Tanner Quote

Dad, when I see horse, it makes me want to ride it and put on cowboy clothes!

Sharks in Training

Anyone who knows Peter knows that he LOVES to play pool.  Our pool table has turned out to be a great investment.  Peter especially loves to play with his Grandpa H., who plays several times a week as well.  Lately, when Peter and Aaron lift weights in the morning, they play pool during their recovery minutes.  This table gets a lot of use.

Dallin has started taking after his dad now too.  He feels like such a grown up when he gets to play because normally kids aren't even allowed in this room.  Peter loves to teach Dallin and thinks he is getting pretty good.  I think Dallin is Peter's double (in training). 

Last week we played as a family and the kids were all excited to get to play.  It was quite a treat. 

Teaching Tanner how to hit.  Too cute!

Tanner Quote

Tanner is the funniest when it comes to movies.  He thinks about them.  I think he plays them in his head.  I often hear him repeating random funny quotes.  He says them dramatically and are silly coming out of his little mouth.

The kids went through a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory phase last week(the old one).  They watched it several times.  We were in the kitchen making dinner the other night and Tanner randomly started saying to himself,

"The strawberries taste like strawberries, the snozberries taste like snozberries..." 

It was so funny that Peter and I started laughing, and Tanner of course got very offended that we were laughing at him.  He said it wasn't funny and ran away. Woops, sorry Tanner, definitely NOT funny.

Now Tanner like the movie "with Kevin when he gets lost." Can you guess?

Dallin, as a 7 year old

I haven't written about how Dallin is doing for quite a while.  Mostly because he is doing fine.  School is going really well this year. He does not have ANY extra help at all this year. His teacher loves him and has a special bond with him.  At parent teacher conferences, after we were done, she said, " I probably shouldn't say this, but I was telling someone today that heaven forbid anything should ever happen to you guys, (tearing up a bit) I would just want to take him home and keep him."  She is so good with him, a big part of why his is successful at school.

Yesterday there was no school because of the snow.  Dallin asked if he could go to work with daddy.  So Peter took him to a few house calls.  At the first house, there was a boy his age.  They played the whole time and Dallin even got a hot dog for lunch out of the deal.  Dallin had a blast and was really well behaved the whole time.

As they went to the second house Dallin started to head for the front door.  Peter stopped him and explained that he was not to go into someones house unless he is invited.  If he is invited in, he should take his shoes off and behave responsibly.  A nice old lady did invite him in, and Dallin did great.  She got out a basket of toys for him and he played nicely while they chatted.  As they were leaving she told Peter was a nice young man Dallin is.  She thoroughly enjoyed his company. 

At the third house, there was an older man and his mother.  They invited Dallin in and he just sat down with them and visited for over an hour.  He told them all about space, and skiing, and building a playhouse.  They gave him some chocolate and had a great time with him.  After, they went on and on about how smart and mature Dallin is.  The man even told Peter that after meeting a guy like Dallin, he doesn't worry so much about our country's future. 

If they only knew.  If they knew, I wonder if they would even believe it.  I can barely believe it.  They only met Dallin briefly.  They don't even have the slightest idea of how amazing and special he is.  I guess what brings me to pause and reflect is that I was reading some really old blog entries today.  I was amazed at what I was reading, like I was reading it for the first time. I had truly forgotten many of those frustrating days. It brings back emotions and gratitude for where we are now, of who Dallin has become.  Life is not easy now either, but that is because of the number of kids we have, not dealing with a disability.

I haven't had Dallin evaluated since he was 3, but I will say that without a doubt in my heart that Dallin does not have autism.  So you may wonder, if he had it then and does not now, does that mean that he never really had it?  No it does not.  When we chose which path to take with Dallin so long ago (but not really), we chose a therapy that is research proven to help children overcome autism.  More and more research proves that it is possible, that it happens.  Not for every child, but a percentage can actually overcome.

Dallin has overcome.

Dallin knows that when he was little he needed help to learn.  He does not know what autism is or associate with that label.  As he gets older and has questions, I will answer him matter of fact.  I don't see any point in telling him anything but that he is an amazing person and adored by his parents for now.

I am describing Dallin as a perfect angel.  Trust me, he is a 7 year old boy, and acts like it.  He has little issues that come out once in a while still too.  I am just pausing for a moment to think of these things that bring me to appreciate what a gift he is.  Just a moment of being incredibly fulfilled by this sweet boy.

Dallin is just a typical boy who loves to play in the dirt, work with his hands, learn, tease his siblings, be outside and avoid chores.  Dallin has a sense of innocence that continues to endear all of those who know him. His joy and excitement about life makes everything more vivid, more enjoyable, and for me, more grateful. 

Thanksgiving Food

I love the Internet for finding great recipes.  You can take everything to the next level with all the possibilities out there.  I am not hosting Thanksgiving, but I am in charge of the Turkey this year!  I have been very curious about brining so I volunteered for the chance.  I found a great post and Alton Brown recipe here.  I also watched the entire Good Eats - Romancing the Bird episode.  Fascinating and hilarious by the way if you haven't seen it.



Now my bucket is ready and I am nervous being new to brining and all.  I did read on another site that you should not brine the Turkey as long if it has been frozen and preserved in a salt water solution.  It suggested 12 hours at most.

For my dessert contribution, I think this Pumpkin Cream Trifle sounds awesome and I love a reason to use my trifle bowl. Well, once I pick up a new one since mine got broken.  Nothing made of glass seems to last around here. We have been through 4 6-packs of Ikea glasses in the last 6 months. Yeesh!

Summer Memories

I want to make all my posts into photobooks, which is why I am bothering to post these even though it is so late.  I found these guys hiding on a memory card full of wedding pictures! I exclaimed out loud "Oh there you are!" when I found them.  I knew they existed at least at some point, and never could figure out where in the world they went.  They were right in the middle of all the temple pictures and I had only checked the beginning and end of it.  I have already written about most of these and borrowed pictures to post, so I won't go through it all again.  I got a kick out of these so for me it is worth putting on.
This was a fun HOT summer afternoon with the kids in the back yard. 

Tanner's favorite game: hose down the pants.

 Naked baby alert!  Which is why this is cropped and I could not post many other cute photos from this day.

Yummy outdoor snack of graham crackers and frosting.  These were fun, lazy days.

 Skating:

 OMSI:  These mirror pictures are my favorite.

 And these of Carter are my second favorite. He is so happy considering what he had just been through!  I was still a mess.

 Eagle

 Great Horned Owl

 Barn Owl

 Falcon.  I loved this little guy with his buff legs and big eyes.

Okay, back to regular blogging.

Family Photos

We had actual, real, professional family pictures taken for the first time ever!  Jen is just amazing considering what she had to work with.  You would think these kids were being cooperative or something!  Well a couple were maybe.  I was so nervous about everything but  I love how they turned out

 I had a major crush on Tanner's cuteness that day.

Dallin was working so hard to be good because we told them they could go to Safari Sam's afterward, with a big IF attached to it.   He is just so hard to get a natural smile, but she got some good ones.  And he earned his reward.

 Kinda sums up our life right here.  This is a "never forget" kind of picture for me. It is perfect:

Lily was so hyper when it was her turn.  She was having so much fun pulling up grass and getting muddy, but she was very happy: 

I could just pinch those little elbow dimples!

Seriously, I could die over this kid. He has my heart.

I don't think I have a favorite, but this one makes me go "awwwwe!" every time I see it:

I can't wait to get these printed and framed so I can feel all happy inside every time I look at them!