Happy Birthday Sydney!!

Sydney's birthday is next week , but I wanted to post a tribute to her. She is amazing!!
Sydney is a very special girl. She keeps us moving. She has a funny sense of humor and loves to play jokes and be silly. March is the month that we get to celebrate her. Sydney is my biggest helper. She sat through many therapy sessions with Cole and Ada and I have found that she quickly picked up on things too. She talks to Cole like I do, she sits Ada up on all fours to help her learn to crawl. It's like having two of me around. I appreciate her so much. I don't know what I am going to do when she goes to school all day next year. I love her so much.
Sydney loves to play with friends, jump on the tramp, and go to gymnastics. She can do a cartwheel.
Her favorite food is Top Ramen, (yucky) her favorite color is "pink and purple" . I think she thinks that is one color. She loves library day at school.
She has the most beautiful hair! Happy Birthday Sydney! We love you!

Cardiologist Report

I took Ada to the cardiologist today for a check up. They did an echocardiogram. The doctor said her heart looked great! I was so relieved. He wants to see her in 6 months for another check up. YeeHaw! I am so glad that she is doing well. So now that she is a little older we get to go see an Ear Nose and Throat Dr. On another note, I have just been called to teach in the Relief Society. What were they thinking? I am the kind of person who likes to go to church and just be there. I am the one who listens and never makes a comment. Our callings are supposed to help us learn and grow and this one will definately be a stretch for me. Its so nice to have so little to report, it must mean that we have found a sense of normalcy for a while. I just want to thank our neighbors next door. Little does Shirley and Greg know how much their family has been a blessing in our lives. I appreciate their children and how patient they are with Cole. Little Carter does wonders for Cole. He is a great friend and has helped Cole to learn to enjoy being social. It does my heart good. Andy and I appreciate all of their help.

Cute Pictures!!

Just look at my bracelet. Isn't it pretty?

I am a big cheeser!

Ada age 1 years

This is true Ada form. She is always smiling!

Princess Ada

Draper Temple

Andy and I had the opportunity last night to take the kids to the Draper Temple Open house. They were so excited. They had you ride a shuttle up to the temple grounds to accomodate for parking. Cole thought that was wonderful. It is a beautiful temple and I was excited to see my kids reactions. We had gone over some pictures of the insides of some temples the night before for family night to prepare them. Mason was our tour guide. Sydney exclaimed how she wished she could wear the light fixtures for they were gorgeous crystal chandeliers. Cole's favorite part was the baptismal font. (the oxen of course) On the way home Mason said that he felt the spirit in the celestial room. He also explained to Andy and I that if parents can't have kids, but they adopt they can be together forever if they kneel at the altar together. I couldn't believe that what we had taught them the night before had actually stuck! Because he and Sydney and Cole were very busy doing headstands while we did Family Night! It just goes to show you they listen to more than we think they do. (Selective hearing I think) It was a wonderful night to share together. I have a testimony of temples. What a blessing it is to have them on the earth. I want to live my life so that my family can be together forever! PS. I had Ada's pictures taken recently. To view some of them go to toriejanephotography.blogspot.com

Up for the Challenge

What an exhausting week this has been. Cole had a hard time on Sunday and it threw me for a loop. It was a reminder to me that we can't stop his therapies. But cost is a big issue. Because of the cost I inquired of our health insurance. They will cover speech and occupational therapy IF.... its not for autism or down syndrome. NICE! Those are the two reasons that I need it. Although there is some hope. Some legislatures here in Utah and other states around the US are working to pass a law that will make insurances cover these therapies for autism. I of course, promptly emailed our legislator. Who knows what will happen. I am praying. Andy and I spent all day yesterday making phone calls to different people that would possibly take BCBS. I set an appointment for next week with one of them that I even remotely felt good about. He has been going to another center. We asked them about seeing if they would network through BCBS, but they said no since they wouldn't be able to charge as much as they wanted. So good therapy is only for the rich and privelaged. Whatever! It's been disheartening, but Andy and I keep praying. He's come a long way and I will see to it that he gets what he needs. It's worth the money. It's a good thing Cole is so stinkin cute. On a lighter note, Ada is doing well. She is scooting around the floor and can eat like a madman. She loves to eat! It does my heart good to see her go to town on a piece of pizza. I usually have to tell her when she is done or she would just keep eating. Right now she is healthy. Mason and Sydney are doing well in school and love it.

A Mom's Birthday

Mason came home from school yesterday with this story that he had written. It's all phonetically spelled, but I can decifer it for you. It says my grandma and grandpa Woody went on a mission to New York City. It was snowy there. My grandparents made it home in the summer and we celebrated there welcome home party at their home. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa W. for serving the Lord, it obviously made an impression on Mason!
I then pulled this note out of Cole's backpack. This was the best birthday present a mom could have! These may seem like small things, but to me are GREAT things! My children make me smile and I am greatful for them. I am greatful for Andy and his love and support. (He puts up with a lot) We celebrated my birthday with Andy's family. It was fun. I love an excuse to eat cake and icecream. I get to share my birthday month with Andy's dad and Ada. It is the best month to be born ever!

100 Things

List of 100 things-Bold the things that you have done! It's interesting to see what you have done!
I got this from my sister in laws blog. It's kindof fun!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo/ not because I chose to
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Seen the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill...
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own