egg hunting through the years

Sunday we enjoyed our 4th annual alternative egg hunt with dear friends. The egg hunt began when Luke was 2 and completely overwhelmed by crowds, loud noise, and chaos. And all three are in abundance at our big church egg hunt. So some good friends offered to have a smaller, calmer egg hunt at their house. And now it's a tradition!

Before we turned the kids loose in the yard, I "reviewed" the instructions. I attempted to be silly and dramatic with my instructions (not too much of a stretch for me) so the other kids would think it was just my attempt at humor. But the review was for Luke's benefit.

The kids were so fast finding eggs this year. I couldn't even get any good pictures. They were just greedy little egg hoarding blurs in the camera.

Luke on the hunt, in his short pants. He's grown a lot this season. Time for a season change so he'll have clothes that fit again.

This would be a cute one if the egg he were reaching for were actually in the frame. No pausing for mom to get the shot set up.

All the happy egg hunters with their loot. These kids are looking way too grown up.

2009 egg hunt. Last year I was so happy Luke carried his own basket while hunting.

2008 egg hunt. I don't have a group shot of the kids, but for some reason we took a photo of all the boys and their dads. Sweet timid Luke. This was just a few months after he started preschool. This day I remember being so proud of Luke for climbing the playset and going down the slide. Then something happened at the top of the slide. I think the kids were a little crowded. Luke freaked and pushed his friend. I was right there and all was fine. But it's a moment I clearly remember.

The inaugural hunt. I'm in this photo, with my rather unfortunate haircut (well, I had no time to flat iron those days) because I basically had to hold Luke down for him to sit with the other children. And at yesterday's egg hunt he could not be separated from his buddies.

I don't really remember taking this group photo though. This is what I remember about our first egg hunt:

Helping and cheering.

And he did it.

Last night before bed Luke and I were talking about our favorite things from the day. He asked me what my favorite thing was. I told him I thought it was when he led a prayer in children's worship. He said, "Yeah, I liked that." I asked him if he remembered what he said and he did. "Dear God, thank you for God and Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen."

I asked about his favorite thing of the day and he said, "Mom, what was that thing called where you were the teacher?" I said, "I was teacher?" and he said, "You said, 'Go find the eggs!'" "Oh, the egg hunt?" I said. "Yeah, the egg hunt. I liked that. It was my favorite."

OMG Police

Photo unrelated. Just proud of myself for learning after 1.5 years how to get pictures off my phone.

Ugh, but I'm so mad at myself for my slacker blogging this week. It's so much more manageable for me to blog quick stories as they happen. Now I sit here with a week of memories I want to capture and I'm overwhelmed.

Every week Luke does hilarious things that completely crack us up. Tuesday night I suggested we go out for dinner. I see restaurants advertising "KIDS EAT FREE!", but always early in the week. Well, I thought I'd found a place, but I was wrong. Kids do eat for 99 cents, if they don't want a drink. Whoops. And once we went in the door, Luke was completely committed. And he had to use their bathroom.

We were dining outside, per Luke's request. Just our little fam and a group of teens. Luke was trying his best to get any of the teens' attention. He was dancing, making silly faces, singing, while inching closer to their table. No interest.

While we were eating Luke is clearly still engrossed in the other table's conversation. He says, "MOM! What did that boy say???!!!!!" I had no clue so he informed me, "He say 'OH MY GOSH!'" Clearly unhappy that I was not upset, Luke said, "You need to go tell him not to say that!" I told him I'd leave that up to the boy's own mother.

Another family soon joined us on the patio. The mom walks up and says hello. She was an ABA tutor Luke saw years ago. She since got married, moved, had a baby, moved back to town, and is expecting again. We begin catching up. She is excited to see Luke. During the conversation she makes a comment something like, "Oh my gosh you are so right!" I didn't even notice at first, but little language police did. He's says, "Mommy! Mommy! What did she say?" I try to ignore. Lamar tries to distract him. Luke picks up a spoon and pretends to write on the table. I continue our conversation, but think, "Hmm, I've never seen him pretend to write before."

Moments later he looks at our friend and says, "Hey! I want to show you what I wrote." She bends down and says, "OK, please show me!" Luke points to his pretend words and says with a big grin, "This says 'We don't say oh my gosh?'"

*****

Luke and his buddy Andrew tried out a gymnastics class this week. The class was just a typical preschool recreational class. From my observations Luke fit in beautifully. He might have moved a bit slower on the equipment than some of his peers, but it was his first time. I was amazed at his courage swinging on the rings and dropping into the foam pit. So very thankful for all the good OT he's had.

Last night Luke desperately wanted to play "Let It Shine". I was slowly recovering from a big time migraine. When I finally agreed I'd try to play, Luke was overjoyed. He ushered us into his bedroom and gave us a list of tasks to complete. The first was a flip. Seriously? So I made some motions as if I were completing the tasks and got a high five and great job from Coach Luke.

Daddy's turn. Lamar shocked both Luke and me when he did a headstand. Luke's eyes were as big as saucers. Then he marched over and shut the bedroom door. We laughed and Lamar asked him why he closed the door. Luke, still awestruck, said, "so . . . because . . . no one can come in here."

