To My Third 3rd Grade Class

I know that sounds kind of strange- but it's true. This is the 3rd time I've been in 3rd grade! Luckily I've gotten to be in Mr. Kliment's class every year. I'm actually in 5th grade and this year will be my last year at Ezra Baker. Next year I will move all the way up to high school. I get to skip middle school completely!

I wanted to introduce myself to you since you might have some questions. You may be wondering why I use a wheelchair and why I do not speak with words. I have a condition called Cerebral Palsy, or CP for short. When I was born I had a little trouble and that made it hard for me to be able to walk, talk and communicate. 

Another thing to know about me is that I do not see very well- I can see bright colors and movement, but it is hard for me to see faces. Sometimes it might look like I'm sleeping, but I'm really not- I just keep my eyes down when I'm trying to pay attention. My hearing is very good though. 

Another important thing to know about me is that even though I cannot do many things you do, I still like to have people talk to me, read to me, play with me, and include me in activities. I really enjoy meeting new friends and being at school. I love music and dancing and I really love swimming. After school I sometimes ride my bike, go swinging or ride my zip line! In the winter time I like to go skiing and sledding.

I also love to spend time with my family and go on adventures. My family always finds a way for me to participate in whatever we do. You can read all about my summer adventures here. 

Some other interesting facts about me are that I was born in California and I moved here when I was six. My other classroom is across the hall with Mrs. Johnson. I hope some of you will be able to visit my class sometimes. I have a little brother named Liam and he is 8. My little sister is named Addy and she is 6. Here we are on the first day of school. 

Liam, Addy and Me

I ride a cool bus to school that has a lift on it for my chair!

I am looking forward to getting to know you all and graduating with you at the end of the school year.

Summer is gone...

I can't believe it's been so many months since we have written an update! Summer is already come and gone. We were so busy having fun we forgot about blogging for awhile. Here is what we were up to for the past few months...It was a summer all about FAMILY!!

When summer first started we went to Pennsylvania to go to The Family Hope Center and then to visit my Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judy. We had lots of fun riding on their pontoon boat and swimming at the pool.

I love riding the boat!

Grandpa Bob, My sister Addy and ME!

When we got back from PA it was the 4th of July! I love going to the parade in Chatham- but sometimes the cannons are a little too loud.

In the middle of July my mom and I went to Houston for our last trip. I am part of a stem cell trial at the University of Texas. We got to have some fun while we were there. We went to the Houston Aquarium and to the Museum of Fine Arts. It was super hot while we were there!

Museum of Modern Art- that's all paper!

The Aquarium had white tigers!

Petting the rays

Splash park

Riding a giant ferris wheel

Ready for some tests!

When I got back from Texas it was my brother's birthday party. We went on a REAL pirate boat! We looked for treasure and used the water cannons to get the bad pirate. We all dressed up like pirates and sailed on the water.

Kingfisher Kai (Pirate Name)

Getting my treasure!

At the end of July we went to Rhode Island to stay with my Mema and Grandpa Al. We had a fun week of time at the beach, birthday celebrations, outdoor concerts and treats!

Blueberry picking

Playing with my cousin Bo and Uncle Andy

I love babies!

Hangin at the beach

Luau party with my cousin

In August we had a visit from our Aunt, Uncle and four cousins from Alaska! This was the first time I ever got to meet them! We went to the beach and played lots. My cousins pushed me on the zip line so many times!

Swimming with Uncle Jack

Cousin Liana

Watching movies

Yeah Cousins!!

By the middle of August we were set to head out for our last road trip for the summer. It was time to visit Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Ken in Illinois. We visited my Aunt and cousin too! We even saw mom's uncles and cousins. We went bike riding and to a water park. We also took the train into Chicago and went to an amazing playground and to the Art Institute. We listened to a concert in the park too!

At the Art Institute

Maggie Daley Park in Chicago

Our reflection in "The Bean"

Millenium Park

Concert in the park with cousins

Saying goodbye to Grandma and Emmett

When we got back from Illinois we still had one more trip before school started. It was one of the best parts of my whole summer! We took a ferry to Martha's Vineyard to Camp Jabberwocky. Jabberwocky is a poem from Alice in Wonderland. This is a special camp for kids like me! Our whole family stayed at the camp and we had so much fun! Unfortunately, we had to end our trip early because of the tropical storm-- we can't wait to go next year!

Dancing at camp

Archery

Cruising on a Catamaran

Saying goodbye

New friends

The Goleys Go Camping!

It's spring break on Cape Cod- and everyone in my house knows that if it's not warm by spring break- we better get Mom somewhere warm! Recently, we bought a pop-up camper with my Mema. We love to camp, but sleeping on the ground and fitting my wheelchair in a tent gets hard. So, Mom said, "For spring break we drive south until it's at least 70 degrees!" A couple of days before we left, we looked at the weather and decided that Maryland was going to have good weather- warm and no rain! 

All packed up- ready to hit the road!

Dad looked online for a campground close to Washington DC- we ended up at Smallwood State Park. We parked in a nice spot and setup camp! The camp was right on the Potomac River and had a museum and a discovery center- it was pretty quiet while we were there.

Here we are, all set up!

It was really cozy...

We saw some cool things around our campground...

There were lots of trees nearby that had gotten knocked down by a storm- some had SUPER HUGE ROOTS!

Here is an osprey nest- it was super close to us on a pier in the water. It was really low to the water- not up high.

Hiking on The General's Walk hiking trail

Dad helping me hike

A GIANT Gypsy Moth nest

The playground had a really cool swing- just for me!

We visited an old fashioned farm

Haberdeventure- the house of Thomas Stone (he signed the declaration of independence)

We went to Mount Vernon, that is where George Washington lived. He was quite an amazing man! We toured his house and grounds...

I got to use a hammer to put a nail in this stump.

We saw a blacksmith making some horseshoes

Here I am outside of Mt. Vernon

Here is where George Washington is buried

Liam got a fife for his souvenir and we found a real fifer on our way out!

George, Martha and two of their kids

Slave memorial at Mt. Vernon

 We went into Washington DC one day too! We even got to take the Metro! We went to lots of Smithsonian Museums and the National Gallery of Art.

Sitting at the fountain in the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden

The water was so cold!

Wet toes

At the National Gallery of Art

 Our last morning at camp- ready to head home! Little did we know that it would take us 13 hours just to get to Rhode Island!

 Ready to go back to school tomorrow...