Joy Prom 2013

What a Joy!

A part of every high school students high school experience is going to the prom. A night where you dress up, dance away the night, hang with friends, ect...

Unfortunately, for some students thats not always an option. In the case of my son Chase, who has Down Syndrome, going to the school Prom wasn't going to be an option for him this year. He is a junior this year, so he qualified by grade to go, but no one else in his class was going and I had been told by some of the students that help out in his class that the Special Ed students normally don't attend. I assume the reasons they don't attend are the same reasons I wasnt going to let Chase go as well. Possible drinking, the issue of a date, possibly not feeling included, so forth so on.

As a parent, I totally agree with those reasons and sadly had to give Chase the shoot down on the Prom when he came home talking about it. However, little did I know, he wasn't talking about the school Prom, he was talking about something called the Joy Prom. A local church every year hosts a "prom" for students 15 and older that have special needs and its called the Joy Prom. He came home talking about his possible date for the Joy Prom and the dinner plans being made and I'm just standing there wondering what he was talking about, until I got the sweetest phone call.

One of Chase's best friends is a sweet girl that is part of the Project Unify and helps out daily with Chase's class. She was calling me to see if she could take Chase to the Joy Prom. She proceeded to tell me about Chase's other classmates that were planning to go and some of the other students that help in Chase's class were going too as some of the "chapperones/dates". After discussing it with her and a few days of thinking it over, I gave in and plan to let him go. I have gotten to know Chase's sweet friend over the past few months and I really felt comfortable with her as Chase's "date". I knew he would be in good hands for the evening.

Formal attire is welcomed, but I went for a more casual attire for Chase, so that he would be more comfortable.

As the plans were being made, we discovered that Chase's sweet friend and date had a school softball game that evening, but luckily, her coach was able to have the game time moved up earlier so that she could still take Chase that night.

Her game began at 5:30 and of all nights, it went into over time! As her mother and I stood there giggling about how good the game was, we were saying to each other, "of all nights!"  Finally the game ended, and we were off in rush mode. She ran off the bathroom to freshen up from a hard played ball game, I ran chase to the parking lot to do a SuperMan change of clothing in the car.

 Joseph got his tie tied just right and gave Chase the manly check over to make sure he looked extra good.

 a quick pose with dad photo and we were on the run to meet up with his date so they could go dance the night away.

 Boy does she clean up fast and as always so pretty! Chase sweetly helping put her flowers on her arm.

Some quick poses for the 4 or cameras on them and they were on their way!  Surprisingly, I wasn't worried about him at all. I knew that everyone Chase would be with that evening was going to welcome him to a fun filled night and the friends he was hanging with knew him just as well as I do, and accepted him just as he is. Later around 10pm they checked in to tell us they were headed to the Waffle House to eat with a group from school that had attended the Joy Prom as well. I later picked him up from our meeting place and he got home around 11:30.
His first night out with friends and he got to stay out late(which was important to him). He had a blast and my heart is just so warmed with knowing he has friends that care enough about him and other classmates too to be willing to take up their Friday night to do this. They certainly have a speical place in my heart!

Special Olympics 2013!

Special Olympics 2013!

Lexington County Area 7 Games

Hosted by White Knoll High School

You see that handsome fella running with the torch? Yes, that's my Chase! It was such an honor for him to be given the opportunity to run the torch out to light the flame for the start of the games. He did such a great job and we all could see the happiness on his face and  he was so proud of himself. Running with along side him is one of his best friends and one of the Project Unify students I so proudly talk about.

To see all these special children and adults come together for a day of fun and games and interaction  is really so amazing to watch. Its a day when they can sort of let loose and just have fun. If you ever get a chance to volunteer, please give a it a try. The rewards you will take away from it will probably be greater than you ever imagined. 

 Lots of friends, fun and events.

Rally on to End the R Word!

Let the Rally Begin!

This past March the rally to End the R Word was held on our State House grounds.

The turn out of people was so impressive! Whats even more impressive are the Project Unify Students that are through out our state and nation for that matter. Getting to know some of these students that are a huge part of my sons special education class is so rewarding. These students not only are helpful to the special ed students everyday in many ways, but the friendships that grow are so heartwarming. Many of the ones graduating this year are looking to have careers that are going to be part of the lives of children and adults with special needs.

These students also know the importance of ending the R word "retarded". They are willing to stand on the steps of the State House and express their views and feelings about how hurtful that word is not only to the person with mental disabilities, but to the families of these children and adults.

