Spreading the Love - Siblings Need Some Too

Where DOES the time go? I have had such a hard time keeping up with this blog because I spend WAY too much time on Facebook! As we start a new year, I am going to get back into keeping this blog updated. As a Mom to a child with special needs, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't learn something about myself, or my son, or other people who interact with him, including his brothers! Chance is an awesome kid, but he requires a lot of me. Thanks to Anna, our wonderful respite worker, I have had more time with my other two boys and I'm so thankful. We started off 2012 with a short trip to Florida, just me, Cannon and Colin, to visit Grandma and Pop Pop. What a relaxing time and what great memories we made just me and the sibs! We went swimming, visited the coolest theme park, Legoland, and saw the alligators at Hammock State Park. While I missed Chance dearly and loved hearing his "mamas" on the phone, it was precious much needed time with my typical sons. Years ago, at the Angelman Syndrome Conference in St.Louis, one of the presenters recommended that we make intentional efforts to do things with our typical kids without the special needs child. It was hard to swallow at first, but I have learned how amazingly important it is. We also do special things together as a family and I do special things just with Chance. So why wouldn't I do special things with Cannon and Colin. Thanks Grandma and Pop Pop for showing us such a great time.

Chance and Karaoke

Since Facebook came along, I haven't updated the blog in a long time. Thought it was overdue for some attention! We had a tremendously great Christmas. God has blessed us and we are so thankful. The kids were totally cute, but no one was cuter than Chance singing on the karaoke machine that Grandma got the boys. Check it out in this video! Makes me giggle everytime.

2nd Annual VA Area Angelman Syndrome Picnic

This year's Angelman Picnic was again held at Clearbrook Park in Virginia. We had a gorgeous day, and I'm not talking about the weather. It was such a joy to share the day with so many families and their angels. And the weather was gorgeous too. We had great food, great company, and great fun. Here's a little video montage of some pictures from our day.
Mark your calendars for next year; the first Saturday of August, same place, same time!

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Dewey Beach 2009

We finally took the plunge and took the boys to the beach. You know with three young boys we weren't about to do it alone, so mom came along... and we are so glad. Unfortunately, after that long weekend, she's now laid up and unable to walk. I guess we worked her too hard!
We packed a lot into our weekend. Three trips to the beach, a ride on the Jolly Trolley to the boardwalk to have icecream and ride rides at FunLand, steamed crabs and the Outlets on our way out of town on Sunday. It was really great to see Chip, Keegan and Ellie.
The boys loved the beach. Colin was a little scared of the water, but by Sunday, he put his feet in. Chance and Cannon were fearless. Thank goodness for floatation jackets!
I have tried several times to upload pics, but I'm failing. You can go to www.facebook.com/hevans7020 to see the pics from the weekend.

The Boys of Summer

We are in full swing of summer around here. Whenever possible, the boys are outside playing! Daddy is doing a great job of keeping them entertained... boys will be boys. Here are some fun pics from the summer. Cannon in the pool with his buddies. Chance and Colin on the motorcycle and 4-wheeler, Colin making bisquits with Daddy, Family Fun Day at the park with train rides, Cannon's last Kings Kids concert before summer break, and my favorite... Chance trying to eat noodles with chopsticks!
Chance has also taken swimming lessons... pics to come soon. And Cannon and Colin attended their first summer camp of the season at OLP. This week's theme was God's Creation. It was adorable. I will have pics and videos to come soon of that too.

Jake's Make-a-Wish Party

Our friends Michelle and Dustin, the proud parents of two beautiful kids, Jake (who has Angelman's like Chance) and Bailey, hosted a Make-a-Wish party. Their son Jake was granted a wish and they received a beautiful adaptive swing set, complete with a rope swing, ramps and lots of cool sensory stuff! We enjoyed the day so much watching all the kids interact and play. I do think, however, that Dustin's tractor train stole the show over the swing set. All three of our boys absolutely loved that thing and insisted on being driven around all the deer paths through the woods pretty much the entire time we were there! Dustin and Michelle have a beautiful home and we were blessed to be a part of the party. It was nice to spend the day with parents of an angel and be able to relax and not apologize for Chance all day long. He was a bit of a stinker as the day went on... also managed to put his whole hand right smack dab in the middle of the cake. Thankfully, Michelle had already snapped some pictures of it! I hope we can get together more as it's nice to remember that we aren't alone in this journey of raising an angel and typical kids. Thanks for having us to your party Jake! Maybe you'll come to our Make-a-Wish party some day... guess I should apply, eh?

Raspberry Picking at Orr's Farm

I took advantage of some gorgeous weather and took the boys to Orr's Farm this week. Rob got a much deserved day on the golf course and I dragged the boys to pick raspberries! It was actually really fun. We took a hay ride out to the patch and picked 8 pints of berries. I think Chance picked more leaves than berries, but he sure had fun. Colin got bored after one pint, and relaxed under a nearby apple tree in the shade. The weather was perfect, the boys did great and we had a wonderful day. We came home and made 10 jars of jam. Cannon had a blast smashing the berries. He keeps asking if we can smash more and make more jam! If anyone wants so, let me know! We still have 8 jars and it is GOOD!