MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

And all came to worship Him!! 

Merry Christmas!

From the "B" Family!





Christmas Eve Photo Scavenger Hunt

What do you do with two bored, excited kids  mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve. You give them a list and a camera and send them on a photo scavenger hunt. Our list included ten items: wreath, Santa on a tractor, red bow, nativity, reindeer, snowman, candy cane, Christmas tree, a present, and a bird (the last one was daddy's idea?!). They could also add pictures of items that weren't on the list. The found them all plus a few more. Here is a sampling:

The wreath and red bow,

the bird ( I think Santa has taken up owl-mail in honor of Harry Potter),

the snowman (notice there isn't much real snow so we are doing artificial),

a star,

a present plus a stocking,

Santa's just barely hanging on (and so are mom and dad :) ),

Nativity,

another red bow,

a reindeer,

Santa on a tractor,

and a Christmas Tree.

They had a lot of fun and it kept them busy too!!!!!! :) Now if the real Santa would hurry UP!!

Halloween

We had a great Halloween with lots of fun activities!

We carved pumpkins,

Dressed in costumes,

and of course went trick or treating. We had great weather for trick or treating and the boys got lots of candy.  I am glad it is all over for another year!!!!

What's Up!!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

It has taken awhile for us to decide how to best go about sharing a few things about our family and in particular about K.J.  Over the past five and a half years we have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the cause of his ever increasing struggles where.  In the last year it has come to our attention that  K.J.’s  birth mother drank and used cocaine while she was pregnant with him.  We believe that the prenatal alcohol exposure is the root of the problems he is experiencing.  We are working with those in the medical profession that are competent in aiding us with a diagnosis. We believe when all the testing is done he will be diagnosed with an FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) or more specifically ARND(alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder).  In the course of this process, K.J. has picked up a multitude of other diagnoses and we have been looking for ways to help him cope with the multiple issues he is facing. One way that we have come across that has been successful in helping children like K.J. is the use of a service dog.  We have been accepted to receive a dog for K.J.  However, these dogs are expensive to train and we need to fund raise for a portion of the expenses in training these service dogs before a dog can be placed with K.J. We have contracted with the non-profit organization  “4 Paws for Ability “ to fund raise $13,000.00 toward the training of these service dogs.  We are asking for your help in this effort. If you have an idea that might make a good fundraiser please let us know or if there is another way you feel you could help we would appreciate your help in making this happen for K.J.  Please feel free to contact us with questions,  to give suggestions or for volunteering to help.  You may also be interested in learning more about our journey on the FASD road by visiting  http://asmallpebbleinapond.blogspot.com/  .  Thank you for your help.

The “B” Family Buzz

Ann Michelle, Del, J.D. and K.J.

Homecoming

Today is the homecoming parade for our district high school. All the schools in the district get out early - it's a huge deal!!! The kids all dress in high school colors for school and the parade. This year dad even got into the spirit with a little red and black in his beard!!!

Silly!!!!

Serious!!!!

Game Face!!! 

Hope they win!!!!

 

Another Missed Event

Another event that I missed posting because of how busy we've been was the first day of school..

J.D. ready for the first day of 6th grade!

Brothers facing the world together.

K.J. ready for the first day of second grade.

Me and K.J. outsid of his school.

Missed Events

We have been so busy this last summer that I have missed posting several events. One of which was J.D.'s birthday. and this one was extra special. J. turned twelve in August. This is extra special for us because he was also ordained a Deacon and can now help pass the sacrament at church. He is so excited about this opportunity to serve. He is a great kid and a wonderful example to us and his little brother. We are so proud of him.
J getting ready to make a wish.

His cake.

His gifts including a new bike. Yipee!!!

Ready for church.

J. with his Grandpa L. Grandma and Grandpa L. came special for this event.

J. and his dad-

J. with dad and little brother.

We love J. and are so glad he is part of our family. We are so greatful for the choices he is making and for being an example to his little brother.

Guess Who Turned 39 on Monday?!

Yep!! It's the dad in this household. Happy Birthday Del!!! We hope you had a great one?

Sporting a New Look

Because I was hard up for sympathy and needed a little attention!!! :)

Roses and Other Things!!

On Thursday my wonderful Husband surprised me with two dozen roses - just because he knows I love flowers!!! :) Definitely put a smile on my face - so I wanted to brag about it - obviously I'm married to a terrific and very thoughtful guy!  However I should have snapped a picture as soon as He got them home - since now they are looking as hot and droopy as we are feeling!!! We are one of seventeen states today under excessive heat warnings. The "feels" like temperature should reach 116 degrees today. And as of 1:30 p.m. we are well on the way with the "feels" like temperature sitting at 114 degrees.  We are melting with no relief in site until at least  Friday!!!   But at least I have roses :) , even if we are melting!!!!

OOPS!!

This is what happens when you don't find the wall stud while trying to put the hook in for the hammock. Your panelling comes loose as the hook and the hammock (as well as the husband) end up on the floor!!!

But at least all's well. Found it the second time a round and the boys didn't end up on the floor. The only real damage was dad's pride!

More Wild Weather

Last nights storm arrived with 65+ mile per hour winds and a torrential downpour. The rain was blowing side ways.
My living room window.

The over whelmed rain gutters.

The storm drains clogged with debris created a very large puddle in front of our house.

Neighbors house reflected in said puddle.

K.J. splashing in same puddle.

More storm clouds to the south of us.

We lost another limb from our tree - at this rate we won't need a tree service to take down our tree - mother nature is doing a bang up job!

The city workers chopping up and hauling away our tree limb debris!

We spent a short time in the basement after the tornado sirens sounded. And were without power for about three and a half hours. Good night to cook hamburgers/hot dogs on the grill. But all in all we survived another round of Mother Natures Fireworks!!

A Little Sparkle !!!

We had a great fourth of July weekend. We started our weekend with a friend for dinner and visiting on Friday night. Then Saturday the boys went to the water park for the afternoon. On Sunday evening we enjoyed the Fireworks. Monday we went to a near by community for the parade and then to a church members home for a get together. Here are a few pics from the weekend.

There were lots and lots of tractors in the parade. We are in the Midwest - home of corn, soybeans, and John Deere tractors.

This was probably one of the best entries in the parade. There was a total of five trucks bearing over 200 flags total. Each flag represented on person who died during military service (all war veterans from each major conflict), They were persons who were members of the surrounding communities.

This is an old fashioned threshing machine - including an invitation to a threshing bee next week - anyone want to come? :)

If threshing doesn't appeal to you then you can always participate in "cow pie" bingo.  Basically waiting for the cow to poop and hope he poops nearest your number!! NO FOOLING - any takers?? :)

And we mustn't forget the old time horse drawn Hearst (say that ten time fast).

The parade was fun at any rate and the boys made a haul in candy. We capped the weekend off with a few sparklers Monday night.

Hope you all had a Happy Fourth!!!