Spring and Easter Family Visits

March 22 - We stayed for a visit when we brought my niece home from her spring break work visit with us.  It turned out to be a fun weekend. Kevin and I ran some errands with Grandee and found the toy aisle. Grandee was happy to see Kevin excited about the toys and loved being able to treat him to a new toy. It was a tough decision but Cookie Monster won. He played with it non-stop! 

My nephew had a big soccer tournament that weekend and we watched games on both days. He's getting older and the soccer is getting more intense...which is fun to see him thrive in something he loves to do. I also got to spend some time with his sister filling out a girly magazine questionnaire. 

I finally decided I was ready to let Kevin have his first shave. Uncle Steve got to do the honors...I told him it fell under Godfather duties. Kevin loved it and even grabbed the electric razor at one point to do it himself. 

Kevin entertained us while watching Wheel of Fortune with Grandee and Pap by using his Talker to say GO FAST PAP...to fast forward the commercials. 

The court of honor was held the previous weekend. I was so disappointed that I was too sick to get down there for the ceremony...but very grateful for the technology that let them FaceTime me during Ryan's Eagle ceremony.

Three generations of Eagle Scouts!
March 10, 2019

Easter Weekend - April 21, 2019

Kevin enjoyed the egg hunt this year. He loved the egg with coins in it because it sounded like his shaker music egg. He did a good job finding and picking up the eggs. It was a beautiful sunny day...and Kevin's nose got sunburnt. Always love spending time with our family. Grandee working hard in the kitchen making all our family favorites and my youngest niece showing her creative side with cakes...that match her shirt and shoes... :) Hanging out with cousins on Easter Monday and lunch at The Jug before we head back home. 

The boys checking out the new additions to Pap's train

Emma - Spring Break 2019

My niece wanted to earn money for summer camp. I told her we were willing to pay her to come and stay with us for a week and help me with some work. I specifically wanted help to cook and freeze meals for Kevin. I like to keep meals in the freezer that I can grab when we leave town...one less thing to do before packing to leave town. I also learned that it's very beneficial to have meals in the freezer for when Jon and I are both sick and in no shape to do any cooking. I used up all my reserves (because Jon and I were both sick) right before Emma came for her work visit during her spring break. Emma and I prepped and cooked and bagged 126 meals...6 weeks worth of food for Kevin. She worked hard and tirelessly...and I loved our time together. One day we were in the kitchen for about 10 hours. I gave her the option to stay home the next day and do a couple little things for me or she could come to Kevin's long therapy day with us. Kevin has four therapies back to back and then we drive to dance class. She decided to come with us and proceeded to keep working on the little things I was going to have her do the next day. She also did a lot of baking while she was here, I now have banana bread in the freezer to use when we have visitors. I was so impressed and proud of my niece. She had been here to visit us a couple years ago and helped me in the kitchen with a few things. I noticed a significant difference in the couple years and how much more responsible and grown up she is becoming. She turned 16 years old the week after her visit. As much as I dread how fast time goes with kids...I have to admit that I am enjoying seeing her grow up and become a beautiful, caring, kind, compassionate young lady. 

She loved my favorite breakfast joint

Baking while I was resting on the couch :)

Five crock pots of chicken...and six more
crock pots of food the next night.

Playing ball with Kevin during PT

Bingo with environmental signs in ABA

Dance helper!

A Poem and A Joke

On March 1, 2019, one of the homeschool groups offered a Poetry Reading Recital. I decided it might be a nice opportunity to start participating in some of the activities offered. I was able to help Kevin come up with a poem about his favorite subject MUSIC. It was a little tedious though because after every phrase we put a period after it so that when played back it would pause between phrases. When you use the period key on the Talker it says DOT and then repeats it back. Maybe there's a better way to go about it but that's how we had to do it.

Kevin did well with his Music Poem and after listening to many entertaining poems recited by some very bright kids...they held an open gym. This homeschool group gets together on Fridays for open gym and I had considered going and was so glad we did. One family has a boy the same age as Kevin. He was friendly and willing to play with Kevin to help with some of his ball skills we are working on in therapy. Looking forward to participating more with this group of kids.



Kevin's Communication Therapist introduced him to jokes since he's showing a sense of humor with his Talker.

KNOCK KNOCK
Who's There
TANK
Tank Who
YOU'RE WELCOME

HAHAHA (Kevin loves saying HAHAHA on his Talker)

Pretty appropriate since one of his favorite songs right now is You're Welcome from the movie Moana.

Welcomed at IHM

I love how welcomed and included Kevin has been in our church and day school. 

I love when we walk into the school for art class and every person we pass says Hello.
When we walk into art class all the kids excitedly say HI KEVIN!

Kevin with the school principal and his first artwork piece with the 3rd grade class. 

Sign posted on the school wall welcoming Kevin to art class.

"Hospitality is not about inviting people into your home, 

it is all about inviting people into your heart."

We had another welcoming surprise. The IHM Knights of Columbus nominated us for 

Family of the Year and Youth of the Year. 

Art Class - Winter 2019

January 2019 - Batik Art with wax crayons and black water color paint

Kevin's first art project with the 3rd grade class. 

Mrs. C demonstrated Batik on cloth with wax.

February 10, 2019 - Splatter Paint at Akron Artworks

So much fun with our friends!

February 13, 2019 - Georgia O'Keefe exhibit at the Cleveland Art Museum

Fun day out with Grandma!

February - Mosaic Butterfly with Mrs. C

March 14, 2019 - Dot Painting Clown

Mrs. C introduced Kevin to Georges Seurat, an artist who 

used only small dots of color to compose an entire painting.

Music Therapy & Dance Unlimited - Winter 2019

MUSIC THERAPY

February 20, 2019 - Left Hand with Drumstick Video

Kevin loves playing the drum to his favorite (drum) song, Mulan's "I'll Make a Man Out of You"

Kevin's been making some great progress with his left hand. It was difficult to video while I tried to hold his shoulder in place.

DANCE UNLIMITED 

This Guy (Kevin's helper)...brings a smile to Kevin's face even after 4 hours of therapy.

We love all our dance friends and helpers and Ms. Kellie for making it so fun!

ABA - Winter 2019

Identifying safety signs and using his Talker.

Assembling supply kits

Playing UNO!

Sorting colors

Communication Therapy - Winter 2019

Kevin had fun reading this book. He started expressing his sense of humor on the Talker by saying HAHAHA AWESOME YUM! It makes me laugh every time. 

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose

"Swallowed Glitter"= EAT SILVER
HA HA HA AWESOME YUM

Played with shaving cream which made it hard to talk on the Talker