I have so many adventures to tell you about, I don't even know where to begin! I have SO many pictures, I think I will just share a few with you every day.


This year we decided to go to Epcot. We figured with Granny it would be an easier park to navigate and she had mentioned that she wanted to go there too.


This is Fischer standing in front of the big Epcot ball! Fischer really enjoyed that ride!



This is the crazy squirrel that wanted to eat our lunch! He was a very brave squirrel, jumping on my mom's lap and even attempting to jump on the baby in his stroller.

This was one of the best rides at Epcot. It was a boat ride that rode through greenhouses full of tropical plants. Disney was also working on changing the way we grow our vegetables(hence the hanging pumpkins). This picture of Garrison pretty much sums up how he was the first week or so in Florida...VERY grumpy! We finally figured out he was just starving!!!

Here are a few pics of our time here in Florida! I will
only use the first letter of my friends names.

This is a picture of my friend "I" and myself at the pool! We had great conversations! That is her little girl "P". She is a few months older than Garrison.

This is Fischer playing with his friend "J". Even though they couldn't speak the same language they had fun playing together. "J" would call Fischer the Schwimmer. It was so cute.

Garrison was exhausted!

I know the three of you who actually read my blog are sad that I haven't posted any pictures! We have had an amazing time in Florida! I made a new friend from Germany and she sent me some of these pictures after she arrived home! She had an underwater digital camera...didn't even know they had those!! More stories to come later!



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In the midst of runny noses, coughing, fevers, nebulizer treatments(see video below), ER visists, crying, whining and all of the fun things that go along with sick children...I have managed to capture a few happy moments this past week.

These smiles(and naps) have helped me to make it through:

Wow! What a crazy week it has been! Both of my kiddos have been sick this week, and I am suffering from a little cabin fever! Last night we ended up taking Garrison to the ER at Children's. I called his pediatrician about 11pm and they transferred me to the oncall nurse. The nurse listened to his breathing over the phone and said it was pretty rapid, and that I should take him in.Turns out the little stinker has Croup. They injected him with a little steroid to keep his airway from getting swollen or inflammed. Fischer has a sinus infection and sounds really hoarse. The ER doctor said that it is possible that Fischer has croup too but it manifested more as a hoarse voice than a cough.

Everytime I start working out again and take them up to the play place they get sick! I don't think I will be taking them there again...which stinks because I really enjoy going to the classes in the morning.

All of this to say that I am EXTREMELY excited about going to the warm, sunny state of Florida! Only 10 more days! What a blessing that Fischer will get to swim and be outside for a few weeks!

Ugly Sweaters and Ugly Mannequins

Last night we had our first annual Ugly Sweater Girls Night Out!

ALERT: LONG POST (its rare I know, as I usually don't have much to say)

I was sitting in the recliner feeding the baby when I hear a cry from the bathroom, "Save me, save me, mommy!" I instantly know what this cry for help means...Fischer can't get his pants down in time to use the bathroom. So, I put the baby down and he is completely insulted and begins to SCREAM at the top of his lungs! I calmly rescue Fischer from his impending emergency and then go back to feeding the baby.

Normally this type of stress would have caused me to get extremely upset with Fischer and maybe even yell at him for not being able to get his pants down! So, I can thank Sharon who delivered a much needed devotional this morning at our Mom's Club. I am so thankful that Sharon is our Mentor Mom this year. She has experienced the unimaginable and therefore has a perspective on life and death that most will never have. She asked us what chores around the house seem to cause us the most grief. The usual answers were thrown out...laundry, general cleaning, and of course the toilet. Sharon shared that her least favorite job around the house is one that would involve an odor. Her kids even banned her from saying the word odor because of her love affair with the word.

When Sam went off to Boy Scout camp this past June, she had asked her oldest to clean the bathroom. After Sharon had arrived at home after finding out that Sam had passed away, she remembers walking into that bathroom, lifting the toilet lid and realizing that she would never have that "boy" odor again.

