“Life is like a canvas. It begins blank and every day is like another brush stroke.”
~Unknown Author~
“Life is like a roller coaster; you get jerked one way and another, and you never know whats around the corner, but you just have to sit back to enjoy the ride.”
`Unknown Author~
Music Player: Dont forget to pause this before playing videos!!!
So..... Some of you probably saw this on my facebook already, but for those of you who didnt.
We have been having some interesting conversations with our daughter this last couple months. Most of them have centered around people at school making fun of other kids for how they look. The kids are in 4th grade now and I know its only gonna get worse. But we try to make sure that we tell her all the time that she is perfect the way she is and that it doesnt matter what other people say if she is happy thats all that matters.....
So she came home a couple weeks ago and was talking about how she has a friend that is constantly telling her that she is too skinny and she needs to eat more.... Then one day another classmate overheard her and said that Lex wasnt skinny because she had a bubble butt. She said it upset her because she doesnt think she is too skinny or too fat, she thinks she is just right. I told her she was absolutely right.
She has been struggling with how to tell them how she feels or whether to just let them believe what they want to because it doesnt matter what they think.
So anyway, I was in the car today listening to music on the way to school and I heard a song that we have heard a thousand times before, its one of our favorites but it finally clicked. I would have never thought to link it before because its a guy singing to his girl..... but the chorus is perfect for her. So I started singing it to her and put my hand on her knee and looked into her precious face and she just started grinning ear to ear and at the end she looked at me and said "I know mom"
So I just had to share for anyone else going through the same thing.... You're not alone!
So I put the song on the blog, its our new profile song...... And I am adding the chorus lyrics to some pics of my kiddos.... Enjoy!!!
Just the Way You Are by: Bruno Mars
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change Because you're amazing, just the way you are.....
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are.....
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same...... Your Amazing.... Just the way you are.....
So I hope that someone out there got something from this and not just me. These kids are growing up TOO FAST, I wish it would just slow down. Let them be kids for awhile before they worry about looks and weight. Remind your kids that they are precious and special and gorgeous EVERYDAY! Its amazing how much those little words mean to a little one. Hope you ALL have a great rest of your week. AND Enjoy your little ones while they are still little!
P.S My sister Debi suggested another song as well, and its good too....
Better late than never..... Lexi had her party on Saturday, the girls had a blast. Sean even enjoyed it. It was a Hannah themed party.... But not just Hannah..... More music and FUN themed!!!
Lexi didnt have cake, she had Zepolis (I think thats how it spelled) an Italian Doughnut from Olive Garden with honey (and chocolate) dipping sauce, its her favorite. She somehow lost the chocolate gene from our family and she is not a huge cake fan. So she was in seventh heaven with those.
The kids waited patiently, but were very eager to get started:
We started off by decorating their own personalized "Star Power" guitar posters....
Then it was time to decorate cookies. Without any egging them on it was apparent that they were trying to see who could make theirs the biggest, instead of the prettiest..... Luckily they were smart enough to only take a bite or two with the tons of icing and then they scooped it off. No sick kids, Amazingly.....
Then it was time for presents..... Lexi has some of the best friends (and family), she made out like a bandit and it was all right down her alley. But it was her BFFL that really hit it on the mark. She got her a scrapbooking kit, Lexi LOVES to help me organize pictures, use stickers, group things and decoarate pages. She is totally her mothers daughter. When she opened it she looked at her and said "No way, you are the BEST..." J was ALL smiles. I told Lex that J's mom told me that J said "If I will like it so will Lex" and Lexi said, yep thats right. I told them they were "two peas in a pod, twins seperated at birth..." They just laughed. I think they thought I lost my mind.
The it was time for the candle and her wish.... Still dont know what she wished for, Shhhhh its a secret!
Then we ended the day with singing to Hannah and to High School Musical.... They danced around and had a blast, You can tell that there were some that were ok with the limelight and others that would rather stay on the sidelines. Either way they all had FUN! Check out the pic of all the girls at the end, the smiles say it all (We missed J and R in the pic, I wasnt thinking about a group shot until it was too late, sry gals, it was good times though)
Hope you ALL enjoy the pics as much as we enjoyed the day. Keep Checking back for an update on the girl as well as pics of the new house coming soon!
Ok SO since we are going to have a million pics to share in the upcoming posts of the birthday party, the move, halloween, Seans birthday and the first cheer event.... I decided that I should go ahead and load the pics from the last week already :)
So Starting off with Lexis Birthday (September 2nd)
The Birthday Girl, Ready for School....
Present Time.... She got Littlest Pet Shop, and Baby Stuff, just what she asked for....
Then there is Lexis First Ballet Class (September 4th), afterwards we went to Grandmas to hang with the cousins and it was time for a photo-op....
Then on Sunday (September 5th) we got to go to As You Wish and paint some tiles for a friends Birthday Party, It was a BLAST!!!....
Then it was Lexis first sick day this year, we finally had time to load her songs on her MP3 player from Grandma and Grandpa and she got to enjoy it while she had to run a couple errands with mommy. It distracted her from how icky she was feeling, poor punkin.... Mommy passed on her cold. She was feeling much better by the end of the night.
