A new twist on Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving was very different this year.   There is a story - get ready ...

Betsy reminded Jessica to ask for time off from work because our family was going to Michigan to be with the Orr's for Thanksgiving, but Jessica never works during the week so she figured she didn't need to ask off.  Well, on the night of the Harry Potter premier she finds out that she is scheduled to work Wednesday and Thursday (Thanksgiving day).  If she could get someone to cover on Thursday then we could still go on our trip as a family, but no luck!  SO...

Mark stayed here with Jessica and Marissa while I took the boys (as promised) to the Orrs.  Robert and Devon didn't get to go earlier this month when we went due Devon's meet and Robert's banquet.  They were both so excited to arrive and see Seth.

Thursday morning, as tradition has it, Robert played in the "Turkey Bowl."  Even though he was the "new guy" he had an amazing pick and touchdown.  It was awesome!  (he loves sports)

 Robert

 Robert on the move

After the game, I took Robert and Seth to Dunkin Donuts for hot chocolate and a donut.  They were so happy.  It had drizzled for most of the game - chilly cold!!!

I also drove over to Lake Michigan.  Boy it looked cold.  The boys had a blast playing in the sand and on the equipment.  Robert and Seth get along so well.  Devon had stayed back home to talk with Hannah and play with Adam and Emma.  

 Seth and Robert 

 Love this photo ... 

 ... and this one.

 Look how much sand is blown in ...

Look at all that sand

 Horse play!

Before leaving photos!

Robert (11), Seth and Devon (15) 

Devon and Hannah 

Adam and Devon

Emma and Devon

Change of Pace is good

As much as I love that Robert, Marissa and Devon ran Cross Country and Robert continued with his soccer - it made for a very VERY busy fall season.  Robert was on two soccer teams, plus cc at NOMS.  Marissa ran CC, Devon ran CC for NOHS.  Jessica started open gym with her basketball team at NOHS...it was crazy trying to manage practices, meets and games.

I have to confess, as much as I love watching them participate in activities I am enjoying our "free time".  A huge blessing came having Jessica able to drive herself to practices.  Winter is much more relaxed.  Jessica is intensely involved in basketball (everyday) and Robert still has soccer two days a week (Thursday practice and a game on Saturday) but it seems so much calmer having Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday open from cross country practices.

2010 Taste of Broadway Show

 Taste of Broadway 2010

November 19 and 20, 2010

North Oldham Middle and High School Production

This is the second year we have been involved in Taste of Broadway.  What a treat!  This is Robert's first year - HE LOVED IT.  

Robert performed with the 6th grade boys chorus in three numbers:

"All Star" from the musical Shrek

"Kiss the Girl" from the musical Little Mermaid

and in the finale "We go Together" from the musical Grease

Here is Robert and in "All Star"

 Here is Robert in "We go Together"

Marissa took my camera to capture pictures back stage - were there is a lot of fun!

She performed with the 8th grade girls chorus in three productions:

"9 to 5" from the musical 9 to 5

"Beauty and the Beast" from the musical Beauty and the Beast 

and in the finale "We go Together" from the musical Grease

 Marissa with friends:  Paige, Katherine, and Kelsey

 Lizzie, ?, Paige and Marissa

 Kelsey, Katherine, and Marissa

such beautiful girls!

They are getting ready for their "9 to 5" number

 Best friends:  Marissa and Kelsey

 The final number was all the choruses together singing and performing to:

"We go Together" from the musical Grease

This is Robert and Marissa in their 50's outfits!

so cute!

Marissa is so cute!

Devon's Team Recognized at Football 1/2 time show

Right in the middle of the Taste of Broadway show (where Marissa and Robert are performing) Devon's Cross Country Team is being recognized for winning the State Championship this year!

Devon was at the performance with us.  After the first quarter score was announced we waited a few minutes and then Mark went over to watch the time.  He texted us when there was only 4 minutes left in the half.  Well, bad luck on our part.  Devon and I raced over (running full speed so not to be late); with only three minutes left in the game, three time outs were called...ugh!  (We are missing the production - hopefully not one of our kid's numbers).

