Three Bears

Rise Up

Say Yes

Special Education: Has this happened to you?

This video is quite funny. Well, except for the fact this happens in school districts all over the US. We've been very fortunate where we are, but I know there are others who have not been.

Christmas Carols, iPad style

Make sure you watch ALL the songs, I promise it's worth it.

Do you know the story?

Every person who calls themselves an American needs to watch this!

Flashmob

I LOVE stuff like this!

Angela interview

Over a year ago, in hopes of encouraging Angela to do some writing, I started a blog for her. Yeah, she pretty much avoided me a lot! Getting her to read is almost as difficult. We've discovered she really likes answering questions on video though, so maybe she's just going to VLOG instead! So pop on over to her blog and ask her some questions!

Accountability

I this was worthy of lifting from my friend, and fellow trainer Abby's blog. Although at the end of the video it says this is real, it's not. It still makes for good humor at 5:30 a.m.

So, about that video

Of course, I had ONE person who couldn't follow the directions (Hi Monica!) so you've probably gone back and watched the video again already. If you haven't, how many of you saw the gorilla? Here's the link again.

Visual perception skills

Everyone sees things differently. How do YOU see things?

Here's the directions:

1) go watch the video linked below. But ONLY WATCH IT ONCE! PROMISE? While watching, count how many times the WHITE TEAM passes the ball. ONLY count the WHITE TEAM'S PASSES.

3) come back here, and in the comments post how many passes you saw. Different people have different perceptual skills. So, to avoid wrecking the game, please post ONLY the number of passes you saw, and NOTHING ELSE.

4) I'll come back tonight an post the answer.

Did you read the directions thoroughly? You're only watching it ONCE, and you're only posting how many passes the white team makes and NOTHING else, right? Ok...now, go here and watch the video.

Interview with Angela

Angela has been bugging me to do an "interview" with her. It's kinda fun, but check back later for "The interview gone wrong" version! LOL

Here's the good one.

The apology video

Angela visits with THE REAL Santa

First of all, I have to explain the haircut. When I told they stylist, "I don't want it past the chin." I should have been more specific. I meant I don't want it SHORTER than her chin. She thought I meant "I don't want it longer than her chin." UGH! Now she looks like a boy again. Oh well, it'll grow back. Anyway, here's Angela meeting THE REAL Santa. He and I met while doing the play. This guy is amazing, and...I kid you not...jingles when he walk, even when he's not wearing the red suit!

And I'm having trouble getting to Canada!

My friends the Urbans had this video posted on their blog today. All I can say is, "Wow!" Look at all the places this man has been? Look at all the people who join him in his dance around the world. I think it's amazing! And all I want to do is get a tiny bit of money so I can make it to Canada, and send some postcards to a woman who is disabled and craving some outside correspondence!

Got Talent?

I have to say, this kid has more guts and determination than most adults I know! A couple weeks ago each student who wanted to participated in their grade-level talent show. There were about 15-20 kids who did the 5th grade show, Angela being one of them.

A couple days later it was announced over the loud speaker who the 6 winners from each grade were, and Angela was one of the 5th grade winners! They would each perform at the ALL SCHOOL talent show on the very last day of school, which was today.

But Angela started getting sick. She had her birthday sleepover on Friday then went to her dad's where she slept until Sunday afternoon. The child who rarely cries was in a fit of tears on the couch, she was so miserable. Itchy, watery eyes, dripping nose...like really bad allergy stuff. I put her to bed and in the morning she woke up spunky and ready for school! Monday was ok, Tuesday was not-so-much (when she's getting sick her behavior is horrid!) Weds we had the practice for the talent show, and decided to simplify her act a bit.

Meanwhile, between not feeling 100% AND having HUGE anxiety problems about the end of the school year, loosing her teachers, going to a new school (moving up to middle school) AND anticipation of the talent show...well...it has NOT been a very good week!

And then came today. The last day of school, and the day of the talent show. I wondered how she'd be feeling when she got up. She didn't seem too bad, but MAN was she crabby!!! OMG....every swear word she knows was flying out of that little mouth of hers, all before *my* eyes were even open! She had picked out some clothes (stripes of course) but she is going through HUGE growth spurts and I have rules for her clothes. No tummy showing, no butt crack showing, must wear a bra (she can't quite get them on herself) yada yada yada. Apparently there weren't any stripes in her drawer that fit my criteria and it was irritating her.

Eventually we got out the door (late, which makes her crabby to be rushed along when SHE got up in plenty of time, it was MOM that was late!) and on the way to school she's saying, "Fine! No show! FINE!" and I'm thinking Lovely...just lovely.

Her turn finally rolled around, and as I handed her Dudley's leash, I realized she either had a fever and a really bad case of the chills, or she was super nervous and trembling. I asked, "Are you cold or nervous?"

"I'm SO NERVOUS!" she said, and I thought she would cry. When she went up on stage, she was flustered. It was about that time, as the music started, that I....horrible mother that I am....realized she wasn't wearing her hearing aids, and couldn't hear the beginning of her music. From there she had a hard time catching up to it.

But she did it. Croaky sick voice and all, she did her whole song, remembered to introduce herself and the dog, AND tell the stage lady that she was ready to start. She even got Dudley to take a bow at the end.

When I was done recording her act, I turned around to see all the moms I know crying, and all the staff wiping tears, and Angela's aids were about beside themselves. I knew all along that she could do this, but they didn't....they had no idea...and again, Angela shatters the misconceptions.

And so, here's the video. I wanted to tell the lady to start the music over, but I didn't. I did NOT want to be the stage mom and step in. I let her go it alone. After this I had to go say goodbye to all her staff that have been so wonderful to her since we moved here in 2nd grade with a kid on death's door. You'd never know to look at her now.
(for those on reader, there's a video here.)

So you think you can dance?

This guy says it all!

I have a new hero

I have a new hero, and his name is Daniel Drinker. Daniel and his brother Will are documenting his journey through life. The good and the bad. If you are a parent of a child with DS, I'm giving you fair warning to not watch without tissues! After you've watched the first video of Dan's first date with Sarah, stick around and read/watch some more of his site.

Hiking anyone?

Go watch this video!

99 Balloons

It's HIS plan that counts, not what any doctor says.
http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons