This is the first year that we have gone to the Stepping Stones Christmas party and I'm so happy that we went. I was extremely worried that Bobby would be upset that he wasn't going swimming and when we first got there it was a little bit of an issue, but he could tell from the room and the smells that something different was going on here today!
The room was packed when we walked in but Bobby, who at one point in his life refused to walk into the gym, walked right in and sat in his seat. He needed many verbal prompts to remain in his seat because there were big blow up decorations and balloons everywhere. Someone came over and asked him if he wanted to decorate cookies and he said "yes," so over to the cookie table we went.
I iced and he sprinkled! He never did eat the cookie, just played in it's sprinkles and made a mess!! Oh well, I was just happy that he participated in an activity.
Then we went back to our seats to wait. This year Stepping Stones, which is a great organization that provided recreational activities for persons with disabilities, partnered with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Some Pirate players and the beloved Pirate Parrot were scheduled to be at the party. We had to wait for the media to get all set up and for the players to be introduced and give a little speech. This part was a little difficult for Bobby to sit through and he kept yelling "pee pee potty" so that I would take him out of the room and he could walk around the building. I finally gave in when he was getting louder. When we got out into the hallway, Daddy was walking into the building because he came to the party straight from work. Perfect timing, Daddy can take him into the men's room. Bobby moved around the hallway for a few minutes and then back to our seats.
They were finally all introduced and it was time to get up and move around the room. Feel free to go talk with the players and Parrot and take pictures. Bobby got right up and went to the back of the room.
Ah, the look of a happy boy who is free to move around the room. It quickly became apparent that the reason Bobby wanted up and to the back of the room....balloons!! He was fascinated by the balloon towers and would NOT leave them alone. He actually popped two balloons...talk about making some noise!
We ushered him over to the area set up for Santa and had him sit down and take a little break.
One of our friends came over to check out the fireplace and sat with Bobby for a minute or two. They were both in constant motion making picture taking a little difficult.
Bobby's still trying to figure out how to get back over to the balloons!!
Are they going in for the kiss??? NO, just going in the same direction at the same time!! LOL!!
All evening, we tended to do everything at a different time than everyone else. When the line for meeting the Pirate Parrot was gone, we went over to say hello and got some extra time with the green bird!!
Bobby was fascinated that he could see into the mouth and see the mesh that was covering the face of the person inside. This made for cute pictures but imagine being the person inside and this boy is trying to continually touch your face!
We left the parrot and went off to do some other things. Bobby even sat down at a craft table and decorated a foam craft Christmas tree. He then went over to see and touch the big inflatable snow globe. When he turned back around the Pirate Parrot was right beside him. In the land of autism, this was no big deal....just like "why wouldn't he be there?"!!
He did it. I'm not sure how, but we let our guards down and he did it. He freed two balloons from one of the balloon towers.
If I had known exactly how happy these balloons were going to make him and entertained that they were going to keep him, I would have gotten them off myself when we walked through the door!!
He stood in the back of the room off to the side while all of this media craziness was going on and played so nicely with the balloons.
I got a text from my mom around this time...."I just saw you all on TV." We had no idea that they were broadcasting live, just assumed that they were doing taped pieces. We would have kept Bobby over to the other side of the room just a little better!!
Our friend Hope came over and wanted one of the balloons. Bobby wasn't having any part of giving up a balloon but we made him....have to teach boys how to have chivalry!! So he was left with one balloon and actually had more fun keeping just one balloon up in the air and the smile almost never left his face for the rest of the party.
We then heard some sleigh bells!!! Santa had arrived!!! For us, this was the perfect time to head to the food tables....the line was just about gone and everyone else was running to see Santa.
The party was catered by Chick Fil A!! Talk about a Bobby score. The entire gym smelled like a Chick Fil A restaurant. There was only one problem....no french fries. They are just not an easy food item to have catered, they would have been hard as a rock by meal time. He did eat a few bites of chicken and some apple while Daddy and I were eating as quickly as we could because we knew he wasn't sitting for too long. We were right.....the Christmas music stopped and the dancing music began!!!
Bobby got up and ran to the back of the room....with his balloon still in had. He stood off to the side but was watching with wide eyes and enjoying every second of it!!
The Chicken Dance began.
I look over at Bobby and HE IS DOING THE CHICKEN DANCE!! He is standing over in the corner dancing away and smiling wide!!
I could not even believe it!! He would throw his balloon in the air and make his hands quack!!
It is totally obvious from the look on his face.....he is LOVING this!!
The party was scheduled from 5-7. At 6:50 Bobby looked at me and said "Wheel of Fortune." Me: "Do you want to go home?" Bobby: "Yes. Wheel of Fortune." I looked over towards Santa and the line was still crazy long. We went over and picked up his gift bag (which contained a Pittsburgh Pirate Christmas tree ornament. They also gave all of the kids a Pittsburgh Pirates winter hat earlier in the evening). He walked perfectly over to the table and put on his coat and off we went. It was a perfect evening!!!!!
Next on our Christmas tradition list.....the Christmas light display at Morris Park in Fairmont.
It opens up at 5 on the weekends and we were there right when it opened, the only way not to have to wait in lines. We were the first ones through for the night and there was no one behind us. Plenty of time to stop and each display and actually look.
Santa's reindeer were actually there too!!! The took off their antlers and left them in the stable.
I decided to put the car in park and get Bobby out to take some pictures with the lights.
He thought that this was great fun. Like we were breaking some major rule!!
Grandma decided to get out of the car too and get in on the picture action!!!
Come on Grandma, squint your eyes like this, it makes the lights much prettier!!
It was quickly becoming too dark to get pictures, we had to get in front of the headlights because the camera flash made the pictures a mess.
This is such a nice light display. A mile of cute little display one right after each other.
He is jumping around on the road having so much fun!!
The ice skaters are by far our favorite display.
Bobby said "train" which made me happy!
A fun evening of Christmas memories with Grandma.
By Saturday I was worn out. I would have been more than happy to stay in my pj's all day, but Bobby was bored. After dinner we got in the car and drove to Westover to visit an extreme light display that I've been wanting to take Bobby to for a while now. I really had no idea what to expect other than you can't see if from the road, you have to park and get out and walk around. They actually have a couple of people out there in reflective vests with flashlights helping you to park and they are very friendly. We heard a lot of "Merry Christmas" from these guys.
They have a marked off path that you get out and walk around the property to look at all of the light displays.
Bobby wasn't a fan of the path, he wanted over or under the "fence" to get to the lights. He also wanted to go up on their front and back porch. I'm assuming that he wanted to go in for a visit!!!
I'm not sure if this was just too much sensory overload for Bobby, but he wasn't enjoying this like he did our last light display.
Grandma came along for the lights too!!!
I think that if lights are in someone's yard, we will only "visit" if we can drive by.
Christmas is quickly approaching. One more week of school before the long winter break. The big event of this upcoming week.....Bobby gets his cast off on Friday. Praying that his x-rays show that he is all healed and no new cast needed for the Christmas holiday.
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