Blog Books

I have a problem folks. I was going to start working on my book from our blog on blurb.com which no longer supports blogger. So my question of the day is this. What other companies allow you to do this. I really want to get a printed out book of our blog...HELP!!!

*** EDITED*** Alright, you people that are smarter than I. How exactly am I doing this wrong. I logged in how I thought I was suppose too....please, treat me like a child evidently I need it. :)

Our new house....YES!!!

This picture is quite small, but it gives you an idea. This is going to be our new house! We are so excited to get out of our mold situation--finally!!! It has been a long time coming and we are ready to move on. The fact that we need to move is obviously not exciting, but the new house is! Good thing we have fabulous ward members from church that are anxious to help out. We will be moving this weekend and will be settled by Monday. :) Right, I can hope can't I? The neighbourhood is great, there is a little park right around the corner, and we have a much larger garden(yard). We are going to be even closer to the church and Carter doesn't need to switch schools--so yippee skippy!!

Framlingham Castle

Framlingham is a magnificant example of the late 12th century castle. Built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, the castle, together with Framlingham Mere, was designed both as a stronghold and as a symbol of power and status--as befitted one of the most influential people at the court of the Plantagenet kings. Artchitectually, the castle is notable for its curtain wall with mural towers, an early example of this design. The castle fulfilled a number of roles. It was at the centre of the sturggle between the Bigod barons and the Crown, and Mary Tudor mustered her supporters here in 1553, before being crowned Queen. At the end of the 16th century it was a prison:later still a poorhouse was built within the walls. That was your short history lesson in regard to Framlingham Castle curtiousy of the English Heritage members guide book. This was another fun castle to explore at your own pace. It was fun to see the walls that still stand strong and imagine what it would have looked like hundreds of years ago. The kids always have fun when we go on these adventures. They have been dying to go to a castle as we haven't been for a long while. It was a bit rainy, but overall it was fabulous. We were some of the only people there, and we always enjoy the freedom that allows you to explore.
Exploring the castle grounds. You can see that Brennan was especially interested in this castle.

The kids on the tower walls. They had made a catwalk that you could go on the upper level and walk around the castle walls. It was a gorgeous view from up there, you could see for quite a ways.


Going up the spiral staircase. That was an original stair case. They were so small and you had to pay attention or you would have gone down quick! Carter decided he didn't need a coat with us today. He said he would not get cold. We did point his coat out to him at the front door and said take it with us please. We got there and realized that he hadn't grabbed it. Good thing his 'Uncle' Damian is such a nice guy and donated his. I would have let him go until he was whining about the cold so he might remember next time to bring a coat!! Cheeky guy!

Like father like daughter...goodness!! At least she didn't go as far up as Mike did.

Enjoying life in the carrier. He just started sucking his lip recently. He is such a good boy about being carried around all day.


This is a picture of the inside grounds. The fencing and bridges you see in the picture are the upper level.

How cool is this giant chess set? The kids were having a fabulous time playing with this even though they didn't have a clue as to what they were doing.

Carter got a bit nervous after climbing up the side of the hill and wasn't sure how to get down. Then Dad showed him how to get down using the berlap going down the hill. We decided if it snowed this year we would need to come here and go sledding.

From the Batcave.....

Happy Halloween! We had a great night at our ward's Trunk-and-Treat. It was fun getting together, going trick-or-treating, playing games, and eating food. Credit for most of our costume appareal goes to my dear friend Lisa. Carter wanted to be Batman and the rest is history. For the record, since I have been asked Batgirl the original does wear purple, not black like most think. :)

This is Taylor with her very best friend Charlie. Ever since the first day in our ward getting here Taylor has been by her side. I sometimes feel bad that she won't leave her alone, but she just LOVES Charlie. Charlie is also such a sweetheart for just taking her in and loving her to bits.

You know Mike and I had to be the first adults to do the donut eating...and of course I won, seriously was there any question? :) Carter did great and had his not completely broke in half he could have won.

