A brand new day

Yesterday was one of those days. I spent most of the morning on the phone making appointments, scheduling daycare classes and getting prescriptions refilled. I spent the rest of the morning organizing my daycare folder and trying to get my printer to work. In  the afternoon I made cupcakes for Ian's school carnival and tried to get some housework done. I got a phone call from my mother-in-law that she had received some mail for me from IHC. The address on it was the address in Lehi that we haven't lived at for over 8 years and somehow it managed to find it's way to her in Saratoga Springs. Wierd. It was a bill I was expecting because when I take Ian to one of his Dr's there is never a receptionist there to make a co payment to. An hour later I got a call from IHC DEMANDING payment saying they had sent three statements and that I was going to be sent to collections if I did not pay today. I tried nicely to explain to her the situation and that I hadn't actually received the statements yet but that I'd me more than willing to pay. She was ornery with me and told me that I had to have received the statements because the address on file was indeed my address. I paid it and hung up but was bothered with how I was treated and confused about the address situation. I called back to see if we could figure it out and the NICE lady I talked to found that Adam's address had never been update and that is why our statements were being mailed to Lehi. It was nice to have it fixed but I was in a bad mood after the way I was treated. Shortly after that Ian's bus arrived and I overheard the aide being very rude to Ian. This isn't the first time I've heard her be short with him and so I called to complain. By this time I was very emotional and started crying and I'm not sure that complaining was the right thing to do but I had to do something. I know Ian is hard and that he seems very normal but he's NOT people! I can't imagine that they would yell at the students in the wheelchairs to "get your coat on RIGHT NOW!" and, I was standing there when she did. I can only imagine the things going on when I'm not there. The bus issue has been a challenge for me because of the whole leaving him on the bus incident 7 years ago. I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt but I have no idea what goes on when that bus leaves my front yard. Anyway, bus situation handled for now but now I am one grumpy mama. I snap at the kids and then leave to run the cupcakes to Ian's school. I called home to make sure the kids are on task and Matthais gives me my first taste of teenage attitude! I told him to get off the computer and make sure the family room is clean and he told me "whatever! good bye!" I have to laugh now but I was pretty mad about it then. I came home to Ian in full melt down and I was just done. I had 4 kids to get in their costumes, dinner to make and a carnival to go to, but really I just wanted to run away. Adam came home grumpy and Ian was still having a meltdown so I took the other 3 and left. My night improved greatly once I was away from the stress of it all. Besides, how can you not be happy when you are surrounded by Heavenly Father's most choice spirits?? I love Ian's school. Mostly I love it because it is so humbling. When I see the challenges some of his peers experience his don't seem so bad. I also love it because the students there are so full of joy! It does make me smile. And, it makes me smile that today is a new day with new opportunities. Bring it on!

Abelia Photography

If you are in Utah County and looking for someone to take pictures of your kids or family you should definatly check out Abelia Photography. The lovely and talented Nichole Burdett is the owner. She does some amazing pictures and she is just an all-around sweetie. I promise you won't be disappointed with her work! You can check her out here...
www.abeliaphotography.blogspot.com

Park City

I already posted about the highlight of our Park City trip (or the low light really, at least now I can think about it without getting sick) but I never posted the other pictures. Really, we stayed in a condo in Jordanelle. It was beautiful and big and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever!

The big boys played video games non-stop. Their room was next to mine and had no door so I *made* them go to be at midnight.

We watched movies in the theater room. That is, when we could figure out the fancy shmancy system

we played lots of games

We had a beautiful view

We colored and made lots of crafts

We enjoyed being outside

We played at a cool park

We had fun in the hot tub

We were scarred for life by the Alpine slide

We had fun in the jetted tub

We had lots of yummy food

We also had lots of late nights, lots of girl talk, a little shopping and a lot of fun. The only thing missing was Adam but he was having fun, freezing his buns off with the boys at boulder mountain. This get away was just what I needed!

Pumpkin carving

It's no secret that I really do NOT enjoy the tradition of carving pumpkins. I do however enjoy my kids and their expressions as they carve pumpkins. Sadly, or not so sadly (I can't decide) I missed out on the the pumpkin carving experience this year. I had a daycare class to to take (who schedules a class on the Monday before Halloween when all of Utah county will be carving pumpkins for FHE? seriously.) Luckily Adam was a good daddy and helped the kids and even took pictures!! Yay! I didn't think he'd remember since I am usually the one behind the camera but I'm so happy he did. Here they are for your (and my) viewing pleasure...

I think the look on her face is priceless! This is exactly how I feel about pumpkins!

