By Sun and Candlelight

Awareness comes first ...

... and then we hope for compassion and support.

My friends, this morning I'd like to share a beautiful post with you all which was first brought to my attention by my dear cousin Amy, who is also the mother of an autistic child. 

So, on this Day of World Autism Awareness, here are 10 Things My Autistic Kids Wished You Knew by Rob Gorski, dad to three autistic boys and author of the blog, Lost and Tired. His autistic kids are different from mine (as all children are different from each other) but I can appreciate the need to express these feelings on behalf of those on the spectrum. And it's a very wide spectrum - from mild to severe with all kinds of issues in between - but all of these kids are challenged in some way. And all of these kids deserve to be understood.

So thank you, Rob, for putting together such a thoughtful and beautiful message.

1. I’m sorry I have fits but I’m not a spoiled brat. I’m just so much younger on the inside than I am on the outside.

2. I’m easily overwhelmed because I see and hear everything. I hear the lights hum and clock tick. Everything is so loud it makes my head hurt all the time and my eyes hurt from all the bright lights.

3. I’m not stupid, I’m actually very smart. I just don’t learn the way you want me to. Please learn about Autism so you know how to help me better understand what you are trying to teach.

4. Please don’t be mad at mommy and daddy because we don’t come over for holidays or birthdays. They really want to go but I don’t do well at another person’s house. It’s too overwhelming for me and they know that. They don’t go because they love me, NOT because they don’t like you.

5. Please have patience with me. I try really hard to make good decisions but I can be very impulsive at times.

6. Yes, I have Autism but that doesn’t mean I’m less of a person because of it. If anything, I’m actually more of a person in spite of it.

7. My house might be messy sometimes. It’s because my mommy and daddy spend all their time trying to find new ways to help me or teach my brother to talk.

8. Just because I can’t talk doesn’t mean I don’t understand what you are saying. My feelings can be hurt just like yours.

9. I wish my mommy and daddy knew how much I love them. I have a really hard time with emotions and I don’t always like to be touched. But I love them more than anything in the world, even more then my Lego’s.

10. I know I can be frustrating but don’t tell me I won’t amount to anything because I have Autism. If you love and support me I WILL do great things in my life in spite of my challenges.

***

(Note: Just to be clear, these are not my words, but, as explained above, a passage written by a father of three autistic boys - for his boys - at his blog. EB might not match up with each of these points, but I know kids who do. And I'd like to think as "autistic parents" we are working for awareness on behalf of all these kids.)

Keeping a positive attitude is extremely important, but the reality is, parenting an autistic child is very hard and often heartbreaking. And in the beginning, when you first get that diagnosis, it can feel very lonely ...

How did this happen? Why must my child have this? 

But then you go forward, and you realize (with relief!) you're hardly alone. First of all, there are people all around you who are also dealing with autism, in one way or another, and secondly, there are people in your life who are more than willing to walk your path with you. Maybe to give you a hand or a lift when you need it - or even just to understand where you're at. Having an autistic child means re-setting expectations and maybe doing things "differently," than everyone else (case in point, Disney), and when people are understanding about these choices and needs, it makes SUCH a difference!

It can be hard to ask for help, because sometimes you don't even know what you need or how someone can help, but we must trust our family and friends to understand and support us, just as God trusted us with the life of this child.

And yes, I do believe this - I have to believe this - God chose us for this child:

Hey, this awesome child has the whole big world ahead of him, and we were chosen to help him navigate his way through it. God must have a lot of faith in us to trust us with this honor and challenge!

❤

Well, my friends, I've kept your ears long enough, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this. If you know someone who has an autistic child, please pray for them today ... maybe take a moment to learn something new about autism or think about how you can help. And if you are blessed to know an autistic child yourself, please let that child know how much you love him ... but also, how much you LIKE him for who he is. It will mean the world to him ... and his parents. :)

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone ... I will see you here again very soon!

Out Like a Lamb?

And how does March leave you this year? Like a lamb, as the proverb promises? Or is the weather more like a lion where you live?

As you can see from my photo, we are enjoying a soft springy evening here ... with air that's fresh and cool (but definitely not cold), and a soft setting sun ... it's really quite lovely.

So with March on his way out, tomorrow brings April 1st ... and Palm Sunday! In celebration of this beautiful day - the day that kicks off Holy Week - we are planning a special little breakfast for just after Mass, as well as some some simple, family activities ... I'm sure I'll have pictures to share. :)

And April is Autism Awareness Month - a time to encourage more understanding and acceptance (and hopefully compassion) in the world - a world in which one in every 88 children is affected by autism. Because our Earlybird is on the autistic spectrum, every day is "autism awareness day" for us, lol! But April 2nd has been dubbed National Autism Awareness Day ... so we'll all be wearing our blue shirts, and we have our blue porch light all ready to go as you can see. You can read more about the Light it Up Blue campaign here, it's such a fantastic project! 

❤❤❤

Well, I'll leave you all for now, but I'll be back again soon ... enjoy your Saturday night, my friends! I hope March leaves you not only with calm weather, but with calm in your heart, too ...

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

{As the mother of an autistic child, this is my motto!}

Good night and God Bless, everyone!

