Allen's Dance

Allen participated in his middle school's Christmas concert and then line danced with his PE class to "YMCA". Matt and I were able to be there to witness this great event. LOL!

What is normal?

Those of you who have spent any time with the boys while they eat know what challenges we've faced since bringing them home. We have a team of medical and educational people who've helped us, and are still helping daily, overcome some major issues when it comes to oral motor difficulties. A normal scene in our house can be a child blowing bubbles in their milk with a straw at dinner, licking peanut butter off of a plate - anything that will encourage the boys to use their mouths and lips. Sticking out their tongues is a huge accomplishment even if it doesn't stick out very far. During the holidays, I had Matt help me in the kitchen one day and after using the beaters, he motioned that he wanted one of them. I suppose he was trying to copy an action he's seen Allen, Emma and Jessi do regularly - licking the beater. The fact that he actually wanted to do this, and after licking it clean asked for the other one, was just amazing to me. The picture above defines a normal kid for me. How much more normal can a childhood be when you like licking the beaters?!?!?!

Sleeping in the snow

Allen and Emma made a huge snow tunnel in the front yard and spent Christmas night in it with some extreme cold weather gear. Emma made it through half the night and then came inside complaining of being uncomfortable - something about a snow mound in her back. Allen stayed out all night and said he was very warm, with exception of the times he rolled off his thermal rest onto the snow.

Sledding

Emma and her sled adventures:

Allen and Nick:

Jessi:

Matt:

Nick:

Concert

Playing with the camera

Scenes from town last week during our sunrise:

The Nutcracker

Allen and Jessi were in Kodiak's production of The Nutcracker in November. Allen was a "party boy" and Jessi was a "little snowflake".

Christmas is coming....

We've been having some nasty winds the last few days and anywhere else, this type of weather would have a name. Here, it is just a normal winter.

Here are a few pics from downtown: