Be My VALENTINE!

 

On February 14th, we had our traditional meal of meatloaf with heart shaped ketchup!  We practice proper etiquette and have a candlelight dinner.  This year, Laynie had the idea to draw names and we each wrote a "love note" to the person who we drew.  Then during dinner, we read the notes to each other.  I sure love these three people.  If I didn't have them in my life, I'd be beside myself.  They are my EVERYTHING!!!

I think Mom's favorite flower is the lilac - at least that's what she always said when the lilacs bloomed in spring... But before mom died, we were discussing what she'd like at her funeral.  I asked her what kind of flowers she'd like on her casket.  She responded with pink and purple carnations.  (I think she wanted to keep things on the cheap side for Dad.)  But nonetheless, when I see pink and purple carnations now, I'm reminded of her, and I'm sure when the lilacs bloom this spring, I'll think of her then too.  

Matt gave me these pink carnations for valentines day.  I put them in my Grandma's teapot.  It was like having them both near me for awhile.

Miss Alayneous

The highlights of Miss Alayna for the month of February are as follows:

She had her Winter Showcase in clogging and did so well on stage!  There was a brief moment of stage fright, but knowing she did it last year helped her do it again this year!  She shined on stage, and we were oh so proud of her!  She and her classmates danced to a song called "Little Red Wagon."

We went to the Purple Turtle afterward - tradition!

Laynie LOVES creating!  She jumped at the chance to make a chocolate rabbit cake with me.

We got a book about acrylic painting at the library and Laynie (with a bit of my help) painted this cute kitty through a step by step tutorial.

And Laynie was one of the lucky ones to be part of the magician's magic show!  She got to hold a real bunny at the Blue and Gold banquet.

Other News of our Laynie this month:

She growing up too darn fast!  I can't help but morn the stage of motherhood where I was the constant provider for my children.  That stage is over and I'm now experiencing the "guidance" stage - guiding them in their efforts to become.  Laynie's reading has really taken off in the last few months.  She can read almost anything now!  She was struggling with finding girl friends at the beginning of first grade, but realized that she doesn't necessarily need then and instead has opted to play with boys at recess instead!  lol!  Her best friends are boys right now - Crew, Brixton, Daniel, Frank and George!  Laynie LOVES to create.  She constantly wants to draw, paint, and bake - all while rolling around the house on her roller blades!

 

The Gav-meister

Gavin was able to experience some great things in the month of February:

Polar Plunge (Reversed) at the Saratoga Hot Springs

Gavin's scouting den met at a private swimming pool that's heated solely by the hot springs along Utah Lake.  Steam was coming off the surface of the pool.  Instead of plunging into a cold body of water, the "polar" part was getting out!!!  

For Activity Days, we were able to help the Woodruff family paint slats of wood that will be used for their carport.  My partner, Chelsea's, husband is blind, so it was nice to serve their family in that way.

Gavin was an Indian in his "Utah" play that the entire 4th grade put on.  He said a small part then with his class danced a Native American dance with jingle bells.

On a Saturday, Gavin stood outside Smith's grocery store and asked for donations for the food bank. 10 grocery carts were filled that morning and hauled away to the Utah Food Bank.

Gavin learned about 1st aid from our awesome firefighters/paramedics for another activity day.

The Blue and Gold Banquet  - celebrating Scouting's 112th birthday was celebrated.  I was asked to spearhead it. 

Gavin brought these cute car cakes to be auctioned off.

And a magician came to entertain.  It was oh so fun!

Other news on Gavin this month:

We wondered if he has ADHD, so I took him to a new pediatrician who knows a lot about it.  He wasn't sure if Gavin had ADHD or autism.  In fact, he was leaning more toward autism, but he saw my desperation and agreed to put Gavin on Adderall, an ADHD medication.  The side effects of the medication were both good and bad - good because it helped Gavin's overall mood and his ability to focus.  Bad, because it heightened his sensory processing issues.  Gavin really struggled with sounds (more so than usual) and would break down more frequently in class.  He even ran away from the school one day and policemen had to be alerted.  Luckily, Mrs. Bills located him and I quickly got in my car and brought him home after it happened.  It's been a huge struggle, to say the least.

After about 6 weeks on the medication, Gavin decided he didn't want to take it any more.  It didn't seem to enhance his mood as much, but it definitely continued to heighten his Sensory issues, making it hard for him to control his emotions.  He will go in for a psychoanalyses in April to determine if what he has is solely sensory or if there is also autism.  My mommy heart breaks for Gavin.  He is having to bear a hard burden that most kids don't have to face.  It's been a huge challenge - one that has affected his self-worth, and the ability to function "normally."

To help alleviate him from his sensory issues at school, Gavin now does a hybrid schedule.  He goes to school for the first 5 hours of the day and I pick him up at 1:00 and do writing and typing with him at home.  Both Gavin and I have really liked this schedule.  He gets 1 on 1 attention with his writing, an opportunity to do a typing program (which he wouldn't get in school), and he doesn't have to go to PE and Music specialties which usually trigger his SPD.  Already, I've seen improvement in Gavin's writing ability.  He's quite self-motivated to get everything done because the sooner he does, the sooner he can play with friends.  It's been a bit more taxing on my time - I have to stay more disciplined when prepping from pre-k - but I'd go to the moon and back for this boy of mine, and I hope he knows it.