Judo, Chess and More!

The days and all our activities fly by so quickly I'm often afraid they'll be forgotten if I don't record it here for my kiddos.  Bug had a big achievement the day we left for SLC.  She competed in her first judo tournament and while she lost the match, she was actually given the most points and was awarded a medal.(unfortunately it was lost in transit and she never got to see it)

It was an anxious day for her but we knew she'd do wonderfully once she got there.  We took care to keep things relaxed and to get there in plenty of time so she could warm up with her friends and they could get her familiar with the routine.

All the flip flops left a the edge of the mat had me chuckling.  It looked like massive party at an Asian's home!

Everyone bowing in.

Our dojo is run by a man in his 70's named Larry Gaines, otherwise called 'Mean Sensi' by the kids.  He's a grandfatherly figure who loves to treat them to gifts from his trips and candy during holidays.  Unfortunately he had a hunting trip so another Sensei stepped in to coach Keila.  He could tell she was extremely nervous but once she was on the mat he said she did great, especially given her opponent had more experience and that this was her first time.

Admittedly all such activities need a bribe in her case.  She loves to 'collect' living things (that's how Kent puts it!) and was eyeing a pink-toed tarantuala initially.  I was a little uncomfortable with the choice (can you blame me?!)  We readily consented when she changed her mind to a beta fish which she has named Coral Golden Montierth.  The things we do for children!  Not long after she earned her yellow belt.

Otherwise our days a spent between therapies and homeschooling.  On some days it feels like everyone is getting therapy all at once.  Bug was helping Bubby feel secure in this different swing by distracting him with his favorite game.  Of course everyone else needed in on the action and before I knew it they were either swinging or spinning.  It's makes me a little sick to watch Bud but with everything I've learned about child development I now know these experiences help them develop awareness of their body.

I love some of the educational toys they have there.  If I had all the space in the world and the money for it ....

Isaac has been busy with an online chess class.  He absolutely loves the tournaments and it's been a humbling experience since he's up against some pretty amazing players.  In general he's lost most of his games but he enjoys the mental exercise and learns a great deal from his opponents.  The tournament he played in today he tied for third place and qualifies for the more advance class.   We have him do extra chores around the house to pay for these tournaments and his eagerness to do the task is a testament to his love for the game. 

His engineering brain can't help but build ALL THE TIME!

For Halloween this year Bug requested to be a blue jay. She helped as much as possible and did all the glitter work on her mask which she was so proud of. Thankfully everyone else had fairly easy costume requests.  We tried a more elaborate pumpkin this year and Bud ended up doing most of the work. The perfectionist in him was bothered that a piece fell out and vows next year to do a better job.

The homeschool coop is still continuing.  Admittedly there are days when I'm tired and a houseful of people seems like more than I care to take on, but at the end of it I'm so happy to see my kiddos having fun and learning so much.  Best of all I've seen some real growth in Bubby as he has slowly joined in some of the activities.

One of our days we attend AZ on the Rocks for their Homeschool day.  Thankfully we meet up with some friends from church and they literally showed us the ropes.

For all his fear of heights Bud did great!  Bug was in her element, and daring to do everything.  I managed to get in one climb up but the two littlest were too shy.  Perhaps next month!

Our days alternate between therapies, coop and just doing the basics of reading, math and spelling.  On and off we get in a little something extra like Dia de los Muertos.  As we made the papel picados we got a side lesson on symmetry (bilateral and radial)  They enjoyed learning about another culture and it gave us time to remember some of our loved ones who have passed.

It's a good life.  Insanely busy, but wonderfully so.  Glad to have these munchkins to make these memories with and to celebrate all their achievements.

Pint-Size Testimony

Sometimes I forget that my children are just people if only smaller in size. Perhaps it's the size that makes me feel as if their problems are smaller and hence less important. But that is an unfair assessment.

On Friday we were at the preschool and I had the chance to aide in the playroom where Keila was for that day. She was happily sitting on the ground playing with a cricket - Buggy, who was less than a half an inch long, cute as far as crickets go. I was rather surprised since up until this point she's been terrified of any moving furless creature with more than four legs.

She has an Shirley Temple look from the curls that day!

A small crowd of children had gathered around her and one of the boys sitting on the tricycle watched for a moment and proceeded to tell it was gross and squashed the little guy flat. I was talking to one of the teachers when we heard a wail proceeded by , " you squashed my Buggy! You hurt Buggy!"

The boys mother was nearby and he received a sound scolding (from what I gathered, this has happened many times with his younger brother) while I tried to comfort Keila and distract her with other things.

Nothing was working and anyone who came along asking why she was crying she would tell in sobbing tones. There were various responses, anything from "I'm sorry" to " oh, it's just a bug honey". The latter would get a have Kiela heaving and crying, "he's not JUST a bug, he's my Buggy!" It took me a bit but I finally realized this was not something I could simply gloss over. It should have been more obvious to me when she tried to revive the poor thing!

