Thursday happenings

I'm finishing up work on my Card Making Class today, taking photos and making a creative mess. How much do I love the fact that I totally took over Jason's workbench last week, all in the name of good lighting for a photo shoot?
Now tell me, in what other paper arts class are you exposed to power tools like saws and air compressors? Luckily the fire extinguisher is always close by!

George's book seems to be working, he had a great day yesterday. His favorite page is the one that starts, "No crashing..." Silly boy. This morning started off a bit rocky, but hopefully his teachers will help him get back on track.

Emma seems to think she has two loose teeth now. I can't verify that, but she's convinced that she's going to lose all of her baby teeth at once and grow up Right Now!! She's growing up fast enough for me as it is.

Okay, must get back to card folding, embellishment gluing, and photo taking! Next thing on the To Do list is to finish making Emma's horse costume. Yup. Horse costume. I'll post pictures this weekend.

Playground project

George is having some trouble adjusting to recess at his "regular" school. It is too unstructured for him, so he goes into sensory overload and starts crashing into other kids. Due to a parent complaint that the school isn't keeping her child safe from George (a whole other subject that just pisses me off completely, not one child has been hurt), I've had to pick him up before recess the last couple of days while they and I put together some new tools and routines for George.

One of them is this social story that I've made. Pretty easy to put together and I think George will like it. His other books have always been very successful at helping him remember new rules or different routines.

His teachers are creating choice cards that they can give to him out on the playground whenever he needs to be redirected to a different activity. Today is his first day back where he'll stay for recess. Someone will read this to him during snack time (just before recess), to make sure it's fresh in his mind. Also, his Autism therapist is visiting the school today to see if she can think of other equipment they can acquire that might capture his attention better.

How glad am I that we moved to this wonderful city where the resources are so incredible? Where I have an Autism therapist that responds to every question, crisis, and success with enthusiasm and advice? Where George's regular (i.e. non-special needs) preschool is willing to PURCHASE playground equipment that is better for him? Where every person we meet (excluding ignorant mommies that spy on their kids throughout the day) is supportive, helpful, and full of ideas?

Amazing.

I Need Money

Oh dear lord. Emma has just discovered her first loose tooth. Have I ever mentioned how nauseous I get when the topic turns to teeth? She's currently sitting very carefully on the couch, afraid to move the wrong way (it's just barely wiggling). And she's a bit concerned about the meatloaf and tator tot combo we have cooking for dinner....it just might pull her tooth out, you know.

So, any ideas on how much the Tooth Fairy is giving out these days?

Fun with warning labels

You know, someone ought to have told me this a long time ago.

You'll have to excuse me now, apparently I was supposed to unpack the children.

Hello Fall!

So glad to see you!

Working frantically

One of many things I'm working on these days:
Wanna play?

http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3930

Back In Gear

Back in gear, indeed. Check out my workspace today: Holy technology, Batman! That's two monitors, one laptop, one external hard drive, two printers, one scanner, and also plugged in are two thumb drives that you can't see. Not to mention two websites open (Pandora Radio and Digital Scrapbook Place, of course), along with Photoshop, various file folders, and the latest issue of Creative Techniques.

George has a five day weekend coming up (for one of his schools), so I suppose I'm binging now while I can. And see the clock? It's only 10 am, think what I can drag out and open up within the next five hours!!

October 3rd

Eight years ago, today, was a very good day. How much fun was that party? My shoes were quickly abandoned and I don't think I ate much, but laugh and dance and cheer? Oh yes, I did all that. This guy of mine has brought so much laughter and fun into my life. Sure, I've been dragged around the country a bit, but it's been a fun ride so far.

I may not have a card for you, J, but I love you. Happy Anniversary!
One year ago, today, was a very good day. After many worries and sleepless nights, we had George's Autism diagnosis. Sounds like a bad day, right? Not for us. We finally had a path to follow and new resources to draw from. One year ago, today, I would have said that George had about 10 words in his vocabulary. Today, he chatters all day long. Not always appropriately to his surroundings or in response to direct communication, but the words are there. And there are more coming.

We're so proud of you, buddy! Enjoy your schools and your friends, we'll all be here for you as you navigate through challenges and we'll celebrate with you as you go.

Moving on

Life just keeps going, thank goodness. We had a blustery fall weekend, full of projects, rain, wars between siblings, book reading, movie watching, painting (of the finger variety), some boredom, and hot coffee on cold mornings. All in all, you can't ask for more than that!

Tell me this isn't adorable: She and Daddy are working on a super-secret project together. There is much gluing, sawing, sanding, and air compressor blowing involved. Their design keeps getting more elaborate as they go. Trust me when I say this is going to be the fanciest ........ ever!!! (I'll post the results after Christmas, you'll be amazed!)

And this little guy is completely obsessed with tractors:

We're thinking of parking ours in the basement this winter, instead of the shed. Simply as a play structure for cold, wet days. His favorite phrase these days? "Tractors! Everywhere!" The place we can no longer shop when he's with us? Home Depot. Tractors. Everywhere. Many tantrums upon leaving the land of tractors. Oh well.