More Bitterroot Graduation

Tysen hugging his first Bitterroot Teacher...Mrs. Seward (2nd Grade)

Giving Mrs. Beals a hug. He really enjoyed Mrs. Beals last year!

Hunter receiving his diploma.

David receiving his diploma.

Tysen's First Bitterroot friend...Trevon, receiving his diploma! Trevon & Tysen started the second grade together as new students in 2004.

More Graduation

Tysen and Mr. Albarez...his 6th Grade teacher and first "GUY TEACHER!"

Tysen's former teachers at Bitterroot Elementary
(L-R) Mrs. Foster (3rd), Tysen, Mrs. Beals (5th) and Mrs. Seward (2nd)

Mrs. Beals retired after last year...so Tysen was in her LAST class. Mrs. Beal's also taught my husband Matt while he was in Elementary at Alkali Creek Elem. here in Billings!




The whole gang...All of Tysen's friends after the Graduation!

Hunter & Tysen...
We picked up Hunter before and after school the second half of the year. He car-pooled with us!

T-Ball Is Over!

We had a great T-ball Season! Ryder proved to his daddy that he has sports in his blood! His last game was tonight and he received a medal for his great season! We can't wait until next year!

Ryder after his last game....

His FIRST medal! He is so proud!

Busy Busy Week of New Therapies & New People

This week was a very busy week of meeting new people who will have huge impact on Kannin's life. Monday to Wednesday was big changes for our little guy. He had a very busy day of therapy yesterday. Some new therapies and some sad good-byes.

Monday 4:00 pm: Kannin took very quickly to Kelly...our P.L.A.Y. Project coordinator. She will be at our house Once a month for 3-4 hours.

Wednesday 11:30 am: Kannin meeting his new Occupational Therapist Erica at our new therapy facility..."Pediatric Therapy." We will see her every Wednesday.

Wednesday 12:15 pm: Kannin showing his new Speech Therapist Beth some love!

(Pediatric Therapy) We will also see Beth every Wednesday.

Wednesday 1:00 pm Good-Bye to Tanya

(Kannin's O.T. Therapist for the past year) Our last day!

Three sessions...Three minutes is all it took once he was in the car on his way home for our EXHAUSTED little guy to crash!

Goodbye Tanya...Thanks for EVERYTHING!

Yesterday we said "Goodbye" to Tanya Scuichetti, Kannin's Occupational Therapist of one year. We have started new Therapy at a different facility and Wednesday was our last day with her. I was an emotional wreck having to say goodbye. We brought her flowers to thank you for all she has done to help Kannin this past year. He truely is a different child part thanks to her hard work! I was crying in the waiting room when she came out to get us! I am not a crier...so I felt a bit silly. I know I cried for more than 1/2 of Kannin's final session. When you trust someone completely with your child they way we did with Tanya...it is hard to close the book on that chapter of your life! We will definately stay in touch with her.

Kannin on the sensory swing listening to his Music Therapy with Tanya last November. The swing turned out to be his favorite thing at O.T.

Kannin on the swing...last day of therapy (June 3, 09)

Kannin is extremely uncomfortable with textures...so Tanya used his favorite activity (swing) and incorporated it with a letter game topped off with Shaving Cream. Messy Fun!

Tanya thanking Kannin for the flowers.

Kannin loved when Tanya would drag him around...literally! So what would the last day be without him hanging on her?

Kannin and Tanya had their stubborn moments throughout this past year. One thing we tried at the end of EVERY session was to get Kannin to either use sign language or say "Open" to open the door to leave. He had NEVER said it to her...even though he would say it to us at home. It was one of his stubborn acts with Tanya. At our LAST session yesterday I said to Kannin as we were walking towards the door...

"Kannin. Tell Tanya to Open the door. You haven't done it all year. Let's see if we can do it on the LAST day?!"

He looked up at her and FINALLY said...

"Ope Door"

We were amazed! Finally!!! Thank you for everything Tanya!! We will miss you!

P.L.A.Y. Project Bound!

We have signed up today for a "Year Long" therapy project for Kannin. It is called P.L.A.Y. which stands for Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters. This project entails 10 visits over a year's time. Each visit lasting 3-4 hours. We will have a home visit each month and we are very excited to see the help it will be to Kannin. Our P.L.A.Y. Consultant Kelly came this afternoon to introduce herself to Kannin and have us fill out our paperwork. She was here 2 hours and Kannin was attached to her INSTANTLY. He really is our little lover and gets along GREAT with everyone! Our official start date is June 19th. We ALL can't wait!

Daddy and Kelly watch Kannin play in the bounce castle.

Kelly decided to get in and jump with Kannin.



Fast Friends: By the end of our 2 hour visit Kannin was all "hugs" with Kelly...or what he would say..."Squeeze!" We are looking forward to our official first session in 2 1/2 weeks.

And The Saga Continues...

On February 15th Matt & I purchased a "Mac Daddy" NordicTrac Elliptical Machine from Sears. It has all the bells and whistles including a fan and IPod music system! We had it assembled @ Sears because my husband is not the handiest person in the world! We picked it up 3 days later and were very excited to get it home and start working out again. We had recently cancelled out YMCA membership because we have a awesome weight bench and 3 boys that keep us a runnin. We figured by adding an elliptical...we would be set!!! And so our journey begins...

Feb. 15...Purchase Elliptical

Feb. 19...Elliptical FINALLY assembled and so we pick it up!

Feb 21...Elliptical Gliders BROKE after 20 minutes of use.

Feb. 21...Called Sears...They said they would have a new machine delivered to us on Feb 23

Feb. 23...SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERED...here is the phone call we received...

"Hello...This is Steve with Sears Delivery! We are on our way to your house with your replacement Elliptical Machine. I just looked in the back of the truck...and...uh...Is it supposed to be put together?" ...OK NOW I AM MAD!!! I take a breath and say..."UH...YES! That is what we paid for!" He ever so matter of factly replies..."OK...Well then you won't get it until tomorrow!" UGH!!! THREE DAYS LATER...

Feb. 26...Our NEW machine arrives and the broken one leaves! Yay!! Let the getting skinny begin!

We had WEEKS of wonderful use. I had to fight Matt for Elliptical time. We love our new machine! Or should I say LOVED!!!

TUESDAY MAY 26th...THE COMPUTER ON OUR ELLIPTICAL SHORTED OUT. I mean "COME ON!" Long story short...BUY AN EXTENDED WARANTY! Sometimes they atually work for you! I called the Waranty people on Friday May 29th and within 15 minutes I had local NordicTrack people calling me to schedule a time to come REPLACE the computer with a new one! I will believe THEIR speediness when I see it. Now we wait for the new computer to arrive! Will I EVER be skinny? Will I ever Elliptical again! Time will tell and so will my patience with Sears!!! Wish us luck as this SAGA continues!

Our BRAND NEW machine! We bought on Feb 15th...


...and it broke on Feb 21st!



Our SECOND New Elliptical delivered on Feb 26th! Yay...it is so pretty!



Now the computer is broke! SERIOUSLY!!! 2 months of use! Good thing we have a 5 year waranty!