Funny Comments

I have had few funny comments that happened this past week from my kids.

Dylan:

"Hey Mom, I know why I am tall ! The reason why I am tall is because Grandma Cathy and Aunt Deby had a Hug- A- War when I was a baby. " - actually, he is now up to my shoulder and is only eight!

(He saw a picture of them sort of fighting over wanting to hold him when he just was born.)

"Mom, I'm not eight. I am eight one-fourth. I will be eight half on August 10th."- he is very picky over the numbers. He even writes numbers in his journal.

Ryan:

He was having Autism Specialist observing him and decided whether he needs to go to Special Day Class or continue to be in a mainstream with Resource Specialist Program support during the reading. He was reading and answering questions from the Reading Specialist in order to upgrade his comprehension (It has been successful. Thus, he will remain in mainstream throughout his life.)

Well when he was done with the reading, he told the Autism Specialist, " Now, I am done with my reading. You may leave the room."

On an Open Night, an interpreter and Ryan were having a conversation. Ryan spotted her having a wart on her cheek. She was kind to explain what was that.

Ryan said, " I ll be happy to take the wart off for you." She immediately replied to her, "Oh no, it will bleed." Then he responded to her immediately, "That is okay. I will put a band-aid on your cheek."

I must say that they do know how to bright my mood. They are my life!

Harry Potter

On Friday, I found myself being astounded that Dylan brought three THICK books of Harry Potter home with him. The first book was from his teacher while he borrowed the sixth and seventh book from the librarian. The librarian tried to tell him that, "Are you sure you can read the entire books?" Dylan was firmed that he could do it. However, I told him that he needs to start the numbers in order.

As of right now, he is nearly finished the first book of Harry Potter. I was amazed because I researched and discovered that it is based on fifth grade reading level. It is about two years and a half ahead of his actual age. He just was a happy camper to read the book quietly. For instance, he read quietly for 40 minutes!

Now, he is about to read the next reading series two. His second cousin lend him book two and three. Dylan told me that he is looking forward to reading the entire series just like he read the entire "The Magic Tree House"series.

Unique Names

Both Ryan and Dylan REALLY want to have a dog especially a lab or Golden Reviver. We are not sure if we would want to have a big dog due to having a small backyard and working all day. However, we did let them having wild thoughts by creating unique names for a dog.

Yellow:

Swiss Cheese (Ryan)
Vanilla (Dylan)

Brown:

Brownies (Dylan)
Chocolate (Dylan)
Fudge (Ryan)

Black:

Twilight (Ryan)
Licorice (Me)
Midnight (Dylan)

Calico (Brown, White, Black):

Smores (Dylan)
Snickers (Me)

Did you notice when the boys created the names of a dog were based on food ??? Also, I noticed that none of the dog's names were named after the "Hotel for Dogs" that both of my sons adore this movie.

Open House

This time, both my husband and I attended Open House at both of my sons' school on the same day. It is a lot easier than I had last two years: three Open House. (Last year, I did not have a classroom, but still I had to attend an Open House. Mostly, I sat in a small office and played with my computer. What a waste!) This year, I felt that it was not a waste because I had an opportunity to show my students' family (only during the transition meeting on the same week of Open House.)

By the time of an Open House, I convinced my husband to come an hour early before the cars swarmed out in the crazy parking lots. We instead ate our dinner at the school site. It was a Western BBQ meal. I thought it was a perfect way to have a dinner at this time of the season. While we were waiting for the art shows and book fair to be opened, the kids were running around the inner campus. I thought it was somewhat GREAT because the energies would burn the kids out for the night.

When we got in the cafeteria, both of my sons had a chance to show their art display off. Dylan and his class discussed about the desert life. He had learned all about the desert's rock color, animals and plants. Honesty, I thought he drew an amazing picture for a second grader. It matched to the place when I last visited two decades ago- red paint in Arizona. Ryan's class learned abut the Rain forest. I also taught my first grader about the Rain forest because I am on the same team with the first grader. Ryan was so proud to show his Tiger off to us-- just take a look at this thumb!

The first thing after we finished visiting the art display, we followed to Dylan's class along with an interpreter. In his class, the teacher set up the sliding shows for the parents. I wish I have the skills, but eventually I will without a doubt for my next Open House. While we were there, we did have a chance to read the poems that he had learned during his second grade class: " I am Dylan" and "Spring." Reading "I am Dylan" is hilarious.

The next visit was attending Ryan's class. I thought this would be a good opportunity for Ryan to be proud of his work. (That time he was cranky and tired.) We ended up looking for his work displays on our own. Writing a journal is not an easy task for him, but he did get a perfect score after struggling his writing for two trimesters. This time, he wrote four sentences on his own! Another example we saw the Reading target. His reading level displays that he is at 2.5 grade reading level. Knowing that it was from the second trimester. The third trimester is nearly ends and will know his final reading level at the end of his first grade.

Seeing all of my son's work samples clearly indicated that they had learned so much over a year. David and I are really proud of their hard work. Let's hope it continues throughout their school years.

