We're Are Pioneers!

Avi's school went to This is the Place Heritage Park and we were able to go with them. Itai was unbelievably excited. There was a very long wait in the hot sun at the beginning was enough to try both boys' patience. After we were finally allowed to enter the park both boys perked right back up. After going through old buildings and getting a demonstration from a fairly grumpy pioneer the excitement started to fade again. Lucky for us, this train happened by. Itai was in train heaven. Avi was happy to get a break. We took the train all the way around the park and it still wasn't enough for either of them, but we had other plans ahead for them.

Once we got close to the horses Itai forgot all about the train. Avi was excited too. Itai insisted on wearing his "cowboy hat" while he rode his trusty steed. Avi wasn't as interested in what he wore, he was more interested in sitting on top of the horse. He was ready to climb on and get going immediately.

After the very short ride we went over to the petting zoo. Avi was happy to touch all the animals, except the pig. I can't blame him, the pig felt nasty. Itai on the other hand didn't touch a single one. His arms were pinned to his chest and he loudly refused to be let down on the ground.

Then it was back on the tour and into the heat. Avi's wrist band was a bit of an annoyance to him. It eventually became an ankle band.

Itai enjoyed his freedom and wondered around wanting to stay with us and the class, but wanting space to be on his own.

We continued the tour for some time, but once Avi leaped onto an authentic pioneer bed and earned us terrified gasps from the pioneer woman "living" in the cabin I thought it was probably time to leave.

We hopped the train around the park again.

We even got to board the caboose after a bit. When it arrived at the exit we headed for the car with very little complaining, mostly because they were both too hot and thirsty to put up any big fight.

We'll have to go back and try the panning for gold, the "pirate ship," and the Native American village. Hopefully next time Avi will be a little more into it, and I will be smart enough to bring a real camera and a lot of water!

The Talk of the Town

Itai's favorite role now is that of spokesperson. He nearly never stops talking. He even talks in his sleep! The other day we were all in the car and he was carrying on his comprehensive narrative of our surroundings. Debbie and I were trying to discuss something and she turned and said, "Itai, shhh!"

He didn't wait long before saying, "Why? I need to talk!" We laughed pretty hard and he said it a few more times before returning to his regularly scheduled description of everything he could see.

Here is his list of favorite phrases:

Leave me alone! (I am not a big fan of this one.)

Why?

I really missed you!

What's your name?

Thank you, mommy/abba!

I not need to!

Not yet! (This one is in response to being asked to do anything.)

Where his/her friends?

It's like just me/Avi!

Happy birthday ____! Even though it isn't the person's birthday.

And his favorite silly thing to say: What are you talking about!?

He really is quite a talker. He loves making videos to send to Debbie while she's at work. In one video he wanted to say, "I love you mommy!" We made the video and he was so happy to see it. He instantly wanted to make another one. This time though he decided to change things up a bit. He surprised me by announcing, "I love donuts! I love donuts!"

Our little brother makes sure that things are always exciting.

Aloha School Year

Avi's school year ended and with it ended his years of preschool. Starting in August he'll be a full fledged elementary school student. Who can believe it?

The last day was kind of a blur... The last day of school ended with a luau. Itai was very excited to get to go to Avi's school because he loves playing with the Mac Truck from Cars and he even found a Doc "The Hornet" Hudson this time. He was also really excited for his Hawaiian shirt.

Avi didn't seem to think much of his Hawaiian shirt, but he really didn't want to wear the leis. After the limbo and hula lessons there was a little ceremony. Nine of the 10 boys in the class are moving on to Kindergarten. Some of them will be staying at Pingree while others are moving to public schools or different agencies. Avi was given a "Promotion Certificate" and an award for being the class acrobat.

Avi stayed pretty laid back during the most part.

Itai joined in the fun for coloring and snacks.

Avi wasn't entirely entertained by all of the program. Itai learned to say, "Aloha!"Congrats to our little graduate!

Now party!

Debbie kept saying she was feeling kind of sad about the end of the school year. She was asking if I felt sad and honestly I just felt excitement because I'm really proud of him; he's really done a great job. Then, just before everyone left (a few of the boys were gone) there was an impromptu class picture. Suddenly I did feel kind of sad. I spent a fair amount of time in the class and really liked the teachers and the students. Suddenly it was clear that this was the end of the year and we'd probably never see many of these kids and some of the teachers again. Suddenly the words of my end of year program were actualized and it struck me.

