GO Chargers !

Go CHARGERS! Don't hold your grudges against our football team! Our four men (my husband, my father in law, and my two sons Ryan and Dylan) were all rooting our home football game: Chargers. That was the day Chargers Team was playing against Raiders. While rooting fr our team, they all wore their Chargers T-shirt. How cool is that?

While rooting out for our team, we had a festive BBQ prime ribs and other delicious side dishes. It was given a grant for my mother in law's early birthday lunch. She sure was very lucky that I have a husband who is excel in cooking BBQ. The boys enjoyed eating their BBQ prime ribs. It was also fun watching the MEN including my sons having BBQ all over their mouth, except for us who kept our faces well clean. What's up with the men having BBQ all over their faces??? I think that is the way of showing their macho. What do you think of the reason behind this?

We could have eaten in our beautiful backyard view but the weather was scorching hot for us to sit outside. That bummed us, especially my mother in law, Cathy who loves our backyard. I could not blame her because I enjoy seeing the mountains and trees growing high like as if we are living in a suburban. Perhaps when the weather gets cooler (even it is Fall and still has NOT cool our weather down yet,) we will be able to get together again.

But we instead ate inside in our dining table while the two adult men (my husband and Richard, my father in law) were hollering for the team. The first half of our football team played poorly (0-12.) Even my mother in law had to calm her husband, Richard down from getting so frustrated, Zack, the dog even barked at our guinea pig, Fluffy to let him know what was happening about the Football game. Fluffy simply just ignored these frustrated men.

However, this all had changed when it came to the fourth quarter. That included my mother in law and I, though we admittedly did not have Charger T-shirt) supported our husbands' hopes. Guess that our luck had brought to the happy ending ! Chargers amazingly won the game: 28-18! Bringing all of the smiling and happy husbands relieved us. Let's hope it continues to this way throughout the Football session. Otherwise, I would not want to deal with my husband and the boys. I suffer enough. Perhaps on a football game, I should go out and have fun shopping alone or with someone who enjoys shopping.

Spiders

A couple of days ago, Ryan had a substitute teacher. This sub teacher brought a HUGE spider displaying in a sealed tray for the class to see. That was a perfect visual aid for Science class. Also, it was a perfect timing for Ryan to see because we could even see many spiders trying to create the spider lings in our backyard! My husband, David even caught the live spider from our backyard patio and placed in a plastic bag. He and his brother, Dylan were fantasized while watching the spider spit her silk out in a plastic bag. I had the opportunity to show spider's stomach, legs, feelers, and eyes.

Ryan had an advantage to see a real close up spider both dead and alive. Thus, he was able to draw pretty good picture for a first grader. I was surprised to read his message because in the past he always thought the spiders were awful.
In fact, he had always been afraid of spiders and even spider lings in the past. But not when we all saw him taking a real close up look at the spider in a plastic bag. It is a small step for willing to overcome the fear.

Ironically when he showed a picture to his grandmother, he told her that he was afraid of a spider. Maybe he still is. He instead wanted to cover his fears in a front of his classmates. I consider it is pretty good to cover his real feelings: the fear of spiders.

Following the Directions for Autistic Kids

Aren't you aware that most autistic kids are having a hard time following the directions? The research states that most autistic kids are able to do at least one or two directions at a time.

Starting out with one simple directions such as "Sit down," "Give to Mommy/Daddy,” “Put on,” “Clean up,” “Give Mommy/Daddy a kiss” are the best way to start off as soon as you discovered a child is autism. Well three years ago, I discovered my younger son, who was diagnosed as Pervasive Developmental Disorder known as PPD-NOS. It took me a few days to shake my grievous emotions after I learned this tragic news. While taking it so hard for years, I still put my feelings asides and worked with Ryan on everything from simple vocabulary words including speech to following the directions.

Following the directions is one of my lists because I know it is extremely difficult for most autistic kids. Also, I know it is extremely important for the kids to be involved in education at home, not just leaving it to the teachers and speech therapist responsibilities. We all have to remember that most children goes to school only for six hours while they spend eighteen hours at home. Thus if I am also a part of a team as a parent besides of being as a teacher, my son will do FAR MUCH BETTER and meet most IEP benchmarks than letting the staff work with them alone. That definitely makes differences! Working on following the directions is one of my destinations because I know many classes and activities are involved more than one direction at a time.

