Happy Anniversary!!

Thank you, dear readers! You've been my virtual sustenance for 365 days. Yup, it has been a year since I began this blog. Time flies when you procrastinate like I do!

It has been an interesting year. I've made many new friends, kept my extended family up to date with our adventures, and I've learned so much from the blogging community! I'm always so curious about you--so many of you I don't know at all. Every now and then my ticker tells me that someone from Easton, PA (where I once lived) or Wasilla, AK (Hi Gri!), or some other exotic or mysterious place has come to visit. And it gets my imagination going. Who are you?

So, if you're game, leave me a comment, introduce yourself! You already know way more about me and Hannah than you ever wanted to know, but yet, you keep coming back. For this I am grateful. You listen to me whine, laugh with me when my kid does something ridiculous (or ridiculously cute), encourage me when I'm disheartened, and you keep me behaving. Sort of behaving. I know. It's a hard job. But I appreciate your efforts!

In gratitude, I give you another opportunity to smile:

Hannah's attempt at teaching a school of fish how to dance:

Thanks for a great year!

Dance Benefit Performance

Hannah had two dance performances on Saturday! Her Miracles in Motion (MiM) class was joined by professional and pre-professional dancers who produced a benefit program. All proceeds go towards a scholarship fund for children to participate in MiM. Each MiM dancer had a partner/buddy for their portion of the show. Hannah was perfectly matched with Sheena. Over the course of three rehearsals they built a solid friendship. The final performances included a variety of pieces from the other dance ensembles and some solo pieces as well. Hannah got to come sit in the audience to watch the bulk of the show, and then return to the stage for a final bow. The girl loves the stage, that's for sure!

Here are some snippets from the rehearsal last week.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Back in the saddle

Saddle meaning my computer chair, of course.

My back is back. It's actually working! And now that I am functional, I have discovered again how much I don't like running behind Hannah on her bike in the summer. It doesn't help that I've had no cardio exercise in several weeks. But, I did manage to make two rounds of our route tonight. She hasn't lost any skills from our break in practicing, so that's good. She really enjoys riding--doesn't let a day go by without asking to ride!

Chris is settling into the dorm. I guess. They are keeping him busy so we haven't heard very much from him. Orientation has taken up virtually every waking minute of his days. Today he met with his academic advisor and tomorrow he finally gets to register for classes (just in time too-classes start on Wednesday!). He's now toying with the idea of Neuroscience instead of Biology. Fortunately he has a semester to figure it out before declaring his major.

And.

Who knew?

Who knew that Cinderella was living right here in our own house?

Look! The Grand Duke came to try the glass slipper on my foot. I tried really hard to make it fit. But he didn't buy it.

Then the Duke learned there was another maiden in the household.

Look! The glass slipper fits!

The Prince and Cinderella lived happily ever after.

Finally, at the table this evening:

James: "How do you like your dinner?"

Nan, who apparently was quite hungry: "It's glorious."

Away He Goes!

Excitement today! We're delivering Chris to The College of William and Mary this morning! The cars are packed (aside from the computer, which couldn't possibly be disconnected until after midnight last night). We're all getting up early and setting off!

Departure time is coming up quickly! Must work on waking up Hannah (like the rest of us, she's not a morning person).

Mawwedge. It's what bwings us togevah.

Hannah's been trying to figure out this whole marriage thing.

A few weeks ago she started asking James if she could marry him. (I remember asking my Daddy if I could marry him when I was little too.)

A few days ago she asked if she could marry me.

(Background knowledge: A few weeks ago Kate broke up with her boyfriend John, after 2.5 years together.)

Here's the conversation:

H: Mom, I'm gonna marry you when I'm older.

Me: No Babe, you can't marry me. I'm already married. And you can't marry someone in your family. You have to pick someone else.

H: Then I'll marry Kate.

Me: No. You can't marry someone who is part of your family.

H: Hmmm. I guess I'll marry Mickey Mouse then. (smirking)

Me: You want to be married to a mouse?

H: No. I think I'll marry Handy Manny. (She knows that I think Manny is cute--we saw him live on stage and the actor was really good looking!)

M: Okay, but doesn't he already have Kelly? (the hardware store woman) How about someone human?

H: Umm. Okay.

