Blurry eyed wake up

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After tons of fun and tons of kids around, the summer is over and I am still standing.
This morning met with mixed emotions from the kids, while I calmly anticipated the silence.

James was bummed…too early to wake up, not wanting to eat yet, picking a shirt to reflect this…but a slight pick up of his mood when he thought of seeing friends.

Kate was dutiful and happy.  Careful to pick out her clothes and jewelry.  Adjusting her Safety Patrol belt and practicing the pledge.

Alexander was excited and full of energy–playing outside, riding his bike, and still–ready to leave over an hour early!

The dogs and I had a nice walk this morning and have been enjoying the quiet all day.

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Alexander’s Birthday fell on Memorial Day this year.  So we had a small family gathering that included uncle Bert and cousin Thomas and “Buddy” Rey.  Thomas’ bday is right around the corner, so it was a double celebration of sorts.  Gifts included the bean bag chair that was tossed around, Legos, and a gift card to Game Stop.  Thomas got a book and bucks to spend on more books.

There is a lot that can go wrong when you have a kid with FAS…  The long break from school is one of those things.  For most kids, it’s a welcome fun time.  No homework.  No pressure.  No structure.  All a disaster for my little man!

He wanders around the house like he’s lost.  His imitation “skill” becomes obsessive.  We all wonder if he has original thoughts.  Then have to laugh as his original thoughts come out only to be labeled as “Random Thoughts, by Alexander” (ah la Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy)

Now that break is over, and school started back, it’s another transition.  He skipped out yesterday with joy professing how much he likes school.  But evening homework was filled with tears and worn out erasers…  Writing and erasing and writing over and over–looking for validation that his perfectly formed letters “look good”.

Morning comes too quickly and he’s up at 6:30 saying that the bedroom door was open all night and that he thought someone never went to bed.  So nobody shut the door last night–there goes our normal routine.  He tries to “be good”,while I get big brother out the door, by working more on his homework.  Perfectionist mode kicks in with the eraser.  Then he picks up a coloring book that causes him to proclaim “I am terrible at coloring!”, rip out the page, and start another saying, “In like four months it will look pretty.”

I get him to stop and get ready for school.  Breakfast.  Backpack.  Get dressed.

I say “Go get your tennis shoes.”

He asks “What day is it?”   That’s because he doesn’t know where his tennis shoes are and figures he only needs them if it’s his gym day at school.  He stumbles thru the days of the week.  Comes up with Tuesday. Disappears into his room–presumably to get his shoes.

Comes out in tears–frustration–no verbalization as to what the problem is.   I need to be in tune with the whinning so I can know that he can’t find his tennis shoes.  I know he didn’t look but only stood in the room– lost. I go help him find them.  He’s calm again.

Using our new visual and audible timer, he successfully leaves for the bus before “times up”.

I sigh in the silence.

There are many things that I think of during this month.  I am reminded of this poem that we included in Alexander’s book.

Hand Picked

I know that a mother’s excited

When she sees her baby new

And her feelings overwhelm her,

As the waiting days are through.

I had just as much excitement,

As I waited patiently,

For the telephone call that would

Change it all,

When you’d start you life with me.

I have never been disappointed

With how you came to be.

For you were specially chosen by God

To be in our family.

–Anne Peterson

I am reminded of when I first saw his picture and cried with joy.

I am reminded of the orphanage director.

I am reminded of the airport coming home.

I am still amazed at how God blessed us then –

and now –

with such an active and fun-loving little boy!

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Alexander is a natural at ice hockey.  We gave him all the gear and set him up with lessons for his birthday.  Since then, he’s had lessons and is really loving it.  This class was only 3 kids.  He would  pass the puck past them, skate all around them shoot the net and not fall!  We just signed him up for the next level and look forward to watching him grow and succeed at something he enjoys.

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The usual Halloween Costume Parade…

Parent Paparazzi.

Friends.

Ghouls and Goblins.

Teacher costumes.

Excitement.

Gathering instructions at school

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Our school is very close to a park and nature trail.  For several years now we have had walking science field trips.  They are based on each grade so the whole school goes on different days.

The 2nd grade.  A beautiful fall afternoon.  Exploring.  Discovering.  Worms.  Bugs. Squeals of joy.

Today marks the end of the 3rd week of school.  What I want to know is how is it that these 3 wks. are gone so fast and those last 3 wks. of summer were so torturous and slow?!!!  I know that it’s all my perspective…

I have been enjoying the time,

but not entirely.  In these 3 weeks, three out of five of us have been sick.  Yep.  School gompus has infiltrated our home!  James started it and graciously shared with me.  I lost my voice for a couple of days… now Kate is home from school!

I have been busy too.  Both schools had “Back to School Night” where I got to meet the teachers.  The Elementary School is familiar.  I had 3 teachers to meet.  There were three segments.  Perfect.  The Middle School format is nuts. The mission, should you choose to be a good parent, is to grab a map and a schedule from your kid and report to first period at the sound of the bell.  (I was late)  Then, every 6 minutes, after the teacher has spoken at super sonic speeds about course requirements and expectations, you must navigate all the other good parents with maps to the next class…Before the bell…Repeat for all 7 periods.  Leave with handouts and prayers that your kid has a better clue than you!

I also have begun the school volunteering.  Realized that I have racked up about 7 hours so far!  Made a dish for the staff  welcome back breakfast, and one for the staff dinner before back to school night.  Took 2 stints at the fall book fair.  That’s a trip– Little kids with handfuls of change and crumpled bills (totaling $2.04) wanting to buy a $4 wacky pen all before the late bell rings.

Soccer, Ballet, and Hockey have all started for the kids.  Still working out the kinks in who goes where and when do we eat…

Meanwhile, the grass is growing and my garden is dying.  Kirsy hooked me up with a local farmer who delivers a box of produce every week to my door.  It’s been fabulous.  I had to come up with a dish for lots of eggplant.  I made kind of fried chips–the kids loved ‘em!  I have been sneaking this veggie into sauces for over a year!

Here’s to hoping the year is not filled with loads of illness, but instead loads of fun and productivity!

Ahhhhh!

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We went Blueberry picking.  It was a beautiful day.  But what we didn’t count on were the crowds!  Since it was the beginning of the holiday weekend, many families had the idea to pick.  So, we were in lines alot.  In line to catch the tractor out to the fields.  Told which bush to pick from.  In line to catch the tractor back in.  In line to pay…  Ended up with $27 worth of berries.  They are soooo sweet.  But next time, we’ll go to a less commercial farm–one more off the usual path!

SMILE

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To Grandy and Pop’s house we go!

Why do we try to cram it all in when we visit?!

Make a new “blankie”

Re-organize/re-route wires for computer desk area

Drink wine/ eat too much
Watch ½ a movie
Read til asleep
Eat too much
Drive to beach
Shop for beach wear

Ride “suri” bike for around 25 blocks

Eat icees
Take pix
Eat too much lunch out

Play in the surf

Shop trader joes (12 bottles for around $47)
Everyone shower
Check out pix
Drink wine/Eat too much Dinner
Knitting questions answered
Adventure to museum for night shoot

Edit pix…
Tired.
Travel in the morning.

Are you SURE we did it all?!