Review of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey: Legends

I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Joy's favorite moment

The Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey: Legends did not disappoint! Action packed show had something for all my kids to ooh and aah over. Joy loved meeting the performers during the free pre show activities. 

She also has not stopped talking about the horse with wings. 

graceful elephants

We saw an elephant up close during the pre show and we loved watching them during the performance also. 

Torres Family

The Torres Family with their motorcycles was my boys favorite. They kept adding riders inside the sphere shaped cage and it was timed precisely to avoid collision.

Our Ringmaster, Jonathan Iverson made the show so special. His voice set the tone for an exciting evening and his singing was spectacular.

I loved the horses and the riders performing daring jumps on and off them.

And the daring flying trapeze...it just isn't a circus without it.


The finale included all the acts presented in the show and I could see that my children had a wonderful time by the looks on their faces. The circus was great fun for the entire family!!!

 Click here to purchase tickets for a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance in your area!

There are still plenty of performances left!
The best part is you can receive a discount off  tickets if you use the code  QUEST4:

• $8 off VIP ($40 regular price on Wed/Thurs, $43 regular price on Friday-Sunday)
• $8 off P3 ($23 regular price on Friday-Sunday)

School preparations

With 5 kids, school preparations have to start early. This year, I will have a junior in HS who is taking college classes part time on campus. I will also have a 4th, 3rd, kindergartener and an all day preschooler.

I've especially thought about Afua and how to make a smooth transition for her this year. She will have the same teacher as last year, but new classmates. Her class also interacts with another half day preschool class and they do things like show and tell together. So here are some ways I give my non-verbal child a voice:

1. Photobook

Source

I made a small photobook about our summer adventures. It will go with her to school and can stay there a few weeks as she meets new therapists or support staff. It can also help break down barriers with other students who can see pictures of our Disney World trip, swimming, blowing bubbles or playing with siblings.


2. Make the medical stuff look like non-medical stuff

Source

 

 

Afua has a wheelchair, leg braces, a new body suit (that is great, btw) and many other outward signs that she is different. But when possible, I try to get her non-medical looking things that still do a great job. Like these shoes by Plae, that are great with AFOs but are regular looking shoes. Or sometimes a shirt with a familiar character sparks a conversation with another child. Kids are naturally curious and that is fine. My focus is on the things we can make look more typical and we love pink sparkly things here anyway:)

3. Communication

We have expanded Afua's sign language over the summer. I want her teacher and aide to know all her signs and there a few different ways we could do that. Some families take a chart like above and circle the signs their child knows in one color and the ones they can sign in another. As new signs are mastered, more can be circled.

I have been taking pictures of Afua's signs since hers are modified signs and at times look different. I hope to make a little book out of it since we will be using modified ASL as her primary communication.

4. Safety

I have many safety items on my Pinterest page. Medical alert necklaces, wrist bands or tattoos are all necessary tools for a non-verbal kiddo. yes, our school has all her information but in a medical emergency. I want things to be accessible. Especially after our cochlear implant surgery, Afua cannot have MRIs done without removing the magnet that is implanted. I have ordered a few different options that we will try over the first couple of weeks.


I would love to hear from other caregivers of kids who are non-verbal: what do you do to prepare you kiddos for school?

Product Review: Hearing Halo

Afua has been using hearing aids for 3 months now. Developmentally she is very much like a curious toddler; pulling on the hearing aids and putting them in her mouth in 3.5 seconds. We lovingly call her a ninja, she is that quick :)

This lead me to a search for different products that help children keep hearing aids on. She has been wearing a hat over the winter but it's finally warming up here so a heavy winter hat has to go.

I saw the Hearing Halo on  ETSY and I ordered two different colors for Afua. It looked breathable and something Afua couldn't take off.

It arrived in 2 short weeks and we tried it last weekend. Afua did not try to take it off and it seemed very comfortable. 

I was trying to take a picture as she is grabbing my phone :)

Last Monday, I sent it to school along with her hat and waited for her teacher and aide's verdict. They seemed to like it and have used it daily since then. At home, it gives me the added security that her hearing aids don't end up in her mouth, a potential chocking hazard. The product is well constructed and it is easy to clean. 

Keeping hearing aids on a 4 year old who is developmentally a curious toddler is a challenge. Most products are babyish and it poses an issue with dignity. Hearing halo is an excellent choice for us as it different from the baby products on the market. And I know as Afua gets bigger, I can order a larger size that does the job well.

Thanks you Hearing Halo for making such an awesome product for my girl!

Disclaimer: I review products that I feel are beneficial for my family. Some products I receive for free to try, others I have purchased to try myself. Either way, opinions and experiences presented are 100% mine.

Walking With Dinosaurs

It's hard to put into words how excited my family is  to see Walking With Dinosaurs. The video clips we have seen are awesome but I can only imagine  how much more spectacular it will be in person.

The show depicts the dinosaurs with almost cinematic realism. WALKING

WITH DINOSAURS THE ARENA SPECTACULAR has scenes of the interactions between

dinosaurs, how carnivorous dinosaurs evolved to walk on two legs, and how the herbivores

fended off their more agile predators.

The Christian Science Monitor said, “When the dinosaurs start pouring out onto the stage,

if you don’t have to stifle the natural flight response of any living breathing being, then

it’s your pulse that needs checking.” Newsweek called the show, "that rare entertainment

beast that parents and kids can enjoy together."

Walking With Dinosaurs returns to Quicken Loans Arena July 9th-13th. 

Buy your tickets to the Cleveland Show HERE

Opening Night Tickets start at $25

  Disclosure: In exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, this show has provided me with complimentary tickets and opportunities to attend private pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.