Special Olympics Tournament 2009

Luke, getting Mikey ready with encouraging words and massaging his bowling arm

"In your face!" ~Mikey

Awwwww...

The Athletes and volunteers

Mikey and Luke celebrating their silver medals

Saturday, 9/12/09, our family participated in the Special Olympics Bowling Tournament. As most know, every Saturday we meet with other families of special needs children for bowling fun. Once a year (sometimes twice) we have a tournament with unified teams. Luke and I always volunteer, with one of us requesting to be with Mikey. This year Luke and Mikey were a team...and they won the Silver Medal for their division! Woohoo! It was a lot of fun, and Natalie joined us to cheer everyone on. My BFF, Lauren, even stopped by to show support. Overall, we had great times and great fun and we can't wait for next year!!!

Pictures

He is getting so big...

Labor Day fun at the new family arcade center

Natalie's hole-y smile...she is still so adorable!

As most of you know, Ryan was very ill last week. He had swine flu! We still cannot believe it. He was so miserable...fever for days, body aches, and cranky, cranky, cranky. He was really upset about being sick. On Friday evening, his fever finally broke. Saturday he woke up happy and his appetite returned. Today he is healthy and happy and eating like a pig again! Many thanks to all of the prayers and thoughts. =)

So today Natalie blew us away...at breakfast she sang "This land is my land" (learned at school) and then tonight she looked at the clock and told us the time (analog clock). Smart girl! She really loves school, which we knew she would, and just revels in all the learning and her new friends. It makes our hearts warm and happy!

ZUMBA!!!

Zumba Education Specialist, Tanya Beardsley, taught the Basic 2 certification workshop. She is an awesome dancer!

The man himself, Beto Perez! He happened to be in the hotel lobby as I was coming back from the workshop.

Are you ready for the Zumbatomic?

My convention roomie, Emiliana, who teaches here on the northshore as well.

new zumba friend, Elizabeth, and I dressed for 80s night.

Over Labor Day weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 2nd Annual Zumba Instructor Convention in Orlando. I have one word...UH-mazing!!! =) People from all over the world attended this convention, and I had the opportunity to talk to zumba instructors from England, Belgium, Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Brazil and so many more places! We were all brought together by our love of dance and great music. Therefore, I have decided that politicians need to take Zumba classes. We all seem to get along when music and dance are involved...the world would be a better place if everyone had a dance party at least once a week! While at the convention, I received two more certifications...one in Basic 2 (more advanced moves) and Zumbatomic (for kids). I also took classes in Bhangra (India), African Jungle, and Reggaeton-Salsa. There were also two dance parties; Friday was 80s night with a fashion show of the Zumbawear, and then I attended the huge Zumbathon on Saturday evening. Two thousand people crammed into a room and we were zumbafied for two hours! Alberto 'Beto' Perez (the creator of Zumba) did a tribute to Michael Jackson that started the night, and from there he led us all in dances from all over the world. I burned serious calories, made many new friends, and had an amazing time. I can't wait for next year!!!

The Kids

Teamwork (wearing their new outfits from Aunt Nisey)

WEEEEEEEE!!!

Handsome little man!

Natalie's first day of school (Ryan wanted to be in the picture)

Oh, how time just flies by! And being the scatterbrain I am, have difficulty setting aside time for this blog. This one will have to be quick...

Natalie started school on August 31. She is so excited and doing so well! We chose a small, intimate pre-k program. There are only a dozen students. It is taught by a very neat woman, Miss G (Giselle), who not only teaches them reading and writing...but French, computer skills, math, and science. Thus far, Natalie is really enjoying herself. It isn't the Christian curriculum I wanted, but they pray together and that is a start. Daniel and I are hoping Natalie receives a scholarship for the Christian school here so she can attend next year. I am already thinking of ways to help her attend. Natalie had to have another tooth pulled, the tooth right next to the other one that was pulled in May. Remember the geminated tooth, the one with one root but two teeth grew from it? It was impacted as well by Natalie's horrible fall back in May, but it took a little longer to show signs of trauma. Her tooth abscessed and she didn't say anything! Not one complaint of pain. One night as she was brushing her teeth, I saw blood all over her mouth. An examination of her mouth showed us a sore tooth and gums. I took her into the dentist office the next day. He took one look and stated that it had to be pulled. Last Thursday, 9/3, they pulled her tooth out...and it was one ugly tooth! The dentist could hardly believe that such a large tooth came from her tiny mouth...the root was very long and infected. Poor girl! We feared that she would look strange with such a wide gap on one side of her mouth from two missing teeth...but it is quite the contrary. She is adorable! But we all know this. =) Natalie starts T-Ball on Wednesdays for the next several weeks, then dance every Saturday morning. I would love to put her in piano lessons as well. We'll see...

Ryan is growing and growing. He is such a little stinker! Lol! All boy, that is for sure. He runs everywhere and loves to climb and climb and climb and get into anything and everything. We are busy keeping up with him. He likes to terrorize his sister...and he isn't even 2 years old! But she is bossy and tries to keep him in line all the time. Daddy and I know she means well and tries to keep him safe, but he isn't too keen on her mothering. =) Ryan doesn't talk much, but recognizes many things. He can recognize some colors and animals. He likes to say "No." He LOVES cars, which makes daddy (and Papa Heiko) very happy. He loves to dance. At night, I rock both kids on my lap and read a story. Then we sing together songs that Natalie picks, and Ryan is starting to sing back. At present, he is ill and we are trying to make him better.