Finally, half time whistle blows...the girl's team is announced - 4th in state..."and now for our State Champion Cross Country Team"...

It was awesome.  Devon was there, with his fellow teammates being recognized for their commitment and determination to become the state champions!  It was so exciting!

We all went to the Harry Potter #7 (part 1) Premier

11/18/10 Everyone is so excited for the Premier showing of the 7th Movie in the Harry Potter Series!  It's so exciting.  Devon wanted to make sure we were there in time to be first in line - so there we are - first in line with Amanda McCall, Anna McCall, Claire Sinnott and her friend.  

 Mommy and Marissa awaiting the start of the show~

Jessica in true character!

Jessica and her friends:  Maddie, David and Amanda

Devon and Jessica with Maddie and Amanda!  

It was great to see Devon so involved with other people!

Devon and Jessica having fun while we wait hours for the show to start!

 Robert and Marissa (so tired) but refusing to admit it because they want to see the show so much!

 Jessica and Mommy!  True believers!

Best friends:  Anna, Amanda and Jessica

Now - on with the show!

Talk about Devon's success in overcoming Autism

Today I was invited as a guest speaker in the AP Psychology classes at NOHS to discuss the development of Devon as it relates to Autism; 1) clues that set off that Devon was different - the developmental delays, 2) the tests the were performed and 3) the treatment that we implemented.

I have to tell you, this was something I was so VERY excited to do.  I have wanted to tell Devon's story for a long time.  I was even contacted by Jessica Kingley Puplishing eight years ago to share what we had done with Devon - I just didn't have the time or the confidence to write a book, but now, NOW with so many more successes of Devon's development and progress in life - maybe I should.

I loved talking about what we went through, the things we chose to do different - those are the things that made the biggest different - along with timing - early intervention being so VERY important.

I loved being in front of the kids sharing the steps and programs.  I think I found what I want to do.  I may even go back to school and finish my special ed degree so that I can teach this to others with accreditation.  

Best of all, Jessica attends that class.  She said it was so amazing - "You should be a teacher, you were great."  WOW, those words melted my heart.

Such a great day!

Five hours of soccer in one day - whoo

7:15 am I load Robert in the car and head for Lexington. (Devon will be headed this same way soon).  Robert is trying out for the Olympic Development Team for the state of Kentucky.  Try out start at 9:00 am and go for three hours.  The entire time, parents are not invited to be near.

I sat in my car and prepared my talk and presentation for Monday's psychology class.

As soon as the try-outs were over, I drove Robert back to Louisville for two games.  Robert's indoor team played at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. at the Javanon Soccer complex.  His team won both games.

We are soccered out!

Subbing for Mr. Crawford

While in Michigan, I received a phone call from Mr. Crawford, the chorus teacher for NOMS and NOHS. He informed me he will be taking off the next week for his father's funeral.  I felt so bad for him.  

Friday, 11/12 - my report...
I love teaching chorus, especially to the kids that like to sing and perform.  I extremely dislike teaching chorus to disobedient and disruptive 12 and 13 year old boys that can't control themselves.  I love teaching 11, 12,  and 13 year old girls...they sing like angels.

We had a great time.  In a alternate universe I would have sang and danced every day of my life.  This was the perfect place.  We practiced songs for the Taste of Broadway production, where these kids will be performing some of my favorite music:  Footloose, Holding our for a Hero, We are the Champions, We will we will Rock you, Working 9 to 5, Les Miserables, and more.

I hope I helped Mr. Crawford.  I hope he can feel the spirit as he deals with the death of his father.

We are the CHAMPIONS!!! Devon's XC team are #1 in the STATE

Prep:  Friday night Devon has me buzz his head in support of his team!

8:30 am on Saturday morning, Devon's Cross Country team headed out from NOHS to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY for the State Championship Meet.   Devon had homework and other things to do, but he decided it was very important for him to be there to support his team.  (This is an amazing step in Devon's social development.)

