It was a fun exciting, busy, crazy weekend!  

We had our cousins over with Grandma and Grandpa, and it was busy!

 We started at the Children's Museum.

 and ended with a good walk and lunch out at Val's with balloon animals to boot!

We sure do love them!

In the past, any time it would rain, I would cringe inside, thinking, ugg Quinn's chair is going to get wet, Quinn is getting wet, her computer is getting wet.

We made it work with umbrella's, plastic sacks, and such, but it was not ideal by any means.

 That is no longer the case!  She and her chair have a custom Chrissy S. rain poncho!

It's super cute and works great!

 It makes her chair look huge!  But it works!

 Thanks for helping us out Chrissy!

We now have a cello player in our house!

 He knows that it's a big responsibility, but he is so excited about it!

 We are looking forward to hours of practice in our house with squeaky strings and notes that are not quite right in the beginning!  So who wants to come over and listen to him practice!  Lots of fun!

I learn so much from my kids!

 Quinn teaches me acceptance, pure love and laughter.  She keeps me grounded, and at the same time, helps me see how to fly.  She is my world.  If I get caught up in life, her laugh brings me back to the moment.  Hearing and seeing her find the joy in life and accept life and enjoy the moments, rather then find the frustrations that she was dealt in life, reminds me to find the good in the moment and be grateful for the love life gives us.

 Isaiah teaches me tolerance and simplicity.  He is so similar to his dad, John.  He loves to read and learn, if it's on his terms, and he can understand why, instead of just doing something.  He helps me  understand the simple things, while not getting pulled into the superficial games life pushes onto us sometimes.  At the same time, he loves to play true games and enjoy the moment.

Denali teaches me patience and caring.  She can be impulsive, while at the same time, wants to be a good person.  She has a loving heart and wants to make the world a better place.  I am reminded how we have to help each other and find the love and peace in exploring and helping others and how that in turn will help us, as well as reminds me it's ok to be silly and a good leap across the living room floor makes everyone feel better. 

Kids can teach us so very much about life!  I'm so thankful for my kids!

It was a fun fishing weekend!  The weather was great, and being together as a family is priceless!

(if you click on the picture you can see it bigger)

The first day of school.

 Thanks to Chrissy for the pictures!

 I have to say I have pretty amazing kids.

 Isaiah 4th grade!

 He loves Math and is so excited for that.

 Denali, 3rd grade

 She could not wait to meet her teacher and is loving her already and is always so ready to see her friends again.

 Quinn, 3rd grade.

 She loves her teachers, her classmates are amazing and so good to her, and she loves riding the bus.

She is also excited to read.  She loves reading.

 All the kids getting on the bus ready for the first day of school!

 We are ready for an amazing year!

With school starting today, I had to end our summer with some pictures.

 Quinn and Chrissy had their time together a few weeks ago, but these are new pictures, so I had to share.  I love it seeing Chrissy put Quinn to work!  She can do what all of us do, just in a different way!

 You can't beat snuggles and Beauty and the Beast!

 A trip to Morrel Hall is always good.

A mother son date at the demolition derby is always fun!

A father daughter tea party is always fun too!

 Working hard at therapy is also good.  Quinn is to funny,  she would work until I got the camera out then she has to look at the camera.

 A summer injury had to make the list as well.  We have learning jumping rope in the house with a big fluffy scarf is not the best idea.

Finally a fun part of our summer has been checking out all the lightbulbs in Lincoln.  There are over 55 of them, and they are celebrating our lighthouse.  It's a place where kids can go after school to hang out and make good choices.

http://lincolnlighthouse.org/ 

We have been getting ready for a new school year.  I don't know how I can have a 4th grader and two 3rd graders, but that is the case.  We met our teachers today, and they were wonderful.  A few of the teachers, nurses, therapists, para's, and a few other folks got together today to go over Quinn's plan.  I walked out of Maxey feeling pure joy.  I feel so supported and safe and secure having my kids going there.  So thank you Maxey Staff.

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Quinn's team that was working on things today, but I did not, so instead I will just be grateful and say thanks to all you Maxey staff.  We are looking forward to a great year.