Aquaholics Surf Shop in Kennebunk, Maine Loves Special Needs Kids!

Wow what a great day we had yesterday!

Nanci Grenier Boutet owns the Aquaholics Surf Shop in Kennebunk, Maine and has a heart for our kids. So three times in the Summer, the third Tuesday of June, July and August, she gives a big shout out to all the local surfers to come to Kennebunk Beach and take our special little ones surfing on their Special Surfer Night.

We went yesterday for the first time, Chandler surfed until he was a Popsicle, and loved every minute of it. Tommy, Chandler's cutie pie surfing coach, comes down from his home in Quebec to vacation in Maine with his family in August, and he takes part in the event while they are here. Chan had a great time with Tommy and learned how to say, "Merci, Tommy" at the end of the day.

Here are the best shots from yesterday. It was so wonderful to see all our little guys loving the time they were having in the water, their dad's being able to do real father son sports bonding stuff that happens so rarely with our kids and, of course, to have a nice zone of love around our kids where they could be their weird, loud, difficult, haphazard selves with out a judgmental look or nasty comment as far as they eye could see.

Thanks so much to Nanci for doing this and thanks so much to all the loving, supporting, understanding surfers who made our kids day! All my pictures from the day will be posted here, and anyone connected with the event has my permission to download and use them in any way they like (as long as it is respectful to those in the images, of course). If anyone connected with the event would like hi res images, contact me at mail@adventuresinautism.com

These are the best pics of the day. Fog rolled in at the end, so those are not as clear, but as you can see... a good time was had by all.

My Webster

Chandler having a ball in his wet suit

Sensory issues in full effect, but didn't end up standing in anyone's way

For this little guy, getting his wet suit on was the hardest part, but dad got him through it.

Nick meets his teacher, Josh Wilbur

The instruction begins

Pam preps Scotty for the water

Loucas learning how to pup up

Some took things slow and easy

Some were a little bolder

But they were all loving it

Don't miss the guy in the back

Nanci introduces Chandler to Thomas Duplessis who taught him.  Chan was so eager to get in the water that daddy never got the chance to change into his swim suit.

Happy guy

Chan's first big ride

Loucas and Chandler decide they are ready for the big waves

Loucas totally rocks on the surfboard

This guy was great.  He got up several times and clearly is on his way to really surfing

Picture of the day!  Don't know who is happier, Stephen for surfing so well, or his friend when he sees Stephen!

This little girl was so precious.  Every time I saw her, just huge grins while being out on the water.  It was infectious.

As the fog was rolling in, I ran down to the end of the beach to catch these two.  Biggest shredders of the day.

I think that this might be my favorite.  Levi Wiley, God bless him, is working his butt off to make Zeke happy, and that joyful face is the big pay off.

Thank you for being there for our kids.

News piece on Nanci's program: http://www.wmur.com/chroniclevideo/24606545/index.html