Hospital visits

We realized MaryAlice was so comfortable in a hospital and/or nursing home while we spent a lot of time in both while visiting my grandpa before he passed.  We have a friend who is young and recently diagnosed with crohns disease and has spent a lot of time in the hospital. Belle is super uncomfortable in this setting (although she's gotten much better), but MA is hysterical in how much she doesn't care.  She climbed right up on the bed next to Gretchen and looked at the tube coming out of her nose and said, "your nose looks funny."

She thought she would sing to make her feel better...

a visit with Ms Jenna

Ms Jenna worked with Abby (technically), but it's never stopped the other two girls from claiming her... or most of the other girls that come over!  They know the girls are here to work with Abby, but they seem to find ways to connect and make some lifelong connections with these wonderful girls!

Ms. Jenna worked with Abby for at least a couple years, so when she comes into town she'll stop by for a visit.  This visit was particularly entertaining as MA was in rare MA form.  The first video is a cute knuckle bump explosion, but the second one kills me!  MA was so disturbed by Jenna tickling that she became adamant that she stop!  Watch this...

singing to Abby

MA has discovered that if she sings the ABC's that Abby will not only let go of a pull or pinch hold, but she can avoid the hold altogether if she sings while she walks by her.  Pretty amazing how this little gal loves her big sister and has found ways to do it better than anyone else in Abby's life!  she's a special little gal.  Check out her singing to Abby.  Notice how thrilled Abby is with her singing!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Singing to Abby at the counter...

playground with ma climbing

As much as MA is advanced verbally, she is a equally slow on the gross motor side; therefore, we've been going to the park.  She also loves it and it's good for her too!  She is stretched physically doing all the stuff there and she also gets many chances to interact with other kids which is a bonus!  We've also spent this past year "training in times of non conflict" which means practicing things that she's struggles with.  Parks give us the "opportunity" to practice leaving a fun place without a breakdown.  It's been an exercise in futility up until this summer, so I've just decided to not lose my mind and just keep at it.  We have occasional breakdowns, but it's not the standard these days (unless we're leaving Auntie's).

I did a video of her climbing finally this day.  She usually stops anything she can't do, but is somehow growing up a bit and pushing herself :)

A Day with the Tanners

A day with the Tanners = get what I want day!  MaryAlice loves to be the princess with our friends the Tanners.  They have two older boys, so MaryAlice is the only girl and the baby when she's with them.  She so loves them and has Mr Steve wrapped around her little finger :)  I have to recount another story about her love for Mr Steve...
The Tanners came to my grandpa's funeral during visitation which was so sweet of them to be so supportive of me, but MA assumed they came just for her and she wanted Mr Steve all to herself.  She was in his arms as they were trying to leave and pleading for Mr Steve to take her to the playground at the church.  He was re-telling her what I had been saying that we had a sitter coming who would take her, and Mr. Steven had to leave when she took his face in her two little hands and made him look at her (because he obviously he wasn't listening to what she was saying) and ever so sweetly pleaded her case, "But... Mr. Steve... I want YOU to take me to the playground!"  I thought she had him before then, but that sealed the deal!  And besides she lights up when she sees them coming!  So very cute!  I had to share that story before I forgot and the pics that went along with that day.  I had been in the hospital for several days and they were releaving Auntie Andrea for a day because she had been keeping the girls the whole time I was in other than daddy taking them home one night with him :)

I hate to leave Mrs Terri out because she loves her too, but it's more funny if you know Mr Steve and his natural inclination toward small children :)  You would assume everyone loves the sweet Mrs Terri, but Steve I think she saw as a challenge!!!!  Don't let him fool you, he's a big softy!!! Sorry Steve to give you up :)

Ian teaching her how to play video games

Always a ham!

Chasing bubble with Mrs Terri I presume :)

big cheese!

throwing rocks... one of her favorite things to do since
she did it on her first date with her daddy!

throwing rocks with her Grahammy isn't too bad either!
She used to call him "her boy"

4th of July... Hatfield style!

4th of July... Hatfield style :)  We had so much fun celebrating with our friends at their house.  The plan was a BBQ and then hopping on the boardwalk, which runs through their backyard, and walking downtown to the fireworks.  We knew the girls wouldn't last that late, but we left Belle to do to the fireworks with everyone as MA and Abby hit their limit after all the fun and swimming! 

We hadn't intended to leave Belle, but she really wanted to go and Mrs Alana came up with the idea to keep her overnight... much to Belle's excitement!  Nobody likes a sleepover like Belle!  She only had her flip flops with because we had no intention to stay, but they made the 3 mi walk a bit tricky.  Alana was pushing Jud in the big jogging stroller and she asked him if Belle could ride alone.  To everyone's surprise he let her ride nearly the whole way with him... what a sweetie!  Thanks to G-ray (sp?) the new exchange student from South Africa living with them, Alana didn't have to push both of them the entire way!!! I can't believe Mrs Alana didn't take a picture :)   I didn't mention that they left the house and hour later than they planned because it had been raining.  I guess picture taking isn't conducive when running!!!!

Fun... Food... and Good Friends makes for a perfect day!

MA: "Can I kiss Jud?"
Me: "Sure, if he'll let you."
Jud: laughing & staring at her trying to figure out why she was all up in his Kool-aid!

Mr Dan joined in the silly string fun... what a great idea Alan had!

Miss Nancy got sill stringed a bit too!

Mr Tim joined the girls too!

Jud likes to sit on the stool by the door when he wants to leave.  Mary Alice thought
was a perfect time to corner him into "visiting" with her!

MaryAlice and G-ray having a heart to heart!  I think Rainbow Dash 
and Jesus dominated the discussion... I don't get her stories either!

Mama and her big girl!

Jud thought she was funny.  He kept listening and laughing while
she chatted away. 

bubble blowing was part of the entertainment as well.  Alana was thinking of
the girls, but looks like more than the girls got into it!

Jud sat down next to MaryAlice as she "read" to him... thankfully Belle
helped a bit so he recognized some of the story she told!  I think we was
aiming for her lap. 

Fragile friends

(Auntie had belle & MA while I'm in the hospital & I had to share the hysterical post I got from her...

(1/3) Funny story. MA was carrying on about not being able to go to sleep w the "fragile friends" in the room. Thinking she w(2/3) to close her eyes. She said "i still see them looking @ me. I go upstairs in exasperation because of her hysterics of the "fragile friends" i just about about fussed at her for just making them until i saw them & just about (3/3) peed my pants when i saw the "fragile friends" i sent u a pic of them!

That silly girl kills me!