Seattle trip

Mt. Rainier

Paula speaking at graduation

Pike Place (Micah was walking with Janel)

Outside Pike Place Market

loved the balloons

loved opening and closing this door

Farmer's Market (well it's over to the left out of the picture)

The Locks

Alki beach

We had a great time in Seattle when we went at the end of June. We left Tulsa at 6:30 am; three flights and 12 hours later we arrived in Seattle. I think Wayne and I decided we won't fly anywhere with the boys again for another five years! They actually traveled really well, the waiting in airports was the hardest.

We stayed with Wayne's parents in a condo on Alki Beach which is in West Seattle. It was a beautiful area and we loved being a block from the beach! Of course, the water was too cold to get in, but the boys had a great time playing in the sand and Micah loved the waves coming in.

Paula graduated from Mars Hill Graduate School on Saturday. It was a great ceremony and she gave a beautiful speech. She was selected by her class to be one of three students to speak. We are so proud of her!

After graduation Paula and her roommates hosted a party at their house. That's where the balloons came from that Micah is playing with. Sunday we went to a great Farmer's market and then went to the Locks afterwards.

Monday we went to Mt. Rainier which was absolutely amazing. Monday evening we celebrated Gabriel's birthday which was actually Tuesday, but Janel was leaving that day so we wanted to celebrate early. Tuesday, we went downtown to Pike Place Market and walked around and had some delicious clam chowder! Wednesday we had to leave...too bad. We had a great time and I did not want to come back so soon! We were really enjoying the cooler temperatures and the time with family.

The beginning of catching up

Gabriel with Uncle Gary

Gary and Sandy

Gabriel with Nana and PaPaw

I'm not sure why it has been so long since I've posted. Gabriel and I took this trip over to my Mom & Dad's for Father's Day weekend, then we were in Seattle for Paula's graduation and last week the boys and I went to Mississippi with Grandma & Grandpa Womack. Other than that, we've been here, I have just been lazy about posting. So, this is the first of many photos and posts to come.

I took a few extra days around Father's Day and Wayne couldn't take extra time off, so that's why Wayne and Micah aren't in the pictures. We enjoyed the weekend, spending time with Mom & Dad and Gary and his girlfriend, Sandy. Gabriel thoroughly enjoyed pointing out all the tractors as we made the 5 hour drive. He's so fascinated with any vehicle.

Kids First Graduation

Another vain attempt at a family photo!

Love the look on Micah's face

Playground at Kids First

Emma

Wayne walking Micah with Miriam behind Wayne's right shoulder

Wayne in a chair made for 4 year olds

Grandma & Grandpa and Gabriel

One of several attempts to get his cap on; never worked

Getting his "diploma" from his teacher Lisa

Micah graduated from Kids First last Saturday. It was a cute little ceremony which lasted thirty or forty minutes at the most. Micah did so well sitting; Wayne only had to make him sit down once or twice. They had asked us to decide beforehand which parent would sit with the child and we decided it would be Wayne. We were surprised when we got there and they had all little chairs for kids and adults! So it was quite comical to see Wayne sit in one of those tiny chairs. Most everyone laughed when he sat down and I felt slightly bad for him all the while laughing myself. He was a good sport about it. Gabriel did so well too and sat with Grandpa the whole time.

They played "Pomp & Circumstance" as the kids walked in. I had asked jokingly if the Fort Smith symphony would be there to perform that song; the answer was "No, but maybe we'll look into it for next year." The kids sang songs they had learned for the year and then got their diplomas. I included the picture of Emma because she was the only student in Micah's class who he would let hold his hand when they walked places and had to hold someone's hand. I guess she has been his little friend.

Even though he graduated, he will still be going for the summer until Kindergarten starts in August.

Circle of Friends camp

One shot of the camp;wish I had taken more!

One of the counselors sharing a powerful song he wrote

Micah again trying to be a part of the talent show

One of many attempts to keep Micah occupied

Entertainment/Talent show & Micah

"Ride, Ride?!" He kept seeing these golf carts and wanted to ride one.

