Wordless Wednesday

Kim Nielsen Photography

I met Kim Nielsen recently through a mutual friend.  Not only is she a blast on girl's night out, but is also an amazing photographer...as well as extremely generous.  She has donated her time and talent to take photos of the kids at ACCDAT and put together a video for the ladies' luncheon.  Here is a preview of the photos she took.  The beautiful blond is my daugher :)

Hope for a Brighter Tomorrow

The Spring Luncheon & Fashion Show fundraiser for Conductive Education or A Child Can Do All Things is coming up soon.  Here is the info:

Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 11:00 am

Brook Hollow Golf Club

8301 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas

There will be lunch and a fashion show.  Sophie and Grace will be modeling (super cute :), among others, and Abbey Curran, Miss Iowa will be the speaker.  It is going to be such a fun day!  Don't miss it! 

If you want to go, please contact me or you can register at the ACCDAT website here . 

Out of the mouths of babes

One morning last week I was trying to get everyone dressed and out the door.  Grace was going to ACCDAT and Mack, Sophie and I had a playdate with the Villarreals.  Mack refused to get dressed.  Even after pretending I didn't care one way or the other, he would still not get dressed (this works a lot of the time).  

Finally I said, "Mack, if you don't get dressed, Sophie and I will go play with Jaxson and you will just have to stay home by yourself."

He replied, "No I won't!  It's not safe?"

Well, got me there didn't he.  Smart aleck!!!!!   

I'm So Behind...

In EVERYTHING!!!!  I just can't seem to get caught up.  No photos of the kids lately....Tax returns (that I have the info for) not finished...My clothes still in the floor....I could go on and on.  I'll try to get my act together soon.  Grace is home sick today, so it won't be today.

xoxo

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

Wordless Wednesday

Following in the footsteps of some really great mommies, I've decided to implement "Wordless Wednesday" and Shelly today you are it.

What Exactly Is Your Okay?

The first weekend of December we were in Oklahoma at my mother's house, celebrating her birthday. It was a nice warm day and there were piles of freshly raked leaves in her yard. Mack and Sophie were running around the yard, chasing each other and then landing in the leaves. They were having so much fun. I was holding Grace and wanted her to be involved. So I held her as we chased the others and then rolled with her in the leaves. It was fun, but it wasn't as it should be.

A few days later, during a telephone conversation, I discussed this day with my mother. I told her how it made me so sad that Grace could not run on her own. I wondered if she was sad. I wondered...even though she was laughing, if she was holding back the same tears I was. My mother gently replied, "Jacolyn, Grace is going to be okay". I was comforted. If my mom says everything will be fine, then it will be.

I think about that day and that conversation quite frequently. What did she mean? What is okay? Does her okay looks like my okay? Does Grace's okay look like my okay? What does God's okay look like? How will we know when everything is okay and as it should be?

Grace and NiNi

As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you...

Isaiah 66:13

Crazy Kids

So.....how's your day going? I'm trying to clean house and get ready for Abe's family coming tomorrow. It is a real challenge because I have three little helpers. Here they are acting crazy.

What you don't see in these videos is the part where Mack and Sophie start running in circles...through the dining room, living room, kitchen and back to the breakfast room. They are screaming and laughing and Grace laughs as the run past her. Then she looks up at me and says "I need to run. Mommy, I want to run with them". That's the part that sucks.

The Ones That Didn't Make the Christmas Card

I think we took about 50 photos in all.

Made with Love

No school this week so I'm trying to keep the trio busy. Today we made chocolate covered pretzels. Kat came by to help and I'm so glad she was there. I think the kids got more chocolate on them and in their bellies than we got on the pretzels.

Party at ACCDAT

Friday afternoon we had a Christmas party at A Child Can Do All Things.  Below is a photo of me and Grace and some of the other kids and moms.  I am so thankful for the other families that we have gotten to know.  Each child has a unique story and we all deal with "special issues".  These woman are so strong and are there to hold each other up when you think you can't do it alone...I love these ladies!
Santa came and Mack told him he wanted a truck.  Really Mack...the 50 we have aren't enough?!
Sophie had a hard time deciding what she wanted.  She said a teddy bear.  I think she panicked. (Grace refused to sit in Santa's lap)
This is Agi, one of the conductors from Hungary.  She is a new addition to the team and is amazing!  I didn't get a photo of the other Hungarian conductor, Timi (but I will :)  She has been at the school almost since the beginning and we love her!
Kasey is another conductor from Michigan.  Gracie talks about her (and the others) nonstop.
Grace with Hailey, Carly and Caroline...some of her best friends.

Pre-School Program

Friday was a big day for us. We had a program at pre-school and a party at ACCDAT (not to mention it was the last day my Starbucks would be open). I was very excited about the program. The teachers had been telling me how Mack and Sophie had the songs down really well and Sophie's dance moves were...well, beyond interesting. In addition, Grace had been invited to participate in the program even though she had not been in pre-school during December.

Well, Sophie and Mack saw me as they were walking in and ran to me and clutched on as if there life depended on it. They did sing the songs, but only for me. Grace, however, rocked the house. She did awesome.

This is the only photo I got of Mack while they are walking in to begin the program.

Look for Sophie in the front row (right side).  I convinced her to go up with the other kids but only for a moment....

(Look at all the parents that rushed the stage to get photos.  It was hilarious.  I think I might have been a little frightened myself)

She then decides to crawl off the stage to me.

Grace has so much fun.
This is after the program.  Bekah has been Grace's aide at school and we love her! (The big bows are starting to slide off the head.  I need to work on that)

Crawling!!!

Most parents take it for granted that their child will crawl, speak and walk.  However, some of us cannot assume that our child will even crawl one day.  These are NOT small things to hope for.  They are HUGE!!

Well, GRACE IS NOW CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS...no more commando crawling!!!!!!!  We have been working on this for what seems forever!!  When I picked Grace up from Conductive Education on Tuesday, she crawled out to me.  It was such an amazing feeling.  I wanted to cry.  Of course, I didn't because it would make her cry (she has such a soft heart and cries if someone else does) but I did jump up and down and clap with joy.  It wasn't easy and was/is a lot of work but she is so proud and so am I.

Amen and Party On!

Sophie has added a new ending to our meal time prayer.  

This morning before school, all three kids were sitting in the floor cooking dinner for Elmo.  When it was time for him to eat, Sophie said the prayer (is it bad that my kids fight over who gets to pray).  It ended like this "....in Jesus' name, Amen.  Yeah!  Party!!!"  The arms were waving in the air.  Hmmm....I think God likes a good party, don't you?