Update on both of my chilren...

Well another school year has begun and I have two children in school this year. A lot of big changes for bot the kids I will go over them both....



NICK....

Nick is progressing this summer better than in previous years. One monumental change was a change in his mental health. I have found a new therapist who in turn sent me to a new psychiatrist. These two people have literally changed Nicholas around. He is on new medication as the old ones just were not working for him. Trileptal a mood stablizer and Periactin to help him sleep at night. Nick is more socialable, he is able to recognize his needs and fill his own needs easier as opposed to relying on others to do them for him. He is more helpful and when asked to so something instead of groaning, wining or temper tantrums he say's "okay" or "sure" and then does the task he is asked to do. He was very excited for school. He has gotten taller this year and seemed to like all the teachers and students knowing all his changes. He is very concious of his looks. He has changed clothing styles we went from skater look and south pole and mark echo to now wearing levis and a nice shirt and a pair of vans. He likes the trucker shirts that Ashton Kutcher wears and he bought one for schol. His appearance has become something he realizes he has control on. He love the axe body sprays and deoderants. As far as developmetal changes his fine motor skills are still lacking. For instance tying shoe laces even though he is eleven is still a challenge he does get it done but slower. His maturity has increased this summer. I am hoping for a great school year this year.

MADISON...

Madison went to head start last year and they found auditory reception and speech delays in her. They have now put her in two programs. She attends a Early Childhood Developmental Delayed (ECDD) in the morning at nicks school and then head start in the afternoon. Her normal week will be Monday - Thursday 7:30-4 and Fridays from 7:30-10:55. She rides the bus in the morning and then in the afternoon and really likes that.
The teachers just love Madison she has warmed them right up. They have one aide directly working with her in the room. She outages most children in there by a year and half and is the only one with prior classroom experience. She is kind of a teachers helper and role model at circle time. She has a tendency to want to be the mother of the room always consoling the crying kids.
One new goal for her set this week is word sounds. Any word with an F for the first later has a "sh" sound for her. So fish sounds like sish. Or fork would sound like shork. Maddy has kind of started her own language and way of talking. Those around her can start to understand her more. Those in conversation with her and in subject can understand her words. But if she was to approach you and talk you would not know what she is saying.
It is unclear the severity of her condition. We see the doctor this month and will begin neurological testing on her since her birth was so high risk. We are also looking for any type of of palsy that may of effected her speech since she lost so much oxygen time when she was stuck being born.
I know that Madison is in the right programs. The first day of school was very hard for her she had severe anxiety problems. She has four melt downs and two sick to her stomach episodes. She finally did finish the day. I have noticed Madison is very emotional and sensitive lately and I am not sure if it is her age, life circumstances or more. She has a great team working with her and I am positive we will handle any obstacle in our way accordingly.


I will keep posting updates as I have them and as always thanks for reading my blog and sharing our story!

A much needed update on nicholas

Well as you can tell I have been MIA lately. Main reason being their was not much to report for nicholas as his progress reversed. But I am glad to announce he is progressing very well. This summer has been a tremendous turn around in our lives. I have a new therapist for him that nick actually looks forward to seeing. In combination with the counselor comes a new psychiatrist and let me first say he is amazing. He specializes in the autism field. He has nicholas on mood stableizer medication. The change in nick is dramatic. The mood swings are gone. He is still a little anxious but that is calming down as well. The new diagnosis is autism still. But they have also added chronic post traumatic stress disorder in direct result of our house fire. They are using he counseling sessions to attack that issue directly. School starts in a few days so we will be better able to judge nicks scholastic progress after that. In all I am optimistic. Less stressed and in all a happy mommy again. I will be posting lots of new pics in the days and weeks to come. As always thanks for taking the time to read my blog and share in our journey!

And so we wait....

It will be next week till pathology will look at the intestinal tissue biopsy slides so i won't know if he needs surgery till then update more later.

Ann Arbor here we come

Today we go to ann arbor to the Univeristy Of Michigan Children's Hospital to see a specialist for nicks intestinal problems. This is the last resort for us In michigan other wise we will have to go out of state and that is not going to be good.
So please say a prayer for us today I am worried and just plain freaking out I will post more info when I have it thanks!

Paper, plastic or cloth? Let's do a challenge!

For years we are use to being asked paper or plastic at the check out line. Then walmart made their super centers where plastic bags are automatically on their lil twirl devices for check out so their went that option of brown bagging it. To be honest I love brown grocery sacks but the plastic handle ones always were so much more convient.

When the craze began I started buying the recycle cloth bags about a year ago. I must say I prefer them over plastic grocery bags. Their more substantal they don't tear like the store plastic bags. Plus you can disguise you're purchases from nosey kids who break into the snack packs.

Don't let their shape fool you they can hold ALOT of food! Their especially great for larger jugs of sodas, juices and can goods that always split store grocery bags. Their are also rumors of stores offering small discounts if you bring you're own bags. I mean lets be honest can you imagine the cost of those cheap plastic bags anyhow?

I have a wonderful collection of bags from walmart, target, meijers, staples, office max and even macy's and pier 1 imports. It's kind of like the crem dela crem of what bags you're carrying. And at only a dollar their not that expensive. Some stores even offer a buy so many get one free offer.

I use my bags all the time for non grocery items, as a matter of fact my son used one for a sleep over saturday night to carry his p.j.'s, underwear, toliteries and change of clothes and everything fit perfect! Their light weight and easy to carry. I also purchased a few of the freezer bags from walmart so now I won't have the wilted boxes of frozen foods that melt and ice cream getting soggy. Even you're milk is ice cold when you get it home.

So I challenge you all to take the cloth bag challenge. Buy five and take them on you're next small shopping trip to pick up a few grocery items and if you are not convinced you're only out five bucks.

If you know of any store chains or local stores in you're area already giving disciounts for use of these bags or offering dicsounts on the purchase of them and free ones please post them.

Let's give this a shot! Who's in?!

I can almost bet you will love them!

To gift or not to gift?

I am honestly trying to figure this one out. Since the school year began my son has had three birthday parties to attend. He has went to each and odviously buying a gift for the kid. Their has been on he was sick for but I sent the kid a gift card for walmart in a card.

So before the holiday break I gave only a few kids their birthday invites to my sons birthday party and the rest will go out sometime next week. I have received three confirms and two no's one of those being a child who's party nick attended.

Something like this happened last year and what blew my mind was that their were kids who's birthdays we went to that did not come and not even so much as a birthday card!

I am sorry but is it me or is that just RUDE! I mean for us it is if I can't send my son and you took the time to invite him I will send a small gift if you are a class mate and for best friends of his their getting hooked up regardless.

So why as parents don't we do this? Does anyone else send a gift if their kid can't make it or a card especially if the childs party is one who attended a kid of you're own. Just wondering if I am alone in this thought or not thanks!

Is it fate...destiny or insane karma?

I can't help but wonder is life reliving itself right now......

Two years ago in February will mark that dreaded anniversary of our house fire and I feel like I am reliving my life from then.... allow me to explain my thought process here ....


It began before Christmas when I decided to start replacing specific items my children lost in the fire. I have bought a lot of "like" Items but nothing that was really really the real thing.

It started with a gaming system I hated the xbox 360 my mom & I got him for his birthday and for ages wanted a gaming system where my son was not sitting on his but all the time. The wii cam along and it was like an answered prayer. What i love most about the wii is it is a family system so even my three year old can play especially like sports easy for her to play. Along the same lines he had hand held game systems like the gameboy sp again games that really didn't bring anything to the table to teach and learn from...then came the didji from leap frog all games are learning games and to complete a level you have to complete math problems or spelling words. I honestly could not buy this thing fast enough yah it's a like item but much better of an improvement from power rangers and such.

