Lazy Day, heading into a very busy summer!!

Caught my "Sleepy Bears" snuggled up and taking a mid-Saturday nap. Tired out from hours of driving like maniac's on MarioKart Wii.

First off- WOW, it's been almost a year since I posted anything and I can't believe it's been that long. Time has flown by and there's been a MILLION things going on. I'm going to try and get you all caught up and hopefully get back into the regular habit of posting on here!!

Gabe is growing like a weed and is doing really well. He loves his new class and his new teachers this year- He's in a spit program between the LSS (Life Skills Support) and the MDS (Multi-Disabled Support) each class provides him with something essential to his social or educational day. I'll post additional information about this soon!!

Also, Gabe got a new chair!! We're very excited it has a dynamic back and is so much better for him both as far as positioning and long term comfortability. Plus now we don't have to worry about him getting the rub marks from the lap belt!! Yay!! Post and Pictures to follow I promise!!

Let's see what else?? I hurt my back over Thanksgiving and had an emergency L4-L5 microdiscecotomy surgery in December- spend until the middle of February home recovering, after many weeks of working my way back up I am now totally off restrictions and back to my normal activities!! Yay!! I've recently gotten back to running a bit (I'm still taking it easy there) but I'm looking forward to getting rid of the roughly 8 pounds that I picked up while not being able to stay as active. I'm still on that mission as well... While I made it down to a size 10, I'm right on the border between a 10 and 12 right now since I picked up the 8 pounds :(

I'm getting back on the wagon now that I am physically able and hoping to end the summer somewhere around a size 6!! (I'll be happy with a size 8, but I like to set big goals!!)

Jeremy is doing well and loves working closer to home. He is still taking two classes every semester and is consistently on the Dean's List for maintaining a GPA above 3.5 (GO BABY!!)

He just started an Earth Science class so the pressure is on to see if I remember all that stuff- since I have a bachelors in Earth Science... well, hopefully I can be a little help if he needs it! HAHAHA!!

That's it for now, I'll try to make it on again soon and fill you all in on more of what we've been up to!!

"POP IT" Adventure!!

I'm sure you all will remember the "pop it's" they were the little twisted up paper with a little powder in the them and when you threw them at the ground they made the "POP" sound. Well, Gabe couldn't really throw them around very well but we did figure out when Grandma threw one and it didn't pop that they popped really well when you step on them- This made for a solid half hour of hilarity for Gabe. He was jumping and stomping on the pop it's and could barely keep it together he was laughing so hard!!

Thank you Grandma for all the fun!!

Gabe giving Grandma big "HUGS" for all the bubble and "pop it" fun
"OOOOO- HOOOO" Grandma, Gabe hugging Grandma and saying "Love you"

Bubble Extravaganza!!! (a photo journey)

Grandma broke out a bubble machine as soon as we arrived to visit- the following is a photo journey through Gabe's bubble adventure!!

Happy 10th Birthday Gabe!!

I can't believe it but our big guy is officially 10 years old!! It's so exciting for us (and overwhelming) seems like just yesterday when his was just a tiny little "wiggler" fighting for his life, and today... well- he's kicking butt and taking names!!!

Quick picture with his birthday hat they gave him at school. (This is the first time ever Gabe has had school on his birthday... we had a strike in our district and while most people were upset about the long school year- Jeremy and I were glad the teachers stood up for what was right; and Gabe was ecstatic to have a birthday party at school!!!)Gabe and Daddy at birthday dinner.Gabe yelling "CHEESE" in his picture with mommy!!Yay!! Happy Birthday "ME!"

Daddy, Mommy, and Me!!

Gabe posing with is birthday sundae!! Big boy putting his own seat back in the van!! Being goofy after he got his seat back in the van!!
I love this one, he can always make me smile!!! We love you so much Gabe!! Thank you for everything you do to inspire us, and make us better, happier and really just so PROUD to be your parents- LOVE ALWAYS!!! Mommy & Daddy :)

Cute pic of my guys-

I found this on my phone, it's a pic from one evening this past spring when it was still a bit chilly around dusk- they are such cuties... thought I would share!

"Gabe's Gang" @ the Easter Seals "Walk with Me" 5k

Getting out of the van in morning it was still a bit chilly.... but it warmed up fast!Gabe was ready to go and was very consistent in telling us so!! (haha!)Gabe's Gang!!

Ed, Nicole, Jeremy, Dan (you can only see the top of his hat!) Shannon, Shawn, Bernie, and Adam, and of course the team captains Kari & Gabe!

Dan took 1st place in his age category (Adam took second) and Jeremy got 3rd!!!

It was a great day and an inspiring event, we beat our fundraising goal- check out our Team Page!

After the race there was food, music, and a little fair at the end and.... Gabe got a tattoo!!

He didn't even last 5 minutes in the van when we headed home!! It was a fun and tiring day!!

Gabe, knocked out on the way home, sporting his Elmo "tattoo"

GABE'S GANG: Easter Seals "Walk with Me" 5k

We are running the Easter Seals "Walk With Me" 5k again!! This year Gabe has his own team!

If you are in the area and want to join our team, PLEASE DO!! It is going to be a great race and a really fun day down by the Art museum in Philadelphia.

If you can't join, maybe take a moment and see if you can support our team with a small donation. Every dollar counts, we're about halfway to our goal and we appreciate every single donation- literally every single dollar goes to a great and worthy cause.

To learn more about Easter Seals, to join or team or to make a donation to Gabe's Gang just follow this link.

No pressure- we know how tough times are right now, that's why we're stressing that we don't want big donations, we're just trying to get enough small donations to reach our goal.

Thanks so much for stopping in and supporting us!!

Go Team Gabe's Gang!!

Citizen of the Month (Walton Farm Elementary)

We are so very proud of our young man Gabriel.

He was chosen as citizen of the month for his elementary school. We received a postcard in the mail, he was given the special pencil (see below) and he will have is picture in the local paper "The Reporter"

(I will post an update when we find out it's in the paper)

Anderson Family,
We are proud to announce that Gabe has been selected as the Walton Farm Citizen of the month. His constant display of kindness, respect, and cooperation make him a wonderful role model for our caring community. Way to go Gabe!!! The Walton Farm Staff.

*My Principal is Proud of Me*

Mommy and Daddy are so very proud of you too kiddo!!
Great job Gabe!!!

Some cute pic's of our little man:

These are just a few snapshots of kiddo, hanging around and being a cutie pie!!

He is always a few seconds away from cracking up!He was being sneaky...Then he was playing shy!

This one is my favorite, when I think of Gabe, this is what I think of: that happy smile just lights up my world!