Hope’s Page

Hope is almost swimming!

October 2012

Over the last two years, we had Hope enrolled in Survival Swimming, a class that focused on teaching her how to float (yes, the joke is pending arrival, here it comes: Hope Floats!). This summer—and part of last summer—we have been working on swimming.

Her instructor Noah just finished this year’s lessons and said she is ready; all she needs now is repetition, time in the water.

She can swim short distances without problem, and loves looking underwater with goggles.

Special thanks to Michelle LeFay and  Noah Finley for all the patience, hard work and excellent instruction!

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Hope wants a game-book with toys

Oct 2, 2012

Hope wants Daddy to buy something in the store:

Daddy: “Maybe, Hope, we need to find out how much it costs….”

Hope: “Seven…Uhm,   One… Six…  Three… Six…  It’s that kind of dollars, it takes that kind of dollars….”

That kind of cuteness wins the prize!

 

Hope Update

September, 2012

Well, Hope had a very active Summer. We did two road trips, one to Disneyland and another longer trip to Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Tahoe and Reno. In Santa Barbara, she visited the zoo, the Jellyfish Museum, and got to play for the first time in the surf—yes, she finally has overcome her fear of sand! In Sactown, she visited with Oma and Opa Butler, and explored their beautiful back yard, with all the secret gardens, a tree swing, and Fritzy the Cat. We stayed at a hotel on the beach in Tahoe, and had a great visit with the extended family in celebration of Oma Tahoe’s 90th birthday. Hope got to see cousins Daniel and Crystal again. Then in Reno, she got to visit her Birth-grandmother Jie, and she met—for the first time—two of her birth-siblings, Johann and Caroliana. Hope was a real trooper on the road, as we traveled about 2000 miles; she did great. See the Main Page blogs for pix.

Hope draws a horse, Picasso style.

Hope is going to School!

Feb. 17, 2012.

Yes, she is only three years old and is going to elementary school. Rather than pre-school, we signed her up for the Panda Program, a program that combines youngsters with special needs with other non-special needs children in a regular elementary school classroom environment. The school was looking for 3 to 5 year olds that would integrate well socially with the handicapped children, and Hope was actually interviewed and approved by the school district. Peyton, Hope’s cousin (first cousin, once removed; Lisa’s niece Malina’s daughter) is also in her class, and they are enjoying being together in a ‘big kid’s school.’