Thanksgiving

Maddux "gets" Thanksgiving this year. This has been the first year that she knows family will be here, why we are there and that we are thankful. Maddux this year was thankful and her very own words were:

"I am thankful for Love"

Maddux and her great-grandmother

Maddux and her grammy

all of the grandkids

Our very own family picture!!!!!!!!!!!

Nana and G's house on Thanksgiving!

October is her favorite

Well I have been behind a bit on my blogging but I have 2 to keep up with and it has been a busy fall and Christmas season. We have found a new tradition this year with pumpkin picking at Hill Ridge Farm. This was the first year we have gone to a real pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches in California just are not the same. We went with our best friends and had the best time! Maddux and an open field...need I say more!

Maddux says, " Mom I can't see a thing!" And of course I give her my glasses.

Loving on her "little sister"

and finally a picture that I am in! Thanks Kelli!

Our real trip! She always loves no matter what!

Art by me!

I have been a little slack in my post this school year but here is my first. We had a family art night and Maddux was there with a few friends from class. She stopped running around long enough to get a shot with Lauren. Daddy even came and helped draw pretty pictures!

One year smarter!

Maddux made it to first grade! This was her first week and these are from her first day. I can not wait to see what thing year brings!

Guess where I am going....

Maddux starts her first day of first grade tomorrow. Her new teachers team teach so Maddux has the added bonus of being taught by 2 great teachers! Hoping this year will bring even more progress than last year. I am sure it will. We are weaning her seizure meds to 1/2 the dose and hoping for big changes. The doctor said we wouldn't see a difference but they have been wrong before! More pictures tomorrow from her first day of first grade!

The Class of 2020!

I just can not believe that Maddux graduated from kindergarten on June 2nd. She PASSED! She will start first grade on July 7th. Almost all the family came down and had a pizza party and celebrated her "big girl shoes" She has come so far this year. She reads, shes writes, she makes patterns, she counts, she's amazing! Although retelling of stories, and multiple task instructions are still a struggle for her she is so amazing in her progress. I can not thank her teachers and one on one specialists enough. You never can. Thank you for a great year filled with memories that I thought I would never have with her.

her family


her Mr. Benson


her Track 1


her friends



her sweet wave

End of the Year

As we are ending the school year on June 3rd I wanted to post my favorite picture of Maddux to date. She has progressed leaps and bounds because of her teachers Ms. Dell, Ms. Grice, Ms. Burns, Ms. Horan, Ms. Hooker, Ms. Holmes, Ms. Willis and one of her favorites... Mr. Benson...the PE teacher. My girl is back with all of the eye contact in the world, laughter and yes attitude. God loves a little attitude. To parents like "us" it means they get it and can feel it. Something Maddux lacked before. Thanks to all of the people in Maddux's world this year. You have been amazing and I would not have her anywhere else! Her graduation performance pictures will be up soon!

Field day

I was so happy to be able to help out on field day this year. There were so many parent volunteers that were there to help out Mr. Benson. He is ONE of Maddux's favorite teachers. All I hear when Maddux gets in the car is, "I give Mr. Benson big hug." Thanks to Ms. Dell I was able to have these photographs. Aside from the artsy ones these are all Ms. Dell. Thanks bunches! And thank you Mr. Benson for you hard work putting together this fun, hot day!

Agape Field Trip

Maddux took a field trip to Agape to learn about bugs and season changes. Lets just say we saw plenty of bugs! We took a hike to listen to the sounds of the season, made a nature recipe to smell the season and we also pet a snake. Maddux specifically looked for ladybugs but all we found were ticks. EWW!

Horse Friends of North Carolina

During Maddux's track out time, her Grammy took her to Horse Friends of North Carolina to take part in a non-profit organization that gives free riding lessons to kids like our special Maddux. This particular group was located in Greensboro, NC, and the kids that day got to feed, brush and ride the horses who themselves are just as special. The horse who Maddux rode was blind. Although she found the donkey, Eeyore, to be the coolest thing there. I did not realize there were these types of groups out there that do this just for the kids out of the kindness of their hearts and they run this based on donations. As Maddux rode, the parents sat and shared stories, triumphs and struggles. We had a great time and can not wait to do it again this month.
...but showing love to a thousand of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20.6

Music Informance

These are a few images from Maddux's classroom and from her first performance for the parents from music class. She practiced very hard at home and did very well in front of everyone. Can you believe Maddux has a writing journal! I am sure I'll find a company that will bind it for me as a leather keepaske album!

Happy 6th birthday!

I can't believe we have a 6 year old now! And because Maddux is now 6 that means her baby brother is now 2! This was the best brithday ever. She understood it was HER day and she was going to have cake and presents! She even made "birthday beads" to wear in her hair to school that day so everyone knew it was her special day. She almost ate the candles in this picture but we were so happy we did not care!
Happy Birthday sweetie!

We call her cake the pantry surprise! I told her to look in the pantry so she could decorate it with whatever she wanted! Never thought a cake could look so beautiful...

My favorite thing this year... so far

Madddux was asked to draw a picture of herself doing her favorite thing. Well she drew a picture of herself eating a quesadilla. Then she was suppose to spell the item she was eating. Only Maddux would pick a Spanish word to spell. Here is Maddux's WONDERFUL version of quesadilla:

KSUDU
(looks right to me!)

100 Days Smarter

Maddux just had her 1ooth day of school. She is far beyond 100 days smarter. She is now beginning to spell 3 letter words and read small books. Holly Grove has done amazing things with her and I cannot wait to see what this semester brings with a revamped IEP and awesome goals!