The Girl from Alabama

London 2015 Haul

Friday, July 31, 2015

I had a wonderful time in London. Making new friends and shopping was probably my favorite parts of the trip. But I also enjoyed learning about homeschooling in a different country. But I will write a completely separate blog to review the trip. Enjoy the haul!

You Can't Hurry Love

Thursday, July 30, 2015

"Don't you wish that you had figured out you and Vin were in love in college so you could have had longer together?"

Simply put, no I don't. Because if that had been the case I wouldn't have the awesome memories that I have of us being friends. People don't seem to understand that we are the true example of Jeremy Taylor's quote that says, "Love is friendship set on fire." There are nights that I forget we are in love.

People think I'm crazy for saying that, but the only thing different in our relationship is that we live together and kiss. We already cooked amazing meals together. You could catch us singing around Disney World before we became an item. Jam sessions were a weekly thing. Teamwork well we already found out that we could complete trips together.

Sure the glances don't have to be covered up now. But the fact remains, they were there back then too. Vin answers the question to the same people, who are baffled by his answer. Let's get this straight.

Vin waited over 10 years for the chance to ask me out. He had the opportunity to do so in college, but at that age is when people think they need to find themselves. It's also when life really shapes. He says he wouldn't change the waiting for anything because it makes him grateful each day. Several of our friends think that Vin is sappy when he says he can't believe it's real when he wakes up. But I believe him. I feel the same way.

I didn't have to wait 10 years, I fell in love with him in 2008 when he went by the name Brad (more on that in the coming weeks on our blog together at They Met At Disney.) And realizing that I have the first guy to ever make me break out of my shell unnerves me. I feel so strange because I still advert my eyes when he takes off his shirt which makes him laugh.

Having someone who makes me laugh daily is the biggest blessing that God has ever given me. God knew we needed him first before we could completely have each other. That's why I think it's best that we waited. Our daughter, Rain, was asked who was her favorite fairytale is, and she said us. Vin and I just grinned at the woman who asked her that. The woman asked us about what that meant. Vin answered by saying, "God wrote ours love story and it started with Disney."

I prefer to think like Plato, "Love is a serious mental illness." Because that means that you really can tell that we loved each other all those years. We have always danced, sang, and acted like we had lost our minds. I think the telltale sign of love for us because we are just ourselves around each other. That alone to me is what really makes me fall for him over and over again. He lets me be me. Sure he questions me on certain things.

"You sure you want to run across the Grand Canyon in less than 24 hours?" Yeah he stops me from doing really stupid stuff. (Yes, that's a true story.) Sometimes he doesn't even have to ask me to think about it before doing it. He just stops what he is doing and raises his eyebrow at me. Strange how that unspoken questioning look stops me in my track. I usually just grin sheepishly at him.

Don't worry though, I make sure he does certain things too. I also know a lost cause too. He is 26 years old (going on 27) so why in the world would I try and get him to pick his shoes up out of the foyer? Instead I just accomadate him instead. However, he did learn to put the dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper. (Going to work in smelly underwear will do that to a smell good freak.) Though he did cop out on that experience and bought underwear because he couldn't stand it.

Back to the friendship thing though. The thought of us being friends is probably what keeps us from getting into serious fights. We are just open with each other which is why it works for us. I'm notorious for asking him, "REALLY?" He is known for asking me, "Does that really matter?" Questions are always good. (Answers are awesome too! Communication, eh?)

Basically don't rush something that you want to last forever,

Mini Currents 07.26.15

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Today has basically been me running around making sure the kids will have everything while I'm gone to London for almost a whole week. Plus I have been making sure that I have everything I will need. I am doing this conference right for once. I have business cards for my teaching purposes, then I have blog cards, and my business cards.

This is no easy feat for me to leave behind my family. However, I am really looking forward to this trip to bring inspiration to my life again. To have the rush of excitement! I am on the plane right now as I write this. I love wifi on planes!

More information about my currents and Mini Currents: Why Currents
And the path to find my old Currents: Currents

OOTD:

The Most Loved Yoga Pants and in Pink Wings on White, Vintage Tees High Back Tee in Pop Art Pink , Miller Metallic Sandals

Favorite Beauty Product:

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Perfector

Favorite Hair Product:

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day® Night Cap Overnight Perfector

Favorite Food of the Day:

Mac N cheese

Favorite Song:

Birthday - Selena Gomez

Favorite Line from the book I'm reading:

“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me!”

