Anniversary Weekend Fun in the 'burgh

Planning a weekend getaway is difficult.  I know, middle class problems, right!!  In my defense, I hadn't had a night away from Bobby for two years.....two LONG years! Many different ideas and plans were started, but they just didn't seem like the right idea.  Spending 4 or more hours driving one way just seems silly when we you are talking about a 48 hour getaway.  Last week I made a final plan, drive an hour north and spend the weekend in Pittsburgh.

My mom came and stayed for the weekend to take care of Bobby and his respite worker came to help out during the days.  Bob and I got in the car early Friday afternoon and headed off for some much needed weekend fun!

 We stayed at the Sheraton in Station Square, where we had an outstanding view of the city.

 Poor Bob has just given up on the fact that I'm not going to take tons of pictures and that he is going to be in many of the said pictures.  Fair is fair, since I take so many pics of him, I had to get into some too....yes, even in the hotel parking lot.  I know, poor guy!

There was one little issue on Friday.....the HEAT!  All I know is that I have to try and be the best person that I can be because I am definitely not meant for hell.....the heat, with high humidity, was just a little too much!! Our clothing options for the day were switched out for lightweight fabrics!

We spent some of the afternoon exploring Station Square, which is such a nice touristy area with restaurants, shops and great city views.  Our big plan for the day.....a Pittsburgh Pirates game.  Part of the fun....riding a Gateway Clipper boat across the river to the game.   

We went over on the first shuttle of the afternoon and had two hours to explore the area before the baseball game began.  SCORE.....the Three Rivers Regatta was going on and we could see some amazing water fun happening.  We walked over and enjoyed watching guys do stunts on wave runners and jet packs.  So cool!!!

After the water show ended, there were some BMX bikers doing a show.

We had a great time watching all of the fun, however, we were sweat covered.  Now to head over to the stadium and pack in with a bunch of other sweat covered fans!!  LOL!!

It was Stand Up To Cancer free t-shirt night at the ballpark.  So before the game they brought out different kids, told their stories and granted wishes.....yes, so I am sitting there sweat covered and crying!!  This is why there are zero pictures of Bob and me at the game!!  

At 9:00 pm the temp was still 86 degrees and super humid.  OK, I know our weather and this never happens.....unless I am packed in a ball game!!!  Even with the heat, it was still fun.  PNC Park is such a beautiful facility.  However, I was extremely happy to go get back on the boat and go back to the hotel.

Thankfully, Saturday's weather was much more tolerable.  The humidity was much lower and the temps down a little.  We had the hotel shuttle drive us back across the river and drop us off at the Carnegie Science Center.  We went in looked at the model train display.  Bob put a much smaller train together years ago for Bobby....this just might inspire him to get it out and set it up....or not, this one is pretty impressive!!  

We walked around, saw some sights, and found a fun restaurant for lunch. 

I was so excited when I began hearing Mr. Roger's voice.......

Ahhhh, a Mr. Roger's statue and on going recordings of some of his words of wisdom.  

We saw some more monuments and then found a lunch spot.

Well alright....a shade covered, outside table for lunch!! 

Lunch became even more fun when speed boat races began on the river and we had the perfect seats!!

Boats racing at 125 mph is pretty cool!!  The regatta was just icing on the cake for our weekend. We saw most of the events that were offered and loved them all!

We found a perfect location to sit and watch some of the water activities!! Just in case you were wondering, because my mom asked, yes, you are allowed in the fountain.  There were a bunch of kids in their bathing suits totally int he water and people all over the rocks with their feet in cooling off. No, the rocks are not slippery at all, they are finished with a texture.....Bob and I were both wondering before we stuck our feet in.

The shuttle came and picked us up, took us back to the hotel and we got ready to go out to dinner. Station Square is right beside the hotel and we walked around and checked out our options.

 We decided on the Hard Rock Cafe.

 We had PLENTY of time to take pictures!!  They texted to tell us that our table was ready.  15 minutes after we sat down, our waitress finally came over to take our drink order, we went ahead and ordered our meals because we had plenty of time to decide.