The boys (our top 7) ran at 12:15 pm.  Devon was there to cheer them on.  Sanders came in 2nd place, and the rest of the boys followed close behind.  It was a great win!

The North Oldham High School Boys Cross Country Team is #1 in the state!  So happy for them and all of their accomplishments!   What a special thing for Devon to be part of, even though he didn't run in the final race, he contributed to getting the boys there!

Robert scores a perfect score on his KCCT

Today I received the KCCT scores from the tests the kids took in the spring of last year.

Robert received a perfect score in Mathematics


580 out of 580

Congratulations Robert!  You are awesome!!!

Visit to Michigan

SHHHH!  We are off to Michigan to surprise Jessica's best friend, Jenny Orr for her 18th birthday.  Jenny moved to Michigan over the summer before her senior year.  Jessica, Jenny and Amanda have been best friends since they met back in 2005.

Jessica had to go to basketball practice after school so we had to wait until 5:00 to get her.  We also took a friends of Hannah Orr's...3 teenage girls in my van on a road trip.  What a blast!

Jessica and Amanda made Jenny a book of memories and finished it while on the drive up.  We had many challenges on the ride up.  First, just before getting to Kokomo, IN a semi-tracker trailer tried to push my van off the road.  He came into my lane even with me blowing on the horn.  If it weren't that there was a shoulder to move onto, we would have been in an accident.  Second, the weather started to snow and sleet after passing through Indianapolis.  By the time we got to South Bend, the police had closed down the road to St. Joe.  We drove all over South Bend looking for a way to get back on the road north.  Finally after crossing into Michigan we were able to regain our course and headed for the Orr's house.  Once we got into St. Joe, my GPS gave me wrong directions to their house.  Luckily, we perceived and made it - not by 10:30 pm as planned but by 12:15 am.

To our benefit Jenny was taking a shower.  We were able to sneak into the house and the girls were able to hide in her room to surprise her when she came out of the bathroom.  It was perfect!

They sent the next two days in teenage girl reunion heaven.   On Saturday we drove to Frankenmuth, MI to see the country's largest Christmas store.  We shopped there for a few hours before heading home.  We stopped on the way for a delicious dinner at Cracker Barrel.

 Jessica, Amanda and Jenny

Betsy and Sandra

Best Friends!!!

 Everyone loves Christmas! 

Love that all three girls have adorable black jackets...

T

Sunday we went to the St. Joe ward.  Mark's first job was in St. Joe working for Zenith.  It was the same ward.  We had family dinner with the Orrs before heading home.  Everyone had a terrible time saying good bye.  I felt so bad for them.  Hugs, tears and promises to get together again flooded the driveway as we made our exit.

Funny, the drive home was a challenge too.  We sat in traffic for over an hour 45 minutes north of Louisville.  There was a terrible accident (it looked fatal).  We were all so happy to get home, and get to bed.

Basketball Season officially starts

Jessica's Senior Year 2010-2011 NOHS Lady Mustang Basketball team 

(both teams together)

Back row:  Bree Salinas , Miranda Conway, Emily Moorsman, Nicole Bryant, Jessica Lowe, Lucy Gibson, Hannah Gray, Claire Sinnott, Taylor Moore

Front row:  Rachel Williams, Morgan Spaulding, Meagan Welle, Mickayla Roach, Erin Dierter, Nicole Walton

Can't wait for the season to begin!  

I love these girls like they are my own.

Mark is recovering nicely

It has been just over a week since Mark's surgery. He is amazing! One the very next day he said he had NO pain...NO pain. WOW - I just can't imagine that.

He has had some swelling in his hand which is due to him keeping his arm down too long.

Saturday - went to Marissa's cc meet

Sunday - went to church meetings

Monday - doctor appointment and worked from home

Tuesday (and on) - back at work with a partial cast and sling

You can't believe this, but on Thursday Mark asked me if he could mow the lawn. WHAT? No way, in a partial cast and everything. It's hard for him to take it easy and slow down - but he needs to let his arm heal.