Favorite Pin I Found on Pinterest or Favorite YouTube Video of the day:

Favorite thing taking place in the future:

LONDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disney Lingo: That Grey Stuff It's Delicious!

You are planning your first trip ever to a Disney theme park and you are trying to find out all the information you can. Except on that forum board someone is talking about MK and FP+ and then that person is staying a Pop? What does all this mean? It means it's time to learn some Disney abbreviations! It's a quick and fun way to express what you want to about Disney!

Yes there are a lot but once you get used to them you realize that it's helpful in a lot of ways. So many times in a text or an instant message it's easier than writing out the whole thing. Plus sometimes it can be fun to confuse your friends and coworkers, or even your family. Trust me I love the look on a coworkers face when they see a letter with the abbreviations and they are trying to figure out what it means and they have no clue.

But here are the ones I could think of off the top of my head that I have used. If you have some that I don't have just comment below!

WDW - Walt Disney World Resort

AK - Animal Kingdom

MK - Magic Kingdom

HS/MGM/ST - Hollywood Studios, MGM Studios, and The Studio (all the same park)

EPCOT - Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

ADR - Advanced Dining Reservations

DCL - Disney Cruise Line

MNSSHP - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

MVMCP - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Mousekeeping - The people on Disney's resorts that clean your room!

Cast member - Anyone who works for Disney!

7DMT - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

EMH - Extra Magic Hours

AK - Disney's Animal Kingdom

AP - Annual Pass

LBV - Lake Buena Vista

ECV - Electric Convenience Vehicle

AKL - Animal Kingdom Lodge

DTD - Downtown Disney

MYW - Magice Your Way Tickets or Packages

AKV - Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas

CB - Character Breakfast

AoA - Disney's Art of Animation Resort

CBR - Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

F&G - Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

KRR - Kali River Rapids

KJS - Kilimanjaro Safari

F&W - Epcot Food & Wine Festival

HM - The Haunted Mansion

HoP - The Hall of Presidents

HS - Disney's Hollywood Studios

IASW - "it's a small world"

NoJ - Night of Joy

IG - International Gateway

FF - Flying Fish

AS - Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

ASM or ASMu - Disney's All-Star Music Resort

ASMV or ASMo- Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

B&C - Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club

PORS - Port Orleans Riverside

BB - Blizzard Beach

BC - Beach Club Resort

Cont - Disney's Contemporary Resort

CoP - Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

PAP - Premium Annual Pass

PH - Park Hopper

ToT - "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"

BCV - Beach Club Villas

POFQ - Port Orleans French Quarter

WoD - Disney's World of Disney

BLT - Disney's Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary

BOG - Be Our Guest Restaurant

FP+ - Fast Pass Plus

PotC - Pirates of the Caribbean

FtW - Fort Wilderness

BTM - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

CM - Can either be Cast Member or Chef Mickey's

HDDR – Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

OOP – Out-of-Pocket

CS - Counter Service meal

QS - Quick Service

TS - Table Service meal

WDTC - Walt Disney Travel Company

WL - Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort

WLV - Villas at Wilderness Lodge

WWoS - Disney's Wide World of Sports

TL - Typhoon Lagoon

SWW - Star Wars Weekend

V&A - Victoria & Albert's

VB - Disney's Vero Beach Resort

VGF - Disney's Villas of Grand Floridian

VWL - Disney's Villas of Wilderness Lodg

MB – MagicBand

MDE – My Disney Experience

MM – Memory Maker

EWP – Electrical Water Pageant

IG – International Gateway (Entrance to EPCOT from Boardwalk)

WS – World Showcase

TTC - Transportation and Ticket Center

BW - Disney's BoardWalk

TDS - The Disney Store(s)

THV - Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs Resort

DDP - Disney Dining Plan

DL - Disneyland

Poly - Disney's Polynesian Resort

AP – Animator’s Palate

CC – Castaway Cay

FE – Fish Extender (DCL Family Mailbox Game)

GTY – Guarantee

IGT – Inside Guarantee

OGT – Oceanview Guarantee

PC – Port Canaveral

VGT – Verandah Guarantee
DLH - Disneyland Hotel

DLP - Disneyland Paris

DVC - Disney Vacation Club

ABD – Adventures By Disney

ARS – Aulani Resort & Spa

BWI - Disney's BoardWalk Inn

BWV - Disney's BoardWalk

OKW - Disney's Old Key West Vacation Club Resort

OPR - Old Port Royale

Human Pole - People who actually just stop dead while other people are walking behind them. These people can often be seen consulting a map, digging through a bag, looking at their phone, or taking a picture.

