eSpecially Ben

Depending on where you live and type of weather you have had to endure during this holiday break, you may have been stuck inside quite a bit.  This story is about our local trolley system and how we learned it was an easy way to have fun with Ben included.  If you don't live in Charlotte, I am sure there is something new in your area to try. Check out their website or call about special accommodations for wheelchairs and other equipment necessary for your child to travel. Usually people are surprisingly helpful.  http://www.charlotteparent.com/CLT/Ride-the-Trolley-to-Uptown-Charlotte/ Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! At Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

When I was in second grade, my teacher taught us how to make graham cracker houses using a milk carton base, graham crackers, candy and Royal Icing. Almost every year since then, I have made one.  This year, I thought Ben would participate with our group of twelve children. He has been more focused on activities and participating in hands on experiences in school so I thought he would actually enjoy it.  Joey, one of our awesome caregivers, helped Ben make a great house with a front porch. Ben lasted a good 40 minutes and then he was ready to move on. He lasted as long as some of the other kids and longer than his seven year old brother. Other creations: Directions to make a Graham Cracker House Approx a 12” x 12” cardboard or baking pan covered tightly in tin foil. This will serve as the platform for the house. If you use a baking pan, make sure it is not one you will need soon. A cardboard foundation for the house su

5 Ways to Say Thank You

Here's my recent post on Special Attention :  Time Management

Last night was the  NARI  Contractors of the Year (CotY) Awards Banquet. Ryan and I were invited. If you remember, NARI of Greater Charlotte is responsible for building the accessible bathroom for Ben. So Ryan and I got all dolled up and experienced the red carpet treatment with champagne, paparazzi and professional photos. It was a fantastic night out. Halfway into the program, they showed this video. Be sure to watch to the very end, even after the credits. 

Yesterday, Logan was sitting at the computer working on his ozone project. He was excited about it and wanted to share with me what he had learned. He told me that he had to search quite a bit to get the information. Searching on the Internet always worries me because I never know what innocent word may cause photos of naked people to pop up. If you have ever made the mistake of researching the White House as a company, you know what I mean. Although we had the talk about Internet awareness many times, I felt like this was another opportunity to point out that bad things could come up when you are researching. Logan assured me that nothing bad had come up with his searches. Then he stopped for a moment, "Wait. Something bad did come up on the computer." My heart stopped. Inside, alarms went off. Outside, my face was calm. I recently saw Michelle in the Middle speak. She spoke about the emotional and intellectual issues that children ages 11-18 go through and how to h