I have to apologize for not being more productive with this website--I have a very hard time getting things uploaded on the site---I think they want us to start paying for our space as that would speed things up but I'm not ready to do that yet--so thank you for your patience, I hope that you still come back to check in on us occasionally!!! Now, on with the update:
May was a busy month for us. Kaylyn had her first "friend" party at the bowling alley with her preschool buddies from school. What a blast! They had so much fun playing together. It was pretty wild as they were all over the bowling alley but we finally got a chance to meet all the kids and most of their parents. They were so cute, huggin each other and playing together. What a treat!!
Kaylyn's last month of school was wonderful. We are truly amazed by all that she has learned. She is constantly singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star", "The Itsy Bitsy spider", "the Wheels on the bus", "ABC's", ...... and on and on and on. She is recognizing her numbers to ten, counting to 30----she was stuck on it being 20-10 for so long but we finally convinced her that 30 comes after 29, not 20-10---, she is also recognizing most of the letters of the alphabet. She constantly tells me, "K--for Kaylyn, M- for Mommy, D--for daddy, and E--for Elmo." That's our family!!!! The biggest news from school is that Kaylyn's teacher, Lana, worked with us to get some extra funds to purchase an FM system to use at home. An FM System simply amplifies the sound that Kaylyn is hearing through "boots" that hook into her hearing aids and a microphone system. Cory's friends Chad and Melissa Nesemeier called us in January to see if there was anything we needed for Kaylyn as Melissa was given a $1000 bonus at work to give to a family or a charity that could use it. Thanks to them and Kaylyn's family we were able to purchase the system for home. We have seen amazing results. Kaylyn and I drove to Crosby two weeks ago to help Alysa and Brian pack their house for their big move to Rolla----Kaylyn and I talked in the car the whole way there looking for red barns, counting cows, and singing. It was so much fun---we have NEVER been able to talk like that in the car due to all the road noise and distractions. It was amazing! It also helps so much when we are out at the mall shopping. She responds instantly to our voices in a crowded room. Like I said---it is amazing! Kaylyn's favorite part of the last month of school was her field trip to the zoo. She LOVES the goats and tiger----we have had many trips this summer and she remembers where EVERYTHING is located. She also loves the "Mingos." (flamingos!!)
May also brought Grandpa Mac's retirement party. Mommy wasn't able to go along but Daddy and Kaylyn had a great time playing with Cousin Madelyn. They had a chance to see lots of family but had to make a quick trip back for graduation in Rolette---Kristyn Nelson--who I babysat for years and years graduated from high school! It was fun to see her and the Nelson family and visit with lots of friends and teachers from Rolette--we just don't get back there much so it's always fun when we do!
We had our 2nd Annual Johnson family outing--this year to celebrate Grammy's 60h birthday. We spent one day the the Valleyfair---Kaylyn and Max had a blast on all the kiddy rides. We were there for over 6 hours, more than any of us imagined. Since that trip, Kaylyn has been telling stories about going "around and around"--(ferris wheel) and "up and down" (frog ride) and Mommy getting all wet on the log ride. She really enjoyed that day. The following day we went to watch the Twins play. Kaylyn went from Mommy to Daddy, to Uncle G, to Grammy and Gramps, to Auntie, back to Mommy and then to her own seat. She LOVED the game and has been teaching mommy and daddy how to pitch like a professional baseball player--she even looks over her shoulder to see if a runner is trying to steal second base. (She has learned a lot more about baseball from watching Zach and Jackon's baseball games this summer too!) The following day was a girls shopping day and then we had Kaylyn check-up in Minneapolis--good report. She did get a new prescription, a little bit stronger than before but there was some change to her eyes. He is also wanting to keep a close eye on the scarring in her eye from the laser surgery as her eye grows. He said there is a chance that it may interfere with her central vision which would result in another surgery. He continues to be amazed how much vision she appears to have---he says with all the lasering done to her eye and scar tissue floating around, she should not see as much as she does---another miracle!
Kaylyn had her first session of swimming lessons two days per week at the YMCA in June. She really enjoyed them much more than we thought. We always struggle with her at the pool as she isn't able to wear her hearing aids. Her teachers did a nice job making sure she understood what was going on. We talked and talked before each lesson about how Mommy and daddy couldn't swim with Kaylyn--it would be "just Kaylyn" in the water. That's her favorite phrase now---"no mommy or daddy, JUST KAYLYN!"
Kaylyn also had another first---riding horse. We went out to Carpio to Mommy's friend Summer's farm. Kaylyn played with Isabel and Gus while Mommy and Summer visited. Then we ventured outside and Kaylyn and Isabel rode Chief. He is a wonderful horse and was so slow and gentle. Kaylyn wasn't one bit scared of the horse or riding. She had so much fun and didn't want to get off. When we got the girls off the horse they each got to give Chief snacks--Kaylyn thought it tickled when he ate out of her hand. "Chief's silly" she kept saying. Kaylyn is such a farm girl--she loves the animals and the country--she may be a farm girl at heart!
Our big Summer news is a change in Daddy's employment for the coming year. He has been working at Scheels this summer and is LOVING it! He decided to resign his teaching position in Makoti/Plaza/Ryder and will work full-time at Scheels and 10-12 hours a week at First Lutheran Church as their youth director. We are all very excited to have daddy around more!
Hope all is well with all of you! Hang in their with the website--I'll try to post a journal entry at least once a month!