The Riddler and Two Face...Mason just really enjoys everything about Halloween. You smile and people fill your bag with sugary treats, what's not to love?

This Two Face was all smiles all night long. He was so happy and content to let everyone give him candy and unwrap it for him. Got to LOVE Halloween. We are all sugared up and loving life.

Another family shot because we couldn't decide which we liked better. I think Brennan's costume wins the prize of first this year. What a handsome little Robin he makes.

6 years ago...

I have been thinking a lot today as it is the anniversary of us getting Mason's diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome.

Wow, 6 years seems like such a long time ago. I can still remember that day vividly. I remember it was sunny, we were stationed in England, and I was sitting on the floor leaning against our couch, and Mason had just fallen asleep. It was right around 9 am that the doctor called me. Now, the result was not a shock by any means, I knew what the test would conclude, that he did indeed have this disorder that we knew really nothing about. Dr Swayne was blunt, which I appreciated, she just said there was no point in scheduling a meeting to discuss the results as that would be to much worry. The test came back positive.

I remember that I started to cry, I could hardly speak and I just said thank you and hung up the phone. I called Mike and he wasn't in the building for work right then. I hung up, sat and just stared at Mason. I haven't had tears like that day before. They weren't of sadness, just tears of the idea that this could not be 'fixed'. I called the next person that always seems to have something motivating for me, who has always had the answers in my eyes, my dad. It was 2am and I did feel slightly bad, but it was so comforting for me just to talk with him for a moment. I can't even remember what he said, but for right then it made it all better.

I waited patiently for Mike to call to give him the news. He was given the rest of the day to come and hang out with us. I have to say I didn't really grieve the loss of a child that I dreamed of, as some parents had tried to prepare me for. I feel like Mike and I both had known since the beginning and had been given quiet reassurances from our Savior on our path. Getting that diagnosis changed our lives in ways that we would never dream. We started to study, to learn about this disorder that would be in our lives forever. There was no going back now. A course had been chosen for us and we had to be prepared. To bad there is no preparing. There are some books, some information, but we have learned more about Angelman Syndrome just by living it then studying it. Mason doesn't fit a mold, he is Mason. He is unique in his own right and has a spirit about him that one could never deny has a very close relationship with God. I don't know what we did to deserve him, because he certainly deserves more than us, but we all try.

Mason has taught us that we have a HUGE amount of patience, but that we also have a HUGE amount more to learn. He has taught us unconditional love. No human being I have ever met can display that kind of love like Mason can. He makes everyone FEEL loved, FEEL special, and also FEEL the love of their Heavenly Father. I can remember one sunday at church when I was feeling extra stressed about Mason, about the children, just about life. One of the members of the ward came to me and wanted to tell me how they felt around Mason. They explained of a time when they were able to be in the same room as the Prophet. They explained how they felt so close to God at that moment. They then told me that is how they feel when they are around Mason. I felt such a joy in my heart that day. I also felt a sadness that I had lost sight of that feeling. I was so blessed to have someone remind me of that. I was pleased to know that Mason was hard at work on his mission on earth.

There are many things that Mason won't do in this life, but I know that he will be given the chance to do so much in the next. He will be blessed for devoting his life to showing people what the true charity and love of Christ is. I look forward to that day when Mason will speak to us and will be able to run, jump, skip, and be whole again. I know that this will happen in our life to come and I look forward to that.

I am grateful for my eternal perspective on life with Mason. It helps us through the times that are not the most pleasant to endure. Thanks to Mason our family gets a glimpse of what true joy really means.

Good News!!

I am really not with it lately, but I just realized that I had in fact downloaded the pictures from the lost card before we lost it!! YIPPEEE!! I was so excited. So I am including a few so that my blog gets out of this pure words phase. Brennan is 4 months old. I just think that is insane. I can't even being to think that we have been in England for 5 months. Time really does fly. I think June just felt like the longest month EVER and since then time sped up.

