AI Buddy

James got a Kindle Fire for his birthday last week. He was very happy to play the apps and watch YouTube video of his beloved Monsters, Inc. Run game. Today, he discovered Alexa.

Siri's cousin is in da house! Here are some highlights:
Oh. My. Goodness.

J: Are you doing ok?
A: I am good; ready to help.

J: What is your favorite colour?
A: I like seafoam.
A: Infrared is pretty nifty.

J: Where Are You?
A: I am here and my head is in The Cloud.

and, the ever amusing:
J: Can you Sing for me?
A: Who me? I couldn't. I ... hit it!

PS: We just discovered she will sing "Happy Birthday" to you. He got the biggest grin on his face and bounced in time the whole way through.

All Over Presents

Predictably, videos and books were the biggest excitements for James, followed closely by a Joe Cool shirt that we can't wait to show off at school. Big sister's keyboard with sound effects, however, was a strong attraction:

Happiness Is ...

Finding and playing with all our pals from Peanuts.

While we don't have a warm puppy, we do have two sweet cats!

Using Our Parks Pass

The big holidays and James' sister's birthday have come and gone. We're all In a bit of a letdown.
Finances are still tight but the weather is gorgeous, especially compared to the rest of the country. A kind of Christmas present to the family was an annual parks pass to our Regional Parks. So far we've been to the ocean twice, but today I wanted to be closer to home yet really get outdoors band unplugged.

We came to Riverfront Park. After some initial grumbling, it was great. We waked 10 minutes in the shade of the redwoods and emerged at pond#2. Clear skies and no wind in a protected shore meant temps at almost 70°.

It was quiet too. Far from the background noise of the rods and leaf blowers that had sent James into our back bedroom closet earlier.

For close to an hour now they've been happily busy digging in the moist bank with sticks for rocks to throw. We'ved been visited by ducks, horseback riders, dads teaching daughters to fish, and walking groups. For the most part, it's us in the outdoors: sun on our faces, and simple pleasures.

Magic Marker Monday: Oobleck

Some writing James did during summer school. I asked him what that strange word was. "Oobleck," he said. What is that? From James' description, it's a combination of Play Dough and slime; and it's lots of fun to play with.

Love his illustration too!

I am so glad they not only made something, but that they could also play with it, and then write about the experience after. I am also really glad it did not come home in his backpack!


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

                                 
 

Wonder League Teams Up!

Yesterday was our last game of the 2013 season with the Healdsburg Wonder League. Even though we hot the hottest day of the year, we came out to play. Normally James just melts and we stay home. This game was different.

We started later in the day, about 3:30, and the game was in town at Healdsburg's Rec Park. Déjà vu -- we'd just been there last week at the end of the Future Farmers Country Fair's Twighlight Parade. Our guys got to hit the field after watching a thrilling game between the San Francisco Seals and the Healdsburg Prune Packers. What a lot of fun it was to see the big guys play right up close! There were some fast action going on out there.

We did root, root, root for the Home Team!

We were right by the dugout.

I love the home team, just for the name, BTW. When I first remember coming to Healdsburg in the summer, the air was full of the smell of plums drying into prunes. As soon as we came off Fitch Mountain, we could smell their sweet fruity aroma, going into and all over town. The dried fruit would get packed up and sent out all over the country by truck and train. The trees were gorgeous with blossoms in the Spring.

Well, back to baseball ... James actually hit a pitch! He's been steadily batting Southpaw, and all his work with his APE teacher are paying off - he throws in a nice straight line, pretty much on target. I noticed he also stayed on the field more and did less wandering, but that could have been because of the iPad app I promised to download for him later. He did a great job running the bases too.

Big sister did much better at bat once she switched to a lighter one. She's really starting to get the hang of it now! Not so keen on playing the outfield, but the did leg it around the bases, even stealing home. Way to go, Girl!

The icing on the cake: the Prune Packers were the Buddies for the game. They did an awesome job, coaxing the kids to try for a better batting stance and hand positioning. Their pitcher braved our unevenly hitting kiddos and patiently pitched to each one until a hit was made. After the game, some players even hung out with us for our final BBQ and awards ceremony.

As we left, one player called out "See you next year!" I sure hope so. Thanks again to George and everyone who made our kids smile as they got their chance at bat and on the field. Baseball, the Wonder League, and the Prune Packers make a winning team.

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Outdoors

First Summer Lounge at the Ranch in 2013, and it was so good to be outdoors in the sun for a lazy afternoon! James stayed on the trampoline, bouncing, whopping, and resting, for most of the time.

Oh. Yeah!

