Peach Coglo

School Art Show

Near the end of the year, among the many other activities the school has scheduled, there is the school art show.  The kids' art teacher does a fabulous job teaching them about art and art techniques.  They are very lucky.  Every year the teacher staples up hundreds of artworks onto the school walls-hours and hours of work.  Every child gets at least one artwork on the wall.  It's not at all like the old days when only the "best" gets posted.

I usually don't go to the "art opening" itself due to the crowds of children and parents running through the halls.  Works are spread around so it can be a challenge to find them.  I don't think a crowd would help.  So a few days after the opening, I roam the halls in search of their art.  It is always a delight.  I am so grateful to their teacher for all of the time and effort she puts into their little lives.

Group art work in Doran's class.  I couldn't tell which part he contributed to this time, but I suppose that's all part of the "groupness".  We are very pleased with how far he has come in drawing and expressing himself in poetry and visual art this year.  He has worked extremely hard and he gets so much satisfaction from it.

Elijah's snowman.  Sorry for the fuzz-there was a constant tugging at the skirts.  I am  not sure which technique they were learning about here (pastels and ?), but I really liked it.

Helena's rooster, cats, owl, and other critters.

Elijah's Goat - African Style

What favorite pieces of kids' art hang around your house?  Have a loverly Thursday!

Trust Over Fear

It is rainy and cool.  As school is thankfully winding down, I am thinking of the past bumps and accomplishments of the past year.  Apparently the end of the school year puts me in a contemplative state.  I have been thinking for a long time about simplifying.  "Simplify" has become such a catch word lately and a whole consumerist industry seems to have sprung up around the concept, seemingly missing the point.  

I have been taking the extra out of our environment and lives.  It is a slow process, and I don't think the task is ever complete.  While getting rid of the complications of stuff and obligations, I have become quite aware of where complications seep into our lives where I had never noticed before.

We live in such hyped up times-hyperparenting, hyperschooling, hyperconsumerism, hypercompetition, hyperinvolvement in our children's lives.  No wonder anxiety and worry permeate the atmosphere.  It's the last week of school, and it seems like that has become a hyped up Event with all kinds of frantic activity in the name of fun. 

My first-graders have a "special" activity for four out of the last five days of school.  I realize that this is done with love and in the name of celebration, but it feels like too much.  Today they were told to bring a favorite stuffed animal, a blanket and a couple of favorite books for reading.  Tomorrow they are to bring a favorite board game; the next day is a movie day and the last day is a dance party.  I won't even go into the logistics of bringing favored stuffies, blankets, books, and games to school.  There was much flurry and anxiety on their part and mine as they ran around trying to find the appropriate things to bring.  There was concern about losing something or feeling left out if they didn't bring everything that was suggested.  That didn't feel fun and even if they have a good time with this event, I am not sure it was worth all of the worry and scampering.

Perhaps I am showing my age, but I yearn for the times when the "celebration" of the end of the school year was the treat of ice cream in paper cups with the wooden spoons (splinters be damned) or a simple popsicle melting down my fingers as you tried to eat it before it turned into a syrupy pool at my feet.  This happened on the very last day of school and we looked forward to it  all week.  The was less brouhaha but the moment was still acknowledged; the excitement was still keenly felt.

I suppose this is my long-winded way of saying that I wish for less of this more is better, faster and sooner is better zeitgeist.  For parents, I wish for more calm and confidence and less worry and competitive parenting and schooling.  I want to trust that our children will be fine.  I want trust to win out over the fear that if we don't do this thing or that, or spend the majority of our time "enriching" and micromanaging their little lives, that they will still be happy; they will still be fine.

Any thoughts?

PS: For a wonderful discussion about simplicity and parenting, check out the Simplicity Parenting Book Club over at Clean.

Flower Season

Thank you all for the feel-better wishes!  I do feel much better.  I don't know what that was, but it knocked me on my keister!  I missed out on some of your comments, but I will reply as soon as I can.

Today there won't be too many words, as I have Doran's special education meeting (PPT) in about thirty minutes.  We're working on his education plan (IEP) for next year with an eye out for his whole future.  I feel like hiding under the covers.  It's not the most confidence building exercise.  This time of year just amplifies all of my worries about his future.  They just flood into my brain.  So with that in mind, we'll look at  flowers today.  It's peony season ~ so fleeting and pretty.  It never lasts long enough for me so I cherish them while they last.  Enjoy.

 

 

So I am off.  I hope you had a wonderful holiday yesterday and that you have a great Tuesday!

