Going to the Show

We recently took Evan and Ella Grace to "Disney Live." We decided at about 3:30 in the afternoon to go to a 6:30 show. Derek found us some really good seats even though it was last minute. Ella Grace was SOOOO excited. She insisted on wearing her Minnie dress (Halloween costume). She looked really cute! Things like this can be a bit overwhelming, so we weren't really sure how Evan would like it. Well, he had THE best time. He watched the show intently, clapping and laughing. It made mine and Derek's year to see him enjoy it so much!

I told EG I wanted to take her picture, and this is the pose she struck!

Waiting for the show to begin.

Calling "Mickey"

Evan is holding the $20 souvenir we bought. $20!!! Are you serious?

Watching intently.

This is the way Ella Grace stands. I just love it. She folds her little hands and holds them in front of her. So sweet.

This is what happened when it was over and time to go home. She was NOT happy at all. She kept saying, "I want to do it again!" She cried the entire way home.

The next day, Ella Grace and I joined my sisters and nephew and niece at the Arkansas Arts Center to see "Mr. Popper's Penguins." It was such a cute play. Ella Grace loved it and watched the entire thing. I was pretty impressed that it kept her attention (for a two-year-old). She loved watching the kids and of course the penguins (kids in penguin costumes). =) I knew Evan would not enjoy this at all, so he and Derek had a fun boys day together.

My nephew, Stone (love the face), my niece, Sarah, and me and EG after the show.

Later that night, I met my friend, Toni, for a women's event at my church. It was such a wonderful event. Priscilla Shirer was our speaker, and she is AMAZING. The theme was "Dwelling in the Land of Possibility." It was all about how God is able to do above and beyond!!! It was such a wonderful time of praise music and worship. I really needed it! If you ever get a chance to hear Priscilla, go!!!

"Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23

Playing Catch Up

The fam has been quite busy lately. I promised myself I would make time to blog today, so here is my rushed post of the last 12 days.

Evan was part of a nursery rhyme parade at his school. The children were encouraged to wear a costume or use a prop for the favorite nursery rhyme. Evan really likes "Hey Diddle Diddle." It is the cutest thing EVER to hear him say it.

As soon as I got in the parking lot, it was like he knew. I saw that his classroom was at recess and he was walking toward me. At first I thought he saw me, but he didn't. It was fun to see him when he didn't know I was looking. =)

There were so really cute and cleavor costumes.


I knew Evan would not be jazzed about wearing a costume, so I opted for the props route. Here he is with his bowl and spoon. I also had a small poster for him to wear around his neck. He liked it on his back better. ;)

We went to the first Razorback game. My brother-in-law had quite the tailgate party for the opening game in Little Rock. We had a great time. It helped that the Razorbacks won. Derek doesn't want to talk about last week's game. =(

Fun times tailgating

Ready for the game to start

We've been playing a lot with this monkey...

Believe it or not, we have still been swimming. The water is a little cold but some boys I live with don't care.

And playing (plus a little shopping) with this monkey...

She is a great shopping buddy!

Derek was at work one day when a soldier was being brought back from Iraq. Derek said when he was brought out of the airplane, the young soldier's dad saluted him. I can not even imagine. Every day and I am SO thankful my husband came home from Iraq! We should all be so thankful for our soldiers and their families (I'm not talking about the Horton's), especially those families who will miss their loved ones SO much every day!

We have been busy finding the perfect Halloween costumes. Evan will be Indiana Jones. I hope he'll wear it.


Ella Grace was going to be this...
but she change her mind and is now this...
She LOVES Minnie Mouse, so this is a better fit for her anyway. =)

Oh, and I got flashed by a man wearing no pants in the Target parking lot. It freaked me completely out and gave me nightmares! You girls be careful out there and make sure you are aware to your surroundings.

Other than all of this and the day-to-day school and therapy sessions, this is what we have been up to. We're busy (just like the rest of you I'm sure).

My Crazy Kids

These are some pictures Derek took this week that I just find hysterical!

Derek, Ella Grace and I went to Old Navy. I was in search of some new jeans. While I shopped, EG told her Daddy, "Take my picture." Ha! Looks like she made some new friends. These literally make me laugh out loud! This girl is a MESS!

My favorite! LOL!


She thinks this picture is cool because she is about to press the button that makes the dog talk.

Derek took Evan to occupational therapy this week, and I received this picture over e-mail. There Evan was in some shades! Ha! I think they may have even been pink and Hannah Montana. He didn't mind though. Afterall, it's what all the cool kids are wearing these days! Ha! He was rockin' them!

About to go play ball with O'Mari, the therapy dog.


The things my children do while they are out with Daddy! Hmmm...
Looks like fun to me!

First Haircut

Ella Grace is a month and a half from turning three years old! I can't even process that really. It seems impossible! It has gone by way too fast. Today she got her very first haircut. As bad as I hated cutting off those baby curls, it was time (probably passed time). She definitely needed a trim. We decided spur of the moment this morning that today was the day. It was probably good that I didn't have a whole lot of time to dwell on it. Ella Grace was VERY excited. She kept talking about sitting in the airplane and how she wasn't going to cry. She kept saying, "I want to get my hair cut!"

