Caroline Riding...

Thought you all might enjoy some photo's of Caroline at the barn last week... She really loves her time at the barn and riding..

Picture Day...

Sounds harmless enough right???

Not if you live in a house with 3 kids who have PWS and one who has "Hollister Syndrome"!

This morning started when I went into David's room to wake him up. I found him awake, dressed in one of Aric's wrinkled dress shirts with a ratty t-shirt under it, buttoned wrong, He was wearing a pair of Aric's dress pants which were not only about 6 inches too long.... I don't know how he stuffed his butt into them!!! The side pockets were bulging out and looking like the seems were ready to give way and David was frantically trying to button the shirt.
After a few minutes of arguing and me telling him I would not write a check for his pictures if he was wearing that outfit, I got him to put something appropriate on. One down.... 3 to go.

On to my child with "Hollister Syndrome" Jake. Let me explain the symptoms of " Hollister Syndrome" to you. "Hollister Syndrome" is an affliction that causes extreme anxiety and stress when the victim is not dressed head to toe in the latest fashions from Hollister. It causes extreme panic, profuse sweating, and the sudden urge to bolt across the hall to your older brothers room to rummage through his closet for an article of Hollister clothing that your friends haven't ever seen you in before! This action usually results in getting your butt kicked by your older bother for wearing his clothes... the problem is there is no known cure for "Hollister Syndrome" it can only be managed by frequent trips to the mall to visit the Hollister store!
So... that being explained... I got Jake (AKA: Jake-can-we-go-to-the-mall-Knopf) to take off the new Hollister dress shirt that belonged to Aric and put one of his on.... to which he proclaimed loudly that I was being sooooo mean.... everyone has seen him in this shirt... he has had his picture taken in this shirt before etc...
To add to the morning... it is pouring outside... so I drive Aric to the end of the driveway at 6:15, head back to the house to deal with Davids fashion issues and Jakes Hollister dilema, get them in the car at 6:45 and drive them to the bus in the pouring rain and head back to the house to get Ben and Caroline ready.
Ben was easy enough... he would wear the same dirty clothes for a week if I would let him... I found him an acceptable shirt and pointed him in the direction of the shower... had to hear the complaining... he hates to shower.
I couldn't find anything for Caroline to wear though... I don't' know where all her clothes have gone... well.. I do know... I am drowning in dirty laundry and she had nothing clean. After 10 minutes of searching I found her an outfit.

On to the next crisis of the morning... Bookfair! Ben and Caroline's classes are both scheduled to visit the bookfair at school today! They are both stuck on that and are obsessing about money for the bookfair.
I can't find where I have put the envelopes for the picture orders and spend 5 minutes looking for them! I found one and was able to make an envelope for Caroline.

With all the chaos of this morning, I had no time to make lunches for anyone... so I had to scramble for one dollar bills and make envelopes for all of them! It's a conspiracy I swear!

I figure this morning cost me $88 for pictures (4 $22 packages, one of the least expensive packages) $20 for bookfair ( $10 each for Ben and Caroline) and $29 for school lunches ( $10 each for Alex and Aric, $3 for Jake, and $2 each for David, Ben and Caroline) That is $139 this morning!!! Are you kidding me!??????!

Oh and did I mention that it is pouring outside? 3 trips to the car to drive the kids to the bus, 3 trips outside with the dog who won't go to the bathroom because it is raining... I'm done.

I have the next few hours to myself to try to put my house back together, do a batch of laundry and take a shower before I have to go pick David up at noon to take him to the orthodontist.

TGIF!!!
~Vicki

High School Football Week 1

Last night was the first Varsity game. It was away in East Haven which is about a 45 minute drive from home. This year, I have 2 on the team... Aric #67 who plays center, and Alex #63 who plays D-end and is on Special teams both kick off and punt return.

The weather was not cooperating, and thank God I had arranged for a sitter for David, Ben and Caroline earlier in the week. Ben was ticked beyond ticked that he couldn't go to the game, he even refused to get out of the car when we dropped him off at my friends house. Usually he loves Mrs. Walkers but not last night... he wanted to go to the game. We stood our ground with him though and I am glad we did.

