Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

• for the beautiful pictures Amy and her friend took of Ashley and presented to me on my birthday. I LOVE THEM!


• for the wonderful time the boys and I had in Baltimore this past weekend. We walked the Inner Harbor, Little Italy, and the most exciting thing, saw a Major League baseball game.


• for my vegetable garden bounty - cucumbers, tomatoes and squash by the basketfulls


• that Chip and I survived his college orientation held two days this week. Now if I can just get over the shock of the cost of his books...


• for the special birthday card I received from my friend, Lynnette, and that her sweet daughter, Brooke, is feeling better this week


• and that June is almost over. This month has been way, way too busy and I am looking forward to July. My July calendar only has one square filled. I know that will change but hopefully not too much.

Special Exposure Wednesday

This past weekend, the boys and I took in the Atlanta Braves/Baltimore Orioles baseball game in Baltimore. Even though the game wasn't scheduled to start until 1:30pm, the boys insisted we arrive by 9:30am. While waiting (a really long time) for the gates to open, we visited the Sports Legends Museum. I think Corey has some very big shoes to fill.....



Make sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

Everyone Deserves a Prom

The senior prom is a right of passage for high schoolers. I remember feeling so grown up at my prom, so beautiful, and so special.

That's exactly what these prom goers felt...I dare you not to smile, and I know you will feel a lump in your throat.


Residents at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk were treated to a prom

(Choose the video titled Prom Night)

Baltimore - You Rock, Even For Those Who Roll!

The boys and I had a wonderful time in Baltimore this past weekend. Chip wanted to celebrate his high school graduation by going to a Major League baseball game, and to make it all even more special, his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves were playing Corey’s favorite team, the Baltimore Orioles. How could I say no to that?

We headed up Saturday morning, spent the day exploring the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, and checking out Camden Yards, the stadium where the game was being held on Sunday. We had some great meals, explored the area known as Little Italy, and then checked into our hotel to rest up for the next day.

For those readers who know me well, you can probably guess that I was also checking out everything for accessibility. Even though Ashley wasn’t with us, that mindset of accessibility is always with me, and in Baltimore, I was pleasantly surprised.

Everything in the Inner Harbor area was accessible. The restaurant where we had lunch, ESPNZone (the boys were in heaven), was also very accessible, and Ashley would have loved all the TV screens and flashing lights.

Our hotel, Homestead Suites (a Hilton Company chain), was also nicely accessible. The bathroom was large enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and even though it wasn’t represented as a handicapped accessible room, the shower did have grab bars and the rest of the suite had wide hallways. Right outside all the elevators were containers of antiseptic waterless hand cleaner, a nod to the H1N1 flu I’m sure, but still a welcome feature for someone concerned about germs.

The most outstanding accessibility surprise was Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles. The bathrooms were very large and very clean. The staff was very welcoming and professional. And the number of handicapped accessible seats boggled my mind. They completely surrounded the field from one side to the other (see the light teal seats on the chart above). Those seats, like all the seats at Camden Field, had a great, unobstructed view of all the action. I’m not an Oriole’s fan, but this was the absolute best baseball stadium I have ever seen.

So all I have to say is “Well done, Baltimore, well done!”

High School Buddies

What's one of the saddest things about Ashley going to high school next year? The boy who lives for her every smile will be going to a different high school. We'll all miss you terribly, Justin!



(Pictured in the last picture with Ashley and Justin is Mrs. Sheets, Ashley's teacher.)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

• for my first harvested cucumber of the season! Sliced, with a touch of ranch dressing and sprinkled with cilantro from my herb garden - yummmm, so good!


• that So You Think You Can Dance is back on TV. I'm not exactly sure why, but I love all the dancing shows on TV these days.


• for the exciting weekend the boys and I have planned - a trip to Baltimore for a Braves-Orioles baseball game


• that Ashley seems to be getting over her ear infections. She is back to sleeping 3-4 hours at a stretch, and I like that very, very much.


• that school is almost over for this year. I know by the end of the summer I will be wanting it to start again, but for now, I am going to enjoy the slower pace.


• that I reconnected this week on Facebook with my friend, Sharon. We MUST plan a lake visit soon!


• that everything I have been trying to tell my school district about Ashley's abilities has been validated by an evaluation recently completed by a local consulting group that specializes in children who are deaf or hearing-impaired.


• for my special, brilliant, handsome, compassionate son who is graduating today. Check out my blog post about my son, Chip, at 5 Minutes For Special Needs.
  

Special Exposure Wednesday

I'm so excited! I have little vegetables already in my garden. This has been a very good year for both rain and sun and my vegetable plants are flourishing. I can't wait for tomato sandwiches, marinated cucumbers and zucchini-corn fritters!



Be sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!