Apple Hill

That's right a real live PONY RIDE! Charles is still competly fearless of large animals...
He loved watching the ponies and then we couldn't resist but give him the experience I'm sure none of our other children had...a pony ride.

Christmas Time!!

Because of our blended family...we actually have to start Christmas immediately after Thanksgiving around here. We have less time than everyone else...and I know we all feel like we don't have enough time. Perhaps Charles will change all that but as Caleb & Clay are week on/week off..it has become our tradition to run up to Apple Hill and get a Christmas tree as soon after Thanksgiving as we can manage. It becomes our TOP priority as soon as we're done loafing around.


It didn't take more than a handful of broken ornaments before Charles got the hang of it. And a couple of days of me saying "It's like art. We look at the tree but we don't touch it." He now looks at the tree and says "oooo." Walks up to it and either comes close to touching them "oooo-ing" or caressing the ornaments. It's funny.

Clay is loving getting behind the camera but clearly needs a few pointers. Like my "hat?"

Charles & I then gathered some students together to participate in "Operation Christmas Child." My mission (it was successful btw) was to give these kids a chance to experience being on the giving end of charity for a change. With some of my tithe money, I gave them each $10 and told them about this shoe box project and how their gifts would go to a needy child somewhere in the world...or possibly America. They were greatly impacted by as they thoughtfully filled boxes for these kids. It was great to see their excitement and hear their comments about doing good in the world and "feeling really good inside."

Here's Charles, Clay & I at the regional drop point for the boxes.

We partnered with a church in the area the youth live in and they got to meet a local sports celebrity (which was big treat for Caleb & Clay who are BIG fans of hers.) The gal, Monique, who is a community organizer set it all up...she got the celebrity (Ruthie Bolton) on a local morning TV show, the youth got to meet her there and almost got to be on the show as well as she promoted Operation Christmas Child and tried to promote Monique's organization. At the church they got really up close & personal with Ruthie and got to hold her Olympic medals.


On to the BIG DAY...time to be selfish and think about only ourselves for a while!! ha ha.



"I guess Santa hasn't heard we're in a recession...I guess Santa doesn't need my help shopping."
Steve SWEARS we could afford it...I will appreciate all the room it is going to clear out as the current humongous TV we have takes up way too much room and this one will mount on the wall. Steve will appreciate it b/c it's hidef...the kids...well, they really get no benefit out of it at all...they are still relegated to the garage and the current humongous TV is just too big. It's up for grabs, by the way. If you have a really big room to put a 57" TV in give us a call...we're selling it cheap cheap.


Hope you and your families were blessed this Christmas and receive many blessings in the upcoming year.

Have I mentioned: WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE...CLICK THE LITTLE PENCIL IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT...GO ON I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!

Trip to the Hospital

Many of you have already heard and prayed about Charles's seizure 2 days ago. Here is a quick pic. of just how sad he was.
So, one last time (I've told the story at LEAST a dozen times already, but they say it helps to work through a trauma by talking about it...and that SEEMS to be working for ME! LOL)

Anyway. A couple of months ago Charles had a high fever which I was concerned about. In the middle of the night he had a BIG twitch...I paniced and called 911. I was embarassed b/c they asked how long it lasted..."30 seconds? a minute?" I told the EMT..."uhhhh, it was a twitch...but a BIG twitch" He assured me that I did the right thing in calling an not be embarassed but as Charles was smiling and happy and fine, it was, in fact...a twitch.

So, on Wed. as I was cooking dinner. Charles had been chewing his finger and felt warm to the touch but...just warm. I hadn't taken his temp. ...assuming he was cutting a tooth and had a little fever. I'm not a very over protective parent. He was clingy and sitting on my lap and he twitched. Steve was right next to me and I said "Look." b/c I wanted him to see the twitch. Then Charles twitched again and I said louder "Look!" at which point Steve looked over and Charles went into a full convulsion. We totally freaked out. Steve called 911 and the entire time he was on the phone Charles was in a seizure. As the fire truck, ambulance and wonderful neighbors we have arrived. An emt was getting out of the truck and about to get some gear when Steve yelled "He's still seizing!" at that point they ran, gearless into our living room to see our little baby convusling. Asked me something, I don't remember what...took him from my arms and exclaimed "We're takin' him!" and turned and high tailed it out of our living room in well, 30 seconds to a minute. I ran after them with no shoes, no ins. card and well, Charles broke my glasses last week and as I hardly ever wear them, I actually taped them up and was...yep, wearing them! YIKES!! (picture of THAT to follow when I'm feeling daring.)

