Welcome to OUR World!: Zoo Lights (without my Seanie and Brandon)

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Zoo Lights (without my Seanie and Brandon)

Its that time of year again, Zoo Lights.....
The kids love it every year, it never gets old.

This year we had a bummer suprise Saturday morning. Sean woke up with a fever and tummy problems and wasnt able to go with us : ( He was SO sad..... But we convinced him it was for the best and we would bring him back some treats.....

Sean spent most of the day on the couch trying to get to feeling better.....

So after leaving the boy at home and settled into movies with Daddy we took off to hook up with the gang, All 11 of us were ready to go (Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Michael, Uncle Adam, Aunt Debi, Daniel, and the Cousins Connor, Rachel and Drewbie along with me and Lexi)

The girls were SO exvited they couldnt wait to get in....

Drew was a little more unsure of things and spent the evening hangin out with Debi.... She didnt mind at all.... He is such a cutie : )

Our first adventure was the Sting Rays.... Lexi ALWAYS loves to hit this spot first. They are always so active at night, Lexi took upon herself to explain to everyone that thats because they are nocturnal and love to come out in the dark. Connor, Rachel and Drew had never been in there before. They werent sure what to think of it, but once they actually got to touch one they thought it was AWESOME! The kids decided early on that one of the sting rays was playing a game. It was hilarious. This little bugger got all of us at one point or another. It was one of the few that was actually really close to the wall and to the surface so it was easy to pet, but the minute you would pet the one wing it would splash you in the face with the other. I thought they would get upset, but they thought it was funny. Gotta love it.

Then it was time for the annual light up objects, the girls decided on Bunny Ears and Connor was the Jester (Drew had a little light up globe on a stick, but my picture of him didnt turn out for some reason and Michael was too quick for me but he had a light up Pirate Sword).....

We tried to stop them for as many photo ops as possible since Aaron and Lola werent there to enjoy this evening with us, but trying to stop 4 kids and an autistic teenager all at the same time and get them to all look at the camera and smile is like pulling teeth....

We did manage to get a couple though.

The kids and the Elephant Lights.....

Walking around catching as many of the lights as they would stop for....

Music in Motion (watching these lights move to the rythym of the music is AWESOME).....

Stopping to watch the Zebras.....

We totally and completely wore Drew out and he was down for the count....

So it was one last stop at the Carousel and then we were off.....

Our last stop on the way home was at McD's for a late dinner treat (it was a good ending to a GREAT night, thanks Grandpa for providing us this oppurtunity, we loved it and we love you too <3 ).....

THE CONTINUATION

When we got home last night Seanie was already in bed, so we did his gift this morning.....

We got him a hat just like Connors so the boys and girls match. Thats what would have happened had he been there anyway, they always like to get the same things.
And then since he was SO sad that he was gonna miss the Sting Rays we got him his own little stuffed Sting Ray so he could pet it whenever he wants. He loved it. (I also got a monkey for my monkey, she has become obsessed lately and I couldnt pass it up)

The poor boy made it long enough to watch a couple cartoons, eat some breakfast and get his treats and then he was out again.... you know he is sick when he went to bed at 8pm (even though he could have stayed up later) and did not wake up until 6:30am (he never sleeps in that late) and then he was back asleep (without taking his meds) by 10am and took a 2 1/2 hour nap.... (Poor little punkin) Still running a fever, tummy seems to be a little better though, he will have an extremely short week at school since he cant go tomorrow. Oh well, we are praying that he will be better by Thursday.......

1 comment:

Blaylock said...: Thanks for sharing the pictures! It looks like everyone had a blast. Hope Sean is feeling better.; November 24, 2009 at 11:22 AM

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More About Us.....

Sean is doing AMAZINGLY well (considering), If you missed the last couple updates Sean has been diagnosed with Aspergers (High Functioning Autism). It was a tough road to get to that end result, but we are picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off and moving on in the direction that is best for the little man. Always making sure that the end result will be in his best interest.