In Gratitude

Ten little boys apart from others,
Bound together, by fate made brothers,
Once more in boyish union combine
‘Ere the bands of brotherhood resign.

Through the door they so oft passed
They gather in upon their last
Perhaps ne’er to combine again
This band of boys, these brothers ten.

These boys forever in your debt
Whose voices cannot express as yet
The purest thanks you deserve to hear
As teacher, friend, and sister dear,

Voice in silence and a grateful heart,
Through smiles and tears as they depart
The thanks not understood by others
Save you few who forged these brothers.

Avi had a great year and we owe a lot to his teachers and classmates. Thanks everyone!

Just Keep Swimming

Avi recently started swimming lessons. He loves it. He LOVES it! The instructor was once a behavior therapist with a local school district and works well with Avi. He trusts her implicitly (I wish I could say the same of me) even though she tells him "Bummer!" when he swallows water or slips under. He follows her instructions as well as he ever follows any and smiles the entire time.

At his first lesson he was practicing swimming with her and his developmental pediatrician was there with his son who has autism. As they approached the side of the pool where all of the gear is stored Avi said something Debbie didn't quite hear, but the swimming instructor and the pediatrician both heard him and said, "Yeah, flippers!" It seems that he had seem them on the side and realized what they are. We have never heard him say flippers before and aren't really sure how he know knew, but they were both positive that he said flippers.

After Avi was comfortable with the teacher and the process we brought Itai along. He loves it too, but he doesn't look like he trusts her any further than he can swim. He has a look that says "Make sure she doesn't drown me!" every time she holds him. Debbie says is all in my head, but I'm telling you if you saw it you would want to scoop him out of her hands! She says Itai is a natural swimmer and will probably learn to swim quickly. He loves swimming too.

Since all of us were swimming we didn't get pictures of Itai in the pool. Instead please enjoy these never before seen photos of Itai at the neighborhood Easter egg hunt and the post hunt cake.

As long as they avoid the scuba students who are constantly swarming underfoot like sharks they have have fun. I got tripped up by one of them, though he would probably describe it as me attacking him.

One a very different note, Sahara Cares is coming!! We loved Sahara Cares last year and are so excited to go back. If anyone wants to come party with us this year we'd love the company! And if you know anyone who has a child with autism that doesn't know about it spread the word!

Cookies and Cowboys

School's out for the summer (for me at least) and even though I have more time it obviously has not been spent blogging. Oops. I've spent a fair amount of time reading all the books I didn't get to read during school, trying to find adventures for us, playing some Wii and trying out a new pastime.

Debbie has been spending this time working full time. That's right, 40 hours a week. It's been a big change for us, but Debbie has been awesome at home and at work earning the admiration of her supervisors and her subordinate (me).

Avi and Itai have been as active as ever. Avi has been has been progressing at school and even went on a field trip. We hear he loved it. His therapist left Utah for her wedding and won't be coming back. She was really good with Avi, but he's still doing well in his therapies without her. At one session his therapist gave him a box of juice. She was trying to persuade him to talk about it so she mentioned that Cookie Monster was on the box. She kept talking about Cookie Monster, imitating him, singing about cookies and so on. Then they moved on to something else. Eventually he wanted his juice back so he said, "Want drink!" Then he paused for a second and said, "Want drink cookie!" Debbie and the speech therapist realized what he meant at the same time and started laughing. He was happy to drink his cookie juice.

Itai is continuing to learn and grow. He is fascinated with just about anything mechanical, but he especially loves trains and garbage trucks. He's also learning about people. For instance he recently learned about cowboys and they cool things they get to do. Our little town has no shortage of belt buckle bearing, cowboy boot and hat sporting men. We were walking into the grocery store when one of these men came out. Itai looked up, gasped and said with all the decibels of his toddler excitement, "He have horsey! He ride horsey, Abba!" I smiled and whispered, "Yeah, you're right." The man just stared at us while Itai didn't take my whispering hint. Then he shouted, "He a cowboy!"

So the last month has been a fun mix of growing, playing, reading and cookies and cowboys.

Holiday

I feel pretty lucky. My little family got to celebrate Passover and Easter this week.

