As I was looking through all the photos from the entire holiday season, I couldn't help but smile at so many! Overall, the holidays were filled with joyous moments. We laughed over some and we definitely learned over more! Christmas Day was particularly hard for Selah and for us in turn. There had been too many events leading up to that morning and I started seeing behaviors of hers that I thought we had long passed. We have noticed that when she becomes highly overstimmed, she doesn't tantrum or rock or become unreasonable...she just starts kissing everyone constantly. It is such a tough situation. Here I was the type of parent with our boys, who always reminded them to give hugs and kisses to all family members...and now we are having to stop her from kissing others. Our family and friends look at us like we are absolutely crazy to want to stop her loving nature, but it is just too much to try to explain the nature of attachment and what these types of behaviors do to her development. Oh well...this too shall pass!
The day after Christmas we headed up north to Overgaard, AZ and enjoyed the snow for a few days. It was the perfect place for Selah to find calm and to make her world small again. The snow was beautiful and the kids had so much fun playing in it! Arizona is such a diverse state. I am always amazed at God's great design....mountains of desert landscape, mountains of red rock, and mountains of green pine all within hours of each other. It was 70 degrees in Chandler and 40 degrees two and a half hours north! What fun!
Our sweet little Landon had his 7th birthday this week! I can't believe how time is flying. He is such a sweet treasure and am so thankful God has allowed me to be his mama! The poor little guy was sick most of the week (and then passed it onto me). He was so cute saying daily "It's just not right that I should be sick three days before my birthday" and then the next day "it is just not right that I should be sick two days before my birthday"! I guess in his mind it is a birthday week and in that case it really just isn't right to be sick then!!!! :-) He was well just in time for his big day, though, and we celebrated at Peter Piper Pizza! Mommy barely made it...but God gives us mommies super human strength when it comes to our kid's birthdays! I spent the remainder of the weekend in bed, but I made the big day!
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| Our 10th annual trip to the Polar Express! Selah's first time was a hit! |
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| She loves her dadday SOOOOOO much! |
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| Santa giving the kids their special bell to remind them to BELIEVE! |
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| Selah has been completely enamored of Santa! |
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| A family carriage ride at the North Pole. Brrrrr...but fun! |
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| Thanksgiving at my brother and his wife's home. Selah loves her Grandma(my mom) bunches! They even look alike! |
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| Digging into the delicious food! |
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| Hanging her first ornament |
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| She played the amazing part of a little shepherd in her pre-school play. |
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| Our annual gingerbread house...a little drama around that... |
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| The Snowflake Sprint at school for the boys. |
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| Two brothers worn out from running their bums off! |
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| Official Re-adoption Day! Selah couldn't stop staring at the judge to get a good picture! |
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| Selah's first present. |
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| A wonderful book from Aunt Nancy that is helping her with colors...a skill we struggle with! |
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| Doesn't his smile just make you wanna squeeze him? |
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| Christmas Eve with family - cousins from age 2 weeks almost 10 years. |
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| Santa's cookies and socks (to keep his toes warm - another tradition of ours), and carrots for the reindeer. The letter this year was written by Landon and it was sort of an apology for some behavior issues! It was pretty cute :-) |
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| Zachary's school choir performance. |
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| Zach and Grandma Judy on Christmas Day |
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| Landon and Grandpa Bob |
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| Zach in Overgaard with his new snowball launcher! |
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| Landon and my little snow man! I was cold and only wanted to make a little guy! |
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| A little piece of Heaven in the mountains! |
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| Roasting marshmallows (Selah's first time) |
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| Happy 7th Birthday, Sweet Landon! |
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| He was thrilled with a box of Lucky Charms as a gift from Grandpa Bob, but he knew there had to be more to it because Grandpa is always playing jokes! |
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| After further investigation, money had been stashed inside the cereal bag! You can imagine how long it took the bag to be poured out on our kitchen counter! |
Some beautiful memories...so thankful for God's merciful heart and many blessings! Now, though, if I can just get past this yuck, I think I'll be able to breathe again! I can take the Christmas tree down now, too! Sweet little Landon insisted it be one of his presents to keep the tree up for his birthday! So sweet :-)
"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." Psalm 139:5
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Treasured memories, beautiful family!
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