Crafty Thursday.....

It was a crafty kind of day around here on Thursday...

Kinda in a good way,

Kinda in a REALLY HARD way too!

I made this simple and fun card.

Loved making the card, hated having to write it!

You see, we are in the final stages of transitioning the staff we have had in our house for the last year out, and completely to our own staff. I am super excited about our own staff (even though it is TONS more work for me!) but we all ADORE the staff we are loosing.* So it was very hard to write the words in this card to this sweet and wonderful young lady, who's last night was Thursday. She will be greatly missed in our home.

Jenny and I also worked together to come up with a craft to do with the kids on their final night together. We wanted something that they could work on together to create a lasting piece that each would have to remember the other. We decided on decorating picture frames, and then framing a picture of them all together. I am REALLY HAPPY with how well this project came out!

(don't forget, you can click on the picture to see them bigger if you would like)

This is the frame Audrey made. I am not surprised that she did such a great job, she is my little artist! Audrey painted and decorated the frame. Jenny wrote on the mating special words to Audrey, and I took, edited and printed the picture. Team effort!

This is Nathaniel's project, and the one that really surprised me! Nat is not usually so into art projects, but he REALLY concentrated on painting his frame so nicely, and he planned out where all the stickers went instead of just putting them on top of each other (his usual mode). Nathaniel did a GREAT job of making a very nice frame, Jenny again wrote words of encouragement and memories to Nat on the mat, and I added the picture. Another team effort!

And Jenny... oh Jenny cracked me up! I learned something new about her that night.... when it come to crafts she is a PERFECTIONIST!!! It was so cute. So Jenny created the PERFECT frame, the kids had written words on her mat earlier in the day (and did a great job of NICE handwriting too!) as a surprise to her, and again I added the picture. Team effort number 3.

All of the frames came out so cute and are reflective of the one who made them. The kids have them right by their beds to have in the coming days when they miss Jenny. (Nat actually slept WITH his the first night, crying for HOURS after she left.... it was so sad, but I am glad he has something to hold onto when he misses her!)

This is the super cute picture of the kids and Jenny that we used.

I am glad that this project came out so cute. And I am glad that we have that good bye behind us, because it was HARD. But I am NOT glad that we have one more to go tonight! I wonder what we should do with Mr. Reb tonight....... any ideas???

*Little explanation from above.... we were using staff from an agency, who was in our home for a finite period of time. We LOVE our In Home Workers, but they must stay with the agency that they work for, and we have new workers that are taking over all of the shifts. It's just one of those life things, but we do have to play by the agency rules, which say no contact after said workers are out of our home. Boo Hiss....

I am linking up with Born Again Crafter today for her Sunday Scrapbook posts....

go check her out! Very fun blog she creates :)

And here:

MUCH bigger and WAY more linkies, but maybe some new friends too :)

First Tee Time is HERE!

My kiddos participate in a wonderful program called First Tee right here in Los Osos and we LOVE!!

First Tee is a golf program aimed at kids 6 to 14 that teaches the game of golf, but also teaches chore life values. I really like how they combine lessons about sportsmanship, respect, and integrity (to name a few) to apply to the game but also how they apply in real life!

The coach here is a great guy with loads of patients, a passion for golf and a heart for kids. He does an amazing job of teaching and encouraging the kids, while unifying them as a group or team. Toni makes it looks so easy, but I KNOW it is not an easy task! On a personal not for our family, the team at LO First Tee has ALWAYS included Nathaniel and do a great job of integrating him, even when he was in his wheelchair all of the last season! It is precious to find programs that my children can participate in together and locally!

Nathaniel and Audrey LOVE practicing their mad golf skills on the REAL golf course, and I like that it is just a few blocks from our home. 

If you are looking for a fun activity for your kids, I HIGHLY recommend First Tee at Sea Pines Golf Course!

We meet on Saturday mornings from 1030 to 1145, let me know if you would like to join us and I can shot you more information!

Spring Honor Society!

Last night was the awards ceremony (if you can call it that...) for the Spring Honor Society!

I am excited to share that Nathaniel, once again, made the honor roll!!

