Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Kindergarten Class Photos
As anyone with school-age children knows, schools have to be creative to make money to support all of the programs and needs at individual school. There are all kinds of fundraisers, all year long. Pictures are a big one. There's the individual shots in the Fall, and then there's the class photo just before Christmas.
We usually purchase the individual ones, just because. We also order a yearbook, which features all of the individual pictures and the boys' classmates together.
We don't, however, order the class photos. There are reasons for that. The most important one being that two of my children are not always cooperative for photographs. They are even less cooperative for group photos that require multiple people to look at the camera at the same time. It's just part of it. We don't want to force the photographer or the class to get that photograph, because sometimes, it just isn't possible.
Here are the boys, cropped out from their respective class photos. I wish that I could show you the entire class photo - because more than half of the kids are not paying attention to the photographer (see, my kids are not the only ones). But there are privacy and consent issues that I don't want to get into with other students and their parents. So I will show you my boys, as they were in their respective class photos.
Now do you see why we don't purchase the class photos?
Sawyer is very clearly saying "Are we done yet, because I am so over this!"
Xander is being bribed with gummy bears (he's actually eating in the photo) and with a book.
That's my boys. Pictures are not their thing. You have to capture them in moments. You cannot pose them. Or you get photos like the ones you see above. Or sometimes the ones you see on our Christmas cards.
Special thanks to Mrs. M, Sawyer's regular classroom teacher, for sharing one of her teacher copies with us. Special thanks to Mrs. G, Xander's aide, for sharing her teacher copy with us.
We usually purchase the individual ones, just because. We also order a yearbook, which features all of the individual pictures and the boys' classmates together.
We don't, however, order the class photos. There are reasons for that. The most important one being that two of my children are not always cooperative for photographs. They are even less cooperative for group photos that require multiple people to look at the camera at the same time. It's just part of it. We don't want to force the photographer or the class to get that photograph, because sometimes, it just isn't possible.
Here are the boys, cropped out from their respective class photos. I wish that I could show you the entire class photo - because more than half of the kids are not paying attention to the photographer (see, my kids are not the only ones). But there are privacy and consent issues that I don't want to get into with other students and their parents. So I will show you my boys, as they were in their respective class photos.
Now do you see why we don't purchase the class photos?
Sawyer is very clearly saying "Are we done yet, because I am so over this!"
Xander is being bribed with gummy bears (he's actually eating in the photo) and with a book.
That's my boys. Pictures are not their thing. You have to capture them in moments. You cannot pose them. Or you get photos like the ones you see above. Or sometimes the ones you see on our Christmas cards.
Special thanks to Mrs. M, Sawyer's regular classroom teacher, for sharing one of her teacher copies with us. Special thanks to Mrs. G, Xander's aide, for sharing her teacher copy with us.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Food Wars
So many times, I have said I'm going to quit feeding the twins separate meals. So many times. And I always mean it. I have very good intentions.
But it's incredibly hard to follow through.
Not that we don't try. We have tried and tried and tried.
Tonight was a case in point. I made one of our staples. Fried pork chops, green beans and cheese potatoes. I put some of everything on everyone's plate. The kids also got a side of applesauce and some Goldfish crackers.
Guess what the boys ate? Connor ate everything except the cheese potatoes (he really is not a fan, and we're going to have to stop requesting that he eat them). Sawyer ate his fried pork chop (it is like chicken, you know). Xander pushed his plate away. They all ate their applesauce and Goldfish.
And lest you think we did not try, we did actually ask both Sawyer and Xander to take a bite of everything on their plate. And that didn't go so well.
They resisted. But after repeated requests, both of them touched a bite of each food to their lips. Both of them actually gagged to have real food touch their mouth. Not pretend gag, mind you, but actually gagged. Xander even took to wiping off his tongue in an attempt to get rid of the taste.
Sigh.
We'll keep trying, of course. We're encouraged that the boys will at least touch the food to their mouths. That's a huge step for both of them. Now we'll work on actually liking something beyond their usual fare of yogurt, applesauce, chips and select fruit.
Just another day in the life ...
But it's incredibly hard to follow through.
Not that we don't try. We have tried and tried and tried.
Tonight was a case in point. I made one of our staples. Fried pork chops, green beans and cheese potatoes. I put some of everything on everyone's plate. The kids also got a side of applesauce and some Goldfish crackers.
Guess what the boys ate? Connor ate everything except the cheese potatoes (he really is not a fan, and we're going to have to stop requesting that he eat them). Sawyer ate his fried pork chop (it is like chicken, you know). Xander pushed his plate away. They all ate their applesauce and Goldfish.
And lest you think we did not try, we did actually ask both Sawyer and Xander to take a bite of everything on their plate. And that didn't go so well.
They resisted. But after repeated requests, both of them touched a bite of each food to their lips. Both of them actually gagged to have real food touch their mouth. Not pretend gag, mind you, but actually gagged. Xander even took to wiping off his tongue in an attempt to get rid of the taste.
Sigh.
We'll keep trying, of course. We're encouraged that the boys will at least touch the food to their mouths. That's a huge step for both of them. Now we'll work on actually liking something beyond their usual fare of yogurt, applesauce, chips and select fruit.
Just another day in the life ...
Part of the Club
Early in the school year, a letter came home to Sawyer and Xander. It was an invitation to join a club at school called "Kindness is Power" or "KIP" for short. Essentially, it is a club where some of the older elementary school students mentor students with disabilities. I actually did something similar when I was in elementary school.
