Cole and Ilia Massie

Well, I keep SWEARING I’m going to be better about updating and not do these en masse uploads, but…

When you’re this busy, who has time???

Anyway, here’s what Senor Cole and Mighty Dog have been up to:

The Shane’s Inspiration Gala:  On March 27, Cole sang in the choir brilliantly directed by Tess Borden and ingeniously choreographed by Keith Young (choreographer for the show Glee.)  Cole also got the opportunity to introduce the video he hosted (crafted by the gorgeously talented Judy Korin.  Oh, do I love this smarty-pants woman.)  This educational video will be shown in schools all over the state as part of Shane’s Inspiration’s Educational Outreach Program.   (The video is part of a program that helps typical kids get over the discomfort of playing with disabled kids for the first time.)  We hope to post it here soon but in the meantime, click here for some snaps of the gala. 

Easter:  On March 28, Our own Auntie Jen-Jen and Uncle Kevin hosted an Easter/Birthday bash (Nick, Kevin, Grandmere and Rudy are all April birthdays and I’m March!) at their Club in Cheviot hills.  Family highjinx ensued.  Enjoy by clicking here.

Homeschooler Dinner Dance:   On April 17, we attended this fabulously fun yearly event with our homeschooler group. FaCE-LA.  Click here to check out Cole cutting a rug with cutie-patootie Darcy Rose! 

Dodger Game:  The Dodgers honored Shane’s Inspiration, so Cole, Eddie and Ilia were invited to go down onto the field to watch the first pitch being thrown out!  Word is they made it onto the Jumbotron and if I get those pictures I’ll post them (hopefully before he hits college.)   Click here to see.

Challenge Air:  Challenge Air is an amazing organization that matches volunteer pilots with disabled kids who want to fly!!!!  We were asked to volunteer for the Canine Companions info table, which we did with pleasure and pride.  And then, Cole went up in a HELICOPTER!  Oh, yes he did!!  Click here to hit the wild blue yonder with Cole!

Yup, I’m behind.  I just AM, ‘kay? 

Anyway, we had a fabulous whirlwind trip to New York in March. 

We got in late Tuesday night and Wednesday we went to the studio for our interview.  First, we got ourselves all fancied up by the lovely hair and make-up people.  Then, we met some very special kids who will all be going to college thanks to the Say Yes To Education Foundation.    Our interview went very smoothly (the video is in the post below) and we got to meet some of the audience as we exited the studio.  You can see pictures here.

And then it was on to dinner with our friend Claresa at John’s Pizzeria!  This amazing place is located in a huge, beautiful old deconsecrated church.   And it was delish pizza, too!  Check it out here.  We were staying right in Times Square so we walked to it.  But it was really crowded (even by NYC standards) and we couldn’t figure out why…until we realized that the Black Eyed Peas had decided to do an impromptu concert RIGHT THERE! 

Well, we found this pretty darn funny.  Y’see, it just so happens that the Black Eyed Peas’ rehearsal studio is at the end of our street.  That’s right, we flew 3000 miles to see the people who are usually half way down the block from us!!!  Crazy!! 

On Thursday Morning, Cole got a much-needed adjustment to his braces by his orthotist, Dr. Paul Jordan, and Dr. Jordan’s technician, Mike.  Then we had a quick lunch and a long drive back to the airport, where we leapt onto a plane and flew home. 

Whew.

Pix are here.  Enjoy!

OK.   *sigh*

I must admit it’s taken me a while to post this because I’m pretty conflicted about it.  Suffice to say that I really, really, really do not agree with the politics of our interviewer.  But, the piece was done a year before she was attached to the show and all of the releases had been signed, so I figured it was best to go ahead and take the opportunity to promote Canine Companions for Independence (I was supposed to mention the ASPCA too, but they cut it out of the piece and I ran out of time on set.  Big apologies to that awesome organization.) 

Anyway, here it is.  Take a look.  (Please give it a moment, it’s slow to start):

http://www.vimeo.com/11392087

Cole has been driving us crazy for the last year and half, begging for a bicycle.  Of course, in our situation it can’t just be a regular bike; it has to also have a therapeutic function.  His neurologist and his orthotist both wanted him strengthening his quads (the muscles on the tops of the thighs) so we worked with his PT and decided on the Catrike Dash.

Naturally, it costs more than our car. 

Luckily, the incredibly lovely people at Variety Childrens Charity have made it their mission to make sure every kid has a bike they can ride!!   So, they teamed up with our friends at Bent Up Cycles in Van Nuys and now Cole has a brand new bike!   Here are the pictures.  And here is the maiden voyage:

Well, we are finally getting around to posting after our fabulous trip this holiday season.  And what a trip it was!! 

First, our beloved Armand fetched us at Hobby Airport in a full stretch limo!  Talk about riding in style!  Then we immersed ourselves in visiting and Christmas and generally eating anything that wasn’t nailed down.  Please check out the Christmas photos here.

Then on Christmas Day, we had the unbelievable pleasure of seeing our good friend Claresa AND meeting her yummy (and I mean that literally) family.   I testify here and now that you have not lived until you have eaten yourself into a coma with Frankie B’s lasagne.  Judy and Frank Mandola made us feel like we’d always been a part of their family!!!!  And not only did they treat us graciously in their home, they had us as their guests at their downtown Houston restaurant, Damian’s!  The exciting part is that we got to see Claresa in Houston (where she grew up) and then again in New York!  Check it out here.

The day after Christmas we got to visit Ilia’s puppy raisers, Stacy and Sean Napoles.  And a bonus!  Stacy brought her parents!  Well, I didn’t know this, but Stacy’s dad Steve has been a teacher and principal for more than 30 years!!  He and Cole started talking history and that, as they say, was that.  Now Mr. G (as Cole calls him) is doing lesson plans on the Reconstruction and telling Cole all about it!  Talk about the coolest Social Studies teacher ever!  Here’s our day at the park.

After getting a new iFlip for Christmas, Cole has decided to try his hand at nature photography.  Check out the album we’ve put together here.

Staying with the Hargetts means you will get the very best tour of Houston.  Cole, Armand and Nick took off one day and did some exploring.

And this is the rest of our two week trip, including New Year’s.

On January 3, we flew into Newark and headed over to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park.  What a gorgeous house!!   Cole got new braces and in between appointments he got to see Wicked!!  On Broadway!!!  WOW!!  Afterward, we met Claresa at the Stardust Diner where Broadway-caliber singers serve you burgers and fries.  Afterward, Claresa took us to a bakery called “Crumbs”.  This is a lovely little bakery where they have cupcakes that can KILL YOU.  Oooooo…they were GOOD!  Then we met the fabulous Caitlin and Massimo at Teodora and ate outrageously good Italian food.   And Cole now has brand new braces that have made a HUGE difference in how he walks.  All in all, a very successful trip! Take a look!