Anyway back to Brennan Guy. He is such a WONDERFUL baby. He smiles at everyone he sees, he really has a beautiful laugh, he is easy going, takes things in stride, and he is motivated to get moving! He can balance his little body sitting up for only a few seconds, but still really cute. He rolls from his tummy to his back. We have decided that Brennan does not have a desire to roll from back to tummy. He contorts his body in away that you think he is going over, then he smiles and just stays in that position. It is actually pretty funny.

All this great news is a double edged sword, it means he is going to be up and going and then I will look back and think where did my little baby go. I think with each one it goes faster and faster.

I have no weight or anything for him as my doctor's appt is not until the 29th, but he is still growing. I am so glad we have him in our family.

A tag that I am finally following through with

Because I have nothing else to blog about, I do just no pictures for evidence, I decided to follow through with this tag from ERIN--thanks.
Okay, it is 6 quirks about me. Really, I don't think I have any quirks, but whatever. :)

1. I love totes. All the kids toys that we own have a tote they belong too. I might be a little obsessive about how the toys are put away in my house because of this. Certain toys must be put into the appropriate tote or I might lose my mind. Mike, bless his heart, had cleaned the blocks one night and put the wood blocks in the mega blocks tote and visa versa...it kind of drove me crazy. Not crazy enough that I switched them that night, because I was just grateful he had done it. However, I did insist on the kids playing with those the next day so that I could fix this problem.

2. I hate when people mess with something I am cooking. People come to my house to eat and I really have to hold back if they try and help. Things have to be stirred a certain way, layered a certain way, topped with sauce a certain way. I would really just assume do it all myself. It is a bit annoying only to me because I am successful at hiding this little problem of mine.

3. I have great ideas!! The problem being I hardly get those ideas to come to pass. It really is a problem of distraction. I start my goal list of the day. At the first task i will get distracted with something else and then by the end of the day I have done alot but hardly anything that I originally set out to do.

4. I stall. Mike says it is something I have done since we started dating and it is something that I do still. I want more hugs, more kisses, more time than time will sometimes allow. It is a good trait, but also something that I probably should limit.

5. I don't like when people drive in the car with me. It secretly makes me more paranoid, more anxious, and just plain frustrated. I try to stay calm, and I try to remain focused on my task of driving, but inside I am so worried about how I am driving, am I scaring them, is my road rage getting out of control(mom and dad) :)

6. I am a scaredy cat. I am afraid of the dark, I HATE haunted houses, I HATE scarey movies(I even get scared at the short trailer advertisement of scarey movies), I HATE being startled by someone, I laugh tomake that person feel good, but I also want to cry. When Mike is gone on deployment I hate once it gets dark. It really scares me to be alone with the children sleeping. Sometimes I have Mason sleep with me just to have someone there. In the middle of the night if Mike is gone and there is a thunder storm I am praying for the children not to wake up, not because I am scared for them, but because I don't want to get out of the security of my blankets. It is pathetic, but I just can't help it. When we are camping I will hold my bladder until it is light so I don't have to walk to the 'house' in the dark. It goes on and on, I should probably work on that.



*SIDE NOTE*

We did buy a camera. Mike is a camera man at heart and knew what he wanted. So he was secretly pleased that I lost my camera. :) We will let you all know what we got when we get it and have some fun taking pictures!

