The hustle and bustle

I can't even tell you how many times I've thought about blogging, but time restraints have kept me from doing so.  So happy to be posting here once again. :)

First of all I'd like to fill you in on Maria and Ginger's speech therapy.  They are both currently enrolled every Wednesday with separate therapists.  During their evaluation several weeks ago, they had hoped to get them in two times a week, but scheduling them at the same time is proving to be a bit of a problem.  Maria (as we already knew) has a later developing speech problem... can't pronounce her r's, l's, sh's and so on.  Ginger basically doesn't say anything... however she's taken more interest over the past couple of weeks and can now say Dada, sister, bird, and hot.  All those words were learned on her own with the help of myself or Scott.

The girls both had their first official speech session last Wednesday.  They're hoping Ginger will learn at least 25 words in the next six months and I have little doubt that she won't.  Maria's therapist told us afterwards that she was "a delight", eager to learn, and a very bright individual. What mother wouldn't be proud to hear those words. :)

Next, I would like to mention that we have the majority of three rooms (still need to do the doors) painted upstairs and Scott started putting up the rough cut cedar trim in all the rooms.  It really looks amazing and bright.  Unfortunately things aren't moving as quickly as I'd like them too.  With Scott's schedule and Christmas approaching faster than I can type, we're finding ourselves (okay, me) caught up in other things.  But, Scott did install a new light over the kitchen sink.  For several weeks there was only a chain hanging from the ceiling, but now we have light!  I love it too.

I've been doing some of what I like to call 'elving' these past few weeks.  Trying my hardest to get gifts knitted...

and sewed...

and hot glued before Christmas Day arrives.

Today I just finished packing up everything that needs to be mailed out with hopefully plenty of time to get there before the big day.  I know the Post Office this time of year can be pretty slow, so I'm not taking any chances.

Tomorrow I plan to bake several batches of cookies, do laundry, and hopefully do something with the tree we picked up today after our church's children's Mass.  Maria has been going to church school every Sunday and loves every minute of it.  I'll ask her questions about her time there and she rarely shares any information with me... which leaves me with a lot of unanswered questions!  But today, a few were answered.  Watching her sing (and knowing most of the words!) with all the other children brought a huge smile to my face and tears to my eyes.  I couldn't have been more pleased by what I saw.  She surprises me everyday.

That's all for tonight as it's getting late and I still want to delve into my bag of chips... I have a serious addiction to those things.  Hoping to make at least one more appearance here before Christmas... fingers crossed.