My Mother's Day

Wasn't that sweet of Teach to write a post for me for Mother's Day?

I had 10 of my 12 kids around me today. After church in our own ward and then a second Sacrament meeting for my nephew's farewell, my sweetie made dinner while I took a little nap with Baby Doll. When I got up it was definitely a fiesta! We had chicken chimis and chips with queso. We also devoured a huge watermelon and raspberry lemonade with crushed ice like a smoothie. It was all delicious. Teach even made some of her famous guacamole.

When we were finished gorging ourselves, the presented me with gifts...a gift card to Olive Garden, and one for Smiths, candy bars and jewelry, a bag of watermelon-themed goodies, flowered pens and a notebook, beautiful cards and expressions of love. I have some awesome kids! Drama Queen is on a road trip with her friends (she has promised to tell you all about it when she gets home...she is in Santa Fe tonight), and she sent me a little bonsai tree from Flowers.com.  Bossy spent the day with her family, but we shared a phone call and most of the day yesterday and late Friday night. My sweetie spoiled me as always with a small TV to put back by my sewing machine and a new office chair because the Dog Walker broke mine although he swears it wasn't him...

After dinner, we all sat around and played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Teach and I tied for first place, but I think the kids were just letting me win because it was Mother's Day. They don't realize that I've already won! Just having them here, living, laughing, and loving...that's the best gift I could ever have.

I hope you all had a Happy Mother's Day too.

Love,
Sandy

Family Portrait before Baby Doll was born...Christmas 2008.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the greatest mom in the world!

Mom, you're a rockstar and we love you tremendously. Our lives wouldn't be the same without your presence and influence and your smiling soul. (even with your eyes closed!). Thanks for listening, caring, guiding, herding, running, playing, blogging, cleaning, and loving us with every fiber of your being. You are a true inspiration to all twelve of your children.

We love you, Mom! (:

Weird Texts

 Life is never boring when you live with Autism.

The Dog Walker is constantly sending me random texts and pictures. The crazy thing about it is that he always just assumes I know what he is talking about. Like last night...I'm getting ready for bed and it's late. Suddenly I hear that random ring...

"Kidron? Imla? Ziz? Edom? Eloth? Uzziah? Joash?"

That's it, just like that. Do any of you happen to recognize these names from Chronicles? Well, I'm busy, so I simply ignore the text. Then a few minutes later...

"Ibri? What do you think that name sounds like? Boy or Girl?"

Now I don't know about you, but I NEVER sit around and ponder things like this.

Then I get random questions like this one...

"If they say seminary graduation is on the 20th, what am I going to do for 2nd period the day after graduation?"

My response of course, "Go to seminary."

He's just so silly, but he sees a side of life that in my busyness I would probably miss without him. I was at Sport's baseball game while he and Teach were home making dinner. He sent me this text picture...they were cutting a watermelon and he found a heart shape in it. He was so excited! That heart was so important to him he snapped several pictures just so I could see it.

Most days I love that he is autistic...and that's the heart of the matter...
and the melon.

Playing in the Band

I've told you before that band is just something we do in our family. It's an inexpensive way for the kids to learn music and feel like they are part of something amazing.

Tonight was the band concert for Princess and Prima Donna. They both play in the Symphonic band in our school which is the highest level of band. I love that they can do this together!

Their teacher requires 20 minutes of practice every night and they sit down together and play hymns and primary music for me in harmony. It's awesome! They even get to sit together when they perform. Princess is in the pony tail and green shirt. Prima Donna is on her left.

Princess will be going to high school next year and Prima Donna is already feeling the loss. The two are best friends as well as sisters. Maybe that is why they play such beautiful music together...