Surfers Healing VB '12 = AWESOMENESS X 1,000!

This amazing video was shown on the local news and is currently on the CNN website. :)

Once again, I am absolutely astounded at the amount of social growth in a year, that Ashton has made. From Surfers Healing VB 2010 to 2011 was a remarkable change, but WOW. The change from Surfers Healing VB 2011 to 2012 was absolutely amazing! We were at the beach from 7am (Ashton rode in the Surfers Healing 5K with Team Hoyt while Holden ran with Team Hoyt and David also ran the 5K) until 4pm! Outside, in the sun, for 9 hours! THAT IS VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF for Ashton! He generally hates the sun and normally isn't a fan of the sand either.

So, to start off. The guys in my family participated in the Surfers Healing 5K. Ashton rode with Marc Leber, Michael Davis and of course, Holden all helping to push him with Team Hoyt. Holden ended up having to back off and ended up running with Jenny Dugan and William. David kind of ran back by himself :) Michael finished with a time of 23:24, Marc pushed Ashton to the finish line at 23:25 and Holden finished with a time of 30:44. David finished with a time of 41:12. All great times! Ashton had a blast (as usual) and I think everyone else did too!

Michael, Marc, Holden & Ashton - before the race

Ashton's Team & Ainsley's Angels - SIBLING TEAMS ROCK!

Ashton and Ainsley are ready to go!

Team Hoyt - ready to start........ ready, set......

GO!!!! ....... and they're off!

Michael, Marc & Ashton coming into the finish line!
Thanks for the fast ride Michael & Marc!

Holden, Jenny & William crossing the finish line! WTG!

David coming into the finish line - Great job honey!

Team Ashton totally rocked the SHVB 5K! WTG Guys!

Holden, William and Jenny chilling out after an awesome race!

As you can see, the Surfers Healing 5K race was a total success! I have so many pictures I could share, but well, I'd never get this post done. Suffice it to say that we're very proud of all of the Team Hoyt runners and rider athletes. Of course, we're also very proud of Dad who ran a good race too! 

Before I move on to the surfing part of the day, there's an image I want to share with you all.

This beautiful image was captured by Danny Holland of Virginia Beach. It absolutely personifies the passion, the loyalty, the emotion, the absolute healing powers of Surfers Healing. Josh Tracy is the remarkable rookie Surfers Healing surfer who carried this young child out into the surf in Virginia Beach on August 18, 2012. It was raining, yet he was still out there, giving it his all. This absolutely was my favorite image of the day and it wasn't one that I took, nor was it even of my child. Kudos Josh Tracy for your dedication and to Danny Holland for capturing this beautiful image! To see more images of Danny's from the day, please go to his Facebook album, found HERE and enjoy the rest of the heart-capturing images!

So, next we move into the Surfers Healing area on the beach. We get signed in, got Ashton's goody bag and get ready because Ashton's surf time was at 9am! We got to be a part of the opening prayer ceremony. What a heart-warming and soul-cleansing experience. 

What a way to start of a day of healing!

Then, the call came for 9 'o' clock surfers to get in line to get their life jackets and 

Surfers Healing VB 2012 was officially starting! 

You see that SUPER HUGE smile Ashton has on his face?
This is precisely why I will do anything I can, to ensure he gets to experience
the joy, love and healing of Surfers Healing every year :)

Marc (Ashton's runner) was standing in line with Ashton to get his life jacket on and I had went to scope out a spot on the  beach so I could watch. I never in my life, thought I would hear what I was about to hear. They had asked Ashton if he wanted to surf ON HIS OWN, and he replied happily and excitedly "YES!" - OMG! MAJOR freakout moment for me going "he can't do that!" OH YES YOU CAN!! (I should know that phrase so well by now, since it's Team Hoyt motto!). I was shocked! He LOVED it! He did freak out a moment or two when he wiped out but he did SO well! He never stood on the board, but he rode the board in on his belly all the way to the sand, would turn the board around and go surf again. He was out there for an hour - having a blast!

CHECK HIM OUT!!! Riding that wave ALL ON HIS OWN!!!

Whoops - Boy overboard!!!

Look at how relaxed he is!! feet crossed up on the board and he's having the time of his life riding those waves in!

To make this an even MORE magical experience - there were LOTS of dolphins in behind all the kids
just riding the waves along with them!

