Our trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes

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Up North

Tomorrow morning we are taking our first trip up north in Michigan. Although we have lived here for 10 years we have never vacationed further north than Holland, MI. Tomorrow we are going to The Homestead in Glen Arbor, MI. While we are there we are going to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes and Joe is going to pick up his America the Beautiful National Parks Lifetime Access Pass.

I found a notice of this book on Michelle's blog: Elliot's Expeditions. Read more about it HERE.

Sight words

I found and downloaded literacy materials from the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County. It is part of their Learning Program geared specifically to kids with DS. Joe started working with the materials this week. It is an easy system based on matching pictures and then matching words. First I began by having Joe match the pictures of food (apple, ice cream, watermelon, hot dog, etc) and after he got the hang of the game, we began to match words. Joe surprised me by reading "apple" off of the first card before we had begun. I think that he has seen it so many times on flashcards that he has memorized it as a "sight word." I also picked up new flash cards (2 boxes of identical cards) in the $1 bins at Target and I am supplementing the materials that I downloaded. I am not sure for how long he will put up with this "game" but for now he seems to enjoy it.

The word and picture charts taped to a poster board.

Joe matching food pictures.

Tasty Twist

We have lots of great ice cream places in E. Lansing, but the kids love Tasty Twist the best.

The bobsie twins.

MSU Sports Skills

David Opsommer, son of Mary & Bob Opsommer, is featured in The State News today. David was in Joe's swimming session with the MSU Sports Skills Program this year. He also saw Joe's speech therapist Kim Boyd for many years. Over the past year Mary has given me a lot of good advice and receives a gold star for listening to me rant for an entire swim session after Joe's spring I.E.P. Around that same time, we had a conversation about birthday parties and my sadness that no one from Joe's preschool attended or even RSVP-ed his 4th birthday party. (This year we didn't invite the kids in his class, and as it turned out, one kid ended up attending--whatever). Listening to her talk on the video I am reminded how important it is to have peers (parents & our kids) and how glad I am to know this family. Click HERE to view the video.

What Do You Think?

I have been thinking about this painting on and off for ohhh...hmmm...about 5 years. Someone pointed it out to me a few months after Joe was born. Recently I saw it again on another blog "Cause of Our Joy" and I am back to pondering it. It was painted by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1606) and Italian artist who was also a father to a ton of children. Some people have speculated that the depiction of Jesus is drawn from one of his sons. A recent article "At Home with Down Syndrome" reviewing books about DS (including Jennifer's "Road Map to Holland) begins the review with a brief discussion of the painting. There is a lot of debate about whether or not Jesus is--or is not--enhanced by an extra chromosome. Does it matter? What do you think?

slip-n-slide

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I can't believe it but this big kid looks like he is ready to begin kindergarten in the fall. I think that Joe grew an inch in the last week.

Back By Popular Demand

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It's Good to Be Joe

I took this photo last night at the T-ball game. This is exactly how I picture Joe in my mind these days. Happy, healthy, looking right at the world, with a naughty dimple in his left cheek.

Last T-Ball Game

A trophy AND a cupcake!

The 2 Joes.

High five-ing the opponents "good game, good game."

Running the bases.

Up at bat.

Up at bat.

"A Little More"

Jennifer at Pinwheels has posted another essay on Parent Dish about parenting 5-year-old Avery. Click HERE to read it.

Week with Tutu & Papou

Tutu & Papou were with us for Emma's birthday this past week. The kids had so much fun with them. We went to the MSU Children's Garden, Holland Beach, the library, Lake Lansing, two malls, the movies, Marble School playground, the MSU dairy store, and lots more.

Tutu & Papou reading to Spanky.

A boy & his trike.

Having fun with the bead craft project Aunt Jen sent.

She rides!

Loved & Cherished She Thrives!

Beverly Beckham's latest essay on her grand daughter Lucy who is about to turn five. To read the essay published in the Boston Globe click HERE.

Joe

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Emma learned how to ride a bike today in 1/2 an hour. Will we have to buy her a new car for her birthday when it is time to learn to drive? She named the bike "Julianna."

"I Do Not Like IEPs!"

I do not like these IEPs
I do not like them, Jeeze Louise!
We test, we check,
We plan, we meet,
But nothing ever seems complete.

