Waterpalooza!

Saturday afternoon was a big day for The Bird.

One of the ladies in my special needs moms group hosted a water party at her house.  (Her son also goes to school with Lily).  All of the guests were families with special needs kids so it was a nice, safe environment where no one had to worry about behaviors or staring strangers.

Like all the kids there, Lily had an absolute blast.

First, she hit the inflatable water slide with her dad.

After going down the slide twice with him, she decided she no longer needed adult assistance.  She slid several times all by herself.  

The big splash at the finish line.

A close-up of the bathing beauty.

Of course, after a good swim, snacks are a must.

She even shared a few pretzels with Dad.

If you had told me a year ago that Lily would go to a party, run back and forth between the slide and the pool, actually participating in the fun, I wouldn't have believed it.  If you said that not only would she enjoy the water slide, but want to do it all by herself, I would've called you crazy.  

She just didn't really seem to notice fun stuff that other kids liked to do.  

Well.  

Not anymore.

Not only did Lily have fun, but it was a pretty good party for ol' Mom and Dad, too.  

The party favor we left with?  

A heaping helping of hope.