Father's Day: Where's the Capn' Crunch?

There is a tradition that for any significant occasion that we get Nick a box of his favorite cereal, PB Captain Crunch.  That is really the only time that this cereal is purchased.  Father's day was no exception.  However, I failed to remember to pull it out of the not so great hiding place in the pantry and wrap it up as usual.  Sunday night Nick asks, "so when are you going to get around to giving me the cereal that is up there", not really hiding...?  "Well now I guess", I said.  He said I'll have some tomorrow.  But he didn't.  I think Dan knew that Nick would look for it soon after he got home from work.  I picked him up Monday evening and about 10 min later I hear this conversation between them about Father's Day cereal and Dan saying, look up high.  Well it was up high in the pantry so he wasn't getting the prank.  He eventually noticed where Dan managed to hide it.  I especially like the extra touch of using a blank sheet of paper.  Not sure if that was to protect the box from tape or to blend in with the ceiling.  Not sure I would have given permission for this had he asked beforehand.

End of School 2012

School has been out for over 2 weeks and I'm just getting around to saying a few words.

I attended the awards assembly for both Dan & Sam (different schools different days).  The camera was not set right for indoor pictures and I didn't realize it fast enough.  I missed a picture of Dan receiving a certificate recognizing him with the following:  Pre-Algebra Award, Academics Award, Music Award, Student Council Member, Talent Show Member and Positive Performer Award.  Great job on 7th grade for Dan.

The day of Sam's award assembly I stopped by his class first.  The kids were busy signing thank you cards to those parents who had helped in the class on a regular basis.  It was so sweet for Sam to present me with a lovely pot of some of my favorite flowers and a fun card.  The flowers still look nice and there are new buds waiting to working their way up to the sunlight.

 The last day of classes were somewhat uneventful for Dan.  He hung out with some friends all afternoon on CMU campus one of the days.  It was a lesson in letting go and allowing independence that day.   For Sam his final day ends with a traditional parade through the school.  Dan experienced this same tradition.  The 4th graders march through the school and each grade joins behind them in order.  Then they exit outside and gather around the flagpole.  There the music teacher will stand on the big rock and lead everyone in the National Anthem as the flag is lowered.  It is quite a scene to see the crowd all gathered around.  Parents will often come early and be a part.  Then after there are pictures and hugs and tears.  This year I was successful at capturing more pictures than any other year.  We missed pictures with two of his teachers.  I won't post all of the pictures but have one with his new teacher for next year, which will mostly remain a secret to most until the teacher selections are posted in August.  Because the school works with the teacher ahead of time and brings them on board to help the transition we know before the end of the year.  Lets just say I'm quite excited as is Sam! 

Retiring Music Teacher alongside of the new incoming music teacher

Midland Dog Park

Memorial Day weekend is here.  The much anticipated long weekend for many.  I'm going to risk sounding like I'm oblivious to its importance, like many these days,  but that isn't my intention.  But I have to admit that I don't usually get too excited about this weekend.  I do love my children but sometimes I find summers to be very long (partly because it is my least favorite time of year).  So this weekend becomes just another reminder that soon ALL weekends will be LONG. :)  

I was pretty happy that we found something fun for everyone (not easy these days) to do yesterday since original plans had fallen through.  We found a dog park in Midland.  It's a short 30+ min drive from here.  The dog park is actually in plain view as you come into the city.  But the road to get to it is not on the regular path, but a path we like to take.  It is in the Chippewassee park which is part of the Tridge area.  Tridge is the area where a three-way walking bridge is built right over where the Chippewa and Tittabawassee rivers come together.  The rail trail that the boys enjoy riding their bikes on also ends at this location.  I guess for some it begins.  We just usually come from Clare as our starting point.  The spray park that they have enjoyed after a long ride is also here.  Just last fall I accidentally found an entrance into a back side of the park.  Even then I didn't realize that if I ventured further to the west at that location that I would find the dog park.  But now I know and it will become a fun place to visit more often.  Everyone had a great time including Al.  We wore him out.  He met other dogs and could run and run until he was tired.  

Here are a few fun video clips pictures.  More pictures are on our family picture site HERE.  If you forgot the password info to get in just send me an email.

VIDEO LINKS:
Albert Discovers Maisy

"This is my Dowhg"

Dog Park

A fantastic day with Temple Grandin!

Temple Grandin

I wish I could impart what I came away with from hearing Temple Grandin speak yesterday.  Because her thoughts add to things I have already learned and feel deeply it is hard to put the full measure of that into my own words.  Much of what she said wasn't new to me but hearing it from her meant something different.  Her first hand knowledge of autism and her desire to delve into details and understand things from their very root is one thing that makes her so interesting to listen to.  She emphasized some great things that I really loved:

The idea that kids are really missing out on the values and manners once taught in her childhood (and mine) and how that creates a disservice to them as an adult.  Among some of those listed were the very basics such as turn taking, being on time and saying please and thank you.

Sometimes you have to do things you don't like to do and it's important to learn this is a reality in life.

Learning to think bottom up rather than top down all the time.

She responded to a question asking her what helped make her a successful adult.  She said no one thing or event miraculously made her successful but a combination of many things.  She did list many things but part of that equation was good teachers because they can make a significant difference!

Seeing the actual pictures from various brain scans that have been done on her was quite fascinating.  She showed the makeup of her brain compared to a typical developed brain.  There were significant differences!

