in all their curriculum. Emmy's Band teacher Mrs. Slaubaugh was named Teacher of the Year for the school district and Emelie tells me they had a sub before a concert who let the kids conduct; It didn't go so well she said hehe. She and I agreed conductors make a difference. Emelie is learning so much about music. I'm really happy about it. They also have a fantastic physical education program there that has won awards. They are teaching Emelie to dance, play team sports, foster endurance, and even flexibility.:)

Spencer goes to Quail Glen Elementary. Placer county office of education had a new wing added to the school for the ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder) Classroom. They have a separate occupational therapy room which Spencer loves. His teacher is so great. Spencer has a lot of exercise opportunities at his school. Every morning he rides his modified bike around the school campus. Then runs besides his classmates as they take turns riding the bike. Spencer takes several walks around campus to organize himself through physical exertion, he sits better after and is able to do well in his centers. His favorite part of school is buying lunch and going through the cafeteria line to gather all his food and eat it in the lunchroom with his peers.:) He will be attended Junior High this August at Creekview Ranch Middle School. I believe he will have a great transition and the teacher I met there seems to have the capability for order and structure that Spencer needs so much.

Antelope Meadows Elementary School is where Joseph attends. He is in second grade and enjoys school very much. He is pretty social though. Joseph had some marked delays in reading this year. I am happy to report though that with a little bit of encouragement, prayers, an after school computer program and some during school time help, he has caught up to his grade level and is making fantastic growth. He is such a happy boy that is so excited about everything he encounters. He loved Lexia after school, a computer program teaching reading and all sorts of academia. Joseph has excelled in math though and has earned a few outstanding achievements in math and trustworthiness this year.

Celia Jean our little one even goes to school! After an Early intervention plan of Occupational therapy , Speech therapy and a Mommy & Me preschool class once a week, Celia turned three and was eligible for full time preschool at Dry Creek Elementary Special Day Class. She receives Speech therapy there and Occupational therapy which is embedded in the classroom schedule. They have music time and even yoga. Celia knows the warrior stance very well.:) I was pleased to hear she has made a little friend there. According to her teacher and my friend Vicky who works in Celia's class, they are two peas in a pod and Celia has helped this other little girl to grow and use more language. They are both girlie girls that like pretty dresses and play house together.~

Spencer, Joseph, and Celia will be attending Quail Glen Elementary for extended school year, in different classes of course. Hooray for school! I love it, they love it, and it has benefited all my children's growth.