A Lent Chart for Earlybird

EB and I worked on this very simple project after lunch today. I wanted to give him something of his own to work on this Lent, and I thought a little chart might do. My hope is it will help him keep track of the days (because Lent is a long season!) and keep his focus on managing everyday behavior.

We used a large sheet of white foam (the base of our chart), a piece of sticky-backed gold foam, and peel-and-stick felt letters and foam shapes.

So I cut a cross out of the gold foam and put it in the upper right corner of the white sheet. Then I used the purple felt letters to 'title' the chart. I then spaced 43 foam shapes on the chart to be sure they'd fit ... popped them in a ziplock ... and then EB and I added the first five shapes to represent the days of Lent so far.

Each afternoon until Easter, EB will get to add another foam shape on his path. First we'll talk about what good things he did that day (helping others, showing love) as well as how he behaved himself (trying hard, listening). Once we've talked about all those nice things he did, we'll add another shape to the chart (which will eventually look like it does in the top photo).

And if it's been a tough day - and we certainly have those! - we'll talk about that too. What could he have done differently? Who needs to hear an "I'm sorry?" Praising him for good behavior is very important, but I think equally important is helping him understand what he might have done wrong, and then helping him to make amends ... 

These days get a foam shape as well. :)

Once we had the chart ready, I hung it in his reading corner:

So today, for instance, EB worked very patiently on a puzzle and he very nicely asked Crackerjack to help him. They worked on the puzzle together for some time, and not only did they not squabble, lol - but they finished it! That was a nice effort on EB's part - very deserving of a foam shape!

(Oh, and please disregard CJ's torn pants ... the boy just will NOT give these up! His "lounge pants" he calls them, lol. He changed into them directly after Art class this morning.)

*†*

Well friends, I'd best be off now as I have much to do before evening descends. Tomorrow I'll show you the "stained glass" project I worked on this morning and of course, as it's Tuesday, there will be tea in the afternoon. I do hope you'll join me!

So have a good night, everyone  ... see you here again very soon!

❤

Many thanks!

From Earlybird (and me) for all the kind birthday wishes!

Here's his homemade "hot cocoa" cake.

(Not much to look at, but it did taste really good!)

Now, truth be told, EB kind of freaked out when we lit the candles - even though we haven't sung "Happy Birthday" in years, he still stresses out whenever those candles are lit. He usually just leaves the room, but sometimes he melts down a little ... and last night was one of those times.

I had just finished setting the cake up on a small table by the tree, when EB went into hiding ...

"No, birthday cake! I don't want it!" 

I felt so bad - torn between wanting this familiar "tradition" to be part of his day, and keeping in mind that it's HIS day after all. It's not about what "should be" but rather, what works best for him. But as much as Bill and I try to just accept the way things are, sometimes it's hard to let go of certain expectations - you know?

Anyways, I was just removing the candles from the cake, when EB reappeared by my side. Peering at the cake (probably getting a good sniff of all that chocolate!) he quietly asked to help re-light the candles. Well, of course, I couldn't allow him him to "help" with matches, but I did let him watch as I re-lit the candles.

I think because he was in control - he came to the cake, not the other way around - he relaxed and had his "make-a-wish" moment. So, without further ado, Bill grabbed the camera and we blew out the candles right then and there!

Crackerjack was happy to help:

Earlybird's gift today was a long-hoped for train video - one we owned years ago but somehow lost. Bill uploaded the video onto his iPad and EB was in railroad heaven. :)

And happily, aside from the brief cake "mishap" (lol), EB had a very nice day. (We all did!) He loved reading all the birthday wishes left at "his post" and he got some nice emails from friends and famly. He also got "Happy Birthday" phone calls from his Nana (in the morning) and his Papa (in the evening) which made him so very happy! (He's getting much better at phone conversations!)

EB has his challenges of course, but one of the ways he is (we are) blessed is that he's very aware of (and loving to) his family and friends. He is constantly talking about them! For instance, at least three times a day we cover just WHO will be coming to his birthday party on Sunday. :)

***

Well, my friends, thank you for listening to me "ramble" and thanks again for the lovely birthday wishes for our little boy. I hope you all have a great day ... I will see you again very soon!

❤

Happy Birthday, Earlybird!

Can it be true? Our sweet EB is really turning TEN?

Yes, indeedy ~ we're in double digits now, folks!

As any parent knows, each child is unique and brings his or her own special gifts to the family. Our dear Earlybird, our youngest son, has blessed our life in so many ways ...

He's always Eager to start the day!

He's incredibly Affectionate - he gives the best hugs.

He's learning to Read - and he loves it! 

He also Loves trains, planets, monster trucks, cooking and crafts.

"Oh Yeah," is his catch-phrase of the moment.

He's blessed with Brightness: his eyes, his smile, his mind.

He's working so hard to be more Independent.

He's our only Right-handed child.

He shares his December birthday with his beloved Papa!

*❤*

Yes, Earlybird was due on December 21st, but - true to his name and nature - he came a week early, right on my Dad's birthday. :) 

So we'll be celebrating with family over the weekend, but today we have a few fun things planned. For one thing, Bill took the day off (yay!) so we'll take the boys to lunch at "Wendy's" - EB's favorite restaurant. And Bill will join us on EB's afternoon routine ... we'll do a little marketing and we'll stop at the library, as well as the post office ...