How amazing that Sharon can make a room full of mothers cry with a story about her son's messes. She's right though...the toys on the floor(or in my case the "fort" made from cushions on the couch)...there not a mess...they are a beautiful reflection of the children that live in our home. And the laundry...the never-ending laundry...a beautiful reflection of the little toes that wear those socks. I feel like I need these reminders everyday, as the beauty of her words seem to fade quickly in the midst of chaos and stress. Thank you Sharon for sharing your heart with us today.

Onto other matters:

We also had a chiropractor talk to us today(our theme was "Here am I Lord, help me to meet my kids physical needs"). I was a little skeptical of some aspects of her talk, ok I was a lot skeptical. I hate that I am a skeptic...but at least I am not partial to chiropractors...I am skeptical of many people and things! I did enjoy her thoughts on nutrition, vitamins and overall health, but she lost me on the muscle and toxin testing. I agree with her that the body's health is a combination of mental, spiritual and physical well being. But really...can I just put a vitamin in my pocket and gain strength? I think that is where the mind over matter comes in. I also think you can spend TOO much time worrying about organic vegetables and vitamins and toxins that you forget to live. It's almost as if they spend so much time worrying about how to stay alive as opposed to living. Of course God gives us choices on how to live, how to eat, whether or not to exercise(and I could defintely improve in this area)...but our God is in control...and we sometimes forget.

I am also turned off when people brag about how their children have never had this medication, or this antibiotic. I guess they have never had a child in the hospital gasping for breath and hanging on to life. And I agree...we are a society obsessed with antiobiotics and medication, but when your children are sick you want to make them better. I have never had an ear infection, but I hear they are extremely painful. And I can't imagine making a child suffer through one without meds. I am glad that no one tells me to just suck it up when I am sick...I would be the first one in line at the doctor asking for antibiotics.

The last matter I promise!

My huband and I are trying the Laura diet(that's just the name of my friend over at www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/blog). She makes a healthy menu plan every week, so we are going to try and copy hers for the week! Well, ok almost everything...minus the deer steak. Sorry Laura...that's where I draw the line.

These are for the Grandmas!!

I meant to write a post that explained all of the meaningful events of 2008, however I never got around to it. My husband wrote one on his blog, and he did an excellent job so I will just link you to his. http://www.youthministryhilarity.blogspot.com/

One major decision was made for our family in 2008! We have decided to homeschool! I know, I know...I am the first to admit that I used to make fun of homeschoolers! Several events have shaped our decision. One of those events was the death of a teenager at our church(you can read about Sam here) http://fischerbowl.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-just-got-done-telling-my-hubby-what.html

Sam was homeschooled and through conversations with his mom I have come to realize how precious her time with him was. She is so grateful for the time that she had with him...time that she would have lost if he had gone to school.

I also have a TON of support. There are several families at church that homeschool and will be a great resource for us. Homeschooling is not what it used to be...they have gym, music, art, and many other classes for the kids to participate in.

SO, I have been trying to get organized so that I can begin pre-school in the fall. Nothing extremely formal, but I will be using a curriculum that I think I will love! Here is a picture of our little school.

The dangers of Facebook

My friend Laura over at http://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/ has Gratituesday every week. This is the first time I am joining in!

Yesterday I took Garrison to the doctor and discovered he had a double ear infection. This is why I am extremely grateful for modern medicine! Garrison has been so unhappy and I just blamed it on the acid reflux. I try to imagine living 200 years ago when there was no pain medication or antibiotics. I think having to watch your baby suffer through ear infections without treating them would be horrible. Not to mention that many children probably lost their hearing if they suffered from chronic ear infections.

Now, I do believe there is something to be said for wholistic medicine and finding ways for natural healing, but if there is pain medication that can help a suffering child, I think it should be used.

And of course Garrison would not be alive if it wasn't for modern medicine. See pic here: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIsnNawY8SvciaBQCbEA1mEN7FG-qC5l5YQypn0noeop37mPzHQV7m8yxUHViYrgREwG_1FtmyA50X3xeOZxFc3egAYKetfuRKgRFcpRBe2ZGddNK72l8Nh2ZhMn1jwGGxTpS/s1600-h/Garrison+016.jpg

And yes, God is the Great Physician, but I am grateful that he gives people the ability to use their minds and hands to heal others.

And as for Garrison, I think he is pretty grateful too :)

Just decorating for Christmas...