I hope this story helps someone if you ever go through this. It was a febrile seizure which several hospital staff assured me they see every day and that there would be NO neurological damage. The poor baby was poked in every limb and prodded in places he hopes to never be prodded again.

In fact, I put a violin in his hands the next day, as he was running around as if nothing had happened...and now he can play! LOL

Thanks again for all your prayers...they worked immediately.

NO PHOTO--JUST NEWS

I went walking with my friends Emily Kapic (check out her triplets at thekapics.blogspot.com) & Marie Reedy and Allison Shaw. Charles is the youngest and tallest of the bunch. Well, almost...at the end of the walk 1yr. old Emily Shaw was asleep sitting up in her stroller and Charles, instead of playing with all the boys, stood up on the step of her stroller and stroked her hair for a good 10 min. We went inside to play and after about an hour, he and Parker (one of the triplets) had disappeared somewhere in the house. I went down the hall & peeked into a couple of rooms but did not see nor hear anything. I turned back down the hall when I heard the pitter patter of little feet. And there were Charles and Parker coming out of the master bedroom. I said "Oh there you are." and Charles pointed to Parker, who was right behind him. I said "Are you playing with Parker back here?" at which point Charles took a little cheerios from Parkers snack cup and gave him a BIG hug, laying his head in the crook of Parker's neck. Parker gave me a big smile as Charles held on for a good 20-30 seconds I'd say. It was SOOO cute.

TRACK STAR

I've seen the dog do this but never Charles.
Chariot's of Fire--here he comes!

and for those of you who don't facebook...here is my Thanksgiving video...
This from the boy who at age 5 said his favorite show was the Emeril Live cooking show.

You're Worth IT!!

These videos take forever to load...& since we were having issues with this camera...I'm finally able to see what was on it to begin with. I should pull out my knitting and the rest of Laney's book while I'm waiting. But I KNOW you're going to like them.
"ENJOY & Have a nice day.." Two of my dad's most hated expressions!!


this is what Charles LOOKS like all those times you talk to him on the phone. Though he's quiet he's actually quite engaged.


The neighbor's dogs visit with us through the many holes in the fence. We'd both like to replace the fence, and after this last storm this year...don't know if it will hold through the next storm, but we both hate to take that away from the dogs. And now with Charles in on the game...

I was about to turn the camera off when a little minuete played on Charles's toy and he busted out in this waltz & 2 step.

LOST FOOTAGE

When we went to Idaho...several months ago...EVERYONE helped pack to get back home and NOTHING was packed where it should have been. Especially ALL THE ELECTRONIC related devises & their respective chargers go in ONE place ALL together. Teen aged boys clearly do NOT care about such things. I just got all the peripheral paraphernalia together in ONE place on the little camera I use to shoot video and found some interesting things going on in my absence.

what's life without the torment of older brothers? Actually, it appears that this went on for quite some time as Clay video this feeding on many, many 1-2 min. clips. I am posting only one because they take so long to uploade, you'll get bored and THIS one shows the end of feeding time when I think Charles was on to Clay and the fact that he was, in fact, being tormented and I love the look of slight disgust on his face!

Here are some pictures of the end result!!


Some precious time. Since Charles only has 2 bottom teeth in these pictures, I'm guessing it was over the summer sometime.

