Picnic and a Movie

We had gotten Caelan "Cars 2" for Christmas and decided to have a pizza "picnic" in the living room while watching it.  He thought this was all pretty cool.  He was really into the movie- entranced-  must have been good if he was letting his pizza get cold!  But the downside is- he hasn't liked it since then-  there were some scary parts in it.  So we just stick with the original.

Boards

My three sisters and I all had these red boards when we were younger-  about 18x24 in size, give or take and a nice deep red color, each with our own name in the upper left hand corner.  Over at my dad's, my sisters used to put their notes for Santa on them and Santa would leave our gifts next them.  That was every bit of 25-30 years ago.  And all four of us still have them.  Mine has been used for everything under the sun- they are awesome.  As I write- I am using it as a lapboard for my computer.

So Matt and I decided a while back we wanted to make some for the boys- Caelan, Solon and Luke.  And this Christmas we made all of our gifts for people so this was the year for the boards-  the thing was, it took a little bit longer than we anticipated!  So they were about a week or so late getting shipped down South.  And I didn't tell my sisters what was coming- but they both cried when their boys unwrapped these!

Matt cut the boards painted (many coats) of primer and paint.  I painted the names on them.  Caelan "signed" them with his handprint on the back of each one.

Priceless!!

Christmas Day 2011 - Home

He had a handful of things from us and one or two more from Grandma and Grandpa and opened a cool playdoh set from Aunt Ma-Mar, Uncle Jay and Solon.  But I think it will be obvious what his favorite was!

He LOVES the movie "Cars" and this is something Matt had got for him several months prior to Christmas (which is why we broke the "no cars" rule for Christmas).  This is the car hauler "Mac" and a few other characters from the movie.  Mac talks when you press his hat and then the cars can be loaded in the bottom or on top.  He spends a LOT of time with this toy!

Christmas 2011- Miscellaneous

Here are a few odds and ends from Christmas time-

Matt's mom had back surgery in October and was in a back brace for 12 weeks or so-  well she decided to decorate it for Christmas- it was really cute!  (and she was so close to being DONE with it!)

All the kids hanging out watching The Grinch before we ate and opened presents.

Keaton, Samuel, Grace, Bailey, Caelan, Erin)

Great picture of my two most favorite guys in the world!

He loved this little saxophone-  he really likes to play music or as he says "play in a band"

And below- he is just running all over with some cars he got.

Matt wrapped up Caelan in some wrapping paper-  complete with a bow on his head! Then he popped out

 Just some cute pics of him wearing his Christmas shirt, playing with a Santa hat

I LOVE this!  This is what he made at school for me for Christmas!!  Things like this I really appreciate his teachers for... super special, beyond words!

Santa

We have always gone to see the "real" Santa at the Great Wolf Lodge each year.  This guy is so awesome- we love him!  On the way there, Caelan was excited about going to see Santa Claus but then wasn't so sure once we were there!  Santa had a few little tricks up his sleeve though to get Caelan to interact with him.

I think I will just hide my face in Daddy..

or ignore the weird guy next to us...

Oh cool!  He has a WATCH with a TRAIN on it!!

A hug??  Ok! 

I BARELY got this shot of him with Santa-  I had put the camera away because Caelan had gotten down already and I figured there was no going back- but then he asked Caelan for a hug and he turned just right for the perfect picture!

All three of us in front of the great big fireplace at the Lodge

Christmas Tree (2011)

We usually go pick a tree to cut and this year it was stinkin COLD!  Even though there wasn't much snow on the ground.... we didn't stay out too long.  Fortunately there was the perfect tree that spoke to us and Matt and his dad cut it and loaded it pretty quick.

 Matt helping Caelan put our name ornaments on the tree

The blue one up front is Caelan's.

I have no idea why we do not have any pictures of our tree completely decorated... oh well!

Flash Mob Link

This was on Face Book- I really liked it so thought I would share it here as well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg&sns=fb

Christmas List

I am not the kind of person who likes to create Christmas Wish Lists because I feel like it is rude and presumptuous. However, there have been a couple of people who have asked about what to get Caelan for Christmas and because of the changes which have occurred this year we DO want to make suggestions of things to get- or more importantly- to NOT get for him.

The BIG NO's-
No cars- this includes books and videos about cars as well
No trains
No balls
No toys that involve simply pushing a button

We don't need/have plenty of-
paint, play-doh, crayons, markers, etc, or legos or wooden blocks

Sentimental or symbolic things are special but he doesn't understand the underlying meaning of them. We cherish these things but would prefer he receives something he needs right now.

He still loves Curious George and recently discovered Veggie Tales and Word World.

Suggestions-
beanbags (the kind you sit on- 2 of them, nothing fancy- it meets some sensory needs)
Nerf pump action guns (2 of them- the ones that shoot discs, not balls- for my own sanity!)
BIG magnadoodle- he has a little one to take places but a larger one will allow him to draw bigger pictures at his own leisure, without the risk of crayons on walls.
Toys that involve any kind of sequencing.... things he has to think about, process, problem solving, etc
Toys that are part-whole, whole-part (think puzzles)
Anything for sensory seeking and processing
CHEWIES- these are rubber things designed specifically for him to chew on; they are usually shaped as P, Q, or T. They come in smooth and knobby textures. They run about $7-$10 each but they are really great for him and we would love to have several more of them.


There are websites around that are geared specifically for kids with Sensory Processing Disorders and Autism (although I still refuse to use the "A" word); just do a general search online. I have included a link at the bottom of this post to one of them- I have ordered from them before and am very pleased with the company in general; it is headed up by a mother who is also a Christian.

These things have all been suggested by his therapists and I am sure there is more that I am not remembering!!

If you prefer to buy clothes or something instead... he could use mittens (apparently these get lost very easily at school), and some thicker socks.

Please forgive me if this post comes across as rude; that is not my intent. We are excited about Christmas and have been having fun getting ready- Caelan has been introduced to Charlie Brown Christmas and asks DAILY to watch it now! He has also enjoyed opening Christmas cards from the mail.


http://www.nationalautismresources.com/toys-for-autism.html

Wrong Side of the Tub

Hmmm.... I'm thinking that all of that stuff on the floor is supposed to be IN the tub.
He looks so proud of himself!

The Turtle Sunglasses

I bought these sunglasses several years ago- they are yellow with turtles bordering the lenses. The lenses also flip open. Yes, I wore them. Yes, in public. I love them! Samuel used to wear them when he was young and would come over to hang out with his Amanda Banana. I have some cute pictures of him in them. And now... Caelan has also discovered them. And has enjoyed them just as much!!

Now "you put on dad!!"

You're turn Daddy!!!

I don't know how I didn't get a picture of Matt with them on... unless these were taken BY Matt.