a quick getaway

Every summer Wayne has a huge ten day security conference in Las Vegas. And even though he is spending ten days in nothing but classes and talks, he loves it. It probably helps that his work hooks him up with a pretty sweet room in some fancy hotel and he gets to go out to fancy dinners and parties too. So, needless to say I was pretty excited when he asked if I wanted to join him for a couple days of nothing but relaxation.

It was wonderful, oh so wonderful.

And I know that they say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I will tell you exactly what happened in Vegas;  a whole lot of sleeping, sun bathing, shopping, eating, walking, shopping, missing the kiddos, and shopping. Plus I got to meet a lot of fun people there too!

Our hotel room was at the Caesar's Palace, which if you are a shopper is the perfect place to stay I might add(they have a three story H&M!), and our room was absolutely Amazing!

  The pools were pretty amazing too.

  By the third day I was missing the kids pretty bad, and although the quiet and relaxation time(Wayne spent most of the days at his conference)was absolutely wonderful, you get pretty bored being by yourself. Three days was the perfect amount of time to be away. 

I didn't really take too many pictures with my camera while I was there, but I did bring it along with me when I went to visit the Secret Gardens and Dolphin Pool at the Mirage.

  There are literally dolphins everywhere in these pools and you get to see them up close too! It was a pretty fun experience. 

I loved getting away and having some just Wayne and me time. It was definitely needed and oh so wonderful, but I am glad to be back home and hearing the laughter(and cries) of the kids. Looking forward to more fun summer adventures before it's over! 

 

july randoms

how can it possibly be the end of july?! this summer has just flown by and although the boys are ready to go back to school(they ask everyday if summer is over and is it time for school, no joke) i am not ready for the summer fun to be over yet.

the weather has been perfect with not too many hot hot days, but just enough to make playing outside in the water perfect!

  and those hot days means you can always count on a frozen Popsicle to help cool you down. a favorite treat of ours!

  and even on the rainy days we have still have a lot of fun mixed with a lot of cuteness. i caught her singing to herself :)

  my sweet little four year old. he has been the biggest help this summer and has shown me just how big he really is. he loves to help me with Oliver and makes sure that he is a happy baby. i love listening to him playing with his little sister and teaching her about animals and superheros. I am so proud of this little boy and i am so lucky he is mine. 

  our neighbors introduced to a new park. it's quite a bit away but oh so worth it. we absolutely love it and all of the fun things it has to offer, like two large playgrounds, swings galore(plus a tire swing) and huge sandpit and this cool little river that kids are aloud to play in and the best part is it's all completely shaded! 

plus there are all of these toys and trucks and shovels that just stay there for any and all to enjoy. 

  oh summer, we have enjoyed you so much! thank you for such a fun and wonderful time so far!

 

our adventures :: instagram

this has been such a busy but totally awesome and fun summer! we are loving it so far!



lots of trips to new parks, picnics, outside fun, cute babes and of course, lots of sweetness!

bittersweet

Fisher had his last day of school this last week. I know, last day in July? But because Fisher is transitioning into kindergarten and into a neo-typical classroom, he was eligible to the early childhood extended program to make transitioning easier. Fisher LOVES school so he was one happy kid this summer.

The last day was hard. Mostly for me. I am completely overwhelmed with emotions and mixed feelings. I am so extremely proud of Fisher and three and half years ago I thought we would never get to this point, this place where Fisher is completely independent, potty trained, talking, making and socializing with friends and being integrated into a typical classroom at our neighborhood school. I would never have guessed that we would get to this place so soon. And now, here we are, getting him ready to go to elementary school and oh my goodness that is huge!

And I should add that I would probably(and most likely will be) emotional with any and every kid of ours going on to kindergarten because, lets face it, that is HUGE! But I am more emotional because I am so scared of what it's going to be like for Fisher. Fisher, I know, will love it no matter what. He loves school and he loves learning and he will be happy just being there, but I am worried that he will be picked on, or wont have friends and maybe a hard time connecting with his teachers and aids. I know that I can't shelter him forever, or always step in to say... "oh sorry, he has autism, he doesn't quite understand". And honestly I don't think a kindergartner would understand that anyway, but I want him to be involved and have friends. I want that because I know that is important to him.

I am also nervous because for the last two years since we have lived in Kansas City, Fisher has been going to pre-school with amazing teachers and aids who have become such a big part our lives and family. I am so going to miss his teacher Ms. Brenda. She was amazing and kind and just everything wonderful. And I know Fisher will miss his peers and friends. He has two best friends that he absolutely adores and it will be sad for him to see that they wont be in his class next year.

But I guess that is just part of life, right? We have all grown up and gone through school, making new friends and saying goodbye to old and we survived. So I know Fisher will too, it will just be a little bit more challenging for him, and me too.

On the last day, Fisher's teacher gave us a cd full of pictures from the last two years at school. They also sent us home a stack of printed photos too that Fisher just loves looking at.

Here are a few!

  I am also grateful that I got to be roommom for Fisher's class this year too. It was so fun to go and see Fisher at school and him interact with his friends. Plus I made some great friends with the staff and other moms too.

  Here Fisher is with his two best friends. They are brothers just 13 months apart and with high functioning autism and these three where the three amigos in the classroom. They were always together and Fisher would get upset if they missed a day. On the very last day of school, Fisher's teacher told me that she could tell the Fisher could sense something was up. He would constantly hold his friend's hands and would beg to sit by them and be by their sides. Broke my little heart, he is so going to miss them.

  What amazing two years we have had with Ms. Brenda and her amazing staff. Fisher has grown and blossomed in so many ways and accomplished things we never thought would be possible this fast. I can't thank them enough for their wonderful work. They are so loved and will definitely be missed. 

It's hard to imagine that in three short weeks I will once again become a big blubbering mess and send him of to kindergarten. I know it will be hard but I know he will just do great. He truly is an amazing kid and I am so blessed by all of the things he has taught our family. I love this kid and I am so extremely proud of him.