My son, Chase, truly is blessed to have such caring and wonderful friends at his high school, and I pray that these wonderful students will continue to make a difference in the world.

Please, take your pledge to End the R Word today!



WIS News 10  Dawndy Mercer, the MC of the Rally.

 Katie cheering on White Knoll High School for the Spirit Award! (which we won by the way)

 White Knolls banners!

We party again!

Yes, only two weeks after our milk and cookies party for one Katie,

we are going to the spa to celebrate Reese's 9th birthday.

Once again, I went to different party blogs and pinterest for inspiring ideas. Reese and I both logged in alot of time trying to figure out what would work well for this spa at home. The invitation below is my creation of one she saw and loved. Thank goodness for photoshop!

 Our upstairs was transformed into "Reese's Spa". Reese has a large room with lots of floor space, so it was perfect. Us girls could spa party upstairs, while daddy and brother could chill out downs stairs.

Let me just say how FABULOUS my oldest daughter was for diving in and helping me with everything.

 The waiting area with Reese's two new hot pink bean bags....perfect!

 

 Even Katie joined in for the big girl fun.

 No, your not leaning, its the cake, well the cake icing that is.  This cake attempt didn't go as well as the last one I did.  My lines aren't straight and it got kinda goopy at the bottom, however, we had no problems eating it and that is the most fun!

The giggles went on into the night. Now this mommy, and big sister too, need a day at a spa to relax after this spa party. When is the next birthday? Too soon I say.  Happy Birthday Reese!

She is sweeter than a cookie

It's another celebration day in the household....Katie is 2.

Just as last year, I'm a little obsessed with party blogs and all the Amazing parties people put together. I love trying to recreate my own parties for the kids and this year for Katie, it was a Cookies & Milk party.

The moment I saw a similar party on another blog I knew how perfect it would be for my sweet girl. Katie LOVES cookies and LOVES, LOVES, LOVES milk (donk, as she calls it. yes she can say milk, but she calls it donk anyways) Her favorite milk is chocolate, of course, and every morning she asks for "chocot donk".

I wanted to keep it simple. Just a few types of cookies, a small cake & some other quick simple foods like sandwiches & fruit. To drink out of I really wanted the Oh So Darling milk jars I have seen so much, but to keep this budget friendly, I decided on small mason jars with brown yarn tied around the top.

I must admit, I'm so proud of myself for the cake. Especially since I have never really tried to decorate one. I made chocolate buttercream icing from scratch and made the cake topper & cupcake toppers in photoshop. I have no idea how the professional cake makers do it. As proud as I am for mine, it certainly has its flaws.

created the printables, cookie labels, cake & cupcake toppers in photoshop. Super Easy, and best part...FREE!!

She started the party off with a new gift of lip gloss & stylish bracelets.

  Happy Birthday Katie Bug!!

  My Oh My have these 16 years have gone by fast. Sixteen years ago our sweet Chase was born.

  Perfect pregnancy, perfect delivery, then all a sudden our world came spinning around us. The day after he was born Joseph and I were informed in the most unsympathetic way that our sweet and precious brand new baby boy not only had Downs Syndrome, but a heart defect as well. It's amazing how fast complete joy can change to complete fear.

  We have been through it all it seems. Open heart surgery at age 4 months, weekly OT, PT and speech therapy, lots of tears, but alot more laughs and smiles. God gave us what we could handle.

  Chase is really just a normal 16 year old boy. He loves to rock out to country music, wear the fashionable teen clothing, look at cool cars, and talk about "hot girls" with his friends.  I can remember there was a time when I'd lay in bed at night scared of what the future held for him when he got to this age. How would other kids treat him, would he ever be able to stay at home alone, etc.... It's funny how it all just happens and you completely forget about that fear at that moment.

  It seems like a lifetime ago when he entered our lives, but it has been a lifetime of joy and love.  

  

It's a Grand Life! 

Hope this makes a Grandmama happy!

They weren't happy about a photo session, but they sure can fake it well.

The little one front and center lives in her own little sweet world and doesn't take to direction too well,

but with yummy goodies to offer, she did pretty well...sort of.

 

 Tried so hard to get this little monkey to stand as still as possible, but the moment I put the camera up...she moved. Once she discovered the leaves at her feet, it was over. I still love this photo because it shows her true personality...doing her own thing!