He is so independent! I can only guess he is so happy to get to do it my himself

Always a bump in the road

Just when things with Ian were getting to be half way normal (normal for us anyway) , He decides to throw us a curve ball. Guess that's how it is with autism...you never know what you are going to get. His behavior has improved greatly. That is, as long as he is on his medication. Now he is experiencing insomnia. There are nights that he is awake for the greater part of the night. Like from midnight until 5 or 6 in the morning. There are times we can get him back to sleep and there are nights that he is wide awake, ready to play. I have no idea why this might be happening now. He's always been a fairly light sleeper and he's always woken up several times at night but this is a whole new experience; one that I'm ready to be rid of. He did sleep pretty well last night but that was after two nights of pulling all-nighters so I don't think his body gave him any choice. I did hear him wake a few times but he never actually got out of bed until sometime early this morning. Is this a good trade? good behavior for no sleep? I'm not sure. If it is one of his medications making it so he doesn't sleep we might be back to square one. I'm not sure I can handle that... I have really enjoyed the new and improved Ian. Hopefully this is just another bump in the road.

My teenage son

It's hard to believe I've entered the teenage child phase of my life. When Matthais was born 13 years ago that seemed so far away. I can't believe how fast he seemed to grow up, how quickly the last 13 years of our life has gone by. I know I always say that and I'll probably say that for the rest of my life. I just feel bad that I didn't take more time to be mom and enjoy him when he was younger. He and I were such best friends when he was little. He was the baby I had hoped and prayed for and I was so happy to have him. I am still so happy to have him. It just seems like I didn't slow down enough and cherish our time together. As far as kids go he is a great one. Seriously, everyday I have someone tell me what a great kid his is. All I can say is I know. I didn't have anything to do with it...he just came that way...and I couldn't be prouder that he's mine. I'm not scared to have a teenage Matthais. He is a good kid who makes good choices. He is bright, articulate, and funny. He is everything a mother could hope for in a son. Happy Birthday Matthais, We sure love you!

Watch out..

Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will have a teenager.

Quite possibly the scariest experience of my life

I promised I would post about this today. I'm afraid it will really just disappoint. It's one of those "you had to be there" kind of experiences but I will write about it anyway.

I took the kids and headed up to Park City for the weekend. My sister and I thought it would be a good idea to take the kids on the Alpine slide. Once we got there I realized they probably would not let Ian go down with me because of his size and I knew I wasn't going to send him down on his own. I talked to several people and after talking to a supervisor who said he would not stop me but he advised me not to, I decided to go ahead and take Ian anyway. Honestly I was so worried about the risks of taking Ian down the slide I hadn't given much thought to how we were going to get to the top of the mountain. Let me just start by saying I am extremely afraid of heights. I hate them. I panic when it's just me but now I am taking my four children and heading on a ski lift and I am extremely freaked out. The minute the ski lift takes off Ian starts screaming. He doesn't want to go on the "roller coaster" and he wants off. I start crying. I have my arms around him in a death grip and the tighter I hold the more he wants out of my grip. The ski lift is extremely slow and even stops at one point. I feel like I am going to puke and I am getting more hysterical by the minute which only adds to the chaos and tension the kids are feeling. Ian continues to scream and wiggle and I continue to panic because I know if he wanted to get off he could. I know this kid, I know his strength and I know what he can do if he wants to. I ask Matthais to say a prayer. This calms me a little but I can see that we are still several minutes from the top. I loosen my grip and Ian and talk to the kids as calmly as possible trying to help everyone relax. Finally we reach the top. I really feel like we were being watched over. You would not believe how many times Ian has flopped, wiggled, and just muscled his way out my grip when he wanted to get away from me. I don't have any other explanation for why he didn't this time. He didn't want to be on the ski lift yet he stayed...it was a huge blessing. The ride down wasn't nearly as traumatic even with the two of us squeezing onto the little sled. Here are some pictures before the anxiety attack...

Owen was so cute and not scared at all. He kept saying "I wish I wish I was big enough to go myself!" Millie was a little more afraid then she let on. She went so slow she had a huge line behind her. The people behind her weren't very nice as they were expecting a nice fast ride only to find themselves held up by a little girl! If you ask her though, she'll tell you the sled wouldn't go any faster! I'm glad my kids had this experience but I'm telling you, I will never, ever take Ian on a ski lift again! Next time I'll hike...

The pure love of Christ

Today ended up being a very discouraging day for me. It was a Monday to start with. It was also the Monday after a long weekend and we had just come home from a little trip. There was a lot to do but I couldn't get over the feelings of frustration I had with certain relationships in my life and I felt very powerless to change things. I felt very negative all day and it only got worse as the day went on. Tonight I was sitting alone folding laundry when President Monson's talk from Womens Conference came to my mind. I looked up his talk and read "I consider charity—or 'the pure love of Christ'—to be the opposite of criticism and judging...the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient. I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others. There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere. Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, 'To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.' Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are..." Isn't that beautiful counsel?  I revelled in the comfort the words of our living prophet. I am so grateful for his guidance and counsel. I know that having this kind of love for others is a challenge for me but I know it is one that is worth working for. I know that is how Jesus Christ would have me feel about my fellow man and I hope to follow in his example of kindness and love.

A Balanced life

"We must remember that much spiritual growth does not occur suddenly but rather through time and experience. The encouraging message of the gospel is that God does not often require us to perform sensational or extraordinary deeds but rather to try to do better today than we did yesterday. He is mindful of our desires, our determination, and our direction as well as of our deeds."