Child's Labor

Aren't you grateful that we are not living in a life where there were Child's Labor abuse? The law had passed in America over decades ago. But unfortunately, it still runs in Asian countries. However, I must be a VERY, VERY BAD Mama!!! I forced and educated my two hard working sons to clean their bikes, dusted their bedroom furniture including their bookcase, dumping the trash cans, and washed our two cars. Actually, I admitted they did little help on washing our van. They were already exhausted after they did few errands besides washing our two cars.

However, the fairy reminded me that I should be a Good Mama... Both David and I treated the boys out to Rubio's after they did their important errands. This would make them keep going to help us especially to making my long listing things to do shorter.

Unexpected Visitor

Don't we all have our life-time getting unexpected visitor in our home? We know there are times we enjoyed getting surprise visitor. Another time, we had wished we didn't answer the door. Have you done that? I'm guilty!

For the past ten years of my teaching, I have had a baby lizard jumping on my over head projector. It scared the heck out of me. This made my students laughed so hard because they enjoyed seeing a teacher (me) being startled while I was trying to teach. Not too soon after the lizard roaming around, we got another visitor. It was a gray/black tabby kitten. Eventually, the kitten became the school mascot. His name was "Nekko."

Years later, it happened today. One of my youngest students pointed and signed, "bird." Good enough, she was right. The Blue Jay flew by in my classroom, and greeted us. The problem the bird was trying to fly outside when he/she was looking out the window. I had tried to open the windows for the bird. This bird kept banging toward to the window because he/she was frightened.

I have also tried to open the other side of windows to let the bird know that he/she could go out. For some reason, this "nitwit" bird did not have any concept. Perhaps, he/ she is a special education bird. Finally, the Blue Jay flew out of the classroom door. I felt better that he/she did not get himself/herself killed in a front of us.

Stitches

Anything can happen in a second. It did to my younger son, Ryan. Just a minute before Ryan and the classes were supposed to go in a Peace Circle that we usually do every single morning at school site, I received a report from a secretary that Ryan had an accident.

He ran, tripped, and landed on the corner of lunch table. It cut Ryan's lower right' eyelid. Good grief, it did not go further into his eye. So, I had to leave my aide working with my students while I was taking Ryan to a nearby Emergency Room.

Ryan was waiting for the doctor to give him the stitches. He was being good sportsmanship.

Before the doctor gave him the stitches, Ryan told the doctor, "I don't want the shot to hurt me. Please don't hurt me. " The Doctor was very calm and explained the procedure before giving him the stitches. He was well-behaved throughout the procedure.

Ryan received two stitches. It is likely he will get a black right eye. The stitches will be taken out on Tuesday.

After he was done, I took him to a nearby Starbuck and got him a small cup of Chai Tea. (He loves it, just like his mother.) Then, we returned to school. Everyone was checking on how he was. He was explaining what happened at school, and what did the doctor did on him. Today he was the center of attention at school.

Cheering

Every single morning, all classes at Maryland Avenue attend Peace Circle. We do the Pledge the Flag, and sing a song, "Peace Maker." In addition, the principal makes praises for the students who were recognized by teachers or recess/lunch duties.

But this morning was an exceptional because for the past two weeks, the second graders and above were taking Standard Assessment Test. Dylan was chosen to cheer a song. I was fortunately that I caught him singing.

“We All Know what we’ve been told

Maryland Avenue’s good as gold
When it comes to the STAR test
Maryland Avenue is the Best!
Sound off
MARYLAND
Sound off
AVENUE
1-2-3-4 Sound off!

After he sang a song in a front of the entire school, many staff told me that Dylan sang BEAUTIFULLY! Oh I wish, I could hear him singing. Despite of my deafness, I must say I'm really gratified of him.

Life Cycle of Butterflies

Shortly after Spring Break, we received two cans of caterpillars in a mail. Each cans had five caterpillars with food for them to eat.

Finally after two long weeks, ten butterflies emerged out of their pupas. This was a stimulating moments for all of us. I enjoyed watching my students' eyes as their world opened about the Life Cycle. It was IMMENSE to see lots of real life activities for them to comprehend. My sons even had the chance to see them changing over the last two weeks, too. It excited me, so did I!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

For the past seven years, Ryan has changed our life dramatically. As a matter of fact, he has taught us most important lesson: patience. He even learned a lot to deal the real world-- taking turns. It was not easy for him, but he is getting there.

His strong willed was challenging because he wanted to know how far we could carry our patience. Being patience was NOT easy for us! He has overcome lots of obstacles over the last few years.

Few things of his personalities have NOT changed. He loves to play with the water: water squirt and shadow water. He knows not to jump into a deep water. He also likes to play with any electricity games. I must admit he is REALLY GOOD at electric games, even playing with Wii. He does learn QUICKLY.

However, he has changed many things over the last three years. It is good things Ryan is a strong-willed boy because he is now talkative! In fact, he NEVER shut up! (just like me, I admit) He would share the world he knows about the games and the books he adores very much. He currently loves to read Bear Bernstein Series books. For instance, he was elastic when he got approximate 15 new books of Bear Bernstein from my mom and Bruce.