The club meets every Friday morning before school in Sawyer's resource classroom. It's a chance for the boys to hang out with and interact with typical students. Sometimes the boys are cooperative, sometimes they prefer to be left in peace. But the opportunity for social interaction, with people who understand, is there at least once a week.
Last Friday was the first club event outside of school. It was group bowling at the local bowling lanes.
I was not sure how it would go. My guess was that it would be a little bit loud and perhaps a little bit too busy. But I was determined to try.
The original plan might have been just to take Sawyer and Xander. But Connor has never been bowling either, and I couldn't bring myself to leave him at home (despite the fact that he gets to go out and do so many things without his brothers).
Daddy had planned to stay home and study (he's in paramedic school for the rest of the year for his job with the local fire department). But I think he felt guilty when I said I was taking all three boys bowling. You know, by myself.
So we all loaded into the truck and headed bowling. I really wasn't sure what to expect. Sawyer fought with us in the parking lot. He apparently didn't like the look of the place or the fact that we were doing something new. Xander and Connor were just curious.
Once inside, the hands were quickly over the ears. It was very loud and very busy, even early on a Friday evening. The hands stayed up quite a bit, though the boys managed to get through it.
They also were not fans of the neon bowling shoes, which I can't say that I blame them. They were kind of hideous. And a little bit suspect.
Xander LOVED bowling. He wanted a lane all to himself, and he would have bowled over and over and over again until he collapsed. I don't think he would ever leave if it could always be his turn.
All three of our boys struggled with taking turns. All three enjoyed bowling, to varying degrees. Sawyer eventually gave it up for his iPad. He got tired of waiting his turn.
The boys all started out with the "ramp" to roll the ball, but eventually ended up doing it their own way. Xander tossed it (a little too high and hard), but tossed it just the same. Connor rolled pretty well, but he used the bumpers liberally. Sawyer sat the ball down and gave it a hard shove. It eventually got there.
All the club members walked up to the boys and said hello. Most of them could even tell the boys apart, though some had to ask who was who. Some of them even tried to invite the boys to play a game with them. They all made a point to come say hello, and then again to come say good-bye before they left. Good kids. Thoughtful kids.
Some of the boys actual classmates were there, too. One of the boys in Sawyer's class was very interested in his iPad, though Sawyer was not big on sharing.
It was a fun night. And it was largely successful. There were good moments (Xander hopping up and down with every roll). There were bad moments (Xander dropping the ball on Daddy's foot).
But it was fun. The boys seemed to enjoy it. The club members were incredibly nice and understanding toward the boys. It was fun to see the teachers outside of school, to meet other parents. It was nice to do something together as a whole family for a change.
Life. It's busy and complicated. It stays that way. But for a few hours on a Friday night, it was simple and fun, too.
The club meets every Friday morning before school in Sawyer's resource classroom. It's a chance for the boys to hang out with and interact with typical students. Sometimes the boys are cooperative, sometimes they prefer to be left in peace. But the opportunity for social interaction, with people who understand, is there at least once a week.
Last Friday was the first club event outside of school. It was group bowling at the local bowling lanes.
I was not sure how it would go. My guess was that it would be a little bit loud and perhaps a little bit too busy. But I was determined to try.
The original plan might have been just to take Sawyer and Xander. But Connor has never been bowling either, and I couldn't bring myself to leave him at home (despite the fact that he gets to go out and do so many things without his brothers).
Daddy had planned to stay home and study (he's in paramedic school for the rest of the year for his job with the local fire department). But I think he felt guilty when I said I was taking all three boys bowling. You know, by myself.
So we all loaded into the truck and headed bowling. I really wasn't sure what to expect. Sawyer fought with us in the parking lot. He apparently didn't like the look of the place or the fact that we were doing something new. Xander and Connor were just curious.
Once inside, the hands were quickly over the ears. It was very loud and very busy, even early on a Friday evening. The hands stayed up quite a bit, though the boys managed to get through it.
They also were not fans of the neon bowling shoes, which I can't say that I blame them. They were kind of hideous. And a little bit suspect.
Xander LOVED bowling. He wanted a lane all to himself, and he would have bowled over and over and over again until he collapsed. I don't think he would ever leave if it could always be his turn.
All three of our boys struggled with taking turns. All three enjoyed bowling, to varying degrees. Sawyer eventually gave it up for his iPad. He got tired of waiting his turn.
The boys all started out with the "ramp" to roll the ball, but eventually ended up doing it their own way. Xander tossed it (a little too high and hard), but tossed it just the same. Connor rolled pretty well, but he used the bumpers liberally. Sawyer sat the ball down and gave it a hard shove. It eventually got there.
All the club members walked up to the boys and said hello. Most of them could even tell the boys apart, though some had to ask who was who. Some of them even tried to invite the boys to play a game with them. They all made a point to come say hello, and then again to come say good-bye before they left. Good kids. Thoughtful kids.
Some of the boys actual classmates were there, too. One of the boys in Sawyer's class was very interested in his iPad, though Sawyer was not big on sharing.
It was a fun night. And it was largely successful. There were good moments (Xander hopping up and down with every roll). There were bad moments (Xander dropping the ball on Daddy's foot).
But it was fun. The boys seemed to enjoy it. The club members were incredibly nice and understanding toward the boys. It was fun to see the teachers outside of school, to meet other parents. It was nice to do something together as a whole family for a change.
Life. It's busy and complicated. It stays that way. But for a few hours on a Friday night, it was simple and fun, too.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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