I really try not to complain.  I'm the type of person to write a letter to compliment a good job done, not complain about poor service.......but.....after sitting there for 45 minutes, I asked our waitress about our food, "the kitchen is really backed up" was her response.  Ummm, the place is only half full, other people are getting food.  15 minutes later, the manager comes around to ask tables how they are doing.  I pulled out my phone and showed him my text that our table was ready so that he could see the time that we sat down....and hour and five minutes earlier.  He couldn't have been nicer, running and getting us drinks, our food arrived a couple of minutes later and he came back a couple more times, apologizing, kept asking us what else he could get us and gave us our meals for free. Our poor waitress is in the wrong profession.  Bob asked her for a fork after our food came and we realized that we didn't have any silverware.....the prep station was literally 10 yards away, she forgot by the time that she walked over there and Bob had to ask her again when she walked by!!!  Heaven help her!!!  Oh well, at least I got to see one of Prince's outfits!!!  LOL!!

 Bob checking out a coal train going by!!  A little after dinner fun!!

A peek down the middle of station square.....

We had a wonderful 48 hours.  Driving home Bob remarked that he had a great time and thanked me for planning such a fun weekend.  Think I'll keep him!!!  Thanks Mom for watching Bobby so that we could get away!! 

Splash Zone Swim Party with the Autism Society of WV

As I pulled into the parking space, Bobby's anxiety level was on high.  He put his hand on top of mine and tried to get me to turn the key back on, get the car started and get the heck out of there. Too many kids coming out of the water park at the end of the day and a group of kids with autism waiting to go into the park for their after hours pool party was a little too much for him.

Sorry buddy, we are going in, because I know that after you calm yourself down, your gonna love it!

Waiting in line to sign in and get our wrist bands was stressful.  Bobby was yelling out and hitting his head, but with this group of people, it wasn't even noticed, that's why we love to do things, especially new things, with the Corridor Chapter of the Autism Society of WV.....these are our peeps, we all get it and don't have to say a word to each other.

Once inside the Splash Zone water park, he didn't calm down when he saw the slides, pools and spraying water.  More yelling out, hitting his head, and trying to leave from Bobby but we were determined to stay.  We walked around and let him see all of the areas and see that many of the faces in the crowd were familiar.  He refused to take off his shoes and shirt when I tried to prompt him to walk over a bridge to get a better view of the park and when I tried to get him to walk into a beach entry pool, which is favorite part of Stepping Stones.

We finally made it to the far side of the park and Bobby started taking his shirt off and kicked off his shoes, Daddy and I were thrilled and we both assumed that he was going to walk into the water play area that looked almost identical to his favorite water play area at Krepps pool where he has been participating in adaptive swimming for years.  He didn't however, he walked over to the stairs for the largest water slide of the park.  Yippee!!!

Daddy went up the stairs with him and I went to the bottom of the slide and waited, and waited, and waited.  I decided that it would be best if Daddy and I switch places because I know that Daddy won't force him to do something, and I on the other hand, have no problem doing this.  I went up the stairs and Daddy went to the bottom.  I tend to talk to Bobby out loud in these situations, "I know that you want to do this, I can see it in your face.  SIT DOWN!!"  I helped him get his legs in front of him and pushed him down the slide!!

On his first time down, he held on to the side of the slide to slow himself down and by the bottom was turned around a little and Daddy said that he landed in the water head first.  He got out of the water at the bottom and headed straight for the the stairs.  I helped him again and down he went. This time I ran down the stairs and had Daddy go to the top so that I could get a picture of Bobby coming down the slide.

He was squealing with delight when he landed into the bottom pool!!  I prompted over to the pool stairs quickly so that the next kid could slide, otherwise, he would take a grand old time!!

He got out, walked over to the stairs where Daddy was waiting at the top.  He did this close to 10 times in a row!!

 While I was standing at the bottom waiting for Bobby to come down again, I heard my name, I turned around and Joey was floating by in the lazy river!!

Look at this smile on his face!!!  So glad that we stayed and forced the issue.  He is having fun!! Then, he got out of the bottom pool and was ready to go home.  What??  You are having fun, lets go explore more of the park!!  Daddy and I had to force the issue some more....you are staying and playing Bobby!!

He walked over to this slide, climbed the ladder, sat down and down he went.  Yeah, I think he was a little surprised when he landed in 9 feet of water versus the small pool that he landed in for the huge water slide!!!

I heard my name again.........Joey!!!

We stopped for some pictures with Sonny and Joey.

We gave in and let Bobby go change his clothes and we left halfway through the party.  So proud that Bobby was able to calm himself down, he didn't melt down, just made some noise.  Funny thing is, he will probably be asking for the slide nonstop!  We are just so thankful for groups like the Autism Society where we can force the issue with Bobby in a safe, nonjudgemental environment!!