Week with the Kids

So the kids (Hailey and Logan) were here all last week and are here this week too. At the beginning of last week all the kids had to run around with Kim and Matt to a million different doctor appointments. Finally on Wednesday they were able to stay home and play, ride their bikes and do what kids do.

As a reward of sorts, for being such good sports earlier in the week, we took the kids to Dragon Land Thursday night for Family Night. Although it was a bit cooler than we would have liked the kids had fun. This time Hailey and Logan braved the BIG slides. Logan went down on the double inner tube with both Kim and I. Hailey, although hesitant at first, did the same as well on the individual tube and the red slide (rear ends only). Jayden had no problems with the slides. She knows how to swim so it was never an issue. They had a blast. As I am sure you have gathered, Kim and I both got into the water. It was pretty cold after about 15 minutes but somehow I managed to stay in for a good hour.

Jayden and Hailey

Logan and Kim

We also met a wonderful group of people from Magnolia Heights, here in Pekin. We hung out with this lively bunch and talked the last half hour while the girls continued to swim. We got quite a few looks from others, disproving and wondering why we'd converse with a group of mentally handicap or slower individuals. I guess when you are brought up surrounded by individuals like that and your parents work with individuals such similar to our new friends, you don't see them as different. It is such a minor issues that to be quite honest too many people focus on and/or are disgusted by.

Friday, the whole gang met Quinton, Sloan and I at Safety Town. The kids had a blast. Quinton was so excited to see Logan. They were inseparable from the moment they get there. Of course much of their play and talk was about Star Wars, both boys are obsessed. The girls buzzed around on their bikes since they were on two wheels . Little Miss Sloan had a blast walking around and checking out all the kids. At first she pushed her little cart I had brought along for her, but it didn't take long for her to realize she could go a lot faster without it. She'd see one child go by on his bike and start to chase after him, and then see someone else come from the other direction and switch her own course to take off after them instead. She was laughing and enjoying herself the whole day. Safety Town was a great ending to last week!!!

Surprise!!!

Friday I was lucky enough to surprise Quinton, by bringing Jayden to work with me. And boy was he surprised. A little shy at first, or maybe it was more embarrassment because he needed to get some undies on (he jetted upstairs and got dressed quicker than I have ever seen). Regardless, once he was dressed he was ready to play. They played tag, Boom Blox on the Wii, ran around & played at Detweiller Park, raced on Q's Smart Cycle, and Jayden read him a couple books before nap. They hadn't seen each other since last fall, but they picked up right where they left off. Q thought everything Jayd said was hilarious, and she enjoyed the fact that Q could now play and do things physically similar to herself than a year ago. They showed each other their gymnastic moves, only to find out they did quite a few of the same ones.

First time Jayden and Q met; summer 2007

Let's not forget Sloan in all of this. She was curious at first who this new person was, but by the time we left for the park, she couldn't take her eyes off of Jayd. Every time Jayden would look at her, Sloan would laugh. She was always touching Jayden's arm or leg, trying to figure out everything about her. Jayden enjoyed helping to keep an eye on little Miss Sloan. I believe she would have held her all day, if I had allowed it. All three kids played on the playground equipment together. Jayden would catch Sloan at the bottom of the small slide as I helped her up top.

All in all we had a great day. Q informed Jayd that she could ". . . come play anytime. I would love it!" It is good to know that I'm not the only one who wishes Jayden lived closer. And yes, I forgot my camera on Friday!! :(