Chocolates

It wouldn't be Christmas without making chocolates. This is Sadie licking her fingers after dipping caramels.

Sawyer walking

Sawyer has started walking at the rightful age of 3. He loves it. He will walk around and just laugh like he is being funny. This is him at Grandma Carr's house walking around her wall.

Spencer 10 months

It is not easy getting a picture of a 10 month holding still. Spencer is not crawling but he sure gets around. He rolls everywhere. He can go from the living room to the back bedrooms. He has been getting up on all fours for a few weeks now. We love this little guy!

If You're Happy and You Know It

My sweet little boys clapping to If You're Happy and You Know It

Organizing

So we have been on this big kick of organizing all of our closets. I guess we finally got sick of not being able to find anything. Here is a before and after of our pantry.

Primary Children's Genetics

About 6 months ago I ran into a lady named Jodi that does ABA with her daughter. I wanted to get together and see if she had any ideas that would help me out in Sawyer's program. We had a great time getting to know each other and sharing experiences. Before I left she told me that Sawyer reminded her of her friends daughter. So I asked more questions and they really did seem to have a lot in common. She told me her friend thought her daughter had Pitt Hopkins syndrome. So I went home and did some research. After researching I felt like there was a good possibility that this could be what Sawyer has. It is a deletion or partial deletion on chromosome 8. So I made the appointment with the geneticist at Primary Children's. The appointment was 5 months out. Finally the day had come December 4, 2012. I was sitting in the waiting room with the boys in the double stroller waiting for Ben to meet me. I saw a lady with her daughter that had some characteristics like Sawyer. The spirit told me to go talk to her, but I thought it would be inappropriate so I ignored it. After a while I gave in and went over to her. I told her that her daughter was beautiful. I told her I didn't want to get to personal, but I was wondering if she knew what her daughter had. She said she would love to talk. As the conversation went on I found out that she also thinks her daughter has Pitt Hopkins, but she has yet to have the test done because the insurance hasn't been cooperating. I observed the interaction between the daughter and mother and was very surprised that it was the same interactions I get with Sawyer every day. The nurse then called her back.We didn't have time to get each others information. A nurse walked in to the our room later and handed us a piece of paper with the ladies name and phone number on it. 

Then the nurse came in and said there where Jazz players that had come to visit the children and asked if we would like to visit with them and get an autographed ball. So we got our picture and a signed ball. I think I was more excited than anyone else in the family. 

The visit with the doctor went well and he actually listened and he seemed to think that I could be right about Pitt Hopkins. They have decided to do a microarray test and if nothing is found we will do other tests. After I had left the office I called my friend Jodi to tell her of the experience I had of meeting this lady. She asked if her name was Stacy Davenport and it was. The lady I met in the waiting room was Jodi's friend she had talked about. I later called Stacy and we talked about all the similarities in our children. I know that I have been lead by the spirit to meet the people that our in my life and I am so grateful to finally find someone that has been through and is going through similar things. It will be very interesting if both of our kids have Pitt Hopkins. It is very rare conditions with only 250 children in the world being diagnosed. 

Sadie Funnies

They were serving the sacrament in church after Sadie took the bread she said "I love bread, but I love priesthood bread more. It taste better". 

Then during the sacrament she was talking rather loudly. I turned to her and said "shhh". Then she said "mom you're not being quiet".

Sencer 9 months

Our sweet little boy is keeping us busy. Spencer had his second bottom tooth break through this last month. He is rolling and getting everywhere. He is also getting up on all fours. He likes to squawk like a bird. So we squawk back and forth at each other. He loves wires and plays with them all day. I know it is not safe, but it goes to show he is already becoming like his dad.

Canning Season Coming to an End

Sadie has enjoyed canning season just as much as her dad this year. She loves to help pick the fruit.

Ben and Sadie have worked hard together this year.

They have canned stew, apple sauce, pears, apples, beans, carrots, beats, tomatoes, pickles, apple juice, grape juice, and more. This is the pantry downstairs that Ben made for all the food storage. I'm grateful I have a husband that enjoys all this stuff, because if it was up to me it would never get done.

Sawyer's First Day of Preschool

 Our little boy is growing up so fast. He will be going to preschool Monday thru Thursday from 9-11:30am. He rides the bus and as you can see he loves it. He can walk across the room when he wants to but still prefers to crawl most of the time. He has also started making several new noises and mimics noises that we make. We are hoping to hear his first word this year. I love waking up to his smiling face every day.

