Ellery has a cold

Ellery: Mom the reason I am sick is because someone spit at me!

Me: Who spit at you?

Ellery: I don't know? It was Bryson, he spit at me and that is how I got sick!

Bryson 16 Month

His new obsession are tiny game pieces. He loves the travel connect 4 game. The pieces are the size of a dime. He still doesn't put them into his mouth, just loves to put the pieces into the game and when he is done mastering that skill, he carries them around. He has a love hate relationship with Ellery at this point. She is very motherly to him along with very bossy. She is quick to inform me what he is and isn't into at the time. Neither one of them know how to share with the other. Ellery is great at sharing with Mason, but she is not as nice to Bryson. I think they both compete for my attention in the same way because they are both my cuddle buddies. If Bryson isn't in my arms or lap then Ellery is quick to climb in and vice versa.

Mason Reading and Writing

Mason is really into reading and writing. He loves making books books and the hot topic is ninjas.

This is "Mason's Ninja book". Someone at school is really getting him into ninjas.

He wrote the book for Papaw.

Ninja Mason

I Love Papaw

Bagi=Bad Guy

Mason

Black Friday

I hope I can score a deal like this another time, but this was a steal of a deal. Our dear friend craig that is craigslist really came through for us. I am a bit embarrassed how I found the deal, but it is a humorous story.

We were visiting Larned, KS over the holiday and the options for black Friday shopping are nil. We arrived on Thanksgiving Day and we heard that Wal-Mart was going to open at 10pm for some door busters for early early black Friday shopping. They had motorized cars on sale for $100. I was tempted to drive the 30 min to Great Bend to get Ellery one for Christmas, but I was really tired and Rob was post call and going on little sleep. Grandma Debbie offered to be my co-pilot, but I couldn't do it! We should have gone shopping because we ended up staying up late chatting. In our chatting moments we surfed the Internet for deals and were peeking at motorized cars for kids. We had the bright idea to look on craigslist in Omaha. I came up empty on my search for motorized cars, but I didn't come up empty handed. I found a motorized wheel chair for $150. This Jazzy Select Motorized Wheel Chair was gently used, we are talking barely used. This model is still sold in stores for $3000+. I am one proud shopper and Papaw is one mobile man!

Visit to Papaw's

We headed out to Papaw's on Thanksgiving Day. We packed turkey sandwiches as our lunch anticipating that most of our usual stops would be closed and we were correct. The kids loved eating in the car and we loved that we kept on going!

The hysterical part of the trip was when Grandma Debbie told them that the ramp creaked/squeaked because an alligator lived underneath it! She told them it would put pressure on the alligators back and make him make noise. The kids got a huge kick out of it! They were concerned if it would eat people and Papaw told them that it ate dust bunnies instead!

The even more hysterical thing was when we got home, I found Ellery standing in one spot on our floor making it creak/squeak. She looked at me with a serious expression and stated that we had an alligator in our floor as well!

Happy Thanksgiving

We are blessed and have a lot to be thankful for!

Mason Mid Quarter Report

Mason was sent home with a mid-quarter report today. He can be either satisfactory or needs assistance. He meets satisfactory standards, no surprise to us. In the comments section the teacher wrote: Mason continues to do well. He is listening and working hard. He needs to refrain from talking during work time and taking care of just himself.

Rob hears that he is social, I am hearing he might be a tattle tale. Either way he is a sweet kid just trying to do good!

Grandpa Jon

I am at a lost for words on the loss of Jon Deming. He brought a lot of joy in my life. I have fond memories watching Murder She Wrote with him and eating sweet treats. You know I loved him if I could stomach sitting through watching that show while in middle school. I could go on and on.....

The Measure of a Man- for Jon Deming

God brought the Deming family into my life many years ago and my life was changed forever.

One of the many lessons I learned from Jon was not by his words but by watching his core values in action. I learned the measure of a man. I learned the measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. It has been one of the most important life changing lessons I live by today and owe to Jon.

The Deming’s took me in when I was at the lowest point in my life. I am always quick to say that their family saved my life. To think of where I was and how far I have come makes me cry to this day. I was divorced, no steady income, no home and an emotional and spiritual wreck. Carla and Rhonda picked me up and brought me home like a stray puppy. Jon and Carlene opened their home to me and saved my life that day. After that I endearingly called them Ma and Pa.