And I'm sure there will be some cake and candles at day's end - but no singing - never any singing, lol! EB has never liked the "Happy Birthday" song so we skip that part entirely. Wishes, though? Yes, there will surely be wishes - as well as plenty of prayers. For health and happiness and many more birthdays like this - enjoying our day together and celebrating our wonderful boy.

Now, as I finish up this post, I'm sitting with EB while the rest of the family sleeps on. It's super early in the morning and the sky is just starting to lighten. EB knew his birthday was coming this week, but when I said "Happy Birthday!" to him this morning he looked at me in surprise for a moment ... then over at the calendar ... and then he threw his arms around me and said, "It's my birthday, today! Oh, thank you, Mama!"

No, my sweet little man ... THANK YOU! Earlybird, we are so proud of all you do, but most of all of who you ARE. You bring us so much joy and laughter - and you remind us every day to count our blessings and never take anything for granted.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EARLYBIRD!

We love you so very much!

Now, let's have a fantastic day!

:)

What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Loaves of Thanksgiving

A few freshly baked breads for our friends around town!

 A small token of gratitude for all they do for our community - and us. :)

Learning about, and experiencing, our community is a big part of Earlybird's home education. And his favorite part of the week are the excursions we make here and there, meeting all kinds of folks on the way. Despite the fact he is autistic, he is an extraordinarily social child! (Autism affects each child so differently, and things like awareness and affection have never been an issue for EB. His challenges run more along sensitivity issues, impulsivity and developmental delays.)

What EB needs is guidance on how to conduct himself in public, and practice in speaking with those he meets. Consequently we spend a lot of time visiting the library, the grocery store, the post office, etc. EB is always full of questions and comments and has made some really nice connections with many of the people we see on a weekly basis. 

Happily, it's been our experience that people are generally very kind and encouraging when it's clear our EB is a special needs child. They respond to his outgoing nature, and are patient with him as he asks questions or makes comments. His speech delay can make him difficult to understand, and it touches my heart when I observe someone giving him the time he needs to finish his thought. And it thrills us to watch him grow in confidence and skill as he learns to socialize with people outside his own circle.

So at Thanksgiving we wanted to take a moment to think about the people we see regularly through the year and say thanks for being so friendly and helpful. To that end, I baked some quick breads this morning and we delivered them this afternoon when we ran out to do a few errands. 

I used the "mix-and-match quick bread" recipe in Frozen Assets (my good old standby) but I tinkered with the recipe a bit. I used less sugar, and added some white-wheat flour. I also used nutmeg and ginger as well as cinnamon. I used sweet potato and pumpkin puree for a nice autumn blend - so we call these "Thanksgiving Breads!"

(What I really love about this recipe is how flexible it is and that it makes two loaves in one try. Very convenient when you're baking with the seasons and making food gifts!)

When the breads were cool I wrapped them in parchment paper, and lengths of green-and-white baker's twine. I gave EB manilla leaf tags to color ... but truth be told, Crackerjack pitched in because EB told me he'd "done enough coloring this morning," lol. Good ole CJ, he may be a tween now, but he still loves to do crafts when I've got them set out. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact he can step away from his math for a while. ;)

So, on the tags we wrote why were thankful ...

For the farmstand because they grow good things for us to eat.

For the library because we LOVE to read!

For the post office because mail is such a fun part of our day!

I tucked the tags beneath the twine, and our "loaves of Thanksgiving" were ready to go! It was a quick and fun morning activity - plus, it felt really nice to make people smile. :)

And if I could, I'd bake a loaf for all my readers and the tag would say:

For the kind people who visit my blog and make me smile every day!

*❤*

Now, here we are ONE day before the BIG day, and there's so much to do on my list I can hardly think! Lol. It will all get done though - it always does! Unfortunately it is raining HARD here this morning, so that won't make food shopping so fun. (At least the forecast for tomorrow is bright sun so I really can't complain.)

Before I sign off, I'd like to thank you all for the wonderful response to our cranberry poll! I love reading your votes and particularly the reasons behind them. Please keep them coming - we'll be working on our chart later this week. And the poll will be open until I go to bed tonight - I will draw a winner in the morning!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends ... I will see you all again very soon!

:)

Homeschooling: It's only Natural!

I'd like to just take a moment to say thank you to the very kind reader(s) who nominated me for a couple of Homeschool Blog Awards! It was brought to my attention that By Sun and Candlelight has been nominated in two categories: "Homeschooling Nature/Field Trip Blog" and "Special Needs Homeschooling Blog."

I was completely surprised and so very honored to be nominated ~ especially in these two categories. They are both near and dear to my heart!

Because firstly, nature study plays a HUGE part in our homeschooling adventure! I have always been quite passionate about nature, and Bill and I are trying to raise our children with an awareness of - and an appreciation for - the natural world. In an ever-advancing "techno-savvy" civilization, it's just so important that we instill in our children a healthy respect for the earth and all of creation. That we teach them how to know and observe what might otherwise, and too easily, be ignored. And most of all that we foster in these young hearts a friendly familiarity with their most intimate surroundings: to begin with, their very own backyards!

Now, what's also been fantastic about "homeschooling nature" as we do, is that it provides a framework for education that all children can benefit from - but especially so a special needs child.