Sean was able to be a part of a program this last couple years that has helped immensely with his sensory needs, coping mechanisms, language helps and keeping him on track educationally without the chaos of a "normal" classroom getting in the way. He made so many friends, friends that understand him and his quirks and LOVE him despite them. He was finally able to see that there are people out there like him and he is not alone in the world. We were SO blessed to have that oppurtunity. After a couple months of waiting for the new school year and homeschooling he is back in the program at a new campus and loving it (Pieceful Solutions) they are a God send for us. This next school year they are going private BUT due to a scholarship program offered by the state we are able to continue him in this amazing program AND their new campus is right around the corner from us. Couldnt be happier for them or for our little man. New adventures on the horizon. SO exciting! Check back to see how our Aspie survives the new school year at his new campus!!!

Lexi has had a rough school year last year BUT she is LOVING her new school and her new teacher, her and her BFF (in Florida) are enjoying being pen pals still. Miles cannot come between them, they are still forever friends and always have each others backs. Its nice for her to have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen from someone who is her "two peas in a pod" bud and will always get what she is going through. She loves her and misses her terribly, but they are making it through. They are both SO excited (AND so are us moms) that we will be taking a vacation to Florida in July to see them. Its been over a year and we miss them SO much. Cant wait. It will be a great adventure; first trip to Disney World, first flight and reuniting with great friends.

After a couple months of being homeschooled last year (which really turned out to be a great experience for both of us despite the added stress at times) Lexi is very excited about being back in a brick and mortar school. She is enjoying the cheer and dance club as well and chapel time on Fridays. Its been great for her to make new friends. This year has been tough again, ups and downs with friends. BUT she is learning to make it through and cope with the fact that not everyone is nice and kind all the time. She has had a boyfriend this year and they are adorably cute together. This year has not been without its drama, but we are expecting that to be the new norm as the kids get older. If we can just make it day by day, step by step we will make it through. Keep checking back for updates on her going ons at school and with her friends.

For both kids this new school year is a BIG change and an oppurtunity for them to grown in their own ways, It has been good for them to have much different experiences and growths. As much as they grow apart in some ways they are growing closer in others. Its been a struggle, but a good life lesson for Sean to be attending Lexis class for some parts of the day. Its good to watch her friends reach out to him, and to hear her want to stand up for him with the couple kids that dont understand him. Hopefully this trend will continue and they will remain close. As much as they get on each others nerves, they both know they have each others backs. We have made it through most of the year and in one peice, thats progress in and of itself =) Hoping this will continue next year as Lexi moves onto her Middle School Campus and Sean moves onto his new campus. This will be the biggest change ever for them, Two totally different schools, new adventures around the corner.

Brandon has been working hard and traveling ALOT (still, some things never change). We have been VERY blessed that he has been able to keep steady work this last couple years or so with the economy the way that it is. And we are hoping that it just stays that way. He is looking forward to our vacation this summer and a break from work. He is getting close to burn out but hanging in there. He is AMAZING and we appreciate the hard work that he does for our family. We love him dearly and miss him like crazy!

As for me: I have been enjoying just being a mom and having the oppurtunity to help my kids learn and grow this last year or so. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to give them all of me and everything they needed this last year. And they blessed me right back with a few lessons I needed to get out of life on perserverance and endurance. I love those guys to peices; and none of it would have been possible without the hard work of my loving husband. He is amazing, and although things arent always perfect between us he never gives up and always fights hard to provide us with everything we need. I love him more than words can describe.

I am looking forward to this school year and being able to take a more stand off approach. Still being involved but seeing how much they can flourish on their own. Still being there to help them with homework and attend their fieldtrips and events. Still helping occasionally in the class, but allowing them space to thrive. The stand off approach has been good for all of us, they are settling into that well. They know I am around when they need me but they are becoming much more independent. Love those little monkies!