They Learn From Us

James had an unsettled session of summer school this morning. He yelled and said "NO!" when spoken to by teachers. After writing, he balked at doing any work. He was supremely unconcerned about listening and following directions.

When I picked him up, there was his checklist waiting, with a list of sad faces.

First, I had him apologise for yelling at the teachers. Then I told him we would discuss his day at home and maybe write a note to his teachers. That we would try again tomorrow and have a better day. This sounded like a Plan to us all.

So after lunch I had James sit down and write a note to all his teachers:

"I am sorry I yelled. I will try to listen (up at top) more."

I then asked the kids to do an offline activity while I ate my lunch and checked my email. While doing this, I found an email that indicated a payment that I did not remember making - panic attack.

James' big sister decided to help out by telling James it was time to play KJS. As he kept asking "What you doing, Mommy?" and "I'm right here! Who you talking to?" while I was trying to straighten things out over the phone, I could hear his sister saying "James, you need to pay attention, or you're going to get an unhappy face!" And he listened!!

They went into a bedroom and played KJS;  his sister later informed me that his earned all smiley faces. I love those kids to pieces. We are now going swimming as a reward. The email/financial issue? Resolved, thank goodness!

SOOC: Saturday Snippets

What could be more appropriate to Straight Out of Camera (SOOC) than snippets straight out of our Saturday so far? Caveat -- these are all from my Droid phone.

Sunrise over the back fence.

Morning coffee and relaxation.
Kids have their breakfasts and are watching "Corpse Bride."

After coffee, back inside, KJS School in action.
It's reading time.

Skeletor smackdown.
Go, Pokey (and your weird yoga victory pose)!
One of the best things about having kids is walking into a room and seeing things like this.

Speaking of Victory ...
our fridge has never been so decorated.

Found this little present on the floor.
The dominoes are never used as a game.

Put my Droid phone down to get at the kitchen.
Someone decided to capture the blanket.

 

And this one? Is just a mystery.
Actually, I know it's James' fingers over the lens,
but it's a nice little abstract that unexpectedly appeared on my screen.

Falling into another week of participating in the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog. Come on over to see more or join in!

Thankful Thursday, Special Edition

Thanksgiving post, a little late. Despite not having to host a gathering, still a lot to accomplish. A lot of wishes and pleas this Thanksgiving, mainly for health and fortitude for loved ones, among all the things to be thankful for. Stressful times, they keep on coming. Good things and people keep us going.

Yesterday, while baking side dishes to share at a family gathering, I observed James and his sister at play. I love it when this happens. It was mainly KJS, their version of follow-the-(older sister)-leader.

James did really well with the math questions thrown at him. Zumba time on my old aerobics step was priceless to eavesdrop on. The game was is old Curious George memory game. Story time hit a detour and turned into ....

Adop-a-pet!

James his bedhead ... and Doug

Big Sister and Kitty Boy

Most fun baking ever! Hope everyone enjoyed a good day with family and friends.

Magic Marker Mondays: Getting a Feel For the Holidays

It's been a while since I've posted some of James' artwork. He has been getting better at sitting down and focusing on projects in general. He has grabbed at least 2 pads of paper and scribbled on every page. His sister did this at ages 2-3. Speaking of which, his sister has enrolled him in her school, KJS. She is starting to work with him on his letter and numbers. She is his hero. He is one lucky kiddo!

Anyhow, James' school ran a great holiday fundraiser, with crafts. James is not much of a sticker & markers person, but he did enjoy stringing and wearing a macaroni necklace:



He enjoyed getting into baking pumpkin muffins to share at school:


And on New Year's Day at the beach, he got into the tactile sensation of the wet sand. He made sand angels. We had him help us make the new year date for the first time:




Visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

  

Magic Marker Monday: Photo Fillers

Disclaimer: Backstory precedes the creative project!
This summer we took a road trip up to Washington, two states away, to visit GrandMarie in her new home. Both kids were very good in the car. over 5 years of twice-yearly driving pilgrimages down I-5 400 miles pays off! No movies were played on the way up. The scenery was gorgeous.

There were many volcanoes to Big Sister's delight, and copious train tracks and trains, to excite and interest James. To say nothing of the bald eagles and waterfalls. Somewhere around Day 2 of driving, James informed us that he wanted to be a conductor when he grew up. My husband and I had one of those stunned silences where you savour the unexpected moment of happiness -- James, talking about what he wants to be when he grows up. Sounds simple, but for him it's not.

So we had an awesome trip and vacation. The weather was pleasant, GrandMarie so much fun to visit, and her new home so fun to explore. I took approximately 1000 pictures (thank you, digital!) and intended to send her a mini photo album as a thank you for a wonderful time. Then life smacked me upside the head for a bit on the way back down and ... well, two  months later the mini photo album is ready to leave the house.

After picking and grouping the photos, I gave it a final run-through and discovered that I'd left 2 blank pages somewhere near the middle. So I asked the kids to do some drawings and sign their names for their grandmother. They dragged until Big Sister suggested they do it as a KJS (her name for playing school at home) project. Then they couldn't have enough fun.

Their drawings are simple, but together with the photos they create a nice record of this past summer. The combination gives an understated scrapbook feel to the album that makes it a more complete record of this moment in time. The kids loved looking at the photobook and talking about the trip. It made them feel more a part of the thank you to have their drawings included in the album.

The materials are simple -- a $2 mini album from Target, photos, paper, scissors, crayons, stickers, and imagination. How do you make fun, fast albums?

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

       

And So It Goes

James and his sister had been playing KJS (Keep James Smart school) so nicely; non-computer play time and math went smoothly. I was beaming with pride.

Then James spotted the "fly" (it was really more like a gnat). Game over. He started crying, insisting we get the fly. Then he started jumping and yelling. After trying in vain to redirect him, I gave him a time out in his room. Then he called his sister a name and talked about punching people, which means no more iPad today.

It's now almost an hour later. James has calmed down and apologised and his sister's enjoyed a bike ride near our house. They are back together and playing a version Follow the Leader that combines Tae-Kwon-Do exercises and my old aerobics step. Now they are practicing writing. I am staying out of it, hoping for no more flies.