I lost my grandpa on November 28th, 2008. You may remember me mentioning him here on the July 10th post:
http://fischerbowl.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

Here are the words that I read at his funeral(I'm not sure anyone understood what I was saying, since I sobbed through the whole thing.)

Grandpa,

Thank you for the countless memories forever etched into my heart and mind.
Memories that are precious to me and to everyone here.

You were a grandpa who loved to play with us. You spent hours on the floor playing Pente with me. You would take us to DeSoto to play shuffleboard and mini golf. And who could forget the rides in the golf cart, crystal mining, the rock shop, and fishing. The list could go on and on.

I love the little snapshots of you that are so vivid in my mind now.

Like the image of you hurriedly walking around the house in Hot Spring Village, whispering under your breath, looking for your next project.

Or the image of you quietly reading the paper and drinking your morning coffee.

Or the image of you driving on the shoulder on the way home from church on a Wednesday night, while in fear my mom and I held hands in the back seat.

Or the image of you shuffling everyone together so you could take a picture.
Thank you for all of the pictures that you took...and for the slideshows!
When I was a kid, I LOVED the slideshows. I am so thankful for the slideshow that we had with you a few years ago.

But most of all grandpa, you were a kind and gentle spirit. The type of person God calls us to be in Colossians 3:12 where it says,
"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."


My grandpa's funeral was beautiful. The hardest part for me was when they closed the casket door. They slowly lower the door, and you know that you will never see your grandpa in the flesh again.

I've only been to a handful of funerals in my 31 years. The one thing I can say about all of them is that no one had to lie or pretend about the character of the person we were remembering.

I've never heard anyone declare this at a funeral..."Well, he was a bitter, mean, hateful old thing." Ok, that was extreme, but you get the idea. The usual comments involve love, kindness and the generousity of the person. It really made me think about my own funeral...do I want people to be able to speak truthfully about the kind of person I was, or will they have to pretend?

Live everyday like it's your last...no, I say make every day count, because one day it will be your past.

Here are some precious pictures of my grandpa and Fischer at their joint 1st and 84th birthday parties.

Today I talked to a mom who gave birth to a baby with spina bifida. She is strong and relaxed, witnessing her baby have major surgery in her first 24 hours of life. She's patiently waiting to hold her sweet baby girl in her arms.

Today I talked to a mom who has never taken her child home from the hospital. She religiously visits him, just holding onto the hope that one day he will come home. She looked at my sleeping baby...noticed his outfit. Her son had an outfit just like it....but never got to wear it. Her son has never felt the crisp autumn air.

Today I talked to a mom who tragically lost her son at the tender age of 13. His shoes still by the door, where he left them. She's a sweet spirit, just trying to cope with what has to be the greatest loss of all...a child.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today I have witnessed love...the unconditional, neverending love of a parent. I thank you for these three sweet mothers. I am thankful for my children Lord, and I vow to make each day count.

Amen

Somy of you may know that my dream is to be a professional photographer. I have never had formal training, so I just practice on my kiddos. I learn something new everytime I shoot pictures of them...like the fact that the flash was on and I didn't even realize it, thus making bright faced children in the low light. We were extremely rushed due to the fact that the temperature dropped from 55 to 41 very quickly! My next goal is to get a digital SLR camera...the film has just become way too expensive. Plus, if I had a digital I would have realized that my the kiddos faces were bright. If you want me to practice on your kids, let me know!

Isnt' He Yummy??

How could I forget this Halloween picture?

Fall Fun

Garrison is already 5 weeks old! Hard to believe that time has passed this quickly and it is November! He had a 1 month appointment where we discovered he had acid reflux! No wonder the little guy would cry and whine when I layed him down after he ate. I guess I should have figured it out...maybe it was the lack of sleep. Dr prescribed Zantac and we have a different baby on our hands! He now sleeps MUCH better at night...sometimes of course :)

I made Halloween dinner last night. Fischer helped me make the spooky deviled egg eyes..and insisted that we put m & m candies on them..yum!

The weather was absolutely beautiful today so we decided to take a trip to the apple orchard!

And no, we would NEVER try the apples before buying them and throw the evidence on the ground...how dare you think that!