Spring-time

We're currently experiencing the "showers" part of springtime this Cinco de Mayo. Thus far, 2013 spring weather has been quite varied. It snowed during spring break:

Harding got to use this nifty snowball shaper that Uncle Stephen and Aunt Cambridge gave him for Christmas.

Shelby Frances WALKING in the snow for the first time! She loved it!

Playing outside when its cold and snowy calls for a warm bubble baths:

The yucky un-spring-like weather provided Trip and me with time to catch up on movies we wanted to see and some antiquing. We bought these chairs for the dining room table at the new house: 

We plan to have chairs on one side and a wooden bench on the other. My father-in-law is making us the table. :)

But then the sun (sort of) came out in time for Easter weekend. My long-time friend Emily came to visit. We got some hiking in AND we visited a few of the Asheville breweries:

Burney and Shelby enjoyed some quality snuggle time during the church service Easter Sunday:

We had some absolutely gorgeous days in April. Shelby got to have a PT session outside at the park (which is good because Harding gets to enjoy himself there too). And we've had OT out on the front porch a few times. Shelby is working on throwing the ball with both hands and then catching it when Harding rolls it to her....we are trying to encourage more reciprocal play. I love this picture of her and Adam:

Now that my THREE grad classes are over this semester (never again), I'm coming out of a four-month blogging and social hiatus and we're looking forward to lots of family and friends time outside. We're off to eat Mexican food with friends now for Cinco de Mayo...

IEP update

Its been a year since Shelby started Head Start and it has been such a positive experience for her. She has flourished over the past year and it is a testament to Shelby herself--and the dedication and hard work of her teachers and therapists. Last Monday, Trip and I met with Shelby's teachers and therapists to update her IEP (individual education plan). It was wonderful to sit for an hour with Shelby's team and share our hopes and dreams for her and to hear the specific goals that everyone has for her to achieve in the next year for vision, math, reading readiness, OT, PT, and speech. This next year is crucial for Shelby as she prepares for kindergarten and I am glad that she will be in the same classroom with all of the same people working with her. By the way, check out the great use of "lefty" in the photo above (taken by my friend Megan who works for the school system). 

Puppy Love

We've missed having a dog around the house. Two weeks ago, Trip and I had a moment of temporary insanity and decided to adopt this sweet adorable puppy. Rocky's mom was pregnant when a boxer rescue group took her in and Rocky is one of her 8 pups. We love that he's half boxer....it reminds us of our Bailey. It has been fun watching the kids enjoying this puppy too. Harding is smitten with him.

And Rocky is starting to grow on Shelby. She loves petting him, but gets pretty mad when he takes her baby dolls out of their stroller.

So far, Rocky seems like a laid back dog. On Friday night at Matt and Ashlee's, Rocky tolerated being pushed around the house in Landen's toy car....it was pretty cute.

Tuckered out after playing hard!

Next week he starts puppy training classes...should be entertaining!