Last of the summer holidays!

Enjoying some time at the park in the great summer weather!

Days of summer

With only two weeks left until the last weekend of summer, it seems like things should be winding down.  Not so - we're cranking it up to squeeze in every drop of fun before school starts!

Today, a picture perfect summer day (hot but not humid or windy), we hosted a church BBQ at our house.  At least 58 people (at least half kids!) came between 3-6pm, and had a blast!

It was a church event, so we just provided the location, while the church brought the moonbounce, tables and chairs, and people brought food with them!  I love how that works out!

We have two playhouses and one "jungle gym" with two slides, which the kids also enjoyed.  Not to mention the bikes and power wheels that came out!

There was a moment of extreme drama when Emma claimed to have been stung by a bee and was hysterical!  My nurse friend, and all evidence suggested this was unlikely, but Emma was consoled only by being allowed inside to watch TV!  I think she just needed a rest, and was back out in an hour!

Check out some of the fun we had...

Before:

Inflated:

There's a good amount of vicarious living when you have a moon bounce at your house!  It's like a kids dream come true!!

Emma & Abby

Toby and Sophia (reunited after Sophia's two week vacation!  He missed her!)

Em & Sophia

Chilling out front

Water ice!

Finally, to bed.  Thoroughly exhausted and unable to keep their eyes open.

Cranio-facial day

Every 12-18mths Emma gets called in to Children's Hospital for a day of appointments with specialists on the cranial-facial team.  Today is that day.

We may be here from 8:30am to 4pm, and will see all the following:

Plastic surgery

Genetics 

ENT (Ear Nose and Throat)

Audiology

Ophthalmology 

Dental

Developmental pediatrics

Psychology

It's not my first rodeo, so I came prepared, armed with a DVD player and 4 movies, a laptop, my phone charger, and as much patience as I can muster!!

Spending a day in a series of small windowless rooms can be pretty challenging, but I'm thankful that Nanna is watching Toby for me!

So, Em and I will do our best to stay friends, stay amused and get out of here as soon as possible!!

What would you do in a room for two hours?  We took some pictures!!

Growing boy

Toby can no longer make it through the day without a nap, right around dinner time!  He must be growing because he sleeps well at night too!

I'm not going to complain because moments like these will be a distant memory soon enough!!

Saturday sun

On Saturday the kids and I spent the afternoon with friends at the pool today, while Scott worked.  It would be an understatement to say I'm blessed to have such a hard-working husband!  

And to spend time with these guys at the  pool so often is wonderful.  Reminds me of vacations as a kid!

It was great that Toby finally tried to swim today!  He's such a nervous Nellie and takes some convincing to even get in the pool!  Today was the first time he picked his feet up to float, then kick some.  He had on armbands and an inflatable ring!!  He has a long way to go before feeling comfortable in the ocean though.

We'll get these kids swimming eventually!

Sunny afternoon

After church today we took the kids, and Kim, and headed west to Aunt Maureen's house.  It's great to visit family, add in a beautiful pool in the countryside and that's a great Sunday afternoon!!

Emma was in the water for a good three hours before the shade cooled thing down and the pizza arrived!

But the fun didn't end there, we hung out and visited for a while.

Emma got cozy with John, Scott's cousin Lisa's boyfriend!

He kept rescuing her from Lucy, the family Pomeranian.  Although Toby took to Lucy and bonded with her!

The kids helped water the thirsty plants

And because Aunt Maureen and Uncle John have a doggy resort, the kids got to see all other kinds of dogs, including this big guy!

Emma protests that she doesn't like dogs, but in reality she doesn't like jumpy barking dogs!  So behind a gate they are fine, or the cute little Havanese we met who she fondly rubbed on the head saying "who's a cutie?!"  (Havanese don't shed and she was very friendly and soft - have to remember that for when we want to grow the family!!

It was such a nice afternoon, thanks guys!

Quote of the Day

We took a trip to Kohls, a big department store with great deals on clothes, tonight.  Scott forgot his phone so after the kids and I went to look in a different section we couldn't find Scott or call him.

I said "uh-oh, he's gonna be mad at us!"

Em said "actually, I don't think he's gonna be mad at us.  He's gonna be mad at you!"

I have yet to meet a funnier kid!!

Transition

It seems like only a short time since we transitioned from in-home Early Intervention therapies to the Intermediate Unit for PT and OT.  But it was almost 3 years ago!

Today was Emma's last visit to the IU, having seen Miss Allie for her last Speech consultation on Friday

And today, we said goodbye to Miss Heather, after a fun session of PT

And so it is that in 4 weeks Emma enters the public school system, starting with 5 afternoons a week in Kindergarten.

I received a fat packet of paperwork to complete for her, and it told me her teachers name.  I threw it out to my friends and they said:

"Oh my goodness.  You're gonna love her.  She's awesome!!!!!!! And mrs. W her helper and sooo funny.  The kids love her  

Emma will love them too.  Especially mrs w."

And "No way!!!! Mrs B. is a christian! She's my friend on fb and was thrilled at my vbs posts"!! You will love her!!!!!!!!!  This is a God thing I know it!!!!!"

I couldn't agree more!  The US school system is a far cry from the UK system.  Here, specifically Christian faith is outlawed, separation of church and state to the extreme.  So to have someone who may share some of our core beliefs and values at the steering wheel for Emma's start at school is a HUGE relief!

After therapy this morning we stopped by Em's new school to check out the playground as they suggested at induction.  Turns out it was great timing because the principal was there.  She didn't appear until I told the receptionist that "this is Emma" and boom! there she was - "I want to meet Emma!"

She gave Emma a hug and some other chit chat aimed at connecting with Emma.  It was so encouraging.  Funnily Emma said at dinner "she was too nice!"

The kids had fun playing for an hour, they really do get along well.

Not to wish our summer away, but the countdown is on!  Thankfully Toby starts a week later, so Emma (and I) will be settled in her routine!

Beach pics!

We may not be taking a vacation this year, but we sure are making the most of the weekends!!

Life's a beach!

Nothing I enjoy more than a beautiful day, ocean-side with the family!

Change of plan

Our plans to go swimming today were thwarted by gross weather.  Since it was only 9am and we were all up and ready to go we had to think of something.

We chose to go and see a movie.  It was Toby's first cinema experience and we opted for "Turbo", about a snail competing in the Indy 500!

It's not cheap, but given the early time and it not being a new release, there were few others there and we had a great time.

Be prepared!

New backpacks for school in 5 weeks!!

Pool day

Due to the long hot summers here, there are several private pools around that people join for the summer and spend many a day there.  We have not joined one so far, but got to spend the afternoon with some friends at theirs on Wednesday.  I am so thankful to work part-time and share these days with my kids!

As much fun as it looks, we did actually have - eventually!  Emma jumped in raring to go, but for Toby, it was like trying to bathe a cat!  I persevered with the clawing and crying until he was comfortable, and spent the next four hours walking around in the water!

Emma had such a good time and worked so hard today.  She's really amazing me.

Emma is making her speech therapist a card because today is her last therapy session with her.

Time just keeps moving on!  I feel like college is just around the corner!!

Stronger

Wednesday was Emma's penultimate session of physical therapy with Miss Heather.  When she starts school she will begin seeing the school physical therapist.

Did I mention that Melissa (Emma's OT until she was 3) is her new therapists boss!  (Tell me that God does not have such crazy plans!!)

Anyway, she's come so very far.  Among other things, today she pulled me along on a little cart (and Toby and Heather!), raced Toby down the hallway and generally was fearless and strong.  Check her out...

Emma showing off some moves from our INSANITY workouts... (If you think it looks easy, try it!)

 

And some more fun in the hallway!

 

Quote of the Day

Emma, trying to stay up a little later...

"Hey guys, how about a little Hide & Go Seek?!"

It was mainly in the delivery!!