Snapshot Sunday

I LOVE this photo. Xander was not terribly excited when I told him Thursday night was the first night of his Special Olympics basketball practice of the season. He kept saying "bad boy, basketball" the whole afternoon.

Until we got there. It was a small turnout for the first practice, so there was lots of one-on-one instruction which really helps him. He practiced a defense stance and actually enjoyed it and was doing well with it by the end of the drill. He learned how to rebound, even running past people and pushing a few people to get to the ball. He's always struggled with understanding you can be a little aggressive during defense in sports (you know, that whole "be nice, don't take things away from others" the rest of the time is pretty confusing when you start shouting "take the ball" during practice and games)! He made five rebounds during drills, and was SO proud of himself. He kept looking to the sidelines to see if Connor and I were watching and cheering.

And then he closed the gym down. Coach Leslie and all the other players were wrapping up and ready to go home after a long day of school then after school activities. It was 7:30p. Xander was still at the far end of the gym, shooting from his favorite spot, even after they shut the lights off in the gym ...

Bike Rider

Sawyer riding a three-wheel bike at school, learning about force and motion with his classmates. For someone who never shows any interest in bikes or scooters at home, he apparently enjoyed this a lot!

Not Well

It's that time of year again ... the dreaded ear infections. You know Xander doesn't feel well when he curls up in the chair, lets you put a blanket on him, and even tolerates the puppy laying at his feet (they're not usually the best of friends). You just don't recognize this kid without his usual energy and constant motion. It's always pretty easy to tell when he's not feeling well.

On the plus side, he used his words to request help for the very first time at school today. He was sitting in art class, with his head down on the table. He looked up, waited for his aide to look over at him, and simply said "Call Mom." We had talked about how if he didn't feel well after he got to school, his teachers would call me if he needed anything. And he used his words. As soon as I picked him up from school, he said "Doctor." So we made a call to the pediatrician, and a few hours later he was seen and diagnosed with an ear infection. Medicated with the compounded antibiotic and on the mend now ...

First Day of School

How the twins took the first day of middle school and Connor took the start of 7th grade ...






How Mommy took the first day of school ...



White peach margarita at BJ's Brewhouse ... yes, please.

Park Play Date

Today we met up with Sawyer's beloved aide Miss S from the past few school year's. She has missed her boy over the summer, and she's not really ready to think about going back to school to a classroom where Sawyer will not be there any longer. So we picked up some lunch and met her at Jacobson Park for the afternoon. He gave her lots of smiles and hugs and "Love you S" moments. So many people along this journey become so much more than school support staff. They become family. They become part of our lives, and people we will always welcome into our lives no matter what stage of the life the boys are in. They have played a huge part in getting the boys to where they are, and the boys would not be who they are without those people. Miss S is one of those. She's been a big part of Sawyer's life the past few years, and we can't imagine ours without her. So glad we got to catch up for the day!

New School Shoes

Connor does not want to talk about going back to school. As in, not at all. He would like to forget about the fact that July is coming to an end and August is quickly approaching. He didn't mind going back to school shopping with me on Sunday, to get school supplies and even a new backpack (he even ran into his cousins Paul and Jack while we were out). He didn't mind getting up early today and taking his brother to OT then going to the other Dick's across town to look again for school shoes. He found some he just had to have, and of course, he had to try them on and wear them home. And he really didn't mind going out to lunch after Xander's CLS buddy Jack picked him up at OT. We went to Asian Wind, Connor's all-time favorite. We ordered all of his favorites - pot stickers, egg drop soup, chicken pad thai.

But he still doesn't want to talk about going back to school.

Fifth Grade Graduation

It seems like just a few short years ago we were starting kindergarten, and now, here we are, about to leave fifth grade. The boys just keep getting bigger, making progress and moving forward. Time slow down ... I think the adults in their lives are not ready for the transition. But the boys seem to be handling everything just fine ...

Sawyer getting his certificate ...



Xander getting his (and doing the eye squint) ...



With his amazing support crew, his current teacher Mrs. B, his aide Miss R, and his past teacher Mrs. B who came back to see him ...



