I know that two days in a row would be insane but here we go! I wanted to just touch on the great trip we took to New York City, even though Kristian did not go. He stayed in Boston with my mom and we took Reed, Rachel, Kayla, CC, Granddad, Mark and me. I have been saying for years that when we visit my parents again that we had to go to NYC. It was a three hour drive door to door. My mom was going to come and Mark was going to stay home but she accidentally dropped a crazy heavy TV stand right on her big toe! Ouch!!! Walking was out of the question and really all we did was walk and walk and walk. It was so amazing! We left and Christmas day around 4 pm. We immediately walked to Time Square. The kids were so amazed and were pointing out all the different sights they had seen in movies. I loved it! We had a great dinner at Roxy's diner, then we were off to the Empire State Building! We were told that there was a 3 hour wait, but we must have timed it perfectly because we only waited 10 minutes! The sky was clear and we could see everything from miles around. My dad was loving it and the kids could not believe how high up they were! Even Mark got a little sick to his stomach. It was the only night while we were there that the weather was clear. It could not have been better. We had so much fun admiring the windows at Bloomingdale's and all the different Christmas decorations that were everywhere. It was so much fun and that was only the first four hours! The next day we

headed to the Statue of Liberty. Not many kids in their school classes have been there and they were so excited to go. Security was tight but we made it, and I was so thankful we did not have any babies with us! Kristian and Grace would have been a mess, not to mention the cold!! It was freezing! The last time I was at the Statue of Liberty Reed was 10 months old and we have a great picture of the sky line with the twin towers in it. Not this time. But it was still great. I never realized how big those buildings were until they were not there anymore.

Our visit was short and we were back on the fairy. We watched some great street dancers, and headed up to Ground Zero. It was a bit of a hike but we made it. I was a little bumbed because there was just a big whole and a ton of construction. It did not make much sense to the kids and that is what I was sad about. I really wanted them to appreciated where they were and the devastation that occurred there. So much was lost. So many lives were changed. I hope they will be able to visit again when they

are older and hopefully then the experience will have more meaning.

We continued to walk and walk and

walk, all the way to Rockefeller Center. Dad had bought amazing tickets to the Rockets Christmas

Show at Radio City Music Hall. It was such a treat. I was not sure what the show would be like, and I was so

impressed and entertained! I loved it and the girls were in heaven!

Reed unfortunately fell asleep! It was so much fun to be there with my dad and to have my kids making such great memories with him to. He is the best! We then walked back to the hotel and everyone fell asleep very quickly. We were hammered!

But don't stop yet! We still had one more day, and we were going to make the most out of it! We woke up and packed up, but kept our luggage at the hotel, and off we went. I really wanted to take the kids to Dylan's Candy Bar, but we were not sure if we should walk or take the sub. So were started walking. Needless to say we were a bit confused and we ended up at Grand Central Station. No problem. It was a great detour. So we headed in the right direction, the problem was that it was so far away! But we were enjoying the sights, not to mention the amazing churches we stopped at. My

dad always knows how to make every vacation a learning experience. He took the kids aside and taught them small bites of knowledge here and there. It was so great. I hope they remember how much fun he is to be with. Well we finally made it to Dylan's and boy was it a treat. Three stories of candy! We were there for almost 2 hours, and it was so much fun. The kids got souvenirs for their friends, and after the milkshakes we were off to FAO Shwarts. It was not too far up, especially since we had already walked so far! The kids loved the toy store, and again it was a short visit. Our last stop was The Museum of NaturalHistory. Ever since the movie Night at the Museum came out the kids wanted to go there. It was great to go and very interesting. The main problem was that we had just about walked CC to death and she cried through the whole museum, because you see, we were still walking! She was hammered and all of us were feeling exhausted! We were so happy to take the sub back to our Hotel and head home. I was just hoping we stayed awake for the 3 hour drive home. Wow! What a trip! It was everything I could have

hopped for and the kids were better than I had expected. I hope we can return sooner than later!

Okay! I know it has been way to long since I have posted, but better late than never. The laundry is going, the kids are in bed, even Mark since he has been working 60-80 hour weeks this summer! It has been a long summer. I am uploading pictures to the Costco website, and I guess I have a little time to catch up. Wow! Where do I start?

We spent the Christmas holidays in Boston! We had not been there for five years and it was so wonderful to be with my family. We had a blast. Kristian was in love

with my mom. It is more like an obsession. He would order her around all morning and when she had to get some work around the house done or help with my brother Reed, it was a full melt down. He was not ready for her to leave Santa's Sleigh! You know she was one of the reindeer, and how would they possibly get along without her! He also loved to put her in the dungeon!

