Bowling Party for the Win

I finally did something I'd wanted to for years: throw a real birthday party for James. OK, I am almost 5 months late, but this year I did it and I am so glad I did.

Chronic issues: A birthday that lands 10 days into the new year, after everyone is wiped out (on so many levels) from the holidays; autism; winter bugs making the rounds; financially drained after holidays and big sister's birthday; weather that confounds outdoor (and less expensive) parties.

This year, however, James has had an awesome group of classmates and really expanded socially. Even with finances and other things stressed to the max in our lives, now was the year to do it. During end-of-year inventory sales, I purchased party items (plates, napkins, cups, and a fabulous collection of party bag toys) for an 8-kid party with a theme James would love: Angry Birds. I figured I'd wait for some nice Spring weather or find an reasonably-priced indoor solution.

Then life happened.

Then it was April and the end of the school year approached. Then I got sick. Somewhere in that mix, I realized our local Bowling Alley was my answer.

I seized Back-to-School Night as an opportunity to grill some parents of James' classmates about best weekend potential for a party. Surprisingly, Memorial Weekend was the response. I took a my lunch break from work and made out the invites, with the help of a freshly purchased yearbook (which is James' new treasured item) and popped them into the student folders that go home each week. On my way back to work, I stopped off at the alley and reserved the earliest block of time on Saturday for the party and find out the particulars.

I'll post later more detail about James' party. The most important thing to share is: it was a success. About half the kids invited were able to come. The fact that people trickled in was not a big deal because ... the kids already there were bowling, which James enjoyed a lot.

Because the lanes were booked for a party over a period of time, shoe rentals were included and the kids could just keep on playing as many games as they wanted. The noise level was down because it was so early in the day and we had pizza ready and drinks available from the cafe by the time the kids were ready for their first break.

Setup-clean-up were super easy. The staff at the bowling alley were very helpful. And it was so much less than booking a party elsewhere. So my stress levels were very low on many counts.

The kids loved it. All of them. Including the birthday boy. Especially the birthday boy. Which is how it should be.

Magic Marker Monday: Social Cookie Time

The holidays came and swamped me. The usual suspects aided and abetted the madness: holiday events, head colds, family birthdays close to major holidays, and attempts to simultaneously clean house / wrap and mail presents / send Christmas cards / and have appropriate thank yous for teachers. This year brought a few extras: IEP and special services fail hell, serious other family illnesses, jet lag from epic used car buying trip, and further reductions in household budget.

Lots of good things happened too, but I was more than ready for a change of pace and a chance to lie low after Christmas and New Year's. The kids, however, were wound up and still excited. James in particular was excited over Christmas, presents, and his sister's birthday. He's actually helping me plan his party for later this month, and he wanted play dates every day. Well, I found a dandy compromise between my desire to curl up with a book/computer under a blanket, listening to my music, and his to DO something and see his friends.

We made cookies and brought them to our family, friends, and neighbours. As always, we were greatly helped out by our dear friend, Trader Joe:

Source: instagram.com via Club Trader on Pinterest

We made a whole box for Christmas dinner with the family, and cleverly brought them in a cute decorative holiday house:

We skipped the sugar frosting, which was runny and messy. Instead, we put sprinkles and cake decoration toppings on some of the unbaked dough. We all agreed the results were simple and delicious. We bagged up many more batches of cookies for taking to our neighbours, and we dropped some more off with our friends.

So not only did James get the entertainment of helping mix up, decorate, and bake something fun, he also chose cookies to give to his friends and we had a good excuse to stop by James' friends' houses and say "Hi" during the vacation. No planning, no commitments, no pressure. At one house, we even enjoyed an impromptu play date. Best of all, James got to experience making something and giving to others, from mid-December through early January. Which is why I think I'll always be calling these Social Cookies in my head for years to come.


I see over at Michelle's that great minds think alike ;-) For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.


                                                        
  

SOOC Saturday: I was In the Neighbourhood ...

"I was in the neighborhood. It took me two buses, three cabs and a train to get into the neighborhood, but what the (heck)." Liza as Linda, Arthur. 

One of my favourite movie lines ever (along with "Nice place; I like a living room you can land a plane in," but I digress). And that was before Autism and extreme sensitivities in my small family started making this my life's mantra.


Case in point: A close friend invited us to a party in our old hometown. It took me 1.5 hours to travel 65 miles across 4 counties, across a major bridge, and through a tunnel to get to this party. I had to set up respite care way in advance and plan snacks and dinner for everyone still at home. Bedtime routines were updated and posted. Troops were prepped. I put on actual clothes, rather than just what was clean and handy. Picked up my husband from BART near the end of my drive and we carpooled to the party. Did we have a good time? Heck yeah! But no one got engaged (joke, if you've seen Arthur).


Here's a bit from my trip, SOOC:

Leaving home.

Traveling through the one-time egg capitol of the world, construction zone,
and a rain squall. See the rainbow?

CA cows are happy cows!

San Quentin in the side view mirror.

Bridge -- quick, which one?

One of the most expensive pedestrian/bike bridges ever.

Hate that pesky cyclone fencing. Wave to the Golden Gate!

Cupcakes for a Friday the 13th Party.
Notice the Jason hockey mask ones? Sweet!

I had such a good time, in fact, that I left my camera at the party and the hostess had to mail it back. 


Celebrating Spring with SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog. Come on over to see more or join in!

Magic Marker Monday: The Write Stuff

I try to get both children to write thank you notes. With their birthdays occurring so close to Christmas, it can be a challenge. I have found out that they do best if I get them to do about three at a sitting. They do not want to use pre-printed cards -- they want to make their own.

James, in particular, is excited to make them this year. He wanted to write his own thank yous. I dictated the letters an provided some guide lines, he did the reast. He even picked the colour of the paper for the cards and chose and placed the foam stickers on his own as well.

Materials:
* Handy Dandy Pad o' Construction Paper ($1 from the Dollar Store)
* Tub o' foam stickers (about $5 on sale from Michael's)
* Markers on sale from Target ($1 a box of 10)
* Misc. ball point pens

I found it was easier to have James write the message on the inside first before decorating the front. The foam stickers made an uneven surface for writing, and he kept making holes and got frustrated. Can I say how proud and happy I am that James can write his own Thank You cards?

His sister did a marvelous job as well. She detailed her presents in the front of the cards in design. I love how she put puzzles on the inside! Someone has been enjoying all those 3rd grade worksheets.

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

               
  

Shake Those Hands

We are spending the weekend with friends and their kids, who are about the same age as ours. Within seconds, the girls were on the floor, engrossed in Ponyland. They haven't seen each other in months, but so what?

James is having the best time, playing with the other kids and their toys. He is talking up a storm again: house, open, fish, duck, car, train, walking, marching ... so exciting! On the trip down, his sister gave him an impromptu speech & language session. She encouraged him to say circle, square, triangle and red. He came up with rectangle and TRUCK! on his own. Driving on the freeway, he had lots of practice saying TRUCK!!!

At the park yesterday, someone was flying a remote control AIRPLANE!!!!! Oh, that was good for 15 minutes at least. We watched it swoop and dive, bank and climb. We got to say "Oooo, aip'ane -- YAY!!!" many times.

There has been much climbing and running, following and meandering. I think what I love the best are the kids entertaining each other. It will be interesting to watch James next week. We've broken out of our routine before, and sometimes James makes huge leaps forward afterwards. It's like he gets a new perspective on things, and they look mighty different when "normal life" returns. That is so cool!