Are you as smart as your kids?

Can you name all the part of the skeleton? The answers are down below. No cheating! We have come to the realization that this school is different than all the others. Here are samples of the homework that Adam and Elayna have been bringing home. Zach does have homework too (I just can't seem to find it) and the majority is the same as Adam's. Keep in mind that this is for pre-school, kindergarten and 1st grade. If this keeps up the kids will be geniuses by the time they reach middle school. I really wish I had this kind of education when I was their age. All the handwriting is their own (proud sigh). Sorry for the scribbles on Elayna's math. I know not all the answers are correct but she is only 3. Along with learning the skeletal system they are also learning muscles. Elayna loves to say "look at my biceps" or "I got your gluteus maximus!" All the kids correct one another if someone does make a mistake. What better teaching tool than having them work together. After school on Friday we stayed a few minutes extra to let them buy some ice cream. The school sells a wide variety of popsicles and such after school hours and since the mess is always to much for a car we sat in the courtyard and let the kids play for a little bit. The cool thing was how many teachers were outside playing with the kids. Maybe its part of their job description but jumping rope and hula hooping seem to be an extra for everyone. Greg helped Zach jump rope while 2 teachers were swinging the rope. After about 10 jumps Greg was worn from helping Zach but the whole crowd started cheering. All the kids had turns helping turn the rope or jumping and playing with everyone. It was really a great time and I am happy they can experience that at school. It keeps them wanting to go back!

The Reptile Show

Every year we go to the reptile show. This year Greg had to work so I took the kids and went. Crazy I know but always an adventure. They have everything from frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, supplies and so much more. There is a petting zoo with a monitor, crocodile and giant tortise but unfortunately with only 2 hands and 3 kids I wasn't able to get picutres. What I did get is a picture of Adam and Elayna with a crested gecko. This is one I would love to have as a pet. No, I didn't get it:( and yes the lizard is real. The kids had a blast touching everything and trying to swipe a snake or two. Would recommend it to anyone who is an avid animal lover.

Pro-Golfers

Zach and the family has joind a cub scout troop solely for autistic children. Since our boys are ones that need constant one-on-ones and who better to do that than the parents, all of the family is invited to join in the fun. They are creating a special group for the sibilings to have an activity at the same place/time as the cub scouts so we don't have to worry about babysitting. Anyways, this past weekend was an activity at the golf driving range. The kids absolutely loved it! All 3 of them had a turn to hit as many balls as they wanted. Zach had a great time but sat down early because of the sun. He typically tries to stay out of the direct sunlight and will avoid it for sure after 10-15 minutes of exposure. Elayna was doing good and had a great time but found a friend in another little girl that was there and left to sing and dance in the mud. Adam was quite the avid golfer spending almost all of the 2 hours we were there swinging away. He was getting pretty good at it too. All I have heard about since Saturday is the golfing and how we have to go golfing again and soon or else we are going to lose our minds! I would definatly take the kids to golf again. Maybe not at 12pm on a Saturday when it is already 98 degrees but all in all it was a great time! Just in case you are wondering the boys don't have to wear the boy scout uniform. They try to get them in matching t-shirts instead. Autistic children have a very hard time with buttons and patches (and stripes, just for reference). The feel irritates them. Zach is a tiger in the cub scouts. Any time you ask him what he is he growls at you and yells tiger! Too much fun!

Happy Birthday to....

ADAM!!! Adam celebrated his birthday on Sept. 2nd (sorry for the late posting). He has grown up from 4 to 6 all in one year. Any time anyone asks his age he automatically says 6 and if you try to tell him otherwise he strongly denies it. We did have cake and ice cream with our friends but I forgot the camera. He also got a cake at Olive Garden and we had everyone sing to him. He was so excited! We didn't have a formal party but he got to play with Jaxen and that was enough for him. All he asked for for weeks was a batman costume. He was determined to have one. The challenge of finding one was a little difficult. Greg just happened to walk by a KB Toys and asked the clerk if they had any. As it turns out there was one in the back that was just the right size. They gave it to him discounted because it was from last Halloween. How lucky was that. I guess it was such a good miracle for Adam that he is now asking for the Batman Legos game for Christmas! He did get the Indiana Jones lego game which he calls the cowboy Star Wars (yes, we have the Star wars lego game too). He is such the big boy!

when moms asleep...

I woke up one morning to hearing Adam and Elayna giggling and sounding like they were playing. (This is about 5:30 am) I called out to them from bed and told them to get dressed and make their beds, a normal request when we are getting up. A couple minutes later and it was obvious they were up to something. I dragged myself out of bed and found them covered head to toe with Penaten (a german form of desitin that is much better). It was literally rubbed into any spot of skin they could reach with their little fingers. It took 3 days to get it out of their hair and for them to stop smelling. On top of themselves they got the toilet, bathtub, sink/counter, step stool and any other surface they could reach in the bathroom. Then they headed into the bedroom and got Zach's bed and walls around it. Needless to say they had been up for a while before I woke up and were on a very fun adventure. Sorry about the nudity!

The First Day of School

I know I am really late in getting these posted but here are some pictures from the first day of school. Granted it isn't much but when you are juggling 3 kids in 3 classrooms it makes it difficult to take pictures for each individual. The kids started school Aug. 4 and they are going to the Accelerated Learning Laboratory. They are happy to be there and we are very impressed with the education they are getting. Within the first week Elayna had memorized her planets. Elayna is more vocal with what she is learning so we know exactly where she is with things. It is only on random occasions that the boys tell us anything or we hear anything beyond their math homework to know what they are up to. Adam and Elayna know their planets, continents, are learning body parts (pelvis, carpel, mandible, etc). We know Zach is getting something out of school too cause every once in a while he will correct one of the younger two with the correct terms/info. All in all it is a great school and we are really excited to have the kids there. Zach is in a mainstream class and gets pulled out for about an hour a day total for any speech, ot, or other activity he participates in. Its amazing the rate they are growing! You can check the school out at www.allgrades.com