Operation Camera Search

We have officially ended Operation Camera Search(yes we are military, we have to name an operation name to everything) and are looking for advice on a new camera. We are going for the gusto here people. Practical for our needs, but something that will certainly capture our special family moments. Practical budget in mind, nothing that is going to make my jaw drop open plese. So let the suggestions come. If no one comments on this post I will be so sad because I really need help finding something we will love!
The faster I find one that faster all of you get a not so boring blog with no pictures in it.
For instance, Taylor just walked in here with her hands COVERED in Peanut Butter. She was just going to town licking them and wanted to show me how proud she was of herself for getting the lid off. Isn't that great? Don't you wish you had a picture of that!!! :)

Lost Camera

I am so sad. We have lost our camera. We took it with us to take some pictures of some houses we were looking at so we were prepared if our lease is broken due to mold. Well, we have lost the camera. I have only had the camera for 10 months!! I am so sad. There were some pictures that I am sad to have lost and the one old camera we do have. It is Carter's now, but it would have worked while we sorted out our problem. The one memory card that fits that camera is in the lost camera. Did that all make sense? I am very cheap and so I will be diligently looking and calling around everywhere before commiting to finding a new camera. Until then my blog will be sad with no pictures.

Mostly sad because of the one of Brennan sitting up. He was balanced enough to sit up before folding over. :) It wasn't his actual 'sit-up', but it was cute! Darn it. Also, the trees that we pass through on the way to base are so gorgeous, I need pictures!!

Well, I will report about the mold tomorrow, Mold Man(that is the color of the mold) is coming today to assess the problem and find out what exactly needs to be done. We just want out of the lease, but there is so much RED tape to sift through that we can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

On a happy note. We have built up a food storage quite quickly since using and giving alot of it away before moving. We love the brisk mornings of Autumn. The boys are loving school. My new calling in the church is keeping me very busy, but in a good fabulous way! We were able to listen to the prophet, apostles, and other leaders of the church over the weekend. Our kids are awesome, they try their best at everything they do. Carter has been able to read all of his spelling words, and gives a great effort at spelling them. He is reading the books they have been sending home from school.
Mason was 'talking' about his behavior card that got sent home yesterday. He was thrilled to share something really important to him with his family.
Taylor is starting to potty train herself. :) She will go if you tell her, or if she feels like it. The moment I push the issue she just melts down. So, I think she is being independent about that choice in her life.
Brennan is SO BIG!! He smiles at everyone that says hi, he sleeps 12 hours most nights, he has a wonderful laugh, and is so fun to play with.
Mike got an office job in the squadron so we join the ranks of people with normal schedules. Mon-Fri, weekends, holidays, down days, etc.. we are so lucky to have that!!
We also live in England, that is such a wonderful opputunity that not everyone is given. We have places and history to explore within just a few miles of our house.
Thanks for letting me count my blessings and realize that a little mold and a lost camera are just the tip of an iceberg that is actually filled with 99% more good than bad! :)

Mason equals FUN!

Mason is so cute, sometimes I can't stand it.

As I have mentioned Mason does not sleep well. The one night he did sleep through the night last month sometime has been the first since April. So, that is how often he gets up and roams. Normally roaming is not the issue, but no door on the bed leads to wandering. This is what I find so fasinating. He is up typically doing something other children might, he just does it in Mason fashion. Let me give you some examples. Cereal that has been totally dumped while a bowl sits on the counter about eight inches away. Powdered sugar that has had been dumped partially, eaten, then a random tupperware lid placed back on the bowl. Pizza and an entire bottle of ranch. This morning my bread had been dumped from the bag and a bottle of chocolate milk he couldn't open sat next to it. Chips emptied, fridge left open, Go-Gurt's and a KNIFE(he needed to get them open somehow). Anyway, I guess our reason for keeping Mason enclosed at night is also a bit more cost efficient as well. I lost it laughing tonight when I went to defrost the hamburger for dinner and found the following in the microwave. Cake anyone?



Got to love what goes through Mason's head. I'm still trying to figure out why the tinkertoy? Maybe that is what he planned on stirring it with? I just love that he really does get things. It is amazing what people think he does not understand, but then you have things like this. They are totally reasonable, logical, well thought out, just not executed properly. Can you imagine the treats I would have made in the morning if he were typical?:)

This was Mason at dinner. He finished his plate and started in on Taylors. He loves his mashed potato's and corn! We had Mini Meatloaf and he actually ate the meat too! You know, I am so lucky to have Mason. For all of the messes we get to endure, he really is our most pleasant child of the 3 older ones. He will cuddle with you, walk with you down a road(most of the time), loves to look at books and stack blocks forever, and just really has a sweet kind heart. He sat with us at dinner eating while Carter and Taylor had reached melt downs of the century. He just looked at them and you could almost hear him screaming, "Just get over it you two!" Love Mason to death, everyone needs a Mason!!!

