They're Both In School!!!

It's hard for me to believe that both of my munchkins are in school this year.  I wish RooRoo were here to put a picture up to.  She would have been starting grade 1 this year.  Here are the pictures of the kids.  Melody had her first day of grade 5 yesterday and Aizen's  first day of JK was today. 

Wedding Hairstyles For Tiffany

Hey girl!!! Decided I'd make a blog post with all the hairstyles I thought were elegant and fun.  I think we have the same style so I hope this helps a bit.   (((((hugs)))))

The ones that are flower girls pictures I think would look good with your petite face.

Flower girl 1 ~ favourite

Flower girl 2

Half up

Updo with beaded accents ~ favourite (this could work with a veil and then without the veil at the reception)

Updo with a tiara

Pretty ringlets

Unique and intricate

Elegant updo

Messy bun

Sorta half up and down ~ favourite

Half up down ringlets

Very elegant

Wispiesh updo ~ favourite

Hope these help honey!!! Let me know if you'd like some more ideas!!!!!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AIZEN!!!!!!!

It's Aizen's 4th Birthday!!!! Whooo hoooo!!!!!

We sure have been through a lot with this munchkin.  I was 18 weeks pregnant with him when his big sister Ruby passed away and his first ultrasound picture was the day before her funeral.  We saw him for the first time on Valentine's Day of 2007.  He PROUDLY displayed that he was a boy and here's his first perfect picture:

I went high risk with him as I did with all my other pregnancies.  Aizen wasn't planned but he was most certainly wanted.  I went in every week from 31 weeks to 37 weeks to get an ultrasound done and he Always had his hand right near his right cheek.  This picture is from when he was 34 weeks:

Here is the very first picture of him and look at what he did!  Wiggled his hand up so it could be by his cheek.  hehe

This is by far my FAVOURITE newborn picture of him.  Look at those little balled up hands and the nookie that looks huge on his face.

My little guy on his 1st birthday.  He's a total adrenaline junkie and was being held up in the air for this picture:

2 Years Old and trying his very first plum.  Oh he was so excited and he had it everywhere.

3 years old and he got tools for his birthday.  This kid will follow around his papa all day long and try to help him fix things.  It's still one of his favourite toys.

My little man just a few months ago.  Look how much he's grown up.  I can't believe it's the little peanut who used to kick me in the ribs and keep me up all night when I was pregnant with him.

We've had a lot of challenges with him but he's such a sweet little boy.  I can't wait to see how he develops this year.  School will be great for him and althought he is autistic and severely speech delayed he's thriving and suprising us with new things every day.

I love you Stinker Butt (((((hugs from mommy)))))

Penguins And Stingrays

We are very blessed to have African Penguins and Stingrays at the Toronto Zoo. They are both magnificent creatures and they were my favourite things we visited today. We have season passes and have been waiting months for both of these exhibits to come.

They have the most intersting feet. I was expecting to see small and webbed feet like a duck, but their toes are more like a stubby finger with the webbing. They travel around in a little pack and are truly a co-depedant specifices. Enjoy the pictures.

Look at the bubbles in the next picture. It was so cool to see that from them. They will get air when they surface and release it just like we do when we are swimming under water.

We were SO Excited to see the stingrays. You can touch them and feed them. They are so very soft and will slow down as you touch them. After the kids were done, Daniel took them to the kids zoo and I stayed for another half hour just touching them and taking pictures.

Aizen touching a sting ray:

Melody touching a stingray:

Here Melody is feeding a sting ray. You hold the food between your fingers and put your hand down low to the bottom fo the tank, wait for them to hover over and suck up the food. It feels so strange at first but it's really quite ticklish after you get used to it.

Another picture of Melody petting a sting ray:

Melody's Birthday

I did a post over on my Bugaboo blog and thought I'd put a LINK to it here so I don't have to use up more photo space on blogspot here. We had such a good time and she had a mix of both boys and girls at her party. We went to a local ceramics shop and painted different pieces, the kids each got to pick their own. The finished pieces turned out so well. So, head on over and take a peek. ((((hugs))))

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY MELODY!!!!!!

It's hard to believe but my little 4 1/2 pounder is now going to be in the double digits.  We're going to be having a fun party at a local ceramics store where the kids get to paint and their masterpieces will be done in the kiln for them.

I'll be sure to update with her "10 year old" photo tomorrow.