Dear readers, as most of you know, our nine year old Earlybird is autistic, and if you've been reading my blog for some time, then you know how much he loves to learn and play and LIVE right alongside his big brothers! And if you are blessed to know special needs children yourself, then you know that despite the many challenges they may face, they are absolutely amazing children - filled with love and trust and faith and a true eagerness to know the big wide world around them ...

In other words, they're just like any other child.

:)

Sure, they may have a harder time with some things, but they have needs that can be met beautifully with homeschooling: 

With patience,

 and persistence.

With encouragement.

and companionship.

With challenging conservation,

and easy peace and quiet.

 With rest when they need it,

and activity when they're up for it.

With fresh air and exercise,

and materials just right for them.

With all kinds of new experiences,

and all the comforts of home. 

With respect and reverence, 

And lots and lots of love.

❤

I thank God every day I was blessed with three healthy children, and I love each one of them so much. I love that they are all so different and that they each challenge me in different ways. I love that they have taught me things I never knew about - or expected of - myself.

And most of all, I LOVE that they are growing up together - as brothers big and small, and happily, as friends.

:)

Ok, well, this post got SO much bigger than I thought it would, lol! But you know how I ramble, and once I got going I just had to roll with it.

I thank you all for stopping by and I thank, too, whoever it was that so kindly nominated for those awards. You've given me something to smile about tonight ... and a little bit to think on, as well. 

Have a great night my friends ... I will see you all here again soon.

~**❤**~

Happy Halloween Donuts!

Well, this was all kinds of fun!

A batch of freshly baked pumpkin donuts, glazed and adorned with a few "tricks and treats!"

Donuts are a traditional autumn food - they're soft, sweet and SUCH a treat! My favorites are freshly baked cider donuts - they are simply a must at the farm in the fall! Dunkin Donuts always does fun holiday-themed donuts, but Earlybird - though enthralled by those ads and what he sees in the shop windows - can't have commercially prepared donuts. He asks for them, of course - he's a child after all, and they look good! - but I explain that he can't eat those particular donuts. I tell him that they're made with things that would make him feel crummy. I always have a plan though - something to take the sting out of missing out - so I suggested a homemade alternative ... delicious donuts made at home, with good things he can eat!

Now we've baked donuts before (remember these pretty things last Christmas?), but for this time of year I wanted a pumpkin spice donut. So I just googled "baked pumpkin donut" and found lots of options. The recipe I found here sounded awesome, so I decided to try it out.

One really neat trick I learned from this recipe was to pipe the donut batter into the pan using a ziploc bag (with the corner snipped off). This made it so easy!

I will also mention that I used squash puree instead of pumpkin since I had it on hand (despite what the kids think, squash really is no different from pumpkin!). Also, I did not make a maple-cinnamon glaze as the recipe suggests - though it sounded lovely, I wanted something plainer. So I just used vanilla instead of maple extract and left out the cinnamon.

After baking (for about 14 minutes - we made ours dense), I set them to cool in the front window ...

And while the donuts were cooling, I made the vanilla glaze ...

Doesn't that early morning sunshine look pretty? :)

We raided the holiday candy stash for embellishments - but I left one plain for EB. (Funnily enough, though he loves the look of the decorated donuts, he'd rather eat something less textured.)

Crackerjack helped me with the garnishing:

You can see our final designs in the top picture - notice the one in the upper left corner? That's our homage to the "frost snow on the punkin" this year! ;)

Now obviously these donuts would be a real treat even without all the candy and sprinkles, etc. That was just in the spirit of the holiday at hand. ;)

But considering the donuts are baked, and made with minimal fats, they're really not all that bad for you! In fact, I was thinking that these spiced "squash" donuts would be lovely on Thanksgiving morning ... Munching on spicy, warm donuts while watching the Macy's parade? Sounds like a plan to me!

Well my friends, I wish you all a good Monday, and a Happy Halloween as well! I hope you all have a nice day (and night). Be safe and have fun!

I'll be back again sometime soon ...

:)

Earlybird's Little Lantern

Lanterns are lovely at this time of year, as the light fades and the days grow short. This was a very quick and easy craft for Earlybird. He absolutely loves doing crafts, but if there's glue and a paintbrush involved he's especially motivated!

So yesterday, Michaelmas, was a gray and damp day. It started early, with us driving Bookworm up to a library a few towns north from here, where he participated in an all-day biology lab. We (the younger boys and I) came home to a rather quiet house - Crackerjack got started on his math, while EB and I dug into his art project.

As I mentioned yesterday, I bought this little pastic paint bucket at the craft store. It is meant to be decorated as a wedding or shower favor but happens to be the perfect shape for a small lantern!

EB spread the bucket with glue and then stuck bits of colorful tissue paper all over it.

 

Since he finished the lantern pretty quickly, I allowed him to "decorate" the plastic plate which had served as his workspace. 

Good fun!

Once he was finished, we left the projects to dry in the windows and started in on our baking activity ...

We made jam thumbprint cookies - very easy and quite delicious!

Most of the cookies were filled with blackberry jam, but some got a dollop of maple pumpkin butter.

The cookies were left cooling on the counter (protected from kittens by light dishcloths) and we headed out to pick up Bookworm. Here's the CityLab bus in the library parking lot!

