LarkExaltation

We’ve searched out and been forwarded a number of sites pertaining to autism.

I really like this video.

I love her song…

and in my research,

… i love her sarcasm

Sam’s school had their, oh so cute, kindergarten program last night.

A few things I’ve learned I need for next time…
- tell family earlier than four hours before
- get there 15 minutes earlier than they tell the parents to have the kids there.
- baby sling
- camera tripod
- get my son to carry a handkerchief (an every day thing)

Saturday we had a fun family day at the park. It would have been a good day to take the kite out, but of course, that’s one of the two things I didn’t think to bring along. It was a spur of the moment thought to go, I did good to remember to bring a cooler of water.

She was singing herself to sleep, as she sometimes does. Both kids were so tired by the time we left. I told Sam to run up to the gazebo and wait on me there, and we would wait on daddy to get the car. He three running steps and then stopped and held my hand again. He did have enough energy to swing a little before PD made it around with the car, but both kids were asleep before we made it back onto the main road.

The weather was perfect, we couldn’t have asked for better temperatures for the picnic Saturday morning.

The afternoon was so nice, we couldn’t see going back inside, so a group of us decided to take a trip out to our favorite local wildlife reserve. We just love sitting on the porch of the visitor center, there was such a nice breeze. The lake was as beautiful as always, it really makes me want a boat.

We saw lots of fun wildlife in the education center and out on the trails.

After a late lunch we went for a swim at a friend’s house. I would have to say this will probably be the last swim of the summer, if this weather keeps up like this. It was very …. refreshing! Libby and I didn’t stay in long, it was just a little too chilly for my little girl. She was having so much fun she didn’t want to get out, but she just couldn’t make herself stay in the water. She got in and out a couple of times before she decided she had enough.

This morning was even a bit chilly, though very nice. Sam made it two steps out the door and was saying that his hands were “freezing.” It wasn’t really that bad, only around 66 degrees. We made it to school and just as I pull into a parking place he informs me that he is “very hungry.” The events to follow have been the most nerve wracking since the first day of school (which really wasn’t that bad for me emotionally). I asked him if he wanted to have breakfast in the cafeteria and he said yes, but when I told him I didn’t think I’d be able to sit with him and wait to walk him to class, he said he didn’t want to go alone. Once we got in the cafeteria and he looked around I gave him a dollar and had him confirm he wanted breakfast and reminded him that I wouldn’t be staying. He seemed fine with it. He put his backpack on the table and made his way to the line, and I made my way to his teachers class to let her know where I had left him. She said she thought he’d be fine. That their class sits near the stage at lunch and she figured he’d go right there to eat. When I made my way passed the cafeteria to leave, he was standing at a table his class ate at last year, the seats were folded up. So, I stood in the door and smiled at him until he realized I was there. He smiled, but continued to stand there, so I made my way in. I directed him to the table where his teacher said they usually sat for lunch and told him, once again, when he finished to put his tray where it belonged, to get his bag from the table in the back, and make his way down to his class. On my way out I let the duty teacher know it was his first time for breakfast alone and she said she’d keep an eye on him.

Leaving him on his own in a room full of people I don’t know, for him figure things out on his own was very hard for me. He is still so very young. I only assume he made it to class, hopefully on time, no one has called to tell me otherwise. It wasnt’ that large of a breakfast, so it shouldn’t have taken him too long to finish. Perhaps this will build his confidence to let me drop him off at the font to the school, to walk to class on his own. I really don’t know why I’m so comfortable with the thought of him walking there on his own, but not as comfortable with his having breakfast before he went to class? Just one more series of steps for him to work through before he gets to his destination, I suppose.

A little background for this story first… Samuel has a set of keys made up of all of PD and my old keys. He had them in the car one day and Libby kept asking for them. They would pass them back and forth, each time Sam would say “I love keys!” and she would laugh. He says it now even when they don’t have the set of keys, just to get her to laugh, and she has started to repeat him.

Last night we were getting ready for bed and PD told Libby he loved her and she said “love you!” but then some how we started going through roll call… “I love my…Momma” “I love my…Daddy” and then we’d say “I love my…. Sam” “I love my Libby” I think we went through the names about three times when Sam added in “I love my Evelyn” It was the sweetest thing. He’s “talked” to her three times now. And last night he said he loved her and that “She wants to come play in my room.” I’m so glad he’s excited about this baby.

We had a good weekend. We went to the BEST bowling alley I’ve ever been to. There are machines that take score for you, they even taunt you with little animations, but by far the coolest things were the bumpers. They are rails that are programed to go up or down depending on the players turn. The kids had a blast. We live near a bowling alley, and usually when we pass by Sam asks to play. It was a good choice for a cool inside Saturday event. I got a few videos, one of Sam and Libby’s excitement and then Sam in his tenth frame in all of his drama… even though he came in third on his lane, beating an adult. Libby and I bowled a 106. YAY bumpers! I never could have done that with out them, or really with out her. She would go second and usually picked up my spares. It is a must that we play there again!

It’s not exactly what we had planned, but we did have fun. His birthday was Friday the 31st, but we didn’t get a chance to “celebrate” until Sunday. Dad smoked chicken and Beth made meaty beans. I brought the banana pudding (memaw style) and the coconut cake. YUM! The kids had a blast running around in the back yard and climbing on Daddy’s CJ6 and in “Fort Wainwright.” So much fun that Miss Libby wore herself out. With her head down on her Aunt Beth’s shoulder saying, “nite-nite, ready go.” When that girl’s ready, she wants HER bed!

Despite the circumstances, it really was nice to be together with my family. Lauren plans to come down again the end of this month or some time in October.

I can’t wait!

This is just amazing! A co-worker told me about this video she saw in I-Caught last night and we looked it up…

Talk about unconditional love!

Music by Mercy Me “Spoken For”