Donating Glasses

Courtney recently made the decision to donate her old glasses.  These are pairs that she has outgrown or that have a different Rx then she needs now.  We found a box for Lion's club and donated them!  I'm proud of her for choosing to share and help others.

Royal T Graduation

The summer group "Royal Ts" that Courtney belonged to had their graduation.  The girls each wore a crown (they earned a "gem" to go on it each week that they came to the meetings).  They began by each being rewarded with a certificate and a heart necklace.  Then the girls did a skit.  I was so proud of Courtney for participating in the skit (she sometimes gets nervous performing in front of people).  Then the girls all sang their theme song.  Courtney started to scoot so that she was off of the "stage" area.  All the girls scooted over so that Courtney was still involved-it was very sweet of them to include her even when she was feeling nervous.

 Courtney, Elle, ___, ___, Eve, ___

Then each girl got to come out on stage while a little narrative was read about each of them.  Courtney's talked about how one of her heros is Macee because she has a great singing voice.

I was so proud of Courtney for making new friends and for everything she learned while attending this group.  It has been such a fun thing to have going on this Summer.

Soccer Practice

Courtney has joined the TopSoccer team here in Elk Grove.  She practices once a week and will start games in September on Saturdays.  She is really good at kicking the ball and blocking the goal.

 Courtney loves to wear her red "practice" shirt and so when she got this red water bottle she was excited to make it her "soccer practice" water bottle.

 Courtney out with her team at their first practice.

The team she is on is a team for kids with special needs.  They have "buddies" out on the field (older kids) that help them play.  Courtney loves getting a buddy to play with her each week, but has also enjoyed making some new friends.  She is nervous about starting to play games because she doesn't like the idea that everyone will be watching her.

Royal T

Courtney has also made some friends this summer at a group called the Royal Ts.  Her friend, Elle created the group.  It was friends that were all about ages 9-11ish.  They met once a week during the summer and each week had a theme.  They had activities around the theme and each theme and activity helped the girls focus on remembering that they are daughters of God.  Courtney loved going and making new friends.  She loved the activities and the food.

Courtney and Elle

New Friends

Courtney has been making lots of new friends this summer!

Sarah, Gloree, Courtney, Megan

These are two friends from a play group that we have formed.  We have gotten together as moms and daughters and have had lunch and playtime.  There are about 4-5 girls all Courtney's age that all have DS.

Sarah and Courtney played at the water park.

Courtney, Sarah, Megan

These girls had a great time having a playdate together at Sarah's house.

 Natasha, Courtney, Sarah, Gloree, Megan, Brooke

Courtney and Natasha

So the pictures are all out of order because these last 2 are from the first playdate we had.

Courtney is having a wonderful time with these new friends.

FHE Lesson

We have Family Home Evening every Monday night.  This week Courtney was in charge of doing the lesson.  She complained all day about it.  She said she didn't want to do it.

Just before FHE was to start I told her she could pick a movie from "Mormon Channel" on the iPad to show for her lesson.  She thought that was a GREAT idea and went to work finding one.

FHE came and she shared a great story from the friend about a boy who was nervous about being baptized because he didn't like going under water.  He prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help him.  When the story was done I asked her to share what she thought about the story.  She said she wanted to write it down.  She went to the study for about 10 minutes while we waited.  When she came back, she had this paper, stood in front of the room and read it.  This is a HUGE step for her and I am so proud of her!

I know its hard to read, but I just want to remember her hand-writing.

It says:

I know that is scary to be under woter But wene we get bibtazed I know that we have fath amon

Caterpillars

Did you know that caterpillars are independent?  From the moment they are born, they have to be on their own and take care of themselves.  Just a tiny little caterpillar being so confident and independent.

Courtney is learning to be more independent like a caterpillar.

This is a caterpillar she has been working on.  Every time Courtney does something to help herself be more independent, she got to add a body part to her "Caterpillar of Confidence".  As soon as she had 6 body parts on her caterpillar she earned a painting activity with her sisters.

Here is what she did to earn body parts:

1. shared her fishing picture with her social group

2. talked to the clerk at Wal-mart

3. finished a big, hard hike

4. read the scripture at primary

5. rinsed shampoo out of her hair all by herself

6. called and talked to Pyper on the phone

We picked out princess plaster figurines to paint.

Courtney did great painting her prince and princess.  She pretended she was an artist painting for the Crocker Art Museum.

Making Pizza

Courtney wants to help with the posts for this blog...so I am typing and she is narrating:

I was making pizza for my family for dinner.

 I am putting in the flour.

 I am turning on the mixer.

 I am opening the lid to the can of pineapple.  I was very careful opening the can.

I am cutting the pineapple for the toppings of our pizza.

I also helped spread the sauce, sprinkle on the cheese, put on the pepperoni.  When it came out of the oven, we ate it!

TopSoccer

EGYSL had a "Playdate" where kids with special needs could come and play soccer for the day and see if it is something they might like.  It was a hot afternoon and we had had a busy day already.  When we first got there, Courtney did not want to play.  She wouldn't go out on the field or put on her team shirt.  I took her out and we just started having her do it, even though she was complaining.  After about 10 minutes she warmed up to her "buddy" and the playing.  I was able to sit on the side and she ended up LOVING it!

She has joined the team that will start in the Fall...we can't wait to cheer her on!

Kids Catch a Smile Day

 Courtney was invited out for fishing at an event here in Sacramento.

 Here she is fishing with Dad in a pond that was stocked with Trout.

 She has up 2 fingers because this is is the second one that she caught!  She was so patient...she didn't leave Arron's side or the pond side for the entire time we were there (3 hours).  I would come and ask her if she wanted to do carnival games with Megan, Brooke and I and she would say no...and keep fishing.  I event had to bring her lunch by the pond because she wasn't ready to pack her pole up yet!  By the end of the event she had 3 Trout to bring home!

Dad cooked them up so yummy and all the girls ate it...but Courtney LOVED it!

Hiking

Courtney is becoming quite the hiker.  Here we are on a trail near Lake Tahoe.  It was a mile climb (meaning one that went up almost the whole time) and she did great!