DIS Unplugged - A Disney Podcast

DIS Meet - A DIS term used for a gathering of other visitors to this website in a predetermined place. These meets happen in Disney World, and in cities all around the country

Touring Plans - A website the lets you check for how crowded your park visit will be, and helps you plan itineraries.

Monorail - A railway in which the track consists of a single rail, typically elevated. The term is also used to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track.

PDD - Post Disney Depression

The Grey Stuff - Trust me it's delicious!

Now I know this isn't strictly Disney but incase you are reading forums about Disney or websites this can be helpful:

DBF - Dear/Disney/Darling Boyfriend

DBIL - Dear/Disney/Darling Brother-in-law

DD - Dear/Disney/Darling Daughter

DF - Dear/Disney/Darling Fiance

DFIL - Dear/Disney/Darling Father-in-law

DGF - Dear/Disney/Darling Girlfriend

DGF - Dear/Disney/Darling Grandfather

DGM - Dear/Disney/Darling Grandmother

DH - Dear/Disney/Darling Husband

DMIL - Dear/Disney/Darling Mother-in-law

DS - Dear/Disney/Darling Son

DSIL - Dear/Disney/Darling Sister-in-law

DW - Dear/Disney/Darling Wife

So there you have it folks. In the future you'll see my lists of Disney Podcasts, Disney websites, Disney blogs, etc. What kinds of Disney lists would you like to see? Comment below and remember if you have some other Disney Abbreviation let me know!

My Bible Verse Memorization

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Some people recommend it. Some say it's not worth it. But for me I have always been told that it should be important. And now Bible Memorization is more important to me than it has ever been. I guess because of how I read the Bible differently than the people who say it's not important.

A few years ago, a family member of mine, participated in Beth Moore's Bible Siesta Scripture Memory Team. You learn two verses a month and then you go to the convention and you have random people challenge you to remember the verses you learned over the year. I loved the idea but didn't have the drive to do something like that. I have wanted to do something like that ever since.

Maybe in the future I'll go to a convention like that, but for now I'm okay with just using the plan. Rereading what Beth has helped me see that I need to really commit to doing this. Now this year hasn't worked out for me like it should so I am hoping that 2016 will be better for me.

My spiral is slightly different. I bought mine at the Dollar Tree during the back-to-school season. It has a key ring instead of a spiral. I like this more. I use washi tape at the bottom of my verses to help me memorize them even more.

I like what Beth Moore has to say against the people that say they can't memorize anything:

First, that may change. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to do something brand new with you. Second, even if you don’t get your verses down word for word, you are still meditating on them as you read and reread them. You still, thereby, accomplish one of the most important goals: captivating the mind to Christ. You just can’t lose on this one. Either way, it has a powerful effect.

So many people don't understand that equipping yourself with verses helps you against the evil one. The one that wants to steal your happiness and make you feel like you cannot overcome anything.

Here are a few verses that I am learning. No I am not putting written verse. I want you to go look it up!

Proverbs 19:21

Joshua 1:8

James 1:19

What are some of the verses you are learning? Or even better are wanting to learn? How do you memorize verses? Let me know in the comments below!

Ulta Haul: Summer/Fall 2015 (Some Travel)

Friday, July 24, 2015

Leaving for London on Sunday had me worried about what I should take because I have several items already at my house so I'm not taking a lot of make-up but I like to have a clean face while I sleep on the plane and then put on a face either before get off the plane or in the bathroom at the airport. I already wiped out a lot of worrying by traveling with this palette from The Balm, called Bon Voyage Vol. 2!

So here is a list of some things I picked up for the trip and just some things I decided I wanted or needed:

ESSIE Fall Nail Polish Collection Frock N Roll

ESSIE Fall Nail Polish Collection Leggy Legend

BENEFIT COSMETICS They're Real! Push-Up Eye Liner Mini

TARTE Lights, Camera, Lashes Double-Ended Mascara & Lash Primer

ULTA Fall Limited Edition Classic Moisturizing Body Lotion Baked Pumpkin

ULTA Fall Limited Edition Classic Rejuvenating Bath & Shower Gel Baked Pumpkin

BLISS Travel Size Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

CLINIQUE Travel Size Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

NIVEA A Kiss Of Milk & Honey Soothing Lip Care

PAUL MITCHELL Travel Size Volumizing Spray

URBAN DECAY COSMETICS Travel Size Naked Skin Beauty Balm

RIMMEL LONDON Show Off Lip Lacquer 303 Apocaliptic

RIMMEL LONDON Show Off Lip Lacquer 300 Out of World

URBAN DECAY COSMETICS Naked On The Run

NYX COSMETICS Stay Matte Powder Foundation Nude

PACIFICA Underarm Deodorant Wipes

PACIFICA Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

EOS Travel Size Everyday Hand Lotion Cucumber

URBAN DECAY COSMETICS Travel Size Original Eye Shadow Primer Potion

EARTH THERAPEUTICS Travel Size Triple Butter Intensive Foot Balm

Yes I did buy a lot because I haven't been buying as much make-up lately. Here and there, but not hauls. Granted I became Mayor of Ulta on Swarm which cracked me up. Like I said not all of these items are going on the trip, but many are. I don't know whether or not I'll do an updated What's in My Carry-on or not. But you can find my old one here: Keep Calm and Carry On. If you would like to see an update on my Carry-on please leave me a comment here on the blog!

Pumpkin Spice Season Ya'll

Thursday, July 23, 2015

That aroma when you open the door. The smell as you come down the stairs. It's spicy, it's warm, it's the delicious smell of a pumpkin coffee. The Halloween season is upon us. Ghosts, goblins, vampires, banshees, gnomes, and of course witches!

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!

My Favorite Places to Shop for Decorations:

1. Target

2. Hobby Lobby

3. TJMaxx

4. Michael's

5. Oriental Trading

6. Kirkland's

7. Walgreens

8. Dollar Tree

When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness: a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk, and every single rose. These are all expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people.

One of my favorite things about autumn is that the wardrobe starts have more and more options. Layering is amazing. For a look at some things that I think are necessary check out my post from last year: Fall Necessities.

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons. - Jim Bishop

Games I love to play in Autumn:

1. Scrabble

2. Settlers of Catan

3. Chess

4. Clue

5. Any card game

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Autumn Snacks:

1. Apple chips

2. Candy corn and peanuts

3. Pumpkin pie doughnuts

4. Caramel apples

5. Cheese straws

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

Leaves activities:

1. Rake them!

2. Jump in them!

3. Burn them!

4. Rub them on paper.

5. Collect them

'Tis the night - the night
Of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.
- Arthur Cleveland Coxe

Catch a leaf in midair,Make a wish,Kitt it & toss it into the wind.

You fit me better than my favorite sweater.

Pumpkin Frenzy:

1. Carve

2. Paint

3. Pumpkin seed baked

4. Pumpkin pie

5. Pumpkin patch trip!

“On ol' Halloween NightThese monsters join the livingIf they had it their wayThey'd stay until Thanksgiving” ― Casey Browning, Ol' Halloween Night

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
[Notebook, Oct. 10, 1842]”
― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks

“I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow.”
― Wendy Delsol, Stork

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. - Elizabeth Lawrence

True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about but few have seen.

From ghoulish and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
- Scottish saying

October gave a party;The leaves by hundreds came,—The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples,And leaves of every name.The sunshine spread a carpet,And every thing was grand;Miss Weather led the dancing;Professor Wind, the band....The sight was like a rainbowNew-fallen from the sky....~George Cooper, "October’s Party"

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”
― Henry David Thoreau

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon."

On Hallowe'en the thing
you must do
Is pretend that nothing
can frighten you
An' if somethin' scares you
and you want to run
Jus' let on like
it's Hallowe'en fun.
- from an Early Nineteenth Century Halloween Postcard

“It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

For anyone who lives in the oak-and-maple area of New England there is a perennial temptation to plunge into a purple sea of adjectives about October. ~ Hal Borland

“October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!”

― Rainbow Rowell, Attachments

Fall Things to Do Now:

Starbucks Inspired Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte

DIY Football Themed Koozies and Drink Markers

How to Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

Julie’s Easy (Dutch) Apple Pie

Welcome Fall! | 21 Free Printables For September

“I was born on the night of Samhain, when the barrier between the worlds is whisper-thin and when magic, old magic, sings its heady and sweet song to anyone who cares to hear it.”
― Carolyn MacCullough, Once a Witch

A Few Fall Date Ideas:

Go horseback riding/Go on a hike

Make chili together and/or have a thermos picnic

Go on a hayride

Carve or paint jack o lanterns

Pop corn on the cob popcorn

Lay on a quilt while watching the sun come up or the sunset

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Check back soon for my Fall Bucket List coming to you on August 29th!

Trust me there are more fall posts coming!

