Like so:
Dream on, kiddo! (but you get big points for your approach)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Good Times - Say YES!
I was looking back through photos and found one from this past December that kind of captures a mood that James gets in. He's playful, and pouring on the charm. He wants something, and he accompanies his winning charm with the phrase "Mommy. Says. YES!!!!"
Like so:
Dream on, kiddo! (but you get big points for your approach)
Like so:
Dream on, kiddo! (but you get big points for your approach)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
SOOC Saturday: Gold Coins
How was your St. Patrick's Day? Ours was Very Green. We wore green, had a little green food (apples), and we hunted for gold on the Town Green.
James' sister's class was invited to participate in the town's first ever Gold Coin Hunt on the Windsor Town Green. As a sibling, James was able to attend. He mostly had fun running around the lawns with the other kids and testing his balance by walking on the low curbs around their edges. He was all about fun in the sun, being able to run about and yell freely, and not spending another day in the house sick with a cold.
His sister, however, struck gold ... in more ways than one:
We love the Town Green. We have had many picnics here on the lawns, played at the playground, and been fascinated with the fountains. We've enjoyed some of their Summer Music concerts (the kids love dancing to live music). We've wrapped up in blankets and watched movies there for free, under the stars.
The City of Windsor's Parks and Rec Dept. has many great programs that use the Green as well. James has enjoyed 2 summers of their preschool summer camp sessions. At first, I had to have an initial interview with the program and Park directors to make sure the programs and James would be a good fit.
They listened to me talk about James as a person and were happy to try having him, even though for the first year he could barely speak words and was still in pull ups. James quickly won over staff and co-campers, and he loved being able to go to camp and have fun new things to do with such fun and supportive people. After each session, his language and communication skills would take huge jumps forward. This is what inspired us to try having James try being in a mainstream program outside of his Special Day class.
So I guess that James too has struck gold on the Town Green!
The Slurping Life is ready for Spring. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present. No cropping or fixing -- it's life, straight out of the camera.
James' sister's class was invited to participate in the town's first ever Gold Coin Hunt on the Windsor Town Green. As a sibling, James was able to attend. He mostly had fun running around the lawns with the other kids and testing his balance by walking on the low curbs around their edges. He was all about fun in the sun, being able to run about and yell freely, and not spending another day in the house sick with a cold.
His sister, however, struck gold ... in more ways than one:
We love the Town Green. We have had many picnics here on the lawns, played at the playground, and been fascinated with the fountains. We've enjoyed some of their Summer Music concerts (the kids love dancing to live music). We've wrapped up in blankets and watched movies there for free, under the stars.
The City of Windsor's Parks and Rec Dept. has many great programs that use the Green as well. James has enjoyed 2 summers of their preschool summer camp sessions. At first, I had to have an initial interview with the program and Park directors to make sure the programs and James would be a good fit.
They listened to me talk about James as a person and were happy to try having him, even though for the first year he could barely speak words and was still in pull ups. James quickly won over staff and co-campers, and he loved being able to go to camp and have fun new things to do with such fun and supportive people. After each session, his language and communication skills would take huge jumps forward. This is what inspired us to try having James try being in a mainstream program outside of his Special Day class.
So I guess that James too has struck gold on the Town Green!
The Slurping Life is ready for Spring. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present. No cropping or fixing -- it's life, straight out of the camera.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Thank You!
Thank you, everyone! Because of your support, Powell's in Windsor had one of their most successful fundraising event days ever!
Even though James stayed home from school, finishing up a cold, he did enjoy getting a chance to be out in the warm morning sunshine, and enjoy a vanilla gelato on a bench with his mom and a friend.
For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Wordless Wednesday
Special Exposure Wednesday is on a break this week. Sending good thoughts and prayers to a special little one this week instead.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tackle It Tuesday: Fundraising Day!
We are soon off to Powell's, to take part in the fundraiser that's happening at their Windsor store today. It supports the CATS Program (which you can read more about here, or check out the link at the top left corner of this page).
If you're in the neighbourhood, please stop on by! You can download & print a flier by clicking on the image below. Please bring the flier with you and present it to the cashier at time of purchase.
Do we love the CATS Program? Oh yes, we do! Do we love Powell's? You betchya! Are we ready for gelato and easter/spring candy?
Oh. Yeah!
I have learned a lot as I helped set this up -- now I am off to tackle the shopping part! What is your mission? Read and be inspired at Tackle It Tuesday on 5 Minutes for Mom. Post your own story to share with other Tacklers.
If you're in the neighbourhood, please stop on by! You can download & print a flier by clicking on the image below. Please bring the flier with you and present it to the cashier at time of purchase.
Do we love the CATS Program? Oh yes, we do! Do we love Powell's? You betchya! Are we ready for gelato and easter/spring candy?
Oh. Yeah!
I have learned a lot as I helped set this up -- now I am off to tackle the shopping part! What is your mission? Read and be inspired at Tackle It Tuesday on 5 Minutes for Mom. Post your own story to share with other Tacklers.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Magic Marker Monday: Hand Out
This little project from Valentine's Day just keep on giving. I was stumped for an idea of personal (but not too overboard) cards that I could make with James for his teachers and aids. They do add up. So I settled on tracing his hand and cutting it out from coloured paper. James helped me fold another piece of paper and helped me position and tape it down (oh, how that guy loves tape!).