It just so happened that beside where we parked there were a whole bunch of Michaelmas daisies growing! Since I had my camera out, I snapped a quick shot:

(I also snipped a couple of blossoms to bring home.)

On our way home we got caught in a rather fast and furious storm. Thunder, lightning and drenching rains ... quite dramatic! But once we were safely inside, the storm rolled over and then the skies cleared for a while ...

By nighttime, EB's little lantern - with a battery operated tealight tucked inside - was shining its cheerful light from the window:

And now, as I finish this post, it's the next morning, and our Friday - this last day of September - is dawning bright and clear. Crackerjack had to have four teeth pulled this morning, and I just got the call from Bill that all went well and they are on their way home. Cj will understandably need a restful day, so our plan is just be home and catch up - on lessons and housework - because it really was a very busy week. I'm still trying to find our "groove," working around a fall schedule filled with outside classes and commitments. Gone are the long lazy days at home when everything seemed to fall into a neat and tidy rhythm. Now it's more like fitting things in when and where we can. I will post very soon - probably not this weekend, but certainly next week - on how things are shaping up for me on the "organizing" front. I think a file crate post is long overdue ...

In the meantime, this weekend will bring Saturday soccer and lunch with Bill's folks who are leaving soon for a trip to China! There will also be some yard work, housework, a trip to the farmstand, and of course, Sunday Mass - followed by a parish pancake breakfast. It will fly by so fast, this weekend, as the days seem to do at this time of year. Tomorrow brings the first of October! I can just feel that holiday "rush" lurking around the corner. ;)

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a very nice weekend. Thank you so much for stopping by ... I will see you all again very soon!

:)

Just another ordinary week ...

Well, Good Monday Morning, my friends. :)

I thought I'd share some notes from my weekly planning page with you today. We've got a busy week ahead: appointments to keep, activities to attend, and a brand new liturgical season to kick off. At home, EB and I will be focusing on a few simple themes - and without even really meaning to, I've made this an "M" week:

Mail

Earlybird will be in charge of getting the mail this week.

We'll observe the many different kinds of things that come in the mail.

We'll say hello to our mail carrier.

We'll read about a mail carrier's job.

We'll prepare things to mail.

(Practice printing. What's our address?)

What do we need in order to mail things?

We'll pay a visit the post office.

(Mail stuff. Buy stamps)

We'll start making St. Patrick's Day cards.

Maple

We'll be "Catching Sweetness" on our Maple Tree board. 

We'll look up the "sugar maple" in field guides.

I'll buy varying grades of syrup for the boys to sample/compare.

I'll bake a Simple Maple Cream Cake.

We'll read books about maple sugaring.

EB and I will make a colorful "maple leaf" sand craft.

We'll visit trees being tapped at a local park.

And we'll all have LOTS of maple syrup on our Fat Tuesday pancakes!

Masks

On Tuesday (aka Fat or Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras) the boys will make masks. Yes, even the older ones - they're good about joining in with EB when I ask. :)

A Mass, A Matinee and Making Sacrifices

We'll receive ashes Wednesday morning and catch a movie in the afternoon. We'll start our Lenten journey and talk about ways to make a sacrifice - giving something up and/or giving of ourselves.

Melting, Measuring & Mud

We're expecting milder temperatures this week, as well as a little rain and a lot of sun, so I predict we'll see lots of melting and maybe even some mud. 

We'll stick a plastic ruler into the snow in our yard and watch more numbers appear.

We'll look for mud on our nature walks - a sure sign of spring!

Mario's Meatballs

Thursday (March 10th) is MARIO day. My boys are big Mario fans, so they'll play Mario Kart (after school work is done of course) and I'll make "Mario's Meatball Subs" for supper. :)

*~*~*~*~*

Just another ordinary week, with much to do - much to accomplish and appreciate. Aren't we blessed to have this time together?

Dear friends, we had some very sad news recently. Back in December I mentioned a friend of Bookworm's who'd been stricken suddenly with a brain tumor. Tragically - unbelievably - this wonderful boy passed away last week. Please, if you would, remember Anthony in your prayers?

*♱*

So it may be just another week, but it's extraordinary in every way that matters.

Every new week is a gift, every day we have with our children a blessing. We must remember to cherish it all, every moment ...

*~*~*~*~*

Thank you as always, for stopping by. I wish you all a lovely day ~ and I hope to see you again very soon.

Two Easy Early March Crafts ...

"The March wind roars like a lion in the sky ..."

Happy March, everyone! I thought you might like a peek at Earlybird's morning craft-and-nature lesson - our focus today, the March wind!

I found the first craft, a paper plate lion, online here. I assembled our materials at the worktable early this morning:

Plain paper plate, yellow construction paper circle (cut to fit the middle of the plate), brown paper nose, googly eyes, glue stick, orange paint (we didn't have brown as the instructions suggested), paintbrush, and scissors.

My hardworking Earlybird set in to paint the edges of the plate orange.

(I ended up giving him free rein to paint the whole plate orange, lol.)

Then he glued the eyes and nose onto the yellow paper circle.

Next he drew the lion's mouth and whisker spots.

He did a great job keeping everything neat and centered! 

I then set the plate in an open window to dry. (We felt for the wind - and there is a light one this morning! Not quite a lion, but it's making its point.)