Needing Cape Cod

I need Cape Cod today or something like it.  I'll take a pond at this point.  This morning was one of those mornings when I am left exhausted, wishing school were already over.  Tuesdays are now choir rehearsal days for Doran.  He loves choir and since there is so little he seems to like enough to participate in, Greg and I gladly encourage choir.  There are a few things I think he would love to do but doesn't have the motor coordination or speed in order to participate in a mainstream school band or sports team.  He can participate in mainstream choir.  He does it very well and most importantly he loves it.

It's important enough that I spend once a week really rushing in hopes of to getting the children fed, dressed, snacks and lunches prepared and all of us out of the door by 7:30am on choir days.  I can count on one hand how many times that has happened for the whole year of choir.  I know many of you conquer this feat daily(and at earlier times) and I am in awe.  However, no matter how early I am up, or how early I get the kids up or how much I have prepared the night before, we usually end up late-not too late, but late all the same.  It's really easy to get into a self-criticizing spiral about that though I try not to go there. 

Usually it's one of the following that contributes to the tardiness: someone has a tantrum; someone really messes up a diaper or training underwear at an really inopportune moment; another person can't find what I told him or her to put in his or her backpack the night before; someone falls down the stairs (I'm not joking); the town decides to do major intersection work during rush hour; it goes on and on. 

This choir morning was pretty unbelievable.  Doran had one of his intense sneezing incidents (a lot of children with autism have sensitivities to the environment that cause different atypical and intense physical reactions).  I won't go into it due to the gross factor, but it's an unpredictable morning ritual-occurring anytime from the moment he wakes up to when he steps into the school doors.  I don't know what happens after that.  With so much going on every morning, I can't hover over him with tissues, and he has yet to get the timing of using one on his own so you can imagine how things develop.  This is one way autism affects him. 

Then I discovered that Doran had opened the child-resistant (ha!) cap to the liquid allergy medicine and simply balanced it on top of the bottle-perfectly.  I couldn't even tell it was open until I picked the bottle up by the cap and medicine flowed freely all over the inside of the cabinet.  I should know by now to never pick up anything in this house by the cap.  I think I need some behavioral training too.  ;-)

We did manage to get out of the house, but then there was a huge traffic jam on the side street that I use to get out of our neighborhood.  I;m talking cars hanging out in the middle of the intersection through red and green lights kind of traffic jam. I imagine there was some sort of chaos on the interstate because this rarely happens.  I took the long way to school so that we were at least moving and had a chance of getting to school while choir rehearsal was in session.  Helena was not pleased with this development.  Doran was a good 25 minutes late for rehearsal, but he got there.

Luckily the choir director understands that I am working by myself in the mornings.  Doran doesn't do too well waiting for things to start anyway.  It's usually much better when he can go right into something and start.  It works out but I still have nagging guilt.

So this morning I am left with a need for Cape Cod.  Maybe you are too after reading this. ;-)  Thanks for your patience and for coming along for the school morning ride.  I'm happy to hear your stories too.  Feel free to share any morning or day challenges you have had lately.  I'm all ears.

And now it's time for some soothing pictures.

 

The dunes can get very tall.  I find them fascinating.

Tasty and inexpensive seafood can be found here.

Ah better now.  This makes me feel like I can go anywhere and do anything.  Happy Tuesday!

What a Difference

I am afraid of spiders.  I really try to keep this fear of mine to myself so I won't pass it along to my children.  I mean I really hate even looking at them.  Doran and Eden try to catch them.  It takes every fiber of my being to not abandon them and run screaming in the opposite direction.  Meanwhile, Greg has this tarantula at school (which is where he will stay) that seems to live forever.  It's been years since he got that thing.  The children love it.  They love going to Daddy's work and feeding and watering the spider.  They think it's a bonus if they actually get to see Tarantula catch and eat one of the unfortunate crickets.

Anyway, the other day Elijah came home with this:

 

Auughhhh!!  I don't even like pictures of spider, even drawn ones.  I could barely photograph  and post this.  They truly creep me out-truly.  I am trying not to look at the picture and my child is pushing it into my face and pointing at every single part of this spider.  "Mama look, look."  So in my most steady voice, I praised my baby for how much he learned, his handwriting and labeling skills.  What I really wanted to do was run screaming out of the the room.  Actually I was screaming and running in my head hoping he couldn't see my freaked out state in my frozen smile and glassy eyes.

Then the child pulled some more drawings out of his backpack.  This time they were of different types of webs.  I don't know about you but I hate cobwebs and I especially dislike running into them.   You know the ones.  They are practically invisible in the morning, but they are everywhere.  Running into one of those things sends me into a frenzy - in my head.  Remember mama tries to stay calm around the kids.  Now if I run into one when I am alone, I run around slapping myself and hopping and twirling around like a Whirling Dervish.  Actually not, because their movement is quite graceful and beautiful.  It's more like a crazed woman running around in circles and zig-zags trying to slap cobwebs off of her face and out of her hair.  I think the scene looks more like I have ants in my pants-fire ants.  My neighbors are nice enough to avoid mentioning these displays.