So i bought the wii and the didji and I am very very pleased with my purchase....
I also was able to replace the shopping cart she use to push around and play with that was a huge suprise to her....the other big replacement was that glow in the dark football nick had lost he loves it and has not put it down since he got it christmas morning!

See at christmas before our fire and nicks birthday I went a lil over the top and bought really nice gifts like the game system...one of those fly pen top computers only to loose them in the fire. Again this year it is great to be able to buy these things and then this happens.....

Nick has a friends birthday coming up this weekend and so the other day I went out to toys r us to buy a gift for the friend. I always stop by their learning area especially leap frog since that is my favorite brand for my kids and besides toys r us is known for their insane clearances you can get a lot of great steals there.

And there it was!!!!!!!! The steal I never anticipated. On the bottom rack, last one there and almost out of sight was the fly pen ultimate homework pack. In it was a fly pen...the notebook.. five cartridges including the spanish *nick loves that class in school.... and the music game and a total of 13 built in games. The box said the original price was $99.00! But the sign said it was on clearance for $24.98 yet their was no clearance tag on the box and I assumed it to be wrong.

So I went to a scanner and it rings up for the $99 i was disappointed, I would have LOVED to replace that for nick. I continued my shopping regardless. I get to the check out and have my items and paid for them. And there sits the fly pen box in my cart still. I must admit that still is a great price and gosh that would be great to replace this for him. But did I really want to spent that much money on one birthday gift?

So I walk over to customer service and ask the guy why it was marked on a tag for that price and not ringing up at the price. So he scans the box and sure enough it ran up for the $99. I began to turn away when the sales guy says ma'am WAIT, apparently when he hit total it came up at the sale price for the $24.98 and without hesitation I said I WILL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


OMG to think I almost passed that up and now I have yet again succeded in replacing something so amazing for nick. I literally FLEW with glee out the door just glowing like the cat who ate the canary lol!

But back to the title of this blog is this karma? Perhaps its meant to be. I must say it does have me really spooked out! Even my grandma went ooohhhh thats a little too much like the past.

I am just hoping it is life meant to be back to us in some small way a little more closure for kids who just didn't understand our circumstance and the magnitude of our loss, and bring back some joy to them. I guess this could be a means to an end.....


So I am thinking anniversary date of the fire....maybe maddy can run her shopping car through the house...I can do my wii fit and nick can play with his fly pen top computer,..... ahhhhhhhhhh yes fate it is!

Christmas memories

Christmas With The Jones Family 2008



Madison & Nick At Grama's Christmas Eve

We began Christmas as we always do. This year was a little weird because a lot of Christmas Eve traditions got skipped. I had to use store bought cookies for Santa because all day I had a plumber here taking apart my toilet because madison put my hot roller clips down the toilet and flushed it! My mom ran late making dinner sooooo dinner was Yup Mc Donald's, double chees burgers, fries, chicken wraps and chicken nuggets with some jones soda....nummy!





We opened gifts there and the kids came home and got ready for mommy to play santa. Once all gifts were out I couldn't sleep for fear the would wake before me and open everything and I would miss it so I had a sleepless night.


Christmas morning they were over joyed and everything went off without a hitch

I wrapped the wii just as I had planned wrapped the wii box... put that in another box ... wrapped that box...then put THAT box in another box and then wrapped that one with ribbons and bows to boot haha it was great!
Nicks reaction was more than I could ask for he opened it seeing the wii sports and goes awesome wii sports he totally didnt get the fact it was a wii till I told him then he knocked me almost over with hugs!!


The next big gift suprise was the guitar hero for the wii! He literally wigged out lol~!


Then was on to the gift that I was so over joyed that I found...the football that glows in the dark he had lost in our house fire...boy was he ever stunned


At some point I lost madison amist all the wrapping paper, ribbons and bows....






We topped off the morning with a nice healthy breakfast minus grama as roads were really bad in Michigan.




So that was christmas at our house more to come from my gramas soon!

I have a terrorist in my house!!!