Once the plate was dry, EB cut the edges of the plate to look like fringe ...

... or the lion's "mane."

Then I hung it up on our March bulletin board!

Next we worked on a cloud craft - something I just came up with on the spot. (That's not to say it hasn't been done before, just that I "winged" it with this one, lol.)

I used another paper plate and gathered some cotton balls, tissue, spreadable glue, brush, and scissors.

I also lightly pencilled in the cloud's "fierce" face, making an "x" where the mouth would go:

EB drew over the pencil with marker, and then started gluing the cotton balls around the edge of the "face."

He alternated between spreading the glue on with a brush and dipping the cotton directly into the glue then pressing it onto the plate.

Once he was done with the cotton, I punched the mouth "x" with scissors and we threaded a piece of tissue through the hole.

Pulling it backwards through the plate, it made a "gust" of wind coming out of the front.

So easy and fun! 

Both projects look great on our March bulletin board!

Well, thanks as always for stopping by! I hope your new month is off to a great start ... speaking of, did you remember to say "Rabbit, rabbit" this morning? ;)

See you again very soon!

Happy Birthday, Earlybird!

Dear Earlybird, how did you get to be NINE already?! Time is flying by so fast! On your special day we want you to know we LOVE you so very much! You bring so much JOY to our life, and our family is BLESSED to call you ours.

With lots of smooches and love,

~ Daddy, Mama & Brothers

***Beatitudes For Friends Of People With Disabilities***

Blessed are you who take the time to listen to difficult speech, 
If I persevere, I can be understood.

Blessed are you who never bid me to "hurry up"
Or take my tasks from me and do them for me.
For I often need time, rather than help.

Blessed are you who stand beside me as I enter new and untried ventures, Myself and You.

Blessed are you who ask for my help.
For my greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you who, with a smile encourage me to try once more.

Blessed are you who never remind me
That today I ask the same question twice.

Blessed are you who respect me and love me just as I am.

Author Unknown 

**********

Busy with my Boys

I apologize again for being just too busy to blog recently! I may not have had time to sit down and write, but I did take photos as often as I could. I thought I might share some of them with you this fine Tuesday morning. :)

This is Earlybird's "Thankful Board." It's been a more meaningful project for him than the acorns we hung on our Seeds of Gratitude Tree.

He's still learning (and remembering) the holidays themselves and I find that concentrating on symbols are helpful. So of course I chose a giant sparkly turkey for this board! We added a card (and sometimes a photo) every few days or so, talking about what we are thankful for, and what thankful means - a tough concept to explain when you think of it! 

And here are some pictures from a neat little craft we did last week - I found it in the November issue of Family Fun: Nutty Boats

For obvious reasons we did this activity outside on the deck ...

Crackerjack was intrigued enough to join us ...

A skill we work on constantly with EB is patience and reigning in impulsive tendencies. Something as simple as pouring a cup of water into a bowl can be a real challenge for him 

For example, yesterday we made pumpkin breads together. He stayed by my side while I worked on the recipe, helped fetch ingredients (and put them away) and I allowed him to dump/pour the ingredients into the mixing bowl. (Sure, I snuck a little math in there *wink*.) He was a little quick sometimes but he's really come a long way from those impulses that tell him to act fast and make a mess!

A day or so later, Crackerjack had a science assignment to work on - he needed to dig up a sample of backyard dirt and examine what all was in it. Then he drew and labeled his results in his science notebook. EB had fun with this too.

But Earlybird had a real grand old time doing some "Thanksgiving Painting" last week!

I called it "Thanksgiving Painting" because we used autumnal colors. Due to EB's sensitivities, we have to be careful about the kind of art materials he uses. No Crayola for this boy ... I ordered a Clementine All Natural Paint a few months ago. (Note: I've found them available at Amazon. And I plan to order some more supplies for EB's birthday  next month.)

It was so nice to be able to indulge EB's love of finger painting. He even let me paint his palms so we could make the traditional Thanksgiving handprint turkey:

(Of course he immediately asked to clean his hands once we made the print, lol.)

We also used a brush.

The colors he painted with are so in tune with the season ...

Also, while Bookworm volunteered at the library yesterday, the younger two and I ran a quick errand at the grocery store ...

(Lol, EB was transfixed by the wide carrot selection.)

A full-blown shopping trip is not feasible with EB (I do those on Saturdays sans children), but we do take him for short visits to practice good public manners. Plus, the food store is just such fun! So much to see and to talk about. :) 

Back at home we marveled over the setting sun and how it filled our house with golden light and striking shadows.

This is our November Nature Shelf ~ the focus this month is squirrels, as you can see.

Now, as I reach the end of my post, I realize I didn't include Bookworm in any of these photos! He had a busy week too - the highlight being Saturday, when he took part in "SPLASH" weekend at MIT. He had a great time and can't wait for "SPARK" in the spring.

 So that's a bit of catch-up from me - a little look at what we've been up to! And now here we are only two days away from Thanksgiving ... We're hosting dinner this year for our family, so there's much to do these next few days - to cook, clean and create! I hope you're enjoying your November too ~ and I hope to be back again before the holiday ~ but until then, have a happy Turkey week and see you again soon. :)

Do you know someone with autism?

Today is ...

