Landon Does It Again

OK-- I have not been posting regularly-- but I found an excellent reason to get out of my slump. This year in Landon's IEP at school we decided to have him do more creative writing and expressing himself in paragraph form. I had not idea.....

  I also laughed because some things were plain wrong. I just realized that Landon doesn't know his birth date. Hey-- I always wish him Happy Birthday and we usually celebrate here for about a week (or more) and we almost NEVER blow out candles on our actual birthdays-- because we wait and do it with cousins on the Sunday before or after. What a neglectful mother I have been!!!!

I was so touched that he felt pride about his accomplishments. He works so hard and has come so far. There are days and moments when everything is too much for him, but daily he works hard and goes to school and performs equal to, or exceeding his peers.

Also-- Landon's middle name is actually Michael-- like both of his grandfathers. And I just realized that I never call Landon by his full name like I do the other children when they are in trouble. Well, these little insights are a gift to know what I need to work on-- and how blessed I am to be the mother of a smart, hard-working boy. He knows he is different and has challenges, but he works hard every day.

Happy Birthday Landon!

ME: (speaking) What do you want for your Birthday Dinner?

LANDON: (Writing) Room service.

ME: Well, no really what do you really want? Do you want something like scones? Or to eat out somewhere special?

LANDON: A normal dinner at home.

ME: Ok-- but what do you want to eat? What sounds good.

LANDON: Apples. Gala.

ME: Alrighty then.

Happy Birthday to the boy with particular tastes, simple pleasures and carried his new panda all around school. Happy 9th! We love you and are excited for the new ways you will grow and change this year. XxxxxxxxxX!

Important Matters in Summer

Don't you know that the most important thing you can do in the summertime is to teach your baby how to play video games???

Well, let's just call it brotherly bonding instead....

Rewards of the JOB

This was my great summer achievement: 2 weeks ago I went to a VIPKID training thing in SLC and won an award. I didn't even know they had awards-- but was super excited to win one for my mad puppet making skills. The Orange Apples are what every VIPKID teacher dreams about.

I have also been busy running recruiting sessions and taught a great room of people this week! It's an easy job to love and I met some people who will make great, thoughtful teachers. As a side think I have also been making tutorials for my fellow teachers to learn the songs we sing in class. Sorry  to all of you who might be following Bruceyland on Youtube. You are probably thinking-- what is with all of these VIPKID songs???

No Fear

So, summer is busy and I have totally been neglectful, but I have to get this up because it was one of Landon's summer highlights. Our friends took him climbing and Lando is a natural. He has not ear and if often found t the top o the monkey bars in school-- freaking out all of the aides has he balances himself at the very top-- no hands holding on. I suspected he would be great at this, and he was. (follows Jeremiah in the athletic talent department).

 At first he needed instruction and only wanted to go if someone else was going as well.

 As he went on on is was amazing to to watch him carefully plot a course-- making decisions and evaluations. He is pretty cautious. One of the most amazing things is to watch his hands obey his brain instead of flapping around. He becomes very centered.

 He did manage to find a spot he could sedge himself into and stim.

 Late in the day he found this sweet spot he liked. He climbed this spot over dozen times. After about 6 times he stopped running around and flapping at the top and would walk slowly to the exit spot, climb down, walk over and begin to climb again.

 NO FEAR: "Look Mom! Only 1 hand!"

And the sweet reward-- hanging out at the top, sitting on the edge, and making your mom very nervous.

Well, nervous, but proud.

Surprise!

Happy 4th of July

What it REALLY means to be an American.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
--John F. Kennedy

Love

No Excuses Are Good Enough.

Yep-- I work too much.
And play too much.
And don't sleep or write enough.

The summer thus far? The kids got out of school. I didn't accomplish enough before it happened. I still need to write the thank yous for the aides, but I did manage to actually get to the uniform swap this year so I actually saved some money. I am now working 3 hours a day at VIPKID which I love-- but my classes do start at 5am-- which does cut into my sleeping time. The teaching experience is so great though that I have become a recruiter for VIPKID and I'm actually sponsoring a recruiting event in Utah County on June 17-- VIPKID Live Event! I'm really excited for it, have done a lot of work for it, and I'm slightly terrified that nobody will show up and I will present to an empty room.

It's a good thing I'm too tired to have nightmares.

George is needy and is hanging on my arm and leg right now. A million kids run in and out of our house all day---a large contingent of whom love to play Minecraft. Landon is vegging out on Veggie Tales and Hazel tries to act like she's a grown up. Swim lessons aren't for another week and a half and Curley Cousin Camp is coming soon. And all the kids are trying to sneak food ALL DAY LONG!

Not to mention I joined a Bagpipe Band as a drummer and Jeremiah has several nights a week for his softball team.

So Bruceyland suffered.
And it always suffers when I can't seem to find the photo folder on my computer. The photos seem to help me.

Can I get an executive assistant please?

Early Mother's Day

 I had a panic attack last Friday when I thought Sunday was Mother's Day. Hazel brought me home so many sweet gifts for Mother's Day and Landon brought me this beautiful globe of succulent plants. Because I got so many gifts I thought it was Mother's Day already!!! I panicked because I am always late sending off my stuff. I try every time-- but I always get things off late-- even if I plan them waaaaaaay ahead of time. Father's Day too.

I'm relieved to find out I am not officially late.........yet.