I realized if something I loved died I would be devastated! never mind what the creature was, I would need to mourn in some way. So I took Keila on my lap and I asked her why she was so sad. She told me that he was hurt bad and stammered out the statement that he might even be dead. She was upset that someone could be so unkind to another creature. I tried to ease her grief by telling her that Buggy was with Heavenly Father which seemed to help a little. We then picked some rosemary and placed it in a paper cup and set it by the now two dimensional Buggy and lovingly said goodbye.

All throughout the rest of the day Keila would have moments where she was just fine and other moments where she' d break down in tears again. We tried not to focus on the negative. For instance when she told me for the millionth time of how cruel that boy was, I'd ask her instead to recount a something nice she and Buggy did together. She'd get a soft smile and say, "we played game, silly games together."

By the evenng she could talk of how sad she was without all the drama and tears, but that she missed Buggy but was glad she played with him and knew him. Now I sure some of you are thinking this got blown out of hand, after all how much could a bug really mean to a child. I just wanted a way to help her feel better and didn't think much more of it until two days later.

It was conference weekend Sunday. For those of you who are not LDS, it is a biannual event where the prophet and apostles speak on various subjects using scriptures and their testimony of the divinity of Christ to encourage us in our personal journeys to become more like our Savior. It is one of my favorite times of year because I feel spiritually fed and rejuvenated. The children mostly play but they listen more often than we know. We were eating dinner and talking about the things that we were inspired by when Keila brought up Buggy all on her own and said something to the effect of how hard it is that he's gone but that she knew Heavenly Father loved Buggy and that things dont just end when we die. I was a little floored, it was a testimony if ever I heard one and it was filled with the innocence and faith of a child.

A windy day and Isaac's brillant idea to fly a kite! Keila LOVED it and was the best at keeping that thing afloat.



I've not mentioned Buggy since, although Keila has asked if she could have a pet cricket and if we could make a cage for it to keep it safe from "mean boys with bikes", but it's been on my mind a lot. I marveled how the grief process is so very universal and I feel bad I was near to dismissing her pain simply because it was unimportant to me. It was a lesson I needed to remember. Most of all, I'm grateful that even willful stubborn children/adults can be taught and comforted by the Spirit when we seek earnestly. We all need pint-sized testimonies!

A quick shot of pint-sized Elias conference weekend, with his fruit loop necklace and pjs. One of our most favorites weekends every year!

Reece's Rainbow

Ever since Elias was born, I've done a lot of research on the web, looking for resources to help us understand Down Syndrome. It's been wonderful to connect with people who know first hand some of the challenges we'll be facing and especially to know of wonderful possibilities in these children. It was through one of these sites I came to know about Reece's Rainbow, a nonprofit organization that advocates and helps with grants to adopt children with DS and other special needs.

My heart ached as I saw pictures of children all around the world listed with their differing health issues, some clearly neglected and abandoned, others who would be moved to insitutions soon if not adopted. I felt a sense of hope as I read about families in the process of adopting and needed help with the funds to bring this about. Finally I cried with joy at a few of the stories of those who had found their 'forever family'.

Annually we try to do something to 'give back' all the blessings we so richly enjoy. We try to find something meaningful for our family and something personal. The more hands on the project, the more we hope it teaches our children to see gratitude in all they have and learn to care for others around them. Reading through the differing needs of adopting families on the website has made it rather personal and as young as our children are, I hope the lessons of love and sharing will come home to them.

The other day I had all three children crying,(although with the older two I swear it sounds more like 6 children screaming!) a rarity only in that Elias is usually fairly content laying down with some toys or in his bed. I feel bad that he is carted around for grocery shopping and the activities of his siblings and that I haven't all the time to really spend with him the way I would like. When he cries and cries hard, he truly needs me. So I gathered his little body into my arms and curled up on the couch. He has a way of melting into you and will puposely tilt his head to rest on my heart. Then he gazes with an intensity that envelops with his soul. It is during these times I realize that joy is found in moments, fleeting ones that are lost if I'm too 'busy' with life. I feel so grateful that I have him and so grateful that he has me. So much of life is about connecting, people needing people and love. I wish I could give it to every one of those children with special need listed on Reece's Rainbow Since I cannot, I'll give what I can give to them and then love with all my heart my 3 children I have here now, especially my angel heart, Elias.

I adore that little face of Elias peering over Kent's shoulder at the world.

Giving One Tenth

Isaac has amazed us lately with what he is able to repeat. We often count out items we see around us and in books. It helps that he has a number puzzle he enjoys doing. But often as we count slowly, he is able to say the consecutive number clear as a bell. I don't think he quite understands what it means, but he knows that 3 always follows 2 and so forth. We decided to combine this with a lesson on tithing from Malachi 3:8-12.

So we laid out the numbers and he was excited to count the lemons, pennies and quarters we gave him. After counting them out, we had him choose one of the ten to give to the Lord, his tithe. We tried explaining how all our blessings are from the Lord and how a tenth is but a small amount to give back to Him. I'm pretty sure that all went over his head as he bounced from number to number, but I'm glad he had fun counting.