October

Harry Potter and a Hippie Chick

Bribery or setting a goal? I deal with it later.

For third grade, Caroline only has one IEP (individual education plan) goal.  This one little goal is reading comprehension. She has trouble reading a story and answering "WH" questions; when, where, what..
 In third grade it is mandatory that  the kids get 9 "AR" (accelerated reading) points each 9 weeks. I'm sure they won't count off for special needs kids but I'm taking away that label from our vocabulary and pushing Caroline to do her best.  So, She was making 20's and 0's on her AR tests.  The teachers and I tried different strategies and nothing was working. 
Caroline has been begging for a DSI XL for about 4 months and I tell her she has enough electronics and she is not getting anything else.  Well, I caved.  I told her if she made 90 to 100 until Christmas then I would get her a game.  I knew I was safe, good grief she was making 0's and 20's.   She took a test the next day and made a 100.  When she saw me at afternoon she said, "Mom, the book was very interesting".  That little stinker!!!  I told her the jig was up and she better make 100's on every test.  I can't believe her.
She is doing very well on subject tests also.  I have a set of books at home and we go over the material at least twice a week that they cover in class.

In the mind of an 8.5 year old.

Caroline has started to write in a journal.  She says the funniest things and they are not related at all.
At least once on every page she tells about how much she loves her journal.  She will tell where she is, either at her grandparents house, or at Riverside - the after school program they go to, or home.  Today's entry: "OMW (oh my word) We're at Riverside at the gym where I play my DSI. I was on "zhuzhupets" and I completed  "treasure caves " for goodness sakes. I have 3 zhuzhu pets and Lauren has 2. Then she draws some pictures.  "Were back in the rooms. I'm going to my grandparents (Nini and Big Jer) house Omizoomi for no reason.  It's from 'nick Jr. " I don't know why.  R-E-A-L-L-Y. I love this diary.

IT'S COOL! IT'S AWESOME! IT'S NEW! (kiss kiss kiss) I don't know why I said kiss kiss kiss.  We are playing drive right now. Not anymore. We're home.  I love Bigger days more then regular days."  What in the world??


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New year of school

Sunday, I asked Caroline how school was going.  She said it was great and did not elaborate.
I asked if she liked her teacher, Mrs. Gray, and is she getting along with her.
Caroline replied, "We're working it out".  At least she is listening to me peripherally if not directly.

Lauren loves her teacher and I'm not sure if it is good or bad but she has 5 or 6 of her best friends in the class with her.  

Fort Morgan 2011

     I thought we were going to head out around 10:30 for Fort Morgan but things kept popping into my head that weren't there before.  I went to Wal Mart to get some extra food, drinks, sunscreen, and sunglasses.  Then we went to fill up the gas tank and as I was headed to the interstate that still small voice told me to get all the fluids checked and the air in the tires checked.  I've lived long enough to obey that still small voice. The car checked out just fine and we were on our way at 12:00 instead of 10:30.
We arrived around 5 o'clock and put on swim suites and did a little swimming before dinner.  Rusty, of Cathy and Rusty, grilled steaks and we had baked potatoes.  Caroline didn't even put up a fuss about the steak.  She just kept saying "look mom, I'm eating it and I like it" and she would give me tatter and high fives.  The next day I went to the local store and bought some waffles and spaghetti.
Thursday, we were out most of the day swimming and playing in the sand.  Around 2:30, I was on the beach reading a book and I hear Lauren scream and start crying.  I look up and I see Jack, a friend of the Bakers, pick Lauren up and start running toward me.  Poor baby had been stung by a jellyfish.  I have never known someone personally to get stung 'till now.  I wish I could be "mom of the year" and say I wish I could trade places with her but I bet the jellyfish sting was bad.  I would have not handled it as well as she did.  The next door neighbor had some meat tenderizer which was good because no one had to pee.
                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                 

 We took her back to the house and put shaving cream on it and scraped it with a credit card (that's what google said to do)

 While we were upstairs someone came in and said Jack caught a baby shark.  I ran to the beach and this is what I see.  He threw it back and actually, this was the second shark he caught this week.

 Cathy, me, and the kids decided to leave the beach for a while and go shopping. I bought a Kavo purse and wallet and the kids got ice cream.  We couldn't ride the big farris wheel they had since it was closed for maintenance.

 Friday morning we went to The Hang Out and ate breakfast with Pirates.  This is the fan that was in the dinning room.  On the label it says Big A## fan.

 Caroline, Lauren, and Red Jack the Pirate.  At the start of breakfast, the kids were invited to go on a treasure hung.  They dug up a pirate chest and each got a sack full of doubloons.  They also got to play along in the game the pirates were playing all through breakfast.

 Outside there was a huge sand mountain and a tunnel running through it.  Caroline would have loved it if she didn't have to put her feet in the sand.  She really hates the sand on her feet.

 We did a little walking around in souvenir shops and Caroline was in heaven when she found an Alabama hat. 

 These are the biggest marshmallows I've ever seen. I told Lauren to see how long she could keep it in her mouth. It kept her quiet for about 5 sec.

We left Saturday around 10:00. 
Things I learned:  I can do anything I set my mind to. ( A fully charged DSI and games help out tremendously)
Caroline hated the beach but we had a pool under the house so she stayed there most of the time.  She went with the flow and did an amazing job.
Lauren got to be free and have fun.
The girls got along great and we all had a really great time.

