Winner

Lego

The steps were all his idea

Naked

Loss

It is with a heavy heart, shock, and utter sadness to say Alda Carter has gone to be with her Savior. She is Declan's Great-Grandma, his Mema, and one of the neatest ladies I ever met. She was generous, thoughtful, and kind. She was spunky and on-the-go always. You would never know she was 83. I love her like she was my grandmother. She was an amazing example of a woman who serves other people sacrificially. Please pray for the family. This was completely unexpected.

If there is someone very special to you, make sure they know it; you never know when they will be gone.

Aunt Smokey wrote:
My mother, Alda Carter, passed away this afternoon from a massive heart attack. Please keep us in your prayers. She leaves Ervin Carter, her husband, Jonathan Sanders, her grandson, Declan Sanders, her great-grandson, and me, Diane. She was predeceased by her son, Michael, her parents, Hoyt and Leonard Walker, and her sister, Iris Lane.

Iris (l) and Alda (r)

I've Said

SANTA:
D may have said "Santa is the reason for Christmas" which may have then caused a typical, in Jen Polk, style lesson on the reason for the season.
After the lesson, he brought over Jesus from the manger and says "Jesus is to remind us of St. Nicolas" and I may have wanted to cry.
We have been talking about this nightly during advent. I feel like I am truly swimming upstream against the mainstream. I feel very defeated, but will continue on.

 OLD:
How I know D is really a little old man:
Watching Elf. Buddy asks Jovie out on a date.
"How is he even going to pay for that?"

This kid kills me daily!

PRESIDENT:

"When I'm president, Poppi is not going to even be allowed to talk. Only if he's at the Statue of Liverty and in his house."- Declan 5yo
I could not contain my laughter on this one!!!

Big

Cupcake

Decorate

Scooter

Stupendous Student

Stairs

Married

(Talking to his occupational therapist)
Declan: I have a girlfriend.
OT: You do? What's her name?
D: Lilliani
OT: That's a beautiful name.
D: Yeah, we have been married for like 16 years.
OT: Wow! That's awesome and takes hard work.

Day

Tree shopping

Lunch

Vacay day 2

discovered a new talent

shutting the door

fell in a creek

went shopping with no shoes on

still no shoes at the "Rural King"

Got new boots from the Tractor Supply

Stayed in a hotel in Orlando

Went to Downtown Disney

Lego Store

Treasure

jjjj

Vacay 1

We went to Lake County for a friendship reunion

Never know we are only going for 2 nights

Fed giant birds

Drove a tractor

Went bowling with new friends

Thankful

Oh the 24th he told me exactly what he wanted for his Thankful Feast:

Me: You know Thanksgiving Day we have a thankful feast! What kind of food would you like to have for your feast?
D: What food I would like to have, food of royalty, that would be spaghetti pasta, pepperonis, cheese and candy .... umm... macaroni and cheese and laffy taffy! Yeah! That's my thankful feast.

He had Mac n Cheese for his second course

his 1st bite of cheescake

his 2nd bite of cheescake

Spider mario

No one will even re-con-ize me. None of my friends will know who's playing with them. 

Sock problems

Always problems with the socks!!

from FB:

Where are my fellow "sock war" fighting mommas? The ones who lovingly put on and take off the socks 4-5 times because it feels funny. The ones who put the shoes on and take them off because the sock is still not right!
I know I'm not alone. But the battle got this morning!! I could use some solidarity!
I'm remembering- I don't still have to do this with my 20 year old who had sensory issues. This will pass.

Why has no one designed socks for sensory kids? Or have they?