She had to sit exactly where he wanted and if anyone messed up his plans, then we all payed the consequences! Every night

Grandma would take Kristian to bed. She would sing him songs and stay until he had fallen asleep. She tried to sneak out, but if he was not completely asleep he would call out for her as if the house was on fire! Routine, routine, routine! When we got home I know he missed her so much. I said, "do miss grandma putting you to bed?" He would then request that we return to Boston on the airplane! He is the best. I love to watch how his mind works.

I was so happy that he was not scared of my brother Reed. We were

just together five months earlier and I was hoping his memory would serve him well! He loved to be on his lap and get rides! I am sure it made Reed happy too. Reed is always so willing to do everything for his nieces and nephews. He loves to spoil them and do fun things for them and this trip was no exception. Kristian was so noisy, and Reed was such a trooper. I am sure he was so tired of Miss Spider's Sunny Patch! It was the only thing that would keep Kristian quiet at times. Reed is used to a pretty quiet environment, but we sure mixed that up a bit! I was very happy that Kristian did not tug on Reed's vent, and all the cords that are attached to his wheelchair! A brief explanation was all he needed and he was very good the whole trip! Reed was so understanding and happy to see everyone having a good time.

Christmas morning was a blast! Reed was so kind (and I should say Grandma and Granddad) to get up in his chair early so that the little kids did not have to wait until noon to open presents. They all had so much fun. Kristian was so excited I thought he would burst! He kept saying' "Oh Wow!" and "No Way!". It was the best. He got a peter pan costume, a dump truck, a red sox outfit (from Uncle Reed), and lots more! It was a fun day for everyone, but I think

the high light is when we surprised my dad with a bonsai tree! It was from all of his kids and he was not expecting it at all! I love Christmas morning! I love giving to those I love. I think the best is that I do not have greedy kids! They know it takes a lot of money to have a big family and they never ask why they did not get this or that. I hope it helps us focus and the true meaning of the season, and help them remember that it is better to give than receive.

It seems that every two months I seem to  get another post out.  It has been a very busy time of year and every year it gets busier!  More kids and more activities.  But that is what life is all about!  Watching my kids learn, grow and enjoy life!  Kristian is doing really great with really bad days and good days mixed in.  I was really excited to have him graduate from nursery, and move on to primary in a few weeks.  However, after talking to a few friends I realized that pushing him into sharing time would not be the best idea for him.  It was a hard day.  Another milestone needed to be passed up because he was not ready.  It took a day for me to be okay.  I know Kristian cannot be pushed into anything, and primary should not be any different.  He really is not ready.  I went with his nursery class today for the third time and he was quieter, but still would not sit with the other kids, and all he wanted to do was to march along the empty chairs on the back row.  Over and over again.  At the end of each lap he would dive onto my lap like a brick and wrap his arms around my neck and sqeeze!  He did this about 12 times while sharing time was going on in front.  He was not to noisey with his voice so he was not much of a distraction.  Then the songs began.  He would not participate at all!  I really thought to would like to wave his arms like a butterfly in "Do as I'm doing"  but much to my dismay he could care less.  He generally participates in family home evening to songs such at that but all he wanted was to be held.  I asked him multiple times if he wanted to sit with his friends, and he said, "they no my friends", so we stayed on the back row so he could march back and forth.  I will try sharing time again in six months and reevaluate where he is at.  But we are still going to try class time.  It is not going to be easy and I may have to sucome but I still want to give it a shot.  After 4 weeks if it is not working then it will be all nursery for the next 6 months, if not the entire year.  I am okay with that.  He dances to the beat of his own drum, and I would never trade him for the world!!!!

Last Monday Kristian was very insistent about saying family prayers.  So Mark let him go for it.  He said, "Daddy, Mommy, Reed, Rachel, (pause - tap tap tap)  Reed!  I pray for you!  Rachel I pray for you!  Mommy I pray for you!  Kayla, Gracie.  Kayla I pray for you!  Gracie I pray for you!!!!"  It was so hard to not start laughing!  All the kids were doing their best to keep from busting out in laughter, but it was so hard because he was so funny and so sincere at the same time.  It was such a great prayer!

