Check out the video I created for the Special Olympics Delaware Project Unify presentation I will be part of at our local middle schools.
Spread the Word to End the Word
Let me know what you think,
Kristin

Goodbye Summer of 2012

This was a great summer!  We traveled to see friends, Nana and Pop-pop and went to Disney World and the beach!  What lucky kids and even luckier parents to have the luxury to spend such quality time with our kids.  Walt Disney World was alot of fun, although it was very crowded and hot!  We will never again go to the Most Magical Place on Earth at the start of summer vacation!  The kids had a difficult time with the crowds, especially Aliza and weather kept her from
enjoying herself.  We did however find out that we have three daredevils on our hands who love rollercoasters!  Trevor was the most timid of all when it came to the big roller coasters but with his sisters encouragement, especially, Ella, he pushed himself and loved them!

The start of this school year has brought about many changes for our family!  Most importantly, we have three kids in elementary school!  Aliza is in 5th Grade, Trevor is in 3rd Grade and Ella is in full day Kindergarten.   For years, I have anticipated day that I could drop my children off at one place and pick them all up at the same place.  And that day has come!  There is no more dropping one off elementary school, the other off at prekindergarten and the other off at preschool.  I dont have plan my day around a half day preschool program that is only 2 hours and takes me 20 minutes to get there and back... Oh my goodness, I can finally spend some time in my house, taking care of the daily tasks, making dinners and doing laundry without interruption!  Of course there is one small 2 year old who needs my attention, but now she too can benefit from this new schedule... a real nap and a one on one time with Mommy!... It is only three days into our new schedule and I am loving it!

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Another BIG change this school year-- Tom is teaching in a new school!  He got a position in our local school district at a middle school teaching 6/7th grade Social Studies.  Gone is the 20 minute commute and different calendar.  He will have the same calendar at the kids and is teaching at the same school they will attend for middle school!  How cool is that!  Of course, we may be eating our words when Aliza Grace decides to turn on her sassyness because she thinks she can because her Daddy works there!

The beginning of the school year always marks a new year for Trevor.  He is 8 years old today!  Over the summer he completed his first 5K and is ready to train for more! He is turning into quite a young man.  I noticed today how influential his father is on him.  I heard the garbage trucks and knew that because of the hectic week that we have had, that our trash was not on the curb.  I started running to get the cans and my second in charge ran to get the recycling and brought it to me at the curb.  Then as I was heading back to pick up more recycling he pick up the recycling tub and brought it back into the garage without being asked... a little thing, I know, but an important step in growing up.  He could have just walked past the bin and gone back in the house, but he did the right thing and followed through with the task and didnt leave it for someone else... just like his dad would have done.  Now I'm not suggesting that he would feed the dog or take out the trash without being requested to do so, but I believe he is starting to realize that he is responsible to helping to maintain our home too.  That's a BIG step, especially when you live in a family with 6 people. It give me hope that maybe we are doing some things right and although there are many frustrating and chaotic moments, our values are getting through!

Our Superstar!

If there is a microphone, you can bet Aliza Grace will soon be belting out her latest and favorite tune.  Our local state park has an outdoor summer concert series.  We really enjoy going to the concerts and the kids enjoy dancing and playing with friends.  The other day we were headed to a picnic at the park for a concert.  We told Aliza that we were going to listen to a band and she said that she was going to sing too. We explained that the band was the singers, not her, but she still said that she was going to sing.

While listening to the band, Jimmy and the Parrots, somehow Aliza caught the attention of Jimmy and he came down off stage and danced with her and let her strum his guitar.   He gave her his guitar pic and Aliza was officially a "groupie".  She didn't stop dancing for the entire first set.  She found her passion.  She was in her element!  The band took an intermission and Aliza took the opportunity to tell Jimmy that she could sing a Zac Brown song too, Toes in the Water.  Jimmy told her that she could come sing with them if she wanted to... Heck yeah, she said.  And we had spent half an hour before the concert telling her that she was not going to sing, but just listen to the band.  SO here it goes... the band played two additional songs and then Jimmy shouts into the audience, "Aliza, come up here!" and up she goes.  Completely fearless, she starts belting out Toes in the Water.  Initially Jimmy was sharing his microphone with her, but by the end of song she has completely taken over and hip checked Jimmy out of the way.  I was so amazed at how she was totally unfazed by the audience...this was a really crowded event, maybe 1500 people, and she showed absolutely no fear.  She did lose her place in the song a few times, but recovered just fine.  We owe a huge thank you to Jimmy and the Parrots for allowing her to sing with them.  She talks about it often and it will be something she will always remember!

http://youtu.be/6yU7dAPj7ao