I love you sweet Melody and I pray that the next 10 years are filled with fun, joy, laughter and our great night time talks about the Lord!!!!!!

Melody 1 day old in the isolette:

1 Years Old:

2 Years Old (she was the flower girl at our friend's wedding):

3 Years Old:

4 Years Old and jamming at the Science Center!!!

5 Years Old (being silly as always with a pullup on her head!!!!):

6 Years Old and ALREADY learning to drive:

7 Years Old:

8 Years Old (that kid has some really long legs!!!)

9 Years Old:

Bleeding Hearts Plant In Our Front Yard!!!

The bleeding hearts plant has overtaken this part of our front "garden".  It's such a delicate and dainty plant and it was planted the summer Roo passed away.  Melody wanted it there to remind her of her sister.  Miss you sweet RooBoo!!!!   ((((hugs))))

Compliments?

I just finished reading this really great book on introverts.  It's called Self Promotion For Introverts by Nancy Ancowitz.  It's more related to the business world and how to work on yourself but there were some really great things I learned from it.  The one that continues to come to me over and over again is one about receiving compliments.  Here's the quote:


Refute Negative Self-Talk Instead Of Compliments
How do you respond to compliments?  Do you deflect them or say that you don't really deserve them?  You may be so used to minimizing compliments that you're not even aware that you're doing it.  By denying a compliment, you are not only putting yourself down but you're also slighting the person who offered it by doubting her judgement or suggesting that her standards aren't high.  Instead why not graciously say, "Thank you"?

So often I don't think I'm good enough for compliments, they embarass me, I don't like the attention and b/c of my inner self dialogue I honestly don't believe most of them.  This quote really got me thinking of how I'm affecting the other person by responding the way I do.  It's kinda like saying thanks and then crumpling up their compliment and handing it back to them.  I know I get mildly offended when someone doesn't take my sincere and heartfelt compliments, but I never thought about how my rejection affected others.  I was too concerned with how I saw myself and what I thought about myself that it didn't even occur to me that I'd be hurting someone else's feelings by doing this.

I'm now trying to take an assertive role and genuinely accepting compliments when they are given to me.  It's not just about someone wanting to make me feel better, raise my self-esteem and help lift my spirits but it's about not hurting that person in return.  =)

Happy Birthday Ruby!!

1:12pm today and my daughter would have been 6.  I really miss my little girl but I have so many fond memories of her.  She was born quickly after 4 hours of labour and 12 minutes of pushing (my babies come out quickly!! hehe).  I remember holding her for the first time and instantly falling in love with her.  She was doing that adorable little blinking she did, she never blinked quickly but had long blinks (here's a video of her ~ no sound ~ eating cheerios and you can see the long blinks she would do)

I had a few hours of fawning over here and saw these little bumps in her mouth and had our doctor look at her.  She had Teeth!!!! that were just bumps.  Her first night home she was in bed with us, my finger rubbing her gums, helping her toofies cut through.  You all would have really liked her and been charmed by her, she had these gorgeous bright blue eyes that glinted with mischeviousness.

I'll write more about her later when I'm not so emotional, I miss my little girl so much and desperately wish she were here to blow out the candles on her cake. I miss you sweet Roo Roo and enjoy your birthday in your Saviour's arms!!!! ((((huggles)))))

Summer Camp!!!! Here We Come!!!

Got the email today that Melody got accepted into the autism summer camp.  We just filled out the extended questionarre and she is SO excited.  I can't wait for her to experience this and to know she can do things on her own and away from home.  She's nervous of course but I've got time to talk with her about things and I know she will have a good time once she is there a few days and gets to know her counsellors.  Thank you all SO much for your prayers, this is such a big step for her and I think she's going to do amazingly!!!

Prayers For Melody and Summer Camp

We found a really great camp in the Muskoka area that is designed for kids with autism that is free.  It is paid for by our local autism family respite program and would be an awesome opportunity for her to work on her social skills and do some things that she has never done.

She would go for an entire week and stay over night.  She is assigned a counsellor and they do a lot of 1 on 1 activities and group bonding activities.  It is done as a lottery system and we really hope that she gets picked.

We covet your prayers that Melody will get picked and have a great time.  She is so excited at the prospect of going and trying out some new things.  Here is a link to the camp  Kinark Autism Camp.  The grounds look so pretty and it's very spacious. 

