Brandon's First Big Game

I had to share this!  I am super proud of my 10 year old Brandon who was chosen to throw the first "lucky" pitch at our Bulls baseball game last week:D
He did amazing!  It is hard to see but if you look really close you will see he threw awesome!  Better than I could of done that's forsure!

Brandon has been a little choked because I have not posted about him on my blog yet, well here it is Buddy! Super proud of you!

Music Therapy

Music Therapy with Taylor Swift...performed by Missy's music therapist

Tegan started music therapy at school this year...and she did amazing!  I have to say Music Therapy is my favorite approach with Tegan.  She just loves music and her attention span goes way up if we have music playing during the day. 
Of course, it all started with Taylor Swift when Tegan was 3 months old.  I have to say Taylor is definately her favorite still but she is expanding her likes to typical kids nursery rhymes and classical as well!
I had her MT come in for some one on one sessions this week, and Tegan did amazing!  Plus, there was a extra surprise..."We Are Never Getting Back Togther" by Taylor Swift.  Tegan recongnized the song forsure.
You will notice her "non verbal cues) when he stops playing, she whips her head around and the eye contact is awesome:)  Also if you really pay attention, you will see when she spins the drum, she will do exactly 5 times each way......you are so soooo smart girlie!

Taylor Swift , Missy T, and Uncle Shawn

Too cute...went to visit family on the weekend and Tegan couldn't get enough of Uncle Shawn.  She followed him around and went bunny hopping to find him when he wasn't in the room...if only Uncle Shawn could of got her to sleep!  Tegan does horrible away from home overnight, but Taylor Swift and Uncle Shawn made the next day a bit better:D  Another Taylor Swift moment for Tegan..not sure what we would do without Taylor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Tegan's First Diploma

 I am a little late to blog about Tegan's awesome
first year at pre-school, but here it is...her very first diploma!!!  Sooo cute!

This really makes me realize how far we have all came through all of this.  The past 4 years has been a huge life lesson.  Tegan has taught us all so much.  Tegan was a mega hit in pre-school that's forsure:D
All her little classmates would jump at the chance to push Tegan in her stroller or help out in any way possible.  I love how innocent and non-judgmental little ones are!!!!!  Everyone loves Tegan for who she is and that is all I could ask for.
At the start of the school year, both the staff and myself were a little worried as to how it would work out.  Tegan loved to bunny hop around the classroom and be the free spirit she is, so we were a little unsure how safe this would be with a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds running around. 
Tegan sure showed us!!!  She owned that classroom!  LOL  She soon found her "nitch" and knew exactly what she can do, and the other children learned this as well.  Some mornings Tegan would bunny hop into the classroom as the other kids walked in...super cute I must say.  Tegan absolutely LOVED pre-school, and days she missed we could definately tell she was wanting to get right back in there.

The staff....YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!  I could not ask for more for my Miss Tegan.  From the very first day I walked out of the classroom, I knew Tegan was in excellent hands.  Thanks you so much, MIss Jill, Miss Deb, Miss Denise, and Miss Gail...you are all amazing:)

A Tribute to Miss Denise

Miss Denise was Tegan's primary assistant.  It was definately the little things that made me realize someone else really cared for my special needs child like I do.  I look back to the beginning, and remember the hard times I had accepting my new life raising a special little girl.  I then wondered what school would be like for and didn't think anyone else would accept and love Missy for who she is.
Miss Denise was more than an assistant to Tegan, she as/is a huge part of who Tegan will become.  It really is the little things, like when I opened Tegan's backpack...the cute little crafts that Miss Denise helped Tegan make.  It made me so happy that Tegan was experiencing what every other pre-schooler does.
One day, Tegan picked up a brush clumsily and awkwardly placed it on her head.  I soon found out this was something she picked up at school, while joining in styling barbie heads with the other girls:)
Miss Denise didn't at all mind Tegan's slobbery little hands, and gave her a kiss at the end of every day.
You made Tegan's first schol year amazing and comortable for all of us. Thank you.