Currents 07. 21. 15

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Vin and I have completely finished unpacking (only taken like two months!) So we enjoyed a lovely brunch of salsa eggs together and we talked about our wedding and life after. Which lead us to the discussion of our wedding date. We had entertained the idea about a week ago about pushing it back, because we want more time to work on little details to make the day more for us. Plus, we want to get our family as of now on the right track. We are now settled in so it was time to talk about it more. I don't want this day to be something that is rushed.

So we have set the date back until October! We have decided to take a three part honeymoon, first starting with Disney World right after we are married. We still want to visit Norway but that will come later the next year which is fine because it will be a good time for our family. Then as a family we hope to sail the New England coast.

And remember if you want to talk about the wedding on anything just use the hashtag #Vinterwedding2016

More information about my currents and Mini Currents: Why Currents
And the path to find my old Currents: Currents

Mini Currents 07. 18. 15

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Saturday is suppose to be for relaxing right? Um my life didn't get that memo! We started the morning by getting my new vehicle after I had trees fall on mine the other night while at was at my Mewmaw's house and the insurance company said I could get a new one. Vin and I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel as a treat to us. As we were turning into the driveway my phone started ringing.

It was the pediatrician in Birmingham asking if we could bring Nyx in for emergency blood work. When I hear emergency blood work my mind instantly goes to cancer. I called my dad and Charlene and they were excellent about watching the kids. May Dawn didn't want to go so she went over to Aunt "May Anns" house to play the piano and Brad stayed with Nate.

To shorten this really long story... Nyx has Angelman Syndrome (the original doctor thought she had FAS.) Nyx clubfoot surgery is scheduled for August. Brad has to have glasses. And Arbour took her first step today!!! So exciting for us!

More information about my currents and Mini Currents: Why Currents
And the path to find my old Currents: Currents

OOTD:

Light Jersey Solid Tee, COMMON PROJECTS ACHILLES LACE-UP SNEAKER: COPPER, Joie Beso Shorts Caviar, Michael Kors 'Parker' Chronograph Bracelet Watch

Favorite Beauty Product:

I'll be honest my Ipsy came yesterday and I love so many of the products that I couldn't just pick one for today: Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Balm, and OFRA Cosmetics Bliss Eyeshadow

Favorite Hair Product:

Coolway Beachy Salt Spray

Favorite Food of the Day:

Strawberry chips

Favorite Song:

I'm Gonna Fly - Sydney Forest

Favorite Line from the book I'm reading:

“Anyone can speak Troll. All you have to do is point and grunt.”

Favorite Pin I Found on Pinterest or Favorite YouTube Video of the day:

Favorite thing taking place in the future:

Being off Tuesday

Special: Life with Four Different Special Needs Children

Special needs, disability, learning disorder, and many more are words that imply that something isn't "normal" with a person. How many call people weirdos because they do something different than what they do. My own hand is in the air on that one.

Now most people freak out when they hear that I have special needs children. True, I get that some of them are genuinely concerned about me and the children. But then there are the few that just look at me like "Can you really handle that?" Yes!

For starters, I have full faith in God. I have read where many moms don't believe they were chosen to be the child's mom that they look at it as an obstacle course. That's not what being a mom means to me. Maybe that's what it means to you, to find that moment when you can just be you again and not have to think about the child you raise. I'll be like my dad thanks, who I STILL have text and let him know that I got home from my day's festivities whatever they might be.

God gave me each and everyone of my children. He had countless other women on this planet that He could have chosen to be these children's mom, but here I am with my youngest ones on me. (I'm a babywearing momma!) I'm not bragging when I say this, but I have a degree in special needs education and God knew that I longed for a special needs child. He instead gave me four. I used to be the college girl that would get mad at the school system for the parents because I knew what the law says is required of the school.

Secondly, with that degree comes expectations of me from myself. I used to be in a room 10 hours a day with two aids with a classroom of 10 special needs students. It was a blessing for me. Those memories are some I wouldn't trade for anything. I've seen both kinds of parents with special needs students, the hover kind where even a tiny scratch is uncalled for to the parents that literally forgot their child at daycare. I know what's to be expected of me as a parent.

Another fact about me, I have traveled to many educational conferences. The fact that the U.S. has the most medicated children makes me sick at my stomach. That's why I had my children almost triple checked to make sure the diagnoses lined up. Yes, some children really do have autism and some children have a behavioral problem. And sometimes it's not the child, but rather the parent doesn't know how to parent.

