JUST HAVE TO BRAG

 

I just have to brag about Ben and Jonah.

We camped at Devil's Lake State Park the past 4 days.

Ben has always been a very good hiker.  

Jonah is a much improved hiker from last year.  

But the boys did a hike on Tuesday that we could not believe 

they were both able to complete.  

They hiked up and down this trail.  

Some of the "steps" looked like this.

And some were actual steps.

This is what we were hiking to- Balanced Rock.

The park literature states 

"Difficulty: Challenging...A difficult, steep, climbing trail with stone steps on the south face of the East Bluff... .4 mile, Approximate hiking time 1 hour"

Our total journey there and back took 1.5 hours.

The boys showed incredible strength and endurance.  We are so proud of them!

  

Interestingly, Ben was scared going up, and Jonah was more scared going down. 

 

Also, Jonah was pretty tired coming down so he needed lots of encouragement, rest stops, and distractions (ie. singing Beatles songs) to keep him moving. 

 

And shout out to two guys we encountered on the way down the trail.  They were very encouraging to Jonah.   Jonah was in the middle of a sit-down protest because he didn't want to go any further.  The guys told him he was tougher than they were because they hadn't even made it to the top yet.  It is always so nice to encounter people who comfortably interact with our guys. 

This is from our hike on Monday where we hiked along the bottom of the ridge.  I think this photo is funny because it looks like our boys caused an rock avalanche.

I love this photo.  You can really see the love between these two.  

Sometimes it just hits me how cool it is that these two goofy guys have each other.  

REASONS I LIKE CAMPING

 

For those who know me, I won't be the first person you would think of who would love camping.  I don't like bugs, I don't like chaos, I don't like to be too hot, and I don't like public restrooms.  

So why in the world do I like camping?  

Here is the mystery revealed:

1. Wisconsin State parks are awesome!  So many pretty trails and lots of nice campsites.

2. My "to do" list is much smaller when camping:    

    a. Meal prep/clean up

    b. Watching the boys

    c. 5 minute cleaning of the camper each day

3. Plus there are items on my camping "to do" list which rarely get included in a day at home:

    a.  Take a hike

    b. Go to the beach

    c. Get ice cream

    d. Read a book

    e. Watch a movie

    f. Take a nap

    g. Play a card/board game

                Notice that absent from this list is laundry, whole house pick up,                         yardwork (for Andrew), errands, therapy appointments, and book                         work.

4. Nobody cares what you look like when you are camping!

5. Falling to sleep with nature sounds surrounding you on all sides of the camper is really cozy!

6. The boys love camping, and it's fun to watch them have an activity they love and are good at.

7. I'm quite spoiled being able to camp in our nice camper instead of a tent. 

8. When I get home, my normal house seems like a palace. 

9. Hiking and biking are good healthy activities for all of us. 

10.  Good reminder of God’s glory and majesty as I enjoy the beauty of His creation. 

Here's to another summer of hopefully great camping memories!

CAMPING AND BIKING!

     

First camping trip of 2023 

in the books as a success!

This is how the ride 

to the campground looked.  

Two boys resting up for 

lots of fun over the next 3 days...

Because of our dog needing someone home to care for him, this trip ended up being a boys' only camping time.  Andrew is quite a brave soul to take this on, but the boys had so much fun with just their incredible dad.  

And the really exciting news about this camping trip is Andrew brought the boys bikes along, and it was a success.  They took 5 bike rides over the 3 days and loved having their "wheels" with them.

We noticed this spring when Jonah got on his bike for the first time here at home, that he was able to pedal farther and faster.  But most importantly, he was able to pedal and steer at the same time.  Last summer, he really struggled with getting tired and also zig-zagging all over the place.  Ben mastered these skills last summer, but we were wondering when biking would get easier for Jonah.  Well, it happened so we decided to give it a try and bring the bikes camping.  How exciting for the boys!

You might notice, the boys are riding 3-wheel bikes.  Neither of them have yet mastered the balancing on 2 wheels.  So we found these amazing "training wheels" that are meant for older kids and adults.  Well worth the investment!  And love it when companies think outside the box to help and support individuals with special needs!