It was announced I was going to school and God only know how I made it, but I graduated. Phi Theta Kappa, Deans honor roll and Cum laude. They both instilled for me to strive for the best but I bet they were just as baffled as me that I graduated with honors. They gave me a home and the road to a future. My life has been an adventure because of their generosity. I have worked as a travel nurse around the country touching lives and making a difference only because Ma and Pa made a difference for me. Their kindness apparently didn’t stop there because I have heard Rhonda say, she never knew who was going to find in her room when she came home.

I told Jon before he died about the impact he has had on my life which has impacted many others. I’ve paid it forward. I told him my life has recently taken a turn that is opening a whole new world for me. I was excited to tell him the difference he had made all because he believed in helping someone who could do him absolutely no good. I work in research now and was recently asked to work as a consultant for the drug company Johnson and Johnson. Hard to believe but they listen to my outside the box thinking. They have implemented my ideas and fly me around the states. I would have been working for Wal-Mart had it not been for the Demings. Since Jon took a chance with me, I’m now making a difference in lives. I told Jon how J & J is now planning a documentary to educate the public on the plight of the homeless. They want to involve Wichita in their film. If you think about it, Jon’s core values are far reaching. If we can help these people become productive members of society by bringing light to their situation, how great would that be? To think Johnson and Johnson is interested in helping a population that can do them absolutely no good.

When I thanked Jon for his investment and his belief in me so long ago, his eye brows raised. I could see him purse his lips around his respirator tube with an ever so slight nod of approval. Before I left, Jon gave a motion and held my hand. I could feel he was proud. As I turned to leave, tears streamed down my face. The measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Not many men are like Jon Deming. by Linda Brooks

Ellery School Picture

Ellery had school pictures taken while we were vacationing in the Bahamas. I think it was good for me, I would have put her in a bow and pulled her hair up neatly. We don't usually capture Ellery with her hair down or no bow, so this is a keeper!

Children's Gala 2011

I didn't donate my time to the Gala this year, but I did donate some items! I was able to enjoy the night with Rob and his partners. The current Miss America, Teresa Scanlan, was at the big event and we couldn't resist asking her for a photo. I do enjoy watching beauty pageants! After taking a photo with her I wish I would have taken a bit more time to fluff and buff myself up for the night! Another highlight was Kenny Loggins performed. I am really not a fan, but who doesn't like to cut Footloose. I am embarrassed to say that if I wold have been asked on the street who sang that song I would have been speechless. I love Kenny Loggins for his lullaby's. I love Return to Pooh's Corner....Count all the bees in the hive, Chase all the clouds in the sky. Ohh the sweet smell of babies and rocking them late at night to that CD. Memories that will never leave me!

Operation Christmas Child

We had done Operation Christmas Child in the past with my MOPS group, but since I quit MOPS we didn't do it last year! I had been asked at church to be a mentor with the 3rd grade bible ministry. I have been enjoying my time and mentoring someone through Christ. Some days I think I am mentoring both of us, but it has been a good experience. I came up with the grand idea to take Operation Christmas Child into our 3rd grade ministry program. We had less than 3 weeks to get it together. It was enough time to get our program ready for the 3rd graders, but a bit more time would have been welcomed since we opened the idea up to the whole church. We had been talking about burning bushes at church and taking the leaps of faith even if we don't have all our ducks in a row. I am a "have all my ducks in a row" kind of gal, so this was a complete leap of faith, but a great one. We were able to put together over 23 boxes with our 3rd graders and had 98 boxes to turn in all together! WOW! Giving truly is better than receiving!

Baby Stuff

I am starting to get rid of baby stuff! It is great to start clearing some stuff out, but I am so sad to see some of the clothes go. I don't want to keep them, but looking at them brings back so many great memories! It also appears that old baby toys are favorites as well!
I am thinking garage sale in the spring. I have heard mixed reviews about doing it, but no matter what I choose it will be work on getting it all ready! Wish us luck, and hope I can control the tears. Sweet tears, but it brings back such sweet memories!

Ellery Parent Teacher Conference

We had Ellery's parent teacher conferences today and got a glowing report. I was a bit worried because we don't work with her like we did Mason, we do work with her just in a different way. She loves dramatic play, singing, dancing, and home living at school.

Social and Emotional Report:

Ellery is very social. She is independent and makes good choices for herself. She follows rules and routines. She is a comforter and nurturer. She shares willingly with others. She uses words to solve conflicts with friends. Ellery has good self help skills and tries to help friends.