Linn park for some art and fun

July 16th was one of the 2 days it has not rained in Birmingham.  There was a cool breeze and a little hit and miss sunshine so we were off to Linn Park for some art.  Since last years event was a come and go thing I thought it would be the same this year so we got to the park about 11:00 am and talked to one of the volunteers.  She said the next registration time is 1:00 so hang out until then...What??? love communication.
So, the girls did a great job with keeping themselves busy until 1:00.  There were frozen treats, food, and drinks; although not as much as they hoped since the morning people went back for 4th and 5ths.  The park is always filled with the homeless walking around and picking up left over tin foil.  This year there was a more educated crowed and they were playing chess.  I didn't want to be rude and get a picture of that.  Oh wait, I think I have one somewhere.

The Birmingham Zoo was on hand to show kids some animals and give gems of info that you might not know about them.
 I don't think this owl liked me or trusted me very much.  Did you know their eyes do not move...at all?  They have to turn their heads to look side to side.  Their heads can go 270 degrees.

They also had some nice animals.  I did not get a picture of the snake, I didn't even get near the snake.

Enjoying some frozen treats by the fountain.



The beginning of Caroline's painting.  She painted about 6 Yoshi's and a Yoshi slide.

Lauren says this represents change and new direction.  I say it represents her mind, all over the place.              Overall if was a good time.  The kids always love to paint and create. 

Reading

Caroline started Neurodevelopmental therapy when she was 8 days past her 4th birthday.  She could read but could not talk.  I know that sounds strange but she could read words on a page and follow very simple written directions but could not articulate anything other then "Amyself, No", and a few other words.  It seems that if she has been reading since she was 3 that she would be great at it.  Her vocabulary is on a 6th or 7th grade level and she can read fluently.  Caroline's problem is that she can't process what she reads.  In the ND therapy we did some reading in a book called New Practice Reader.  I read the story first then she would read it.  The stories were about a page and a half long and then there were some questions about the story.  Plain and simple.....I'm tired.
 I have enrolled Caroline in a reading program put on by the University of Tuscaloosa.  The first day did not go so well.  Caroline acted up and did not want to follow directions. At break I went in and had a talk with her.  I sat in the back of the room for the rest of the time and she did fine.  I'm not sure how this is going to do her any good.  I guess that will be determined.  I thought I was going to get out of sitting down with her and working but she has homework and I have to help.  Not so fun for me.

7/2/11 World of Coke

For a week I heard at least 10 commercials for The World of Coke but I'm getting good at ignoring things.  The kids on the other hand, could not ignore them. They wanted to go, and why not, it's summer.  I got online and looked up ticket prices, parking, directions, and other attractions in the area just in case.  At the last minute, I chickened out, I asked my dad to go with us.  We picked him up Saturday morning around 9:00 and  we were off.  I'm glad he drove to Atlanta because traffic was usual Atlanta traffic.  We finally parked and got to the World of Coke to find at least 50 people in line to buy a ticket and 200 people in line to get in.  I thought everyone would be at the beach for the 4th weekend.  There were 3 stand alone ticket counters if you were using a debit or credit card and there was NO ONE in line.  Now, we just had to wait in line to get into the building.  Once in we spent about 3 hours walking around looking at coke stuff, watching a 4-D movie and tasting different cokes from around the globe.  Lauren tasted at least 10 different cokes and has declared Beverly from Italy to be the most disgusting. Here are Lauren and Caroline waiting for the 4-D movie.

 

Doesn't look like the video is working so I'll put in the youtube one.

 

Lauren wouldn't get her picture taken with the characters.  She said they really freaked her out and she was afraid of them.

 

The last thing we did was to go into the gift shop.  They have everything coke you can imagine.  The girls each got a small polar bear.  Lauren named hers "FIZZ" and Caroline named hers "C.C." (coca cola)

We were given a complementary bottle of coke from the production line to take home.  Thank you COKE.

We had a great time.

4th of July

Today, we went to Logan Martin lake with the COTH group. COTH stands for Church of the Highlands.  I'm in their singles group but it is pretty much open to anyone.  A friend was over from Atlanta with her 8 year old son Jack.  The girls and Jack are good friends and they love to play together.  The kids got to ride the jet ski and tube. There was some great food and wonderful fellowship.
Me and Shelby relaxing in the water and letting "Aunt Kelli" take care of our kids.

 Jack and Caroline just being and talking about Mario games.  They have both come such a long way.  I love these kids!

I think this is the best summer ever.

The lake

The kids and I have not taken many trips or outings.  We go visit family in Colorado but that is about it.

 Saturday, the 25th, we went to Smith lake and had a blast.  The kids tubed and swam till their little finger looked like they belonged to women of 80.  We went to hang out with a co worker that is moving to Florida soon.  They had about 10 friends there and then there were 3 friends from work.  I was listening to Caroline and waiting for the time when I would have step in and help her, or, help the other person understand he.  I did not tell one person she had special needs or say, "sorry she has Autism".  Both kids talked everyone's ear off and asked 100 questions about everything but it was all pretty much age appropriate.  Lauren does so well with adults.  She talks to them like she were there equal.  Caroline asked everyone their name and where they were from.  After she interrogated all  the guest, she pretty much kept quiet. We had a fun and relaxing day.  We left about 8 o'clock and within 5 min after getting a drink at the gas station the kids were knocked out in the back seat.