My house has been taken over by a terrorist. It is small and vicious. Relentless to say the least. She is three years old and she has tipped this house upside down these past few weeks. Here are her crimes....

Destroying of property....
She climbs every where. First attack was the tub. Namely anything shampoo or body wash that she could run off with and dumb on her bedroom floor. Those bottles are in a high shelf out of reach.
Then we graduated to the drawers in the vanity and emptying them out dumpin all of mommy's bads in the toilet and watch them float! Another thing on top shelves.
Then we moved on up the criminal profile ladder to climbing up the toilet onto the vanity and into the big mirror medicine cabinet and clearning it out. Luckily she couldn't get into anything. I have not found a solution to locking that so all that has been moved.
We have a lock on the bathroom door but the know has a slice so the person needing to get in all they have to do is have something that can fit in that slot to turn the dial generally i use butterknives YUP she learned how to do that as well! I put an eye hook up she took a chair and unhooked it!

Refrigerator thief....
We have had and I am not countin here one bottle of surplus sized ketchup dumped on terrorists bedroom floor....a jar of miracle whip..two bottles of ranch and peanut butter! Their is now a child lock on the fridge. I am waiting to see how long it takes her to figure that out.

Damage to walls....
I have a new hiding place for my purse as she has now gotten into that took my lip stick and mascara and eyeliner and painted the bedroom wall!

Escaping captivity....
I now have a baby gate that blocks her from both sides of the house. YAH that took her a mira second to figure out if she takes her table and chairs set and uses the chairs puts one ont he opposite side of where she is standing and one on the side she is standing she can climb up and OVER the gate :D weeeeeeeeeee aren't we smart!

Destruction to self...
This was just friday.....preschool has been telling me let her pratice cutting paper with child scissors okay I did this. At the kitchen table. I had to go to the bathroom for a moment. I come back out she's gone. Nick comes down the hall saying mom maddy's hair looks different. YOU GUESSED IT she gave herself a hair cut! OH JOY the week befor xmas......christmas pics set for sunday have been cancelled.

Here mug shot.... the side view so you can see her hack job!


And finally today nick left the door unlcoked so she got into the bathroom and flushed a makeup compact down the toilet the plumber has come and fixed the issue.
To resolve this nick has those spy sets and one set has this alarm you put on the back side of you're door so you're parents can't see it and the alarm goes off when they enter....that is now on the bathroom door pending reinstilation of eyehooks at a much higher level!

I fear what is next! Say prayers please!

Looking back at the joy they brought this year

Looking back at some good times this past year more to come soon....
This is Madison at the apple farm we go their every year usually a few weeks before Halloween. We began a new tradition this year and went on Halloween day. We bought fresh cider and donuts and cookies from their little bakery for that nights feast with all our trick or treating friends.


Out of all the photos I have taken this year this one tugs my heart strings. It reminds me of happy family moments. They are far and few as we are always swarmed with so much going on. It is nice to reflect back to a nice day of just having fun and enjoying a great day. We also went to the pumpkin patch that daey as well. We only go to one pumpkin farm very year. The pumpkin patch isn't that far from the apple farm which is why we go. This year we really did up the yard with hay stalks and even corn and squash to decorate we also bought our first scarecrow he is now part of our decoration family.

That little angel face just captures my heart. I am so lucky to even have her here she is truly a miracle. The mere fact she survived after birth is an honest blessing. This will be one of the photos I take to her nurses at the NICU on her birthday. She truely enjoyed that day.

This is our newest addition to our decorationg meat mister scarecrow. He is made of wind sock material so he is very pliable. I am very pleased with the way this scene turned out looks so festive and the leaves from our bushes set them off! Here is our halloween feast. I made sloppy joes mix in the crock pot. The kids put em on fritos its called an express taco they eat em at school all the time and now it is a staple in my home. Along with that are the cider, donuts, cookies and of course the apples we bought at the apple farm as well. We had such a great day that day.
These memories are some I will cherish going into the new year just love days like these......

