Great Shot, Julie!

My nephew Cal was in the newspaper this week....thanks to a great picture by his Mom, Julie. Check it out here.

18 months = 5 years

When Gracie was a couple years old, I started to wonder if she might have a speech delay, but I didn't want to rush her, so I didn't have her tested. After we got to Great Falls (Gracie had just turned 4), I was still concerned about her speech and then one day I read an article in the paper about a local clinic that offered FREE help for children that are too young for help via the school system. I called and set-up an appointment for Gracie to be tested. She tested in the 7th percentile for her age - putting her speech equivalent to a two-year-old. In August 2009 she started weekly sessions at the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic.

Last Tuesday, Gracie had her last session at the Clinic. She finished above the 76th percentile with speech equivalent to 7/8 year-olds! She had to work really hard to get through all her issues, but I am sooo proud of her! She hardly ever got frustrated and always loved to go learn from her therapist, Miss Martha. We are so grateful to the Scottish Rite Clinic for the services they provide, free of charge. They help over 75 children each week in our community - with a very wide array of speech disorders. We will be committed to their cause for as long as possible!

St. Valentine's Day

I'm a little late, as usual, but we had a wonderful Valentine's Day! We were mostly all healthy (unlike the week before) and the entire day was lovely. The kids had a few goodies waiting when they woke up and I made them heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. Then, Gracie was off to school where she had a simple party - mostly delivering and opening cards followed by mounds of sugar-filled treats (the best kind of party!).

Jason surprised me with a few chocolates and a beautiful knee-length sweater I had mentioned casually a few weeks before. (wink,wink!)
I made hot crab dip with crackers, wilted lettuce salad, and foccacia bread for dinner.
A perfect day!

Making cupcakes for school.

Numbers of the Week

We've had a challenging week around here. And it all started with Jessie last Thursday...here are the numbers:

Doctors' visits: 2
Days Gracie missed school because she had the flu: 3 (and the entire weekend)
Number of ear infections: 3
Videos/cartoons viewed: probably close to the 100's
Inches of snow: 12
Lowest temp. outside: near -20

Days Jason has let his beard grow on his quest to be a "true Montanan": 34
(yes dear, I'm counting...)

Boy, am I ready for FRIDAY! Everyone is on the mend and the outside temps will be warming up. So kids, no excuses you are going outside!!

It's All Relative

This is from the front page of our newspaper today. I think it's kind of funny that a high of 10 is considered "warmer". However, it was -17 degrees when I woke up, so I guess 10 above zero will feel like spring!!