Grandpa Gerald's Birthday

 For Grandpa's Birthday we decorated his car and put balloons with money and candy inside his car. He came to our house in the morning and had the kids help him pop all the balloons.

Sadie unexpectedly gave Grandpa a 2 dollar bill she had for his birthday. She sure loves her Grandpa Gerald.

Sawyer's Birthday

  

Sawyer loved throwing his blocks on the floor, but as you can tell Sadie didn't enjoy the loud noise.

 Sadie helped Sawyer blow out his candle.

 This is my gluten, dairy free cake. I made a pumpkin cake and  the frosting with almond milk and Sawyer's dairy free butter. Believe it or not it was very good! Even I ate some.

Pumpkin Carving

 Sawyer enjoyed throwing the guts all over the floor.

Sadie didn't enjoy the guts at all.

Spencer 8 months

Our little Spencer Bean. This little guy has been so sweet. He finally got his first tooth this last month. He can sit up really well by himself now and really likes all the attention he gets from Sadie.

Black Island Farms

 This is us on the trailer getting ready to go pick our pumpkins. This little boy was in Sadie's preschool class last year. He was so cute he saw Sadie and ran up to her and gave her a big hug. Then the rest of the field trip he held her hand.

 Sadie raising her hand to let them know she found the pumpkin she wanted to pick.

 This is how the ride began.

 This is how the ride ended.

 The slides were awesome. As you can see I had to try it out myself.

Sawyer loved watching the kids go down the slide and Spencer enjoyed a peaceful nap. I was really surprised how well all the kids did. All of them where so happy!

Soccer

 This is Sadie first time playing soccer. I think I was just as excited as she was. She was ready to conquer.

This is Sadie after the other team scored a couple of goals. She walked off the field and came over to me. She told me "I don't like soccer. I'm not going to play soccer". After her team scored a couple of goals she finally decided that she was going to try again. I guess she is going to have to learn about competition and good sportsmanship.

Still Canning Season

Sadie has been loving helping dad with all the canning. This is them making apple sauce together. Ben makes apple juice and apple sauce out of the apples. Our kitchen is smelling good lately.

Yard Sale

 Ready to begin

This is Tammi, her husband, and her sons ABA therapist. Tammi does a garage sale every year to help a family with autism treatment. This year she chose our family. We are so grateful for her service. The community, family, and friends were very supportive in donating items and cash. We are looking forward to working with Scott Pryor an ABA consultant. Thank you to everyone that has made it possible for Sawyer to receive these services.

Spencer Bean

 So tired

 Working on his pincer grip. It was a proud moment when Spencer hit this milestone. Most of us may not realize how amazing these milestones are. With Spencer I will be celebrating ever little milestone.

 Mmm, that taste good!

Look at me!

The Boys

Sometimes I feel like a mother of twins. These sweet little boys keep me busy. I have two mouths to feed, two diapers to change, and two boys to carry. We will have a celebration party when Sawyer decides to start walking. Maybe he will get it down in the next month for his 3 year birthday. He can walk across the room to me and Ben and is usually pretty stable, but he still will not use it as his form of transportation. I guess he will be teaching Spencer to crawl and then they can learn to walk together.

Spencer 7 months

Spencer is now experiencing full on separation anxiety. If anyone walks out of the room he screams. You would think someone pinched him. He is stubborn about sitting up. He can do it but most of the time he arches his back and falls back. When I try to sit him down he straightens his legs and tries not to sit. He has learned to roll everywhere now.

Sadie's first day of preschool

Sadie was so excited for preschool to start. She keeps telling me "Mom, I can walk to preschool by myself and if bad people try to get me I can just run".

Brigham City Temple Open House

We were able to go with Ben's parents and his brothers family to the temple open house. I'm so grateful for the temple and that it has given us the opportunity to be together forever as  a family.

Sawyer

 Abby and Taylor doing singing time with Sawyer and Spencer.

Me doing an ABA session of therapy with Sawyer. Sawyer is beginning to mimic sounds. I have taught him how to match pictures, shapes, and objects, do puzzles, point, mimic gross motor skills, "Get Ready", identify 8 different colors and much more. He will be starting preschool this coming October. It will be four days a week for 2 1/2 hours. I know it is what is best for our little guy.

Spencer

 6 months old!

 Spencer loves sucking on his two middle fingers. It looks like he is signing I love you.

                                  Mmmm, that tastes good!