It's breakfast time this year.....

Each year I make a special Christmas morning breakfast for the kids. We plan the menu ahead and shop Christmas eve for the food. The kids like to go as they pick up a special something or other for that morning that we run past and is just fun. I also basically do that cause I love the rush of Christmas eve. I love shopping rushes I live for black Friday sales and 4 a.m. lines for the hottest toys! This year I did things a little extra early because our car is broke down and I am depending on rides till it is fixed. I picked up main ingredients and left off small easy to pick up items to get on our small trip. I also got a few things that are premade to save the time in the kitchen to spend more with the kids. For the first time ever my mom will be joining us Christmas morning and eating with us. The reason being is the kids have gotten a few toys this year like game systems that they can't open until Christmas morning because I do Christmas at my moms on christmas eve night so she would ruin their suprise by giving it to them then. Instead she will be bringing them chrismas morning. So we will have one more mouth to feed that is fine with me! Here is this years breakfast morning feast.
Scrambled eggs
Candadian bacon *usually I buy a small breakfast ham to cook however oscar mayer came out with the precooked candaian bacon slices just like their precooked bacon you get fourteen slices for under three dollars. I can pan sear them so they get that home made taste and save time!
Fresh fruit we will have apples, bananas and oranges to choose from
Pancakes with a maple butter and michigan syrup... I preorder that it tastes so good!
Home made breakfast bisquits i.e. the pillsbuyr ones in a can hehe
and for drinks we have milk, orange juice and I picked up a thing of that welch's sparkling white grape juice that looks like it's in a champagne bottle thought that be fun. I am picking up christmas plastic wine goblets for it to go in they will choose those christmas eve.
I am sure I will add to the menu or the kids will but it is a nice feast and I love to cook it for them! Anyone else got some breakfast treats?

Oh christmas tree...

Finally figured out how to hook the christmas tree up. Barely a week before christmas and I am JUST starting to decorate the tree. The house on the inside and out have been done for weeks. I have just been swamped. I had the tree up and assembled. But my tree is prelit and the cords are so confusing. My ex was here last year so he did all that. DUH I shoulda watched him do it. But now I figured it out and the tree is lit and so is the angel. Garland tines are on a few bows and the kids home made ornaments have been put up top. We will do the rest tonight as a family I put on christmas music and we go to work! I can't wait! I got all my chirstmas shopping done including the wrapping stuff so I will be spending all weekend wrapping gifts. I even got those awesome round boxes from hobby lobby yesterday. I got the 16" ones so inside I am individually wrapping a pair of pajamas for each of the kids and a fleece blanket. I will then fill in the gaps of space with tissue paper. The boxes are so cute! Nicks is blue and has a bunch of christmas sayings with a burgandy top. Maddy's is green with santas aroudn the bottom and says ho ho ho. I love boxes i also got some cute lil gift bags just adds a lil bit of charm under the tree. I got nicer gift tags and ribbon and bows. I also got candy canes that are plastic ornaments made of red beads and will tie one to the ribbon of a gift for a family member and then they have an ornament from our tree. The kids were snowed out today so neither one of them had a christmas party at school. My feeling is the teachers knew all week the storm was coming that should of been done. I knew ahead so maddy gave her goody bags to all her classmates yesterday. Nicks room has commitees instead of parents having to send treats for every holiday you're child is on a specific holiday list and that is the only holiday you are "required" to send treats. You are always more than welcome to send them but you do not have to if you don't wish too. I like sending them on big holdidays for the kids but the smaller ones I will pass on. I did drop off the teachers gifts yesterday as well so I know they have thiers. Beyond that christmas is ready I am not doing any last minute shopping except for the baiscs for the christmas morning breakfast see upcoming post on that. And batteries of course! That's it I am ready for chrismtas. Cookie day is sunday so watch for pics of that!

What a difference!