When my dad first came to me with Aspen in tow I was worried that she would have autism or that it was behavorial. She doesn't (We have had her tripled checked.) She just has a sensory disorder and it's not all the senses that are affected. She is the 5%-10% of children that just suffer from sensory disorder without having another disability. She likes weighted blankets, and she is very picky about what is used in her bath. She loves smells, but hates loud noises. She has hawk eyes, and that comes in handy sometimes.

Aspen loves to play. She plays well with other except with noise making toys. I work with three times a week on how to handle noises. Ways of helping her cope. The other two days she has Occupational Therapy. It's amazing how much she has overcome since going to OT twice a week. She has become such a perfect big sister!

When May Dawn came to us, I could tell automatically when she smiled that there something. She was very socialable instantly. She had come from a very abusive household situation which resorted in Vin getting custody of May Dawn, and her three siblings.

The morning after they arrived Aspen comes to me and says that May Dawn hates loud noises like she does. My radar flipped instantly and I took a closer look at May Dawn. I knew how to look for Williams Syndrome because I have had three students in my past that have had it. I quickly hoisted May Dawn up in my arms and went digging for my Williams Syndrome checklist. It was blaring right at me.

The next few weeks were filled with us getting into the Williams Syndrome Clinic in Florida since it's the nearest one and I wanted complete validation that May Dawn had WS. It was confirmed. I had to call in all sorts of favors from my teaching days. I jumped the speech therapy list and early intervention lists thanks to my friends in that area of expertise. An old friend became her Occupational Therapist (who is different from the one her sister sees.) Her musical therapist sees her once a week. This is why when I mentioned that I was fit to be a mom to special needs children, I meant. My network was built for this.

Pixie (yes her real birth name) is my daughter that has cerebral palsy.Her shy little self came right up to me signing Disney characters and we bonded instantly over that. We are still trying to completely calculate her percentages and see where she is with everything. Pixie's cerebral palsy was something I have seen as well. It can be very frustrating to a child. Pixie is able to stand by herself and in time will be able to walk as well. It will just take plenty of therapy.

Pixie has ataxic CP meaning she doesn't have balance and control over her movements. Some of her speech is very slurred and that's why she uses sign language to talk to people. We should in the future be able to overcome the speech impairment. That's why I have her using the same speech therapist that May Dawn uses. It's fantastic because sometimes they help each other!

Nyx is my last child with special needs. She is also the one with the most. It's heartbreaking to me to know what this child has been through even from day one of her life. She was put up for adoption the moment she was born.

Yes, Nyxie, as I call her, is suffering from many things. The doctors were wondering if she was suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or something else. Turns out it was something else. She has Angelman Syndrome which is is a chromosome disorder. But this syndrome like Williams Syndrome means that a smile will be on her face. Today I'm actually making appointments for her OT, PT, and speech therapy.

My life will be filled with doctor visits, meetings, and therapy, but they are miracles to me every single one of them. To me they are all perfect, and special in their own right. I enjoy every second with them. Through frustration and happiness I will find joy. I will make sure they get the care they deserve.

All of this being said all of my children are special to me and Vinny.

Aspen loves to run, to look at and read magazines, and to eat grilled cheese. Dreams of becoming a tour guide.

Joelle enjoys life more when it's raining and when she can paint and loves berries! She wants to travel the world and take pictures when she grows up.

Rain is my gymnast! She has already been in gymnastic competitions and is just five. She also runs races with me and loves Ramen noodles.

Pixie adores ragdolls and rocking them. She loves Disney as much as I do and loves glowsticks. She also loves waffles and chicken can be added to them.

May Dawn will eat peaches all day long if we let her! She spends a lot of time with her Uncle Frankie learning to play the piano and she loves to dance and sing.

Luna is my little witch that will some day get a letter to Hogwarts. There she will drink more Pumpkin Juice than she does now and find herself an invisibility cloak better than Harry Potter's while she mixes potions.

Nyx enjoys being outside and being pulled around in her wagon. She loves eating eating chicken anything. She also loves bathtime!

Brad loves pets. He also loves riding around in his carseat. He adores apple juice and mashed potatoes.

Arbour is my little air monkey. She loves swings, playing airplane, and stepping all around. She loves Gerber puffs in banana.

Ella Michael adores well she adores mommy's milk. She loves swinging in her hanging crib and hearing us as a family sing.

Vinny loves Harry Potter and playing golf. He loves cornbread deer chili and apple pie. Music is a huge part of his life.

So that's about it for my human family. I could have told you about my fur babies as well, but that's for a different time. If you have any questions feel free to email me, comment below or find me on social media.