My Children!

Big sister holding her little brother.

Just an angelic moment in the leaves!

Anthony and Skyanna back in Washington, 1 and 3 years of age.

One of my favorites of Adam and Anthony, he's tying his shoe.

Seriously! Benjamin or Anthony? (It's Anthony!)

Anthony Allan Bauthues 08/22/03

Skyanna Lynn Bauthues 05/19/06 Benjamin Adam Bauthues 10/11/09

As the year of 2011 comes to a close, I was reflecting on how blessed I am! I've been privileged to raise three precious babies, one still in diapers! I know they are not really mine; they belong to the Lord. On days when it is hard to see past the spilled milk and dirty laundry, I remember that He has given me the very important job of raising them to their full capabilities. God never expects us to carry our struggles alone. Adam and I have both come to believe that he has equipped us with the tools we need to raise these specific children. Having a child with Asperger's causes you to re-evaluate how you speak, discipline, plan for the future, plan for Holidays, everything! I think the goal with every family is to find what makes you thrive, and not worry about conforming to what you think you should be.
Everyone has a hope, and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It's so comforting to know that God has a plan for every one's life! Through the day to day strife, the aching pain and heart wrenching sorrow, it is all in God's hands. My prayer is that I would be able to see His plan through my own busyness, and when I can't see or feel His plan, simply trust His promises.
This next month Adam and I will be getting a new camera, but for the time being, here on some classic pictures that I treasure! I will get some new updated pictures on here soon!

Little Miracles

Little miracles are everywhere around us, if we choose to slow down and see them.
I could have totally missed this miracle, but instead I chose to see the beauty in the chaos. Last night, after the worst behavior day ever for my two oldest, we decided to head off to the Good Friday service at our church. We have been looking forward to this, especially me, as I don't get to attend worship anymore because I'm working. (But I still go to Sunday school class, which is totally amazing!)
I just knew that once I got all 3 kids to church, the chaos would slow down, and I could pray and sing and find peace. All this was true, but not in the way I expected...
First of all, after a difficult trip through the parking lot, (losing Skyanna in the middle of it) we finally made our way into the church, and there is a big sign on the entrance door that reads, "Enter In Silence."
HAHAHAHAH! I knew at once that I would be chasing after three kids somewhere down the hall, but most likely not in the worship service. I prepared to put on my martyr cross, and let Adam go to service while I patiently and humbly watched the three kids I'd been working so hard to get away from all day! Inside I was fervently praying, "Lord, I know this is my season of life, but I so wanted to worship! I wanted to have some ALONE time with you, to focus my thoughts! Instead, here I am trying to keep 3 kids quiet, with my youngest straining to escape the stroller already! This is NOT peaceful!"
As I was entering my sad state of acceptance, in walked a wonderful gal named Joy, who is the wife to Rob, the music leader and minister for this evening's events. She had her two kids with her, one 3 months older than Ben, and her daughter close in age to Skyanna. She was their to support her husband, and then usher her two kids quietly out the door. Here is the miracle:
We ended up not going to service, but letting the kids loose to run up and down a huge ramp in the church. Screaming and giggling, our kids ran and chased each other, the joy in their eyes unbelievable! I found my own dissapointment greatly lessened having a friend to talk with, and not only that, it was HER husband who was putting on the service and leading it, and she stayed in the hall to visit with me! Now granted, it really was a matter of survival, our wild hooligans would never have made it quietly through the service, but God brought someone into my life to minister to me in a simple, friendly, down to earth way. Instead of the time of deep contemplation and communion I thought I was going to have, I got to chat with another mom about blankies, shopping with rowdy kids, discipline, napping, and plans for summer outings! Deep, spiritual stuff? Maybe not to some, but in my book, this is as deep as it gets!

April Flowers!

What a great month April has been! We've been getting lots of sun, and the kids have loved playing outside! Anthony is loving the June bugs that come out at night, and I let him go outside with his umbrella and hit them! We are so excited for Easter, Adam will be performing a song, and it's beautiful! I'll try to get it recorded.

Benjamin loves the outdoors as well, and is a daredevil! Here is just one of his many stunts, climbing the slide. He's a beefy little dude, and takes lots of tumbles! He can also climb on the coffee table, and is working his way up to the couch.

Well, well....look who has "Bieber Fever!" She found this shirt at Walmart and totally got excited, so I had to let her get it. It's so cute! I don't think she even knows who he is, she just knows that her little girlfriends at school think he's cool.

This is Anthony's soccer uniform for this spring, his team is called the Rams! He scored his first goal in a game last week, and is really, really, loving soccer!

Just another pic of my stout little guy.....notice the adorable curls!

Skyanna loves to watch Anthony try and climb trees!

Oooh look! He made it up a tree!

Dry hair....

Wet hair!

Here we are at Anthony's soccer game. Ben is mad that he's strapped in the stroller, he wants out! Hahah!

Yard Work

Seriously the sweetest cats in the world, Princess here, and Sam below!
Ben's best friend, Sam the cat.
My least favorite stage, learning to feed themselves. Yuck!
Skyanna and Sophia, best friends from school, putting on make up!
Benjamin finally adopted a blankie! All my kids have blankies, and I was worried he wouldn't want one. This is his froggy blankie he got for Christmas, it comes with a cute matching pillow.
Curls, curls, and chubs!
Pretty Skyanna at Chuck e Cheese for her friends party!
Ben's first time playing on the toys!
Check out my little man's cute shorts!