 

Today's a great day to show your awareness, your understanding and most importantly, your love. It will mean the world to someone with autism and the people who love them.

We LOVE you Earlybird! :)

Thoughtful Friday

"Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times." ~ Unknown

Just a quick note to say Earlybird did great at his new social skills group yesterday! Also, he lost his two front teeth over the past few days. He looks so cute with that big toothless grin! (Of course I can't show you that grin because the boy just will not smile for the camera. Nor sit still - you've got to sneak up on him, lol.)

Big changes for our little guy lately - and he's handling them very well.

We're so proud of him. :)

Heralding the Snow

Well, we're in for another big snow here tomorrow! Lol, I should have known - we've only just begun to see our driveway again! But you all know I don't mean to complain. Winter in New England means snow, and some years that means more snow than others. I think it's safe to say, this has been a very snowy winter so far ...

Well, a few days ago I was poking through my craft bins downstairs and I came across some unfinished wooden snowflakes. I decided that the next time we had an impending snowstorm, I would have the boys paint them up and then we'd hang them in the learning room windows - to welcome the snow in our own special way. 

So with the storm on the way for tomorrow, we got started on this craft just after we got home from EB's therapy today. Truth be told, this was all for Earlybird, who loves to paint in any capacity. Nature-related crafts are a big part of his kinder "curriculum." The older boys, good sports that they are, joined him at the table this morning.

There was a snowflake, a paintbrush and a cup of color for each one.

Here's our Earlybird, concentrating hard. (I feel compelled to mention, that's not peanut butter smeared around his mouth or anything. He has a terrible winter rash around his lips right now. It's actually much better than it was last week.)

Here's Crackerjack, also working carefully.

And our Bookworm, too.

The snowflakes drying in the sun ...

... and now hanging in our windows. 

Welcome Snow!

So tomorrow we'll be staying in, watching the snow fly and keeping warm at home. I plan to read a special book with Earlybird in the morning - The Big Snow - a longtime winter favorite. It's the story of Winter on its way (and a "big snow" along with it) and how all the woodland creatures prepare. It's a wonderful story and there's great scientific information to be learned, too. The last part is the best, I think - when a thoughtful family puts out food for the hungry animals. (I plan to have EB toss cracked corn and toast crusts outside our birdfeeder windows.) And the very last page is quite timely - the groundhog wakes up on the 2nd of February (which is next Monday, my friends!), sees his shadow and burrows back into his den for the rest of his winter's nap.

It's not a very long book, but just enough pages that I could see Earlybird getting impatient if he's not really into the story. EB has a hard time sitting still for books, so to make it more interesting for him, I pulled together an assortment of nature puppets to use as we read. As luck would have it, I had a puppet for each on the creatures mentioned in the story! (This is thanks to years and years of collecting.) 

As I read the book, and mention an animal, I will have Earlybird look for and pull out that particular puppet. When we are done, he can play with all the puppets and make up his own story if he wishes. 

If you don't have nature puppets, you could always use photos or pictures for a similar activity. (Just google each animal online.) I've found enjoying books with EB in this way helps my squirmy listener stay put - and pay closer attention. 

OK, then ...

Birdfeeders filled? Check.

Hot Cocoa on hand? Check.

Cream to whip? Check.

Cookies to bake? Check.

I think we're ready for that snow now.

:)

*Kinderweek 9/1 ~ Bugs and the Letter B*

{Please bear in mind that when I brainstorm ideas for a given theme, I know I'm not going to do them all. In fact, I'm not even going to try - but it's nice to have so many ideas to choose from. Also, because I have to work with and around Earlybird's attention span and energy levels, I don't really schedule a day's worth of activities; instead, I refer to this list throughout the week and work in things that fit the given mood of the moment (his and mine).}

   

Themes this Week: the letter B and the b-sound, name recognition (identify and write letters of name), begin a photo-book "Who I Love," talk about how we can be "busy bees" (Labor Day/family chores), and bugs are all around us (late summer is a good time to see bugs) ...

Activity Ideas:

• Search the backyard for real bugs (net, magnifying glass).
• Watch plastic bugs "appear" in melting ice.
• Observe plastic bugs with magnifying glass.
• Count/sort plastic bugs.
• Count/sort/string beads.
• Count/sort buttons. (Set up an egg carton w/numbered sections.)
• B – words: bugs, book, boom, ball, bees, blue, berries, butterfly, birds, bike.
• Go on a bike ride with Daddy (to the field to spy butterflies).
• Make bug sounds; pretend to be a bug.
• Practice ball tossing and catching, rolling, kicking.
• Play with boats in the bath.
• Use playsilk to pretend to be a butterfly (wrapped in cocoon, fluttering about)
• Move backwards, like a truck: beep, beep, beep!
• Build with blocks, and knock them down - boom!
• Bulldoze boulders (rocks in the dirtpile).
• Count backwards – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, boom!
• Eat spaghetti and meatballs for supper.
• Bake banana bread for breakfast.
• Help unload shopping bags.
• Stamp a canvas bag with bug shapes (EB's library book tote).
• Practice slicing a banana with a plastic knife.
• Decorate a big blue “B” with bug stickers.
• Listen for bugs outside: crickets, cicada, bees.
• Watch the bees buzz in the (rasp)berry patch.
• Pick berries and count into bucket.
• Make bubble solution; blow bubbles in backyard.
• Poem: “Hurt No Living Thing” by Christina Rossetti
• Music: "Flight of the Bumblebee" (Little Einstens DVD)
• Finger puppets: beaver builds a dam, brown bear stops by to help.
• Video: Beavers
• Art/Crafts:
  • paint rock bugs
  • make a spider web (glue/wax paper/glitter)
  • bug coloring pages -  hang up
  • make and paint clay beads

