Picture Of The Day

Little One has learned how to get her own breakfast, so who am I to argue when our tiniest family member chooses our largest mug?  I'm not even going to tell you what's in it.  Breakfast of champions ;-).

Flag Day 2022

Sometime in early spring,  Little One learned about Flag Day.  Not from me, mind you, probably from youtube.  She's always been very patriotic and her searches include various renditions of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Plus, she always keeps a couple of flags handy, no matter what time of year.  So, I am certain, she came upon Flag Day on the internet.

Little One immediately ran with the idea of this holiday and over the next few months worked her way to asking for a Flag Day Parade.  She was adamant, so we organized it by inviting our neighborhood friends to show off their patriotism with a parade on June 14 followed by some snacks at our house.  I wasn't sure how it would be received, but 15 kids and their families showed up to join Little One.  She was thrilled.

We had asked everyone to deck out strollers, bikes, selves... the crowd did not disappoint.

And it was great to spend some time together with neighbors who didn't mind reciting the Pledge of Allegiance a few times with Little One fearlessly leading the crowd.

Next up, our neighborhood Fourth of July block party.  Guess who's really excited for it?

Gestalt Language Processing

My child has worked with at least seven SLPs over the years.  None of them ever indicated that Gestalt Language Processing may be one of the challenges.  No one ever even mentioned it as a term.  And yet, ten out of twelve symptoms fully apply to my child.  I have even pointed them out to the therapists without knowing that they actually add up to "a thing."  Tonight, I came across this information by chance - if there is such - and now I have a lot of research and reading to do about how we can better help my child who is definitely a Gestalt Language Processor.

Happy Father's Day 2022

Happy Father's Day to the best of the best who loves us all so well every single day.  You are our rock, our safe place to land, and you have our hearts.

2022 NCFA Conference

Kids, just remember you had a three-day string of fabulous Indianapolis adventures with your dad while mama attended the NCFA Conference to be a better adoption professional and mom.

IAC Sessions 543-548

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 543 which was held on March 11, 2022:

1) Belgian dossier from March 2015 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months with a family history

2) US dossier from April 2018 referred a female child aged 3 years and 1 month with features in health status

3) German dossier from September 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from March 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 544 which was held on March 17, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 1 year and 4 months with a family history

2) Italian dossier from December 2015 referred a male child aged 15 years and 3 months

3) US dossier from October 2021 referred an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from January 2022 referred sisters aged 6 years and 2 months and 7 years and 9 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 545 which was held on March 24, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from September 2014 referred a female child aged 5 years

2) Italian dossier from November 2015 referred an identified waiting child

3) Spanish dossier from December 2015 referred a female child aged 4 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Italian dossier from September 2020 referred a male child aged 10 years and 6 months

5) US dossier from April 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 2 months with features in health status

6) US dossier from March 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 546 which was held on April 7, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 9 years and 9 months

2) French dossier from June 2019 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from August 2020 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from March 2022 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 547 which was held on April 14, 2022:

1) US dossier from August 2018 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Italian dossier from January 2021 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 11 months & 4 years and 3 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from June 2021 referred female child aged 3 years and 2 months with features in health status

4) Belgian dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 548 which was held on April 28, 2022:

1) US dossier from March 2020 referred a sister and brother aged 6 years and 4 months & 3 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Italian dossier from September 2021 referred a female child aged 12 years and 11 months

3) US dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from April 2022 referred an identified waiting child

Summer 2022 - One Week In

We've been on our summer schedule for one week already although our two outgoing fifth graders have a bit of funding left yet to be used by June 30th, so they are seeing some of the teachers still but for noticeably fewer hours.  Middle Kiddo also continues with daily ABA therapy through the summer months which he quite enjoys at the moment, given that his therapist is fantastic and makes it a great time.

For the month of June, Big Girl has a weekly chore chart that has actually worked surprisingly well thus far.  I didn't hear any complaints of boredom yet, I know she's maintaining academic skills, and the chart supports healthy habits and life skills.

She still had plenty of fun sleeping in late, going to the roller rink with her friends, swimming and reading for hours.

Family Mental Health Day

Even though we home school, the end of the academic year gets hectic with final assessments and mandatory reporting, teacher gifts, various celebrations, and squeezing in those last required hours. So today, we decided to have a family mental health day and go to a regional park we've never visited. We hiked a beautiful forest trail there, went to the scenic overlook, and watched water being let out of the dam.  

On the way home, we stopped by our favorite international market and everyone picked his or her own dinner and dessert items from around the world, including sushi, cannoli, Mexican street corn salad, French cheeses, and sourdough bread.