NOTE: the boys attended "I Can Shine" Bike camp in summer of 2021.  It was a great experience which we would highly recommend.  However, they didn't leave the 1 week camp being able to ride on 2 wheels.  After talking to many other parents of kiddos who also participated in "I Can Shine" Bike camps, it's very common that it takes several sessions of the camp to master the skill.  Our boys only attended one session.  We might try another summer down the road to attend 2 sessions and see if that helps along with them being a little older.  

But for now, we are very happy with their Fat Wheels!

Click HERE for Fat Wheels

LOTS TO SAY and READ TO ME

 

Last week, Jonah had some HUGE developments in his speech and reading!

While I was getting ready one morning last week, Jonah got a hold of the IPAD and made his own video.  From the words we can understand, we think he is inviting people (some named specifically, otherwise a general invite to all) to an Easter party at our house (he gives our address).  

I shared this video with his teacher and speech therapists because I had mixed feelings about it.  

On one hand, I was super impressed because 2-3 years ago, Jonah would have never tried to talk this much.  For many years, Jonah would only speak 1 to 3 words at a time.  Talking just wasn't his "go-to" activity.  He had other ways to communicate his wants, needs, and ideas so he didn't have to string together words and talk to us.  So to watch him make a 2 minute video of him just talking away is like music to my ears!  

However, I am a little sad because after all the hard work and therapy, there are many words in this video that I still don't understand yet.  This boy has so much to tell us and such interesting thoughts on life, and I don't want to miss any of it.  He still struggles with the pronunciation of many sounds.  

His teachers and therapists were quick to encourage me though.  They pointed out that if this had been a conversation with Jonah, we would have had opportunities to clarify and ask him questions so we could get a better understanding of what he was trying to say.  So in normal face to face interaction with Jonah, they see great improvement: he is talking more, AND he is willing and able to help clarify what he is trying to say by answering questions we ask.  That is a huge accomplishment and development for him.  We are continuing to move forward and that is always an answer to prayer.

This next video is a new development because for the first time ever, Jonah brought me a book and wanted to read it TO ME.  Usually if I want him to read a book, I have to prompt him to sit down and read with me and then prompt him with sounding the words out.  But on this day, he initiated the activity and initiated the sounding out of the words.  

The other huge accomplishment this video reveals is Jonah is able to transfer his knowledge of his Edmark words (the reading program he uses at school) and read them in a non-Edmark setting.  In the past, he has struggled with that.  So the words he says in the video with great accuracy are his Edmark words and then the other words he is sounding out the best he can.  It probably helped him that he picked the familiar story of "Frosty the Snowman".  

I was so excited when he started reading aloud next to me, and I am so grateful I had my wits about me to record this interaction.  So proud of him!

Ben has always been more verbal than Jonah.  The issue we are working on with Ben is getting him to speak more clearly and then also an issue with social anxiety which present as silly or inappropriate responses when asked questions.  He is slowly making progress, but it is definitely an uphill battle.

In terms of reading, Ben is further along in the Edmark program, but he is way more resistant to sounding out words than Jonah.  

These boys: 

they are the yin to other's yang :)

 

 

  

GOOD FRIDAY IN GREEN BAY

This title has a double meaning.  

Friday was Good Friday as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us all by dying on the cross.  The heaviness of Friday is followed by the victory of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday.  What a beautiful weekend of praise and celebration.

Favorite Easter song this yea

But Friday was also a good Friday because we spent it up in Green Bay touring Lambeau Field and then having lunch with dear friends of ours.  We highly recommend both activies if you are ever in Green Bay-haha!

Lambeau Field Atrium

Walking the tunnel onto the Field

On the sidelines of "hallowed ground"

Enjoying the luxury box view

(probably our only chance ever)

Making a play on the field :)

ONE OF THESE THINGS JUST DOESN’T BELONG

First day of spring break 2023

 

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

3-21 is World Down Syndrome Day!

Today is the day to celebrate 

3 copies of chromosome 21!

Hopefully the following video will be shown at school today along with this handout.

Click HERE for DS handout