SPECIAL DAY: We consulted the calendar to find out today is Wednesday, Oct. 7, and that means it's Rick's b-day. That means today's activities will include working on his birthday cake and wrapping presents - both good for fine motor skill practice. : ) More on that later.
TABLES AT THE TABLE: Today the kids did a couple of math worksheets from the site I found yesterday. It was a new take on simple addition and subtraction. Instead of vertical or horizontal equations, it was in a tabular format. The top, for instance, would say "plus 7" and then there was a column with a number and a blank next to the number. So say the number was 3, you'd do 3 plus 7 and write 10 in the blank. The kids caught on immediately - no long/special instructions needed. Good for them!
DOGGIE DOCTOR: Today was Kirby's first trip to the "vet" (really it was to see a technician at a local animal clinic to receive puppy immunizations). We went to Urban Vet because it got good Yelp reviews. The trip gave us a good reason to talk about immunizations (which the kids have both experienced), and why animals can benefit from them. CJ and Annabelle were a little worried about Kirby being hurt by the shots(s). I conceded that it would hurt a little, but the discomfort would be short - much shorter than if she were to get sick with one of the diseases she was being immunized against. At the vet's the kids got to see photos of parasites (which gave Annabelle the willies) and a model of a dog's inner ear (which also gave Annabelle the willies). When it came shot time, Kirby was a stoic - she didn't let out a peep. What a good role model for the kids. : )
In other Kirby news, last night we put a new ID tag on Kirby's collar. We talked about why people would put ID tags on someone/thing (to help them find their way back should they get lost). Of course, if Kirby could talk, we'd just teach her how to say her address, so she could tell her rescuer where she lived, like this Japanese parrot did.
CHECK IT OUT: Wednesday means CJ had a Befriended session today. The group was working on how to deal with their emotions when they feel mad or sad when they're around peers. The kids work with the group moderator for 45 minutes and then the parents return for a post mortem, so to speak. When we came in there was a chart on the board with the kids' names and stars next to their names denoting good behavior. There was also a check column that was apparently used for tracking not good behavior. Moderator Kim told parents that the kids had requested that she erase the checks so the parents wouldn't be upset. Hmm. At that CJ immediately piped up, "I didn't have any checks!" And honestly, I believe him. He is almost obsessive about following rules and actually works really hard to do the right thing. And I also think he was probably a bit confused or miffed that the checks were erased, when he worked hard to toe the line during the exercise, and some of the others perhaps not so much, but the slate was wiped clean. Not sure what the positive lesson there is. ...
YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW: Yesterday CJ found a little army outfit that fits on one of Annabelle's teddy bears. He wanted to try it on (um no, CJ, not even close). But I told him that his daddy had real live Army clothes that he might be able to outfit CJ in. So when Christian got him, he brought up his old duffel bag and showed the kids his old getup. CJ was hot to try it on, but I had to veto that - the clothing smelled like an Army barracks from the early '80s. So instead, CJ got a lesson in doing laundry - he oversaw the washing of it last night, and helped Christian put it into the dryer. Unfortunately, it wasn't dry by bedtime. Mr. Mind Like a Trap's first words this a.m.: "Do you think the Army clothes are dry yet?" I told him they most certainly were, but that I wanted his dad to be able to be here when he was trying them on. So within 60 seconds of Christian getting home this afternoon, the two of them were in the basement retrieving the laundry. Then Christian spent the next half hour or so outfitting both CJ and Annabelle in oversized Army uniforms. Sorry no photos ... I was elbow deep in fondant. I'm sure they're going to want to repeat the exercise tomorrow.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RICK: CeeJ and Bee's big brother Rick turned 24 today. Yikes. For one week and one day a year, Rick is TWENTY YEARS older than Annabelle. That makes me feel ancient for some reason, but I digress. ... Anyway, we just had to make Rick a birthday cake and it had to be something well, weird, just because. So I decided to make a Twin Peaks inspired cake. In that show, Agent Cooper was obsessed with "a damn fine cup of coffee" and cherry pie. So, I decided to make a cherry pie cake and cup of coffee. Why I didn't just make a cherry pie, I'll never know. I should have started this project at least a day or two earlier, but, I didn't. Good thing I had Annabelle and yet another big brother, Kennedy, available to help me form fondant cherries. Lots and lots of fondant cherries. CJ was apparently unavailable to help with the crafting part, but he was extraordinarily eager to sample it ... Anyway, we got the pie cake done. Now, Annabelle needs to help design her birthday cake. ...
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