****

Luke begged to go back to Let It Shine today and cried real tears when I told him how many days it would be until his next class.

Each day I write on Luke's marker board our plan for the day. And we're working on days of the week and before and after. In an attempt to change his destiny, Luke edited today's note.

He replaced "school" with "Let It Shine".

***

This afternoon Luke was at it again with the marker board. He asked me to spell some interesting words. This is what I found.




"A Luke great boy. Is Mommy Boo Scary?"

My notes to Luke are frequently confidence boosters (or attempts at it), thus the "great boy" comment.

And I've been wondering if I am a bit boo scary. I think this confirms it.

monumental photos

A couple of months ago Luke was being particularly contrary about going to church. And it seemed like Lamar was working nearly every Sunday (It was probably like 3 or 4 but felt like 20). One Sunday morning Luke decided he didn't want to enter the building because a man was standing in the door. And rather than calmly stating, "I do not prefer to enter doorways when someone is standing in or around the doorway," Luke hollered, "I DO NOT LIKE HIM!!"


Once I got him inside Luke was very distraught he could not find his friend Joshua to sit with. Ultimately this was likely for the best as Luke and Joshua's favorite activities when playing together are wrestling and yelling "ALL ABOARD!" Not always appropriate during worship. So I finally plop down in the pew with a whiny boy, exhausted but victorious, at least for the moment, and wondering how the next hour will play out.


A sweet, older, very chatty lady looks at us and says, "What a blessing to have that fine young man with you!" "Oh yes ma'am," I reply, wondering if my sarcasm is obvious. She says, "My little boy is now a elder in the church." I smile and turn around and mumble, "Um . . . don't count on it."


Fast forward a couple of months. Luke seems to be in a better mood about church, most of the time. Though given the choice he would always opt to stay home. Last Sunday Lamar was working again. I was really feeling the time change so we went to late service. After I picked Luke up from Bible class, I asked him if he'd like to go to children's worship. I told him I'd stay with him. (We haven't attempted it in months.) He was enthusiastic.


He found a friend and when Lawton wanted to help with the Lord's Supper, so did Luke. I was certain he would eat the cracker. I saw his hand go for it. Ms. Ellen saved the day. I pulled out my phone for a quick photo and Luke gave me this look and said, "No Mommy, don't don't take my picture."







Moments later I see Luke move to the microphone. And I sat dumbfounded as my boy lead a prayer. A perfectly age appropriate prayer with a little help from Mr. David. Amazing boy. Amazing God.

***

I registered Luke for kindergarten today. I just can't begin yet to really think about what kindergarten will be like. To move from the protected world of preschool, with special ed teachers that know and understand Luke so well, to the typical classroom with one teacher . . . very big transition for all of us.

We learned this week that preschool will be moving schools again next year. So the only year they were at our neighborhood school was Luke's pre-K year. God's perfect timing. And yet I still fret as if somehow Luke's future is my hands. Ridiculous.

Luke amazing teacher arranged for him to visit a kindergarten class occasionally to ease his transition. And she even took photos! We're kindred spirits with photography I think.

Luke's first "kindergarten work". A little glue stick action.

A little watercolor work.

Luke was so proud to show off his work and very enthusiastic to talk about his visit to kindergarten. I sure hope this enthusiasm continues.

Why oh why?

For months, likely years, we've been working on Luke answering and asking why questions. At times I've wondered if he ever could, given that much therapy, particularly early on behavior therapy, taught him to do certain behaviors (make a toy person get into the airplane) with no idea of why he was doing it. He learned to do a lot of things well that, at least from my perception, he did not understand the meaning behind. But my perception is at many times flawed.

Recently I noticed "because" entering his vocabulary. "Hey Mom, I'm just going to lay down because I'm tired." (He says "just" a LOT.)

I try to sneak in why questions without challenging and frustrating him. We were reading a book the other night that we hadn't read probably a year or more. (from Dolly's Imagination Library) I said, "Why is the little boy happy?" Luke thought and quietly said, "Because he found his puppy."

Earlier this week Luke and I were heading home from Mimi and Papa's house. I called Lamar, who was just home from work, to let him know we were on our way. As I hung up Luke said in a sleepy voice, "Why did you call Daddy?"

Trying not to overact to my joy (too strong a reaction would alarm and thus no more why questions for months. Experience has taught me a few things.) I praised Luke and answered. And the past few days Luke's conversation has been sprinkled with why questions. "Why are we going to Bible class first today?" "Well, because I couldn't drag my lazy self out of bed to get you and me ready for early church." Deciding that was not my best answer I attempted to explain the time change.

I realize the insanity of this to most parents. But in our world I am so thankful for why questions.

Z-O-O

What gorgeous weather this weekend! Perfect temps and sunny skies. I loved feeling the warm sun on my face after such a cold winter here in the southeast. But beautiful weather brings a heavy dose of guilt for me. Guilt that I NEED to be outside soaking up all that gorgeousness. And I'm so not an outside kinda person. And I really want to be the outdoorsy type. But I just can't hack it. So where does the indoorsy geek go when she needs to ease her must-be-outdoors guilt. The zoo!!!! It's been at least six months I've posted zoo pictures. I know you've missed them.


