.... ummmmmm...
Just this week we had an art dinner/reception for an exhibit in which one of our kids has a piece on display, one community photography class through Artswave, two therapy appointments, volunteering, ballet class, a father/daughter dance, a teen hang-out party, a trip to the library, and we went to see a performance by Cirque Kalabante.
If only these home schoolers would get out more...
The girls' birthdays have come and gone for the year.
We had a big surprise Sweet 16 party for Big Girl and I can still hardly believe that we were able to pull it off amid the renovations here. I planned everything in secret and then we took Big Girl out to breakfast and to get a haircut and second ear piercings. Meanwhile at home, grandma and auntie put up the decorations, helped the caterer set up, and welcomed in the guests. It takes a village, of course, so we were thankful to our neighbors for letting the guests park in their driveways and to our Ms, Rie for watching Little One and Middle Kiddo before the party.
We kept it much smaller for Little One who was still reeling from the year-long construction here and invited only a few valued teachers and friends.
What are they like right now?
Little One loves Dutch conductor Andre Rieu and opera singers Kimmy Skota and Montserrat Caballe (yes, she listens to opera for fun several times a week) as well as all kinds of music and dance from the latest releases to classical. She dances daily at home and continues to take ballet at the Cincinnati Ballet where she has also announced her plans for future employment. She has made great progress with self-help skills and communication. She showers all of us with hugs, kisses and exuberant declarations of her love. At her own insistence, she now sleeps in her own bedroom and sits with the family for dinner.
Big Girl is into all the trends in fashion, hair, make-up and contemporary music. She continues to pursue her interests in drawing and painting and has also added photography to that list. She writes poetry, prepares her own lunches and breakfasts, and takes self-care rather seriously with long baths and yoga. She makes her own spending money via regular babysitting. Friendships are front and center now with sleepovers and hang-outs/outings and communication throughout the day.
Big Girl has worked hard since February and jumped through many extra hoops that non-disabled teens in our state do not have to face, but she persevered and passed her driving test this morning on first try. We're very proud of her and looking forward to the expanded opportunities that driving will afford her.
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Next up, we have to get Big Girl's car adapted with hand controls, so she can hit the road.
And just like that our middle kiddo is off to his first volunteer shift at a local food bank. This is a trial and error endeavor, so wish him luck.
Update! He did great and will return next week for another shift.
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 610 which was held on June 6, 2024:
1) Canadian dossier from June 2017 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 7 months & 3 years and 9 months
2) US dossier from April 2024 referred a female child aged 3 years with features in health status and a family history
3) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 611 which was held on July 7, 2024:
1) US dossier from August 2023 referred an identified waiting child
2) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
3) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
4) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
5) US dossier from July 2024 referred an identified waiting child
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 612 which was held on July 16, 2024:
1) Spanish dossier from May 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 4 months
2) US dossier from November 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 1 month with features in health status
3) US dossier from March 2023 referred a female child aged 1 year and 2 months with features in health status
4) Italian dossier from March 2023 referred an identified waiting child
5) US dossier from April 2023 referred a male child aged 4 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history
6) US dossier from July 2024 referred a female child aged 4 years and 6 months with features in health status
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 613 which was held on July 18, 2024:
1) Spanish dossier from October 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status
2) US dossier from November 2021 referred twin girls aged 7 years and 6 months with features in health status
3) Swiss dossier from February 2024 referred a brother and sister aged 5 years and 3 months & 11 years and 3 months
4) Canadian dossier from June 2024 referred a male child aged 12 years and 8 months
Big Girl is off to her homeschool co-op today to begin tenth grade. She will be taking geometry, biology, ancient history and a painting/drawing class there. In April, she will take the state's standardized high school assessments in Biology and Geometry. Last April she took them in US History and Algebra 1.
At home, I am teaching Big Girl one of her Language Arts electives: The History of Western Drama. We started in June and plan to have the 130 required hours completed by the end of 2024.
Big Girl is not a morning person and does not like to eat breakfast which she usually prepares for herself. Often, we have to remind her to take a little something at least to avoid getting hangry before lunch. Today, I treated her to a blast from the past with a small piece of Fairy Toast and was happy that this elicited a rare teen smile and an "Aww, like when I was little."
I was glad to see that she packed herself a hearty school lunch (ham, cheese, arugula, hummus sandwich with a side of sliced apples and bell peppers).
Here's to a great sophomore year!
Our next door neighbor lost her husband unexpectedly several months ago. We have always been friendly with this family since we moved here in early 2015, but now we are taking even more special care to check in on her.
Since our neighbor has a quiet house, Big Girl will occasionally visit to chat or do homework there.
Big Girl has had her share of loss and grief in her life and I know it impacts her to see the gargantuan daily effort our neighbor is making to move forward alone. Since it's challenging for Big Girl to talk face to face about feelings, one day she gave kindness and support in the best way she knew by leaving an encouraging note in the kitchen which our neighbor shared with me.
