Christmas pics

Our attempt at Gingerbread house. The boys had a lot of fun putting the candies on - almost as they're having now picking them off and eating them.

Nathan insisted that EVERY Reindeer had to have his own carrot, so we ended up putting the whole bag on the plate.

They love the stilts!

Nathan more into opening presents than having a camera in his face!

Their big gift from Santa was a drum set. Now lessons are in order, as well as a soundproof drum cage!

our first snow

view from our back deck.

I've been so behind in blogging over the holidays - Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas has kept me incredibly busy, but I didn't want to neglect to post pics of our first real snowfall this year. It came very early for the Nashville area. If I remember the weatherman correctly, this was the first significant snow for December in the past 8 years. The snow fell on Dec. 11 and was enough snow to cancel school the next day. We're only talking about 2-3 inches, but 2-3 inches in these neck of the woods is a pretty significant snow fall! I love that we are out of the city now and can enjoy a little more snow when it does snow. Even though we are further south from Nashville, we are out of the bowl that Nashville is and can enjoy more weather events.

Nathan was very, very sick the day and day after it snowed, but here he is 2 days later, just before the snow all melted, building a snowman with dad.

The boys first Preds game

We took the boys to their first Preds hockey game on Tues. I wasn't sure how long they would stay entertained for, but they made it through the whole game. It was so cute watching them clap and get into the rants. Thankfully, Nathan thought everyone was saying "you're stuck" when the "you suck" chants were being screamed! And Ryan asked if he could go skate on the ice when when the players all came out!! Our seats were 6 rows back from the ice so we had great shots of the puck going back and forth as well as up close views of the action packed fights! It turns out popcorn and cotton candy do have times of being a good thing as it helped them sit still a little longer. Poor Nathan was just beginning his leg of being sick and needed to rest his head at times, but he had the best time in spite of not feeling his best. The Preds lost, but still managed to take advantage of one of their power plays. Overall the game was exciting and a great first time experience for the boys.

Poor boy!

Gatlinburg weekend

In Cades Cove...


Skating...




My family took a much needed 4 day break to the Smoky Mountains, for my birthday, this past weekend. Our days were full of swimming, go karts, arcades, sledding, mountain exploring, eating, trolley rides, ski lift rides, ice skating, old settlement exploring, a few late nights and lots of good family bonding! We all had such a good time and hated to leave. I'm so proud of Ryan for how he adjusted and how he thoroughly enjoyed himself. When I asked him what his favorite part of the weekend was he said it was swimming and the elevators at the hotel. For Nathan it was the sledding. Hmm, those were all things that didn't cost extra.....how we all have so much to learn from little ones!!

Here is Nathan - his first time to ice skate ever. I couldn't believe how well he picked up on it.

the furthest we got up the mountain the more snow we encountered. Here are the boys - their first time ever on a sled.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today would have been my mothers 63rd Birthday. This is the third year that we've celebrated her birthday without her. Every year we write a message on a birthday balloon and send it up to the sky. While buying the balloon, I picked up a small birthday cake for us to have after dinner.

It's so important to me to celebrate these little things for my children, so that they will not forget her. Her memory is still very much alive in them. She died when they were so little, and I am so thankful for the way their little brains have retained her memory.

We let the balloon go just a bit ago. We sang Happy Birthday as we let it go. We always pretend that Nana is in the part of the sky that the balloon gravitates to. Tonight, we summed up that Nana was at her birthday party in Heaven.

So, Happy Birthday, Mom! Tonight I made your infamous spinach bread for dinner in honor of you. You are here with us in spirit.

Videos of Ryan Reading

Ryan's reading skills have improved so much. This week has started to really enjoy reading his level books. Since he is not into TV or toys all that much, I am hoping reading will be a passion for him.

it starts with the small things

As a parent of a child with autism, you learn to savor every small accomplishment your kid does. I found this article earlier this afternoon before picking Ryan up from school. At the time I read it I was feeling a little down and a little frustrated with this thing we know called - autism. The article helped pick me up a little and look back on the recent "WOW" moments I have had with Ryan. Those moments, the "I can't believe he just did that" moments, need to be the ones that stand out the most. Not the behavioral issues that scream at you with frustration, or all of the ways in which our kids are different, from typical kids, so to make you feel more hopeless. No, our minds and hearts need to be filled with just how much our kids are doing so we can, everyday, have a new block to add to ours, and their, Hope Mountain.

