6th birthday bash blog

Luke's been thinking about his sixth birthday party since a few hours after his fifth birthday party. One thing he knew he wanted was a very special cake. Last year's cake was truly unique. He knew what he wanted, and Gramma and Grampa were up for the challenge.

They arrived Friday evening with cakes already baked, which moved things along quickly. This year Luke was much more involved with the preparation.


He was a champion cake icer. Crumbs in the icing adds character.



The Wii cake. The Wii and remotes are made from rice krispy treats and fondant. Luke placed all the dots for the bottom border.

Saturday morning we headed back to Pump It Up, a great place to celebrate a birthday. Luke invited his entire class and a couple of lifelong friends.




Luke chose the Pump It Up tshirt over the water bottle. He made the same choice last year. We're starting a collection. I love all the grandparents looking on this photo, and Lamar with my purse.




I wanted a picture of the kids charging in like maniacs, which they did last year. But here's Luke making sure it's okay to enter, and his friends are waiting patiently. Good job, Mrs. W. Good job.

Sliding glee. Luke told me several times he was still five until his party began. So this photo of his first trip down the slide marks his first moments as a six year old, in his mind at least.

The kids seemed to have a great time. We videoed some of the party, and I watched it later that day. I was busy keeping up with kids during the party and missed many funny and joyful moments. And was reminded that I have a very annoying voice.

Luke did hang close to a particular friend during the party. But when Daddy jumped in the "boxing ring" bouncey and Luke and several little boys began pummeling with giant boxing gloves, he was able to let his friend move on without having to follow her. We're making baby steps forward with this issue.

The party crew. Such a sweet group of kids.

After jumping ourselves to exhaustion, we headed to the party room.

One of the three tables of party-ers. Look at little Kate about to chow down on some pizza.

Pizza time!

And then it was candle time. Luke bravely stepped forward for the singing and blowing. No nerves this year. Just a very slight wince when he knew the cheering was coming, probably only noticeable to me.

Candle blowing out pro.

Not only was it a super cool wii cake, but it tasted pretty great.

Daddy, the videographer. Not quite ready to go pro. He took several minutes of video in the bouncing rooms after he thought he's stopped recording. It's some pretty psychedelic footage. Bless.

Present time!

Look how they sat so well, not crowding around the party chair. Wow! They have learned SO much this in kindergarten.

A word about my outfit. Luke picked the striped thing for me when we were shopping together a couple of weeks ago. Not something I would have ever selected, but I decided to embrace my inner Bea Arthur and go with it. He was very excited I wore it to his party.

After the party, Luke tried out a few gifts. The first thing he opened was a Cars bowling set. Not that surprising since he loves to bowl, but kind of funny since we already have a couple of bowling sets. But we don't have Cars bowling. Now we can announce, "You got Lightening McQueen and Sally!"

Luke's reaction to Grampa's strike. During bowling he assigned us all positions: bowler, 2 gutters, pen setter. Apparently this is how bowling works in P.E. at school. The "gutters" throw the ball back when the bowler misses. I'm certain this is an important and busy job when kindergartners bowl.

Then Luke added two positions: audience and dancer. The dancer only danced when the bowler got a strike or spare, but he got 4 tries to get that spare. Unfortunately we did not have the video camera handy when Grampa was the dancer.

Post party, Luke tasting the Wii remote. You are what you eat.

Saturday night Mimi and Papa came over for dinner. Fun times with lots of laughs. Precious memories with family.

I think it was a great birthday. For me, Luke's birthday caps off the true "holiday season" around here, which begins around Halloween. It's a crazy busy time, but full of fun and family. I used to dread this time of year, because so many hurdles prevented Luke from enjoying celebrations. And birthdays were especially painful for a few years. So I very thankful to be exhausted from a week full of celebrating with a very excited 6 year old.

The 6th Birthday

I took this picture last night right before bed. The very last night Luke was a five year old. Five has been a great age . . . most of the time. He has learned so much this year. It blows my mind to think how he's matured in a year. He's reading like a champ now and gaining confidence and independence. What a year!






Mrs. W had the birthday crown waiting when he arrived this morning. He asked me to stay and hear his birthday announced in the morning announcements.




Back at school for cupcakes at lunch. The icing was a real situation for all of them. Thank goodness I stuck a big package of wipes in my purse. Next year I'm taking cookies.

Lunch was fun, and an experience as always. There is always politicking regarding where everyone sits. And Luke is very opinionated about who he wants to sit by. It's one of our biggest remaining challenges. He holds on to some rigidity with always following and sitting with the same people, in every situation. Mrs. W is a pro at keeping them separated in the classroom. But free times like lunch and recess, he's on their heels. And this is a real challenge when those selected friends aren't always excited to have them with him.

Anyway, so after school it was present time. (Because giving this boy a new Wii game before walking out the door for school would be pure torture.)


Ready for some presents.

Mario Party 8. A little excited. So far it's a big hit. He is really back into the Mario gang.

Some Fly Guy books. He got Buzz Boy and Fly Guy at the school book fair in December. It's a bedtime favorite, full of hilarious kindergarten humor. And he does a great job reading it all by himself. He got three more books in the series.