All the way to East Haven it poured. The sky was black, and it wasn't getting any better as we headed down I-95... We had Alex's girlfriend Kourtney with us and the 2 of us were planning how we would try to stay dry during the game!

We got to the stadium and the weather wasn't any better... we hung out in the car until just before the game started... Dave was worried that we wouldn't get a spot on the top row of the bleachers where we always like to stand... you get the best view point from up top! But with the weather, there was plenty of room for us and our umbrellas!

The rain came down with no signs of stopping and while our upper bodies stayed dry, my jeans were plastered to my legs and the water from the umbrella in front of me was pouring down on top of my shoes so I actually had puddles inside my shoes!!

It was well worth standing in the rain for 2 1/2 hours though... the Mighty Vikings won 34-0 and I got to see both Alex and Aric play in the season opener!

We ended the evening by heading back to East Lyme to Illiano's one of our favorite pizza places...good thing they are open late... as by the time the guys got there it was 11pm... we had ordered pizza for everyone and had some good laughs listening to their stories.

My feet were so wet... I actually left a puddle on the floor under the table!!!

It was a great start tot the season... sorry no pictures though.... my camera stayed home where it was nice and dry!!

This morning, Alex and Aric are off to watch game film at 9am, followed by weightlifting at 10am, Dave, Jake and David are at the youth field for Jake's practice.. Ben is ticked off again that he didn't get to go, but Dave told him that because his behavior was so bad lastnight that he had to miss practice this morning.... he went back to bed... which he needed to do anyway!!

Ryan just left for practice with the team he helps coach... I am off to tackle "MOUNT LAUNDRY" I may need climbing gear to find my washing machine.... ugh...

Jake's game is tomorrow afternoon... so hopefully the weather will be better for it and I can get some pictures.

Have a good weekend!!!

Vicki

Dance With Cinderella

Many of you have heard of the tragedy that Christain musician Steven Crutis Chapman and the whole Chapman family has endured. This morning, their story was on The Early Show.
I sat glued to the TV with tears streaming down my face while watching it. What a wonderful Testament to "Family" they are... they have rallied around each other, supported each other, and are facing this head on together as a family.

As a mother, fear grips my heart just trying to wrap my brain around what they have gone through. Having teenage drivers myself, I can't imagine the horror this poor young man felt.
Having adopted 2 of my children, I can't begin to fathom what it would be like to lose one of them....
And yet....

This family has hope for the future... they are learning a " New Normal". Life goes on... they move on with broken hearts, but with the faith that one day... they will all be together again.

Please take a second to watch the video... and grab some tissues before you do.

Parents... hold you little ones a little tighter tonight when you put them to bed and thank God for another day with them.... you just never know what tomorrow will bring.

~Vicki


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Pictures From The Last Few Weeks...

Ben and Caroline 1st Day of School

Ben with his cast... he broke his thumb a few weeks ago.
My pretty little girl getting ready for her 1st day of 2nd grade!
This time of the year, its ALL about FOOTBALL here! Here is Dave with Jakes Team, He is the head coach this year.
Jakey... hangin' out, watiting for his game to start.
I LOVE this one.. Ben is the team manager.. this is Ben with the team running out to the 50 yardline at the beginning of the game... he is so intense about the game!
The Star Spangled Banner...
Ben having a pregame chat with the Ref's.

Jake #56 center (with his hand on the ball)

She Gets it!!

I am in no way trying to start a Political debate here... politics are one of those things that I Rarely discuss with anyone in real life... but for the first time probably ever.... I feel some hope for the Political future of our country.

Quoted from Sarah Palin's speech, September 3, 2008, accepting the republican vice presidential nomination.

"And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.

That's how it is with us.

Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys.

Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.

And children with special needs inspire a special love.

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters.

I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

She is real people... Is that baby beautiful or what???