Some of this came as a shock. She shares willingly with others as long as their name isn't Bryson!

Our funniest part was reviewing her emotions and what she had to say about everyone. The instructions were to just color the chart, but Ellery felt compelled to give a story to each emotion along with assigning it to someone in our family! I am glad to see that she gave herself Happy!!!

School Skating Party

When I was in middle school I would spend every Friday night at the skating rink. Mason's school had a school sponsored skating party and I thought he was a bit too young to go, but I just couldn't resist. We loaded up the family and went skating. Too our surprise they have these wonderful mini walkers for beginner skaters! Fabulous and made the whole experience grand!It wasn't all smiles. Being a Friday night didn't make it any easier when we fell a few times before we used the walker. Once we got going he was having a great time. He was still reserved, but enjoyed himself. Ellery loved it and liked going fast and wanted to try to do more on her own.

They really enjoyed trying it more by themselves on the carpet where it wasn't as slick! Rob walked around with them as well, but he wouldn't put on any skates! We have goals for the next party!

Fall Fun

I don't know what it is about a pile of leaves, but it brings us JOY!

Stickers

I used to LOVE stickers as a child. I loved them so much I wouldn't use them because I didn't want to waste them. I was always saving them for the right moment and that moment never seemed to find me. My kids have a different look and approach to stickers. Give them stickers and they will use every last one you give them. Our rule is you can stick them to paper or yourself. I don't want to have any surprises decorated with stickers. Sometimes they accidentally get stuck to the floor, and after the kids help me work and work to get them off they have no desire to stick them in unwanted places. Today, they were playing in the office quietly with stickers. They came out with them all over their bodies. Mason went and changed into shorts so he could have more surface area to apply them!

A few quotes I was met with:

E: We are pretending these stickers are band aids. Look at all my owies!

M: Check out my sticker mustache!

M: I guess we could pretend they are tattoos?

My Family

Mason remains our sweet sensitive child. He is very nurturing and he is someone who is always taking care of others or thinking of them!

Wall Drug

I hear you can't go to the hills without going to Wall Drug. Well, the first time we went I was denied the experience, we were going to deny the experience again, but we needed a bathroom break. We decided to walk through Wall Drug since it was accessible. The experience cost us a South Dakota buffalo and ground squirrel. Ellery picked her squirrel because of its softness. Mason couldn't resist getting his very own Bismark the Buffalo. It was an experience.
This is the last pleasant picture from the trip. About two hours from home Ellery couldn't hold anything down and we now have an awful car story to tell about throw up. Ewwwwww is all I can say!

Mt. Rushmore

We hit our visit to the hills in the off season, so all other excursions were closed up for the winter, but not Mt. Rushmore! Everyone enjoyed visiting the park without the crowds. We were able to run around on the trails and along the walk ways without worrying about disturbing anyone!

The Animals

Mason is really getting into writing and writing in his journal per my request. While we were in the hills I asked him to journal what he saw. On a sunny day (Sun E Dau) He saw: deer, bufalo (bfulo), turkey (trke), squirels (sqrl), Mountain goats (montingos)
We kept seeing buffalo's and they are very impressive up close. We decided to name him Bismark, so we would go on drives and nature walks and look for Bismark.
One hysterical point of our trip was finding the mountain goats. I tried to take a picture, but they took off as I was taking it so the kids all commented on their butts, and then I reinforced it by saying I got a picture of the butts. It is their favorite picture from the trip of course. We tell everyone how we got this picture!
Last but not least, we shouldn't forget this wild animal.

To The Hills

We headed to the Black Hills for a Chaplin early Thanksgiving get together. We loaded up the family and headed out for our 8 hour drive with Grandma Ellen. We had a great trip out. A few highlights from our drive is that we all learned to sing the alphabet backwards from Grandma Ellen. A fun skill to have mastered. We also played some rhyming games. The funnies rhyme was Mason suggesting we all come up with words that rhyme with ditch. When it came back to his turn he blurted out "bitch". We kept going with out skipping a beat, but Rob and I sure got a laugh out of hearing our sweet 5 year old get all excited over rhyming and saying the word bitch like a proud man!

Let it Snow!

At least we made it to November this year before we got snow! Ellery was excited to see snow. She decided that we needed to head outside and swing in it! Too bad it all melted by the time Mason was out of school.

Bryson 15 Month Check Up

Height: 31.5 inches (62%)

Weight: 23lb 5.5oz (32%)

Head Circumference: 48cm (73%)