Ward's Berry Farm

We really enjoy going to Ward's Berry Farm!! We went yesterday for a hayride and pumpkin picking. The hayride is about 30 minutes round trip, and then we got to get off to pick pumpkins for a while. The kids loved browsing all the different sizes of pumpkins and gourds. We got one big pumpkin and many gourds. : )

There is a hay stack to climb, one of the biggest kid attractions, swings, slides and animals to pet and feed! My kids were so into the haystack we didn't even make it to the animals.

Always a fun day and we enjoy strawberries in June, blueberries in July, and pumpkins in the fall. Last spring we also went on a hayride in the spring and planted tomato plants!

Yard House - pretty kid friendly!

We went with our good friends, Anna and Ben, to the Yard House tonight. John and I had a gone a few times before for special occasions and sat outside; nice view, weather, food, drinks! I hadn't really thought of it as kid friendly. So we went early tonight, and it was already crowded. We were seated right away, though, in a circular large booth, kids loved that. We got a few yummy appetizers to share. The kids menu was 12 pages of mazes, coloring, etc. and they usual kid fair meals. For drinks they could get a soda or lemonade with different flavors mixed in, there were many sides to choose from and a big fruit pop for dessert. It is also very noisy inside, so therefore very kid friendly too. So it was a fun evening and I was happy that it was as kid friendly as it was!

Lizzy sings in the Church Chorus

Lizzy started rehearsing with our church's children's chorus last month, she loves it! She really enjoys singing. She sang at her first Mass last weekend! There were only 4 girls up there, she did great! It makes me so glad that she wants to sing in church and get up there and do it! She is full of spunk and is also so loving to others!

From Oceanspray.com . . .

Frankie and I made these scones with all the cranberries we had from the Edaville cranberry festival. Came out pretty good!

CRANBERRY CORNBREAD SCONES
INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
3/4 cup Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries (I used fresh cranberries)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400º F. Grease a large cookie sheet.

Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl and stir until mixed. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Add milk and stir with fork just until a sticky dough forms. Gently stir dried cranberries into dough.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently about 10 times. Pat dough into a ½-inch thick circle. Cut out dough circles with 2 ½-inch biscuit cutter and place on cookie sheet.

Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 10 scones.

Frankie Learns to Swim!!

Frankie learned to swim yesterday!! He started level 1 swimming 5 weeks ago, yesterday was the last class and he swam on his own for about 10 feet. : ) He went from his teacher to the wall, and then pushed off the wall back to his teacher! I felt so proud and he has been telling everyone of his success!
He usually has one other child in his class, but yesterday was a private lesson. : ) I was just amazed how quickly he went from not swimming to being a swimmer!! Lessons start again in a few weeks!

Frankie's IEP

Alright, i am going to be good about posting!

Frankie has his big IEP meeting every March, and we have had 2 follow ups since; the last one was last week! His classroom teacher and specialists had glowing things to say about him! He is doing so much better attending and listening in circle time, playing and interacting with his friends, starting to write his name and recognizing letters! I was so pleased, we have been working on letters a lot. I have tactile letters where he cantrace the letter with his finger and it feels like sand paper, he loves them!

So he continues to get once a week O&M and once every other week vision services. He is working on cane training, which may help him as he gets older.

The director at his preschool has started the transition to kindergarten process and has had meeting with the principal at the elementray school, I just cannot believe that he will be in K next year! He still seems like my baby, even though he will always tell you he is a big boy!

Thinking back to him when he was 4 months old and first diagnosed, it is hard to believe how far he has come! I love the fact that he is playing with his friends so much more and initiating play!! At 4 months, ireally didn't know that we would ever really see. He is such a blessing! Funny too. : )

Oh My Gosh!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged!! I REALLY want to start up again!

A few updates on our family:

Frankie is in his second year of preschool! He loves it and his IEP is pretty good too (more on that to follow).He will be transitioning to K for next fall! He is learning to swim, he plays tball, is starting basketball and skating!

Lizzy started 3rd grade! She loves her skating and is on the synchronized skating team this year, skating twice a week! She plays violin and sings in out church choir, yesterday was her first Mass singing!

John started a new job closed to home, which he enjoys a lot. I am co presidnt of Frankie's PTO, more to come. : )

So far 2010 has been a better year than 2009 was for us. Aunt Fran did pass away in April, so that has been sad for me every day still. I think of her and Grandma every day!

Things to be happy about today:
Beautiful day!
Going for a walk
Lizzy finds out about student council!
She passed basic 5 in skating over the weekend