She loves to dance!!

We just got back from Lake Powell (pictures and updates to come) and one of our friends said, "Is she always dancing?"

I never realized until she noticed.  She could not stop dancing.  She dances when she is doing her homework, when she is doing the dishes, when she is telling me a story, when she is practicing the piano, when she is waterskiing, kneeboarding, etc.  

I love that she has found something she loves!!

This girl is something else...

I don't talk about this very much just because I don't feel like I need too, but I just need to share some things about this sweet little girl.  It is hard to find the exact words to describe this smiley girl, but here are a few:

 Persevering

 Gentle

Sweet

 Lovable

Patient

Forgiving

Nicole had the best 1st grade teacher and I am not exaggerating.  In fact, I cried with her teacher numerous times.  A couple of weeks before school ended, she listened to me, expressed her love for Nicole, her concerns for Nicole, and cried with me.  She gave Nicole the best compliment.  She said, "Nicole is the hardest worker and loves to be at school.  She doesn't get discouraged too often, and if she does...she quickly shakes her head "no" and tries again."  Her teacher told me that if she could, she would delicately place Nicole with the best teachers her entire life.  She wants her to succeed and she knows she will succeed.  She told me "There is place for Nicole and once she finds it, she will thrive because of who she is.  WE just need to help her find her place."

My sweet little Olie has some learning difficulties that make almost everything she does really hard.  We are finding out more and more about these challenges as she grows up.  WE already know she has Apraxia which is a language/motor planning disability and we are also finding out she has auditory, visual, language processing issues.  Makes me wonder how the world looks through her beautiful eyes.  I am grateful for wonderful teachers and friends that wrap their arms around Nicole and love her for who she is.  One of my close friends told me, "Nicole was placed in your home because Heavenly Father loves you.  You were meant to be her mother.  You know what she needs and you have been blessed with the ability to help her in this life."

I sometimes feel so ridiculous for complaining about the things she has to go through when there are so many other awful things in the world.  But, it is really hard to see your child struggle with anything.  We all have a challenges and we just need to learn how to deal with them and work with them.

I know Nicole will be fine because she has also been blessed with many other attributes, like the few mentioned above.  Her challenges don't define who she is...they make her stronger, wiser, and more understanding. We sure do love this girl!!

Poor Jonah or Alex or Pink Baby

 If you know my Nicole, you do not mess with her babies.  EVER!!  She loves them like they are real and they do feel pain, according to Nicole.  We have had this baby since Kaylee was 2 and Kaylee called it "Pink Baby" because it wore a pink outfit. Nicole quickly stole it when she was 2..much to Kaylee's disappointment.  BUT, Nicole took such great care of it that Kaylee actually didn't mind.  Baby Alex, recently known as Jonah, is gently dressed and fed every day.  Actually he is wearing some of Blake's premie outfits.  Crazy!!!

BUT....look what happened to Alex.  A neighbor got a hold of it and ripped off his leg.  

Tears were shed.  Screams were shared.  I think little neighbor girl got a pretty good shouting.  I felt so bad for baby Alex.

Mom to the rescue.  Tape can fix anything and it did.  Now Nicole says, "Alex has a broken leg and needs to be loved."

When I was young, I thought my dolls would come to life when I fell asleep...just like in that book "Corduroy."  I know Nicole feels the same way because every night she puts her babies in their jammies, sleeps with them, and makes sure they are taken care of.

This just broke her heart....

Taylor...silly Taylor

This girl keeps me on my toes and it is something that I love...but boy does she make me think.  I am often saying, "I am not sure.  Let's ask Daddy or lets look it up."  Taylor has also gotten used to my questionable answers.  You see...I am a "Yes Sir" type of person.  You tell me to do something, and I quickly obey.  I don't really question things.  It is a good thing, but it is something I also struggle with..I also do not have the best common sense.  When I was growing up, I was often called an "air head."  I hated being called an "air head."  It made me feel really, really stupid...just like a lot of things do when you are a teenager.  But, I have now learned to embrace my absent mind.

Taylor is the exact opposite.  She likes to question things and wants a serious answer.  The answers "Because I said so," or  "That is how it works" do not work on this little one.  She wants to know!!  My favorite is when I give her an answer and she says, "I don't like that answer.  I will go ask Daddy."  Warren is extremely smart and can explain things really well.  Taylor loves how he explains things, and he explains things thoroughly.  I am lucky to be married to such a smart, intellectual, common sense guy.

 Here are some Taylorisms.....

"Why"

"If dogs have babies, does that mean they get married because you need to be married to have a baby?"

"Will you go to jail if you steal something?  What if you steal someone's flower, or baby, or water?"

"Does Colorado Springs have earthquakes?  Why does Jesus make earthquakes?  If you were in a house, would you die from an earthquake?"

"Does Jesus make people die?  Will Coco live again like Jesus?"

"Let's talk about animals.  Do deer sleep during the day or at night?  Do raccoons  sleep during the day or at night? Will an alligator eat you or just bite you?"

"Will Cheetahs eat people?"  Yes..they are cats of prey.  "Cats prey?!  You mean they prey to find an animal to eat?!"

Growing a Grapefruit Tree

This girl is full of questions and wonderment.  She wants to know how everything works and why they work that way.  But, a lot of the time she doesn't believe your answer.  Here is one example.  Taylor knows that seeds grow trees, so she decided to get a grapefruit tree out of her grapefruit and plant it across the street.  She really wanted to grow a grapefruit tree because she loves grapefruit.

Even though I told her it would not grow at this altitude and climate, she wanted to figure it out on her own.  So, she planted it and guess what...nothing.  Taylor has therefore decided to live in California or Florida when she grows up because she can grow "citrus tress."

I want that toy...

Blake loves the color orange and he loves this little bear.  Well, I guess that bear really isn't little.  It is almost his size.  I like to torture my children by putting toys just out of reach to see if they are determined enough to get it.  Well...here you have Blake trying to get his favorite toy.

 I love this look!! Like Mom...help, please

 Look at Blake's little laughing face as he is falling down.  This boy cracks me up..

GOT IT!!  Love that little mischievous look!

8 years ago today my sweet little Nicole joined our family.  I was so excited to see her dark brown hair and beautiful eyes!  She was the sweetest baby and fit right into our family.  Here are 8 things I love about Nicole...Our Olie!  

1. She loves everyone unconditionally.

2.   She has an excitement for life.

3. She works hard to accomplish everything she does.

4. She has a smile that could light up any room.

 5. She loves the water...and pushing people into water, or spraying them with water, or accidentally falling into water. 

6. She is always ready to play or take a good nap.

 7. You may have to remind her a few times to do something, but she is so apologetic when she realizes that she forgot.  As she says, "Oh, darn it.  I sorry.  I forgot."

8. She is not a quitter, and don't ever tell her she can't do it.  She wants to try and be a part. 

 We love you Beautiful Nicole!!