He also interacts a whole lot with his peers at school. Ryan is very good at fooling others he is autism. No one would have guess. While playing with his peers at school, he has increased a lot of his imaginations. For instance, he told one of the interpreters that he would be finding a treasure of gold to China at the playground along with other kids. This was not the first time he used his imagination. He even made up stories by telling other teachers that we went to London which many of his teachers fell for his story.

Clearly, he has improved a lot in communication. Ryan's speech is a lot clearer. While speaking clearing, he even CAN expressed his feelings such as, "I'm furious with you, You hurt my feelings, and I'm scared of dark" and many more. He even makes few new signs: " idea, Wii, play, more." While communicating with us, he knows how to tease us. Whenever Ryan teases us, he would give a smirking laugh.

For those who don't know him well, Ryan has made remarkable notable over the last few years. Being a strong-willed seven year old son does him really good to apply in his life. We have to say that we are really proud of you--Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Spring Pictures

One early morning, I begged my sons to have their hair spiking ! They accepted my wishes for this particular reasons: school pictures. Soon or later, they would not let me when they get older.

By the time we got to school, I decided to my sons taken their school pictures before school started because I didn't want to regret if their hair or shirt got messed up. It turned out GREAT!

So Cute !

During school lunch time, there was a girl sitting next to Ryan. She lead her back toward to Ryan's chest as if they were in love. One of the interpreters was on lunch duty. She said to Ryan, "Oh she must have like you lots."

Ryan replied, "I know. She can be my Valentine." Isn't that cute?

Dinosaur Musuem

On beautiful Sunday afternoon, the Cub Scouts and I went out to Dinosaur Museum at Balboa Park. It was a perfect ending for the young boys because they had been study about Dinosaur all month.

They were awed when they walked in the museum because everything is SO BIG for them. I really enjoyed seeing them learning throughout the hand-on activities. The boys enjoyed seeing everything that are moving such as jaws, water fins, and earth moving. Too bad nothing came alive such like a movie, "Night at the Museum."

I could not image that the Scientists actually found some of the fossils were buried over 40, 000 years ago. One thing fantasized me was underwater fossils. Mainly, I think it had something to do being water-lover.

Another interesting thing was finding how much the Baby Mammoth actually was. It was much smaller than Dylan and Ryan. Dylan came up to me with a question, "Was that Baby Mammoth died quickly under water?" I told him, "Yes, the Scientists only knew the Baby Mammoth died quickly but not sure if he died from drowning in the water or quick sand." It sure broke my heart when his parents had to witness the accident.

At the end of two hours being with the Cub Scout, we ended up going in a Museum store. The boys ended up getting a small bottle of rocks. I got Life Cycle of Frogs for my classroom. This educational trip was worthwhile. The boys also earned one of their Cub Scout badges.

Recycle

Over a month, we started saving: plastic bottles, glasses and cans for the recycle. Each day kept piling it up in one BIG blue box. (I was worried ants would come by even we already rinsed the flavors from the pile.) The purpose of earning an extra money was for our upcoming vacation: Disney Cruise.

When the pile could no longer contain, David determined to take the boys out to A-1 Alloys Recycling Center while I have my OWN spare time. It turned out to be one of the paramount experiences for Ryan and Dylan see the actions.

At first, they were startled to see why there were so many people bring all of their recycling. David had to demonstrated them on what to put in each trash can. Once he showed them, they were able to speed themselves on their own without David's help.

By the time, the trash cans were up to the weight measurement. The boys were asking the man questions, " What were you planning to do with the recycle?" He was kind to demonstrate them. When the recycle was squeezing into a cube, it reminded David as of a movie, "Wall-E!"

After they got their receipt, they were up in the front where David got a cash, $11.86. Not much, but a good start for the boys to see the REAL cash. David asked the boys if they wanted to have ICEE as a part of their reward. They were thrilled! It was not only helping David out by dumping the recycling in the trash can. In addition, they earned their Cub Scout badge. What a perfect timing to do that the same time: earn ICEE and a Cub Scout Badge.


There are four recycle facts: Paper = Tree, Glass= Sand, Metal = Rocks, and Plastic= Chemicals.

Begging for the Night

Just this evening, Dylan pleaded me to sleep with him because he knew it is a weekend. We allowed them to sleep with us once in a VERY LONG WHILE since my sons are getting older. (Ryan was already in bed because he had a very bad migraine.)

When he told his dad that he was going to sleep with me, David tried to flatter him to sleep with him instead of him, "Why don"t you sleep with me? Leave mom alone." He questioned his dad to give him valid reason. His reason was, "I love you." This gave Dylan a difficult time making a decision who he wanted to sleep with. At the end, he came up with a question. Who ever got the question right get a chance to sleep with him on our queen bed!

Dylan's question was: "How much % do I have in my brain of math?"

David and I came up with back and forth wild guessing. First, David came up with 50 % because he thought that his brain focuses on math. He was wrong. Once we got back and forth, Dylan got frustrated and said, "I will give you a hint. It has five at the end." When I came up with 5 %, he said," Mom, that' s WAY TOO LOW !'

Finally, I won the bet ! It is so good to sleep on a queen bed!!!! David has to sleep on Dylan's BED alone.