School Pictures

Korben had his school picture day a while ago. I laughed a little when I got the order form in his backpack one day. Seeing the form took me back to all the picture days I have had through the years (the bad and the good). Not much has changed since I was getting my picture taken: Apparently, Herff Jones still has a monopoly on the school picture industry, the background is still that basic cheap looking blue, and the price of the packages are still outrageous. I remember when I was young I didn't understand why Mom couldn't buy a package of each of us twice a year. With the price tag of $11 for one pic, I don't wonder anymore. :D

Waiting for the picture to come back was torture - Did he cooperate? Did they get him to smile? Am I going to have to do re-takes? And then I wasn't even here when it arrived. It came when I was in Utah and I had to wait even longer to see it.

All of my worries were set aside when I saw his picture; his picture is like every school picture I ever had taken of myself. He's not giving his biggest smile, but he's also not frowning - almost as if they missed the real smile moment, caught the after shot and, let's be honest, figured that's good enough for a school picture, and moved on to the next kiddo. He's got a hint of hesitation on his face (and why wouldn't he since he has never done this alone before), but knows what he's supposed to do when they say, "cheese", so gives a tentative smile. All in all, it's everything a school picture should be. :0)

From School Pictures

Korben Michael Harrison - 3 1/2 Yrs Old
Vancouver Early Education Center

Stars

For 3 1/2 years, Korben has been fine sleeping in the dark with the door shut. However, in the past few weeks, he has been adamant that we leave the light on for him when we put him to bed. I don't really know why he needs the light on - it may be a control thing, a scared thing, or just a 3 year old thing, but either way the light is on
till he falls asleep and I turn it off.

When we were at the OMSI the other day, we saw the glow-in-the-dark plastic stars for the ceiling, and hoped they would be the cure to the light needing to be on. Unfortunately, they didn't work as we had hoped and the light is still left on every night.

However, what did happen, was far more important than him letting us turn the light off -

First, you need to know that Korben says the same prayer for everything. It is a simple prayer where he says "thank you for the day" and "please bless us to have good dreams", and then he ends it. This is the prayer he uses for food, nighttime, and family prayers - with no deviations.

On this particular night, we let him help us put the stars on his ceiling and then asked him to say the prayer. To our astonishment, rather than saying his normal prayer he changed it to "thank you for.... (insert pause here) the stars" and "please bless us to have good dreams... (insert another pause) and the stars", in the name....etc.. It was so cute and funny that Mike and I couldn't help but laugh. Then we realized that for the first time, Korben looked at something and was able to apply it, in words, to his situation. He changed his prayer all by himself. It wasn't a memorized phrase that he repeated, but one that he came up with all on his own. Since this is one of the hardest things for autistic kids to learn, we were elated at his progress.

Hopefully this is just the start to many conversations that I am dying to have with Korben - conversations in which he thinks of what he really wants to say, rather than only using what is logged in his mind as something he can say. Wish us luck!

Independent Eater

Logan is at the age where he feels he should be self-sufficient when it comes to eating his food. He doesn't like to sit in his booster seat anymore, but prefers to stand in a chair. He is also enjoying the art of using a "big" spoon, and loves the messes that come with it.

In addition, he prefers things a certain way; and if I could ever figure out what that way was, I'd be happy as a clam. Most days his food ends up on the floor (even the favorites) due to some error on my part in the presentation. It is only after I have finally given up on getting any food in him, taken him out of his seat, and sent him on his way, that I will see him snitching the food off the floor. Apparently it tastes better that way.

Although most meal times are aggravating and by the end of the day I am ready to pull my hair out, he can be so stinking adorable when he does choose to eat...that I guess I will continue to keep feeding him. :D Cuz really, could you resist this face??

From Collages

OMSI Visit

Last weekend, Dave and Denise (and crew) visited us for a few days. On the last day, we decided to visit the OMSI. We spent hours there and didn't even really scratch the surface of what we could have done.

Korben got to go on a submarine tour with his Dad, and then spent the rest of his time in the Discovery Room. He loved playing in the water, and making the balls float in the sky.

