On Technology, Spring, & School

Well hello there strangers...it's been quite a while!

I don't remember the last time it's taken me this long to blog. So I'm here to give you a little update.

In the last 2 months our computer has crashed 3 times, and our internet has also gone out for a few days.

Our technology life wasn't really helping with the blogging anyway. :)

Spring really is coming believe it or not. Snow is almost melted, temperatures are in the 50's, and we're even seeing the sun a little longer than normal.




We are in the last 2 months of school. Crazy how time flies when you're having fun. Yes, school is usually fun for the 4 of us. :)

Michlyn - Finishing up her sophomore year in high school. Has made some great memories, including driving the other 3 siblings to school almost everyday. She's enjoyed volleyball, watching the guy's basketball games, getting to TA (teacher's assistant) for the kingergarten teacher, and work extra hard to keep her grades up this year.

Erin - Finishing up her first year of high school has a freshman. She's probably the most social out of all of the kids. Has enjoyed soccer all year round for the first time, cheering on our school's basketball and baseball teams, often hanging out with her friends, and thinks math is easy.

 



Jace - Finishing up his year as a 4th grader. He has worked soo hard this year on big projects, presentations, his reading, and excelling in math. Mom got to come help at a Valentine's party that his grade was throwing for elderly people and he had a blast at that. He's definitely athletic and enjoyed the basketball and soon baseball clinics that the high school boys help with.

Scout - Finishing up his year as a 1st grader. Our comedian as always has made us laugh so hard we're crying. He's very active at school and likes to tell us things about his day. His brother is his biggest fan, and will often wave to his big sisters when they are eating lunch at school. He's done pretty good at learning new things in math, and is reading! Although sometimes we wonder if he's just memorizing the books instead of reading. :)

Tareh - She continues to stay at home with mom as her referree, teacher, and of course mother. A couple times throughout the school year my parents have thought about putting her in school, but know that it is best to work on attachment and bonding at home. She does her fair share of stories (aka fibs) that would probably not help anyone in the long run. So she will continue to be at home.

Thanks for reading! One of us will blog sooner rather than later.
~Michlyn

Hello February

That was quick... 1 whole month of the new year already tucked away.

A few happenings from January:

I (Michlyn) got my license! :)

Erin & I went to our school's Snowdaze Dance. It was a lot of fun! :)

J won 2nd place with his friend 'A' at school's "Invention Convention". 

He invented the iLego Case for an iPod Touch. :)

Happy February!

~Michlyn

good medicine :)

"He will yet fill your mouth with LAUGHTER and your lips with shouts of joy."

Job 8:21



Christmas Season 2012

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas season! Ours was very busy and we're trying to get back into our normal routine. Me, Erin, J, and S have been on Christmas break ever since Thursday and went back last Wednesday. It went by way too fast. We were spoiled this year and can I just say we have the Best. Parents. Ever?!

Here's a look into our Christmas.

On Christmas Eve we go over to my grandparents house and celebrate with my dad's side of the family. 

Christmas Day {morning} we celebrate as a family. 

All 5 of us LOVED our gifts...boys were jumping with excitement and well the girls...tend to just smile and scream inside. :) 

Wishing you all a fantastic New Year! 2013 will be a great year! 

~Michlyn

on the other side!

Transitions are hard for T.

Holidays are really hard for T.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It shows in her inabilities...

to look at the camera

 find a natural smile

 or enjoy much of the "festivities" at all

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Her deficits make it difficullt, almost impossible to understand [most] expectations

or healthily perceive the happening around her.

The gatherings, gift giving, card getting, festive music, ALL contributed to

 REALLY BIG ANXIETY!!!

Despite our intentional parenting and decision making

T was in SURVIVAL mode much more than not :(

Her stress manifests in

verbal outbursts

the inability to obey

unkindness

feeling injustices of all kinds

tantrums

etc

** But we survived, and relished some moments of joyful memory making!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

T's sisters and brothers headed back to school today,

and as expected it been a tough day :(

Even going back to a normal schedule is a transition... and causes some "fall out"

But I'm ready for a more predictable routine again,

to make steps forward in our attachment [therapy] once more.

I'm under NO illusions, however, we'll just slide back into a desired "mode".

It no doubt comes with much determination & intentional parenting, lots of patience & flexibility too!

Hey, we made it to the other side of Christmas... Phew!!!

And it's a NEW YEAR ... 2013 is going to be GREAT... if even just in perspective!!!

Happy New Year Friends!!!

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances..." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy New Year!

Ok, so the 2 of you who actually still stop by and read this blog have requested an update :)

And to "you" I say thank you ... for your encouragement & support on this journey we call LIFE!

Happy New Year!

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**This post is intended to just be a filler, while I prepare a real update ... I'm thinking a "Post-Christmas" musing ... To be continued :)

Well Hello There!

Hi everyone! It's Michlyn!

It's been awhile...

Thought I'd give you an update on our always crazy-busy life.

I finished my volleyball season at the end of October. This week we had our banquet to celebrate the season. We had a potluck at school, the captains made a video, both JV & Varsity players were there, and we celebrated the parents and coaches. It was so much fun to look back on all the memories we made in just a couple months. I was awarded "defensive player of the year", lettered for playing varsity, and was also voted to be a captain for the 2013 season. I am so blessed to be on this team w/ girls I love! :)

Erin continues to be our social butterfly! She had her soccer banquet a few weeks ago & also lettered for playing on the varsity team. She's doing fantastic in school and never fails to make us laugh. Something else really exciting is that she just got her braces off!!!!! 5 years people.....

Her teeth are so perfect! I currently have my second set on, and hope to get them off in the next couple months.

'J' will soon turn 10! Whoa - double digits! I remember when I was 10. Both boys hope to have a double birthday party with some friends from school. He is doing great in school, and we always hear positive things from his teacher. He is a whiz at math! I also think he is looking too old...slow down little brother. :)

Our little cowboy 'S' turned 7...just 2 days after Thanksgiving. :) Some know that he is our little comedian! Here are some things that have made us laugh lately.

'S': (belting out a tune): "All I want for Christmas is yoouuu! .... Psshh, who wants a person for Christmas? Weird!"

S: "Mom says I can go on the computer for 25 minutes...That's a lot of minutes right 'J'?

Putting 'S' to bed:
*I pray*
S: Now I want to pray!
Me: Ok go ahead.
S: "Dear Jesus, I thank you for this day and that we'll sleep good. I hope I have no bad dreams, all good dreams with good stories in them, and no zombies or skeletons. 

'T' is still adjusting and recently got a haircut. It was hard to take care of her loooong hair, when sometimes she didn't want us to even touch it. So to keep it more healthy, we cut it. It's short just like when she came home, and it definitely brings out her beautiful brown eyes! We really like it and it's much easier to do when she wakes up. Attachment is always a work in progress with this girl and we hope that sooner rather than later, that things will start to actually get better. She has had a couple actually good days, but the next day always seems to send any hopes crashing down. It's been a big step for our family and change is always hard. We would love any prayers and hope you realize how much we appreciate it.

Blessings, and may your holidays be filled with joy!

~Michlyn