And he was REALLY EXCITED to get the award, as you can see!

Nathaniel's new buddy Jacob also got an award. It was fun to see them together again.  

Nathaniel is my child who loves EVERYONE, but has never had any close friends. That has changed in the last few months (thank you meds change, don't know what I am talking about... check it out HERE ) and Nat and this little guy Jacob are REAL friends! They show compassion and empathy to each other, they ask to play together, it is SO COOL to see Nathaniel FINALLY forming a bond with another child!!

 

It was a late night for us, but this was one excited little guy having his hard work recognized (along with many other students of course!) I am proud of this little guy and all of his hard work.

On a side note.... If you are friends with me on Facebook, you know we had a challenging morning. But look at that little guy.... is he REALLY the same child that REFUSED to get dressed yesterday morning and ended up at school in the main office in his underwear and braces?? And here he is all dressed and happy??

 I HAVE GOT TO remember that his moods swing.. then when I am ready to hang him for an hour (or so) worth of defiance over simply putting on clothing I can remember that his mood will swing again and I will get a hapy little guy like this!!

Audrey Art

Audrey is my little Artist in residence around here....

She LOVES to do art, and I think she is getting pretty good too :)

So our school has a competition each year and they encourage the students to draw pictures and submit them to be considered for the yearbook cover and art work. Audrey wanted to enter this year, so of course I let her! The theme was "Baywood Bears Care For the World" and this is what my little artist came up with:

Me thinks, not bad for an 8 year old!

Hope you enjoy :)

Monday Mumbles

Monday Mumbles….

1) Just one day…. Just one day I would like to be able to take a break from ABA (behavior technique) without tantrums, meltdowns and basic living hell. ABA is HARD. I get TIRED at times. And yet, I am ALWAYS on, always have to implement the program and always have to adhere to a STRICT routine…. I love my kid, but at times I just want a day off…..

2) I am SO THANKFUL for dear friends. I walked into the kid’s church room with tears in my eyes yesterday, and my dear friends Brandie and Dan jumped right up to take care of Nathaniel so I could have a touch of peace. Being a single mom is HARD, but there really aren’t words to describe being a single mom with a special kid, and I was out of rope yesterday. I am so thankful for Brandie and Dan and the time of peace they gave me, I don’t know how I could have made it through the day without them!

3) Transitions with my kids are HARD…. Just saying. I know kids have a hard time with change, but then throw in an OCD diagnosis, and life gets fun! I think, from the looks of things so far, this week is going to be a rodeo! Just praying we can hold on through it and fine the rainbow on the other side…

4) My family is so blessed to have had such a wonderful care team this last year. Reb, Jenny and Jen are so dear and important to us. It is going to be heartbreaking to say goodbye to each of them this week, but I know that Katie and Matt are awesome too! We are so blessed to have such wonderful people partnering with our family!

5) Spina Bifida is on my nerves right now. Most days I can deal with it just fine, but today I am SICK of all the laundry it is causing!! For some reason Nathaniel has been wetting through EVERY NIGHT for the past week. I don’t get it, nothing has changed, but every single night he wets through his night diaper and drenches his bed. I even used a diaper doubler last night, and he still got his bed AND mine soaked! Every single blanket on both beds….

6) Days like this I am SO THANKFUL that I have a washer and dryer at HOME. Not everyone has that luxury but I do, and for that I am SO THANKFUL!

7) Homework stinks. Just saying. And homework over the weekend? SUPER STINKS! 

8) I love me garage sales! We were so blessed to have cleaned out some unneeded things and made some GOOD money this weekend! What an awesome tradition… LOVE IT!

9) And as awesome as garage sales are, Freecycle is pretty cool too! I am feeling so good to be decluttered and NOT filling up the landfills! What a great feeling!

10) I am thinking of Spina Bifida awareness jewelry…. Bracelets and Necklaces, that can be personalized…. The images keep playing around in my mind… Would anyone be interested???

Well that is it for my mumbling today… off to go cram 2 days of work into the 4.5 hours the kids are at school today…. Wish me luck!