Ready for some serious zooing.

We got there right after the zoo opened. There was absolutely no crowd. And there were hardly any animals out. Whoops.

The meerkats were out. I asked Luke to sit on this ledge for a photo op. Here he's informing me he wants to go see the fish and eat lunch (at 10:00 a.m.). He has no clue there is a meerkat beside him (obviously behind glass).

And now he sees him (or her. I have no clue.) After this close encounter he declared he does not like meerkats. But he has been so amused by this photo that perhaps he'll agree to see the meerkats again.

We went to see the fish. He viewed every display in record time, assuring us he could see the animal on display, even when it was really well hidden, and that "it's cool". I think he still had lunch on the brain. But it was fun.

Since it was now about 10:20, we had to wait a bit on lunch. Luke asked to go to the playground, but was very worried he'd get sprayed with water on the way in. I was fairly certain the water sprayer would not be going since it was about 60 degrees. I was right.

At the playground we discovered this mega slide.

I was pretty impressed that Luke loved this slide. And he was pretty impressed with himself too.

The static was good for the hair.

Most of his trips, this is how he came down the slide. Daddy is a good sport.

And then some serious rope climbing. I'd forgotten how HUGE those nets are. As seen above, Luke needed a little assistance. Yeah Daddy again. Mommy would need more than a little assistance.

What is Mommy good for on the playground? Some serious swinging.

Luke posed himself like this in the bee hive type apparatus and sang some religious songs. I'm guessing he's mimicking a Cedarmont Kids video he watched all the time about 2 years ago. Goodness knows he wouldn't forget it.

After a lot of playtime we headed to the cafe for the long awaited lunch. We ran into a father and son we know from the autism community. Luke asked to eat with them and they kindly obliged. Luke locked in on this little guy, whose a couple of years older than Luke, and wanted to do everything he did. He can be a bit obsessive about this. His Dad commented on how social Luke is. But Luke was chatty and pleasant throughout lunch.

Our friends were heading to the playground and Luke asked to go too. So back to the playground we went. Luke's buddy is truly the most coordinated little guy I've ever seen. I've seen him walk on the back of wingback chairs as if he were just walking across the floor. Luke desperately wanted to do everything his friend was doing, but needed much assistance and he was so much slower. And again I'm reminded how kids are the spectrum are all so different, just like typical kids I guess.

On our way out we stopped by Luke's favorite animal. The blue birds were some of the many animals not out when we arrived. Big excitement they were now on display in all their tropical glory.

Yeah for sunshine. Yeah for the zoo.

The Reader

Luke's been reading a LOT of words lately.

Luke has a marker board in his room and Lamar and I leave him notes on it every day or so. He can usually read the notes with little to no help.

So I left him a longer than usual note last night just curious how he'd do. He read every word of this by himself with no help:




Sorry to share my cheesy note with you. Had I known it would make the blog I'd have tried to be a bit more eloquent and less sappy. But Luke doesn't really get sarcasm, which I excel at.

Anyway, I'm pretty impressed with Luke. I called Lamar and Luke read it again for him.

Yes this is a braggy post. I apologize. It's just fascinating to me how his little brain works.

Play Date

I had a dental appointment this morning. I know you, faithful 4 readers, want the details about my teeth. But no, the dental appointment is not the newsworthy happening today.

I called my friend Shantyl to see if Luke could hang out with her and Luke's friend Durham while I got my teeth cleaned. She reminded me she was keeping another little friend, Annie, on Thursday and welcomed Luke to join in the fun.

I told Luke on Tuesday that he would be riding in Ms. Shantyl's car with Durham to go get Annie and they would all play together. He was ready to put his shoes on and go immediately. He was disappointed when he realized there were "two sleeps" before his play date.

He woke up today eager for his ride to arrive. He started looking out the window for her at 6:50 a.m.



I removed his booster from our car and put it by the door. He sat right there and waited. Yeah, his booster is kind of big. He likes to ride in comfort.

When Shantyl pulled into the driveway, Luke threw open the door and ran to their van. As he was getting buckled in, he asked me if I would be riding in the front seat. Uh oh. Did he somehow miss this was a solo play date for him? I reminded him I was going to the dentist and he said, "Oh yeah! Bye Mom!" and happily bounced in his seat.

It was the first time I've left him with anyone, except grandparents, and not worried for one second about him.

When I returned from the dentist Luke called to me from the playroom, "No Mom, don't come. I want to play a LOT!"


I did hang around for a while. The kids were watching cartoons and playing happily. They had just returned from the park where Luke had petted a dog (GASP!) but then quickly decided he did not like dogs once again.

The girls started playing with princess/Barbie type dolls while Luke was sitting at a little table eating a snack. He got up, found a doll, and joined in. A minute later he got up, got his snack, and sat back down with the girls and continued playing and eating. Then the girls got into deep discussions about which dolls were getting married and who they were marrying. Luke just sat his doll down, picked up his snack, and silently moved back to the table. Smart boy!

A play date. A little thing. A little thing that is a big victory for us.