Today was another horse riding day for Cassidy. She absolutely loves it. She talks Allison's ear off and loves to watch the two dogs run around. Today she got to see Roany roll in the dirt after they took off the saddle. She thought that was pretty silly. Cassidy loves horses now and I think it is making a difference. Thanks to Andrea for finding it for us! And thanks to Shelly for watching Megan and Logan while we go.

Here comes summer

Hip Hip Horray!! School is out.

Kindergarten graduation

Cassidy and Mrs. Jensen

Cassidy with Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Jensen

I just have so much gratitude in my heart for Mrs. Adams Cassidy's teacher and Mrs. Jensen her aide. They are so amazing and have gone out of their way to give Cassidy the best experience possible in Kindergarten. She has learned so much. More than we thought possible. Sometimes I have wondered why we felt like we should have bought our fixer upper house here and been where we are. I know that we're supposed to be here so that Cassidy could go to school where the teachers would care about her and her quality of schooling. They have fought so hard for her rights for the best possible education.

This week has been quite emotional. We got all the paper work in to the district weeks ago to request an aide full time for next school year. The 504 committee won't make their decision until Aug. But this week was so frustrating! A physical therapist came in to the class to observe Cassidy. She said that Cassidy was just fine and that she was relying on Mrs. Jensen too much. Mrs. Jensen explained that Cassidy needs someone there to make sure she doesn't fall and that she does need help to keep up with the class accademically. Well the therapist was so rude and said that Cassidy didn't fall once while she was there. And as far as accademics go she said that maybe she should be in resource.

Resource takes her out of the classroom away from her peers plus she is too smart to qualify for that. We want her to stay main stream as much as possible. That is what she needs.

The therapist said that maybe she should use a walker and have a student help her in class and the lunch room. Like that is going to work.

We do not want her to use a walker but she brought one in anyway for Cassidy to try out. Mrs. Adams told her that Cassidy didn't need a walker, that her parents don't want her to use a walker. The therapist basically said that if the 504 commitee felt she should use one then we didn't have a choice. Excuse me. We have come too far and made so much progress with Cassidy why would we want to go backwards. We do not want her relying on a walker.

Cassidy's P.E. teacher also told the therapist that she wanted Cassidy to have an aide for next year and that a walker would just take away the progress that has been made. Apparently they want her to rely on a walker instead of having the individual help that she needs. I just wanted to cry when I saw Cassidy walking with the walker but we played the game and had Cassidy use the walker the past two days so we could log how stupid it was. Cassidy would lean forward while she walked with the walker and be back up on her toes. She wore herself out pulling it and going too fast etc. Mrs. Jensen has been so great to keep a log of everything that goes on with Cassidy each day. The therapist was supposed to come back on Thurs. to watch her use the walker. She never did.

We pray that they will approve an aide for next year. But apparently it will be a fight for Cassidy's right's every year. We will see what Aug. brings.

Megan and her award

Megan was so excited when she got home from school on Tuesday. She immediately pulled out this award for scoring in the top 10% nationally for Social Studies. The test was taken back in October. She was quite thrilled that it was nationally recognized. We are quite proud. She has always wanted to get an award at the school awards assembly and so she did.

Our big infant

The other day Logan insisted on getting in the high chair (which I need to just throw away). As you can see he has outgrown it considerably. Lorin teases me because I still like to call Logan my infant. Silly huh? Look how tall he is for a baby boy. :) He will always be my baby boy.

Our Garden

We got our vegetable garden planted last night. I am so excited. Last year we didn't plant one and I really missed it. It was nice of Lorin's brother Chris to help. Saved me from having to do it so it was very nice. I wasn't totally lazy though. I mowed and fertilized our so called lawn. Hopefully sometime soon we can get going on all the projects around our house that will make things look so much better.

All Boy

Logan has recently decided that he likes to play with bugs. The other day it was this worm. He played with it for a while. Some how it ended up in two pieces in the house. He was told to take it back to the dirt and so he did. He also enjoys finding roly poly bugs under rocks. As long as the bugs don't end up in the house it is cute.

Winding Down 3rd Grade

Megan at the 3rd grade simple machine fair 5/15/08. Thank goodness for dads who can help build those kind of projects!

Megan at her 3rd grade recorder concert 5/15/08. They did a really good job. Megan asked if I saw her eyes watering. I guess she needed to cough during the whole thing but managed not too.

Let's play where's waldo...er where's Lorin

See if you can spot Lorin.

So last August we went to the Josh Groban concert. Originally we had really bad seats. By really bad I mean at the very top row at the very back. But that was alright I was just excited to be there. Well we took Bill (a salesman at C.T.U.) and his wife with us. Bill went out to get some ice cream. He called Lorin's phone and said he was given tickets to some better seats. Well the guy must know how to practice "The Secret" or something because he was given 6th row seats just left of the stage. They were filming this concert for the Awake tour DVD so they didn't want any empty seats at the front. Bill was at the right place at the right time apperently. I was able to touch Josh's hand because he would sing right where our seats were. Yeah I know a bit cheesy and immature but it was fun to act like a 17 year old again.

On Sat. we bought the DVD because we were in a way participants in the show right? And it would be our only claim to fame I am sure. I looked through the front cover of the DVD yesterday and sure enough there was Lorin in one of the pictures. I am hidded by Josh darn it.

Happy Mother's Day!!

I want to wish all the women out there a great weekend and a happy Mother's Day! It is always good to be reminded of how special being a mother is and that it is the greatest thing we can do. I appreciate all the great examples of motherhood that I have around me. My mom, my sisters, my friends, family etc. You all are awesome and I appreciate all of you. You are all beautiful!

Yes this is me in the picture. On my blessing day.

Mom thanks for being you! You are the greatest. I don't know what I would do without you. You are such an example to me of strength, patience, faith and hope. Thanks for the many many things you do for all of us. You are beautiful!!

Wow how time flies. My mom and me at my bridal shower. Love you mom!

Lorin with his mom at high school graduation

Happy Mother's Day to Lorin's beautiful mother. She may not be with us anymore but we still feel her strong influence in our lives. She will always be a source of strength to us. She had to overcome so much in her life and was such a great example to all of us. She raised a wonderful, faithful family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. We miss her so much but know that we will see her again and that she watches over us.

Mom with her 6 grandchildren a month before her passing. She has 12 living grandchildren now and 1 due any day.

Mom we hope we make you proud!