We also applied for a family weekend and the family week there.  I can't wait to see if we are accepted for these.  The family weekend would be so beneficial if Melody is chosen for the summer camp b/c it is held in May and June, so we would have an opportunity to go and see the grounds before she had her time later in the summer. =)

Fairy Skirt For Jenna

I'm making matching fairy skirts and hairbows for Melody and her maplelea girl Jenna.  I finished Jenna's Skirt today and wanted to share it with you.  I'll be sure to update when I get Melody's made.  =D

52 Books In 52 Weeks

Some of my other mama's are doing a challenge of 52 books in 52 weeks for the year. I don't think this will be very hard for me as I'm usually glued to a book of some sort at bedtime and if it's really good when I should be cleaning the house.... /looks innocent

So, I'm going to start my list and post links to them. If you have any suggestions, leave me a comment. I'm always up for new genres and stories.

1. Finished!! Torment by Lauren Kate
2. Finished!! Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azhabah by J.K. Rowling
3. Finished!! Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
4. Finished!!! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
5. Finished!!! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
6. Finished !! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by J.K. Rowling
7. Finished!! Love Bites by Liv Spencer
8. Finished!! Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff
9. Finished!! Nightlight (a parody ~ twilight related hehe) by The Harvard Lampoon
10. Finished!! Run Home Road by Lori Lansens

11. Finished!!!! The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
12. Finished!!!!! The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
13. Strange Fate by L.J. Smith
14. Finished!!! Once In A Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
15. Finished!!! Off World by Robin Parrish Thanks for the suggestion Shauna, it was AWESOME!!! I had a hard time putting the book down and it's on the list to buy!! Love ya girl. =D
16. Finished!!!! Thirst 3 The Eternal Dawn by Christopher Pike
17. Finished!! Eat Pray Love by Elizabet Gilbert
18. Finished!! My Uncle Martin's Big Heart by Angela Farris Watkins (didn't realize it was a children's book but it was really good and I highly recommend it)
19. Finished!! Rachel's Tears by Beth Nimmo
20. Finished!!! One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

21. Finished!! Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
22. Finished!!!! Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris
23. Finished!! Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
24. Finished!!!!! Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris
25. Finished!! Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris
26. Finished!! Definetely Dead by Charlaine Harris
27. Finished!! All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
28. Finished!!!! From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris
29. Finished!!! Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris
30. Finished!!! Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris

31. Finished!!! Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
32. Finished!!! Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson
33. Finished!!! Be Different (Adventures Of A Free-Range Aspergian) by John Elder Robison ~ absolutely AWESOME book that everyone should read!!!!
34. Finished!!!! Out Of Grief, Singing by Charlene Diehl
35. Finished!!! 127 Hours: Between A Rock And A Hard Place by Aron Ralston
36. Finished!! A Touch Of Dead by Charlaine Harris
37. Finished!!! Clean Air by Andrew Bridges
38. Finished!! The Ultimate Girls' Guide To Understanding and Caring For Your Body by Isabel & Emily Lluch ~ wonderful book about puberty and very Christian friendly - we're almost to the stage where this book is going to be needed hehe
39. Finished!!! Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
40. Finished!!! Baby, I'm Yours by Stephanie Bond (very sweet romantic book)

41. Finished!!!!!  She Said Yes by Misty Bernall
42. Finished!!! Dictionary Of Children's Clothes by Noreen Marshall
43. Finished!! Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
44. Finished!!! Getting The Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald
45. Finished!! Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz
46. Finished!! Willow by V.C. Andrews
47. Finished!!! Wicked Forest by V.C. Andrews
48. Finished!!! The Fallen by Thomas E. Sneigoski
49. Finished!!! Leviathan by Thomas E. Sneigoski
50. Finished!!! Aerie by Thomas E. Sneigoski

51. Reckoning by Thomas E. Sneigoski
52. End of Days by Thomas E. Sneigoski
53. Finished!!! A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
54. Finished!!!!!  A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
55. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
56. A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin
57. A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin
58. Finished!!!!! Getting The Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald
59. Finished!!!! Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber
60. Finished!  Girls' Life ~ Head To Toe Guide To You by Scholastic ~ another great puberty book

61. Finished!! All I Can Handle by Kim Stagliano
62. Finished!!! Stuck In The Middle by Virginia Smith

This is a start, I'll be back with more and I'll be reading them sporatically as I'm waiting on some from the library!!