Like I said I found it out that Ryan has autism when he was three, I started out with one simple direction. It took me a while to get him more than one direction. Just last year, he started out with two directions. As of right now, he is able to do two and three directions.

Just most recently, the speech therapist at his school site told me that he is learning to use, "First, Next, Then and Last" along with three other girls who also attended speech therapy. His speech therapist happens to know signs. Ryan was stunned and watched him signing, "First, Next, Then and Last" while listening him talking with him and the girls at the sessions. Right after this, he immediately understood the meanings of these transition words. He did well on following the directions during the speech sessions.

After the speech session, his speech therapist told me what happened. I started giving him more than two directions. For instance from last Sunday, I have asked him to do a favor for me, " Ryan, will you 'please go out' and 'take this empty plastic box in the blue trash can' and 'the white bag in a black trash can?" He obeyed my requests. After he finished dropping the items in the trash cans, I just went outside and checked it out if he did follow my three directions. Yippie, he sure did!

Just this evening at the "breakfast" dinner table, he gave me the directions on how to put the stuff on his toasted bread. Ryan said to me, "First, you need to put the butter on it. Next, you need to put honey on a butter. Then,you put the cinnamon sugar on the top of the bread." It was NOT my idea to put the cinnamon on the top of the honey with butter on it. He loved it.

But I must admit I am proud of him that he is gradually doing the two and three directions at a time despite of what people had said negatively things about him. All I can say to myself, "One at a time will do."

Flat Stantley

This past weekend, Dylan brought his new friend home to spend time with during the weekend. His name is Flat Stanley. His job for the next two weekends is to take Flat Stanley with him for an "adventure" and get a picture of him. That also includes on the jungle gym or swing or sitting in the shopping cart. After the two weekends pass by, they will write a short letter to his teacher about what they did with Stanley.

In case you don't know who is Flat Stanley. Stanley is a nice average boy who leads an ordinary life. One day a bulletin board falls on him, and suddenly Stanley is flat. This turns out to be very interesting. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed and flown like a kite. He even gets to a stop a crime! He's flat, but he's a hero!

On his first weekend, David decided to take the boys out to ride on their mile bike to the nearby park. That includes Stanley on Dylan's bike. While David, Ryan, Dylan and his friend were on their way to the park, I could see them riding from the backyard. Clearly, Dylan was whining on the way (A BIG TIME.) Mostly, he either was riding or walking with his bike. David had to be tough with Dylan, except Ryan was being a good sportsmanship on the way.

At the park, I surprised them with our picnic lunch. Flat Stanley was involved in our luncheon. Dylan and Ryan were thrilled to have a lunch under the shading roof at the park before playing at Cheryl's Place, the name of a park. Again, Dylan was whining about the choice of eating for a lunch. I finally got fed up and told Dylan that if I ever hear him whining again, he will not have a computer or a T.V for an entire week! Believe it or not, Dylan mentioned that Flat Stanley is whining about being allergy to the tape! Groan! Thus, I kicked the boys out to the playground. They played for a little while. Dylan had to show his new friend out the playground. And even allowed his friend going on a swing with Dylan's help.

Besides taking Flat Stanley to places, Dylan had to send out another Flat Stanley to a friend or relative. He chose my mom who lives in South Carolina. He hopefully will have an adventure with Stanley, taking a picture of him during that adventure, write a brief letter about what Stanley did and send the letter, the pictures and Stanley back to the return address at his school site.

This will be exciting to see what responses the class get and what adventures Flat Stanley will be going on around the country and even the world! That part of the project excited me because I learned that the idea started back in 1980's. If you do know someone who has a child who is at a third grade reading, I personally advice him or her to read Flat Stanley.

Friday Treats

Don't you love getting Friday treats? I sure do. On every Fridays, each team teachers take turns by bringing treats on Friday. I thought it was a wonderful way of thinking about having a two day off from work. Just today, one of the team teachers brought "Jewish treats." That was perfect because I came from Jewish ancestors.

Frankly, this is far cry better than when David brought the treats for this evening. He brought caramel candy apples. He knew how to flatter us, even me! Having caramels and nuts together weak my will-power. Oh, I felt so guilty for having at least one.

