Summer Solstice 2018

It's officially summer! It's hard to make plans this year, with all the family health issues and our first serious summer sessions with middle school, high school, and the local JC. I keep having to use my PTO for my family instead of my, more so than usual. Nevertheless, summer is still going to be good. So far we've had:

Our local Raley's is closed for renovation. Goodbye 80s/90s decor ... hello???

Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival! Winds this year prevented launches, but still had fun with friends.

We picnicked on the Town Green, catching up while the teens ran about and had a gleeful spree through the candy store.

Boys and Girls Club again puts on a great series of summer activities. James has signed on for two field trips again.

Another get together with friends by a pool, with California rolling hills in the background, under blue skies.

Visiting local parks and exploring the outdoors. Happy summer, y'all!

And ... Boom! It's Summer

Well, the last 2 months just flashed by. New crisises. New accomplishments. Heart aches. Transitions. And a truckload of paperwork, appointments, meetings, and IEPs.

Welcome to Summer 2015! Less worries on the childcare front, but plenty of stress to go around, none the less. Some summer programming. Some prepping for the school year to come.

• Summer school is back, and it's returned to 5 days a week, instead of 4 like last year. I am actually happy they are not doing the free breakfast or lunch, as (1) James did not eat the food and (2) it created so much noise in the outdoor eating area that he went to pieces. 
• We are going to try group swim lessons again with our local Parks and Rec -- I have really missed that summer tradition of me waiting poolside during the swim lessons. 
• I've also signed him up for at least one week of morning session of camp (Wacky Water Week) through Parks & Rec. This is the last year he can do this, so it's bitter sweet.
• Plus: Bike camp at Sonoma State University, through United Cerebral Palsy! James did a good job two years ago and hopefully this year will be just as great.

Meanwhile, things to work on: One is related to Behaviours. Namely, pulling down pants. James keeps doing it. We are all on him about it, trying to not browbeat him. We've pulled consequences, time outs, wearing belts -- it's not working. And the Behavourist our HMO assigned us? Worse than useless. Another exercise in extreme frustration and mental torture via email, paperwork, and endless intake sessions capped with "sees no need for behavioural intervention at this time."

The pants down activity is the latest in the saga of Can't Wear Jeans or Pants with Zips & Snaps, colliding with ongoing toileting issues. Huge win: regularity is the new norm! Not so great upshot: obsession with toileting and the bathroom. And pulling pants down.

I am looking forward to a break from the school grind. My work schedule has shifted, so that I am off by 2:30 in the afternoon. It feels like I am getting a summer vacation this year, 3 hours a work day!

Planning the Holiday Avalanche Campaign, 2014

Thanks to The Peaceful Mom for inspiration

Well, the IEP, Walkathon, Book Fair, School Photos, Halloween and first report cards are now behind us. Time to seriously get thinking about the holidays. Yes, I have become that person out of necessity. Especially now that I working full time again, and have to deal with Winter Break coverage for the kids.

Who collectively have birthdays right before and after Christmas and New Years. Well planned ...not!!

I have counted my PTO and booked it all away ... praying no one gets sick before then. I should be able to spend a good chunk of time with the kids over the hols this year. Trying to figure out childcare that last week between  the time our wonderful regular care person goes home for the holidays and the kids are off and I can start taking time to be with them is going to be a bit tricky.

I have started research for holiday and birthday gifts. It's looking like they've way outgrown their older bikes, so it might be time for some bigger ones. I have lots of ideas for James' older sister. For James, however, it can be a challenge to find something fun that he will enjoy that is NOT an electronic game or device.

So far, I am looking at all things I Spy, as it's high on his interest radar, helps his vocabulary and interpersonal play/communication, and has gift-worthy items that are not limited to books or electronic games.

James likes music so much that I'd like to get him some kind of music player ... preferably one that does not involve too much money and survive his inquisitive nature (he likes to disassemble things).

While James did love building and playing with the marble run a few years back, it was difficult to keep set up and the pieces started disappearing, so no LEGOS or little do-hickey play kits. Although these Squiz tempt me into thinking this might be something he'd enjoy playing with, and help his finger fine motor skills. Likewise, the Squap, which he could play with family or friends, even indoors.

I dunno .. open to suggestions here!

IEP For Fourth Grade

James' annual IEP is next week, and so far I am relieved at the communication beforehand. It's rather organic this time around, and with a new team on a new campus. It's rather refreshing because they seem to be looking at James, rather than a standardized checklist.

t-shirt from zazzle.com

There was no issue with changing the date of the IEP (their request this time and they asked if it worked for me too), which right away made me feel better, There's been communication back and forth. When I wrote a note this week, asking to have a behaviourist added to the meeting to address the recent bathroom issues, I got a phone call 2 days later from the services coordinator to go over ideas she and the behaviourist had come up with and asking for input. I will hopefully get a look at a draft of the IEP before the meeting, which would really help.

AND: she shared with me that they have bought noise-cancelling headphones, especially for James, to help filter out noise and help him stay in the classroom and focus on his work. This, compared to the last 2 years? I think I've died and gone to IEP heaven.