Don't Sweat the Bucket List

Making my Fall Bucket List right now....there are a zillion things I want to do.  I love this time of the year, the cooler weather, earlier sunsets, dinner from a bowl and snuggling with cozy blankets.  Not to mention college football, all the fun holidays and sweet traditions that swirl around this time of the year.  
So, what's on our Fall Bucket List....
Of course there are the usual things that are on everyone's list.  But this year I added a game night because those have been few and far between lately.  I added a flea market trip for Mahala since she loves doing things like that and for Kaden I added a few baking things.  We are going to make bagels, banana bread, pie, baked apples and homemade pizzas.  We are working on his life skills and cooking happens to be the main focus right now.  I incorporated night walks, bike rides and park days to stay active along with movie marathons and snuggly afternoons.  
Don't stress about these kinds of things, not everything has to be a Pinterest worthy moment...I mean look at my Fall Bucket List...so not worthy of the gram, but it will make for some amazing memories.  Don't miss out on those because you are stuck on the perfection of what you think it should look like.

Looking Like Christmas

Here is a few pages I've got started for Christmas.  We always make a ton of treats for Friends, Family and our Neighbors.  So, I have a several sweet treats that make their appearance every single year.  But, we also like to introduce some new treasures each year too.  This year I'm going to do some bread making, both sweet and savory varieties.
The little house over on the right is just my way of being able to have a visual of what will be on our Christmas Chain.  Read More HERE!!

Twinkle Lights and Hot Chocolate

I am fighting this whole take down the Christmas Tree thing!!  I Love my Tree and all it's twinkly lights....I miss it all year long and once it's up I dread the day we have to pack it all up in plastic bins and stuff it in the back of the garage for the following year.  The kids tease me and say that I should leave it up all year.   Hmmmm, maybe they are onto something.
For now I am keeping it up and lite to enjoy the glow with my hot chocolate for just a little while longer. :)

School is Back in Session Today.....

Normally we take the whole month of December off.  But, since I was having some health issues we kind of took off a little earlier this year.  We started relaxing a bit before Thanksgiving and our Family was honestly better off for doing that.  I've learned over the years that nobody learns a thing if we are all stressed and irritable.  It's better to do what your capable of maintaining instead of what you highly expect from yourself and others. 
So, we started back today slowly.  We started off with our Favorite Breakfast....Bagel Egg, Sausage & Cheese sandwiches and slowly dove into School Work.  Mahala ran to her room to work on Biology while Kaden and I sailed through our day downstairs, starting with Math. 

Christmas Magic

Christmas is so magical to me...it's a time of year where the sights, sounds and smells take me right back to my childhood.  I'm taken back to before my parents died, before foster care and before the Christmas days that were just regular days.
Every year I try to channel my Mom and decorate and plan activities that my Kiddos will remember forever and ever.  I know one day they will pause during the hustle and bustle when they have families and remember sweet moments of their childhood Christmases. 

Breakfast for Daddy

Kaden is still doing fine around here...knock on wood.  :)  We have been making little changes here and there and trying to be as consistent as possible for his daily routine.  We had a few extra things to do this week that wasn't in the plans...but, we were able to give enough notice to smooth right over the possible bumps and meltdown craziness.
One of the things we had going on this week was my Husband's Birthday.  Kaden was so excited about it and wanted to surprise Dad with an omelet breakfast.  Yep, he was the sweetest little helper and I must say he was focused and willing to participate in every area of the morning.

He cleaned and sliced mushrooms, made the spinach, shredded the cheese. stirred the eggs and poured them and flipped the omelet before he put it all on the plate.  He even walked it up while I brought the coffee and we served Daddy in bed.  I was so proud of him for showing love and compassion...he struggles with that.  But, today he was a super star and we all told him how proud we were of his hard work and participation in Dad's special day.  
Here are a few pics, I'll post more of that day later. :)

More then Half my Life

 




















So, it was another Birthday for me.....yay me!  I am thankful the Lord has given me 40 years and that 21 of them I have been a Momma!!!  We had a great celebration together, especially since my oldest was born on my Birthday.  We both hit milestones this year, I turned 40 and he made it to 21.  Here I am with my Sweet girl who just turned 15 not too long ago.  They grow up so fast and before you know it those late nights don't seem like such a big deal anymore.  I would do anything to be able to go tell my younger self to relax more and enjoy the kids.  No, I take that back!  I did do that and that's why my Son was out with his Family on his 21st Birthday.  Because I did take the time to stay up late and talk with them.  I did play board games, make cool art projects and decided to Homeschool them to tailor their education and be able to spend quality time with them.  We have made cookies just because it was Tuesday and have spent many afternoons dancing in the rain or basking in the sun.  These last 21 years have been the Best years of my Life.....I Love My Family!!!

Birthday Boy for the 8th Time

 

Kaden is now 8 years old....that's so crazy to me.  Where does the time go, I mean come on.  It seems like only a few years ago I was bringing him home from the hospital.  Life with Kaden has been anything but boring.  He has kept us on our toes since day one.

The first few weeks was normal, nothing to crazy except I had a huge kidney infection that landed me back in the hospital.  But, when he was about 4 weeks old he started getting sick.  After being shot down by the Dr. and hearing how it's just leftover amniotic fluid in his lungs I insisted on x-rays.  I then was told he had pneumonia and we started an antibiotic only to later that night rushing him to the emergency room.  He was admitted and given the diagnosis of RSV.  At almost 5 weeks old that was a very scary diagnosis.  
Weeks after being in 2 different hospitals his little body was giving out.  I was so terrified and mentally exhausted.  My heart was so heavy with anxiety and fear.  Between the continuous high fevers and the tubes and wires that kept our little boy's life going I had this constant battle in my head for his survival.  It just couldn't be any other way, he had to heal and recover. 

Corn Pool on the Christmas List!

Corn Like you have Never seen Before!!!  I was a little leery on the whole pool of Corn thing.  But, Kaden on the other hand was not as Cautious.  Which for him was out of the Ordinary.  He is always Mr. Cautious and not sure of New Situations.  But, this was tooooo Darn Cool to Pass up! 

Corn was everywhere and Kaden jumped right in and made himself at home.  Of course Mahala immediately wanted to bury him in it.  Why is that the First thing a Sister wants to do to Her Little Brother?????

Anyway, I was Happy to see that his Sensory Need was being met and he was so into it, not even the Squeals and Occasional touch from the Other Kids Bothered him at all. :)

After almost an hour we were able to Drag his little body out of the Corn.  It took an emergency feeding to do it and the Promise of trying to rig something up at home that will Remotely Resemble the Almighty Corn Pitt.  Wish us Luck, because if You know Kaden at all, You know he has a Razor Sharp Memory.  HAHAHAHAHA  This Boy wont be Forgetting Our Little Deal at all!