We have a problem....

Sorry I didn't flip the pictures, I am too irritated! We aren't even settled in this house and LOOK__ I know I should count my blessings that my main issue in life right now is mold...This was all in the closet.....well, one portion of our closet, thank heaven it is devided so our clothes were not effected.

SSSSOOOOO, now the problem we face is the following. Do we try to break the lease considering our stuff is getting ruined. You can't just clean the wood out and clean the shoes. They all have to be tossed--which really frustrates me. We will have to see what our agents say tomorrow. The closet needs some fixing, along with the bathroom still. It is really just turning into more and more fun!! I have been online looking at houses incase the landlord does want to break lease and we would have to move--AGAIN!! Are you kidding me?! Thank you for indulging me in this little tantrum. I do hope that I will have better news about this issue later in the weekend. I don't dare sleep in my room. Just getting pictures of this stuff has caused headaches, sore throat, itching skin and burning eyes. slight uuurrrgggghhhh..k now I am done, thanks. :)

Need a good laugh?

Our Family

You remember the stroller post right? Mike decided to take it one step further today while I was dropping off Carter at a birthday party. I don't think he realized what he did. This starts a whole line of Taylor wanting to push Brennan all the time. I can only imagine the things poor Brennan is going to have to put up with.
Getting more and more tubby everyday. Is it true, he is really 3 months old already!
Brennan started to cry while we were taking a photo, this was Taylor face, as if we made him cry on purpose. She is so animated in her face, it is hilarious.
Mason attacking Mike....this is where it started, the following is what it turned into.
Taylor is actually under Mason in this shot, so you can barely see a corner of her hair. She is just in there like one of the boys. Now she has had enough. At least until she starts back in on them again.
Brennan was being so cute and smiley while I was getting him dressed. He really is such a happy little 'Guy' :). So Taylor and I are making faces at him and I make that rolling your r's noise with my tongue. Oh my! Brennan got freaked out, he started to cry and was shaking. It was kind of funny in it's own sad way. I really enjoy nights like this, we just get to have fun, wrestle, and just be a family.

Mold, Mold, and more Mold...

So I thought twice before including pictures in this post because it is nasty. My parents can testify that my bathroom is disgusting. We have this mold issue that won't stop. Mike tore up the carpet and made himself sick because of the mold in the carpet. Then he cleaned the ceiling above the shower.
Well, the mold is coming back. Not only above the shower, but in every corner of the ceiling...then in the middle of the ceiling. Then I go to get my boots from my closet and they have mold on them!!! I kid you not, it is disgusting. Today is the big day where they are coming to find out what the problem is. It could be a problem that is coming from the outside, which would mean some extensive so work to be done. There are many possibilities, but I just hope it can get taken care of quickly! We figure that is why we are getting so frequent of headaches and other mold symptoms. England equals easy mold growth, but this is crazy!!! I will keep you all updated.

So Stinkin Cute!!

Our 'little' boy is not so little! He was 13 lbs, 7 oz at his last check up. That put him into the 95% and he was only 50% for height. Short and stalky, that is Brennan. We took this picture because this is Brennan at 2 months 3 weeks old. These are 6 month PJ's. Carter wore these PJ's when he was 7-8 months old!! Are you kidding me kid! I am hoping this means he is just sucking any left over fat from me.
Mike brought Brennan to me yesterday in Taylor's toy push chair. Got to love the imagination of Dad's. A bit nervous, then he was happy again.

I just loved this close-up so I am including it in here.