Say "CHEESE!"

I haven't had much of a chance to do a real Christmas post yet, but I wanted to throw this shot of Maggie's new "smile" up! Yesterday morning she started saying cheese every time I took a picture! It was SOOOOO cute. Almost every picture I took of her looked like this!

Merry Christmas from the Leschorns!

Abbie's mobile...YAY!

(Please note the slight hint of sarcasm!)

Ammon's baptism

Even though Ammon turned 8 in September, he had not been able to be baptised because we all got so sick the day before his scheduled day. He was so happy when his day finally came!
John, of course, was the one who baptised him. Jedidiah and Paul Schween witnessed. Nana and Papa both came! It was great to be able to have them BOTH for Ammon's special day!!!! The primary presidency gave him a cute little book with his picture and a copy of his testimony that he had written. We are so very proud of him. He is just one of the sweetest most giving boys you could ever know!
This is the whole gang gathered for a quick photo session after the baptism. Papa had already left to get back to Mini Nana so he couldn't be in them.
After we all had lunch and got our clothes changed we went to the zoo for the rest of the day! Then we got to stay for the Zoo Lights and dinner because it was also the day of Daddy's office party.

Hannah's new pet!

You gave her WHAT????

Peek-a-boo!

Just bragging...

The Girls have been learning about lines of motion for quite a while. They are both pretty talented in their drawing so John and I asked them to draw a picture for a friend of ours. Our only instructions to them were to take their time and use their imaginations.
Sarah chose to draw a waterfall scene. She drew a bear with a salmon jumping out of the river. There is also a a fox and an eagle.

Rose chose to do a forest. I wish you could see all the detail she put in the trunks. She used the shading techniques we learned about in art a couple of weeks ago too!
Truly, these picture do not do the drawings justice. They are beautiful!

Hannah's mess!

Hannah knew Daddy's birthday was coming up last week and was very excited to make something for him. Chalk one up to the busy mom, I had no clue what she was asking but she kept getting a lot of "uh-hu"s and "sure"s from me while I was giving Science lessons to to the older kids. It wasn't until I walked past her for the third time that I even realized that she was using a pair of scissors to cut up ANYTHING she could get her hands on!
She cut up french fry containers, playing cars and their box, napkins and construction paper! Daddy was sooo surprised when he got home!

Caring for Olivia

As most of you know we've really been trying to take extra care with Olivia. We are feeding her baby food every day and medicating her twice a day now.

We still don't think she's strong enough for surgery. It was originally scheduled for last week but the kids and I were all sick and I didn't think she had gained enough weight yet, so we cancelled. We'll let you guys know more as we do.

So TRUE!

Pics o' Magggie

When you're done... You're done!

Happy Birthday to the World's Greatest Husband and Daddy!!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU!

Face book... a cold... and looking on the bright side!

First: I am now on face book. I don't know how to do ANYTHING yet except post comments. So, to all you people who are kidnapping me, pillow fighting me, and sending things to me... Um... Thanks?... I think... Unless I'm supposed to be upset because it's not a good thing... Then Stop!
:D!

Second: I am REALLY tired of being sick! So, I would like all of those weird scientist-type people that are trying to prove that all this COLD weather is proof of global WARMING... to cut it out, and focus on more important things... like a cure for the common cold!

Third: I was pretty grouchy yesterday, after grocery shopping for almost three hours and loading every thing into the van on my own then driving home in the cold, nasty, rain with Rose and Sarah. Sarah was trying to cheer me up.

Sarah: Well, at least it's natures car wash...
Me: (confused look)
Sarah: What? I was just trying to look on the bright side.
Me: Sarah, I'm sore, my hand is swollen (still recovering and all), it is cold! It is wet! I am tired. It is dark and rainy and dreary outside. There is no bright side!
Sarah: MOM you KNOW there is ALWAYS a bright side... seeee!
(I looked where she was pointing. In the the opposite lane of traffic... EVERY car had it's headlights on. I couldn't help but smile and all three of us broke out laughing!)

So take a little lesson from my Sarah..."There is ALWAYS a bright side!"

Olivia Update

Okay, It looks like Olivia IS going to have to have surgery. She is doing much better in looks and attitude, but her growth is getting bigger. We're treating her with two different meds and force feeding her baby food via a syringe daily. She is eating her lettuce now, and the occasional cricket. We hope that she will only continue to improve. Thanks for asking. I will add pictures to this post as soon as I get them loaded on the computer.

Please Visit this site!!!

As many of you know, adoption has touched our lives so deeply! This link actually belongs to a friend of a friend. But please take the time to visit it! Wendy and Spence are a wonderful couple that have adopted one child already and are anxious to add another to their family!
http://www.spencerandwendy.blogspot.com/
This is their adoption blog. You can find out all of the information you need about this couple here! I will be posting it on the sidebar so that any one can check it out. (I have permission) Please refer ANYONE that might be thinking about placing a baby to this site!

Olivia

Ammon and I just got back from the veterinarian's office. We became aware that there was a problem with Olivia last night. For those of you who don't know much about her. Click here.
While the children were holding her, they noticed a bump that has formed on her stomach. They all assumed she was getting ready to lay eggs again but I knew as soon as I saw it that there was a problem.

It was too late to do any thing then so I tossed and turned all night imagining how it would be to tell Ammon the worst. I call my regular vet first thing in the morning. It turns out that they don't see exotic animals so they referred us to a VERY nice exotics specialist.

Longs story short...Olivia has cancer. Ammon doesn't know yet and we won't know if it has metastasised for a few days. If it has there's no point in going any further. If it has not, she can have surgery in about 10 days.

After a lot of crying we have decided that we will give her the chance. If she proves strong enough, she'll have the surgery; but if she doesn't, we are not going to prolong the inevitable.
I know this sounds a little odd but I am asking for prayers for Ammon's lizard (and quite possibly his best friend!)

If you can't find it in your heart to pray for a lizard. Please pray for Ammon instead. This girl is so much a part of our family that I can't imagine how he would take losing her.

Happy Thanksgiving!

T'was the day of thanksgiving and up on the wall

were hand printed turkeys

made by kid Leschorns all

There was turkey and stuffing

all ready to eat,

but I took some pictures

'cause Mini-Nana's smile was so sweet!

So we all gathered round her

while she was so happy

Except the two babies...

They were to busy napping

Here's a pic of our Sarah

With the very best Nana

look how pretty they are

as they smile for the cam'ra!

Papa wasn't to thrilled

with the paparazzi

So we just snapped the picture

and hollered "Let's Eat!"

The entertainment began!

The audience silenced,

as I told a story

with minimal violence.
It began with the pilgrims,

long ago in England
that came to America

in hopes of making some friends!

(couldn't find a way to rhyme freedom of religion!)

They had found them a Mayflower

to sail or'e the ocean.

Then a big heavy storm came

And caused lots of commotion!
One hundred and two folks

were on that big ship.

They hoped and they prayed

that it wouldn't tip.

There was more to the story

'bout the Indians and all,

but we didn't get pictures

so it's hard to recall.

When the Puppet Show ended

All the kids took a bow

Then because we were tired

we just hung out for a while.

When Maggie woke up

she wasn't too chipper,

But Daddy fixed that

by giving her pie before supper!

I just kept snapping pictures,

even as folks were leavin',

but you have to admit,

it was a wonderful ev'nin!