So then ..... it was over. The surfing part of the day for Ashton that is. He proudly stood with his medal and lei that was given to him and proclaimed himself the WINNER (for the 2nd time that day! :))

Yes, you my son, are indeed THE WINNER! That winning smile, those gorgeous eyes and your infectious personality, you ARE a winner! People adore being around you, and you make people BETTER people for knowing you! 

So ..... the social growth I mentioned earlier? Wow. Amazing the difference in a year. For one, he was SO happy and social with just about anyone who came over to talk to us. He LOVED seeing all the little kids and got so excited about seeing all the babies out there on the beach. He ADORES babies (almost to an annoying extreme, really) but he does pretty well with instructions of no touching unless you ask or gentle touches. Funny, a couple of years ago babies made him squirm because of the noises and crying. He's growing up! He enjoyed socializing with his Grandparents, his cousins and most of all, just had fun hanging out on the beach, as long as he had his sunglasses on! 

We got to meet one incredible man this weekend, 'Doc' Dorian Paskowitz, 

91-year-old surfer, father of Izzy, doctor and all-around awesome guy!

Ashton and 'Doc'

The speech he gave when he arrived brought tears to many of the parents who were standing around. Guilt. Do not have it. Nothing *WE* did, caused our children to be autistic. Love yourself, Love your child and do the best that you can. Words we can all apply to our everyday lives. What a sweet man! I loved having the pleasure to meet him and talk with him for a few moments.

Then, we got to see Izzy again! I'm not totally convinced Izzy remembered us (well, until I mentioned the cool man sunglasses and the picture that made it into our Christmas cards last year), but we had a blast seeing him again and having him sign our book "Scratching the Horizon".

Ashton (hugging Izzy), Izzy and Holden .... :) LOVE THIS PICTURE!

Love what Izzy wrote in the book :) Thanks Izzy!

Well, around 2:30pm they were wrapping up with the last of the kids that hadn't gotten to surf. I went and asked, would it be possible for kids to go back out again. So, happily, Ashton got to go back out and surf again, THIS time with a surfer, Kalani Brown. Nope, not the same Kalani from previous years, but Ashton enjoyed surfing with this one too! I got quite a giggle out of this experience because every time they rode the board to shore, Kalani would ask me "can he have one more ride Mom?" - how could I resist? so of COURSE I said YES! :) Ashton was out in the water for another hour and did ride the board in by himself a few times again! Unfortunately, I had hubby take my DSLR home with him when he went home around 12:30. Also, I forgot that I had my little point & shoot camera with me, D'oh! But I did catch a couple of cute shots with my iPhone :)

It was a truly wonderful, beautiful, healing day. Sure, it DOWNPOURED around 10:30 that morning for about 20minutes. It had everyone running for cover, well, except the extremely passionate and dedicated surfers, they were still out in the water with the kids. :) The boys had fun, made new friends, I got to connect with people I normally am online with, and it was in general a beautiful, healing day. Ashton loves the water, loves the surfers and just well, enjoys this one day. I enjoy it for many different reasons. The sense of community, the day free of judgement, and the smiles, tears, hugs that go around will forge friendships that are long-lasting.

We can't wait until Surfers Healing 2013!

Team Hoyt VB fundraiser!!!!

So - anyone that has been reading my blog since at least March of 2012, knows that Ashton has become a Team Hoyt VB rider athlete. What this means is that in a distance race, he gets to ride in a super cool jogging stroller (made for adults) and gets to feel the wind in his face while he's getting pushed! He has totally loved the experience thus far, and has become attached to a couple of his pushers (Marc Leber and his mom, Andrea). They've now pushed Ashton in 3 races (of the 5 he's done thus far) and will be pushing him in a couple of weeks at the Surfers Healing 5K here in VA Beach. 

Anyways.... to get to the point.... the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in VA Beach is coming up on September 2, 2012. As the largest fundraiser for Team Hoyt VB/Guardian Angels Fund, they encourage each rider team to raise a minimum of $250 per team member. Ashton's team includes him, and two wonderful ladies (Louise Battaglia and Kim Thumel) who will be pushing him along the 13.1 mile Oceanfront course. That means his team needs to raise a minimum of $750. 

