Christmas Ramblings

I read a poem that was an adaptation of The Night Before Christmas...as seen from the perspective of a parent with autism. I saw so many parts of the poem today...here are some Christmas ramblings...

We got a Wii. Andrew had four items on his gift list and one was DeBlob Wii video game. He did not understand that we had to get the Wii game FIRST. He was a tad disappointed but later said to himself something along the effect that "that's OK. God will take care of me." He did get DeBlob later from Aunt Cheryl. He also showed GREAT JOY in the shirt that went along with the video game. He went upstairs after saying, "excuse me for a few minutes" and changed his shirt. So the jig is up.... he CAN dress himself.






I found a Sock Monkey for him. I didn't KNOW there were different types and therefore the one he wanted didn't have hair on the top of it's head. We are hoping that cousin Morgan may like it.


He was so sweet before we went downstairs in the morning. He was savoring the anticipation. WOW!!! Isn't that cool!!!


Andrew tried a carrot on his own. I know some of you will not consider this a highlight...and some of you will;)


Andrew just adores the interaction with his cousins . He loves them...they love him. It is a great gift.





Mark got a good nights sleep last night. (Those of you that know what has been happening see the blessing in this.)


Mike liked his cookbook! Anyone ever cooked blood soup. It was a Swedish cookbook. Apparently in Sweden reindeer meat is considered a staple as it was not listed under 'game' but in the regular meat recipes!





Amy kicked Andrew's butt at video games!! Not kidding...but it won't last.


Andrew kicked his teenage cousin's butts at bowling. And it was fair play. Everyone was surprised but Andrew was only mildly interested.


Amy could actually eat some of the Costco items she bought! I'll update that in another 'food' post.

Wordless Wednesday...Who needs store bought toys??!!

OK i can't make this completely wordless. Andrew made a hockey stick from a wrapping tube and a sock. He then proceeded to grab a bowl for the puck... who needs Wii?? (OK- maybe I really wanted that for Christmas!)

The Christmast Story

As presented by Andrew. Some of the words are hard to understand but I think he's got it pretty much right! I just love the way that I have a 'Fisher Price Manger" but he'd rather use Jumba, Lilo and George Sanderson (from Monster's Inc.) He did manage to get the wise men involved.

Merry Christmas to all!

So we went to see Santa at Henry Ford Museum. I was a tad 'concerned' for several reasons. First, I did not want Andrew to blow it for other kids. I could not continue the Santa charade fully when he started putting Santa above Jesus. We have read the REAL stories about St. Nicholas. Andrew wanted to know if St. Nicholas was still alive and I told him no. He wanted to be a St. Nicholas to other kids...such as Dr. Susan's patients... Which is of course the way you want a child to think.

The second reason I was concerned is that Andrew told me he wanted to tell Santa several things such as he wanted a 'butt kicker' for Christmas. (Don't ask..I don't know where it came from.) He also wanted to tell him that he 'he was just an old man.' I didn't know WHAT Andrew might say.

So I grilled him, drilled him...and prayed. And here is what happened.



Before we were in line I was praying for just God's protection and blessing and will over the whole situation. And then while standing in line Psalm 19:14 came to mind and I prayed that the "words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart would be pleasing to God." And they were....

First Andrew says in the sweetest voice you have ever heard, "Christmas is not about getting, it is about giving." Santa did not quite understand Andrew and said something along the lines that he heard Andrew say giving and so he gave Andrew a little plush that they have there for all the kids. Then Andrew says again, "noooo... Christmas is about GIVING; not getting." He also told Santa that he is very special and I think at one point must have said "God loves you." As we were leaving Santa says..."Remember, Jesus is number one and Santa is number two." Can it GET any better than that????!!!!!! There was more but I was too busy listening to video tape it. While walking away Andrew continues to shout...."you are a nice man Santa!!" What I think Andrew meant to emphasize was....MAN. But thankfully it just came across as a 'nice man' so as to not blow it for the other children.

