Weekend Highlights

Claudia dreams of serving as a firefighter.

Career number 2... COP

Transportation Fair

Got the Beans planted.

Eloise delivering the birthday cake for an (early) celebration. This is just after a near miss of the floor.

Enough waiting.. stealing some frosting!

Grandma Jane's Birthday!

The girls had a good dance recital, complete with professional bows. It was a true blessing to have both sets of grandparents here. The grandkids thrive on their attention and doting, hope we will be able to repeat the event next year. You're invited!

IEPs, Tantrums, Parental Visits, Morels, Dump Trucks, Dance Recitals, and finally some sunshine

Advocating for Claudia during her IEP meeting this morning, was a challenge. Most challenges I expect and can plan for with Claudia. Almost every year she gets a new team of people to work with, and we have different physical structures to work around. We attempt to handle these challenges with her IEP, in a neat report. It looks good on paper.

But the paper doesn't tell you when how much time Claudia SHOULD spend outside of her classroom doing specials and how many accommodations SHOULD be allowed. How do we allow Claudia to feel like every other classmate but ensure she is getting the education that she needs. It doesn't answer how to deal with professionals that we feel are more harmful than helpful. Big blanks on how to manage a twin sister who is jealous of the "specials" that Claudia needs... not wants but needs. The beginning of this parenting journey wasn't easy either but this is at a whole new level.

To top off the morning, I was asked to leave school because Eloise was pouting about Claudia having her "special" scooter there. Apparently Moms have "heartstrings" that can be pulled. Who knew? So apart they will be for another year to strengthen their own identities.

On we will proceed with a busy weekend. We have both sets of grandparents coming for the dance recital. Papa John will be hunting morels. Vincent is going to be on cloud nine with the Transportation Fair. Think big: school bus, dump truck, cement mixer, snow plow, fire truck. Need I say more? The boy loves vehicles. Julianne humors him.

I'm back to helping sound out short vowel sounds.

One Busy Day

We made it through our busiest day in May. While the big girls were off at school, the toddlers had a little fun of their own. Vincent and Julianne boarded a school bus (the big yellow one) for a good 30 minute ride out to a farm.

Vincent was quite brave and came close to milking a goat himself. Julianne was a little more concerned with how to get the mud off of her hands.

Hopefully the goats, pigs, sheep, ducks, chickens, cats, and rabbit rest easy tonight without anyone chasing them.

Thanks to all the rain we have had in Minnesota the toddlers experienced a good dose of mud. I have a new love for rubber boots.

After lunch, it was off to physical therapy for Claudia. Here she is working diligently with Ann on the forearm crutches. It takes concentration to sequence the movements and hold her body up.

Following therapy, Claudia braved her second allergy shot! She is very driven to get that helper dog... no tears this time.

Eloise headed off to gymnastics. She is getting stronger and stronger. They worked on the bar, beam and floor stunts.

And we ended the night at dress rehearsal for tap dance. The girls may not have all the moves down but their smiles should make up for the difference.

I'm going to bed... phew!

Two are Two

Happy Birthday my Sweet Twos!

May Days

May reminds me to slow down and appreciate the gifts I have. It was during May that each of my children were able to come home from the hospital. Claudia and Eloise spent a good 7+ weeks in the NICU and Vincent and Julianne just a few days in the hospital. Today, I am a very lucky mommy to be able to hold these four. (sometimes all at the same time)

What gifts we all have!

(Holly came for a visit recently and got lots of snuggles:)