What happened to the sun???

Hello again!

It's been a week since the last blog - I try hard to write often but sometimes the days get away from me !
The week was pretty good, nothing to terribly exciting happened. I've been looking forward to Easter Sunday when my grandpa and grandma come over to play!! Grandpa usually hides the Easter eggs and I work reall hard to find them all - and the goodies they put inside them!!

Saturday we went for a motorcycle ride..........twice! First, we rode over to Jacobs house, his mom was cutting Cindy's hair that day. After that, Tracy and Jacob rode with us to Nycole's house for a short visit and then we rode out to Buckley for a burger and a shake at Wally's drive in - That's me on the left.......

After that, we headed home and just as we pulled in the driveway Rick, our neighbor, came by on his bike. Rick is new in town so he doesn't know a lot of the area so, we led him on a nice 50 mile ride to Wilkenson, Buckley, Mud Mountain Dam, Cumberland and then home............it was a lot of fun.

Brandon has been riding on the back of the motorcycle sinc 2007 - he started when he was 11 years old. He learned to hang on and just enjoy it. He hates to wear hats but he learned that if he wanted to ride the motorcycle, he had to wear a helmet...........now, he has his own helmet, chaps and jacket. He has informed me that he wants some boots also..........yes prince Brandon.
Seriously, he is a really good rider, a lot of folks don't understand that he gets it - he knows what he is suppose to do and he does it. We rode 90 miles Saturday and he was terriffic - until his butt went to sleep!! LOL..........

Well, it's late and we need our beauty sleep...........talk again soon!

Brandon Out!

A weekend of Spring Fair Fun!!!!

Hey everybody!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!    I had a MOST AWESOME weekend!! I went to the fair (3) times: A school field trip on Friday then, Friday night we all went to the Monster Truck Show and Saturday, we turned around and went back for SLAMFEST!! What a GREAT weekend - I had a blast!!!!

Indeed we all had a great time this weekend - Friday night we took "B" (that's what we call him for short) to see the Monster Trucks at the fair. It was a little rainy but we were under cover so it was all good. A little slick for the trucks though!! We went to the Monster Jam a few years ago at Tacoma Dome and he thought it was the bomb!! It's so funny, he came home after the show and located every single monster truck he has and started jumpin' over stuff - we even built a make shift ramp so he could "crush" cars!! Friday night when those trucks started up he got so excited we could feel him shaking with excitement!!

Monster Truck Down!!

Saturday we returned to the fair only a bit earlier so we could ride the rides and eat and hang out!! Weather was good so why not right? Brandons favorite ride is the roller coaster so, we had to ride that one before the SLAMFEST and then again after - of course!! (twist my arm..........). Brandon really observed the SLAMFEST figure 8 racing - not sure he was really into that at all............it's all about crashing, jumping cars .....you know.......anyway, he was a little quite until the demolition derby started then he came alive!!

It's true, we all had a great time at the fair but I would also like to share with you a very special moment that touched me deeply...........Friday night at the Monster Truck Show it was Military Appreciation night - a special night indeed. At the beginning of the event, we honored the service men and women and then, they played the The National Anthem and we all stood and faced the flag. I looked at Brandon and without hesitation, he placed his right hand over his heart .......we never told him to do that, he just did it. It was incredible!!! I looked around me and saw other kids, many doing the same as "B" but there were some texting on their phone or talking and goofin' off - I was so touched by this kid of ours!

Goes to show you - keep expanding their minds and encouraging them in every way you can! You might be surprised and what they are capable of..............

After quite an exhausting but fun filled weekend, we go home........and Brandon sleeps!

Brandon Out!

It's all about a girl................

                 Today's blog is dedicated to Brandon's love for his girlfriend Nycole.

I believe there is someone for everyone in this world and don't think for a minute that children/adults with special needs are any different.

Brandon met Nycole a few years ago when he began going to school at Crestwood Elementary. Nycole is a couple years older than Brandon so, they really only spent 1 year in elementary school together then, Nycole moved on to Middle School. It would be 2 years before Brandon would again see Nycole but he never stopped talking about her. Finally, he entered Middle School at Lakeridge and was reunited with his lost love unfortunately, at the end of the school year they would again be seperated. This year Brandon entered High School and has once again been reunited with the love of his life.......Nycole. Fortunately, they can continue in high school until they are 21 (I believe) which means they will be able to FINALLY attend school together for more than a year at a time!!

Brandon rides the bus to and from school everyday while Nycole is dropped off at school but rides the bus home. We heard that Brandon would get off the bus at school and wait for Nycole to arrive. When she got there, he would take her hand and walk her in to class. I think this is absolutely adorable and so did Nycoles mom. We contacted each other and began to merge into one big(er) family - these 2 young lovers needed to have the opportunity to "date" - basically spend time together outside of school.

Nycole and Brandon at Bonney Lake's Pack the Gym night for the Special Olympic Basketball Team.
 Brandon participated in the individual skills portion.

We first went over to Nycoles house and spent time getting to know her mom, dad, sisters, aunt, etc.... even the goldens! Next, they brought Nycole to our home and they got to know us (and Brandon's environment) better. We have all become like one big happy family now, thanks to Nycole and Brandon - and Nycoles sister Danielle often sits with Brandon for us.

We are fortunate to have Nycole and her family in our life and it warms my heart to see her and Brandon together. Talk about pure unspoiled love (for all the right reasons) - then you are talking about Brandon and Nycole.

In the next blog I wll tell you about the train trip we went on for Brandon's birthday - Nycole and her mom joined us. It's a great story and I am pretty sure you will be laughing very hard when you hear it.......trust me, you can't make this stuff up!!  (".)

Brandon out -

LATER DUDES!!!!

Who's Really on Vacation?

Hello -

I know it's been a week since our last blog however, the adults left for a week and went on a road trip to Reno, Tahoe, California and up the coast. Of course while we were gone Brandon was on his own vacation with no parents to boss him around! He was living the dream of many 15 year olds.......staying in a house with a young attractive gal who watched over him and the house. Of course this gal was his girlfriends older sister so, he better behave right? (LOL)

He also was pampered by his girlfriends mom, his teacher at school and everyone else he came in contact with because they all figured he was a little out of sorts because we were gone. I for one believe that he was having the time of his life - no one to boss him around, good looking women with him every night, excellent meal preperation.........Hello???? What guy wouldn't be eatin' this up???

So tell me again - who was really on vacation????

Brandon out -

(More later after we settle back in...............)