Last night was nicks first practice with his coach since the incident Saturday. What a difference in his coach. I don't know what the director said to him but he was so different with nick. He actually took the time to focus on nick during practice and teaching him defense, working on his shots even had his son working with nick. Nick responded well got four baskets in right off the jump. Now when I first walked in to practice the coach was waiting for the gym to be opened. He says to me I am going to try and get him more play time this week. I looked squarely at him and said their will be no more trying about it he gets it or you will get it! He looked at me and smiled and began talking to one of the refs. He knew I wasn't playing with him no more. So anyhow in practice was awesome it is the best practice yet and he really is working with nick well. Yes nick is ruff around the edges but after what I seen yesterday their should be no reason for him not to play or for the coach not to play him. As my aunt said this is a recreational and teaching program. I do know that is what the director told him. Getting to the game tomorrow shall be interesting to say the least. It is snowing cats and dogs in michigan. My car broke down yesterday hoping to have it back today but if not I will use my gramas car. We are expecting up to ten inches of snow by the end of this afternoon. Add to that we have an 8am game that i have to drag two kids out for. I dare him not to play my son fairly tomorrow. My last butt chewing of him will seem like a pep talk compared to the one he will get so I better see that same coach come out of him saturday in the game as I did last night in practice. I will post the update tomorrow!

Update on the situation with the basketball coach!

I spoke to my aunt earlier and basically it boils down to this. The director will be having a talking to with him. If he complies with the rules the director will be attending our next few games to be assured that all children on this team are getting fair play.
If he does not comply with the rules then he will be removed as a coach PERIOD. Nothing will happen to my son. He will not be put on a new team no money will be refunded they will simply replace him with a coach that wants to coach children the proper way. Their is actually a list of names of people who WANT to coach but did not get a chance to which is amazing as their is a total of 72 teams this year amongst all the age groups.
So I am content and am awaiting to hear what happens. We have practice on Thur. so I guess we will see if his coach is there. If I hear anything more before then I will update. I don't know if the director is just waiting to see the coach there Thurs. but he does have it written down to call him according to my aunt.
Thankfully the staff there recognized my concerns and are taking action as they should. My son has legal rights as well and I will not hesitate to use these. But I am assured that will not be necessary. Regardless I have his advocate waiting in the wings to pounce if this kid has to be treated like this one more time! I am hopeful that will not be the case keep you're fingers crossed!

How to vote sorry for not saying lol!

On the left margin of my page you will see two bubbles that say this site has been voted for such and such. Click on those you do need to make a account to vote though. However once you do you can vote for other blogs and also nominate a blog but I don't think you can nominate you're own blog. Anyhow that is how you vote for my blog ty!

If you thought soccer moms were protective you never met this basketball mom!

One of my sons favorite sports is soccer. Hence the name of my blog. But the past year or two nick has wanted to dabble into other types of sports. He played basketball for the first time two years ago. He enjoyed it and would of played last year but he was wore out and wanted a break.