And an awkward pose with his new Buzz Lightyear lunchbox. He is actually excited about it. He even decided to deviate from the week's schedule and take his lunch tomorrow, rather than buying as planned, in order to use the new tote. But then it started snowing and . . . NO SCHOOL tomorrow! Guess he'll be sporting the new lunchbox on Monday.

I've thought about this six birthday post for a while (because I'm a complete nerd that thinks about my blog ponderings in advance sometimes). I thought I might recount my emotions at each of Luke's birthday, particularly ages 2 and 3 when the autism fog was thick and I was so weary. And perhaps I would write about what I thought my life would like as Luke turned six, and the reality of the present.

But in the last few weeks, as a dear friend received some life changing news, I find I just want to say that six years ago we received a most precious gift. And I thankful for every single moment with him. Even the days of unending frustration and the times of fear were a gift because I get to be a part of the story of Luke's life. And by the grace of God, I think it will be a pretty amazing story.

Oh Snow!

After a pretty fun filled weekend: a birthday party of a school buddy, hanging out at home on Saturday, Luke feigning illness Sunday morning to avoid church (we think), informing Luke he was well enough for church Sunday night, we got a very exciting call Sunday night. No school on Monday because snow was on the way. That's how we roll in the south. We cancel school when snow is just predicted.

We talked to Mimi on the phone shortly after getting the cancellation phone call. She asked Luke what he would be doing on his snow day. His reply: "Just relax." The daily grind is so tough on the almost 6 year old.

Well fortunately for school officials, the forecast was correct and we got some snow. After a morning of Wii play, I informed the boys we would be going outside and playing in the snow.



Luke enjoyed creating his snow outfit. Isn't the scarf lovely?


The snow was perfect for building a snowman, just wet enough to pack easily. Luke was not exactly enthusiastic about making a snowman, but once seeing the finished product he claimed he loved making snowmen.


Posing with his snow brother.

Yes, I got out the tripod and set the timer in the snow. My boys LOVE that about me.

After the snowman making, we started gently throwing some snowballs. Luke was kind of fearful of getting hit. So I told him to go tell Daddy a story and while he was talking, I would come up behind Daddy and smash a snowball on Dad's head.

This game was a BIG hit with Luke.

Lamar, post snow in the head. We played many, many times with Luke assigning roles. "OK, Dad you tell the story. Mom you listen. And I'll be the snowballer."

Luke with a few snow smashing remnants on his cap.

After the snow smashing, Luke suggested we play baseball in the snow. We made big fluffy snow baseballs and hit them with our hands. If you demolished your snowball, homerun.

It was fun. But tomorrow is Luke's third snow day. He's hopeful he'll go back on Thursday, because snow is only fun for a day or two.

Wrapping up Christmas and the Brand New Year

I really hate out of order pics on a blog, but I just don't have the energy at the moment.

We struggled with the return back to the daily routine after our long Christmas break. I've had to wake Luke up in the mornings, which is very unusual for him. And he's been asking to go to bed at night, which is unprecedented.

Mrs. W gave me a heads up that I should hang around through announcements this morning. I did and watched Luke win the character award for his class this month. And, contrary to what you might assume, he didn't win for being a "character." He was selected (by his teacher I think) for exemplifying the character word of the month, which was "caring."




He was really thrilled to win, though perhaps not evident in the photo. He was so excited when his name was announced. And I watched as he went to office to be photographed with the other winners. I'm really proud of him. And really humbled that my child who I was told many years ago would likely never understand or show empathy to anyone, was selected as a very caring student.

So back to the holidays. We delayed our travel plans by a day due to some Christmas snow. On Monday we headed to the lovely state of Virginia for some time with family.

We began with a little present opening with the cousins.

Both got Scribblenauts for the DS. Maddie really liked it. It's too hard for Luke right now. But he enjoyed playing it with Haley's help.

Luke and Maddie painting the Minnie and Mickey statues that Santa left Luke. He was really excited to share this craft with Maddie.

Maddie and Haley got new robes for Christmas and they wore them a lot the first day we were there. Luke really needed a robe too. Grandma and I found him one at Sears.

The robe club.

All the cousins were sweet to play with Luke for many hours. He just adores them all. And he begs them to play with him. Maddie is still the apple of his eye. He woke up eagerly each morning and his first concern was what Maddie was up to (and every day she was still sleeping).

I got the kids some handmade hats at the Lynchburg mall. They were pretty psyched about them.

There was lots of Wii play, but lots of tickling, running, and wrestling too. Luke is having a hard time losing at games lately. Playing with his cousins was a good chance to talk through this, though a little frustrating at the time. It is a blessing his cousins are older and remained calm the couple of times that Luke just turned the wii off because he was losing. We're working on it.

7 or the 8 cousins were together for a few hours on Thursday. It was great fun as always.

14 of the 16 of us shared a meal and a few hours together. And guess who suggested we brave the cold and take a picture on the porch?

And then a five year old really thought we should all make a crazy a face.




I think Lamar's crazy face is pretty disturbing.

The kids back inside by Grandma's pink tree.

The kids just acting natural.

And then it was time for some of our beloved cousins to leave. Luke suggested this pose:

So very hard to say goodbye.

And that evening the rest of the cousins left (and their parents). Luke said many times Thursday night, "I don't want to be the only cousin here." But we enjoyed a quiet night with Grandma and Grandpa before heading home Friday morning.

We were so tired when we returned home, but enjoyed our time in Virginia as we always do.