In the Book Basket:

• Bugs are Insects
• From Caterpillar to Butterfly
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• The Very Quiet Cricket
• The Grouchy Ladybug
• The Icky Bug Alphabet Book
• The Big Bug Search
• Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
• Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way
• Waiting for Wings

As soon as I can, I'll start a series of sidebar lists with book suggestions for each week's theme, but for now, it's time for me to be off. (Supper's smelling good and done in the kitchen!) So thanks for stopping by today ~ I hope your day was a good one!

Facts in Five

~ FIVE neat little things for today ~

1. My Earlybird slept from 8 p.m. last night until 5:30 a.m. today; that's 9 1/2 hours, people! That was the most normal night's sleep he's ever had in his life. (And, more significantly, that I've had in 6 1/2 years!) What a clever boy; he's been showered with attention this morning and is he ever chipper and chatty. Some of you reading know just how early a riser my EB can be (i.e. 4 is the norm). I think - hope, pray - this new schedule (no naps/time change), has finally worked a little bedtime magic. I could get used to this well-rested feeling ...

2. My blog turned 2 last week! I was thinking that today was the day, but actually it was March 22nd. I posted 3 times the first day, and 7 times the next, lol! I am stunned to think I've had something to say almost every day in those two years. (I think I've missed maybe 5.) I am really very grateful for this blog - especially for the folks I've come to know through it - it's been the most rewarding hobby, I must say. Here's how we celebrated ONE last year ...

3.  SouleMama's book (The Creative Family) is coming out in 6 days! You are probably familiar with her beautiful, crafty, cozy blog (the kind of blog I hope mine grows up to be, lol), but if not, please hop over and check it out. There's a link to her book in the lefthand sidebar; check that out too. I've had it in my Amazon cart ever since she first mentioned it sometime last year, and now shipping's just a few days away! I am downright giddy. :)

4. What we're watching/listening to right now ~ Here Come the 1,2,3's! from They Might Be Giants. Earlybird found this in his Easter basket, and it's a big hit, as I knew it would be. (He's loved the ABC version for a couple of years now.) Very catchy, perky songs - very parent- and older sibling- friendly. And the bonus is, the set includes a DVD to watch, and a CD for the car. EB, as some of you know, has a sensitivity to singing (in that, he yells, "NO SING, MAMA!" if I do so much as hum) so figuring out ways to get a little music into his life is a constant goal.

5. And finally: the Red Sox won the season opener 6-5 in 10 innings! Hooray for spring!

Well, I must be off - the waffles have popped, and the coffeemaker just sounded "last call." I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Irish Brown Bread with EB and Me!

This afternoon Earlybird and I made a loaf of Irish Brown Bread together, following a very easy recipe from last month's Family Fun. Not surprisingly, I took pictures as we worked, so I thought I'd share them here with you all. :)

I set up the ingredients on the learning room table where we had better light and lots of room:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour (I used white whole-wheat)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl (ours could have been bigger), and make a well for the buttermilk:

Now for the really fun part - you get to stir it all up with your hands! (Fun - but very messy! Notice there are no pictures of that part - I didn't dare touch my camera, lol!) Finally, you pat the whole bunch of sticky wet dough into a ball and place it on a floured cookie sheet (or one lined with a Silpat such as ours).

A final touch - a cross on the top, cut with a knife:

And while the bread baked (@ 400 degrees for 50 minutes), EB and I made the next panel for our stained glass cross:

Truth be told, I worked on the panel while EB watched Jakers in the next room. ;)

But before we knew it the timer had rung, and the bread was ready to come out:

And I'm happy to say, it came out very well! It was warm and hearty and tasted great slathered with butter - even better with a hot cuppa tea:

It will be quite good with supper tonight, too!

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! And until we meet again, let me leave you with a favorite Irish blessing ...

May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

So much like spring ...

Driving over to speech therapy this morning, I cracked open my window to let in the fresh mild breeze. I remarked (with an audible sigh) on how warm the air felt, how nice it was to be able to enjoy open windows again ...

To which a small voice from the backseat replied:

"Yeah, that's awesome!"

Awesome, yes; that's the perfect word for it. (And particularly because that was our Earlybird saying that! He surprises us everyday with new words and phrases.)

Driving home again, we traveled along wet roadways, past muddy yards and melting ponds. We noticed a field of shrubbery, its tangled branches all blushing red. Dazzling sunlight played tag with heavy gray clouds (and I'm afraid, the clouds won). We heard vibrant new birdsong, splashed through enormous puddles and exclaimed over a brilliant mallard we spied in a marsh.

Oh, we're so close to spring.

And now we're home and in for the day. Our windows are cracked, but the temperature has dropped since the sun went in. Time for a hot cup of tea and an afternoon setting up our new field journals ...

Little discoveries, new things for spring. March is a month of wonder.