Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015

Friday, October 31, 2014

October 31, 2014 Read a thon




Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Laura Ingalls from The Little House on the Prairie headed to school today for the Read A Thon. 


Emma and friends in the lunch room (I got to see all the cute costumes when I was on lunch lady duty)


C's room for the read a ton- I think C was in heaven with stories being read all afternoon, she was front row for each book ! 


The cute Dorothy's of C's classroom + 1 teacher's assistant and 1 front desk manager = pure cuteness 



I got to read one of my favorite books to C's class and do a puppet show with my reading group and some other friends ! 
Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox (I miss teaching)

I am so blessed to be able to volunteer at Arete and be in on the fun too ! 


Thursday, October 30, 2014

Egyptian Celebration for 1st grade


Ms. Spriggs 1st grade class celebrated their Egyptian unit by having an Egyptian celebration.  The classroom mom is amazing and planned the fabulous party.  We decorated headbands, arm cuffs and neck jewels, excavated treasures and ate hummus and pita ! It was so much fun. They even had an Egyptian museum  and an Egyptian sarcophagus thanks to the room mom's friend.  






C's classmates, Ms. Spriggs, Coach Cook and Ms. Bolzeman

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Oktoberfest with the Mesquiters

We had a fabulous time with our friends and neighbors on Mesquite street when they hosted their 2nd annual Oktoberfest! They have the city block off the streets, make a ton of yummy food, tap a few kegs and throw one heck of a fest... oh and the cops came (but were very nice and let us continue on) !! 


Of course B and I signed up for the bean bag/ corn hole tournament ! We were team BRAUTZ !! We came in 2nd out of 8 teams and if it wasn't for the harassment that I endured in the finals, we would have been first ! Watch out we will be practicing for next year...


The Daveys and our coach "Brad" (he is a psychiatrist by day, bean bag game coach by night) 




The fam at the end of the night- the girls did face paint mustaches on each other !! 

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Emma's Halloween recital




Our cute nerd played a fun song called "Grumpy Old Witch" for the Halloween piano recital.  She chose the more difficult song of the two she was given, we are proud of her for that.  She did a fabulous job and it was fun to see her and all of her fellow piano player friends. 


Avi, Em and Keeley


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Africa






Nana, Papa, Uncle Nate and Aunt Laura went on their safari this week.  Amazing and exciting ! 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

"Way back" Wednesday




This seems like soo long ago, but it was just 2.5 years ago !

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

When one door closes another opens

H.O.P.E. Group Names New CEO and Forms Partnership to Provide Outpatient Treatment for Children and Teens with Severe Behavioral Disorders

BryanDaveyOctober 1, 2014, Phoenix, AZ—H.O.P.E. Group has named Bryan Davey, Ph.D., BCBA-D as its new Chief Executive Officer in a move that will greatly expand services for children with disabilities in the state of Arizona.

“Until now, children with extremely challenging behavioral issues have been sent out of state for treatment because few in Arizona were equipped to meet their needs,” says H.O.P.E. Group Chairman and founder Lori Cairns. “It costs huge amounts of money and the separation breaks families’ hearts.” Experts estimate that out-of-state treatment for severe behavioral issues costs approximately $200,000 per year, per child.

Now through a strategic partnership between H.O.P.E. Group and his own company, Highland Behavioral, Dr. Davey will establish outpatient behavioral health services to provide treatment for complex cases right here in Arizona, including children who self-injure or have severe aggression.

“Families who are impacted by behavioral disorders need effective evidence-based services and training,” Dr. Davey says. “They need to know what to do when their child becomes dangerous beyond control, or when their child transitions out of the hospital and back into the home environment. H.O.P.E. Group together with Highland Behavioral is the first provider in Arizona to meet that need. We use the same methods as the nation’s best residential and in-patient treatment centers. And we’ll be training Arizona based BCBAs [Board Certified Behavior Analysts] in this regard.”

Founded in 1997, H.O.P.E. Group provides in-home care and support for more than 700 individuals with autism and related disorders. In addition to in-home care and support, H.O.P.E. Group’s services include early intensive behavior treatment, comprehensive and focused ABA treatments, as well as community empowerment and transition.

Highland Behavioral consults with providers, states, and employers on issues related to healthcare benefits, autism, and Applied Behavior Analytic (ABA) services—the only treatment method recognized as effective for those with autism. The company also provides direct clinical services to families and school districts.

Dr. Davey is a member of several national and state boards and a nationally recognized autism and developmental disorders specialist. His expertise includes training personnel in the application of behavioral principles and procedures, behavioral assessments, intervention strategies, and autism insurance laws and benefits.

“Bryan Davey is the ideal person to oversee H.O.P.E. Group’s clinical services and train local behavior analysts in effective therapies for children with developmental disabilities,” Cairns says. “He has an unparalleled reputation in the field. Working together, we’ll be able to provide exactly what families in Arizona need, right now.”

Dr. Davey’s appointment at H.O.P.E. Group’s coincides with the opening of a new H.O.P.E. Group office in Tucson, to better serve families in southern Arizona. Former H.O.P.E. Group CEO Ann Monahan will transition to become the company’s Vice President of State and Governmental Affairs, and also assumes a new role as CEO of Ensure Billing, Inc.—a sister company that facilitates claims and payments for both private insurance and Medicaid-based services in 17 states across the country.
 

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Pinetop - fall break


Sneak peak - family picts- Pinetop 


Snowflake AZ - pumpkin patch 


game night at the cabin


Sunrise ski resort - getting our ski passes 


headed to the movies (cabin)

Saturday, October 4, 2014

October


Love these gals


A day at work for me... H2O, coffee and protein shake


C, Grace and Em making a goofy pizza face before soccer practice 

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Lunch with my BF Jenn Norman when she was in town with her hubby Jason- miss he so... so thankful for her visit


Missing my fam- they are heading out on their safari !!!