Sleigh Ride

Cousin Emily is in town for Christmas week.  We took a drive up to play in the snow yesterday at Happy Trails Horse Adventures.   Super fun.  Sleigh Rides, Sledding,  Warming tents.  Highly Recommended.    The girls loved it, minimal crying, lots of snow play.  You can pack in snacks and food to cook over fire/wood stove.    I hope it becomes a Christmas Eve tradition for us.

 Sleigh Rides

 

 Sledding

 "I do all by myself"

And then she crashed, face plant, all by herself too!   

 Huge Percheron Draft Horses.   Amazing, for the non-horse enthusiast who

doesn't get much time near them.

 

 Marshmallow Roasting

Warming tents for Snacks, drying gear, and taking a break

Santa

No tears, no crying, no drama.   Just a simple, easy visit to see Santa and chat about what kind of toys they hope Santa brings.   The girls were in awe of Santa, especially Makena.  Big eyes and a bit of shyness that melted away when Santa started talking about Barbie, Ponies, and all things Pink.  Santa knows.   The candy cane to follow helped a bit too.

Holiday Things

A few things we've been up to so far this Holiday Season....

 Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo.  Maddy loves this place.  

 Spendy to get in the door, but we had a good time.

Look, a good family photo!  These are rare.

 

 Christmas Tree hunting at Yakima Fruit Market.   Usually we head to a tree farm,

but this year we chose the simple route.  I went to this place as a kid to get trees with my Dad.  

I'll admit, it was much easier than the whole "u-cut" process,

which seems to be a fun family idea that never ends well.

 Tree decorated, House decorated, Lights on inside and out. 

Cat sweetly curled asleep on couch.  Done.

 

 The girls had their first "sleepover" in Maddy's bedroom.   Big Deal.  

And they only played for about an hour before I had to go up and threaten to put a

big ki-bosh on the sleepover, if they didn't shut their eyes.  

All tucked in and ready for sleep.....well until Mom closes the door.  Then back to their antics.

Holiday cookie decorating with some friends.  It was a sweet treat mess.

I caught Will lapping up that frosting, spoon after spoon.  I meant to tell his Mom, but got side-tracked....and before I knew it the bowl was empty.  Oops. Just a small sugar attack after that.

 

I don't see Santa

Every night with the girls we have a pretty strict routine about bedtime.  I had read books to Makena and was about to sing her a song, last part before lights out.   Lately, she is quite the funny little thing and her words coming out more and more are wonderful.  Here was our conversation:

Me:   Makena, which song would you like?  Frosty, Rudolph, Santa Claus, Jingle Bells?
Makena:   Santa Caus comin to our house.  Santa comin to our house.   Bring Dora Dollhouse and take.
Me:   Yes, Santa will come.  What is he bringing?
Makena:   Santa Caus bring Dora Dollhouse and take.  Take, Take, Take.
Me:   Pondering...   Cake??
Makena: YES.  TAKE!!!  (C is still a difficult sound for her)
Me:  I don't know if Santa brings Cake.
Makena:   Where is Santa?   (putting her hand above her eyes, lookout position scanning room)   I don't see Santa.  I don't see Santa.
Me: Santa is up at the North Pole making toys.  He'll be here in a couple weeks.
Makena:   I don't see Toys. I don't see Santa.
Me:  Okay, Makena.  What song do you want?
Makena:   Santa Claus.   (Followed later by Tinkle Tinkle Little Star....as sung by Makena)

This conversation cracked me up and made my soul leap a little.  Six months ago Makena was saying 4-5 words and mostly making the sound "du" or "du du" for everything.  Her progress is amazing.  She has worked hard and we have wonderful SLPs and a Preschool to give credit too. 

Christmas for me is done.  This is all we needed.

I'm sharing a video of Makena around the beginning of May.   We had a few simple words and was just starting to put two words together, still very much working on vowel sounds and consonants.   Today we are having conversations with four -five word sentences.   I watch her progress grow every day.   Its amazing.   Tomorrow I'll share a video of where were at now.

Preschool

 

September was back to school for the Potters, like so many other families.   Maddy will do another year of Preschool and start Kindergarten next year.  For Makena, it was her first day of preschool!   Both were excited and anxious to go, and I was more excited than both of them put together. 

 

Maddy first day back to Preschool. 

Relief for mom, and new activites for Maddy

Makena's First Day of Preschool

Listening carefully to Ms. Louise

Big Girl with her much loved Dora Backpack. 

