The Big 13 Party

Even though James' actual birthday is in early January, we are all rarely ready to celebrate it with a party until a month (cough *or more*) later. This year we had some smaller family celebrations on and near his actual birthday. The big party with friends was today.

As James is now officially a teen, I thought he might want a different kind of party. We talked it over and narrowed down to Scandia or bowling. James finally picked bowling. This is not surprising - we have fond bowling memories.

The best way to plan a party for James is to find out who he really wants to come, then see if we can find one date for the party. We were pretty successful this time, thank goodness!

People trickled in. It did not matter because we had lanes reserved. We set up one lane with bumpers and one without. We had a ramp, just in case. We had cheese pizza, Coke, and Sprite. Guests included a friend from a socialization program, a friend from school and his brother, James' sister, and cousin. There were cheers, socialization, and Minecraft discussions. The oohs and ahhhs of opening presents mingled with devouring cupcakes from Oliver's.

No one lasted the full two hours, but that was okay, because everyone had a good time. Happy birthday, James!

What A Party!

James' teacher invited all her kids, and any willing parents, over to her house for her end-of-school year party. Wow! That was incredibly generous and such a nice way to bring the second part of James' school year to a close on a happy note.

The party took place in the garden, an idea which caught my fancy. Once there, I was entranced -- bcause her yard is gorgeous (18 years in the making), with multi-level decks, lawns, many container plants, and blooming nooks/rooms for the kids to explore. The kids were enchanted by the kitchen parakeet before they even got outside. Many kids loved to throw the chew toys for her miniature schnauzers. We were entertained by a bold male jay and two dueling hummingbirds. The entire class helped her locate her 60 year-old tortoise, whose been with her for over 50 years, and helped pick dandelions from the lawn for a tortoise snack.

A steady core group of kids mobbed the outdoor ping pong table and the bean bag toss. Once the tortoise wandered away, the lawn was set up for sprinklers, making soap bubbles, and running around in general.

At first, James hung back, overwhelmed by all the noise and motion. His schedule had been chucked clear out of the neighbourhood. I could tell he was interested, though, and after an hour he began to venture out on his own, and offer food to his aide.

I took off for my yard duty shift, and when I returned, I heard all about the exciting rocket launches the kids did. James' aide said James was really hesitant at first, but after his first try he wanted to keep doing them. I am going to have to pin down all the ingredients and try this at home with him some time. He ate all his lunch and seemed to enjoy watching everything.

The last part of the party was devoted to dessert and a bubble gum blowing contest. It was fun to realize that the entire class had the time of their lives with potluck, a garden, and simple games for everyone. I feel so lucky James was able to be a part of this. Part of me worries that this is gone too soon. Part of me relaxed in the sun, and soaked it all in while it lasted.

I love this cute summer cupcake idea!

Wordless Wednesday: Cherries

We have a cherry tree in our back yard. Over the years, it has produced an astonishing amount of delicious fruit. Some years we can't keep up with picking them. The past few years the weather hasn't cooperated.

This year, however, was just about perfect. We were able to harvest the cherries before the birds could swoop them up. James liked that some friends from school came over to pick and and bring home containers full of ripe cherries.

I love cherry time. It's my unofficial start to summer.

The blossoms are beautiful and fragrant.
When the petals fall, it's like it's snowing.

Bumper Crop year

These cherries are BIG!

We picked 2 of these and that was maybe a third of the 2009 crop ...

Summer is here!

Come join the fun over at Wordless Wednesday on 5 Minutes for Mom!

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Those Smiles

I can't get this picture out of my head, so I am sharing it again here today:

James with his friend Ronnie -- team leader of Hope for Buddies and Friends,
co-chair for the North Bay Walk Now for Autism Speaks.
She's been part of our lives for over 5 years. We were so excited to see her before the walk.

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

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Party Guy!

Some photos from James' birthday party with his friends. The first I've attempted to do in 2 years and I had to organize and run it solo; so thank you, Funky Monkey, for making the magic happen for my special guy so he could celebrate turning 7 with his friends:

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

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Beach

Last weekend, we went with friends to Natural Bridges State Park, where we enjoyed a picnic lunch, hiked to see the Monarch Butterflies, and spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach. James' Dad captured some great moments. Wow, we had a great time!

Come see what others have shared for their Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs. Add your special photos and add some pizazz to the middle of your week.

And while there are a couple of sentences on this page, the photos say more. Join the fun and see more stories at Wordless Wednesday            

First Grade, First Day

Today James started school again. My little guy is now a First Grader - how did that happen? It's kind of reassuring me, because when his sister started her First Grade career a couple of years back, I had trouble seeing our sweet sunny kid in a regular classroom or imagining he would be following in Big Sister's sensitive, yet highly academically successful, footsteps.

Well, he is figuratively doing just that. His Grade 1 classroom is the one just down from where she went.

I am going to have to get a picture of him after I pick him up from school. He changed his clothes 3 times this morning, he was so excited. We arrived just after the bell rang, in fact. Well done me! Not.

