Aren't I Cute?

Meet Lexie - part 1

This is Lexie. Over the next few days, I will tell you more about her and our family. But, first the basics: She is on loan from an amazing dog trainer in the area and comes to stay with us for overnights every few days. She is an 11 month old lab who is being trained as a service dog for someone with special needs. Her story has been followed in the newspapers and tv stations in the Savannah, GA area. The kids absolutely love her. And, She's the most obedient dog I have ever met, and there's still a ways to go in her training.

We are learning about what is possible in a dog in order to find and train the perfect dog for Noah. In his entire life, Noah has only asked for two things: a pair of green Converse All Stars and a dog. He got the shoes for Christmas.

Noah could be significantly helped by the presence of an animal who is specially trained to assist him. Calming, stabilizing, being a familiar presence in difficult places... We are discovering tons of possibilities of what a service dog can be for a child with autism. And, in the mean time, we are delighting at the joy that this dog is bringing to Noah's life.

In the shots here, you see Lexie with her head on Noah's knee in the car. She rides on the seat with him whenever she is asked and has a tremendous calming effect on him whenever there is physical contact between them. The other shot is of Andrew with Lexie on "place." Place is simply a predefined location on which Lexie must stay when commanded. The kids are allowed to join her on place, but she may not move off of it no matter what happens. Part of Lexie's training with us is to test the limits of "no matter what happens." It's what we are good at.

It's the end of . . . and I feel fine!

As schools aproach summer vacation, they all have to have the end of the year picnic. The cool thing is that they all seem to involve water down here. Elaina's picnic for Veritas Christian Academy was a picnic in the park which involved all of the kids with cups of water and huge sprinklers. Slides and swings however far from the water source were drenched and generally it was only the parents on blankets under the great oak who avoided the soaking. Well, parents and Andrew, who managed to stay completely dry the whole afternoon and still got a fair number of full cups of water to throw on others. It's just like the bible doesn't really say: "do unto others before they do unto you." I am sure that the school would be thrilled that our boy had walked away with such a perfect lesson in community! lol.

"Hey Dad! Teach me to walk..."

Molly is learning fast to walk. Larger legs or toy shopping carts or kitchen chairs or whatever is closest are proving great props for this next adventure!

Reason #245 why God created teeth... CORN

Danger!!!

Do you ever get the sense that danger warnings are going overboard? Remember the days when a simple "You'll shoot your eye out!" was all the warning you ever needed? Check out this disclaimer. These folks have really gone above and beyond, and I think the world is a safer place because of it. Now if I only had another TV show to live vicariously through since I can't participate in real life due to the risk involved...

Excerpt:
"Nature is unpredictable and unsafe. Mountains are dangerous. Many books have been written about these dangers, and there's no way we can list them all here. Read the books.

"[this place] is covered in steep terrain with loose, slippery and unstable footing. The weather can make matters worse. Sheer drops are everywhere. You may fall, be injured or die. There are hidden holes. You could break your leg. There are wild animals, which may be vicious, poisonous or carriers of dread diseases. These include poisonous snakes and insects. Plants can be poisonous as well. We don't do anything to protect you from any of this. We do not inspect, supervise or maintain the grounds, rocks, cliffs or other features, natural or otherwise."

Fridgie Tales - Samson and Delilah

This is a "veggie tales" episode that I wrote, shot and edited a few years ago. Figured Big Idea wouldn't get around to doing this sordid tale. Here's the Bible story if you want the reference. And, thanks to YouTube.com it's now available to the world. (click to play)

A Wonderful Poem

Sing hey! For the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he who will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!

O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;
but better than rain or rippling streams
is water Hot that smokes and steams.



O! Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;
but better is Beer if drink we lack,
and Water Hot poured down the back.

O! Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky;
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet!

-Bilbo Baggins

Shaving

Andrew walked in while I was shaving this morning and was fascinated. So he got a turn when I was done. After that, Noah was next in line. You can't see Molly on the floor laughing through the whole thing, but we all had a great time!

Church Fountain

The Church of the Cross just finished the Buckwalter campus with this awesome new fountain. These pics were before the main pump was on, but we still had a great time getting very wet. If any church folks are checking out this page, please don't let you kids do this! Bad kids! Bad! Down! lol.

Happy Birthday Molly!

It's Molly's 1st birthday...
It's time to see who she looks like (at least among her siblings). the pictures are in random order, and this post will be updated later to reveal which baby is which (Molly is the top left). I know some of you remember the actual pictures, but that's ok. The pictures have been resized, but simply click on each to see it larger. Happy Birthday to the baby Pū-Nut!


(Images (clockwise from upper left) Molly, Andrew, Elaina and Noah)

Come on in! The water's great!

The pool opened last weekend, and if it's open, we're in it. Molly's first time there proved her a quick study in the water sports. Wet face, an ocasional splash and never a pause or tear (that was visible through the water, that is). More of that will be coming. Now, to keep the sun off her tender flesh...

Because Molly's strollers were all in the van, and the van gone away for the afernoon, Elaina had the brilliant idea of using her "baby" stroller. While a 10" doll looks just about right, Molly was downright rediculous. Elaina pushed her the whole way to and from the pool in a stroller that didn't fit even a little. Dad had to rig up a towel to keep the poor kid's head from flopping down since it extended above the head rest by several inches.

Mmmmmmmm... Veggies

Yeah, that's zucchini. Molly found a bag of veggies on the floor and decided to help herself to breakfast. Turned out she was serious and ate a good bit before finally getting too full and messy to continue.

Slippin' and Slidin'

Sunday afternoon, Joseph Floystad brought over his slip and slide for us to share. Andrew wanted nothing to do with it, but Elaina and Noah thought it was awesome! Even Molly spent some time under the showers crawling around. Too bad the 87 degree temperatures came after the rest of the family went back up North.

Cousins Reunited

Take a bunch of cute baby pics where the cousins are staged in a cute pose in good light and what happens? They don't smile and crawl off until mom(s) show up and join the picture. Then all is right with the world (as with most times moms show up).


But sometimes pictures can be fun. . .


when the princesses wish it. . .


as long as they don't upstage each other. . .


but, mostly it's just fun to be together!

And, don't forget the boy cousins

Andrew, Joshua and Noah

Opa and the Pū-Nut

Shooting fire while moving the camera in circles...
(4.o secs at F/10, ISO100, no tripod, digital so messups are free)

E. J. and A. Helsel waking up

Bummer of a place to live...