First Passenger Train Ride

James loves trains. He has been on train rides before at Disneyland:

Travel Town:

Little Steamers:

But on the West Coast, there have not been a lot of chances to experience passenger rail. That changed this weekend with the opening of SMART. We took an afternoon trip from the Sonoma County Airport to downtown San Rafael and back. Standing room only, most of the way. Luckily, we arrived early enough and got seats.

What an exciting was to spend a Monday. Here's to more train trips!

Golden of Age Summer Ballooning

Last month, James came with me again to the annual balloon festival. It's become our local, early riser, early Summer activity to do together.

This year, crowds were more manageable. Prices were up slightly. No Star Wars balloons, but there was a hand painted map of the Earth, brand new this year.

Pictures, saying 1,000 words:

YouTube: Power Tool for Autism Parents!

Another regular school year is coming to an end for James. It has been a stinker, complete with his school changing his program and retaining him in the 4th grade without asking or being honest with me. Totally not in compliance with his IEP. Took several meetings and a lawyer to get that undone.

Yes, there were some good things too this school year. And James is still his cheerful self. A lot of broken promises this year, that's all I'm saying.

Today is a field trip for James! The second real field trip of the school year and I am so happy he gets to be with the mainstream 5th grade class for it. It's rollerskating at a local rink.

Um.

James has trouble riding a bike, let alone roller skating. He's never attempted skating, in fact. However, breakthroughs with his social group at the Swain Center, the overall friendliness of the kids at his school, and the expanded horizons from the Boys and Girls Club after school program all contributed to him wanting to go and try.

He wanted to know how to roller skate. We have no skates. What we did have was YouTube:



Oh yeah! We watched a few of these and off he went!

Crossing my fingers - so far, no phone calls from the office!

Update: He did great! Two laps around the rink and ate 3 slices of pizza after. Yes, he did fall. No, it was not a big deal. He was so jazzed that he went. And very tired that night too!

Playing Around

For someone who does not like the noises of stove fans, hair dryers, or a coffee grinder, he can sure get a lot of inexplicable enjoyment from sonic-ing about!

It's the 11th Doctor's. I love the Captain America t-shirt too.

Epilogue: Field Trip

Sounds like it was a complete success. Mom was a big worry-wart for nothing.

James went with his aide, a notebook with activities I made in it, his school's yearbook, and a friend's mom helping keep a weather eye out for him.

He came home overflowing with information about the solar system and the fun bus ride. When I came to pick him up at his Nana's house, he was zooming about, looking for Clues!!!

Even this morning, watching his face alight with excitement to be off on a trip with his classmates while pulling on the class t-shirt, I knew it was going to be okay.

PS: Heck, even the weather cooperated!

A Sincere Pumpkin Patch

James' sister asked when we were going to visit a pumpkin patch for Halloween. This weekend seemed an ideal time. Sonoma County is a great place for agricultural events, so we have a nice range of choices for pumpkin patch experiences.

Because we don't want to take the time to drive to Petaluma, and brave paid parking and crowded, dusty, noisy places, we usually try our side of the Petaluma grade. We've tried a local farm about 3 miles from our house. This year, however, they are not doing a patch. Our favourite place has been Grandma's in Healdsburg.

This weekend I really wanted to keep it simple, as James was having a fussy day. I had noticed a Pumpkin Patch sign along a country lane that ended into my work commute. So I piled the kids in the car and we headed there. I am so glad I did, because we discovered the newest, sweetest little pumpkin patch ever.

There were barely 2 dozen pumpkins left on the hay-strewn patch of ground. Growing beds flanked the pumpkins and the sprinkler was spritzing away at them. A few cheerful decorations were set up, and the man who had been spinning the pumpkin sign at the entrance hurried up the lane to greet us and explain that this was their first year selling pumpkins.

A large black truck had followed us in. When the driver heard this new patch did not have a bounce house, hay rides, or a corn maze, he turned right around and headed back out. This left us free to roam about and explore what was there. It was like having our own, personal pumpkin patch. It felt very down home, and sincere.

We ended up buying a pumpkin, a small pumpkin, and a gourd. Joshua, our sales guy, thanked us for coming, made a good push to sell us some Indian Corn, and finally invited us to come back in December, when they would be selling Christmas trees. He was quite funny about uses for the gourd. My daughter has plans based on his ideas.

I think we'll be back. Great Pumpkin, if you are looking for a Sincere Pumpkin Patch, make sure you stop by Shiloh Road!

They have a wonderfully quirky sense of humour!

On Safari

On Thursday, James and his class journeyed on a field trip to a wonderful local institution: Safari West. He had a great trip and conked out super early that evening at home, after completing a short homework write-up of the day.

I was bummed to miss this trip, but fortunately, the kids and I had already visited a few months back during one of their Open House days. Below are some pictures from that trip. James saw all these animals with his class as well.

