Winter fun

First time out this year in the snow!

Snow Angel

DID IT!!!!
What an accomplishment for Jonathon....Last year he would have never just sat in the snow let alone make a snow angel!!!!!  Awesome job buddy!

Going for a sled ride.

Tiny dog waiting on the sidelines!  Miss Florida does not like deep snow....

On top!  with Andrew

HI!

OOPS....fell

Pull Andrew....Pull

Andrew has been the best big brother always!  Jonathon loves him very much and they both enjoy spending fun time together!  Thank you Andrew for being a great person and brother!!!

Vacation ending

Tomorrow is friday already.  The boys will be going back to school on Monday.  It has been a long Christmas break.

Jonathon has enjoyed his new toys very much and I am sure he will be missing them when he goes back to school.  Jonathon still asks me daily about school.  He loves school.  And mommy is ready for the 3 to head back too.

I will miss them the first few days I am sure, but then we will all be back into our routine of things and it will go smoothly.  Especially for Jonathon and I.  Our schedule never changes.

Jonathon still gets up at 6:30a.m. and still goes to bed at 7p.m.  Every once in a while I do try to change bedtime, but this is how it works best for Jonathon.  This is how it has been for 5 years.  I don't think I could sleep in if I was given the chance.  And yes I do miss sleeping in at times, but like I said, this is what works, so this is what we do.

Now the teens on the other hand.....they have been sleeping their day away and staying up half the night.  They might be a little grumpy on Monday morning.

We will enjoy the weekend!  Maybe it will warm up so we can go back out.

January 1 2013

Today we celebrated the new year by not doing anything.

Jonathon and I were up bright and early as usual.  I made him pancakes for breakfast with chocolate milk.  We sat together in a quiet, peaceful kitchen and ate together.

After breakfast he watched his new Ice Age Continental Drift movie while I cleaned up the house some.

We spent our day playing hot wheels, legos, Ipad learning, reading story books and watching movies.

His big brothers came up stairs and played legos and hot wheels too.

We were not able to go outside today.  Our temp never went over 22.

For New Years Day dinner...I made Jonathon french toast.  The rest of us had omelettes, sausage, and hasbrowns with milk.  Ended our day with some more stories and a yogurt smoothie!

Overall, a good first day to start the year off.

Santa

Jonathon went to the local mall today and had a visit with a very special person!

He let this person know what he wanted for Christmas.....

Hot Wheels.....

My little boy is growing up.

I can remember when I used to sit at home and get sad this time of year because Jonathon was not able to go out and see Santa.

I love these very important days.....

Wonderful memories ....

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that my children are healthy.

I am thankful that I was able to afford to put in a new furnace this year.

I am thankful that I was able to afford to put in a new hot water heater this year.

Field Trip Today

to Upland Farms!  It was a perfect day to head out to the farm with the rest of the students.  It was a little foggy in the morning, but our temps started out in the low 60's and by the time we finished up at the farm it was beautiful and sunny out.  I believe it got up to 72.

Here are a few pictures to share.

31 for 21 Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Jonathon had a pretty good weekend.  Especially today.  Today went really well.

We are working on a new system.  Reward system.  If he is caught being good, he will receive a ticket to McDonalds or the Movie store.  When he collects enough, then he will get a trip to McDonalds or the movie store or both.

He received one McDonalds ticket tonight.  He ate all his dinner.  He then picked up all his toys(which never happens, not all of them in less than 5 minutes), he listened when told to go take a shower and then he got to play Monster Trucks on the Wii for 30 minutes.  He listened when it was time to get off and get a snack.  He then went potty and brushed his teeth and got into bed.

I am so proud of him.  I believe he understands.  That's why I picked 2 of his favorite places.  He loves chocolate shakes from McDonalds and he loves going to the movie store and walking around to get a movie.

Tomorrow I am going to speak to his teachers and have them start using these rewards at school.  He is having a hard time listening to his young 5's teacher.  I was really saddened on Friday when I witnessed just how bad he can be.  I commend his teacher.  She handled it very well.  very calmly.  She is a great teacher.  Anyway I want him to listen to his teachers.  I want him to get the very best education he can get.  So I am willing to try anything for him.  I came up with this idea myself and I am hoping they will be on board to try it out.

Who knows....maybe it will work.

FACT:   All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses. http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/Down-Syndrome-Facts/