Holden has also kind of become an honorary Team Hoyt runner/pusher, and will be helping push Ashton in the Surfers Healing 5K (Holden's first official race "pushing") on August 18, 2012. Holden thought it would be very cool to see if he could help out a great group by raising money. He knows how much his brother enjoys surfing with Surfers Healing and he understands Ashton's excitement during the races and wants to ensure these great organizations continue on to do great things. So we set up a fundraising page. We got an idea put in our head by a little birdie, that Holden's fundraising goal should be $818. Why such an oddball number? Why, he wants to raise $818 by 8/18 of course!!

So - $818 + $750 = $1,568! 

CAN THEY DO IT?!?! YES THEY CAN!!!! 

We would be extremely honored and humbled with any donation you may consider giving this wonderful group and organization. No donation is too small, In fact, passing this blog post along to your friends and family is a great way to show your support, if you can't financially. Please help us reach our goal! THANK YOU!!!!

Team Ashton - SHVB5K & RnR 1/2 Marathon

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/mccboys2/shvb5k2012

A 501c3 non-profit, Guardian Angels Fund / Team Hoyt VB, strives to include the disabled into everyday able bodied activities, more specifically, the thrill of competitive sports. In addition, we support programs that provide these services like Equikids Therapeutic Riding Program. Your donation will help maintain our fleet of 60 racing chairs, trailer, inflatable boats the swim portions of races, website and taxes. Also, Team Hoyt VB will be sponsoring a summer camp in 2013 for 16 special needs children to attend Equikids. This program was cancelled this year due to lack of funding, and we are bringing it back. 

Other programs we have supported have been St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, Pembrook Elementary Special Needs Playground, Surfers Healing VB, Allen Stone Memorial Races, Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters, Young Life Capernaum, RWTTC, Stronger Together, and countless other groups.

What a BUSY summer!! (LOTS of pics - beware!)

So since the last update, there was Father's Day. I wanted to snag a generational picture of my husband, his father, his grandfather and the boys (4 generations). We have one of the same group of men back when Holden was a newborn, but I wanted a more recent and up to date one :) So glad I got it!

Next, the boys and I went to Nauticus. It was a blast! 

Holden has also started IM (interactive metronome) therapy with an Occupational Therapist "Dr Gracie". He's doing better and better with each session and I'm hopefully that by the end of summer we'll have some lasting effects that will transfer over into his academics, sports activities and maybe even socially. We call them "workouts" since he prefers not to use the term "therapy", but it's all the same ;)

Then, Holden's much anticipated birthday gift was finally upon us - the Rascal Flatts concert at the Farm Bureau Live ampitheater in VA Beach. He was SO excited! We made a poster to try and win backstage passes or upgraded seats (didn't win either, but it was still fun) and had a blast at the concert. He says he wants to go again next year! :) :) Our friend Shelly went with us too, so it was a blast!

THEN .... Ashton had another race with Team Hoyt of VB, and Holden was also running the race too - the YMCA "We Build People" 5K on July 4th! Here's a few of those pics.

Come to find out later that day, Holden placed 2nd in his division!! and Ashton received a medal because his runner, Marc, placed in HIS division! Ms. Andrea placed in her division too!

I told Holden, after this race, that he had to get his hair cut. He wasn't very happy with me, but it came out SO cute and it looks much better, for summer anyways! 

This haircut was in preparation for our annual family camping trip. Holden still says he hates the haircut but I think everyone else totally disagrees! ;) It looks cute and now he looks like a boy from the back instead of a little girl, though I do miss all the waves he had in his hair LOL

So, onto the camping pictures.....

Papa cracks me up! LOL

A peek inside our tent after I made the beds :)

Then.... Ashton has started Camp Gonnawannagoagin! He had a blast his 1st week, and while he did that, Holden and I went to the zoo, the aquarium and just had fun hanging out. 

and my favorite animal picture of the day, goes to:

then last, but not least, was yet another race - this one was the Allen Stone Braveheart Memorial Run Swim Run, 5K and Children's 1mile race. Ashton participated in the RSR with Team Hoyt again, what a blast, even if he did get tossed out of the boat and their overall time won't count. But Marc, Andrea and Ashton were good sports through it all! Check out the pics!

this is why he got tossed out of the boat during the "swim" part of the race.

and they're off!

Marc let Ashton out of the jogger stroller to cross the finish line on his own two feet!

So yes..... a very busy summer indeed so far! :) But what a blast!!!!