Almost all of Debbie's family gathered at our place, even her brother in New York joined us via Skype. In our typical fashion we prepared enough food to feed all of the children of Israel during their sojourn. The boys helped me transport wagon-load after wagon-load to our neighborhood clubhouse. Debbie's brother in law in from the South and as such seems to have been born with a genetic predisposition to barbecue with a panache I'll never master. I was very relieved to hear that he'd be the one grilling the lamb. That is until we found out later that he wouldn't make it to the dinner until later. I did NOT want to be the one who ruined Passover. Luckily the lamb shanks turned out to pretty tasty, but I wouldn't gamble any other holiday on my shaky barbecuing skills.

All of the males wore kipas or yarmulkes. Itai loved it. Avi did not. Neither of their reactions surprised me at all. I spent a great deal of the night looking for Avi's kipa, chasing him down, or sneaking him food because he just could wait any longer to eat. Itai was pleased to sit and drink the grape juice we had in the place of wine.

Once dinner was ready and everyone was gathered Saba began his discourse on the Passover and it's connection to the Atonement. It is an interesting topic and my favorite part was his discussion on the Savior and his last Passover. The elegant simplicity is beautiful.

Then a few days later we met with the other side of our family for Easter. This gathering was a bit smaller than most of our family's gathering. We missed the people who weren't there, but it was nice to see the family members who were there.

Sadly, I forgot my camera so I didn't get photos of Avi running in circles with Itai and Aileah in his wake. Or Heather and Valerie talking while throwing crocheted chicks at the children. I missed out on pictures of Sheri playing with the three children while the rest of us noisily chat over Easter dinner. I missed out on pictures of my mom sitting in the middle of most of her family with a gentle smile on her face, a smile I am glad to see.

I am lucky to be able to celebrate both holidays and to be able to celebrate with people I love so much and who are so incredibly kind to me. I am grateful for a holiday week spent reflecting on the Savior and his Atonement while surrounded by family.

Learning to Paraglide

My photography class required us to turn in two photos of landscapes. One of my photos was of a little plant peeking out of the crack in my driveway. My teacher really liked it but said it wasn't technically a landscape (I think her mind just wasn't open enough!). So Itai and I went on a "mountain hike" looking for true landscape photos. While he and I hiked around a trail we stumbled upon a couple standing with their backs to the cliff, facing parachutes spread out on the ground. Occasionally the parachutes would be lifted by the breeze and the would-be paragliders would pull against them, their bodies leaning sharply toward the steep cliff behind them. Itai was fascinated by them, or I should say, by their parachutes.

He asked to go closer and even though they weren't providing us with landscape photos I agreed. We went from one bench to another, slowly making our way to the bench directly in front of them. We were greeted by their beautiful and friendly dog who seemed to take a shine to Itai, though he did not seem to take a similar shine to her friendliness.

He asked to go closer and even though they weren't providing us with landscape photos I agreed. We went from one bench to another, slowly making our way to the bench directly in front of them. We were greeted by their beautiful and friendly dog who seemed to take a shine to Itai, though he did not seem to take a similar shine to her friendliness.

We eventually moved on. As we walked past the more experienced of the two he looked at me and Itai and smiled. I felt obligated to say something. I said something about how Itai was enthralled with the whole process they had been repeating over and over for at least a half an hour. He said he was enthralled with it too; it was hard not to be! Then I asked what the chances of him getting up were. He said on a day like this, not very good. I told him that was too bad, because they would probably really be missing out.

Then he told me something that didn't mean much to me at the time, but the more I've thought about the more I like it.

He looked down at his parachute as it flitted slightly in the wind and said, "It's okay, sometimes you learn more when you don't get off the ground."

The more I think of it the more this philosophy appeals to me.

Sometimes in life we stand with our backs to the cliff, our goals somewhere high above us and our parachutes lying flat on the ground, or perhaps rising with promise only to fall before they can carry us to new heights.

I think back on the many times in my life when I have failed to attain a goal I have set for myself and how often I have felt like a failure. I feel shame at these failures and I feel fear about facing future failures. In fact, last week in class we were asked to write our greatest fear on a sheet of paper. Not knowing these would be read aloud and the class would then attempt to guess the author of these little notes I wrote down "failure". Once I realized what was happening my note could have read "Having my note read aloud!" Fortunately, we ran out of time before my card was drawn and my top secret fear was revealed to the group.

I think the threat of failure will always bring fear for me, but I'm trying to look at not achieving my goals in a different light. I didn't fail; I just had a chance to learn more from the ground. Then, when I am able to leave the ground, I will have learned lessons I could never have learned while in the air.