Hut, Hut, Hike!

I have a very short break from school.  I have been trying to make sure we are able to do something fun before I turn my life over to school, an internship, and homework.

This was the first break.  He was trying to find a rock he wouldn't slip off of.

Avi's hair got a little strange after I put water in it to help him stay cool.

Today's adventure?  Another hike.  This time I was determined to make it to our goal: a swim in the scenic and oddly spelled Cecret Lake.  As we drove up the mountain I watched the external thermometer slowly drop.  It went from 89 degrees down where we live, to 62 degrees in the mountain.  I was a little worried it might be too cold for the hike, but the weather turned out to be perfect.

They found a nice bench.

On this hike, both boys were excited to go.  Itai loved spotting chipmunks along the way, while Avi loved running up steep hills.

This picture will be one of my favorites of these two for the rest of my life!

We finally made it up to the reservoir only to find a sign saying there is no swimming. :(

So instead we ate our snacks, drank our drinks and just relaxed.

After we got home and the boys devoured lunch we hit the pool.  We hadn't been in a while and it was obvious that Avi had missed it.  He was swimming all over the place, begging to be thrown and pushing me underwater so he could see me blow bubbles.  Itai learned that you don't need goggles to see underwater and with this new skill begged to play a new game: Spiderman flying.  He asked me over and over to throw him so he would hit the water upside down because, obviously, that's what Spiderman does?

Good thing they got their good looks from Debbie!

After our long swim it was time to make dinner.  Tonight's dinner was sweet and sour chicken.  Typically, I let the boys free play while I cook.  They did at first, but then Itai came up to me and asked if he could help. It was so fun to have him standing next to me on his stool.  He stirred the peppers while I made the rest of the dinner.  We talked about the food and superheroes, and I was in awe of everything this little guy is becoming.

I loved this little tree growing our of a rock.

Finally, after dinner we made chocolate dipped pretzels and pineapples.  I should have known that my healthy kids would have preferred their pineapple chocolate-less.  They did eat a few with chocolate, but soon enough I had no pineapples left and a bunch of melted chocolate left over.  Not to worry, I found a good home for it.

The reservoir we couldn't swim in.

On the way home

We had such a good day, but there were two things we missed.  First, poor Debbie was working hard and late trying to make up for an unexpected day off Friday.  Secondly, in the back of my mind I knew there were few days of this fun left until next summer.

Take a Hike!

The Andes boys decided to, as Itai says, "Go to the top of the world!"  The top of the world being a small hike on a very small mountain.

Even though it was warmer than I expected I knew I couldn't disappoint Itai.  So off we went.

Avi and Itai had very different methods of hiking.  Avi instantly was off and going.  I had to hold his hand to slow him down.  Itai took a much slower approach.  Each step was an adventure for him.  He wanted to see each rock, bug and lichen covered stone we passed.  I had to hold his hand to make sure he kept up.

Avi was frustrated by my impeding his attempt at setting the world record (here he almost bumps heads with Itai to express his frustration).

Meanwhile, Itai was frustrated by my blatant disregard for scientific exploration.  Sigh.  Sometimes you just can't win.  (See that look he gives Avi?)

We didn't make it to the goal.  There is a reservoir at the end of the trail and I knew they would have loved to play in, but they just couldn't stand to take another step.

Oh well, we had fun while we were out and we can always try again later, maybe a littler earlier next time.

The scenery was beautiful and that company was enjoyable, though ever so slightly grumpy!

July is Almost Over!!

I've been looking forward to the end of July since, well, the beginning of it.  It has been a very long summer full of classes and homework.  Even though this summer has been a bit too much of this: (I don't even know where to start describing this picture!)

there has also been some time for fun!  Here are some of our July adventures.

 Avi finished his school year.  Think he's happy?

 Itai is looking forward to his birthday but in the mean time he's pretty good at being happy.

 Our pool keeps us pretty busy and keeps the boys fairly happy!

For Pioneer Day we went to Park City for a bit of free time and family fun.  We climbed a little mountain.

                                    

 Itai yelled, "We are on top of the world!"

 Avi loved running the trail.

We had a great time, even when the storm came in suddenly and our windows were rolled down.

Well, that's it for now so enjoy a little kiss and we'll see you later!

A Super Star to Me!

