Cookies

I tried to play the role of good mom yesterday and let my kids decorate cookies.  I didn't even decorate for them and then try to play it off like they did it themselves.  Nope, they had free rain in the decoration department, as is evident with Tatiana's creation...

Masterpiece

It's already been proven I am the master of all things crafty so check out Aren's birthday cake I made ALL. BY. MYSELF.

The best part?  Aren walked by, stared at it for a minute and then said, "Awesome, Mom."  I know.  I know.

Creativity Strikes Again

I've always been jealous of my friends with the cool family home evening charty thingys for their families.  Well, my jealousy is no more.  With the help of my more than crafty friend Brenda and my not so crafty friend Martha, I made this the other day.  Boo-yah!

Gingerbread Houses

Lots of families have gingerbread house traditions and ours in no different.  I remember it started eleven years ago in a crusty basement in Provo, UT where my sister, Sarah, made homemade gingerbread and cut out all the pieces to exactness.  We've kind of evolved since then and we buy the kits because they're much easier, but we still have a good time and love getting together.  Although the making of the houses has evolved, the final product is still pretty much the same for me...you can't tell if it was done by an adult or a five year old!

The final products

Aren adding his roof and I helped because I have mad skilz.

Taryn is a little more exact in her abilities.

Me and my sister...sorry Kath.  I promised to use the better pictures of you, but I lied.  I'm selfish that way.

Courage

I've never considered Aren to be a "special needs" kid.  He's always just been Aren to me.  But once a year I'm forced to realize that Aren is in fact "special" and needs to be treated as such in some instances in school.  He has recently graduated from an IEP to a 504 for school and I was given a copy to look over and I cringed as I read this and other quotes, "He will require adaptations to the PE curriculum when he gets to middle school and high school, due to his orthopedic limitations.  He is unable to extend his wrists actively or passively.  His reaction time is delayed if a ball were to be thrown at him, his run is slow and choppy."

And then I cried as I read this line, "He is a courageous young man who is no longer afraid to take risks."  Yeah, he is.

Christmas Lights!

 Today Rick put up the Christmas lights outside.  He was pretty excited because I allowed him to switch to LED lights this year.  They're a little lot more expensive but after last year's crazy electric bill I had to concede.  Our budget didn't allow for lots of lights, but we'll add on as the years go by, but seriously, check out Tatiana wearing her sundress...in December.