Halloween

I'm not even all that in to Halloween. But alas, Charles was just too stinkin' cute. I'm so sorry I didn't have video to shoot him running faster than his little legs would carry him...hence the new cuts and bruises! We carried him to the first few doors and he seemed interested that a stranger would have him reach into a bowl and then we'd walk off...and do it again at the next house. Then he chewed on one of those things from the bowl, with the wrapper of course, and saw the beauty in it when he got a little taste of what it was he was reaching for. Then we let him walk to the next couple of houses...then we could barely keep up with him. He is so funny, when he runs fast, his feet barely touch the ground and his arms wave akimbo. He would RUN up to a door with his hand outstretched, grab something from the bowl, wave goodbye with the other hand, run to us and slam dunk the candy into his bag then run to the next door. It was hilarious.


I was feeling guilty for not being more in the holiday spirit and had not yet taken Charles to a pumpkin patch...so I found they were all still open until the 31st and ran off to one locally for their last hour and half of operation. Actually, we made out quite well.

climbing on pumpkins, picking out pumpkins...running with pumpkin

Climbing...still fearless with the animals.
And here's a great series, that shows some very typical behavior...
THROWING...I've been working SO hard to get Charles to stop throwing everything...and I mean everything. When he finishes drinking, he throws his cup, eating-he throws his food across the table, keys 2 pews up in church and silverware 1 table over in a restaurant!!

This is actually a pose for the camera

this, however, is his 'wind up' face. I know it looks sweet and innocent and kind of like he's going to sneeze, but I've learned, he's just winding up. I think he prepares mentally first.

That one didn't go so well, it landed right on his head. Not that that should stop him, he's hit ME in the head plenty of times and it hasn't stopped him yet.

And there it is...a successful toss.

WE LOVE COMMENTS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

I'm 54! In case you've lost track...


Two out of my 5 favorite guys took me to San Francisco for the weekend. We had a great time. "Cowboy Chris" our adopted "uncle" and his mom, who lives in S.F. cooked a birthday dinner, baby sat so we could go see King Tut exhibit. We roamed around a couple of museums, the pier, ate clam chowder, wined, dined, slept in LATE and....the bonus round. Ha ha...we had trouble getting a room at all...everything was booked throughout SF...not true, all the $300 rooms were available-probably- but we could not find a reasonably priced room anywhere. So we stayed on the outskirts in Daly City...just down the street from the Cow Palace. Fri night was nice and quiet then Sat. night hit and the place was hoppin' Turns out this was the annual "exotic erotic ball" at the Cow Palace. We met some VERY interesting characters....including the OTHER couple that was staying in that night...ha ha. We got a great laugh of it, everyone was very friendly and respectful....the photos are not suitable for this family blog hee hee. How funny.




Check the drawers before you leave the hotel...you never know what you might be leaving behind!!


Feeding the ducks in Golden Gate Park. This is Sandra, Chris's mom....one of Charles's many many step in grandmas. We're looking for a name that will honor these women without offending his real grandmas....any suggestions are welcome.

Queen Nefertiti...at your service...oh, I mean TO my service!

Uh Oh!

Do these count as "first words." On Friday Charles started dropping things at dinner and saying "Uh Oh." Now he drops them on purpose and squirrels food away on his seat and says "Uh Oh." He's pointing to everything and yesterday we were in one room and he was pointing into the kitchen so I let him lead me. He then pointed up to a bag of cheerios. I poured some out and he gobbled them up.

I hate to boast

I hate to boast, which is why you rarely hear me at it...that and my low self esteem...ha ha but....Isn't this a great picture of us?! Someone gave me this photo today...it's from July 4 party.

Found the Photos

For those of you who REALLY know us...you know we are a high tech family. We have about as many computers as people living here. So, when I couldn't find the photos of our trip to Idaho this past summer, I was a little perplexed. then I remembered...they were on the OTHER computer. So, these are the photos from our working vacation to Idaho. Steve remodeled his mom's bathroom which was a TOTAL tansformation.

Charles just LOVED the horse nextdoor. He climbed the fence with reckless abandon whenever we left the front door open.



working...
here's Charles helping with the demolition.



Daddy teaching Charles the tricks of the trade....measure twice, cut once.



VACATION




Charles WORKING on the ranch


Daddy showing Charles around his old stomping grounds.


vacation

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