Rhiannon's Autism Essay

Rhiannon wrote an essay for a contest to become the Grand Marshal at the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival at the end of June. The topic was, "What I Hope Bourbonnais Will Be Like in 3001." Here is what she wrote:

What I Hope Bourbonnais Will Be Like in the Year 3001
by Rhiannon Stringer
11 years old, Fifth Grade

I hope Bourbonnais will help find a cure for autism, and tell other people about it so they can help with research. The reason why I want this is because my brother, Joey, is autistic. He can’t talk, so he can’t tell us if he is hurt or if he is mad. Now that he is older, he is doing better, and can actually read. But we have to take him all the way to Chicago to see a doctor about his autism. He has to see a special dentist there as well.

I would like it better, if in the year 3001, there would be a place for special needs people in Bourbonnais. I want there to be more doctors, teachers, and friends who understand autism and can help people like Joey.

If all this happens, Bourbonnais will probably be the most successful town in Illinois. That is what I hope Bourbonnais will be like in the year 3001.

Rhiannon won the contest and she will get to ride in a convertible in the parade at the Festival!

Swimming and a New Bed

Over Memorial Day Weekend, Manteno Lake opened. The family has a membership there.Here is a picture of Joey and Barry the lifeguard. Joey did the cutest thing when he walked past Barry, just after this photo was taken. He reached out and shook Barry's hand. Joey, Aidan and Rhiannon all just love the lake. They go swimming and sit on the beach and make sand castles. Every hour there is a fifteen minute break during which Joey screams and tries to get back in the water. The weather wasn't exactly perfect this weekend, because it rained Saturday and it was cool Sunday, but Monday was okay. The water temperature is around 74°F, which is pretty cold.

Also over the weekend, Aidan got a new bed. I should say Dad built Aidan a new bed. Aidan passed the test and is going to be allowed to stay in the basement bedroom now. Dad built him a loft bed. It's about 6 feet tall with a built-in desk. Aidan loves it. Me personally, I'm a little scared of it.

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa visited us this weekend. They live in Virginia (where Dad is from). They drove here. Yesterday was Grandma's birthday. We had cake and ice cream.

Dad, the kids and Grandma and Grandpa went out to the Kankakee Train Museum. It is located by the train station. It was closed when we got there, but a very nice man named Tom McCabe opened it up for them.

He told the family all about trains in Kankakee and some other history too. He turned on the model trains for them t watch. Joey loved watching the trains go around and around. He liked it so much he didn't was to leave. There is also an old passenger car and a caboose to visit at the museum. Everybody had lots of fun.
After all the excitement in the museum, a real live Amtrak train came down the rails and stopped at the station.

At the end Grandma held Joey's hand and walked with him.

Aidan moved his bed down to the basement. Its just a trial to see how he does. If he can wake up for school and not stay up all night, he'll get to move down there permanently. Dad and Aidan are going to build a loft bed for him so that he can have his desk under the bed. I bet that'll be cool. Aidan is happy to have a room to himself, even if it is just a test for a while.

Dad finally took a really good picture of Mom. Boy is she looking good.

Mothers' Day

This is my first Mothers' Day. I told you that Mom named me after her favorite movie. Well guess what I gave her for Mothers' Day. She loved it. We're gonna watch it together. Rhiannon gave her Rocky Balboa. Aidan made Mom a birdhouse. Dad helped a little. He painted it aqua. (It is not blue, he tells me; it is aqua!) Aidan said that's Mom's favorite color. Dad hung it from the tree outside. It looks pretty good there. A couple of birds are already checking it out. Mom says it needs a "Vacancy" sign.

It's Mothers' Day all over town. In our front bush there is a new mother. It is a mother Robin. She had three eggs that hatched yesterday. It was difficult to get a picture, but Dad tried.

There was also a mother duck swimming with her babies near our home.

It has been a really exhausting day.

Playing with Joey and Losing Teeth

Joey and I played outside this week. The weather was great. Mom had a couple of meetings at night, so Dad tricked us by taking us into the backyard and playing with us while Mom left. Then when we went inside and we found out she snuck out, we got pretty angry. Dad took this picture of us in the backyard when we were sitting on the glider. The glider kinda scares me, but when Joey sits on the floor part and it isn't moving, its okay for me to climb on it.

Joey lost his two front teeth this week. Mom says that all kids lose their teeth so I guess its normal and he'll get new ones, but for now, boy does he look funny.Aidan passed his Soo Bahk Do test. He got his orange belt this week. He was really proud of that.

Spring Is Here

Mom went away for the weekend. We miss her allot. Dad is taking care of all of us. He's okay at it, but Mom is better. Yesterday I played outside with Joey. He's allot of fun. He likes going down his slide. He keeps saying, "Doggie good," and laughing. I guess he thinks I'm funny. Joey lost a tooth this weekend. One of his top front ones. We can't find it, so I don't know if the tooth fairy will be coming to visit or not.

The weather has been really nice. The grass is green and pretty and I like to eat it sometimes. Daddy doesn't like it when I do that.

Rhiannon had two babysitting jobs this week and earned $30. She is very excited and bought Mom a present for Mother's Day. Aidan and Dad worked on a project all day Saturday, but I'm not going to tell you what they made, or what Rhiannon got Mom, because she might read this. You'll just have to wait until next weekend to find out.

Aidan and Rhiannon keep going to the baseball field. It's about half a mile away. They buy popcorn and candy and hot dogs and nachos. I don't think they really care about the games. Yesterday Dad fixed Rhi's front tire on her bike. She had a flat.

Aidan had a test in Soo Bahk Do. He was testing for 8th Gup. That's Orange belt. He'll find out this week if he passed. He broke a board at the end of the test. He's worried, but Dad said he did fine. Here's a picture of his class.