2011 Winter Games

                                   Ready to hit the slopes!

                          Coach Mike helps AJ master the gates

                               AJ "The Red Dragon" Maynard

                         AJ won a Bronze Medal in the Giant Slalom
                              and a Silver Medal in the Slalom!

Lately, AJ is all about recipes.  Just about any food that's put in front of him prompts the usual questions of, "How'd you make that?" and, "What secret ingredient?"


We were at a restaurant, and there was an advertisement on the table for apple pie.  I asked him how to make that and he launched into a dissertation about sugar and bowls and stirring.  


I asked him what the secret ingredient is in apple pies.  He very seriously replied, "Apple Trees."  Huh.  


I asked how you cook it.  According to his recipe, it's baked in an "oven" at "One Hundred Frisbees".  


Delicious.

Mechanics

AJ and I were out running some errands today.  Upon exiting from the store, we got in the car and when I turned the key....nothing.  Not a click, not a buzz...zilch.  


*&^@!$#!!


AJ has an immediate solution.  "Car broken.  New one.  Store."


Uh...yeah, buddy...let's just walk on over to Walmart and pick one up.


So...since the thing is nothing but a big paperweight at this juncture,  I decide I can't break it any worse and open the hood to explore.


I ponder aloud what might be wrong.  He offers, "No power.  Lightning storm."


Since there's not a cloud in the sky, I highly doubt the car was struck by lightning while we were in the store.  But, the young man makes a good general point....since not even the clock is working, it's gotta be electrical.  


The only part of the electrical system I know I can get to (or even identify) is the battery.  Checking that, sure enough...a loose cable.  I have AJ help me get some tools out of the trunk and he looks on as I tighten it up.


I turn the key and...Tah-Dah!  Starts right up.


He's grinning and obviously very impressed with what we've done.  He proudly proclaims, "Mom.  We're a GENIUS."


Indeed we are.

Lots of great things AJ has learned over the past few years seem to all be coming together functionally for him this school year.

Whenever we do any kind of written homework together, I always tell him to write his name on it when he's finished.  Apparently giving credit where credit is due, since I help him, he seems to feel obligated to write my name on it, too.  He's learned to spell "Mom" on his own, a wonderful accomplishment.  But it always seems that the "o" in my name is a little shaky.  

Tonight I realized that it's because he always spells it:
Mm.

First Shave

AJ and Grandpa went shopping for a new razor today and Grandpa taught him how to shave.

He seemed to get the hang of it and is looking handsome!

Champion

A.J. started downhill skiing this winter.  It's been frustrating for him, but he's stuck with it. He started the season unable to make all the way down the hill without falling...even when he had two coaches propping him up on either side.  By the end of the season, he was able to make it all the way down without any assistance at all. 


The course at the State Winter Games was much more difficult than he had seen at the Area Games.  He practiced and practiced, but making those gates was a real challenge.  During his competition run, he fell about halfway down losing his poles and a ski.  He was determined to finish.  He struggled and struggled, but finally retrieved his poles and got his ski back on.  He started down the hill again.  A few yards from the finish line he had another wipe out, this time losing both skis.  He wasn't going to give up.  It took him several minutes, but he finally got those skis back on and crossed the line.  I met him at the bottom.  He was clearly frustrated and had tears in his eyes (he never cries).  But he wasn't giving up.  He headed straight back up the hill, telling me, "I not cheat!  I try again!"


I don't think I've ever been as proud of him as I was at that moment.

Listening to Coach Mike

Getting his Award Ribbon

Having a blast with Bailey at the Dance!

Looking Cool in the Team Jersey

Girlfriend?

At Basketball practice tonight, 15 yr. old Savannah (who also has Down Syndrome) confessed to me that she thinks AJ is "cute" and that her Mom teases her about him.  Savannah's mom had shared with me a few weeks ago that Savannah has had a crush on him for some time.  This girl is absolutely adorable.


On the way home from Basketball I told AJ, "Savannah told me she thinks you're a cutie."  His mouth fell open.  I told him, "She likes you."


He's now grinning from ear to ear.  Absolutely beaming, he tells me, "That's so cool!"  


He thinks for a few seconds and then asks, "Can I talk to her?"


I told him that....yeah...that would be a good start and that I'd point her out to him at Swim practice on Saturday.


He looks out the window, pondering the situation some more and I hear him say to himself, "Huh.  Girlfriend."


Oh, boy...let fun begin...