Favorite Books

I love reading every one's blog and see what they read to their children. I do look for these books! And even buy some. Here are some of our favorites:

Marley's Favorite Book:
The Pink House by Kate Salley Palmer


I have read this book hundreds of times. Kate Salley Palmer came to FIE one time and Suzanne(Gran), got her to sign two books one for Marley and Bailey. Little did I know that it would be one of our favorite books of all time! I almost know the book by heart! I love the beautiful colored pencil illustrations and the wonderful family story!

"Every summer, all the aunts, all the uncles, and even Grandma gather at the Pink House at Edisto Beach.
We gather there, too! We are cousins! There are six of us -- three little cousins, two big cousins, and one new baby cousin!"

Doesn't it describe our family perfectly? We all look forward to our yearly beach trip! I love this book! I love that Kate Salley Palmer, is a local writer, and that we can support her work!

Carpenter's Favorite Book:
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

Carpenter loves this book, you can often seem him reading it by himself! All the little kids love it! It makes us laugh when we act out the parts! It is a fun book!

A new favorite:
Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder

This book is truly awesome and cutting edge technique that fully engulfs a child. It really looks like the animals are moving! We love it! But I let the kids take it to read in the van, and I can not find it! Yes, I have searched and cleaned the van many times but can not find it! So I am going to put it on their list for Christmas! This would be an awesome Christmas present!

My latest favorite book:
Persuasion by Jane Austen

I am on a Jane Austen kick because of Masterpiece Theatre(which Jonathan hates, but certainly there bust be some MT lovers out there, or why would it be on TV?). I read "Persuasion" through google books online. I finished it in like two days in between the kids naps and bed times! I am a romantic by heart. I love "love" stories, about love that is yearned for, never dying, never broken! I do not like affairs. I do want happy endings. I guess I am sappy that way. Tales that end up broken bother me forever. I guess I am not an astute literary critic.

Please leave comments on your favorite books, that way I can get them too!

Journey Followers!

I have often wondered who you are! Wondered how you found our blog! And your thoughts about life in general!

To tell you the truth, I have often wondered was there anyone out there? I post and sometimes get no comments, and wonder, if this is almost a personal confession. That if anyone ever felt what I felt!

So please share who you are! I would love to know you, pray for you!

Thanks!

Special Needs Mommas

Growing up, I don't think that I knew of anyone being a parent of a child with special needs or someone that had special needs, except for one person! And to tell you the truth, I didn't think much about him, nothing bad of course, but never inquired on what life was like for him.

Let's be honest: I don't know anyone going into a pregnancy wanting a special needs child. I never thought I would. Jon and I were a young couple who couldn't wait to have a second child, a sibling for Marley, a little boy! Special Needs never entered our vocabulary. All of the test results came back fine and nothing showed wrong on the in depth ultrasounds, other than Carpenter was not growing. But nothing physically wrong was shown.

We had no idea of the world we were being thrust into!

I want to convey to you that it is not bad. People you enter into acquaintance with seem like it would be impossible to have a child with special needs(they often stick their foot into their mouths). I guess fears of the unknown.

Please read this post about parents of children with special needs. This is a link to the New Kind of Normal Blog. But please read the post. She has written what I couldn't, conveyed what I have wanted!

I am thankful that there is a waiting list for people who want to adopt children with Down Syndrome. Who would of thought?

With all the new genetic testing out there, it does worry me that special needs children will be more scarce. That people will not choose life! For me it was not a choice, it was a gift given from God. God has blessed me so with being a mother, more than I have ever dreamed or deserved!

Transmission

I was traveling down 385 towards Greenville, to take Carpenter to school, and my transmission went out right before the Woodruff Rd. exit. Luckily, Gran and Pop-Pop, were there to save me and the children and we were able to take Carpenter to the MC. We have already had this transmission replaced twice before, once was under warranty. So you could know how much a transmission cost and right before Christmas, lovely. Not that anytime is a good time for a transmission to go out!

I wonder if I could petition the government for some Bailout Money?

Pray for us! Thanks!

Pearson Falls

Yesterday, we took the family to Pearson Falls in Tyron! Sadie told us she wanted to go to the mountains. So we actually took her wish and went! We borrowed some backpacks from the Levitts! Which was good that we didn't have to buy one! We packed some snacks and took Jon's Tundra and headed up to the mountains!

This was the first adventurous trip we have taken in quite a while! Because we have small children, hiking would be hard!

We went to Pearson Falls in Tyron, NC. It was a short little hike! Any longer, I am not sure Marley would have lasted holding Rowan! Jonathan had Carpenter, I had Sadie, and Marley had Rowan! It was a beautiful day! Even though the leaves were past peak, Marley enjoyed picking up the gigantic leaves and collecting them off the forrest floor!

Then we picked up a pizza from, Side Street, in Tyron. It is a must if you are in the area. Then we went by Mema's house and had a wonderful afternoon with Mema and Ian. Ian has to be the funniest boy ever!!! We surprised Mema with our visit, we hope you didn't mind!


Jon and Carpenter

Carpenter would not let go of Jon's neck, he was affraid he would fall!

Sadie May

Getting ready!

Marley and Rowan

Mom and Sadie

Marley and Rowan

Pearson Family Trail
We passed a family with four kids coming down the trail! They were all walking by themselves. How we wait for the day that they will be old enough to hike longer. But by that time I will probably be missing my babies!

picnic area

Sadie's scared face

Beautiful Stream

hiking!

We made it!

Pearson Falls!

Family pic!!!

Marley and Rowan

Little Falls

Rowee

kisses

Rowan aggravating Carpenter

Rowan and a sucker! Mema gave Sadie some candy, and she shared with Rowan! We had to pull over to clean up the mess!

What's Your Theme Song?

On a lighter note, what is your theme song? What song most describes you in your everyday life? Mine would be the "Office Theme Song," whenever I hear it I feel happy!



Feel free to share yours:

Anxiously Waiting

Anxiously waiting on what will happen!

Jon and I got to go vote for the elections today together. Thank you Dad and Taylor for watching the kids! We only had to wait 41 minutes!

I am sick of people saying I wasted my vote because I went third party!!!!

Praying......