Shea Fishing 2011

What can be said about this AWESOME activity that happens every year !!!   Mandy starts   talking about it, in January , and I always say,  Shea Fishing happens in the same month as, your birthday ,That  helps her to at least grasp when it happens.  :)  As the months go on, she looks at her pictures from years previous , and happily tells me " ITS ALMOST HERE MOM" !!!!   For those who don't live close, Shea Fishing is put on every year, by a gentleman here in town who owns a rock and gravel business. on his property he has a HUGE Pond  that he stocks every year and  he welcomes the Special Needs Kids back. he hosts a BIG hot dog lunch   for them , Mandy LOVES that too !!!   There are Volunteer "Fishing Buddies" 1 for every kid, they assist the kids in baiting hooks, casting lines and even reeling in their catches.

The excitement each one shows in  their own way is PRICELESS !   below are just a few pictures I was able to take after I arrived.

                                          

                                         
                                             

                                          

                                          Mandy's fishing buddy this year was  Manuel,
                                          he helped her to bring in 3 fish
                                                                  

                                                              YAY Mandy girl !!!  :)

                                            Kids and teacher's  doing the "Macarena"

                                               Mandy and aide Sherron

                                        Mandy and 1 of her classmates, Kaidee

                            THANK YOU JF SHEA FOR HOSTING ANOTHER GREAT DAY !!!

MANDY'S CLASS CRUISE TO THE MEXICAN RIVIERA

VERY early on April 24th. Mandy and I got up and got ready to go to the airport, we met several of her friends, their parents and her teacher there.  we boarded a plane to go down to LAX ( via a plane change in San Francisco) . 

at LAX, we caught a shuttle , that took  us to Long Beach, where we caught our Cruise ship , The Carnival Splendor !! 

                                           Above photo, was taken by Becky Smith  :)




Such a BIG Ship, it seems like it went on FOREVER, and was so TALL too !!  There were SO many activities, swimming pools , restaurants , Bars and SHOPPING ! We were on the ship 7 nights, and I know we must have missed things !!   if we take another Cruise on Carnival, I swear, I am wearing an "Odometer" to track just how many miles we walked !!!  We only walked thru it, but, there was also a VERY large casino

We stayed in a stateroom that had an "Ocean View" , was so cool to look out, especially in the evening or early in the morning, as the sun was coming up , looked like it was coming out of the water  at times. it was pretty cool !   we didn't always hang out with all the class but, in the evening we always caught up with everyone, and loved hearing about their experiences of the day !!     every evening, we had the same servers , below are pictures of each of them with Mandy !!

One of Mandy's VERY favorite things to do on the ship was to ,  OF COURSE Swim and, go on the slide  also they had a water play  area that she and several of the kids LOVED !!

 This slide was AWESOME , was shallow the whole way down and when she stood up at the bottom of the pool it was no higher than her mid knee !!

 making the hike down so I could take a pic. and, so she could get out and go AGAIN!!!

 There was a small slide in this play area and, when she got down to the bottom she was giggling  so hard, she could hardly get up!!!

                                                    I wanna go AGAIN........

                                                     and AGAIN !?!?!?!?!?!

Mandy's  Friends that  went on the Cruise were: Jaycob, Jeffery and the only other girl  that went was Sarah Jane !!!   We all had so much fun .  a couple of  other students from Mrs. Robeson's previous classes went on this cruise too.

Jaycob, is a Senior this year , so this was a VERY special Cruise for him !! his Mom, Mary also  came along !!

Keep watching for "Pirate ships, Jaycob" !!!   :)

Mandy's friend, Sarah Jane was the only other girl ( classmate) on the cruise this year, they had ALOT of fun !!! 
Sarah graduates  this year too. both her and Jaycob are heading into another program.

Mandy, is a year behind them , and if all goes right, she will be joining them , after her graduation in June 2012 !!!

Sarah's Mom Becky was also along for this GREAT Cruise too.

Another classmate on this cruise was, Jeffery ( below) ,  I asked him if I could take his picture for a special  page I was making about Mandy's Cruise, and he "Struck a pose"  if that's not asking to have your picture taken, I don't know what is !!!  :)    Jeffery's Mom and Dad also came along !!!                                 

Mandy's teacher this year has been Carol Robeson, what a wonderful lady and, GREAT teacher she has been to ALL the kids in her class , its been a privilege to have her as Mandy's teacher over the last few years here she is, with a few of  the kids. ( below: left to right: Jaycob, Mandy, Mrs. Robeson & Sarah Jane )

                                  A "Silly" Picture that I LOVE of    Mandy, Jaycob & Sarah !!!
                                        ( Taken  in Cabo San Lucas )