So Thank you Jesus....for coming to this earth to save us. And for answering the words of my prayer as it could not have been any more sweet than that. It was an encouragement during what is currently a pretty difficult time for us and yet another "whisper from God."

Merry Christmas!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

In case anyone is wondering..that's my sissy and my brother;)

DIA....the highlight

We went to the Detroit Institute of Arts last week. The HIGHLIGHT....riding in the CAR (vs. a van) and sitting without a car seat. Andrew is fine to be out of one now but the car seat keeps him confined and 'secure' in the van. But he said this was like a roller coaster...WHEEEE!!!!!! (That's Aunt Nancy next to him.)

Jesse Tree

A few days ago I posted that we were doing a Jesse Tree. In that post I put a beautiful picture of a Jesse Tree I found online. Here is ours. Remember...it is about the PROCESS not about the PRODUCT. This was one that Andrew and I are doing TOGETHER. And....we will probably not finish by Christmas...because hitting it EVERY DAY is sometimes NOT possible. I am also skipping stories I do not care to cover in detail with Andrew at this time. I am using the rNIV and listening online at Faith Comes by Hearing. I have a link to that always on my sidebar and you can get FREE downloads of the Bible online.

Butterfly Award

Kris at At Home Science awarded me with the Butterfly Award. Thanks!!!! The blog is an incredible resource for ...well...At Home Science.

Here are the rules for this pass-it-along award:

1. Link to the person who gave you the award.
2. Post the graphic.
3. Pass the award on up to ten other bloggers whose blogs you consider cool

Aut-2B-Home will be my forever favorite for her ongoing efforts to pass along all her God given wisdom. I first became aware of her several years ago through her listserve. She is an incredible example of "do not be weary in doing good for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Cochlear Kids is another favorite. Val's tireless effort to educate the world on what a Cochlear Implant can do is incredible. Her stories are heartwarming (and funny sometimes) and her blog educational.

Two other favorite autism / homeschool / RDI bloggers are Our Crazy Adventures in Autism Land and The Black Pearl Academy. There is always something there to think about and I feel closer to these folks than I do many skin friends. Our Crazy Adventures also has a GFCF blog called Loving Gluten and Casein Free. "ChefPenny" is a pampered chef consultant too and just reading about her creations makes my mouth water. (hint hint on the PC. If you are going to give your money to anyone for PC.....order from her! She spends it on therapy for her kid;)

New to Homeschooling (but not new to autism) is another homeschooler/RDI/autism blogger. She is involved in a review program of homeschooling materials which she 'trials' on her daughter. A great blog to peek at especially if you are new to homeschooling.

Wordless Wednesday

My December Plan

Here's the December Plan...

A Jesse Tree! This involves daily scripture and you can google Jesse tree to see what I am talking about or click here for one example. I will post our own pictures which will involved nothing fancy...but here is one I found online. I can't tell you how much simpler you can make it... all we did was put up a vertical trunk and horizontal branches with butcher paper and I found some printed color 'ornaments.' The key is to tie in the scripture. And with the simplicity of ours, you can focus on the 'process' vs. the 'product.' I will upload a new picture of ours in a few days.

I am going to continue to work on MathUSee. Most of the upcoming lessons are review but we never did subtraction so need to do plenty of practice there.

We have a boatload of library books that are not really Christmas related but would like to read them so every day I'm just going to grab one and read. Today we read How to Make an Apple Pie and see the USA. And of course we mapped it.

I am going to 'try' and do a Christmas Lapbook but I am not sure on that one. We have done three already this year and I'm a bit lapbooked out. I will upload our Thanksgiving lapbook. Maybe next year I will be able to post some pictures BEFORE the actual holiday so folks can get an idea of what I'm talking about.

I am planning many outings including:

• Henry Ford- a Santa visit
• Great Lakes Crossing Bass Pro Shop - retro toys
• Holly Dickens Village
• Canterbury Village