Valentine's Day

Yesterday was a Valentine’s dance at Alex’s school. First of all this was Alex’s first time he wanted to go to a dance, and he was sooo excited! He dressed in his Sunday’s finest with a bow tie and a boutonniere to top it off. (He found it in his memories box from Cali's wedding). He was stylin and ready to party!

I went to take pictures and make sure he knew how to act at a school dance. His teacher was there as a chaperon as well as quite a few kids from his class. Most of the kids in his class were standing together dancing, but Alex was clear across the room and dancing by himself so I told him he should ask a girl to dance with him. His first response was, "Where's Ashley?"

When we found her she said, “Alex, I’ve already danced with you. You need to ask someone else first, then I will dance with you again.” Yeah! Someone his age that knows how to handle him!! So, he looked around and said, “That one.”

Then he went over and asked her to dance. After the song was over, he looked around and said, “That one,” and then asked HER to dance. It was awesome.

I had to remind him to dance near the girl so he could talk to her and to dance facing her.

He seems to have a habit of turning around when he dances – I think it’s more so he can see his shadow if you want to know the truth! He loves dancing with his shadow. Maybe that’s where the story of Peter Pan came from… a perpetual child who likes to be with his shadow… sounds like Al!

Near the end of the dance, they had a dance-off where everyone stands in a big circle, the DJ plays some great music and people take turns going in the circle and showing their dance moves.

(This is Alex and Ashley waiting in the circle for the dance-off to begin)

Alex and a girl from his class (Brenna – also has Down Syndrome) went into the dance spotlight and never left. Others of course took their turns, too, but always with Alex and Brenna still inside the circle. Then the SBOs announced they had a dance-off king and queen – Alex and Brenna!!! They put crowns on both of them, Alex got a round of high fives and of course a crying hug from me, then him and Brenna shared their royalty dance together in front of the whole group. I'm really lame and can't figure out how to put the video up that I took of them, and even if I did it's sideways so it's REALLY lame! But the video shows the crowd gathered around them, waving their arms back and forth over their heads and it shows Alex being the perfect gentleman guiding Brenna around the dance floor like a prince should guide his princess. It is amazing!

He danced a few more dances then we had to go home so I could go to work. He was so excited to tell everyone! He had me take another picture in his full royalty outfit outside by the school and send pictures to the whole family. Then he wanted to know if everyone cried (like me!)

So, that’s our Cinderella story.
A great Valentine’s day for Alex and his mom.

That night after I got home from work, we took a Valentine's balloon up to Baby Mac. We had quite the conversation with Oakland about him; she knew the balloon was for Mac and we had all signed the balloon. So as we walked toward the grave she asked, "He come out and get it?" Meaning of course the balloon. How cute is that? She asked and we told her many times that Mac was in heaven but you could tell that didn't compute. Then she said as we were leaving, "I wanna go to heaven." We all told her we did, too! As we drove home this kind of conversation continued. Finally, Mike said to her, "Maybe you won't have to die. Maybe you will still be here when Jesus comes and you can be with Mac. POOF!" She laughed and said, "Papa. I wear panties like Morgan so I don't POOF!" Out of the mouths of babes!

The picture below is of Mac's family at his grave. Mike looks funny in the picture but it's because it was pitch black when I took the picture and didn't even know he was in the frame. He was making sure the balloon was secure on the headstone!

Happy Valentine's Day!