Sometimes He is Just a Boy

Not a boy with Down Syndrome and Autism who doesn't walk or talk yet at four years old but has been stuck in his own version of the Terrible Twos for two years now, and still needs a bottle at bedtime...

Nope, sometimes he is just a boy who wants to hang out with Dad and big brother.

"I am freaking awesome!"

Yes, another quote from Nikita. This one is certainly more positive. We found excellent instructions for constructing a goat stand (http://www.fiascofarm.com/). Nikita took on this project for herself-- once good ol' Dad and Mom bought the supplies...

Micah seems to be memorizing how to use the drill. This doesn't bode well, we had better keep it properly stored out of reach!


Nikita is truly an expert with the drill quite quickly; this time Amelia is watching a little too closely.

Dad being helpful?



Oh no, what is the next step??


Amelia calmly steps in with a reminder to follow the directions.


Ta da! Nikita has every right to be proud of this goat stand (without being boastful, of course).


Amelia and Gidget are demonstrating how it works. Nikita still needs to put on a hook-over feeding dish. She also is considering adding some non-slip strips to the top so the goats don't slip. (Ambrose is in the background wishing he was the one demonstrating and eating the grain!)

Since it was so simple and affordable, Nikita would now like to use the web and fliers to advertise and sell goat stands that she makes.

He Missed, But He's Trying

Micah has not historically been especially invested in potty training. In fact, I was becoming convinced that he would never even try. He seemed content with the pull-up system and he just continued on his merry way. Well, something clicked recently, and suddenly he is using the potty. This is good news, don't get me wrong. Anyone who has to pay for these outrageously priced pull-ups wants them to be phased out as soon as possible. That being said, it has had its ups and downs. The other day I was doing something useful in the kitchen and Micah went tearing by me frantically calling out POTTTTY! POTTTTY! He made it to the bathroom, but not exactly to his destination. Needless to say, Dad had some cleaning to do. It's progress, right?

James

Hanging out the laundry

It was a beautiful day for hanging out the laundry.

And the children.

(They were really just playing in the clothes, not being hung out to dry.)

Quote of the Week

From Nikita:

"I think I'm kind of a loser."

I would point out that while she did indeed end up losing the game to Micah, Colors and Shapes Bingo is not exactly a game of skill.

Magic Wings

Yesterday I took Zachary, Amelia, Sunny, and Micah to Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens in Deerfield. It was Micah and Sunny's first time there, although I doubt Amelia remembers being there before. It is absolutely beautiful- both the hundreds of butterflies and the exotic flowers and bushes. I'll admit I went overboard taking photos of the delight on their faces as they watched countless butteflies flutter by-- but I'll only share the best 6 of the 60 here...

Micah was not overly thrilled at the honor of having a butterfly land on him. It was a wonderful trip though, and a nice break from the rain and a nice break up of the school week.

The photo of the three kiddos looking at the beautiful red butterfly might be the best one I have ever gotten of them!