Well, when we got there and got her in the airplane, she looked like this...

not so jazzed over the idea

Then, she began to warm up.

I love that Derek was off today and got to go with us.

Suckers always help.

She did fantastic. She is such a big girl! It appears she even still has some curls left in her hair. Here she is afterward. Nothing makes a girl feel better than a trip to the beauty shop! =)

The nice lady that cut her hair bagged up all the baby girls for me. We also got the "My 1st Haircut" package that included this...

Let's Be Friends

My main objective with my blog is to document my family's day-to-day life. I have a closet full of scrapbooking stuff that I don't have time for. Blogging is a lot quicker, and honestly I find it a lot more fun. I can stay pretty current. Knowing I was five years behind on scrapbooking just stressed me out! Anyway, not only have I been able to document life, I have made some really great friends (some I've never met and some I've had the joy to meet in real life). It's been so amazing and fun!

I never set our for my blog to be this, but I feel to be an advocate for the autism community, I'll throw in some stories about our journey with that as well. After all, it is a big part of our life. Kids and adults with autism aren't going away with the epidemic we are in until there is a cure. So if I can help anyone reading this learn more about autism, it will help all of us down the road. Believe me, I live with autism 24/7 and sometimes I can't even figure it all out.

One thing I want so badly for Evan is for him to have a friend. I would love for him to have a friend he would want to invite over to play or meet at the park or the movies. Well, the nature of autism is social situations just don't come easily or naturally. We have to teach Evan a lot of things about social situations that you and I learn just from being in the world. Making a friend is difficult. With autism, he just really doesn't have an interest in a friend. He would rather play with adults, and preferrably Derek and me. We are working on it though. On Wednesdays he has Occupational Therapy and we meet up with Bradley for a "working" play date. They are just so cute together. They are learning to play Bingo (and other games) and TAKE TURNS! Ha! They are learning to be in each others' space. Evan does not like other kids being too close. The therapist makes them sit close to each other, play games together, have snack together, talk to each other and even hold hands at times. My hope is one day Evan and Bradley will be great friends. I really think he can learn that other kids are fun.

This was at the end of the therapy session when Evan's therapist (who is WONDERFUL) was telling Bradley's mom and me about their session. I love how she made them sit together in the same chair. They are looking out the window and I'm sure they are thinking, "I'll do it, but I'm not really liking it."

Of course, Evan has his instant friend, his sister! She makes him interact with her ALL the time! She is constantly involving herself in whatever he is doing. He tolerates her pretty well. She is so good for him, and he is so good for her. It's amazing what small children can pick up on though. She has already told me, "Evan doesn't talk." I really wasn't prepared for it NOW. I thought I had a little bit before we would have this conversation, but I just told her, "Evan talks when he wants to, but sometimes it is really hard for him to talk. That's why you need to always be sweet to Evan and help him." She was content with that and just said, "Ok." I LOVE MY KIDS!

Evan has no problem inviting his sister in on his bed jumping!!! Of course, she is loving that he is giving her the attention!

We Survived!

Ella Grace and I survived the first week of Mother's Day Out! On Tuesday I was sitting with her going through how our morning would work the next day, how she would take her backpack and lunch box with her, how she would put them in her cubby, and how she wouldn't cry. Then, she says to me, "And you won't cry." Ha! I told her that was right, neither one of us would cry. Well, that was WRONG!

My sweet girl on Day 1 of Mother's Day Out

She loves her mermaid backpack. She is very into The Little Mermaid and Flounder right now, so I thought this was perfect.

When we got there, she immediately picked out a baby and got back in the boat (just like at open house). She was doing great, smiling and so happy to be there. I wasn't going to make a big deal about me leaving. I went to the door and she came running with tears, "Momma, no!" Oh, it broke my heart. I told her I would be back really soon. I went to sign her in and by the time I had done that (which took all of one minute), she had already stopped crying. I, on the other hand, had just started! I did at least wait until I got to the car. =(

Hmmm. Which baby needs some love this morning?

Before the tears.

This is the "How could you?" look I got when I went to pick her up.

The next day she seemed excited. She said she wouldn't cry and reminded me of that even that morning. Well, it was another difficult drop-off. Please tell me it will get better. It really hurts my heart! I'm trying to stay busy during the day so I don't think about it too much, but I find myself watching the clock. She and I are so happy to see each other when I pick her up. The first day she asked me, "Did you miss me so much?" I told her I did and she said, "I missed you, too." Ahhhh, heart overflow!

Day 2's excitement was mainly about her new shoes. I gave them to her that morning knowing she would be excited about them, and they might help with the transition. She was SO excited and said, "I want to show Daddy!" As she was walking out of the room, she yelled back, "Thank you, Momma!" It is just the sweetest to hear that when it is unprompted! LOVE it!

Please, please tell this gets easier. My heart can't take it!