Okay, here are some pics of our recent yard work. We hacked down dead trees, (one that had been killed by lightning) and hauled all the wood off. It was a big job, and really noisy.
The trees that we took down are in our backyard, so now it adds space to the yard, and takes away hiding places for snakes! We hope to get some hammocks out here.
Daddy and his girl! We've been busy here, ready for summer to come so we can go swimming. Although, we could go swimming now, it's in the 80's, but the pools not up yet! The kids have swam in the little pool a few times this last month. With Adam and I both working full time, this is a crazy time, yet somehow manageable. I'll keep ya'll up to date on what decide to do with our yard....it's slow going for us, just getting a hammock up would be a plus!

Zoo

We had an amazing time at the zoo this morning! This is Ben absolutely loving the goats! We spent a lot of time with these little buddies, and Ben loved on all of them. If the goat was laying down, Ben would lay on the goats belly and pet him, and coo to him.

At the playground, the kids love the sand and tractors!

I love you goats, you're my friends!

The Going On's of early spring!

Here comes freedom for Ben! His first year able to frolick and run in the yard, and you better believe he's running! It's waring up here, usually in the 70's most days, and he loves being outside!
We were invited to a really awesome bubble birthday party, (pic below) and here is Anthony being brave about all the bubbles!

Bubble land!

My two crazy kiddo's getting ready for bedtime! Dad works at night, so it's just me to get these kids to bed, somehow they make it fun! Anthony looks like a gnome. Speaking of work, my job at the bookstore is going so very wonderful, and may soon turn into full time. I'm still trying to master the crockpot, to save time on cook'n.
Notice the chopping of trees in the background, slowly doing our yard!
First trip to Jump'n Jacks for Ben! He loved it! He bounced everywhere, and loved to do the slides. Sadly, once he discovered he could leave the main play area and go find the shoe room, he was more into that.
Stage 1 of demolition of small shrubs and wees in the woods out back, not to hall off all this stuff!
Could you be....the most beautiful girl in the world?? Skyanna's new due, everyone wants to touch her hair now! She got it straightened, and it was really easy, and something I think I can start doing at home. She loves being tangle free!

A job for little'ol'me!

Well it seems the sun's shining on Helena today, I got the job at our church library and bookstore! What an amazing experience this will be, I'm in a whole new arena of work that I've never experienced!
My wonderful supervisor, Kattie, assured me that there would be no tackling shop lifters, no customers spitting in your face, no homeless people peeing in the aisles, and no beer cans hidden in the bathroom stalls! I can't believe my luck and good fortune! Upon times slowness in our little store, I am required to pick up a book, and learn about it. There are so many wonderful books that people may have questions about, and it's up to me to try and read them all! Oooh, the pressure and excitement, and it's such a lovely little store!
On the one side we have the bookstore, with many glorious Christian/Spiritual reads, as well as a selection of toys and other fun merchandise. On the other side we have the check out section, with books and DVD's, and music. I get to work in both sides of the store, and can't wait to increase my product knowledge.
There is no need for a "Service 6" call at this job, and no need to fear that used needles and syringes are hidden behind merchandise. This may be the first job I've had in over 10 years that I'm not having to make weekly calls to dispatch....and not constantly clearing checks to see if the account is real or fake. People come to the bookstore because they want to be there, not because they have to. There will be no pan-handlers to chase off, and no confiscating fake Id's. It's a happy little store, with a wonderful view of the church playground, where children frolic and sing.
Perhaps in the future I'll return to my crime stopping ways, but for now, I am allowed a peaceful job in a beautiful setting. Glorious days are ahead, full of birds chirping and and flowers singing, and I can't wait to buy some new clothes that will help me shine in my new job. Did I mention there's no chance of raw meat juices dripping on your clothes, or crates of milk falling and spoiling your outfit?
Cheers!

Catch Up!

This year the goal is to update our family blog more frequently! I am still trying to figure out how to get more pictures and cute stuff on my site, but that will come with time.
As February rolls in, we began to deal with the sickies, (do they ever end?). Skyanna has the flu with possible pneumonia, and we've got all three kiddos on tamaflu, to reduce their chances of catching it! Skyanna is a champ, and has beat the odds already! She is keeping fluids down this morning, and her fever is much lower. She got two shots yesterday, and barely batted an eye! We were advised to put her in the hospital over night, but vetoed that idea, preferring to keep tabs on her at home. She did great!
We have made out sun room into a second playroom, complete with rocking chair for mom, pillows for the kids, and art supplies. Once spring hits, we will be in that room daily!
Right now I am looking for some possible work outside of the home, it's not fun job searching! Grandma and Grandpa have generously offered to watch Benjamin if I find work, and I'm hoping to work days to be home with the kiddos after school. Best scenario would be to find work in a daycare, and bring Benjamin with me, but we'll see what opens up. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
This year as a family and as an individual, we are focusing on laughter, honesty, and perspective. How silly it is to get so caught up on the petty things in life, or the injustices of being human! The best things in life, and the most rewarding, are things that you work for, and the people you laugh with! I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I am free to be myself, laugh, and not conform to the mold society often places on people. I think this freedom also makes me a better mother, and able to laugh more with my kids. It is important to be very careful who and what you let into your life, and never forget, this life is meant to be lived victoriously!
More for later!