Splash

In the hot days of August, we pulled out the pool for some summer fun.  I can tell you this is the best $20 or $30 I ever spent.  This day was worth it and much more.  The girls had the best time playing.   Just take a look.




Lining up to run and jump in the pool.

Makena was in attack mode with water guns.

Goggles on, nose plugged....DIVE!

Giggles, Giggles, and More Giggles.

The Lifeguards, otherwise known as Dads.  Aren't they the picture of fun?

And then Dad got in the mix.....Dad knows how to keep the giggles going.

Which quickly turned into a rousing game of Splash Maddy's Dad.

And more laughs and silliness

With an occasional swimsuit malfunction.

Tate broke out a few smiles....when he wasn't
overwhelmed by the splashing girls.

Best Friends.  Summer Fun. 
See you again next year!

Yah Mon

Makena recently started saying "Yes, Mom".   Only it really sounds like she just got off a long vacation from Jamaica and is practicing her Rastafarian Slang.    It sounds exactly like 'Yah mon'.  For Makena, this is all a really big deal.  Putting two words together and using them consistently is a big step.

Makena has Speech Apraxia.  She has a speech delay but its a bit more complicated.  We have been this journey with her speech for over a year.   Its heart-breaking, difficult, exhausting.   And now I am happy to say its also exciting, heart-warming, and bringing big smiles for our family as she is starting to make some huge progress.    Its a long journey with a lot of teeny tiny steps.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is the formal term.   In simple terms it really means the connections in the brain to formulate words are not there.   She understands everything we are telling her, follows directions and listens appropriately.  She knows what she wants to say, but she cannot make the words come out.   For Makena, we noticed she wasn't on track with her milestones for speech.  We had her evaluated at 21 months and they said, wait till she is two.  I heard many stories of 'late talkers' and at a certain age, the kid would just started talking in full sentences.  I had hopes this would happen, yet gut feeling said this was not to be.

Makena has to learn each individual sound.   Some compare it to a person who has had a stroke has to learn to talk all over again.  Makena cannot just mimic sounds, as most infants and toddlers do.  She will try but it comes out mostly as "du du" and not anything close to the word.    I'm learning more about Speech Therapy than I ever wanted to know.   

Sept 3rd, 2012 - I started this post a couple months ago and never finished it.  I just took a look at our blog and decided it was time for some updates.  In the few months since I've written this, Makena has exploded in language.  She is now putting three words together at times.   This is huge in our world.

From January of this year, its been quite a ride with Apraxia. You wonder if they'll ever talk. You lose track of milestones as she is so far behind kids her age, it doesn't matter anymore. Your normal status quo is a jigsaw puzzle each day of what Makena is trying to say.  Hearing new phrases like "Waaaiitt Mommy" is music to our ears.   Having simple conversations and hearing her respond back with words is pure bliss.

She is still very speech delayed, and will be in therapy for at least another year, possibly more.  However, we are on our way.  She is making enormous progress.   Go Makena!

We still have many sounds and words from her, which we cannot understand.  Lots of patience and reasoning on what she is trying to say.  With the age of 3 some huge tantrums, more than likely caused by communication frustrations.   Rightly so, I'd be mad and frustrated too.

The latest words

Dura (Dora)
Train Ride
Red Light
Green Light
Wait Mommy
Wait Daddy
Me too!
Sissy, Wait
Me Me (Mickey Mouse)

Baseball Interrupted

Pepe and Uncle Andy game over a couple weeks ago a Sunday night dinner.  The baseball game was on and this was the scene.    Mariners Game on the TV, mundane night, not much going on....

But before long, my little gremlins got something going. They discovered pillows of all shapes and sizes were alot of fun.  And before I knew it we had this...

Followed by more of it.   Because you know how kids work.  If you get a good laugh, well than you MUST keep going.  More pillow, more laughing, more giggling. 

Uncle Andy was not left out.  He might have got the worst of the new found pillow game.   And oh, it was a very fun game!

Pretty soon, there was no Uncle Andy left. Just legs.  He was officially lost to the pillows.

And Dad, sitting there so quietly at the other end of the couch.  Don't worry, the girls realized he was ready for his share as well.

And then they were done.  Baseball Interrupted.   Girls giggling,  Family laughing,  pillow chaos to be had.  Mission Complete.

