A season for everything...

I love Thanksgiving. Even here in the desert, the sky looks like winter. The sun has hidden behind some clouds -- a rare occurrence here -- and the temperatures have dropped below 80 for the first time all season. I am anticipating gathering my sweet crew around me tomorrow, stuffing their bellies full of turkey, cornbread dressing, and pies. So many pies! (Because heaven forbid they all have the SAME favorite!)

The weekend is special for several reasons: First, my brother, Talley, celebrates his birth today! I was in first-grade when Talley was born and loved the attention his birth drew! My teacher used the occasion for our sentence-of-the-day: "Today, Carol has a new baby brother." And me and all my fellow-six-year-olds practiced our penmanship while celebrating the arrival of my first sibling! So, Happy Birthday, my dear brother! We can't wait to see you and sweet Sarah in a few weeks!!

And though this isn't actually the date...it was the day before Thanksgiving TWELVE years ago, that a shocked doctor turned an ultrasound screen around to face Wade and I as she held up THREE fingers! Poor Wade was half-way through his Thanksgiving dinner (the next day) before he finally spoke again...looking up at me to say, "They won't all fit in our car. They won't." (But they did...because with a good tape measure, and two persistent shoppers, you CAN find three car seats to fit across the backseat of a Honda Civic. Just so you know.)

And because my heart will never let go of this...it was 15 years ago this weekend, that my sweet Daddy went home to be with God. He fought a courageous battle with cancer for two years, not because he didn't know he was ready for heaven, but because his sweet heart knew how much we needed him here. And still do.

So this is a weekend of many emotions. A weekend of sadness. A weekend of joy. A weekend of celebrations. And above all...a weekend of gratitude. Because our God is just as good...just as faithful...just as loving...in death as he is in life. And so for all these things...and for you, my dear friends, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Should I be concerned?

The Costco cashier just asked if I owned a restaurant....hmmm...OR, he added, do you just have a ton of kids?! Oh, a ton, my friend. A ton. And somedays it feels just like a restaurant!

A glimpse into our world

Benjamin and Mason were barely one the first time they were cast for Orthotics -- the leg braces that help support their feet, ankles and lower leg so that they can concentrate on the other tasks of walking. I was forever looking for new names for things...wanting a "happy" spin that would help them accept wearing the hard plastic assistance. The braces we chose that first day were cute -- little cap-wearing puppy dogs lined the fasteners and Mason's were red while Benjamin chose blue. We called them our "puppy dog shoes." The name stuck. Even as they grew older, we referred to them as "puppy dog shoes", regardless of the fact that much cooler things now graced the fasteners -- superheroes, and such!

I have to tell you that dressing preschool-aged triplets is no small task. These three actually got to school more than once (Oh, I am confessing now.) wearing their shoes on the wrong feet. And when I went to change them...the boys' puppy dog shoes were even on the wrong feet! Lucky for me, I could always blame lack of sleep!

Back then our puppy dog shoes always lasted for a year or so...but lately, my dynamic duo are outgrowing them sooner! Thursday was casting day for our new set. Here, Mason has been cast and Mr. C is molding it to the exact shape of his leg and foot.

Mason is quite excited for the new set. He has selected the Roadrunner for this pair -- he likes to move fast (even if that means a few falls will ensue!).

Here, Mr. C is cutting the cast off of Benjamin. The yellow cording ensures he won't cut B's leg. But I don't mind telling you that this boy gets a little nervous anyway. Sharp objects, and all that!

His sister did her best to comfort him throughout the process -- except of course when she announced in a very loud voice that she needed to uh hm, well, go take care of business in the bathroom....announced as only a newly-three-old can. Smile!

Benjamin went with his old stand-by favorite again this time -- Batman.

They don't let me call them puppy dog shoes, anymore. Sigh. But the affect of the cute name has lingered, we not only don't mind wearing them, but as was proven by the excitement of picking out our new designs, we have embraced the fun!

And that is just one of the blessings of these boys -- they could choose to pout about the fact that other kids didn't spend Thursday afternoon getting casts, having wheelchair adjustments and testing new equipment. But not my amazing boys. They love life -- they pick roadrunners, superheroes and have wheelchair races in the equipment showroom! And they make me smile. Oh, they make me smile...and always help me figure out exactly which shoe goes on which foot!

A special day...

She knows her ABCs and 123s,

She knows how to sing, and talks a ton...

But her number one skill,

Is loving her family and just having fun!

We celebrate her --
as she turns THREE!
She's added so much joy
To the Shrader Family!

So Happy Birthday,
Our precious Catherine Grace!
God blessed us much when he gave us
You and your sweet face!!

We love you, Cate!!
Mommy & Daddy,
Benjamin, Mason and Claire

Pajama-clad car washer and an amazing Uncle Lenny

Some blessings are unexpected, often found when we think we are helping someone else. And that is just the case with our car-washer extraordinaire, Uncle Lenny! When Len moved in with us more than two years ago, we thought we were helping him, by giving him the opportunity to go to school. But the truth is he helps us more every day than we could ever possibly help him!


This weekend he decided to wash the cars -- the temperatures really have to cool down for this task and since they finally have, there was some serious dirt to be cleaned off. Without a doubt, this job would have gone faster without his helper. But Cate loves her Uncle Lenny, and she wouldn't leave his side (not even to get her pajamas off!). With the patience that he inherited from our precious Dad, this wonderful man taught Cate how to use each piece of equipment...and didn't complain once about having to re-do the areas where she took so long that the soap dried in spots (heaven forbid there be spots!).

Now, by his own admission, this little almost-three-year-old has him wrapped around her fingers. But he is equally loving to all my children -- taking time from his studies to drive Claire to horseback riding so that I can do homework with the boys; doing a bulk of the lifting of my Benjamin to save my back; laughing with Mason at jokes only the two of them get (ha); sharing Wade's passion for football; and just being a wonderful addition to our family!

Today is Uncle Lenny's birthday. I was in sixth grade when he was born -- just like the trio are today! I should confess that I was upset about his birth...well, not about his birth but about...well, his gender. I had prayed for a sister. But God so knows best. God knew that He would be calling our Dad home early and my kiddos would need two loving uncles (We love our precious Uncle Talley in Minnesota, too, you know!) to take the place of that wonderful grandfather that they missed. God knew that Wade and I would need extra hands to support us in the parenting of these very-special kids He entrusted to us. God knew what we needed when we didn't even realize it -- or when this sixth grade girl didn't realize it. So you better believe that today, I am giving thanks for God's perfect plan and the birth of my wonderful brother, Len and the blessing he is to us all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEN! WE LOVE YOU!!

So proud to be an American...

Sweet Cate helped Mommy vote today in her very first presidential election of her little life! And thanks to the adorable group of little girls in line with us, she enjoyed it!

I know I would not have had to wait in line if I had just used the early voting ballot. But I am a sentimental gal, ever since my first presidential primary, when I declared one party, and my mother declared another (She has since come to the right side, by the way!), I have loved the wonder of casting my vote! I usually hum one patriotic tune after another...and sometimes there are tears. I know, I know. I said I get a bit sentimental about the whole thing!

But today, our polling place happened to be my big kids' elementary school, and the band hall is right beside the line to the polls. Mrs. C, the world's greatest band teacher, opened the doors so that all the voters could hear her kiddos playing every patriotic tune in their repertoire! It was just wonderful!!

So no matter what happens tonight. No matter who your candidate of choice. Won't you join me in one rendition of "And I'm proud to be an American, cause at least I know I'm free..."

Ah, the blessings of being born in the land of the free and the brave!

Have you voted yet?

Get moving!