olives and a ladies' man

I asked Kai if he wanted olives on his pizza and he said no because they're so black and yucky. I asked if he'd eat them if they were his favorite color instead of black. He said he'd eat olives if they were purple and tasted like bananas. :)

Chad and Zeze were outside playing when our neighbor's beautiful college-aged daughter pulled up. Zeze yelled, "HI!!" to her. She smiled, waved and yelled, "Hi" back to Zeze. Zeze turned to Chad and quietly (amazing in itself) said, "Daddy, she is weally coot!" (really cute). Seeing that Zeze only knows 3 or 4 adjectives that are complimentary makes this is a HUGE amount of 'liking' going on. Let me explain.....adjective #1 is 'beautiful'. For example, "Mom, that train track you just set up is SO beautiful! Can I play with it now?"

#2 'yummy': "These cookies are so yummy AND beautiful. Thank you for making them!"

#3 'cute': "Mom, Noah is so cute. I LOVE him!" followed with kisses, hugs and the ever heart-warming eye-pokes. I'm constantly trying to explain that hugging and kissing Noah is great, but it's the eye-pokes that hurt.

So you see, Zeze saying the girl is cute is a HUGE amount of liking that he's only ever expressed toward his twin brother! I didn't know that boys could start liking girls so young! :)

I Don't Have Down Syndrome All The Time...

I found this post here at Life With My Special Ks blog. I couldn't figure out how to paste it into my blog, so please follow the link and read this neat insight from a pre-teen with Down Syndrome....

Random Photo Catch up

Kai rode the bus for the first time by himself, to go to ESY (Extended School Year). He was SO SO excited to ride the bus like a big boy, but we waited and waited and the bus didn't come. I am explaining that sometimes the bus driver forgets where to go when it's the first time picking someone up. Well, it got late and I had to load Kai and the twins up in the van to bring Kai to school. As I'm pulling out the school bus/van pulls in!! I stop and get Kai out and he happily (though flustered) climbs on the bus!

He sees a friendly face, and sits beside him. He says later, "That's my friend. He's cute like Noah." His new friend is an old pro on the school bus and shows him the ropes.

Here's a picture of the bus/van at school dropping Kai off. Yes, I am a stalker. I followed the bus to school weeping, I mean fully composed and happy that my baby is being driven to school by a stranger, a man, that I've never met before. That this is one of many strands being cut that attaches him to me. That, someday I'll have to leave him at an overnight camp, then college (will he eat, will he find his classes, what if he gets locked out of his room?) and eventually when he gets married! I know, I know! He's only 4! But I understand fully now why my mom cried at all those events when I was growing up.
Well, Kai loved the bus, but had a hard day at school and was sad that his regular teacher was not there. He was confused about the change and this is what he does to process things. I knew something was wrong b/c he hasn't lined up so many cars since before he was gluten free and fully encompased with PDD-NOS behavoirs. He moves the first car forward an inch and then the second one and so on until all the cars are moved up in the line. Then he starts over...again and again. We talked for awhile about school and the next day was MUCH better. When he came home and played with the cars and trucks, he had them all in a cluster and was having them talk to each other and throw a birthday party for the helicopter!



Fun in the pool. Noah is taking a direct hit!

Snuggly, sleepy afternoon with Noah and Daddy

....and Scout.

Blueberry picking, I mean eating! :)

Cutie pie, Noah!

Face off between Chad and our nephew, Isaac, while David and Kai get ready for more action!

Always watch your back, David!

Zeze having fun with the hose while Chad turns it on and off so it sprays Zeze's face.

Noah and Kai playing post office

Scouty is Postmaster General.

Noah LOVES LOVES corn on the cob!!

That's all for now! Sorry it's been so long (November) since I posted pictures! Hopefully, I'll keep up on it better!

Zeze the Clown

Zeze played outside with this on for an hour or more! He loves to wear hats, wigs, headbands, bowls, buckets etc. on his head! He is such a funny boy!

Monday Morning Blues

Kai asked me this morning what day it was. I told him it was Monday and he got to go to school today (trying to muster as much early morning enthusiasm as I could). Side note: Kai goes to ESY (extended school year) so he can continue to get services through the summer. He says to me, "It's Monday again?! Why is it Monday again and again and again?!! All day long it's Monday?" So I guess the Monday morning blues start at 4 years old! :)

Oh, he also said the other day, "After this week am I all done with school forever?" Oh man, I didn't have the heart to tell him that he'd be in school for 14 more years to just finish high school (he's already had 1.5 years of preschool and still has one more before kindergarten), 18 more for undergrad and 22 more years if he wants to be a baby doctor (this is what he says he wants to be). You can tell I have major school aversion! :) Maybe it's due to my 22 years of sitting in the classroom (that makes me feel ill just thinking of it!!). However, my husband LOVES to learn and told Kai with genuine excitement, "You GET to go to school for a long time and learn wonderful things!!" I'm glad I'm married to him! He balances me out and hopefully my kids will love to learn like he does!