Zoo Appreciation and First Day of Speech School

Look at me... PIGGIE TAILS... Her hair in the back is getting so long. Jenna will now sit for me so I can do her hair!! I love piggie tails. BIG smiles!!!
Jackson at the zoo in the aquarium exhibit. We love looking at the different fish.
Just a picture by the sign... Jackson was going to point the opposite way of the signs.. but he got distracted. Imagine that!
Dad and Jenna at the park after the Zoo Appreciation night. Really, we as patrons should have an appreciation night for the zoo... not the other way around. They are a HUGE asset in our community!
FIRST DAY OF SPEECH SCHOOL. For those of you who only know Jackson now and not three years back you would not understand why he is in speech school. Lets just say he went into speech school saying maybe 20 words at age THREE.... His speech just EXPLODED and finally had him saying things like "I want" and "I Need"... that was HUGE for us. We are still working with him everyday and reminding him to use his words and not react. Jackson is such a passionate child... he is passionate about loving people, passionate about his "friends" (webkins), passionate about many things and when he is mad.. he is also ver PASSIONATE... phew.. to say the least. I have spent soo many days and nights crying wondering what we did wrong and why we could not help Jackson. Now I know that we are doing the best we can and with the help of those in his life who have believed in him despite the challenging days and have never given up on him.. He has come such a long way. I am sad to say that there have been people who have given up on him... more than I can believe but Jackson has proven that he is worth every tear, prayer, and bit of energy that I have. Jackson deserves to have respect like everyone else, patience from those around him and love.... lots of love. Ok.. so to make this short I want to say thank you to all who continuously believe in Jackson and have stood by us. We are blessed.

Speaking of blessed... Jackson was SOOO excited to go to Patty and Kristi's school...

Yep... VERY excited... we were wasting time outside waiting for the bus to come!!! He looks soo darn cute!Here comes #12 - Karens Bus. She pulled up, he put on his backpack and said hi to Karen...and proceeded to tell her that "today is my first day of school". He told everyone that he knew it was his first day of school. Yep.. no bye for mom.. just get on the bus and go!

I had to get a picture of him on the bus... too cute!

Jackson is coming home.... here is the bus coming down the street. Jenna is waving.

Bus is HERE!
He was very excited to see his sister and Mom waiting for him...
And finally... something I have wanted to do since he started school... meet him at the bus and surprise him with a gluten free m&m cookie... fresh and yummy!

It was a great day and we are looking forward to a GREAT year!