The important part is that James took to the new classroom, teacher, aide, and kids like a morning at Disneyland. I could barely get him to pay attention long enough to shuck his backpack, jacket, and lunch in the appropriate places before he broke away and danced off into the milling crowd of kids, grinning from ear to ear. I spoke with his aide for about 15 minutes and showed her the cheat sheet, which she glanced over and pronounced "Super!"

We went to go find James. He was twirling the hands on a play clock, asking kids if they knew what time it was. Then he sat himself down in the middle of some kids playing with a train and began to play with them, sitting normally and asking them questions. One of James' strong points is his like of being with other kids and people. It was so good to see him actively participating in a new group right off the bat. It helps that he has some friends from last year in this class -- they came right up and said "Hi, James!" He even got some hugs. With just a little prompting, he was greeting them too. Then, it was all about Playing.

For me, that was better than a hug and kiss goodbye. I am sure he's going to have a very good day and start to the school year.

ETA: Pictures from the first pick-up. It was tough getting him to stay still.

He was busy checking out the letters and numbers in the trees:

Been a Mighty Long While

Well, let's just say July's been ... interesting.

Finished up a not so great first session of nonpreschool summer school (survived! #Winning!) Managed James during his sister's early evening swim lessons (sometimes Respite Care, sometimes he gets to go to town with a pad of paper and a pen). Celebrated 4th of July. Suffered through ... something. Either this year was my turn to fall victim to some wicked-bad allergies or I caught another sinus cold ... or maybe a little bit of both?

Social experiments both good and bad. Always a bummer, painfully finding out you've grown apart from a long-time friend. Wincing as James kept announcing to his grandmother, during a long-anticipated visit in another state, "I have to go hoooooooooooooome now!" A fabulous first week of summer camp through City Parks and Rec with The Big Kids (including his sister). Playing peek-a-boo with said grandmother from behind her laundry door. Watching both siblings run and play with each other in grassy parks, on the beach, deuling with water balloons, and posing in front of some killer waterfalls.

Wanting to die just a little bit when James bounces up to complete strangers in the store and booms out "Hey! What's you gonna have this like ... it's you?" Then taking a deep breath and prompting "hey, Buddy, can you tell them 'Hello'?" Releasing it when he does with his sweet grin, which makes them smile and say "Hello" back. Smiling in relief when he makes someone laugh with his purposely goofy antics, using a $1 calculator as a side-kick.

Because the back-to-school sales are on, oh yes.

Good visits with friends, who are in synch with me about what's real in life and are rolling with punches of their own. Quiet moments with my children, who are growing so swiftly now. Visits to the library, whose hours will be sharply curtailed starting next month. The calm house at night, cooling slowly from the day's heat. Talks at night with my husband. Morning coffee in the garden, listening to birds, feeling the breeze, and smelling ripening plums and blackberries.

Dealing with sad family things. Hands full of life, that's for sure.

SOOC Saturday: Picnic, Land's End & Beyond

Last week I brought the kids to San Francisco to meet up with my husband and our friends. Despite an amazing bout of car sickness by James at about mile 50 in to the trip down, we enjoyed the afternoon and evening out (thank goodness for towels in the car, an emergency stash of clothes, and a good gas station bathroom).

We started with meeting our friends and their kids at the DeYoung Museum. We have a family+ membership this year, and we all treated ourselves to the Birth of Impressionism Exhibit. James was more interested in the baby that was traveling through the galleries than most of the paintings, although he did like the Monet train stations ("oooh, Thomas!").

Next up was a picnic lunner (lunch + dinner). We fetched our bags from the wonderful (if pricey) underground lot and feasted on the lawn just outside the museum's cafeteria. The kids were hungry, happy to play tag on the lawn, and gave their Daddy an enthusiastic welcome when he joined us.



I wanted to take the kids back in, but the Friday night family music session was in full swing. Very fun music (kind of French Celtic-Zydeco-Folk), but way too loud for James and his sister, who both can't stand loud noises. My husband stayed to visit with our friends and I took off early.

As a consolation prize, I took the scenic route home with them. Nice and slow for James, with the windows rolled down on all the non-freeway roads. Good heavens, we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Land's End, brooding through the fog & sunset (with lots of wind):


Literally up the road and around a bend, the wild outpost of West Fort Miley, bathed in sunshine and natural glory:





Legion of Honour -- so gorgeous and dramatically lit by the fading light:






And winding down into the Outer Richmond, where the roads got even twistier and more interesting, but likewise were less conducive to me pulling over the whipping shots off out the driver's window:




Apologies for being long-winded, but it's all SOOC, and a great reminder of a wonderful day trip together.

The Slurping Life offers wisdom and support. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present. No cropping or fixing -- it's life, straight out of the camera.



  

SOOC Saturday: James and His Teacher

James and his teacher, taken at his last preschool picnic earlier this month. Look at that smile! What a lucky guy he is.

How far he has come, and how far we hope he can go.

The Slurping Life is on the road. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday entries past & present. No cropping or fixing -- it's life, straight out of the camera.



And Gooooooooo Wil!