We started this fall out with flag football and boy did he ever get into that we will
certainly be doing it again next year. But this fall no soccer we are now doing soccer in spring. His regimen is fall football, winter is basketball and soccer in the spring. I must say I felt weird not playing soccer this fall. But I did enjoy the new sport and so did nick.
We went back to basketball this winter. Nick is doing much better in it. He is even getting baskets! But we hit a glitch. We have a coach this year that won the trophy last year and is on a high off it. The first game my son never played! Now let me first say this is recreational basketball. Their is a draft and the coaches pick their players. This coach picked my son we did not pick him. Secondly the rules state that each child must play for eight minutes total each game. The coach was aware of his mistake after the first game and apologized. I let it go.
So then came this past weeks game and he did it again. Nick played. If you want to call it that. For about a lil over a minute the first half and less than a minute the last half. This was completely unacceptable.
At both games I had parents yelling go over there and get after him and wanting me basically to tell the coach off. I had last week talked to the director and asked him what to do he advised me let the coach fix it. So I did but he did not fix it.
I went right over and told that coach after the game all about himself. I told him he was only trying to win and great we won so freakin what my son didn't win he didn't play! How dare you treat him this way I know he is not the best player but my son has to deal with enough scrutiny from people because of his differences how dare you treat him poorly too. What kind of role model do you find yourself to be. Do you have any idea what it entails to get a three year old and ten year old up and outta bed on a saturday morning dressed and ready for a game and arrive by 10 a.m.! I didn't sign up for this but we did not pick you .. you picked him so if you don't want him find a coach who does or tell pat (director) to give me my money back! I then stormed off and did not even give him the chance to explain! I was furious and out for blood and dang near wanted to sock this guy. He kept saying the thing is and i cut him off with the thing is what you want to win oh trust me we got that!
So basically after cooling off while the team pictures were being done I ran into the ref from our game. He also was the ref last week and had confronted the coach about it then. He also was not happy and told me that I need to see the director. So I went over and got pat.
Now see my aunt works for the rec department in fact she signs all the kids up... posts the standings the schedules and all that online. So I know these people. Pat knew I was ticked and we went into the rec office. I told him everything that had happened and what I said to the coach. I told him I felt bad because I did it in front of the kids and I was not trying to disrespect the coach but on the flip side my son needed to see me stand up for him and that is precisely what I did. I also told him you can't tell me if his precious mister future nba player was treated that way he wouldn't blow his stack too! Heck his son never sat out the whole game! Pat agreed and told me he would contact the coach.
Later that day I calmed down and thought okay if this guy is my sons coach we need to hash this out. So I sucked it up and nicely called him to talk he was nice and all we spoke for a meer second and he stated he was at the barber shop and he would call me back when he was done. Today is monday I have yet to hear from him I am not suprised lil chicken!
So I don't know what will happen here but I am furious over this and will not allow my kid to be treated this way. He may be six feet 200 some pounds but I am not afraid of him at all! So say prayers for me this all works out! I will say my son was rather proud of his mom and I am proud of him he handled it very well!

A little bit of closure was first on santas list today!

Well today some closure came for my family. Specifically my son. As I mentioned in my previous post this christmas I am focusing on finding identical items my children lost in our house fire and bring them back for Christmas gifts. In this way I feel I can bring closure to this situation for all of us especially my son who was old enough to realize the magnitude of our loss.
His birthday had taken place just weeks before the fire. He had his first ever over night birthday party with three of his buddies. One of them was bobby who has now moved away. Bobby had gotten nick a glow in the dark football. Nick loved this gift so much and was yet another toy lost in the fire.
This past fall my son began playing flag football which brought back memories of his lost gift. Many a times he mentioned that football and his desire to have one. It was even on his list to santa.
And so began my search for that football. I have been to every store in this town and no football such as that one was around. Not even at toys r us. I gave up hope and stopped looking.
Today I had to go to target to get some extra Christmas gifts for a few of nicks friends. One of the gifts was a basketball. On just a whim I looked in the football section for just a basic football for nick as he has none.
And there it was! The glow in the dark football. Same size...same brand and same everything as the one lost in the house fire. Not one that was "like" something he had lost it was the actual item. I grabbed the football in pure glee and tears just came flooding out of my eyes. I cannot express the image that popped into my head of him opening that gift Christmas morning and finally be able to give back to him something that meant a lot to him.
I am finally feeling like I am giving my kids back a piece of what was lost to them. Of all the gifts I have bought for my son this one has the most meaning to me and I am ecstatic to see his reaction!

Favorite family holiday traditions share them please!

Tis the season to share those special times that you and you're family share. It reminds us all of the season upon us and may inspire others to begin new traditions. Here is my special thing I do with my children.
We are a family who loves to bake and make home made candy. Yes the kids dip into the goodies along the way but they really love baking especially making chocolate dipped pretzels with sprinkles!
Each year we bake a cake and then on Christmas night when gifts are all unwrapped and bellies are filled we turn down the lights...light the birthday candles on our cake and sing happy birthday to baby Jesus. I think it brings the whole concept of the birth of Christ into light for my children and makes it feel more as a holiday that is more than getting the new hottest toys. I want to hear you're guys traditions! I would like to add a new one this year I look forward to reading them.

