Big Girl's Birthday Week

Big Girl recently turned 14 and instead of a party, she had a whole week of celebratory activities.

She had a morning on the town with her BFF.  They went out to breakfast, got pedicures and then did some book shopping.  The outing turned into a sleepover at her friend's house that lasted well into the next afternoon.

At home, we had our traditional birthday breakfast table of gifts and cake (chocolate espresso raspberry courtesy of yours truly) along with the birthday child's choice of dinner which we knew would be Thai food.

On another day, Big Girl went out to breakfast with her cousins and she got to go to Kings Island to boot.  

Finally, Grams and Grandpa took her on a mystery date which included a movie, Chinese buffet and another sleepover.

I am pretty sure Big Girl thought all of the above was better than a pool party, so a win win if you know what I mean.

First Day Of Home School School

Today's Big Girl's first day back to her home school program which she attends full day twice a week.  As part of her Health class that I have been teaching here at home all summer, we have been preparing for her to pack her own lunches on those days. Day 1 was a success.

Cucumber, green apple, hardboiled egg, 
salami with a mozzarella stick rolled in,
crackers, and a banana oat muffin
from the batch she baked yesterday

August Home School 2022

This year I organized each home school month around a single book with spin off lessons for Little One and Middle Kiddo according to their individual needs, abilities and interests.  This is in addition to math and language arts work which is addressed primarily by their in-home teachers.  I hope to post a few pictures from each month, but no promises.

August's book was Dragons Love Tacos to ease us back into an academic routine.  With this unit we addressed art, health, life skills, and social studies.

Middle Kiddo: kitchen tools and gadgets, herbs and spices

Little One: all about salt, what's a recipe, herbs and spices, kitchen tools

Both: read/listen to the book, make spicy salsa and Nutella mug cake, dragon crafts

Bonus for Little One: an interest-based and requested foray into ornithology

Bonus for Middle Kiddo: he learned to pretend to breathe fire - should come in handy soon ;-)

MOJ Bulgaria Referrals IAC Sessions 549-558

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 549 on May 12, 2022:

1) US dossier from May 2016 referred siblings, male and female, aged 7 years and 8 months and 3 years and 10 months.

2) Canadian dossier from April 2017 referred a female child aged 3 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

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

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

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

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

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 550 on May 19, 2022:

1) US dossier from March 2020 referred a female child aged 1 years and 11 months with features in health status

2) German dossier from October 2020 referred a male child aged 3 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from June 2021 referred brothers aged 7 years and 9 months and 9 years and 2 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from December 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 3 months with features in health status

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

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 551 on June 2, 2022:

1) German dossier from July 2015 referred siblings, male and female, aged 6 years and 9 months and 8 years and 6 months

2) Us dossier from September 2018 referred a female child aged 12 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from February 2021 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from July 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from May 2022 referred a female child aged2 years with features in health status

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

7) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

8) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 552 on June 9, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from August 2014 referred a male child aged 10 years and 9 months

2) San Marino dossier from March 2015 referred siblings, male and female, aged 2 years and 8 months & 3 years and 9 months

3) Italian dossier from July 2021 referred brothers aged 6 years and 9 months & 9 years and 2 months

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

5) Canadian dossier from June 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 553 on June 16, 2022:

1) US dossier from September 2018 referred siblings, male and female, aged 5 years & 6 years and 6 months with a family history

2) US dossier from September 2021 referred sisters aged 12 years and 9 months & 10 years and 4 months with features in health status

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

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 554 on June 30, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from September 2018 referred siblings, male and female, aged 9 years and 1 month & 7 years and 8 months

2) US dossier from June 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 555 on July 7, 2022:

1) Finnish dossier from May 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 4 months

2) German dossier from May 2017 referred a female child aged 11 years and 8 months

3) US dossier from November 2017 referred a male child aged 5 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Italian dossier from August 2021 referred brothers aged 9 years and 4 months & 11 years

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

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 556 on July 14, 2022:

1) French dossier from August 2015 referred a male child aged 8 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Canadian dossier from July 2020 referred twin sisters aged 3 years and 4 months with features in health status

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

4) US dossier from October 2021 referred a male child aged 6 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 557 on July 21, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from October 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

2) Belgian dossier from February 2015 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from March 2019 referred a male child aged 4 years and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Canadian dossier from August 2020 referred sisters aged 3 years and 6 months & 8 years and 6 months

5) Italian dossier from September 2021 referred a female child aged 12 years and 8 months

6) US dossier from June 2022 referred a female child aged 1 year and 3 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 558 on July 28, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from July 2022 referred three siblings, male and female, aged 5 years and 3 months & 6 years and 11 months & 9 years and 8 months

Sensory Friendly Shopping

A big shout out and thank you from our family to Macy's for their sensory friendly shopping event this weekend.  The store opened 90 mins early by invitation only and each child invited received a gift card to spend and was paired with a personal shopper to help with choosing items.

We decided to make this a practice in self-advocacy and self-determination for Little One and did not put any restrictions, other than financial, on what she was allowed to select and purchase for herself.  True to form, she was a very decisive shopper that put her assistant through the wringer with her clear preferences and vision for herself.  Eventually and without a doubt, she ended up with a pair of golden high heels and a white cocktail dress.

We're thankful that our community creates targeted opportunities for our children to safely explore, learn, and grow.

First Week Of School

Last week our sixth graders officially started the new school year.

While Little One remains with the same trusted teacher whom she will see in our home three times a week, she still struggled to leave summer mode and come back to the proverbial school table.  On Friday she finally seemed more balanced and relaxed again which we all were glad to see.  We expect noticeable progress for Little One this school year, especially in areas that may not be traditionally associated with academics.  We're always tweaking what she does and how and always trying to build on her strengths.

Meanwhile Middle Kiddo's team is not yet fully assembled which has been disappointing and stressful.  I don't do well with uncertainty when it's immediately impacting our daily lives and missing ten hours of weekly coverage over three mornings is definitely measurable in its effect on our home and family.  The search for an EA continues.  Let's hope it won't take much longer, so Middle Kiddo can really get rolling again with academics.

Big Girl is well into her 8th grade year with over 100 hours already logged.  Her first day in her home school school will be after Labor Day.  She's earned her high school PE credit through swimming, yoga, and hiking.  She's about 20 hours away from her high school Health credit.

I hope to post one or two photos each month to summarize our home school work with our younger children.  Let's see if it happens.

Picture Of The Day

 Friday morning 18 holes with Dad and Cousin (more like an uncle) B.