Cassie

Katie and John

Many of you know that for Memorial Day weekend we went to Camp Gilmont in East Texas for Circle of Friends weekend. We have been on a waiting list to go to this for 2 years. It is funded by grants and donations, therefore, no cost to us. Circle of Friends is a weekend for families of kids with special needs in which volunteers/counselors attend to the children for most of the weekend while the parents do whatever they want. The options were hiking, canoeing, swimming, taking a nap, reading, and talking with other parents. We chose all of those at one time or another throughout the weekend. The counselors were also responsible for eating with/feeding the kids for meals. We took the kids back around 8 both nights.

We went down on Friday to visit with my sister and her family (this is the camp where they live and work) and the Circle of Friends camp started on Saturday. From the minute we registered, the volunteers assigned to the kids took over. Micah was off and running and his counselors started following him immediately. He was able to run and go wherever he wanted: outside into the woods (not too far), inside to play for a bit, back outside...you get the idea. They also had swim time for the kids, which Micah loved. He seemed to really be comfortable with his "followers" as I liked to call them. Katie is a college student and John will be a junior in high school and they were great with Micah. I know they had to be exhausted by Monday morning!

Gabriel did fairly well, but was not exceptionally keen on being away from us. We would see them both periodically and Micah would smile or sometimes come over and give us one of his lean in hugs and then go back to roaming at his heart's content. Gabriel needed us to pick him up or take him for small increments at times. He seemed a little lost, but then I was reminded that it wasn't just 2 people at church that he only sees once a week, it was about 80 with an occasional glimpse of the two tall Womack's he calls Mom and Dad. I think next year he will do better, but he is only 2 (almost) after all. I didn't take as many photos as I should have. Kim and Thomas have been at this camp for 12 years, I think, and in all those years I'm not sure I've taken any pictures of the camp! I didn't do much better this time, and the ones I did take are not that quality. We are supposed to be getting a CD of photos of the weekend sometime soon. There was a talent show/entertainment show on Sat. night and Micah kept wanting to be in the middle of everyone's act. That's why there are a few pics of him with other people. I was slightly concerned about it, but know that they pretty much expect that to happen every year. If there was music involved he would usually do his funny little dance moves!

Wayne and I enjoyed time to ourselves and it was a little strange, but nice to have so much free time. I got to hang out with my sister some, so that's always great when I get to see her! One of the best things about the weekend was meeting Laura, who has a son with Tuberous Sclerosis. Her son is now 21, has his own lawn mowing business and is doing well. I had talked to her on the phone when Micah was first diagnosed but had never met her until this weekend. She is on the leadership for the Circle of Friends camp and had a workshop time for parents on Saturday. We also had a couple of blocks of time to compare stories and identify with struggles and hardships. I was really blessed by meeting her because she has a lot of insight; some things that I haven't even considered up to this point concerning Micah's future which I may go into on another post. This was the first time I had met someone face to face who has a child with TS and knows exactly how I feel. I can't describe how encouraging that was. Before we left she said "If I could walk a couple of miles for you, I would." To which I replied "You've already done your miles."

Evidence of Gabriel growing on Micah?

Closest brother pic so far

Micah about to make his escape

Gabe & Grandpa

Sweet father & son

Wayne dumped us out

These photos were taken by Wayne's mom and I couldn't resist posting the one of them in the wheel barrow especially! We were all amazed that Micah didn't try and get out of the wheel barrow immediately but let Gabriel ride with him. It didn't last more than a few minutes, but still was encouraging! The first pic was taken in March and you can sort of tell Micah is not too crazy about Gabriel being on the swing with him.

I think he is getting more and more accepting of Gabriel and sort of playing with him sometimes. Micah loves for Gabriel to chase him around the house. A couple of weeks ago, Micah even let Wayne "help" him give Gabriel a goodnight hug. He put Micah's arms around Gabriel and Micah didn't resist and even smiled about it. Of course, the next time we tried to do it he got upset. I don't think we'll be getting any pictures of them with their arms around each other anytime soon, but any little progress is nice!