--Brent L. Top, "A Balanced Life", Ensign, Apr. 2005, 26

October Birthday Party

October is a busy month for birthdays in our family. My sister thought it would be fun to get together with our brothers at my dads since we rarely all get together.

We really don't see each other enough in my opinion. But I may feel that way because I am old and a little sentimental. I made everyone pose for a picture because who knows when we'll be together again.

No, I don't know what is up with my hair so don't ask!

 

All the way home Ian kept asking "Where's grandpa?" and we would tell him, "he's home". Then he would tell us "he's in the big house!" I thought it was interesting that he referenced the fact my dad is back in his house and not the little one he was sharing with Jamie. Sometimes Ian is very observant.

Purple Pig Pizza Grand opening

Here is the article from The Daily Herald:

LEHI -- The Purple Pig Pizza Parlor has returned to Lehi after a seven-year hiatus. When pizzeria owners Jerry and Annette Harris decided to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1999, they left their business on 180 E. State Street, the Purple Pig Pizza Parlor, in the care of their children. The Harrises liked their first mission so well, they served two more, working in the San Jose California Mission, the Brisbane Australia Mission and the Phoenix Arizona Navajo Mission. The Purple Pig Pizza Parlor closed in 2003, and the building was leased out. "I'm excited because, after 27 years, it's a tradition that needed to be picked up again," said Annette Harris. "He [son Nate Harris] will keep the tradition. We have many, many customers who are waiting for them to open." Nate and his wife Brandi Harris reopened the new Purple Pig Pizza on Friday afternoon on 400 S. Millpond Drive (1000 East), Lehi. An icon for 25 years on Lehi's State Street, the Purple Pig Pizza is remembered by several of Lehi's residents, then children during the restaurant's heyday and now with children of their own. "No one could make it like they did," said Johnny Revill, of the Purple Pig's Luau Sow and All. "That was my favorite. My family went there once a week." Nate Harris has been employed at the Utah State Prison for seven years and decided to open a Purple Pig Pizza in his hometown. "I just want to come back and try it again," he said and grinned. He said he remembers as a child working at his family's business; he made a good income for his age."Minimum wage was $4, and I was making $8 and hour," he said. "My mother said she would pay me 20 cents a box to fold them, and I could fold 200 in an hour. She didn't know that." "A pizzeria with real staying power is the Purple Pig Pizza Parlor," reads Richard Van Wagoner's Lehi history book, "Lehi, Portraits of a Utah Town." In the '80s, customers could order a Plain Cheese Piggy, a Luau Sow and All or a Stuffed Piglet Combo."The best pizza ever," said DeAnn Phillips. "I'm super thrilled that they opened back up."

I had to throw this picture in too. I think both Nate and Brandi would agree that Annette was a great help to getting this thing going.

The night of the Grand opening (the night of my birthday) I took the kids over to see the ribbon cutting and to grab a pizza before we headed out. The shop was a little busier then they thought they would be so I worked about an hour and half so they could stay caught up. It was fun but I never did get to try the pizza! By time I was done helping my kids had devoured our! I am anxious to go get another one just for old times sake!

35

Here I am at the great 35, wrinkles and all

I have to admit...I was not looking forward to this birthday. I don't what it is. I didn't freak out about 30; but, 35, that is a different story. I really think it's because for years I believed I would be where I wanted to be by 35. Not so. The day itself was great. Nothing spectacular happened but I felt very loved the whole day and I just felt happy. The night before I had gone to dinner with my dad and brothers (my brother Gehrhart's birthday is the 7th) and I had so much fun being with them. I hardly ever see them and I'm so much older than them so we don't hang out very often. The day of my birthday I did a little shopping and took the kids to the Purple Pig grand opening and Adam and I went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Adam gave me the wheat grinder I had asked for so I also had to spend some of the day trying that out! This year I can honestly say I am so much happier than I was last year at this time. Things feel so much better and they continue to get better. I guess I just thought 35 should be the magic number in which I might somehow feel in control finally. Still working on that. I'm just grateful for another year and another chance.

The rebirth of the Purple Pig Pizza

For several months Nate and Brandi have been working on re-opening the Purple Pig. They have put a lot of time, effort and money into it. On October first they were finally ready for a dry run with the family. The pizza wasn't quite right but they continued to work on it before they're grand opening the next week.

It  was fun and very reminiscent of when I use to work the Pizza shop. I was *almost* a little jealous about not being more involved! I had some great times making pizza. And, I always say my claim to fame was serving Wilford Brimley there!

Cousin Reunion

The Atkinsons (Adam's mom's side of the family) threw together a last minute cousins reunion to help show our support for Adam's cousin who's son committed suicide a few weeks ago. It was short notice so not all were able to attend but it was fun to see family we don't see very often. Ian was so good and just sat there most of the time so I was actually able to mingle. Adam had a soccer game so he made a brief appearance at the beginning and the end.