Giraffes are Up Close and Personal. If they are on or too close to the road,
the tram stops until they decide to move, which makes for some great photo ops.

Oh all right ... be off, puny humans!

Rhinos. We learned that they are wide(-mouthed) rhinos, misnamed "white" rhinos.
Very cool to see trotting right in front of you.

African cows. Their huge horns keep them cool during hot spells.

Flamingo Island. Purty.

Meerkatz; yes, we all broke into song.

Whistling ducks. No lie.

James did well with both these tours. It was more of a challenge to keep him close to us and away from wandering birds on the Aviary foot tour portion of the expedition. His aide reports he did fine, although being out in the sun so much did wear him out more quickly than usual.

Safari West had a new addition to their family - an ostrich! I think the aide and I were more excited about this, because of the presentation James had made for his class.

I asked James what his favourite part of the trip was, and he replied "Giraffes!" That made me smile -- I liked them a lot too. They were gentle, yet seemed to have such quirky personalities (that I never suspected during previous zoo visits). I mean, look:

I don't ever remember seeing them stick out their tongues.
This giraffe did nuthin' but!

Giraffe tongues are purple (to me they looked black or blue) so they won't get sunburned.

Safari West is not what I think of when I think of the Wine Country, but I definitely fell in love with it, and want to visit again soon. You definitely feel transported, which makes for a very nice break from the mundane and routine.

BINGO Night Out

The whole family turned out for the annual BINGO Night fundraiser at James' big sister's school. I enjoy these events. I remember from my own childhood how exciting it was to go out at night and do something fun. It's another chance to connect with others. We get a break from routine, and have fun. Plus, there's pizza!

I also get a chance to see how James has grown. This year, he lasted the whole event in the noisy indoor gym. He recognized people and said hello to them. When his water bottle ran dry, I was able to send him to fill it from the drinking fountain with just one verbal prompt. I kept an eye on him from my BINGO table. He did very well. He also asked for some popcorn. I was able to give him the money and send him by himself to the food counter to buy it himself, again with myself watching him from the other side of the room. My friend at the counter said he did very well.

Inside I was pumping my fist and cheering these independence achievements. James was happy to have his own bag of popcorn and a full bottle of water when he wanted them. Hooray for BINGO!

Frosting Face

Until now, James has liked his cake and cupcakes, but not been interested in frosting (with the exception of his first birthday). That all changed today at a friend's birthday party:

Ohhhhh my!

What Am I: Answer

Another clue:

No?

Okay -- it's Island Oasis!

Alooooooooooooo-HA!

James and his sister are touring alluring Islands around the world this week for summer camp. So far, they have visited the Phillipines and Arruba. I'd be intensely jealous, except I get a break while they are having a great time.

So far, they've worn leis and grass skirts to sing and dance on the stage at the center, made crafts with jewels from the sea, and even done some science experiments. James has come home with a new vocabulaory word: "cool." I love it!

Bijou by Big Sis

This is his second year with the older kids' summer camp through our Parks & Rec department. Before that, he had a blast for three years of their preschool summer camp. This gives James a chance to shine in regular activities without a 1:1 aide. Many of the staff know him and, because this is James' super power, everyone is his pal.

It's also a chance for James' sister to get out and have some fun without having little brother tagging along like a shadow. Even thought they are in the same program, he's with the younger kids and she's with the older group. It took a little persuasion to get her to relax and leave the supervision to the camp counselors, but things seem to have settled down well.

They get a little adventure and excitement, plus social time with their peers. I get some serenity. We all get to pretend we've been to an Island Oasis. Who knew the community center could be so many things?

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Independent Day

I somehow feel that this year both kids keep showing their growing independence. Oh, I still hear my name called a bazillion times a day, but I no longer have to hold or tag along watchfully after them. Much. I can now go out and garden for almost an hour at a time, without the kids crying for me to come back inside, climbing to dangerous heights, otherwise injuring themselves or the house. They have found other things to do, like read books, play video games, or (gasp) play with their toys. They help do chores around the house on their own.

Today James and his sister helped me prepare for a family Fourth of July picnic by helping me spear berries on bamboo sticks and make Rice Krispy treat toppers (thanks, 5 Minutes for Mom, for the great idea).

They dressed themselves in red, white, and blue(ish) clothes and helped me pack the picnic bag. Once at the picnic, they ran around outside, playing with their cousins. It may seem banal, but there are years of waiting and yearning on my part, as well as hours of Social Stories, sensory work, speech therapy, O/T, and ABA help our kids enjoy this simple, happy afternoon.

I remember earlier years when the kids loved climbing the stairs in the barn, shied away from strange faces, and had to be followed, lest they fell into the creek or got lost behind a hay bale and panicked. Those memories are sweet,  but getting to relax and enjoy the day while the children made their own agenda was something to celebrate as well.


For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.






               and ... Wordless Wednesday