Strawberry Picking, Last Day of School 

AND Everything In Between

We went strawberry picking with cousin Allison and Oscar again this year.

I couldn't help it - I had to put Owen in Tim's old red overalls for the occasion.

cousins eating a picnic lunch together

We went to the annual Italian Festival at Saint Philip Neri Church

(there are no pictures of Ethan at the festival because he spent the entire time in the 

blow-up bounce house and had a melt down when it was time to get out)

Owen cheating at the ring toss game

A few weeks ago a group of guys from Fort Mill Church of God came and built a ramp onto the front of the house to make it possible for Ethan to walk in and out with his walker.  A few weeks before this, I had told Ethan's new service coordinator that we were thinking about getting one put in and she said she knew a group of people at her church who could do it for FREE!  This was a huge blessing for us in so many ways and Ethan loves the independence he has now that he can go in and out of the house 
without being carried.

Ethan's first time up the ramp

While they were finishing the ramp, my mom called to tell me that my Aunt Diane had passed away.  When I was a child, I would stay with my grandparents for weeks at a time throughout the year and my Aunt Dee Dee was always my playmate.  She would spend hours every night playing games with us around Grandma's kitchen table.  I would sit on her lap and she would tell me stories (she was the very best storyteller) and read me books (being a librarian, she always had the best books).  Every time I visited, she would bring me with her to work at least once.  And she would put me to work too.  She always made me feel so important because she would trust me to re-shelve the books according to the dewey decimal system and I would eat with her in the teachers lounge!  She loved my boys too.  When we were visiting this past February, Ethan and I stayed with her for the week and a few of the nights he sat on her lap while she read him a bedtime story.  I'm so thankful for all the memories we have with Aunt Dee Dee.  
We are really going to miss her. 

Ethan meeting Aunt Dee Dee

  

Owen meeting Aunt Dee Dee

They had a video with lots of pictures of Aunt Diane at the funeral home.

Ethan and Cara stood here for a long time watching the video over and over again.

We all spent a few extra days in Radcliff 

hanging out with Grandma and the rest of the family

As a kid, I remember running down, skating down, riding my bike down Grandma's driveway.  I even have a few scars on my knees to prove it.  

So I had to get a picture of Owen's first run down her driveway.

Ethan & Daddy blew bubbles,

while Owen, Nana & Pop tried to pop them

I think my dad is trying to pop the bubble with his mouth

Ethan started crying because he wanted to play with my phone and I wouldn't let him.

But we told him he was faking it and all started laughing

And he couldn't help it, he had to join in

When we got back, we hit the ground running

played catch-up with all his therapies

Here, Ethan is working on standing with Ms. Erin.  

When she told Ethan to stand up straight on the wall, 

Owen ran over and stood at the wall next to his brother.

During Ethan's other therapy session Owen and I ran some errands, 

which, of course, had to include getting popcorn and an ICEE at Target

And then we had Ethan's last day of preschool

I really wanted to bring Ethan out for a special treat after his last day of school, 

but I just didn't have the energy.  

So we settled for a picnic with leftover Target popcorn outside on the blanket.

So proud of this boy and all he's accomplished these past two years.

So thankful for all the teachers and therapists who have believed in him, encouraged him and challenged him to do his best.

And, though I know it's going to be more than a little exhausting,

SO EXCITED to spend the summer playing with these boys!