I Love You Because...

November 2014

November went by in a blur around here. Lots and lots of projects and lots of school work to cram in before we took our winter break. I did take a quick weekend girls trip and head down to Destin, Florida for a kids detox and it was perfect to get me out of my funk that this hard year had put me into. It totally worked too because frankly, if baby dolphins on turquoise water can't cheer you up nothing will.  ;) 

We celebrated Doug's birthday, spent a lot of time reading by the fireside to stay warm and of course, the kids have been dancing almost every spare minute of the day to get ready for their performances in February. We took a weekend to take the kids teepee camping one last time this year and even though it was cold, it was beautiful and the perfect way to relax before the holidays were in full swing.

Our Thanksgiving was perfect and made me realize that I've spent 11 years being in Georgia wishing I were out west, wishing I were with 'my people'... and this year? This year I realize that I HAVE PEOPLE! Lots of amazing, wonderful, loving, supportive people!! Right here in Georgia! They've been here all along and I was so self absorbed I didn't see what was right in front of me! I have Georgia family and I wouldn't have wanted to spend my Thanksgiving with anyone else. It was so good for me to realize it after the year I've had. 

oh... and this happened last month too.  As you can imagine, I'm way busier now but I don't exactly have a busy calling anymore so, I wouldn't have it any other way. OW got this put up in November and it was the best payday I've had in years. 

I will try to update more regularly, I know that this frequency is more then pathetic... 
JJ

Related articles

Buggy Baby

Narrating Ordain Women

Not Invited

Mar 27, 2014

This weekend we decided to be a little spontaneous and head to Florida to visit the cousins for a quick spring break. It was so fun to watch my adorable nieces and nephews in their rodeo, it was a blast to spend time talking and giggling and playing games. We got to go kayaking and have a little adventure and it's killing me how fast they are growing up! I love that we live close enough for these type of visits and I wish they happened more often. These little hearts are soo good and good for me. They are great examples to my kids, they are talented and loving and helpful. These little hearts heal me. I only wish we could have stayed longer.

Love forever,
Aunt JJ

Rodeo Round-up.

At Christmas Husbandface and I came up with the great plan to go to The Ranch in Florida for The Rodeo. We drove in Thursday and Friday we spent the morning teaching Ethan (finally) and Owen to ride a two wheeler. Then it was rodeo time. My cute 8 & 11 year old nieces were not only in the drill team performing but also starring as Barrel Racers as my 4 & 5 year old nephews showed us how to mutton bust like pros. Even Owen and Ethan got in on the action catching greased baby pigs and earning money in the process. Bampa flew in for the occasion and it was such a fun, amazing weekend. Nothing like playing in the dirt and horse back riding to give you a perfect weekend getaway.

Since Ethan received The Harry Potter books for christmas and needs a little, ummmm.... coaxing and... let's call it modivation,  we decided to make the kids a deal. "Read Harry Potter Book 1- we'll take you to "Harry Potter Land". After all, we'd be there anyways, right? So of course my kids dutifully read everynight for months. Even Owen gets in on the action and the kids start taking turns reading to eachother. It was adorable.... Fast forward to reality and being in a new place and unfamiliar people around and the crounds and the not-so-according-to-regular-schedule of a rodeo and come Saturday no matter how hard my 10 year old Autistic sweetheart tried he just couldn't hold it together. There were lots of tears of no big deals, lots of disobeying and rule breaking and lots of meltdowns and frustrations. Doug and I have noticed that the first day we are somewhere new he coasts on the excitement, day 2 and 3 tend to be autism centered and rough and by day 4 we're back to smooth sailing and we have our happy son back. The problem with that is 4 day weekend trips, no matter how fun they are, it's always hardest on him and he's barely adjusted before it's over and we're headed home. We had planned on visiting Universal Studios on Sunday and come Saturday night, Ethan flat out said he didn't want to go if there was going to be too many people there (which in his mind is more then 10 people). So we broke the news to his siblings... as hard as they worked and as sad as they were, they realized that yep, let's do what we have to in order to make Ethan's life a little easier. Sunday morning we went to church, had lunch and played games... according to schedule. We still had a relaxing ,perfect weekend and my kids still had fun and played with cousins and made memories to last a lifetime. 

And I learned something... we are an Autistic Family... and we may plan and have fun things scheduled and they might not always work out according to plan... but that's okay! My kids have actually embraced it and set thier expectations and listened when I break up fights or remind them of eachothers differences and needs. We may not be able to take the kind of vacations that others do but, this is our life... unpredictacble, unorthodox and perfect for us.  

Sincerly and lost under a pile of weekend laundry catch-up,
Joanna 

 

PS- did you know baby pig poop stains clothes and the smell doesn't come out even after two washes? 

Related articles

Pinewood Derby 2013

Family Time

A Boy and His Bear and His Blanket

World's Toughest Rodeo Hits The Twin Cities

Christmas Traditions

Florida Fun.

 Our little mini vacation was.... WONDERFUL! We loved seeing everyone. The kids were all adorable and Chad and Teri were a blast. Oh and BONUS, I got in my Mom fix! We went to The Ranch, Cocoa Beach, The Orlando Science Center, Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom so it was a PACKED trip but the kids found a way to be inseparable. Lorali want's sisters now thanks to all the fun she had with Maya and Brynn. Owen woke up this morning telling me that 'Eye Wov Don-Don' (I love John-John) and Ethan thinks we need to live on a farm with horses and cows oh yeah, and that we need a baby like Jess. So apparently to get the kids happy we just need to move in with them in Florida! Thanks for taking us in guys, we loved it and can't wait to see you again soon! 

Silent Saturday

 

Downtown Disney

Sensory overload + whiney sister + crowds of people + new place + thunder storms = bad day. 

Sensory overload + whiney sister + crowds of people + new place + thunder storms + LEGO world? = now THAT'S a GREAT day!

Welcome to the South!

 Out of all the cousins my kids have it's Chad's kids that my kids have seen the least. They lived in Utah and we'd see them when we visited but that's it. Attention always had to be shared with the other family in Utah. Over Christmas break Chad and Tery moved thier family to Florida! The now live in our same time zone and only 7 hours away. I can't wait for the visits back and forth and for the kids to get to know eachother better. They play together perfectly and a few of thier ages match up exactly. It's going to be fun to be able to see them more then once a year. Congrats Smith Family! Welcome to the South!