Visual Schedule

In parent teacher conferences I got a suggestion from Isaac's teachers...
For those of you who don't know, about 4 months ago Isaac was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  I have been trying to come up with ways to help Isaac and make life a little more smoother.  I never considered that Isaac might have autism so I am not very knowledgeable about it yet.  I am working on it.  Isaac and I will figure it out together as we try different things and see what works and what doesn't.  Isaac's teachers mentioned that Isaac does well with a visual schedule.  I know Isaac does well with a routine, but at home where we have something different going on everyday and schedules get thrown off their time frames, I have had a hard time keeping Isaac on a routine.  So I started researching visual schedules.  I though they were a great idea and then I found I could not find any to buy.  For something that is touted as indispensable on most autism websites, I was having a hard time finding information on how to make them or buy them.  So I decided to make my own and combine it with a chore chart.  I decided that anything that had times in it would not work for us because I never know what time it is.  (seriously ask Lachlan, I am horrible at knowing the time)  It also had to be manipulable so I could change it from day to day.  Then I set about making 2 in square cards for every event, chore, or thing I could think of.  It took about a week and a half to come up with cards and then another 4 days to print, cut, laminate, and them cut again.  I bought a frame and put scrapbook paper inside it.  Then I got some sticky things made by Scotch and put those on the front of the glass so I could attach cards and move them around.  The picture is the finished project. 
It has now been in use for a week and so far I love it!  The kids love seeing whats next and taking down the cards once something is completed.  I also have them choose their chores for the next day out of a box.  Their favorite part is that I included a free card in there so they have the chance of not doing any chores the next day.  My goal is to get this schedule working well by the end of the summer.  I want the kids to have it down before school starts so I don't have to nag them as much.  maybe that's a pipe dream, I might always have to nag them.

Conrad loves water

Conrad Loves to join his sisters in the bath.  Well not in it, they get a little too wild.  But he loves to splash right next to them.  He just goes nuts splashing around.

my little rug rat

This is a little old but I thought you would like it.  This was taken at the beginning of April.  He is now much faster, pulling up on everything, and scaling the stairs.  Hello baby gates! 

Happy Birthday Isaac and Welcome to Summer!

Isaac had his birthday on the last day of school.  He is now 7 years old and in second grade!  I surprised him by having the girls make a sign for him to run through when he got home.  Then I sprayed him with silly string.  I have never sprayed silly sting before (I know I'm sheltered).  I had no idea what kind of mess it would make and I was more interested in surprising Isaac than thinking about any clean up I would have to do after.  I did have the vacuum handy and it worked pretty good.  It was all cleaned up in about 30 minutes with the kids help.  We took a broom and brushed it off the walls and they picked up the big pieces while I vacuumed.  Olivia wanted me to do it to her on her birthday.  I think Isaac loved the surprise.  We also took him out for pizza and dessert to celebrate.  For his birthday he got his own geodes to break open and a case to keep interesting rocks in, as well as, a book so he could identify his finds.  Can you say future geologist.

Annular solar eclipse

This was so cool!  An annular solar eclipse was right over Albuquerque this year and we saw it.  For those who don't know, an annular eclipse is where the moon passes directly in front of the sun only it is too far away to cover the whole sun so you are left with a perfect ring of fire in the sky.  I tried taking pictures of it and I didn't realise I got any until after otherwise I would have taken more.  Isaac was the most interested in watching it.  Olivia and Katie just wanted to play at the park.  It was fun to watch at the park.  I was surprised how crowded it was.  More people came to watch the eclipse than I thought.  It never really got dark, maybe slightly darker but there were still shadows and you had to wear the glasses any time you looked at the sun.  The picture above of the sun was taken about 30 minutes before totality.  the eclipse lasted about 4 minutes.  I totally want to watch another one.  I do know there is a total solar eclipse in 2017 in the US.  I am so looking forward to it!

Ship Rock Marathon

I am so proud of my family!  Lachlan did a full Marathon again.  WOW!  He beat his time and looked so much better than the last time he ran a marathon.  Isaac and I did the 10 K.  Isaac did such a good job too!  I was so proud of him and how well he did.  No complaining and he walked the whole way, up and down big hills.  He even helped others up the hill.  Olivia ran the kids one mile and was so happy to do it.  She did a great job too.

Preschool Concert

This is the song Olivia has been singing for 2 months now.  She has also taught it to her siblings.  Its cute now when you see the video, but in the car day after day with all three, um not so cute.  Especially when the volume gets out of control.  It was fun to watch her get all the high school kids into the singing.  She enjoyed it too!  The girl loves to perform.