While Ryan was watching one of the newest DVD movie, "Speed Racer," he hopped out of a couch and said, " I wanted a candy apple!" I could see that his taste is similar to me. Dylan over heard from upstairs that Ryan and his dad were having Candy Apple. Dylan declined to have one. He instead had "Sugarfree Cherry Ice Cream." Actually, he was upset and suspected his dad ate all of his favorite "Orange" ice cream. But he took well by willing to have a Cherry Sugarfree Ice Cream instead.

Now, we all can sleep peacefully after had a long and nice day. May your weekend brings you the happiness. It is same as for us.

Troublemakers

My family and I enjoyed eating outside on a beautiful evening. We chatted over the table. Shortly after the boys finished eating their hearty meal, Ryan wanted to take his pair of socks off so he could walk on a green grass. I thought to myself, "Oh I understand that the grass sure does feel good to walk on bare feet." Soon Dylan followed the foot step.

Then when I saw Ryan walked toward to his water gun, I immediately thought he just would be watering the pea size grass less. He did it only for a short moment. His mischievously smiling was showing more and more when he got closer to David. " Uh Oh, I could see the trouble was about to start. " Sure enough, I was grateful for a very short moment that Ryan decided to shoot the water at his dad instead of me. It stunned David.

Soon, Dylan joined the club with another water gun. David was trapped by not being able to get anywhere out of between the patio table and BBQ. Both boys seemed to enjoy seeing their dad getting his T-shirt wet. David fortunately was able to escape and ran toward the watering hose. From there, he turned the water hose on and watered at the boys. They surely got their entire clothes wet.

Yet, it didn't stop them. They realized that I was one of the missing people who was not wet at all. Yup, you got that right-- they shot at me. Getting a little bit wet on my T-shirt was not as bad as the three trouble maker men. David decided to do something more-- he hosed the water at me!! How am I supposed to live with these three trouble maker men?

Despite of living with these trouble maker men, I must admit that I really had a memorable evening with my family. Shooting water at each other was even better than eating our hearty meal.

Cub Scouts

On Friday evening, my family and I went to an Open House and Recruitment Night for Cub Scouts nearby our home. We thought it would be a good start for Dylan and Ryan by participating the new activity.

At first, it excited David because he used to be in Cub/Boy Scouts when he was a young boy. He wanted to share the same experiences with the boys. There were many young boys from age six to ten years old wearing the Uniform. Only few of the newcomers did not have a uniform. Our boys were one of them. We only wanted to see if they like to participate the club.

The volunteer leader was supposed to start giving the presentation out at 7 P.M. He instead started a forty-five minutes later. The presentation last for forty five minutes. It turned out that Dylan and Ryan were NOT the only boys were restless. In my personal opinion, I felt that the volunteer leader should take several breaks by doing activities and breaks since young kids have short span attention. What is your opinion ?

The 10 purposes of Cub Scouting are:

1. Character Development- it depends on the leader's discipline to the scout.
   
2. Spiritual Growth- I image they would.
   
3. Good Citizenship- kids were bullies and rowdy.
   
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness- I could see lots of physical activties
   
5. Family Understanding-- found it odd that it does not fit due to long presentation
   
6. Respectful Relationships-saw one of the boys shoved Ryan out of the seat.
   
7. Personal Achievement- it depends on the patience.
   
8. Friendly Service- I would say, "Yes, because they accepted Ryan as a mild disability."
   
9. Fun and Adventure- the basic games did provide after the LONG presentation.
   
10. Preparation for Boy Scouts- for this evening, I didn't think it was excellent preparation.
    

Finally, the presentation ended and let the boys began their basic activities at 8:30 P.M. The activities were: learning to set up the camp, throwing the plastic balls in target holes, creating the knots. Dylan and Ryan only wanted to learn to throw the balls in holes and setting up a mini tent. They were not interested in doing other activities. I believe it was due to that they were exhausted after a long day.

Both Dylan and Ryan tried their best sportsmanship by participating the activities and being nice to others. Bummer, both did not get the balls in their holes. But at least, they tried. After attempting their first activities, they went to try out setting up the mini tent. Dylan was very anxious to beat the time. That was hard for a left hand person! However, Ryan took his time and had the BEST time of all ! We laughed because it was wise not to feel the pressure.

Next Friday, we will go out for another Cub Scouts nearby our home. Let's hope the different leader is more preparation than we visited last Friday.