Meme

I write this post with great sadness in my heart.   My daughter's beloved Meme passed away on May 2nd.  She fought a brave and courageous battle with cancer for an amazing 28 years.    Her Memorial was this last weekend, which touched all our hearts, brought many tears and also some smiles with what a wonderful life she had.  

Meme and the girls,  Summer 2009

My girls lost an amazing Grandmother and I lost the joy of watching this relationship develop. Maddy's eyes would get big and filled with joy when she knew she would get to spend the afternoon with Meme. She treasured her Tea Parties with Meme.

Baby Makena, June 2009

And little Makena knew who Meme was from an early age.   I remember one holiday when Makena was just learning to walk, and made her way to Meme hoping to sit on her lap.   Meme brightened up and smiled big realizing Makena wanted only to be with her.



Our Wedding Day, Hanalei Bay, Kauai in 2003

How much we miss Meme, but how lucky we are to have such wonderful memories of our time with her.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

 

Meme with Baby Madelyn on St. Patricks Day 2008

Expletives by a Four Year Old

Lately Ms. Maddy has had quite the little temper on her.   I know where she gets this fierce little temper from.   I had dreams of raising calm, quiet, well-minded little girls it was only really a dream.   Like the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.   

Madelyn has come up with some pretty interesting "expletives" lately for various reasons angry at her loving Mom and Dad.  I've started keeping track, as most times I'm trying to stifle my laughter.  Being told off by your 4 Year Old, with her angriest words is just funny.    It also usually involves growling, sticking out her tongue, and the best one - crossing her arms and giving me the 'Hmmmpphh' face with big pouty lips. 

Madelyn's repertoire of expletives:
Owie-Head
Ouchie Butt
Poop in your Belly 
PoopyHead
TrickyMomma  - Yes, that is right girl..and don't you forget it!

While I don't condone this behavior, at times I feel I just need to let it go.   Choose your battles, they say.  And honestly if the girl wants to be angry and call me a Owie-Head, so be it.    We are trying to eradicate the phrase 'poopyhead' out of our house.   I swear this is a 4/5 year old thing.   Everything is "poopy".   Maybe I should stick a bar of soap in her mouth, like my mom would threaten. 

Makena is still struggling with words, so for now she screams at ear crushing volumes which definitely gets your attention.    Makena is more of everything Madelyn is.   I like to say that Madelyn is training for Makena.    I have no doubt that Makena's future "expletives" will out do her Big Sister.

Other little gems from Ms. Maddy -
Upon noticing her underwear were a bit wet and asking her about that she said "I think I need a wiping lesson"
Overheard riding in the car, while she is looking at her Bible.  "Makena, be quiet.  I'm reading."   Hmm..really?  I didn't know she could read. 
At quiet time - "Mom, can I have three hours of quiet time?"   Yes, and a lesson on time after you get up.  :)
And most recently overheard  - "What kid? What is it? Need help? I'll help you. I'm a good helper. Mom doesn't know how. "

Three

Makena turned the big Three at the end of May.   It was a bit of a rough month, but we managed to pull off a fabulous Mickey Mouse themed party at the YMCA Adventure Zone.  1 hour of running around madness, followed by pizza and cupcakes.   She loved it.   

 Group pictures with the 2-5 year old set is not an easy task

Cupcakes were part of a friend's fundraiser, which worked out perfectly for this over-scheduled mom.
'Girl with the Cute Cakes' dropped these right off at the door of the Y, saving me even more hassle. Fantastic.

 
Peering over the table with Mickey Mouse Gift Bags and Cupcakes.  Hard to resist not digging right in. 

Watching Makena's cute face light up as the birthday candles were lit and we all started singing.  She loved it.  She got a shy smile and looked all around, as if to say "For ME??"   It made my momma heart burst.   The best part of being a parent is the unexpected moments of pure joy on your child's face.   To put it in perspective, Maddy still does not enjoy having being the center of attention for Birthdays.   So fantastically different to watch Makena bask in the spotlight.

Presents, the best part right? She wasted no time in ripping into these when we got home.  Happy Birthday, Makena.   I have no doubt the year will be filled with much adventure from you.

The Chihuahuas go for a Walk

Mom has taken to calling the kids Chihuahuas, always yipping at her and constantly underfoot.  We went for a walk in a park nearby this morning to give Mom some quiet time.

Makena fell asleep in the car after an afternoon birthday party, clutching her post party happy meal and goodie bag.