A good field trip!

Ian's class went on a field trip today.  They have been doing several a month this semester, and I always kind of hold my breath and keep my phone handy on those days.  But, he seems to be getting the hang of it, and I am so very grateful!

The teacher does a simple daily sheet with smiley faces every day.  It helps me know in general how his day went.  This was today's sheet; I feel like framing it!

This field trip was to a local mall.  The objective was to work on math and social skills.  I sent in $14, all my cash!  They were to eat lunch in the food court and do some shopping.  I checked the website to make sure the food court had something Ian would eat, and thankfully they had a Chik-Fil-A.

So, I opened up Ian's backpack when he got home and there was the plastic bag I had sent the cash in, with just some coins and a receipt.  Also, there was a wrapped package with a typed note on top.  Ian had bought a present for Rob and me and wrapped it at school and typed the note.  What a big day for him!  I am so proud.

Here is the package, along with one he did in Art class a few days ago.  I cannot express the joy of actually having presents from my child that he made and bought himself.  This is starting to be a very cool Christmas!

Cookies, part two

 Today we finished the cookies for Ian's class party.

First, we started with the icing.  It took a few tries after I showed him, but he did pretty well with it.  He seemed to want to dab instead of spread, but we eventually got it figured out.

 Then we did the sprinkles.  This consisted of me asking which sprinkles he wanted to use, him making the choice, and me helping him put them on.  The highlight of this was when I asked which ones he wanted for the Christmas tree and without hesitation he chose the green ones.  Yay!

In the second picture, Ian is trying to hand me a cookie.  He did that several times saying, "For you, Momma!"  Sweet boy!

Altogether he did half a dozen cookies!

Yes, I did have to bribe a little to get him to do this.  But, once we got started there was no complaining and he really did try his best.  I think this will be something I will always treasure about Christmas 2012!

Cookie Time

Wow!

After years of trying to get him interested in making cookies with me, Ian not only did just that today, he used a rolling pin!

Then, he used cookie cutters and cut them out!

And finally, he posed with the finished product!  Wow, wow and wow!  This is a red letter day!

Newtown....Incredibly Close

The tragedy in Newtown, CT happened last Friday.  On that afternoon, I watched the coverage non-stop until Ian's bus got here at around 2:45. I hugged him all the way from the steps of the bus to the front door.  I did not want to let go.
I did not watch or read much of the wall-to-wall coverage on Saturday or Sunday.  I just could not take it.  I also did not find much refuge on Facebook, so I pretty much kept away from that.  The news kept changing as to who did it, who the victims were, etc.  By yesterday, when Ian went back to school, I thought I was ready to read more.  It turned out I wasn't.  And today, well today has been the hardest yet.  It turns out one of the victims was a 6 year old boy with autism.  He was in the arms of his one on one aide when they were both shot and killed.  Just how am I supposed to deal with that?  It is just way too close to home on several levels.  And now I just read that another para was killed.    She was about to complete her doctorate and her boyfriend was set to propose on Christmas Eve.
Yesterday I watched the movie "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."  I had requested it from the library before any of this happened, and I was feeling a little rundown and wanted some down time.  Although I had seen this in the theatre and had my Kleenex ready, I cried and cried.  I kept thinking how, like September 11, this tragedy was going to reverberate through our country for years to come.  In the movie, the little boy is trying desperately to hang on to the memory of his father.  I keep thinking of the parents and siblings and children and friends and classmates who will be trying to do the same with the victims of this tragedy.  While the rest of the nation will be arguing about gun control, mental illness, school safety and other issues, the families left behind will be going through a private hell that we all hope to avoid.  They are the ones I will keep in my prayers.