I also want to write about a few people that 

Kristian loves.  He absolutely adores my friend Shelly Mathie! I cannot say enough good things about Shelly. I remember when she first moved into the neighborhood.  I remember thinking, wow she is great, and I wanted to get to know her better.  But I did not leave my cave very often so I only saw her at church functions.  During sacrament meeting I am generally very strict with my kids so

that they learn at a young age that it is a

special time to learn about our Savior.  Leaving the pew was totally against the rules, and sitting with friends was not allowed.  So when Kristian started to gravitate to Shelly from across the pew I was not going to let him go.  But each week he flirted with the idea more and more.  Then he made the leap over to her and their friendship began.  I do not remember exactly when it happened but I think he had just stared walking.  Kristian loves her and she loves him.  I think that sacrament meeting is his favorite time of the week.  He does not express those types of things to me, but if he could I am convinced I would be right.  Shelly does not push him when he cannot be pushed.  She is not offended when he is in a bad mood.  She has bought him books and games that she thinks he will enjoy.  Not to mention the sippy cup and treats!  She loves him unconditionally and he adores her.  Now 2 years later David sits with them too, now that the bishopbric has been changed, and now it is a party!!!  It continues to bless my life now that Mark took David’s place!  It makes me cry when ever I am reminded that Heavenly Father loves us and it is through those friends around us that he meets our needs.  She is a gift and an angel.  I will always treasure her friendship and advice. 

Kristian also loves his little friend Kyra Ward.  The Wards have been our friends for over 8 years and I could not ask for better friends.  They are amazing and I am a better person because of their friendship.  Kyra is their youngest and she is 8 months younger than Kristian.  He loves to be around her, although he is a really good friend for about 10-15 minutes and then he gets completely distracted and forgets she is there.  She then gets bored and I hang out with her, which is a pleasure!  She is my great little buddy.  Whenever he sees her he yells, "Hey my best friend!"  Kyra is so patient with Kristian, and I know he loves her even though their playdate only lasts for 10-15 minutes.

Lastly, sweet little Kristian loves his mom!  He is not very nice to dad at times and will only come to me.  I do everything I can to convice him that dad is the man, but he is a little stinker and I end up 

doing most things for him.  But Mark knows I need a break and so even though he may take a beating from Kristian, Mark knows he will eventually calm down.  Kristian loves for me to read him stories.  We joke that we have read to him more than all our kids combined, and I do not think that is a coinsidence.  But his favorited thing to do is watch me cook.  He would make the meal if I would let him and I have to be careful when I turn my head or he may dump some unknown substance into the recipe!!  He loves to measure, pour, and stir.  He reallly loves tasting!  Probably a little too much!  Most of the time I love to have my apprentice helping me!  Not even the tv distracts him from being my helper, and that is amazing!  I know that Kristian will be my little buddy long after my other children have moved out and gone on with their lives, and I am so thankful that we have such a close relationship,  I have known of him for so many years and  he let me know he was coming into my life.  I love his hugs, and getting stuck when we kiss.  I love when he is involved with the family and I respect that he cannot always do that and at times he needs to be alone.  He will help me along this journey to be a better person.  He will teach me what it means to not judge others, and to love more.  He is a blessing.  My friend has a saying in her kitchen that says. "Help me be paitent with my blessings!"  I also need to be more patient with those who do not understand or who do not care, which is what I am struggling with right now.  I know that this to shall pass and I will move on to the next thing I need to work on and as I go through this process I hope that my testimony is growing and that I am becoming more Christlike.  That is the goal and I am thankful to have my sweet son and friend, Kristian, to help me along this path.

I knew it would be hard to keep this up and now 2 months later I am only writing for the second time. I am happy to report that Kristian's ankle has really healed well. It is quite sensitive when we put shoes on, but he can wear shoes and that is a step forward! We could not put shoes on him for 7 weeks, so he wore flip flops everywhere. But now that we have snow on the ground I am very glad he will allow us to put shoes on. It was quite an ordeal! We went to see the phycyatrist again and she said that she was pretty sure Kristian would not make the connection between the motor scooter and his burn. So we did the experiment, and he could not wait for another ride on the motor scooter! I was pretty sure when the accident happened that he was unaware of what had occurred. I am thankful, even through accidents, that I can learn how his mind works or doesn't.

While we were at the same phycyatrist appointment we had taken Grace with us. I was so thankful that we did. It was so interesting to have the doctor point out how Grace is socially more advanced than Kristian. Not to discount any progress that Kristian has made, but to see where he is behind and why. The room was very small and Kristian would not let her anywhere near is little space. Sharing was out of the question, and she was continually pushed out of the way. She was not amused. Again I asked the question of whether Kristian was high or low functioning, and again the same answer. We will have to wait a few years. Some children progress quickly and tapper off and some progress slowly and then continue to improve. Either way we will not know for now. I am okay with that, because we are learning as we go. Of course I hope for him to be as high functioning as possible, but if he is not then we will continue to learn and be thankful we have him in our lives.

