Horseback Riding

Shhhh, do not tell Jason I am posting these, but this is him at his last session of horseback riding. He rides for 8 week sessions, then gets a 2 week break. These sessions go all year. At the end of the summer their is a 4 week break though. This horse's name is Indiana. It was his favorite horse; now he is unsure (Indy got fresh last two lessons.) We are on break right now and will resume the second week of May. These lessons are theraputic and Jason's goals are created by physical and occupational therapist, as well as the horse trainors. I am so inpressed with this program, and so thankful Jason is in it. He has been riding about a year now and he is able to control the horse and ride unassisted by instructors. He can ride on saddle or without (they use a rug type thing, not bareback.) I am so proud of Jason. -Becky

Cleaning

With all the chores my kids do, Jason's room occasionally gets neglected and I have to help him out with it. (It goes something like this, if you don't have that room clean by ____ -insert day, I will clean it, and everything on floor is garbage.)

Today I had to help him out. It looked like a bomb exploded, plus I was out of towels (which he said were not in his room.)

Two and half hours, two bags garbage, and four loads dirty clothes later I am done. Jason's response, "I need to rest, because I am upset you cleaned my room." Actually I think I need to rest. lol.

One thing I will say is the boys rooms are small (about 7'x11'), so they are hard to keep neat and organized. My own room (6' x 10') is messy as well (I am about to tackle it next.)

To help with that I got rid of some toys Jason does not play with and some he does. If they were on floor they went in trash (ok, I kept alot, including all his legos, wii, and dsi stuff.) Then we went through his toys in closet together and he agreed to give away three games, a science kit (that I took for younger kids in co-op), and a bug making kit (that I also will be using with kids at co-op.)

So that made room for all his toys to fit in his closet. I also organized and decluttered his clothes. All his shirts are hanging. His pj's, socks, and underwear have a drawer under the bed. His pants for now are in a pile on the closet floor.

I hope he can keep it this way for awhile.

Now off to straighten my room. And then cook dinner.

-Becky

Group Shot

Jason is in the left middle. He has on a red hooded sweatshirt with a brown unzipped coat over it. I was inside when they took this shot. The whole place was so beautiful!

CBC Winter Retreat pictures

Amanda rock climbing














Jason & Armon




















Amanda after momma / baby bird game
















youth playing pudding game on retreat














Peter and Jason ice skating on retreat

Jason's new room

Jason's new bed



















Jason's new tv


















inside Jason's closet


















Jason's closet


















Jason on his new captain's bed
















Jason in his new room with his new tv

It's Sept.

Yikes, where does the time go? Today we had co-op and then we went to the park with another homeschooling family.

I was a little peeved as Jason usually climbs to the very top of any playground (like above it.) This never bothers me as he knows his limitations, plus it keeps him from climbing the curtains at home-lol. The playground we were on had a sign that said, "this playground is geared for 5-12 year olds." Well, he is only 11 (and doesn't look older.) But another mom with toddlers told him he couldn't play on the playground. I assume her kids were trying to emulate him and climb up, but he got very upset (he wasn't doing anything wrong) and then he would not play on the playground until the woman left.

Now, when I am on the playground I will tell a child I do not know to be nice (if say they are hitting my child), but I felt like this mom should not have told him he couldn't play. Plus technically she was in the wrong as the playground was for 5-12 year olds. Right next to it was the 0-5 playground. Her kids did not look five. Yet still, I would never tell them they can't play there. I actually tell my kids to watch out for the little ones (by the way Jason is very good with little kids.)

No real point to this post, just venting. I am glad Jason was respectful of the woman and didn't tell her off as I have seen some kids on the playground do (not today.) But my mama bear instinct kicked in and it upset me that he was upset. He handled it well, and actually used that time to whittle with his, gasp, pocket knife. I am sure the playground lady would have objected to that as well. Ok, ok I will calm down and say a pray for this family later. Alright, I'll do it now. I will even be grateful that someone else was looking out for Jason's safety.

-Becky

sleep update

Well, Jason woke up around 8:30am, so he slept almost 12 hours. He had a really good day too. I did not yell at all today. (I also did not have to go anywhere or do anything as Joshua is sick, so we all stayed home today.) Except I did go out at 1:50 to take both boys to doctor to be tested for strep. We will see how that turns out in a few days.

Joshua had a fever almost all day. He is asleep now (another victory as he was asleep by 9:00pm.)

Jason is almost asleep, I hope that he will be by the time I am done typing so I can fold laundry and watch tv (our only tv is in living room which is right next to his room. If he is still up he listens to what I am watching and does not go to sleep.)

But I am in awe of how calm my house is right now. For so long night time was a nightmare for me! And I am sure the boys not getting enough sleep just makes them more tired for next day and so on.

Hopefully we can get a full week of being asleep by 9:00pm, and getting up around 8:00am. I want to get back on a better schedule.

-Becky

Jason had an early night

Jason was asleep by 9:00pm. Yeah!!!

Usually he is asleep by 12:00am, sometimes later. He goes to bed around 9:00pm. He has a routine which includes no tv after 7:30 (usually), reading in bed, then lights out by 10:00pm. But even then his mind just does not shut off. Then sometimes he has trouble staying asleep as well.

I pray he sleeps all night and is well rested tomorrow.
He usually gets up between 7:30am-9:00am. I will see about tomorrow.

-Becky