Activity #11

Hayden goes camping---NOT!!!

It's Friday, and as we all know the school week is long, and we all get a little tired of the routine. For Hayden, her solution is to bypass her trip to school, and go camping instead. Or at least that is what she told her bus driver. All of this came to light when the driver called her mother to verify that Hayden did NOT need to be picked up this morning because she was going camping. "NO. Hayden is not going camping, and needs to be picked up this morning. Thanks for checking." When my sister asked Hayden if she told the bus driver not to pick her up in the morning because she was going camping, Hayden replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "Yeah, but it's OK, I'm not going anymore."

We are not too sure who should get the award today. Hayden, for her imagination, or the bus driver, for listening to a 12 year old who rides a bus for children with disabilities. Not much of a toss up in my mind.

Not to self: go camping, it's better than anything else I had planned today.

Activity #10

After the "sleep over" there is always a "morning after". In Hayden's case, the morning usually begins at 5am. Yes, 5 AM! Not that I wasn't warned by my sister's FB status a couple of days ago which is as follows: " woke up at 4:45am lights on Hayden not in her room found her watching TV downstairs, I said it's too early to be awake she said " I was getting bored sleeping, sleeping is not fun. Don't worry this is what I do." ( Haydens version of "this is how I roll")"... Lucky for me, her Uncle Peter intercepted her and directed her back to her pillow. OFFICIAL wake up time was 720am, and the before school preparation began. It's truly amazing that we forget so quickly the "routine" that is involved with this. Breakfast, getting dressed, packing up the backpack, brushing hair, brushing teeth,and finally, playing with the dogs.

Don't be alarmed, but Hayden is now married-----to Sammy, our dog. She asked him today if he wanted to get married as she was playing with him, and then promptly gave him instructions to "kiss the bride!". All of this happening while she was making him stand up on his back legs like a little person.

Finally, we ventured to Lightning McQueen for the trip to school. It is clear that the world is just full of Hayden's friends, and that every day at school is just another day for her to interact with those friends. While driving down the street to her school, she saw some of those friends. "KATHY!!!!!" being yelled through a rolled up window is not very effective, but she didn't care, and was just thrilled that she got to see Kathy before the start of her school day. A hug, a kiss, and an "I love you Aunt" was all I needed to start mine. I can't wait until Activity #11.

Activity #9

So,...Hayden is spending the night with us because her Mom and Dad are at a Kaiser event tonight. Picked her up from the bus, grabbed her backpack, and bag, and off we went in "Lightning McQueen" (that is what she calls my 2008 350Z).

First stop, 99cent store for some supplies. Camp Rock sunglasses: 99cents; Hannah Montana coloring/activity book: 99cents; arm band to put her ipod in so she can walk around and sing: 99cents. I got her to stop asking if we were done yet by threatening to put everything she picked out back on the shelf! She accidentally asked, but caught herself and said "sorry".

Next stop, Raley's. This is where the first ALL IMPORTANT question was not only asked, but answered while walking through the parking lot. "Do cars have birthdays?" "No. I don't think so, because they weren't born. Only things that are born have birthdays." After we solved one of lifes mysterys, we proceed into the store. Bathroom first. After that, a little shopping, with of course ice cream being at the top of the list. Cookies and Cream. Then, home to swim. While she was swimming, Aunt made spaghetti and watched her out of the kitchen window.

We have reviewed all of the animal's birthdays and ages, taken showers, and eaten spaghetti, pondered on a question I didn't have an answer to (who built my house) and are now lined up for the end of a perfect day---dessert! You guessed it, ICE CREAM! Gosh, I love this girl. And Ice cream.

ACTIVITY #8

WOW! We really need to be better about keeping this updated! There really are activities going on, but sometimes we get so busy, that we forget to write about them.

Let me start by saying that our little girl is growing up! She's 12. Turned 12 on August 19th, 2009. Her present from her mother of a karaoke machine, an ICARLY karaoke machine is a hit. Apparantly, all of the neighbor children come over for daily singing adventures, and Hayden couldn't be happier! The Ongoy family got her a Hannah Montana sterling silver charm to add to her collection. We began this tradition when she was a baby, and by the time she is sweet 16 she should have enough for a rockin' charm bracelet. Each charm is representative of what was going on in that year. Can't wait until she is old enough to wear it, and appreciate it.

What else is new? School is back in session, and little miss 6th grader is doing well! Plans to take her to the new Rite Aid on Marconi Ave for ice cream are in the making. It will be the official "congratualations on starting 6th grade", activity. I am sure there will be stories to tell after that! Especially since Hayden's number 1 food group is: ICE CREAM! You can pretty much con her into doing anything with the promise of ice cream! Except maybe cutting her toenails.

Until next time, happy September!

Activity #7

Some of the best things come in twos! Hayden belongs to a play group for other children with Down Syndrome. She goes every week, and has made a lot of good friends. One of her friends is a couple years older than her, and her name is Katelyn. She is 13, and spent the night at Hayden's house. The next day, they decided to come over for a swim day at Aunt's house.

We played lots of fun games, and basically enjoyed a day of fun in the water. The most memorable moment, was when Katelyn and Aunt had to close their eyes so that Hayden could throw the diving sticks in the pool, so we could all race to see who would get the most dive sticks. Katelyn and Aunt were both "closing their eyes", when Aunt looked over and saw that Katelyn was actually CHEATING by watching where Hayden was throwing the sticks. Katelyn saw she was "busted" by Aunt for cheating, and started laughing, and with all the simplicity and pureness that could come from her heart, turned to Aunt, giggling, and said "I LOVE YOU!" I love you too, Katelyn.

Activity #6

So, a few years ago, we were all gathered at Hayden's house to have a family dinner. Makena had brought a friend, named Lauren. Hayden's other cousin, Kilinoe was chasing her around downstairs where all the kids, including Makena and Lauren, were waiting for dinner. Hayden almost tripped while being chased around by Kili, and in true little kid fashion immediately got angry. She steadied herself and turned to Lauren, whom she hadn't ever met before and shouted "I don't like YOU"... Even though Lauren had absolutely nothing to do with the incident. It's been about 3-4 years since this had happened. And while at a bbq at Aunt and Makena's house, Hayden was enjoying herself in the pool when Lauren walked in. As soon as Hayden spotted Lauren she said, in a sing-song voice, "I hate youuuuu".. We all started cracking up and then Hayden lovingly looked up at Lauren and said "I'm just kidding, I like you"...

Activity #5

Sammy aka Pickle, is a black, schnauzer/westie mix dog that lives at the Ongoy house. Hayden has a WHITE dog that was in need of serious grooming, so we suggested she take Lucy, her dog, to the same groomer as Sammy. When her mom told her that Lucy was going to go to the same groomer and get her haircut like Sammy, she was very excited that Lucy would be cute like Sammy, after her appointment. She thought for awhile, and asked her Mom, "are they going to put black in her hair?". "no", her mom replied. "GOOD!" said Hayden. "I don't want her to be black".