What goes around truely does come around.....

As many of you know from reading my blogs in february will be the two year anniversary of the house fire my children and I survived. Unfortunately we lost everything we owned in the fire. I learned a lot of things after that fire. Main being whom to count on and whom not. A lot of community and local businesses stepped up to help my children and I replace what we had lost as we had no renters insurance. It has been a tough two years to rebuild but I am in a position where this holiday the children will receive christmas gifts that directly will replace what they lost in our home. This christmas will have a new meaning of rebilding and hope for what we have to come. I wanted this christmast to bring back the toys that once made my children happy. Madisons will again have her shopping cart she use to run thru the living room and kitchen that was melted into the carpeting of our burnt home. The baby doll that as soaken wet from the water from the fire hoses. A few dvds nick had enjoyed watching. A new game system to replace the ones he also lost and also a hand held video game system to replace the ones he lost as well. I spent more money on this christmas then in past years. Oddly enough the christmas before our fire I had done the same thing but bigger more expensive items and to that date was our biggest christmas ever. It is bitter sweet this year but my children will be so suprised at the gifts this year. They truely deserve it as they have gone through so much after that fire and current situations.
So during my shopping season I am reminded of the kindess that came from area stores. Two in particular stuck in my mind. Kohl's and Jc Penny. My sons school district had given us a gift card of a generous amount to replace things we needed from JC Penney. Kohls was contacted by family as I had worked there some years before to help our family.
I still remember the kindness of the empolyees and manager the day I went shopping at JC Penney. They went above and beyond to help us. I was able to replace the main room that brings my family together...the kitchen. I love cooking especially with my chidlren. And dinner time is the one time in a day we all get to sit and eat and sometimes be silly. I was able to replace my pots and pans, stock pots, knive set, dishes, flatware, kitchen towels, glasses, small electronics you know the toaster, can opener etc etc some storage items, mixing bowls, baking pans and sheets, meausring cups other gadgets and lots of other things that make a kitchen just that .. a kitchen. JC Penney made sure that the amount of money I had on that gift card covered the items I had needed. They made us tax exempt and also discounted many items to make things work. I felt so blessed that day and felt a piece of my life was put back in place. I couldn't wait to use new kitchen items in our soon to be new home.
So this past friday I had to go shopping for family members and also to get nicks basket ball shoes for his first game saturday. I went to JC Penney first to get his nike's as I knew they were on sale there. That's me always lookin for the bargain lol. I also knew kohl's had their bath towels on sale for $2.99 that evening that was the gift for my grandmother I planned to pick up as well. After getting my sons nikes I passed the bed and bath section at JC Penney. I noticed they had their towels for $3.88. Now knowing me I always go for the deal and kohl's was only across the street.
But then I remembered that time after my fire and all that JC Penney had done for us. I also remembered what kohl's didn't do for us in that they never contacted the family back to assist us. And in that moment I stepped away from my bargain antics and bought the five bath towels At JC Penney. I also bought cordinating hand towels, my grandmother a large fleece blanket with snowmen on it and my mother a fleece blanket as well with angels decorating it. I also purchased the shoes for my son there too. I spent a little more then I intended that day but to me I made the right choice. My mom questioned me when she learned where I had purchased my grandmother's gift. She knew I always loved kohl's towels. I explained to her my reasons and she smiled at me and said I am so proud of you. You really have learned so much and grown you amaze me.
I knew I had made the proper decison more than ever after that statement. You see sometimes it's not always about the bargains and deals it is about giving back and that day I gave bak to a store who gave so much to us. I plan to give back more this holidays and help out as much as I can in a small way giving back to also a community that took me and my childrens tramatic incident and turned into a blessing of little angels giving to help us. I just wanted to share this with you all in holiday spirit. Happy shopping and as always.... Happy Holidays!

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