The Kick-Off event for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks was earlier this week.  The theme was Autism's Super Stars and several people with autism were to be recognized for their achievements.  I was asked to read something about Avi's recent potty training success.  Unfortunately, at the last minute they told me that they didn't get it to the printer in time; I would not be bragging about Avi at the event.

So, I decided that I would still brag about him even if the forum is different and the audience is much, much smaller.  Here's what I would have read:

There's nothing like a discussion on potty training to tie a man's tongue.  The balance between discussing the topic delicately but without using "unmanly" words is difficult.  Normally, words like poopy or doodie simply will not do.  But for the sake of celebrating Avi's successes I will lay aside my use of strictly manly words. 

Teaching Avi to pee in the potty was probably not much more difficult than the average potty training, though perhaps a little later.  He quickly learned that when asked, that's what he should and where he should go.  Unfortunately he learned to wait until reminded to go. Any lapse in our memory resulted in his waiting too long and having an accident. And that's where it sat for nearly three years.  Suddenly a few months ago he had an epiphany: he could open the door whenever he needed and just go.  Yes!! No more keeping an internal log of his potty breaks, no more worries about being out and about.  It meant relief for both of us.

BM's are another matter all together. I will do what I can to sanitize this portion.  Avi was horribly irregular.  His BMs were completely unpredictable and caused him a great deal of anxiety.  Finally, a few months ago, we followed advice to make his BMs very predictable by loading the poor kid up with fiber. Though it increased our anxiety but it seriously lowered his.  This method proved successful.  After a few attempts his toilet anxiety disappeared!! He is now very regular on his own and though we do have to remind him I feel confident that like peeing he will learn to take care of this need on his own.

In the early days of our work on potty training with him we noticed only slow progress, if we noticed any at all.  But progress was made.  So it is with many challenges.  In any struggle, the victory is won in the moments that when the victory seems furthest away.

Avi has finally won this victory and will always be a super star to me!

There Once Was a Blog

The last two semesters have been pretty difficult.  I've been pretty busy and our best working computer got water poured all over it suddenly didn't work anymore.  I haven't blogged in a very long time and the way the summer is shaping up, I might not get many chances in the near future to blog.  So, I thought I'd take the chance to jot down a quick sketch of the last little while.

Avi is doing pretty well lately.  He is speaking more and he's starting to use his augmentative and alternative communication devices more and more.  He has finally completely mastered the toilet.  He's initiating his use and I can't begin to tell you how proud (and HAPPY) that makes me.  His speech therapist has been training an intern, Chris, the last few months and Chris had his last session with Avi this week.  When Chris left he said he can see how Avi has made huge improvements in just the time they have worked together.  I love hearing things like that, but I really love seeing it myself.

I think the biggest change to report is that Avi is really happy.  He is so happy.  He's always been really happy, but he seems more connected to us and that seems to make him even happier.  He is laughing and giggling all the time and really exploring his environment, his family and his ability to express himself.

Itai is growing and changing all the time.  He is our inquisitor.  He never stops asking questions.  "Why is the sky blue?  Why is her name Jessica?  Who is that?  Why does the sidewalk sometimes hurt us?" and on and on.  When he isn't asking questions he's telling us elaborate stories or explaining something.  Debbie's mom reports that he is a mini Debbie, because Debbie never stopped talking at that age.  Recently we were driving in the car and he starting saying something I couldn't understand.  I asked him what he was saying and he said, "Nothing, I was just trying to help Avi say something."  I loved hearing that.  He is as sweet as they come.

He is completely obsessed with superheroes right now.  He loves Batman and Ironman (even though I tried to convince him they aren't really superheroes), Captain America, Superman, Spiderman and pretty much anyone else with a cape.  He is always saying, "I am Optimus Prime!  Autobots...ROLL OUT!"  I told him that I was Abbatron and he was Itaimus Prime, but he didn't seem to like this change.  Buzz Lightyear has recently made a big comeback and in Itai's mind is a superhero.

Debbie is busy as usual only now with her new job.  She is really enjoying it and they have given Debbie very positive feedback about her performance.  She is also very happy to have the chance to be home a little bit more lately.  She loves getting to be mommy.  Debbie is also really looking forward to some vacation time.

Finally, we finally got some family photos done.  These are actually the first family pictures we have ever done!  Enjoy!