"We Got To Go To Seattle!"

Last night, we were at a different Red Robin (becauase that is the only restaurant oldest goes to). Our Red Robin was closed because the water tank was broken. So, we went to the one at Cascade Station. It was fun, however, what's scary is that we knew the manager from the Mill Plain one. We also recognized a waitress. Scary...we've been going to RR way too many times!

Anyway, we got outside, with the boys holding the balloons and, of course, youngest let go of his accidently. Then, he said, "Mom, we have to go to Seattle and get my balloon!" (out of the clear blue sky, he said that, no coaching involved). Later, at bedtime, he said, "Mom, we have to go see Nana and Papa and get my balloon in Seattle!". Obviously, he loves them and knows they live in Seattle.

Special Olympics

Last weekend was the oldest's Special Olympics' regional competition. He was entered in three races. The first race was his specialty, the 25K Freestyle. Once again, he looked at the depth of the pool and had trouble racing. He was more focused on the depth of the pool than swimming.

Then he raced in the developmental assisted race. He had trouble because he is so used to swimming by himself. He also raced in the walk, where they walk across the pool. He couldn't figure it out and it was hard to explain it to him to just walk...he wanted to swim, swim, swim....

It still was successful. He learned about waiting his turn and that the swim lessons lead to 'something'.

Young Athletes

Young Athletes is a sub-division of "Special Olympics". My youngest had the opportunity to participate in this during his preschool time (he is in a special education preschool, but not counted as 'special needs").

It was so much fun. They had the 'opening ceremonies'. They walked around the gym to a music fanfare. Then, they went to different stations. The first station, he volunteered to go be the example and it was an obstacle course. They had to 'bunny hop' over a little bar and on numbers. Then, they went to a station where they had to throw balls over a net. Then, they went to a station that they had to hit a tennis type racket towards the wall. Then, they had to walk on stars (and then run on the stars). Finally, they went to a station that they had to play with scarves.

Youngest got a t-shirt, a gold medal and a snack. He really liked the shirt. He kept showing it to me.

When we walked back to the room and youngest said, "That was SO much fun, it was AWESOME!!!"

I am so glad I went and love the Special Olympics program.

Mommies, Muffins and Manicures

Today was Mommies, Muffins and Manicures with middle boy. When I went with oldest, it was different, in that he and I hung out together.

First thing, middle boy escorted me into the room and said, "will you come with me?". Then, he escorted me in and sat down. He then gave me a back rub. He then went and gave me a muffin and juice. Then, he gave me some lotion and a manicure (I got smart this year and brought my own nail polish). He then read a poem with his classmates and sang a song with his classmates.

Middle boy had been practicing his manners and painting finger nails. They practiced on a piece of paper. It was too cute.

Mommies, Muffins and Manicures is probably my favorite day because I get to spend time with my boys in their classes and also just one on one time. The whole time, middle boy was blushing. He enjoyed being the 'center of my attention'.

Easter and Such

Easter was a great day. We did our famous egg hunt and ate the much anticipated bunny cake. Hey, I even threw in a homemade brunch and Easter dinner to boot.

Today was one of the first 'warm' and sunny days of the year. Wonderful. The boys and I headed outside. Oldest decided to play "Bolt" (he was Penny on a scooter and youngest was Bolt and he was telling youngest, "Bark, Bolt, Bark!!". Too funny. He also said he was Pete Doctor (one of the directors/producers of Pixar). In one of the 'outtake" reels, Pete Doctor rides around Pixar Studios on a scooter. He kept saying to me, "I'm Pete Doctor!". Of course, no one gets it but us.

This morning, out of the blue, middle boy says, "Momma, I love having my brother at my school". I ask him if he sees oldest and he says 'yes'. He told me that he sometimes sits on the swings with oldest and tells him 'hi' and swings with him. Cool.

Pre-Easter Festivities

Okay, I have psychoanalyzed myself. Because of our Christmas snow, lack of an oven and I couldn't get out of the house...I am overcompensating. 150% for Easter.

This morning, the boys and I decorated the much anticipated bunny cake (minus coconut and licorice because my boys and I don't like them; also, I changed it to a 'black and white' bunny and a chocolate cake). I made the changes, not to buck tradition, but because I get tired of eating the whole bunny cake every year by myself. Also, instead of jelly beans, we used Easter M and Ms. I realized I made a mistake by leaving out the M and Ms because Middle boy and Youngest were running around on a sugar high. Seriously.

We also made a new recipe (which I will modify for next year)...Easter nests made of dark chocolate and Rice Krispies with little M and M eggs in them.

All three of the boys got totally got into them. We waited until Oldest's dentist appointment was done to finish decorating the cake. With the nests, Middle boy refused to help until the last minute and then, oldest ran over and said, "Momma, I put the egg in the chocolate" and he did! All three of them finally helped and placed the eggs in the 'nests".

I have just finished making my "Grandma's beans' and the Easter egg casserole. Tomorrow morning during the egg hunt, I will bake the casserole and cinnamon rolls. Then, we'll have Easter dinner of ham (low sodium, of course!), Grandma's beans and rolls. True, the only ones eating any of the food will be hubby and I, but it is the fact that the food is available. Middle boy has said he'll try the cinnamon rolls. I am sure he'll like it because he is a sugar fiend.

Cub Scouts!

On Wednesday, oldest and I went to the cub scout meeting (as usual). This month's theme is "Jurassic Park", which I had hoped would pique his interest. We had the best time ever. Typically, cub scouts is very difficult for him. It is a very social activity and, obviously, he has low social skills. This time was different.

I don't know if he had the promise of seeing "Hannah Montana: The Movie" this weekend or if he was just really into cub scouts.

We started out cub scouts by doing a word search. Oldest and I worked on it together. Then, we listened to the leader discuss dinosaurs from the Jurassic period. Oldest listened quietly. They chose dinosaurs to write a report on a dinosaur. Initially we had chosen a Brachiosaurus. By random choice, we were given the Brachiosaurus. Then, he and I made a dinosaur slide for his scarf. I pounded out the slide and then we made an imprint of an 'egg head' dinosaur. We are letting it dry until the next cub scout meeting (when we will paint it). Finally, we colored 'dinosaur' eggs (Easter eggs).

Oldest didn't have any behavior problems, I didn't have to remind him to focus, it was an amazing cub scout meeting!