M. How about ____? (One of her friends)

H. Hey! I know! I'll marry John!

(I think she's after his electric guitar.)

Bonus Feature

One evening at camp there was Karaoke. The four of us (Chris stayed home to prepare for college this week) signed up to sing BINGO together to get the party started. Further down the docket Hannah and Kate signed up for "I'm a Believer" (Monkees/Shrek).

Unfortunately the sound system was terrible, and the disk was scratched, so part way through the whole shbang shut down. And the videographer was pretty lousy too (me). But that's what you get when the entertainment is free!

Here's some of the video up to that point. Use your imagination. You'll need it. Yes, the singing is that bad. But Hannah had a fabulous time during her 2 minutes of fame.

Warning: This is pretty noisy, so adjust your volume.

SHOULD I SAY THAT LOUDER?

Get your groove on, Hannah!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Camp fun!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Back Home!

We're happily home.

Filthy and damp.

Hungry for our own beds.

Happy from riding horses.

Stained from tie-dying t-shirts.

Silly songs stuck in our heads.

Scared from the Zip-line.

Soggy from swimming.

Pleased with the crayfish in the river, turtles in the pond.

Aching from climbing the rock wall.

New friends in our hearts,

and thrilled we don't have to Kiss the Moose anymore!

Here's a girl who's happy to be home and clean!

Been a little out of commission

I'm really not ignoring you dear Blog Readers! Somewhere between the oral surgeon on Tuesday and later on Wednesday I did something to make my lower back really mad. It might have been doing handstands in the pool, and then aggravated by a very bumpy ride on the lawn mower. It's all muscular as far as I can tell. I'm fine if I am standing, or lying down in certain positions, but other than that, there is a good deal of discomfort.

So I've been on hiatus. I tried medicating with a Happy Hour(s) on Friday. That was fun, but didn't really help the back! I've had lots of time in the whirlpool bath, and a session with "my" massage therapist (shout out to Kim!). I actually felt pretty good this morning. Before I got out of bed. It's tightening up again as the morning progresses.

I must be getting really old!

I don't have much time to laze around today since tomorrow we're off for our last big event of the summer! Lots of packing and organizing to do. We are heading to Camp Easter Seals in the Blue Ridge mountains! It's family week!


We'll have our own cabin, and have the whole regular ol' summer camp experience. There are several families in our local Down sydrome group who are going as well. It will be fun to have time to be together! I'm hoping that Hannah will become comfortable at camp and in another year or two she'll be ready to go it alone.

I am also hoping that I don't have to sleep in the Tipi.

'Til next week....

p.s. Hannah recovered well from the oral surgery-she's back to 100%.

The Last Baby Tooth

Surgery went well. She's still a little loopy from the Versed, and doesn't understand why her mouth isn't working right (novocaine--or whatever derivative they are using these days). She was great for the doctor. It was short and sweet.

Of course, Hannah likes to wear her scrubs and lab coat when she has any kind of "procedure". She likes to blend in with the staff I guess!

I didn't take an "after" picture, but she looked about the same, except for being pale and having gauze hanging out of her mouth! And maybe no smile.

Anticipating a quiet day at home. I've got a 1/2 bushel of peaches to slice and dice for the freezer. I guess I'll do that in front of the TV while Hannah watches Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Thanks for your well wishes!

Chopsticks!

We went to Hannah's favorite Vietnamese restaurant to celebrate the end of bike camp. She surprised us and actually got a few bites in with her sticks!

She had a good last day at bike camp. We did end up with a smaller bike, which she can ride 80% independently (that means I/we still need to run next to her all the time, to step in when she needs help on the other 20%). Hopefully by next year she'll be able to move up to her larger bike, but for now, she can manage this one pretty well.

She hasn't given up on her goal to ride her bike--she still asks every evening if we can go for a bike ride. It is much easier to chase her on the smaller bike! Of course, we're limited by how not-in-shape we are, so we don't get very far. James and I are tag-teaming her. We also pretend that we need her to practice braking so we can catch our breath!

Next up: Tooth pulled on Tuesday. Not going to be that much fun, but it won't be that bad either. I already have the Versed. Maybe I should take it instead of Nan! I think it might be more fun that way. At least for me.