Celebrate the small things and never take them for granted....they build even greater things. So start building and watch both yours and their motivation grow! That motivation has the ability to trample over stereotypes and burst open the doors of potential.

Ghoul Night at the Zoo

We dressed up in our halloween costumes and took the boys to the zoo for ghouling trick or treat fun. This is one of my favorite Nashville event traditions that we do. I love watching the boys experience change each year as they grow and get more into what is going on. After a very stressful few days, this night was just the thing that we needed.


Harley Boy tired after having to walk so much. He really was in need of a motorcycle!


Getting stuck in the Gypsy Maze.

Check out his smile!

They had surprises in every nook n cranny!

Ryan clapping his hand to hear his fortune.

Playing games...

Ready to dig in for treats!

just some more pictures..

the batteries were dying on my camera, but this is a picture of Nathan with a white choc. covered marshmellow stuck to his face!! We had friends over so we pulled out our chocolate fountain which Nathan always loves to get his fingers in. He didn't just dip this marshmellow...he sank it!!


Nathan and Ryan showing their halloween spirit! Ryan's lovin the camera here!



Nathan - biker dude!

does the doorag make him more tough? Nah, I can still see that baby face!

Ryan smiles with his eyes when taking pictures. He used to not like posing for a shot, but now he intently stares into the lens, so focused. He's got the eye "contact" down and he's beginning to smile more when he hears "cheese"! For kids like Ryan it takes such concentration (which is sometimes difficult in itself) to be able to do the pose, eyes and smile. For me, it's fun to practice!!

Thoughts on Report Cards

Report cards came home this week. Inserted in the report card was this note from all of the first grade teachers. This is the first time I have seen this, and absolutely love what it says. I normally do not look forward to report card day due to the challenges Ryan has, but this note made all of the difference this time. I'm so grateful for Ryan's teacher and for the patience and potential she sees in him. I hope all of you with small children will digest this message and remember it every report card day.

Thoughts on Report Cards (from a child's perspective)

Dear Mom and Dad,
Today, I'm bringing home a "snapshot" of myself. This picture is a time exposure of me that's been developing during the past few weeks. Considering my many likes and dislikes, my mood changes from day to day. I think it's a pretty good likeness of me.

When you see my snapshot, remember this is a report of someone near and dear to you. So...please don't get too uptight if you see a blemish. I hope you will accept me as I am.

Please do not picture me as being better than all the other children. Remember that all children do not learn to talk or walk at the same time, nor do they learn math and phonics at the same rate. I ask you not to compare me with my brother, sister, or the kid next door. You can set realistic goals for me, but please be careful not to push me to succeed at something that is beyond my ability.

I want you to understand that my report card is a picture of my school progress. When you talk to my teacher, you will learn many things about my life at school, even some things that might surprise you!

My teacher knows me as I am at school. You know me as I am at home. The "real" me is somewhere in between. When these two pictures become blended with acceptance and understanding, I hope my "snapshot" will be a shining portrait.

Love, Your Child

Nathan's Birthday!

Nathan woke up this morning, on his 5th birthday, to mommy singing happy birthday to him. After I was done, he looked down at his body, then back at me and said, "but I'm not bigger yet!!" haha! I love the innocence that he still displays. Later, he was told to check his right big toe to see if it was bigger. He said that it was, and that now he is 5!!!!

Here he is posing after helping me with his birthday cake! His chocolate mouth and cheeks are proof his reward for working was licking the spatula!



Umm, this pose is either all attitude, or a model in the making!


He begged Ryan to join him for a picture....good brother!

His "snack party" at school!


His motorcycle present he chose out of the birthday grab bag at school! He's all into motorcycles now that he is going to be a biker guy for Halloween! Thanks, Ellen! :>/
He's already talking about when he grows up and has his own motorcycle.






video of Nathan trying to blow out his candles...so funny how he blows only with one side!

Is he up to something, or what?

I'm now happy to report that his little chocolate face is upstairs in the tub getting squeaky clean!!