I loved hearing her say she loves the way she thinks and would never want to give that up.  It's such a gift really.

She would start to talk about something and then say something like "see I'm starting to put things into categories again because that is what helps me to break the information down".

I was interested by her personal Rule System where she has 4 specific categories she can place and compartmentalize all of life's rules.  That helps her understand their importance or place easier.

Kids need the same kind of behavior expectations at home as at school and how that is becoming less and less common and can really create problems.

She would throw in some slides of her inventions and say she simply just likes to share and talk about them.  She seemed to enjoy clarifying what was very accurate in the movie about her.

I love that she is who she is and loves to be a problem solver.  Although she has poor working memory recall, she can compensate by turning on a visual walk through of something.

It was fun to learn that she earned her PhD from University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana just 9 years before Nick started his graduate work there.  I don't know why I never picked up on that one before.  She related a story about a guy who worked at a paint store there and how she knew he had Asperger's  and the things he did to make the store successful.

She did quite a long question and answer period.  I was a little sad that people kept asking questions about specific children scenarios looking for solutions or ideas to help them.  She would give opinions but obviously ask lots of questions.  Although she has plenty of personal experience and does plenty of reading and research about this, I felt like people were thinking she must have the answer to everything.  She is a Dr of animal science.  Sure she has personal experience but every child/adult is different and I think people were losing sight of this.  But I found the process of listening to this very fun.  My favorite was when she would say  "you need to stop asking me questions that aren't specific enough".  She'd have to start doing some troubleshooting by asking more questions  to delve in and get to the root. 

Even though this is quite a list, it is in no way a comprehensive list of what she spoke of but just some of the things that I found of interest.  I was really interested to know what Nick thought of the conference.  About half way through the said something like "can we just take her home with us for a day...I'd love to just have a lengthy conversation with her".  He could relate to so much of what she said.  It was good for all of us to hear.  The entire experience was great. She made us laugh and she even got a little silly herself trying to tell us something that was so funny to her.  I love who she is!   I even met a parent of a child on the spectrum who is also a school speech therapist and gained some new insights into some resources within the state that I didn't know existed.  

OH and one last thing.  Of course they had a huge area, bigger than the conference room full of vendors of various types.  Many were support groups, organizations, education and therapy groups and some were those selling their own goods.  One in particular that I loved was the young adult who is working to make a living with is artwork.  He has cards, framed artwork, mugs etc.  So just giving a little recognition to Anthony Stornant Collar who runs Art of Autism.  His artwork is fun and very much of it is VERY Michigan! 

Spring Strings Concert 2012

Another strings concert has come and gone for Dan.  He will be in 8th grade for his next concert!  Where does the time go?  Hard to believe we have been doing the strings thing now for 3 school years.  

I never did post the video clips from the last concert.  Let's just say this performance was better.  I wish I had better equipment/location to get the clips. But I hear rumor that we can get a good copy.  If so I'll have to re-post with better links down the road.  I think all of them should be very proud of their hard work.  They were really all together, better than I have ever heard.  Although it might sound funny in some of these clips, they really were hitting the notes well.  I have two favorites.  The first that they played called Sahara Crossing and the middle song Firework.  Links are below to each performance.

Sahara Crossing      Chester Variations      Firework    

Nocturne from a MidsummerNight's Dream     Pirates of the Caribbean: DeadMan's Chest

Love Notes and some fun creativity!

There is something really sweet about having one of your favorite 6 year olds write you a cute note and pass it to you during church.  I believe she would have been done with it much sooner but she kept whispering "how old are you".  I smiled, winked and whispered "very old".  She kept persisting and I'm not ashamed but played a little.  I whispered "how old do you think I am".  The response was "I don't think".  I finally told her and she appeared relieved that she could finish her project.  Soon I was handed a cute love note.  If you look very carefully you can see her age as part of the drawing of herself and my age as part of the drawing she did of me.  

I also have to share the very cute story she was author and illustrator of.  As you will see it's title is Sam: The Giant Carrot.  She is quite a little artist which I love.  So to Kailey, thanks for making last Sunday extra nice with your cute note and story! I have been looking at them a lot this past week.  

Spring Break Time

We survived Sam's pinewood derby.  He designed the car.  It was a lightweight.  We knew it would be problematic and added what we could.  Maybe next year he will let us help him design something that might be heavier?  

We are now trying to survive Spring Break without heading to fancy destination points beyond Central Michigan.  The boys watched MythBusters Duct Tape Island.  They have been duct tape obsessed ever since.  We have always been a duct tape family.  They used up every roll we have so we bought 4 new rolls for them to create with this week.  Sam wanted "Greek" style sandals as he put it, just like Jamie and Adam.  He made the "rope" from the tape to get us started and I fashioned him some flip flops.  They are his favorite!  :)  

Dan worked on a movie, his latest obsession so he can play with special effects, with his friends today (CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MOVIE).  I don't know too many who aren't obsessed with the Hunger Games right now.   

After a day of fun I need him to practice the cello some more as he has a scholarship competition performance next Monday. I'm a little stressed about it.   I know, he is only 13 but he chose to do this and sure the scholarship ($500) would be great but I care more about him feeling good about his performance.  The reason the money would be nice is it can go toward attendance at Blue Lake this summer or help pay for lessons.  But again just want it to be polished.  

Two more days and a weekend.  I wonder what else is in store for our stay at home and veg Spring Break.