Today was our first Sunday with Mark in the new bishopric, and it has been a long but good day. Kent and Kayla spent the night last night, and and were a big help at church. When we got home Kristian was on a rampage! Everything was making him mad. He threw at least 4 good temper tantrums and it was difficult to calm him down. I am trying to figure out the best way to calm him down and not give in to what he wants. When he calms down and can use words to either communicate an apology or a request, he is rewarded. I hope that is what I am suppose to do. I am learning as I go. His language is improving really well. I have been able to notice the speech therapy has been a huge help. Although his vocabulary is improving, he really struggles to express himself. When he finds himself in a difficult situation there is a lot of grunting, screeching, and crying. If I talk him through it, then we generally find out what the problem is. He is still best at yes and no question. We are limited in the descriptive area as well. But I think it will come with time.

We are making slow progress in the toilet training area. It is getting very difficult to change his pull ups, because he is getting very strong. But he has been staying dry longer and he has started, in just the past couple of days, to tell me when he has peed or when he is poopy. That is great. I know it will be a while but I will take all the progress I can get. We go through a box of Costco pull-ups every month! Not to mention diapers for Grace! She may pass him in this area as well, or be his teacher! We will see.

Emotionally I feel really good. I am continually thinking of my brothers and my parents, and the amazing example of facing adversity with an attitude of gratitude. I know that everyone will face trials in one way or another, and I know that this will not be the only trial we will face. At the same time I know that if we stay close to the spirit we will be guided in all our decisions, and as we follow our Saviors example we will find that the blessings far out weigh the trial.

My friends have discovered the fun past time of blogging. I have not made it a priority until one of my amazing friends said, "you should do a blog for Kristian. That way you can keep a journal of all his ups and downs and also of his progress." It was such an amazing suggestion. But she also knew that I needed a little shove so she even set up the blog and had it all ready for me to type. She rocks. I am not the best writer, and spelling can be an issue as well, but I am ready to dive in and give it a shot. Kristian is my 5th child of 6. In June he was diagnosed with autism. I had been watching him for a while, with several concerns that I was blaming on his ears, until it became obvious that it was something else. When he was 2 my pediatrician was concerned and asked me if I thought he had autism. I was not sure. He was definitely delayed in many, if not all areas, but I did not know enough about the disorder to be sure. We are continually learning more as a result of his diagnosis, and we would not trade him for the world. Each day he makes me and our whole family better.

Going back to last Thursday the 21st of August, Kristian had a bad little accident. We were coming home from a friends and he got a ride on a motor scooter, which he loved. He arrived home and was getting off the scooter when he grabbed the handle and some how pusher the accelerator. He was not able to process the information and he ended up caught between the curb and the moving scooter. He was stuck as the scooter's muffler moved over his leg and burned him pretty good. One side of his right leg was road rash, and the other had 2nd degree burns. He was quite hysterical, and unaware of the object that gave him such horrible pain. I got a wet rag with ice in it to ease the pain until we got to the doctor. They were able to get it clean and bandaged up. We have been changing the bandages twice a day since. I am hoping to let it air out during a movie tomorrow. He hates to have the bandages changed, and it is hard to reason with him. I needed to go to Walgreens yesterday to get some more supplies for his burn, and he saw that we were going to the store. I said that we needed to get things for Kristian. He responded, "Thanks mom. You da best!" I then said that we needed stuff for his owie. He then responded, "You no da best!" It was so funny, and great to see that he understood!

Today was also his first day of preschool. He is attending the same special needs preschool that he did in the spring. It is great for him, and he gets all of his pt, ot, and speech therapy at school. The bus comes right to our door to pick him up and to bring him home. They call him their little surfer boy. Everyone loves his hair. I have learned how to ask him questions. Questions such as "what did you do at school?" will get a blank stare. But if I ask, "did you have fun at school?" I will get a resounding "yes!". Mark was asking him at bed time "Did you read stories at preschool? Did you eat snacks? Did you play with toys? Did you flush the toys down the toilet?". Yes was the response to every question! So we know there is not a flushable toilet in the trailer at his preschool and he is not toilet trained. I know he had a great day because he came home happy. He is a very happy boy, and he is a gift in my life.