Beautiful Day for some Photos

Today we all headed over to Punxsutawney to get our picture taken for the Run or Walk for Someone Special event coming up next week.  The twins did awesome, as did the other three..  When we got home the boys were in such goofy playful moods I decided to get the camera out and take a few photos myself.  It was a record 80 degrees here in Pennsylvania today, unheard of for a March day.  We made sure to spend time outside on the playset and enjoy the weather.

It all started with ((HUGS)) on the porch

As they boys made their way to the swing set I watched them and my heart swelled with joy seeing how independent they are this year compared to last year.  We didn't get our fence up until late fall last year so honestly the twins did not have the freedom to go from the house to the swing set.  Now, they do!!

Caleb was telling Barney to stay still until he got up top with him

Yet another funny conversation with Barney that only the two of them know about

I liked the way Caleb was blurred and Barney's backside was the focus of this photo

Caleb does seem to be the leader of the pack.  Where he goes, brother usually follows.  Today especially Isaac has been very sensory seeking.  He has laid on his tummy on the hard floor doing the "humpy dance" as we call it.  He has been stimming  with his toothbrush waving it in the air as he does so frequently.  And this afternoon for some reason, he found a nail file and he would NOT allow me to take it from him.. So the rest of the photos you will see him holding a nail file, wanted to explain why :)

Then the next few photos are very much going to become one of my all time favorites.. I LOVE THEM!!!!
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And finally, we end with yet another ((HUG))

Every single day there is something to be happy about.  Some days are stressful and super busy.  There are days when I wonder if we are making good decisions with their diets, their therapies and their education, but there isn't a single second I would take away from parenting these boys.  The Lord is so good, and with him I know we can find the strength and wisdom we need to tackle another day, another week, another year.

Catchy... Go on wear a smile :)

Jim and Kelley's wedding

We went off to Delaware this weekend for Tom's brother Jim's wedding to his beautiful bride Kelley.  We are known as "that family that never travels for weddings".  In our defense, traveling with five children, two of whom have PDD Autism and Down Syndrome, often times large gatherings are not doable.  With this being "Uncle Jimmy" getting married, we knew we were just going to have to bite the bullet and go.

We broke the trip up into two days to get there, and I'm really glad that we did.  The first day we stopped in at a little farmett that is run and enjoyed by about 20 adults with disabilities 5 days a week.  There was so much joy shared with us there.  If we could only dream to do something like this, we sure would!!!

Day two, got to the hotel, got kids all dressed up and guess what..??? No photos of our whole clan dressed up :(  We did manage to have our oldest Tristin take a few photos of mom and dad with the twins, I guess thats better than nothing, but I sure would have loved to have had the clan all together for one photo.

So here goes... PHOTO OVERLOAD, but to our family enjoy them :)   And after its all said and done, Caleb and Isaac totally surprised us with how well they did.  They survived the hotels, they survived the 5+ hour car ride, they survived the wedding and reception.. They're growing up!!

Camille and Tristin

playing quietly during wedding ceremony

Isaac

Eric, Cathy and Zoey

Noah, Cathy and Zoey

Kelley and Jimmy

Beautiful photo captured twins standing back from noise

Identical...lol

Beautiful Cousins

Pouting Maxwell

Caleb

Cousins

the two little Princesses' in the family

Precious

Carol

John Paul

Great Grandma

Thumb Print Tree

Tristin helped out with this project

Sarah and Ethan

me and my boys

Caleb ringing the bell

Isaac ringing the bell

Peek A Boo Kylie

Mother/Son dance

Beautiful Couple

Everything is fun with an iPhone handy

Elijah sporting his St. Patrick's day bracelets

Isaac teaching Noah some things

Caleb signed Potty today in church...

I was snuggling with Caleb during the sermon today at church.  He was being rather good and not making to many humming noises as he usually does.  About 3/4 the way through the sermon he gets a little goofy.  Starts giggling and starts squirming.  Then out of no where, he signed "potty" to me.. I asked him if he signed potty and he shook his hand yes.. I sat there for a moment wondering what he was signing potty for.. just to show me that he knows the sign, to get out of the rest of church by getting to go down stairs to the bathroom, or to actually go to the potty??!!  In another two minutes or so, he signed it again. I asked if he HAD to go potty and he signed "yes".  Off to the potty we went.

No expectations. I was just happy that he had asked to go.  

Once we got to the toilet and pulled down his pull up I was S H O C K E D that he went to the potty!!!!!  We moved into pull-ups about a month ago.  We take the boys to the potty several times a day, but often they just try real hard and we praise them for trying.  They have pee'd on the potty a few times and we have a goofy little potty dance we do.. but they have NEVER signed it and actually held it long enough to get to the toilet.

Today is a HAPPY DAY.. I think this is a big step and I hope one that will continue.  Our preacher Keith said look how God Blessed us today at church.... Oh what a blessing that was!!!!!!!!

Pee Pee in the Potty... woot woot!!!!

Summer camp is FREE for children with special needs??....

Caleb and Isaac were able to attend their first summer day camp program last summer at Camp Friendship.  They attended two camps actually.  One was for children with a variety of "different abilities" and the other one was for children with Autism.  They enjoyed both camps very much and we look forward to making this a regular part of their summer.

Its amazing that these camps are free.. My daughter went to Girl Scout camp a few summers in a row and the cost continued to go up and up until we discontinued sending her.  Boy Scout camp has a fee involved as well.. Why is Camp Friendship FREE??  Because The Arc of Jefferson and Clearfield Counties puts on an annual Run or Walk for Someone Special.  2012 will be their 33rd year.  Camp Friendship is funded 100% from this event.  We used to walk the Buddy Walk in Pittsburgh, we loved meeting other families and seeing all the beautiful faces, but two years in a row we raised $1000 or more and we really never saw the benefits of our efforts..

The 33rd Annual Run or Walk for Someone Special proudly is as able to say that ALL money raised stays right here to benefit the children and adults with disabilities right here in our own community. I am really big on that!!   Our family will walk the 2 mile fun run/walk in honor of Caleb and Isaac.

Which is why I am blogging my plea today.. Please help us to raise AT LEAST how much it costs The Arc to offer my twins two weeks of summer camp in the summertime.  The average cost is $150 per week, times 2 week long camps, times 2 children.  We need to raise $600 just to fund my boys.. Won't you please sponsor us now and help us keep summer camps free for kids with special needs, how can you resist these adorable faces??

Please click here to donate securely online to our team Hanzely Clan: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/stacy-hanzely/33rd-annual-run-or-walk-for-someone-special

If you are uncomfortable donating online please email me at pookeymom@msn.com and I will provide you with my mailing address.

Thank you for your consideration!!!!