Dreamseekers and Company

Another park day! This time as a family. I sure love sunny weekends.

It was a beautiful spot with big flat rocks so we could go out and look at the rapids.

The rapids made us very nervous with the kids. But Brian held Carolyn’s hand and I held Jordan’s. But it still made us nervous. It was loud and wild and beautiful.

Brian is hiding his fear well.

We also tromped around a short trail.

It’s beautiful in the Northwest in the spring.

I look so…. grown up and all.

Anna and I treated our long-hair selves to a haircut at an actual salon. She got her hair bobbed and my hair was cut… umm… just shortish. I like it.

Big girl.

A night at the Keller Auditorium, compliments of my brother to see a sold out show of The Newsies!

We got all dressed up and went out to dinner afterwards.

These two did awesome… newborn baby and all!

So…. Jordan likes to throw things at people and hit them. He doesn’t mean to hurt (I don’t think) but does mean to get a reaction. Typical little boy business. Anyway… he should not be allowed to swing the end of vacuum cords around. He hit Maggie in the eye and she had quite the shiner for a week.

We got to go on a tour at Brian’s work (Bonneville Power) on take your kids to work day. This was the chemistry room. We saw everything from how they test the strength of ropes/wires, from small electricity to big electricity… to a man-made lightning bolt! It was pretty incredible.

This reaction went FAST due to the addition of a reagent. They call it elephant toothpaste and it kept spewing out for quite a while!

We’ve been gardening!

Jordan at the Shriner’s Orthopedist where we learned he has hip displaysia. MRI is this Thursday.

Where the girls are now taking classes once a week!

This is the OHSU CDRC “gym” in Portland. Jordan was here for a wheelchair appointment. He still benefits from being in a stroller at times (so he doesn’t run into traffic, helps him go with us even when he’s tired, keeps him safe, etc.) . Anyway, we haven’t heard yet if the wheelchair will be covered by insurance, but if it is, we’ll be getting one! I’m excited! (Large stroller-wheelchairs are expensive!)

I love what my kids get up to when they do things on their own.

I consider this my most successful day in the entire year of homeschooling. There were no books. We went to the park, went on a 3-mile hike and practiced good attitudes, kind behavior, learned about how rocks turn smoother in the water, identified plants and generally had a good day.

Anna took things a step further and made rubbings of many kinds of leaves.

These goofballs have sticks on their heads that are like antlers.

Goofy goofballs.

We took the meandering, climb on the rocks version of the hike.

And sat on all the benches. And played in the creek.

Back home…. this is what happens wherever there are heater vents on chilly mornings.

Oh.my.goodness.gracious. Maggie cracks me up! Maggie came downstairs shivering…. went to the living room and changed into her Princess Anna dress, then went and sat on the heater vent and went INSIDE the dress where it was warm. LOL

Random guinea pig picture. Or as Brian calls them, furry, squeaking potatoes.

Our giant dog, Ruby, is not much of a handful. Unless you count her shedding.

When Brian works from home, he makes really good use of his fifteen minute breaks. He is master of the power nap.

There are so many things I love about this picture…

Anna’s swimming lessons – she got quite good and is able to swim on her own in the water.

Maggie in her swimming lessons! She swam without a floatie in deep water for the first time in this class. She can swim without help from one place to another, so long as they aren’t too far apart.

Carolyn was just adorable in the little kid class. She was very hesitant at the beginning, but by the end, she trusted her teacher to help her float on her back (ears in the water!) and jumped into her arms (even letting her head dunk under the water sometimes!). The teacher was kind and predictable… exactly what she needed.

What school often looks like at our house. This is Maggie playing a speed math game, I think.

I love it when Jordan shows an interest in the dogs beyond their tails. He doesn’t often, which is why I took this picture!

Oh my gorgeous girls and their beautiful baby cousin!

Ohhhhhhh, my heart.

My heart!

Here’s my mommy holding my sister’s littlest bundle.

They were doing ballet or gymnastics “class.” I don’t remember.

Joanna, my favorite therapy friend and Jordan’s OT. She is convincing Jordan that he really can touch food and put it in his mouth and eat things he’s not comfortable with.

Go Jordan! Yeah!

We were both chuckling after the plate licking.

Hanging out in the indoor playground while the other girls are swimming. Usually, Jordan was not with me, but when he was, he did really well at the noisy indoor playground! For him, that means he played appropriately some of the time, avoided screaming or inappropriate behavior most of the time, and lasted quite a long time before becoming overstimulated. It was exhausting, but it was successful.

This is our newborn kitten cave in the giant master bathtub with Maggie sitting beside it.

Here is the first batch of kittens we’ve fostered and their sweet mama.

Carolyn is very good with animals, despite being only 3 years old. I think it’s her more deliberate and predictable behavior. She was adorable.

Happy ninth birthday, Anna!

So grown up.

They are all in their Easter dresses.

Roller blades!

A very good beginning!