Just a little help....

Hey all!
Some of you already know this little info but I'm ready to share it with my blog readers... Evan is now 26 months old and at his 24 month old check up, his doctor recommended that he get some extra help through Early Intevention. By standards, he should be using 50 words and making two to three words together to ask for what he wants. Evan is certainly not doing this. He sure seems like a smart, witty boy... but he could use some help with understanding commands and speaking.
He's had several evaluations now from a few therapists including cognitive, speech and physical movement. The overall concensus is that physically, he's right up to par with his peers, meaning he and run, jump, climb, etc... with the exception of his right foot turning in a bit when he walks and runs. An orthotic therapist will be examining him in the next couple of weeks to determine if a corrective insert in his shoe might help. As far as understanding what we say to him, and being able to voice his wants, he's with the 18 month olds. So that's where he's going to get some extra help to catch him up. He's had his hearing checked and has a clean bill of health there, including no fluid being in the ears.
His first therapy visit will be Thursday, October 1st and will commence each Thursday until further noted. His therapist has been doing speech and cognitive developmental therapy for 18 years and we feel, based on her credentials that she will be a good fit for him. I am super excited to see how he progresses!

So we've been trying to get a head start with everything...we've been working with him on counting to 10, which he does flawlessly, singing his ABC'S which he does fairly decent with and he's in a class called, "Wiggles and Giggles" every Friday morning (he's had 3 classes so far) and Joe and I both attend with him. He's doing fantastic imitating what the other children are doing, and it is a class with only 2 year olds so we can compare his development a little... now before you say it.. I know that all kids develop differently and I have taken this into account... he just needs a "boost". :o)

I'll keep you posted on Evan's progress!

Rock Stars!

The kids have been playing, "Rock Band" all day. Evie is actually getting good on the drums! But there's no denying that Evan is a true drummer already.

Family Visit

We had a wonderful visit with my parents a few weeks ago! They travelled here from Mississippi and the kids miss them already!

A Great Weekend in Chicago!

We haven't officially taken a vacation this year. Bummer.
So Joe asked the kids and I to come along on his trip to Chicago while he finished up mixing his cd. The kids and I had a blast at the hotel swimming, relaxing, going to Gurnee Mills Mall, eating at the Rainforest Cafe, and checking out this cool store/zoo called "Serpent Safari". We got a private tour of their back room zoo.. they have several of the largest boas, pythons, monitors, alligators, crocodiles.. OH MY! Here are Evie and I with an albino Burmese Python named "Banana". WHat a beautiful creature!!



Joe joined us today and took the tour and wandered around the mall with us, as well as eating at Rainforest Cafe where we got to sit facing the gorillas.. they go nuts during the thunder/lightening storm. Evan loved it! It didn't scare him at all.. and it was so loud! He clapped when it was over.

The kids and I went swimming 3 times during our visit. Evan kept dunking himself under! He LOVES to be underwater! And Evie swam the length of the pool underwater without coming up once for air! Then swam the whole way back above water! It was the perfect pool for her to practice in because it was 3 ft. going to 5 ft.

A perfect weekend!

Rain Rain Go Away

Despite a couple of rainy days, Evan didn't let it spoil his fun!
He had a blast playing in the pouring rain with his friends!
Jess was nice enough to snap some pics and send them to me!
What a silly boy!

An Afternoon at the Museum

Good Evening!
Joe, the kids and I spent a nice afternoon at the Orpheum Children's Museum in Champaign today!
Nothing special, just a relaxing time playing with the kids!
Here are some pictures!

FIRST GRADE!! And other stuff!

My little girl just had her first day of First Grade! It doesn't seem possible!
Evan and I don't know what to do with ourselves without her around for a full day! And what perfect weather for it! Partly sunny (mostly cloudy) and 65 degrees! Feels like fall!
I walked Evie into school yesterday, (half day) and found her assigned seat in Mrs. Hogan's class. Here she is looking like a big first-grader.. (more like a nervous kindegartner).


And can you believe that it was a closed mouth smile?! I needed it to be open because she just lost her first upper front tooth!!! This is her 4th tooth lost but the others were on the bottom front so they were barely noticable. She looks so darned cute with it missing! She even pulled it herself! She was so proud! The tooth fairy gave her $2 and Grandma Laffoon gave her another one to add to it.. the tooth fairy also gave her a $15 gift card for Toys R Us, which she used to buy a "fur real puppy". I figure you only believe in the tooth fairy for such a short time in your life... what's wrong with getting something nice each time you lose a tooth?

Anyway.. back to school, Evie loves her new teacher already and after open house last night, I do, too. I got a really good impression of her.. (and I am a very critical person when it comes to someone actually caring for my child in my absence, hence the reason she doesn't stay with anyone but Grandma while I work my measely two days a week.)
Mrs. Hogan has been a 1st grade teacher for 34 years and phonics is a big thing for her. (Another star for Mrs. Hogan!) There's just something about her that I trust as an educator and I am so thankful! I can tell that Evie is going to have a great school year for she is growing into such a caring, respectful young lady.

And that brings me to another subject... she is no longer taking taeqwondo with Miss Melanie at Newberry's BlackBelt Academy. For a few reasons and I will try not to be too critical as I love what they have done for Evie's self esteem. The number one reason is cost. Most people can simply not afford their prices. We were making it happen for Evie because we felt it was very important and we would have continued there if nothing had changed.. but when our one year contract expired, we were given an ultimatum.. (something that NEVER sits well with Joe and I).. upgrade to a higher membership (HUGE Enrollment fee plus an extra $50 a month!) or find someone new to train her... it was amazing how when I sadly expressed my concern for that change to the masters how quickly they turned from caring individuals to business people... and all care for Evie seemed gone. To how she was treated in class.. being left out of things (every child in her class had weapons training but Evie because we didn't upgrade so she'd be the lone child to sit out during).. and Mrs. Master even came up to me after class and instead of asking what she could do to help Evie stay on with them.. or offer suggestions, ideas, etc.. she tapped me on the shoulder and said, "let me know if I can find another school for Evie".. no "We'll miss her!" or anything like that. That left the worst taste in my mouth.. I was sick leaving there that day and never went back. I will also say that I have since read reviews online about them and heard many refer to them as a "belt factory" to which I agree. I have seem some of the little 8 year old black belts there that couldn't punch their way out of a paper bag. So we did some research.. went to about 3 other schools and were amazed at the difference in the quality and style of the kids at all three other schools! They seemed so advanced and more disciplined in comparison! We let Evie take the summer off but she will start at HMD academy next month for way less money and with what seems to be a VERY thourough insturctor although more strict and less family oriented, which I will miss.. but we have to try it out and see what will become of her martial arts training. They will watch her for the first few weeks and determine whether she can keep her current belt ranking (4th rank being green belt), or if they will want to demote or even promote her. I imagine with having the summer off, she will need quite a bit of practice to actually keep her rank, but we'll see. No big deal either way. The objective isn't to advance rank as fast as possible, it's to actually retain and perfect your style and moves before advancing while gaining more self confidence and respect along the way.

There are things going on with Evan as well... but I'll save it for another post, and another day.. today is Evie's 2nd day of school and her first FULL day.. so this is her day to shine and her blog entry. I actually cried today when I dropped her off and watched her walk up the long sidewalk to the front doors by herself.
I just love that little girl with all of my heart!

And WOW! I still cannot believe this weather!!! It's frigid!!!
Bring on fall!

Have a great day!