From Howard Visit 2009

From Collages

From Collages

Logan also had a blast in the discovery room. Unlike Korben, who stuck to his few favorite things, Logan was into everything and constantly running from one place to the next. He liked the freedom of climbing on things, and under things, and getting into things - every little boys dream. :D

From Collages

However, he was a little tentative when it came to the water play. He needed his Mommy to be right next to him the whole time...

From Howard Visit 2009

We were so glad that the Howards decided to visit us. We had a great time!!

Easter 2009

I know this post is VERY overdue,
but better late than never eh?

I was a little worried about Easter this year because of Korben's diet. I didn't know what candy he could have and if I would be able to let him attend the ward Easter Egg Hunt. I researched online, and found a great website that lists all the current gluten free candies. I was pleasantly surprised to find that many candy companies are going gluten free. Of course anything chocolate is out because of the casein, but aside from that, things like dum-dums, skittles, gummies and jellybeans are all okay (you do have to read the label still to double check, but most of them say "gluten free" right on the packaging).

I called the activities committee chairman to see what exactly they would be giving the kids on Easter and was able to replace anything that they had that wasn't gluten free. I didn't even have to worry about the Easter eggs, because they didn't actually fill the eggs, but let the kids trade them in for a goodie bag. Korben's bag was set aside for him and he didn't even know the difference.

They also did an activity that involved tiny oreos, so I brought gluten free mini cookies for him and he wasn't bothered at all that his cookies were different.

The boys at the Ward Easter Party

From Collages

After the party, I decided it would be fun to let the boys have their own egg hunt on our neighborhood playground. We invited our neighbors to join us and the kids had a ball locating the eggs and then eating the candy inside.

Our Own Egg Hunt

From Collages

We finished off the night by coloring eggs. Logan wasn't interested, but Korben absolutely loved it (as you can see from his "Hulk Hands"). We even saved the eggs for 4 days so Daddy could see them when he got home. :D

Egg Coloring

From Collages

I was grateful for Jake and Jess coming over to help out and have a fun Easter with the boys. Since Mike was gone, it could have really ended up being a lonely day, but instead ended up being really fun. And considering there wasn't any puking this year, I'd say it was a huge success!

Missing Mikey

As most of you know already, Mike just started his new job. We are really excited to be done with Terminix and to be moving on. After originally planning on moving for the job, we feel really blessed that, after all is said and done, we get to stay in Vancouver. However, until the branch gets up and running here, Mike will be commuting to Denver, CO to set up that office as well. This time he is only gone for a week, other times it might be longer. Although we miss him, we know that this is temporary and that it is
the best thing for our family.

I was looking at our pictures last night, and came across this one that I took a few days ago. I was feeling especially lonely having Mikey gone and it immediately cheered me up. I am so grateful for such a silly, loving, hard-working, and wonderful husband. He takes care of me, is a great Daddy and constantly makes us laugh...
what more could a girl ask for?

We love you Mikecito/Daddy!

Military Brothers

I took these pics of the boys in their uniforms after Grandma's funeral. I think they look so handsome and am so proud of them, their accomplishments, and their
willingness to serve their country.

Love you boys!
Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)
Be All That You Can Be!

Jared & John 4/6/2009


Jared, James & John 4/6/2009

Logan's First Airplane Ride

Saturday, April 4th, was Logan's first airplane ride. At 17 months old, Logan isn't really keen on the idea of sitting still for extended periods of time, so needless to say,
I was worried about the flight.

He actually did a lot better than I thought he would. He only threw one screaming fit for about 10 minutes on the way home, and other than trying to touch the passenger in front of us, was a very good little boy. Of course we didn't follow all the rules like keeping a seat belt on the whole time, and leaving the tray tables up during takeoff and landings, but considering the alternative wasn't very pleasant, I opted to ignore the rules this one time. :D And thank heavens for portable DVD players, empty flights, and patient passengers - we couldn't have done it without you.

Getting settled in our seats

Getting a good look out the window

Watching a flick (and playing with the DVD player with the classic middle finger)

His worried face when we hit some turbulence