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

Magic Marker Monday: Valentine Puppet

I know we're almost a month beyond the holiday but ... catch-up is the name of my game, lately!

James brought this simple craft home from school. He loved his "puppet" - I could tell from the sound of his voice as he talked about it and the fact that he sought it out over the iPad for play time.

I think we can buy more Popsicles (we are going from cold and hail back up into the 70s this weekend) and start planning some Easter-themed ones and build a little puppet troupe.


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

                                  
 

SOOC Saturday: Christmas Eve!

Well, the lead-up to Christmas this year has been challenging and not very fun for the adults. The kids, however, have been popping like corn with anticipatory glee. Which makes things more bearable and puts me in the right mood for Christmas Eve and tomorrow.

It's not even 9am here, and already, we have:

Ah yes, Joyeux Leon to all!

Let's be reindeer!

Last night we started baking cookies for Santa and our wonderful neighbours:

Taste tests proved ... delicious!

Wishing everyone a special Christmas. And if Christmas is not your holiday, may your special days be enjoyed with the ones you love.

Sharing some candid Christmas for my share of the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog.
Come on over to see more or join in!

On the Inside, Looking Out

We had an interesting experience last month. Both my kids were splashing about in family the pool at our gym. I was watching from a chair in the sun, trying to avoid coming down with a cold. My daughter has been taking lessons, and while not yet truly swimming, she is confident and can dog paddle. James is very tall for his age, and so can safely walk across the shallow ends of the pool.

He loves to be in the pool, jumping about on the stairs and "monkeying" along the wall. If I get in the pool with the kids, they both love to climb the ladder at the deepest part of the pool and fling themselves off the edge. My daughter can now go solo. James still does not want his head wet, and leaps into my arms.

So there I was, watching them play in the pool at the gym. I noticed a young girl in full street clothes approach the pool and stare intently at my daughter and some other people in the pool. Then she started to jump up and down. And flap her hands. And do some verbal stimulation that did not include words. She circled the pool, doing this for a good 15 minutes. She was with her family and they all seemed to be enjoying a summer afternoon around and in the pool.

James did look up at her several times, but then went back to what he'd been doing, which was engaging in water fights with his sister (something new this summer; usually he hates being even splashed with water).

This is what really struck me: here I was, sitting outside on the deck, watching my kids in the water, doing their thing. I'd turned from a water-loving participant into a dry-dock watching mom. James was checking out airplanes up in the sky, my location, and what his sister was doing while trying his best to share the water with his neighbours. He was inside, looking out. I found that different, yet satisfying.

Beauty of a Morning Park

Summer weekends! How I remember popping awake extra early with the morning sun, ready to get up, explore, and play. My memory's pretty good! I haven't done that in decades. James brings it all back -- that's how he likes to start his day.

There is something not quite right about the ghastly contrast between how happy and chirpy he is and how puffy and lethargic I feel (and, unfortunately, look). I see it nearly every morning reflected back at me in the bathroom mirror as I stand ready during his first potty visit. Ready for what? Well, pretty much to chase after his laughing, bare-behindness as he races through the sleeping house, and stuff him into undies and pants when I catch him.

Summer does mean that on weekends I can get out into the glorious morning with him, coffee in hand, and head to one of our local parks for him to exercise his joyful exuberance. As I yawn, down my coffee, and wish away the grogginess, I start to smile and notice the beauty of my son, enjoying the park on a blue summer morning:

Here's what I like to see at the end -- equilibrium in our energy levels!

Repeat-Rewind

James has a new focus this week. He wants to gather and handle some of his favourite DVDs while he watches Blues Clues or YoGabbaGabba. He must have his blankets.

There will be breaks for jumping on the trampoline. There will be intermittent games of peek-a-boo. There will be good sentences used to negotiate which show to watch or comment on things he likes.

I am not a fan of the mess this makes, but I do like the interactions. Including the one called "clean up." Luckily, he likes this one too.

SOOC Saturday: Discovery Kidz

Last month, my Mom and I took the kids to the Discovery Museum. James showed his joy of playing with others.



I will never get tired of watching the joy children have of playing with the world around them and laughing with each other.

The Slurping Life has a magic number. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present. Share your stories too.



  

SOOC Saturday: Play Date

It's been terrifically hot this past week, but the kids are plenty active nonetheless. So this Saturday I was lucky enough to connect with another mom and her kids for an early morning play date at a local park.

When we arrived at 10, it was already over 80*


James did not mind, even though he heats up easily. You can't tell from these photos, but his cheeks are about as red as raspberry sorbet:



Did I mention it was also humid? Unusually so for this area. Never mind that -- James still loved the sensation of sand on his limbs (and in his mouth --- yecccchhh!).