A thoughtful gift from his amazing teacher Mrs. B. ...



Getting recognized for the technology award for fifth grade (he LOVED being part of the morning news and STLP with his amazing advisor Mrs. C.) ...



And Sawyer's amazing support crew, his teacher Mrs. K who was with him all six years, his aides Miss S and Miss P, and his school speech pathologist Mrs. G. ...

Fifth Grade Picnic

We've been having end of year picnics in the park at this neighborhood park (which is down the street from our old house and an often visited favorite) for six years now ... kindergarten all the way to this year in fifth grade. Bittersweet ...

Sawyer and his amazing aide Miss S ...



A little chalk fun ...



Happy boy on the swings ...



Giggles with Miss R ...



Another snuggle with Miss S ...



Getting spins from Mom ...



Xander blowing bubbles ...



More bubbles from the picnic blanket ...





Swinging again ...



Hoops with his amazing teacher Mrs. B ...



Hoops ...



Swings ...



Taking his turn at kickball (and leaving after he kicks) ...



Taking over Mom's camera ...



Taking a picture of amazing support group at school, his aide Miss R and his teacher Mrs. B. ...



Taking a picture of his good friend L ...



Taking a picture of Mom ...

Final Field Day

Fifth grade is full of so many "final" and "last" moments. The end of elementary school is a little hard and a little bittersweet ...

Xander is a fierce competitor at anything he plays ...



Love this one. His amazing teacher Mr. W was his partner, and they ended up winning ...



Not the track star he once was (he's adding about 2-3 inches per year and 20 pounds per year the past few years), he still races to win ...



His very sweet friend L who was always the first to talk with him and keep him company at school ...



His sweet friend L once again joining up with him in the three-legged race ...



Hanging out for a water break ...



Love his school and how all of the students are such good friends to him ...



Tug-o-war time ...



Sawyer and his amazing aide Miss S.



Sawyer's favorite part of field day is the bouncy ball ...



He may have done this station more than one time ...

Big Spender

Earlier in the school year, Xander participated in the fifth grade entrepreneur fair at school. He and his amazing teacher Mrs. B helped formulate his business plan at school. We baked home made chocolate chip cookies at home. And he sold them at the fair, both during school and again after school.

Turns out, he is quite the entrepreneur (and the people at school happen to know and like Mom's home made chocolate chip cookies). He also happened to score the best spot at the fair, right as people walked in the main doors. I'm sure that also helped.

Cookies were 25 cents each, or a whole jar for 5 dollars. He sold out his inventory, and cleared $40 cash after paying for the cookie supplies and his booth rental fee and his interest fee (for Mom and Dad loaning the money on the supplies).





Today we made it to the store where he got to pick out a few things to buy with his hard-earned money. I loved that of all the things in Toys 'R Us, he ended up picking two retro toys that I had as a child. An Etch-a-Sketch and a Playskool Xylaphone. Art and music, two of his loves.

Saying Thanks

Another school year is coming to a close. Only this time, it's the end of fifth grade. The end of elementary school. We always say thank you to the teams of people who work with the boys every single day of the school year. And this year, we're having to say thank you not only for this year, but for some of those people, for as many as six whole years of working with our boys, caring for our boys, helping our boys succeed despite the challenges and obstacles and the hard days. There are not enough words or gifts in the world to truly say thank you for all that these people have done.

We baked cookies for each and every person who touched our lives in elementary school. We hand wrote notes of thanks and shared a favorite memory with each one of those people. Forty-eight jars of home made chocolate chip cookies with hand written notes.

And we gave them a photo print with an image of the boys from the past six years, each grade of elementary school.

We drew pictures for the aides who worked with Xander. And then we framed them. Because to know Xander is to know how much he loves art.

We made photo books for the people who've been with the boys for years. Some as many as six years, some as few as a single year. But so many people, who have made such a difference in their lives every single day. And who will impact them for years and years to come. 

It takes a village. We have had an amazing village throughout their elementary school years and preschool years. Our boys are incredibly lucky.