Thanks to EVERYONE who helped to make this week special, and a shout out to the few pics we didnt get.... Thanks to Grandma Doucet for the LPS fishies, she LOVES them! Great addition to her collection, they will make for hours of FUN play!!!.... And thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Blaylock for the MP3 Player and the Books, she hasnt put them down since we got home with them. Every free moment is reading them. She is already on Chapter 6 of one and 4 of the other.... Perfect Presents!!
Our little family consists of the Happily Married couple: Jennie and Brandon; and the kiddos: Sean (age 10) and Lexi (age 10). Both of us come from BIG families and have lots of fun going on always, Check out the Pics and see for yourself.
Our hope for 2011 is that we can find the time to come closer as a family and build happy memories. And that all our friends and family will have a happy and prosperous year. 2010 was a hard year and we are hoping for something much better....
They say what doesnt kill you makes you stronger.....
We should be Hercules by now : )
Sean is doing AMAZINGLY well (considering), If you missed the last couple updates Sean has been diagnosed with Aspergers (High Functioning Autism)a year and a half ago. It was a tough road to get to that end result, but we are picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off and moving on in the direction that is best for the little man.
Sean was able to be a part of a program this last school year that helped immensely with his sensory needs, coping mechanisms, language helps and keeping him on track educationally without the chaos of a "normal" classroom getting in the way. He made so many friends, friends that understand him and his quirks and LOVE him despite them. He was finally able to see that there are people out there like him and he is not alone in the world. We were SO blessed to have that oppurtunity. After a couple months of waiting for the new school year and homeschooling he is back in the program at a new campus and loving it (Pieceful Solutions) they are a God send for us.
Check back to see how our Aspie survives the new school year at his new campus!!!
Lexi has had a rough school year last year BUT she is LOVING her new school and her new teacher, her and her BFF (in Florida) are enjoying being pen pals still. Miles cannot come between them, they are still forever friends and always have each others backs. Its nice for her to have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen from someone who is her "two peas in a pod" bud and will always get what she is going through. She loves her and misses her terribly, but they are making it through.
After a couple months of being homeschooled last year (which really turned out to be a great experience for both of us despite the added stress at times) Lexi is very excited about being back in a brick and mortar school. She is enjoying the cheer and dance club as well and chapel time on Fridays. Its been great for her to make new friends. She has also been taking a ceramics class (her bday present this year) that she has learned to love. She looks forward to see what this new year has to offer. Keep checking back for updates on her going ons at school and with her friends.
For both kids this new school year is a BIG change and an oppurtunity for them to grown in their own ways, It will be good for them to have much different experiences and growths. As much as they grow apart in some ways they are growing closer in others. Its been a struggle, but a good life lesson for Sean to be attending Lexis class for some parts of the day. Its good to watch her friends reach out to him, and to hear her want to stand up for him with the couple kids that dont understand him. Hopefully this trend will continue and they will remain close. As much as they get on each others nerves, they both know they have each others backs.
Brandon has been working hard and traveling ALOT (still, some things never change). We have been VERY blessed that he has been able to keep steady work this last couple years or so with the economy the way that it is. And we are hoping that it just stays that way.
As for me: I have been enjoying just being a mom and having the oppurtunity to help my kids learn and grow this last few months. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to give them all of me and everything they needed this last year. And they blessed me right back with a few lessons I needed to get out of life on perserverance and endurance. I love those guys to peices; and none of it would have been possible without the hard work of my loving husband. He is amazing, and although things arent always perfect between us he never gives up and always fights hard to provide us with everything we need. I love him more than words can describe.
I am looking forward to this school year and being able to take a more stand off approach. Still being involved but seeing how much they can flourish on their own. Still being there to help them with homework and attend their fieldtrips and events. Still helping occasionally in the class, but allowing them space to thrive. This should be a good experience for all of us. Cant wait!
Thanks for Checking in with US!!!
Keep Checking Back!!!!
Professional Family Pic at the Mesa, AZ Temple Still Life Studios (click)
Valentines Day 2009
The Happy Couple
Eternally In Love
Happy Kids
Playing with Babe Universal Studios March 2007
Brandon
Trying to prove he is King of his Castle atleast : )
Jennie
On the road to Tuscon August 2009
Sean
Spring 2009
Look at those muscles : )
Alexis
Spring 2009
She should be a model I think : )
Bugga Boo and Doodle Bug
Christmas Outfits 2007
Easter of 2008
Love Bugs 12-23-08
Waiting on another winter storm they love the clouds!
Are YOU Aware???
Autism Info and Help....
Click here for: the Autism Society of America (ASA) With Seans new diagnosis the info they have has been incredibly helpful Read up, even if you are just curious about Aspergers!
Signing Videos for Young Children Put to music, Awesome Product My kids still remember the songs & signs! Great Product, New Additions Often.
American Cancer Soceity
(Click Here for More details)
Please do all that you can to help, we have children (and adults) dying from this horrible disease everyday, lets help find a cure, an early detection, a treatment more suited for children, and give back to our community so that those we love wont have to lose the ones they love prematurely.