But back to Elijah's poster, after I got over my terror, I realized these children are learning so much more than I did in first grade.  We weren't labeling and learning parts of spiders in first grade.  We certainly weren't learning what different types of webs there are.  I had no idea there were so many until Elijah showed me his poster; I usually just run when I see one.  My spider education was more like, "That's a black widow; don't touch it.  Go find an adult."  We had a lot of black widows in Georgia; they were forever hanging out in garages and such.

So I am happy the kiddos are learning so many new things about the world and I am happy they are learning about spiders from their Dad and at school.  Are there any things you have to pretend to like or at least not be terrified of for the sake of your children?

 

My your day be spider-web free.  Have a good one.

Partying State of Mind

In honor of the First Day of School, Helena organized a Stuffed Animal Pajama Party.  As a family, we celebrate milestones, ordinary days, big things and little things.  I was so excited to see Helena planning a celebration independent of any suggestion from me.  I hadn't expected this.  In fact, when she was talking about it during our school walk-through a couple of days ago, I thought it was something her teacher had arranged for the class.  In all of the heat, hubbub and general confusion, I didn't realize the party was Helena's idea.  She is such a force that girl.

Elijah got busy dressing Eden up for the party.  This was part of a bunny costume that Helena wore in her first ever dance recital.  I think that tail has seen better days.

Unfortunately I missed the party as I had made arrangements to paint with my friend Julie.  I heard it was great fun and I enjoyed seeing the little bits and remains of their celebration.

 

Yes, the sign says "Stuft  Anumai Potty".  Is there anything better than a six year old's spelling? 

 
Besides the pajama party itself, the kids also had a circus and a dance party.  Apparently all of the festivities tired out poor Eden.  What a party. 

 
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.

First Day!

Ah, we made it through the first day of school!  It was fun to see old friends and faces!  The children looked so snazzy in the back to school outfits they chose.  I got a kick out of seeing all of the new shoes on every child's feet.  Soon enough they will be scuffed, worn and outgrown.

Even though everyone was up early,and backpacks were packed the night before, there was still a little hustle and bustle at the last minute.  I think that is just the way it is getting four children out of the door before 8:10 in the morning.  This year I have resolved to have snacks and lunches assembled as much as possible the night before.  Nobody likes a soggy sandwich so some things have to wait until morning.  Boo!  As we get a little more settled, I will have the kiddos help.  Preparing their clothes the night before is also a time-saver.  If I am not careful, we will be truly organized.

The sun was a little bright.  It was already broiling before 9 am.

I didn't get through the first day without forgetting something.  A few weeks back, Helena and Elijah received letters from their teachers telling them (me) what they needed to bring to school on the first day.  Well I thought I was so smart.  I got their supplies (I took each of the three children separately to shop for supplies) and I purchased their class donation items.  We were all set or so I thought.  I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to take a picture of them reading their favorite books.  Elijah and Helena were to bring the photos and the books with them on the first day of school.  I conveniently remembered this assignment when I saw one of their classmates walking around with Harry the Dirty Dog (I love that book).  So guess what we did after school .

 

This girl absolutely loves her big brother.

Luckily no one was traumatized by my forgetfulness.   Elijah and Helena had a fun day.  They really like their teachers and they were very proud of themselves.  Doran managed all of the new faces, routines, and environments exceptionally well.  He loves his new aide Jenny.  He was able to stay in his mainstream classroom all day.  Usually he would be overwhelmed by all of the abstract conversation and instruction, have 'behaviors', and consquently have to leave the classroom.   

Any parent of a child with autism will tell you that when the behaviors happen, you can't really hang out with everyone else.  It's a hard balance emotionally.  On the one hand, the child has to be comfortable and if leaving is what does it then that is was has to be.  I feel badly for Doran when all of the noise, lights, movements and talking overwhelm him.  I have heard it can be painful.  No one wants their child to be in pain.  On the other hand I think many parents, including myself, wish that their children felt better in these situations that seem so manageable and routine for everyone else.   Yesterday, Doran managed the intense sensory input beautifully and had a good time.  I am so happy he was comfortable and content!  I hope this means that he is feeling better in this world of ours that can be so unavoidably pushy.  Here's to a shiny new school year!

Tomorrow: Remains of the Stuffed Animal Pajama Party

 

The Day Before

It's the night before school and preparations are still in full swing.  I spent the day doing the final loads of wash, watching the children pick out their first-day-of-school outfits, planning school snacks and lunches,and purchasing the requisite ingredients. 