We had popsickles and cracker treats, plus water galore. It was over 100* when we left for lunch, but it was totally worth it. Check this out:



James is with a group of friends, and they are all playing together! This is an answer to a hope of our hearts. And when we left, the kids all said good bye to each other ... and one friend said, "I love James!"

Dang, I am tearing up again. But in a good way!


The Slurping Life is inspired! Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present!



  

Try a Little Pretenderness

Today was about as normal a day as James has had in a while. He got on the bus this morning eagerly and had a good day at school. I did hear from his teacher that he is back to eating sand, though: gah!!!

I picked him up after school and we did the weekly shopping together, with a potty break in the store. May I just say here that I am in love with the bathrooms at Trader Joe's? They are on the ground floor, look homier than my own bathroom, are clean and large enough for a mom with 2 kids under 7 for a family bathroom break. But I digress ...

James spent a bunch of time in the cart pretending he was in a rocket. He kept counting down from 10 in the checkout line and yelled "Blast off!!" at the end. This is the first time I have seen him this playful while shopping. The test cooker loved it and gave him a juice box. The bagger cracked up and gave him a balloon. Both tried to engage him in conversation.

I gave him a few seconds to respond and then prompted him with a leading question so he could respond. It was so different from him being silent or making the eternal "eeeeeee" sound. He seemed so calm and happy, and I was too -- just more excited on the inside.

He also kept saying "Mom! Mickey Mouse!" At first I thought it was because he wanted to go home and finish watching some cartoons from earlier in the day, but then I realized he was talking about my new purse, with Mickey Mouse designs. We had fun counting them, and saying "peek-a-boo, Mickey!" when we came across a partial mouse in the design.

After a nap, his sister told him they were going to have a party! Her teacher is very big on parties as a reward for successfully following instructions. James said "yay" in a low voice, then grabbed a birthday party hat from the table, voluntarily put it on his head and said "yay ... happy birthday! Happy birthday!" This is all new and fun.

And at bed time, he now likes to put his stuffed animals on his head and sing the Laurie Berkner song "Pig on Her Head."

I am loving this playful, pretending side coming out. It's like I am seeing more of James, and he's a really fun-loving guy.

Special Exposure/Wordless Wednesday: Tent!

Salute to summer, from a rainbow tent in our living room:


For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

and ... Wordless Wednesday

Dino-mite!

We visited the Sonoma County Fair today. Oh my goodness, it was wonderful! They had a fantastic theme this year: Dinosaurs! (Okay, it's formally called "The Fair Before Time")

My favourite was the Hall of Flowers. It was truly amazing this year. My daughter adored the midway rides and the small dog races. James loved Clo the Cow and Dinosaur Island (aka the Reptile pavilion).

Dinosaur Island was very cool. They had all sorts of fascinating creatures on display, as well as mock dino skulls and heads. James really loved the heads. He saw a teen-age girl putting her hand inside one of the dinosaurs' mouths and squeal for her friends. He thought that must be pretty neat:


Because he kept doing it!



And when he got bored, he stuck his entire head in:



Boys!

PS: Does anyone else remember J.J. and Good Times?

Go Pictures

"Go pictures?" is James' way of asking if he can use the computer. Both he and his sister love to play games on a laptop:



In addition to the Curious George games, he also loves Clifford, Blues Clues YoGabbaGabba and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. He will purposely do things the wrong way if he likes the sound effect. It's all about the fun. And pushing buttons. And silliness. And being able to do something with Big Sister.

James knows how to use bookmarks, and that they are different on Daddy's and Mommy's laptops. He navigates with ease. The one thing he hasn't been able to do (yet) is Click/drag/drop. Oh, but I am sure that is just around the corner.

Riding the Rails

Today was a beautiful, hot summer day. It was a great day to go to the park and play in the spouting water play area and enjoy an outdoor picnic lunch.

When we got tired, we took a ride:



James has always like trains, but on this ride he gave several train whistles and gleefully said "Tickets, lease" "All aboard!" and "Let's go! Green light!" He hooted in the Haunted Tunnel and yelled with delight when they sounded the train whistle.

He still likes watching "The Polar Express."

SOOC Saturday: Explorer

I really like this picture. All the patterns of circles and lines in the background make me think that this might be how James first hears things around him that are so difficult for him to filter and process: conversations, cars, phones ringing, and other children yelling. And here he is, moving away from the white noise. Stepping out to explore on his own.

For more SOOC Saturday pictures and stories, visit Melody at Slurping Life.