"Special Needs Mama" writes this month about the dreaded IEP. Click here to read.

Holland Beach, Holland, MI

We drove to Holland Beach today. When we left E. Lansing it was sunny and warm but by the time we arrived (1 1/2 hrs. later) it was freezing! We ate lunch took a couple of photos and came home. By the end of the day it was warm again.

Emma's 8th Bday Party

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Cheese!

Tutu & Papou are visiting this week for Emma's 8th birthday.

MSU Children's Choir Concert.

Emma is 4th from the right

MSU Children's Choir Camp Concert

Emma attended the MSU Children's Choir Camp directed and conducted by Mrs. Mary Alice Stollak. After a week of camp (8AM-12 PM) the campers gave a concert on Friday morning. They sang "Some Folks Do," "I Will Give You the Key," The Mending Song," "Jubilate Deo," "Butterflies and Moths," and "I've Got Shoes." Emma had a lot of fun singing this past week and is looking forward to participating in the Prep choir again next fall.

Sparrow Superstars

Team photo (Joe on far right w/o team jersey or team hat)

Joe & Chris at first base

If You're Looking for a Reason to Vote for Obama

If you are looking for another good reason to vote for Obama, consider his position on individuals with disabilities. View his video or read his statements here.

Eric "Ricstar" Winter Music Therapy Camp

Joe sitting on Megan's lap waiting for his turn to perform in the concert.

Joe helps spread the parachute at music camp.

While Tim, Beth & Paul were with us Joe attended the 6th annual Eric "Ricstar" Winter Music Therapy Camp at the MSU Community School (where Emma sings in the choir). The kids meet in small groups for 3 days and are matched with a buddy. Joe was a buddy with Megan who is the sister of Katie--a kid on Joe's T-ball team and in Joe's sport skills swim class at MSU. On the last day they perform in a concert. People come from all over the midwest and Canada to attend this camp. For more information on the camp click here.

Cousins!

Tim, Beth & Paul visited us this week. The cousins had lots of fun together. Here are a few photos from their visit

Joe, Paul & Emma

At the MSU Dairy Store

Emma & Paul in the MSU Children's Garden

Chris, Tim, Emma & Paul in the MSU Children's Garden

Joe & Paul playing with trains.

Almost Eight Years Old!

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I.E.P. Take #2

Many of you know that we had a marathon IEP for Joe last month that didn't go as well as we had hoped. At the end of the IEP we decided to send Joe to a Young 5s program next year as an intermediary step to kindergarten. The more we thought about it the more dissatisfied we were with that option. We investigated other options talked to some friends, teachers, and principals, and we have found a new classroom for Joe. Chris and I visited last Wednesday, Emma & Joe played on the playground on Sunday, and this morning, Chris, Joe, & I spent a couple of hours in the classroom, in music, and Joe went to recess. So.....after lots of deliberation......we are reopening Joe's IEP so that he can attend Red Cedar Elementary School
as a kindergartener next fall! With the support of the principal, the general ed. kindergarten teacher and Mrs Olance, the basic classroom teacher we will create a hybrid program for Joe
that allows flexibility for him to move between classrooms as needed. The basic classroom has children from k-6 who range in abilities and, therefore, in time spent in the general education classroom. Joe will still have ST, OT, PT, & adapt. phys. ed. in this program. We especially like Red Cedar because it is a small school (the kindergarten class we visited had 15 students), it is the international school (ESL kids have their own challenges), it is also the hearing impaired school (again non-typical student population) and the principal is deeply committed to inclusion. This seems like the best learning environment for Joe. Joe was happy and joined right in with the class. As a bonus, when we went to music with Joe's class the music teacher read Anna Celenza's book, The Farewell Symphony, to the class!!!! I almost cried; it felt like Joe had another level of support having Anna there with him. If you haven't read any of Anna's awesome series of children's books on composers click HERE.

Emma & Joe

Joe playing the bongos with his pal Roderick

"Mom, she's reading Anna's book!"

The basic class at Red Cedar Elementary (Joe's feet don't touch the floor)

Look at how happy he is to be there.

Joe helped with the calendar while visiting the class

Prom!

My niece Heather is graduating from High School this week. Here is a photo of her with her parents, Peter & Katheryn, before the prom.