Pick Her Theme Song....

January was a month long celebration of Miss Gwen!  Being it was her birthday month, it was very fitting that she was able to participate in so many new experiences...all focused on her, of course!

CHEER, CHEER FOR OLD NOTRE DAME (January 1, 2016)

I received an e-mail from Ryan House offering 4 handicap accessible tickets to the Fiesta Bowl (Notre Dame vs Ohio State) on a first come first serve basis.  When I hadn't heard back for a couple days, I figured we were too little too late.  But to my surprise, I (meaning Jesse) was ecstatic when I (meaning Jesse) found out that we "won" the tickets!  This was our first time going to a major sporting event as a family, and I think Gwen had the best time of all....eventhough our Irish lost :(.

Though I am ALWAYS  terrified of taking Gwen new places because you never really know what the wheelchair accommodations are, the stadium was great!  We felt like VIP!  The staff were helpful, the seating was perfect, and they even had a modified wheelchair golf cart (Quinten's favorite part) to drive us back to our van!

  

LET IT GO, LET IT GO (January 15, 2016)

Disney's Frozen on Ice just happened to be in town the weekend of Gwen's birthday.  After much hesitation, I tucked away my anxiety and purchased tickets to yet another new experience.  Gwen played hooky from school (lucky girl) and once again, it was amazing!  The arena was very accommodating, the seating was comfortable and spacious, and the show was fantastic...minus the $15 cotton candy! 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (January 17, 2016)

Who says you need just one birthday cake?!?!

 

NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA...BATMAN (January 31, 2016)

Bet you didn't know Bruce Wayne retired to sunny Phoenix, Arizona?  Still a philanthropist, he has graciously chosen to share Batman's batcave (also relocated to Phoenix) with special kids and their families.  In fact, it's so top secret, it can be toured by invite only.  Fortunately one of Gwen's old schoolmates nominated her and 25 friends to experience this thrilling event!

In order not to give away too much (because I know other families read my blog), I'll share some personal family highlights from our night at the batcave!

 

 

The most amazing thing about Bruce Wayne is that he allows each child to pick organizations to donate back to in that child's honor!

 

Thank you to the Colten Cowell Foundation for a wonderful evening of "top secret" memories!

Time to Play Catch Up, Part IV

Things have been pretty "normal" at home given all that transpired last fall/winter with Bowen.  However, when I looked back at my posts I realized I hadn't given any updates on the family since JULY!

AUGUST-DECEMBER

Last August our not so little (insert sad face here) Gwennie Bear started her first year of kindergarten!  Her preschool no longer provided an appropriate program for her, so we had to make the BIG move into the public school system (biting my nails)!  We transfered Gwen to an outside school district where all of the children in the classroom are of the same ability and the student teacher ratio is basically one to one.  The neat thing about the program is that Gwen is designated to a "typical" kindergarten classroom (for the entire school year) where she gets to participate in activities like art, library, science/social studies, adapted p.e., and music with all same aged peers!

Since August, Gwen's been a busy girl!  We try to enjoy family activities as much as possible and the reward is so great!  I mean look at all the smiles!

Quinten Thomas turned two this past August. He is a sensitive little boy, quick to cry and a little over dramatic at times!  However, he amazes us daily with his speech and his sweet heart.  He loves cars, trucks, trains, fixing whatever daddy is fixing, cartoons (yes, he is a tv head and I am not ashamed to admit it) and just being a little jester!
JANUARY

GWEN'S BIRTHDAY(S)

Gwen celebrated her 6th birthday (first party) with some of her closest buddies!  We had a "daytime" slumber party!  Everyone came dressed in their jammies, we ate "donut" cake, made stained glass mooncatchers, and finished out the morning with storytime under the moonlight (glow stick lit mason jars)!

We celebrated (a second party) with family in Fountain Hills enjoying a nice picnic and ladybug cake by the 560 foot tall fountain!

THAT SILLY QUINTEN

Quinten makes us laugh and impresses us constantly with the things he comes up with! While helping me pick lemons, instead of bringing them in one by one,  he put them all in his dump truck (genius!).  Oh and don't even get me started on his in home personal movie theater that he figured out himself!

MOMMY WEEKEND

I was able to escape for a mom's getaway to Tucson Omni Resort!  Had such a fun time with the girls drinking wine, getting massages, eating good food and staying up til 3am chatting!

  

FEBRUARY

RYAN HOUSE MIRACLE LEAGUE 2015

Ryan House teamed up with the Miracle League again this year to "Play Ball"! Always a FUN time!

  

BUILD-A-BEAR

Gwen's classroom took a fieldtrip to Build-A-Bear at a nearby mall.  Gwen picked her bear, Quinten stuffed her bear, and Gwen dressed and named her Cassie-bear!  

    

MARCH

SPRING BREAK

Spring Break brought some fun adventures as well!  We went with Opa and Oma Magee to the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium.  Miss Cassie joined us at Butterfly Wonderland and Phoenix Children's Museum!

  

  

  

RAISING SPECIAL KIDS DAY

Meeting the local firefighters and fire engine was the highlight of this day!

    

BIRTHDAY DINNER PARTY

I wanted to celebrate my (cringe-33rd) birthday in an intimate way this year.  Jesse and I built a "farm table" (not 100% complete, but functional) and hosted a romantic backyard dinner party (yep, I broke out the china and cooked everything)!  I wanted our guests to feel like they were enjoying a true date night away from the kids!  P.S. Thank you all for getting babysitters! 

    

APRIL

EASTER EGGS GALORE

Gwen and Quinten (along with Miss Cassie) made some brilliant eggs!

  

4 Easter Egg Hunts later, I'd say the Easter Bunny was a little (too) generous this year!