So now we have met the new teachers, and the new supplies are ready.  I have ironed clothes, assembled snacks and lunches, tucked nervous and excited little ones in bed.  It's almost time.

Ice Cream Social

I can't believe it's over.  The twins have finished Kindergarten, their first real school year.  Doran is headed to the fourth grade!  How did they get so big?  Where did the year go?  I remember the first-of-the-year Open House  like it was last week.  The end of the school year, much like New Year's Eve, inevitably leads to reflection of where and how I spent my time, goals that were met and unmet and how I should best go forward even though I am no longer the one in school. The children just add another layer to that thought process.  I am responsible for nurturing them and helping them grow up to be kind people.  So the end of each school year has me thinking hard - probably too hard.  Not to mention that after school is out for the summer, there is this question of "Now what?"  I am excited about the time ahead of us and also a little bit daunted.  There is a shift that comes with the children being home all day (well Doran actually has some weeks of summer school).

However, my friend thought of  a nice transition out of school and into the summertime - an ice cream social.  We had the social at the same playground we were supposed to have Helena and Elijah's birthday party.  It was a fun time.  The kids were so happy.  It was perfect for ice cream because it was boiling hot.  By the end of it, the adults were putting ice cubes on themselves and the kids.

First we went to the Kindergarten picnic.

Helena is none too happy about school being over.  I used to feel the same way when I was a child.

Oh and I finished the hand-painted card in the nick of time.  I had to get out the heat gun so it would dry quickly.  I wanted to make some adjustments to it, but I didn't have the time.  You'd think I would learn not to attempt painting a gift at the last minute; you'd think that, but you'd be sadly mistaken ;-)
 

Then it was on to Jonathan's Dream for the ice cream.
 

If you look closely, you can see the slide is also a whale.  Maybe it's a dolphin.  Anyway, I didn't notice this feature for two whole years.  I think that long lapse of observation had something to do with trying to watch three children at a large playground.

 

 

Doran smiles frequently, but his smiles and laughs are elusive and fleeting when it comes time to capture them on film.  Please bear with me as I pop another shot of him having the time of his life on the tire net.

So on we go to summer!

 

Last Minute Gift Crafting

 

 
Every June, every December and pretty much every birthday or special event, I get caught by time.  Somehow these special dates and events sneak up on me, and I don't have enough time to finish my planned handmade gifts.  It is a great lesson in letting go, but also a lesson in trying to plan ahead better.  As the years have gone by, these special dates no longer sneak up on me.  That doesn't mean I get all (or sometimes any) of my projects done on time, but at least I see the deadline coming and know how much time I have left to get on the stick.  Part of the issue for me is scheduling or making time every day for creating.  So many artists and crafters have talked about the importance of a daily art routine.  They are definitely right.  Lately I have been doing better, but this is something I plan to practice this summer.  I figure that if I am making something everyday, the easier it will be to make things for special occasions such as end-of-the-year teacher gifts.  I actually might even manage having things ready before their deadlines.  Imagine that!

 

I just love my embroidery scissors.  I love the metallic "snip-snip" sound they make - all business and efficiency.  I'm weird like that.

Last night I managed to finish a heating pad for Doran's school aide, Ms. Loretta.  This is a super simple project, but the end product is wonderful.  I made a similar, but bigger one for Doran.  For Ms. Loretta I added some lemon essential oil to the heating pad.  It smells like lemon sorbet. I got the instructions from Martha Stewart:  http://www.marthastewart.com/article/homemade-heating-pad?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/winter-sewing-projects#slide_1.  I usually use cherry pits, but I have been using rice for the last two heating pads.  It works pretty well.

 

 

I also worked on watercolor thank you cards for the teachers.  Painting is a little trickier.  I have to wait for a subject that inspires me and then I have to execute it.  Some paintings work and many many many don't.  Unfortunately that doesn't work too well for last-minute paintings.  I finally decided on this design. 

This is just a super-quick sketch so some colors are bleeding more than they will in the final version. I will be adjusting the leaves too, but you get the idea.  

Now it was just a matter of hoping the card paintings worked out.  I was so tired last night that I only got the painting sketch completed.  Around midnight I realized that I needed to postpone the card painting until the next morning.  Technically I have until Monday to pass out all of the cards and gifts.  Thank goodness for the buffer!

Well I just got a call from the school.  It looks like poor Helena has hives.  So I am off to pick her up.  She can help me (hopefully) with the remainder of our projects.  Then it's back to school for the Kindergarten picnic.  I am sure she will feel better then.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be back at this spot Monday with an update on all of our end-of-school excitement and hopefully completed gifts.   This gets me to thinking, how do you handle teacher gifts and deadlines?