Eloise on Floor

Leaving on a Jet Plane

If this girl ever leaves on a jet plane I hope I get to go too! 

Power of Confidence

Progress

No one could explain the steps that Claudia would take in life, no one could make a chart of her progress.  No one could ever explain how happy we would feel to watch her drink from an open cup.  

Claudia makes her own way and we are so proud of her.

Plunging in from the side of the pool and rolling over onto her back for a breath of air!  Awesome.

Merry Christmas

Carriers of the Light

Leaping Lizard

For the most part we are really enjoying our move here to Arizona.  Sure, there is much to be missed about Minnesota.  Especially friends and family that we really miss.  The climate has been an adjustment too and I would be remiss not to mention all the paperwork that we have had to complete related to Claudia's needs.  However for the most part people have been friendly, the kids are all thriving at school, and enjoying the climate.
The kids have made remarkable progress in the pool.  Eloise is doing backstroke and rotary breathing, Claudia has worked hard to be able to turn herself and take a breath in the water all by herself.  Vincent, our little fish, is swimming independently all over the pool and loves to dive (with help) underwater.  Julianne, my slightly anxious baby, has just learned to swim to the side and back independently.  It's fun... and easy to step outside and enjoy the pool.
But today held an excitement of a different sort.  See, Eloise is my true animal lover.  As an eight year old that means that she likes to catch the animals.  As a former pet keeper I admit that I encourage the interest.  So today I wasn't surprised to see her with a net in hand the minute Dad spied a lizard in the garage.  Much to our naive Midwestern minds the first thing that you should do when trying to catch a lizard in the garage is to shut your house door.  So enjoy these little videos of our friend visiting inside the house!!  Julianne was cooped up in Vincent's top bunk.

Duet

It's beginning to look a lot like...

We were surprised this season with a new elf named Winona. Wyatt our former elf had to be relocated to Arizona. Winona happens to be a little naughty!

Claudia performed Friday for a Christmas celebration!

Always good to laugh

Gooooooo

Kidwalk

For the most part Claudia gets by with the walker that we purchased for her around age two. On the verge of turning seven we are looking into the next walker. It has taken us a long time to decide mostly because the perfect walker does not exist. I feel like we are having to choose between two different frames of thought. One: do we push her with a walker that takes a lot of effort to use but is more realistic to transfer in and out of, or Two: do we chose a walker that she can use more easily because it offers her a lot of support. I have to say that after this two-week trial of the KIDWALK, my mind is made up.

Claudia has been doing treadmill walking for about two years now. We have a set-up where we put her walker on top of a frame so that she can hold onto her walker while the treadmill moves and she walks. At best she is able to walk for 10-minute stretches of time before she fatigues. Today we adjusted the set-up and used the KIDWALK on the frame over the treadmill. She walked for 51 minutes! Enough said.

Christmas Spirit

It is impossible not to feel the spirit of Christmas with nine inches of snow and beautiful voices singing Christmas joys!

First Recital

Come Sing a Song with ME

Erupting Curiosity

Aloha

Geography Lesson 101

Christmas in film

FREEDOM

The girls did a fabulous tap dance on Sunday!  Great job ladies!