**Autism Speaks Gift Card Sale**

Hofbrauhaus in Newport has donated 6 coupons for a free Entree (up to $10 value)  It's for Dine in only and one per person.  Selling for $7 each, $20.00 for 3, or $35 for all 6. All money raised will go to Autism Speaks.  Thanks!

NEW WORD!!!!!!

Parker was upstairs playing in Dylan's room and when I went to check on him he met me at the top of the steps.  I asked him "Parker, did you poop?"  He looked at me and said "Yes!"  Shocked, I told him to say it again.  "Yes!"  He says it clear as day.  I think his clearest word yet!  He repeated it for the rest of the afternoon!

So this week started with a new word "Apple" and ended with "Yes". 

So very proud of Parker how far he has come.  He can sing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song "Hot Dog".  His version, "dog, dog, dog, dog", its so cute!  He is just babbling away.  Music to my ears.  Talking might be taking him longer than other kids, but we are celebrating every word that comes out of his precious mouth.  I will try and get a video clip of it so I can post it for you soon. 

Katie

Skyline Chili Fundraiser - February 13th

Skyline Chili in Alexandria is holding a fundraiser for Autism Speaks!  On February 13th, dine at the Alexandria Skyline Chili (across from Wal-Mart) and 10 - 15% of your bill will go towards Autism Speaks under Parker's Puzzle Posse.  The event is being held all day long from 10:30 am until 10 pm.  You will not have to give a flyer, just tell them you are there for Autism Speaks and they will credit us! 

Please pass the word along.  I want them to be as busy as Applebee's was!  Orders placed at the drive thru lane will also count, just make sure to tell them you are there for the fundraiser!

I am going to try and do a fundraiser like this once a month until the walk.  For March, I am working on Max and Erma's in Crestview Hills. April 11th, we are holding a fundraiser at Bruster's Ice Cream in Florence on US42 from 6-9 pm.  We will receive 20% of the sales for that fundraiser. 

Thanks so much for your support!  Lets try and beat last years total of $11,453!  With all of your help, I think we can do it!

Katie

Applebees Fundraiser Total and more!

I just received an email from Applebee's.  They said their sales did double for the night.  They reported our total sales as $2647.12, so the check will be for $264.71!!!


Thank you so very much for all of your support!  I was hoping for $100 but you all more than doubled that.  I know we have a lot of support and very generous people behind us and this shows us that.  We have a lot more fundraisers coming up in the next few months.  Here are a few of them.  Skyline in Alexandria Dine to Donate, Thirty One Fundraiser in the month of February, Raffle for an iPad 2, Kid Sale (see previous post!), and gift card sales. 


Also, Parker had a great week.  Yesterday, he said the words, Apple, Grape, and Orange.  (I missed it because Parker's Pa Pa Snake offered to take him to therapy give me a break.  Thanks Dave!)  He also is done with the pacifier!!!!  So next is potty training.  Keep your fingers crossed on that one.


So THANK YOU SO MUCH for eating at Applebee's last week.  What a great fundraiser!  I will post when we are doing more fundraisers! 


If you want to walk with us, please sign up with the link on the right hand side.  We had 140 walkers last year.  Lets try and beat that! 


Katie

Needed : Baby/Kids clothes, toys, and equipment

Looking to get rid of your baby/kids clothes, toys, baby stuff?  Drop it all off to me and I will sell it for you.  All of the money raised from the sale will go to Autism Speaks.  This is a chance to support a great cause and get rid of your unwanted items that are clogging up your house. 

I will sell it at the Little Treasure Kids Sale. The sale dates are March 28 - April 1 at the Former Flick’s Food Store 1990 North Bend Rd. Hebron, KY 41048.  This is A LOT of work to get all of the items ready for the sale, so please drop them off by March 15th.  But the sooner the better. 

Just leave the items on my porch and send me an email letting me know to look out for your things.  You will not get your items back so please make sure you are wanting to part with them. :)  As I mentioned before, all of the money that is made from the sale of your items, will be donated to Autism Speaks. 

This is only for baby/kids clothes.  No adult clothes (sorry).  Things you can sell are clothes, toys, cds, dvd, outside items, monitors, strollers, carseats, Power Wheels, shoes, etc.  If a kids uses it, you can sell it.
If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks!

**Autism Gift Card Sale**

$20 to Shutterfly.com. Selling for $10! Code is good for one-time $20 credit toward a purchase of $20 or more (excluding shipping, handling, and taxes) at http://www.shutterfly.com/ This EXPIRES JANUARY 31, 2012! First one gets it! Thanks!  Money raised will go to Autism Speaks!

Autism kids are AWESOME and gifts from God to us Moms and Dads who are lucky enough to have them!

Videos like this make me so happy and hopeful.  This little boy is worse off than Parker with being blind and clearly can not stand still.  But he uses what God has given him to touch the people around him.  This is a must see.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

http://www.godvine.com/10-Year-Old-Boy-with-Autism-Sings-Open-the-Eyes-of-My-Heart-1041.html

This one I saw last year and it changed my look on my son.  Carly is an amazing teenage girl who didn't talk for years and now she types what shes thinking.  She is changing the what the world knows about autism.  She can tell us why they flap their arms, why they bang their heads, what they are feeling.  A lot of what the Dad says are what I feel.  How could you give up your kid, I would give sleepless nights, and every penny I own to hear the words I love you.  This is why I go to Children's Hospital 3 times a week and work at home with him for countless hours.  I don't know what he knows, but I will work my hardest to teach him everything he should know, even if he can't tell me just yet. 

I follow Carly on Facebook and she writes so beautifully.  You can follow her here http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carly-Fleischmann/68996682748
She has been on several television shows and is writing a book.  Please watch the video and learn more about what Parker is going through and what Brian and I go through.  You will not bad disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vNZVV4Ciccg

Have a great weekend!

Katie

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU and THANK YOU!

All I can say is WOW, AMAZING, SPEECHLESS!  Tonight was awesome.  I walked in to a PACKED Applebee's tonight.  It was like our wedding.  Everyone we knew, friends, family, coworkers, teachers, neighbors, church members, strangers, and long lost friends showed up to support us.  Words will never be able to express the feelings we have to see so many people come to help a cause so dear to your heart.  I am sorry for the long wait (I heard an hour!) and I know some of you just had to get it to go.  But for a fundraising event, thats a great sign!  I tried to go and say thank you to everyone, but I know we didn't make it to everyone.  Sorry if we missed you.  I will update you on the total amount made tonight when I find out.  Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!  As I put Parker to bed tonight, I told him all of the people came out for him and they all loved and supported him.

Walk Now for Autism Speaks 2011 Blog - Look who made it!

Every walk, someone write about it!  Well, at the Cincinnati walk, we were mentioned in the blog!  How cool is that!  It was an awesome day and I hope the walk this year is just as beautiful. 

http://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/cincinnati_wnfas/

If you want to walk with us, click the link to the right.  We would love to have you on our team!

Applebees Fundraiser - January 19, 2012

Parkers Puzzle Posse is having a fundraiser on January 19, 2012.  10% of your total bill will go to Autism Speaks.  This is a great way to help a great organization and also dine on some yummy food.  This is important **YOU MUST PRINT THE FLYER BELOW AND GIVE IT TO YOUR SERVER!!!!**  This is only at the Highland Heights, KY location.  If you have any questions, please email me or leave a message below.  Thanks so much for your support!

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/111022373/applebees