I added a little extra slit where the base of the thumb curves into the palm of the hand, and would then insert a cut-out heart, suitably decorate. I helped James write his name under a special message inside.
Well, the hand paper looks good in a reverse cutout, so I sent a few of those cards to family members. I've also used the original idea with a star and a triangle as well for a birthday or gift card. I like the simplicity and personality. I like that James helps and is a part of the process.
I have saved a few of the hand silhouettes because his hand will never be this small again. Scrapbook, here we come!
Visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
CATS Program & Why We Love It
During our first year of Preschool with James, my husband and I were still struggling with the whole concept of our son being on the spectrum with autistic disorder, as well as what that meant and what we could do to help and support James. His teacher told us about Dr. Lorna Catford and the CATS Program at Sonoma Statue University (SSU). We decided to give a call and find out more about it and what it could do for us.
A lot, as it turns out. The Collaborative Autism Training & Support (CATS) Program reaches out to professionals who work with children and families of children on the autism spectrum, as well as the children and their families. A series of seminars are made available to the public. The speakers are professionals in the field as well as families who are dealing with autism and other special needs. Students sign up for a semester of courses, seminars, and working in the field with families who signed up to participate. As a participating parent, I was welcome to attend seminars and could use the SSU library to do some research of my own, if I wanted to.
I got very excited when I found out about this. I talked it over with my husband, who agreed, and signed us up for the next semester that Fall. Our student was wonderful. She initially took the class because it was a good schedule fit and in line with her intent to become a teacher. She already had several years of working with children in a swim program at the local YMCA.
We ended up learning from each other, and had a great time taking the kids out to the heated, indoor pool at the YMCA to get them used to the water and to get James feeling a little more in touch with his body and comfortable about being in the water. It was nice for me to get some help.
An unexpected wonderful experience was being in a room full of loving and concerned parents, talking about our kids. We just whooshed with relief to be able to talk with people who had some very similar experiences!
The End of Semester Party the students put on was AWESOME! James loved it, and actually started participating in some of the activity centers they'd set up. My daughter won a raffle and staggered home under a gigundous bag of craft supplies. I was actually out after 5pm, sharing good eats and socializing. It was a wonderful feeling.
The program gave to much to us that we'd like to give something back ... so tomorrow there will be a fundraiser for the CATS Program at the Windsor Powell's on the Town Green. If you're around, please consider downloading and printing out a flier. All day tomorrow, 3/16, when you present this flier to Powell's at the time of your purchase, 20% of what you buy will be donated to support this wonderful, community-based program.
Easter candy, gelato, Mad Libs, clucking mechanical chickens stuffed with treats ... Powell's has literally thousand of good reasons to come in and browse. The CATS Program is a great reason to buy a treat or two tomorrow.
A lot, as it turns out. The Collaborative Autism Training & Support (CATS) Program reaches out to professionals who work with children and families of children on the autism spectrum, as well as the children and their families. A series of seminars are made available to the public. The speakers are professionals in the field as well as families who are dealing with autism and other special needs. Students sign up for a semester of courses, seminars, and working in the field with families who signed up to participate. As a participating parent, I was welcome to attend seminars and could use the SSU library to do some research of my own, if I wanted to.I got very excited when I found out about this. I talked it over with my husband, who agreed, and signed us up for the next semester that Fall. Our student was wonderful. She initially took the class because it was a good schedule fit and in line with her intent to become a teacher. She already had several years of working with children in a swim program at the local YMCA.
We ended up learning from each other, and had a great time taking the kids out to the heated, indoor pool at the YMCA to get them used to the water and to get James feeling a little more in touch with his body and comfortable about being in the water. It was nice for me to get some help.
The End of Semester Party the students put on was AWESOME! James loved it, and actually started participating in some of the activity centers they'd set up. My daughter won a raffle and staggered home under a gigundous bag of craft supplies. I was actually out after 5pm, sharing good eats and socializing. It was a wonderful feeling.The program gave to much to us that we'd like to give something back ... so tomorrow there will be a fundraiser for the CATS Program at the Windsor Powell's on the Town Green. If you're around, please consider downloading and printing out a flier. All day tomorrow, 3/16, when you present this flier to Powell's at the time of your purchase, 20% of what you buy will be donated to support this wonderful, community-based program.
Easter candy, gelato, Mad Libs, clucking mechanical chickens stuffed with treats ... Powell's has literally thousand of good reasons to come in and browse. The CATS Program is a great reason to buy a treat or two tomorrow.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
SOOC Sunday: Barrel Tasting Weekend
This week I caught James at the school playground, hanging out in the metal barrel. It used to take a lot of coaxing to get him to climb on it at the beginning. Now he looks like he's feeling more at home.
Even though he is hungry for a taste of adventure and play, he is also learning to find new places to hang out, while enjoying the art of being mellow.
Just in time for barrel tasting weekend here in the wine country!
If there are any other locals reading this blog, just a shout out that there will be a fundraiser for the CATS Program on Tuesday, March 16th, at the Windsor Powell's. You must bring a flier to participate.
The Slurping Life encourages you to be good to yourself. Visit Melody and check out SOOC Saturday/Sunday entries past & present. No cropping or fixing -- it's life, straight out of the camera.
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