Starting Kindergarten

Today was a day I've looked forward to for years. It was Nate's first day of kindergarten. Let me explain. Back 3 1/2 years ago when Nate was diagnosed with autism it was so overwhelming. I couldn't think too far ahead about whether Nate would ever be able to have a job, graduate high school, or live on his own. The psychologist who diagnosed Nate suggested trying to focus on just a few years ahead. Work on trying to get Nate ready for a typical kindergarten classroom. So that's what we've done. All the ABA, OT, speech, music therapy, specialized preschool, IEP meetings, research, etc. has contributed to this goal. 

When we were starting to plan Nate's transition from preschool to kinder the plan was to have Nate in a typical class and also in a special ed class. We loved the special ed teacher and the school was great. We were excited for Nate, but it wasn't a fully integrated class which would have so many benefits for Nate. 

Well, at the final transition meeting of the year the plan changed. The school had enough incoming kindergarteners with autism to hire a special ed teacher to be in the typical kinder classroom. This meant Nate could now be with his peers all the time. No pull out for special ed. And that's really exciting for us. 

I'm so proud of all the hard work Nate's had to do to be ready for kindergarten. So today is definitely a day to celebrate all we've achieved.

Summertime

After school got out, we had a family home evening and asked Nate and Evy what they wanted to do this summer.  We came up with quite a list.  From making forts to soda dough to going for ice cream to playing at the splash pad to making obstacle courses to going mini golfing to road trips.  It made for quite an exciting summer crossing things off our list. We got to have both of our grandmas and both my sisters come.  And we even finished off our summer with a solar eclipse!

Steamboat Springs

We had one last vacation before school started for Nate.  My parents had a timeshare in Steamboat Springs so we met them for the week. There were lots of rides in the mountains, hikes, and fun times.

During our hike, we played hide and seek in the ferns. It was so fun!

Papa would point out all the wildflowers to us and tell us their names.  Pearly everlasting, elephant head, yellow salsify, fireweed, skunk cabbage.  We weren't sure if he was just making up those names or not.  We checked google and it turns out Papa was right!

We had the best time!  Next time we'll have to bring Brad with us!

Evy at 2 1/2

- Evy is slowly moving from the crazy-destructive-make-a-mess-of-everything two year old and more of the sweet-and-cute two year old.  I might keep her if she keeps this up.

- So much love for her brother.  She wants to spend all day with him and gives him hugs after they have been separated.
- Such a social bug!  Evy loves to say to everyone we meet and usually follows it up by introducing herself.

- She is so girly!  Her favorite colors are pink and purple.  She really wants makeup of her own.  And she really loves wearing dresses and dressing up.
- Evy asks me everyday if she can color.

- She loves her "Evy and Mommy time."
- So much language!  Sometimes I just sit back in awe listening to her.  After Nate's speech delay it's so amazing to me that Evy just picks up so much on her own.
- My favorite word she says right now is "impossible."
- Also, Evy will go around saying, "Listen up!"

- While Nate hates anything messy, Evy is the complete opposite.  She loves to make a mess!
- Her favorite food is cheese!  And she is always asking to eat!

- She has loved summer and being outside so much!
- Nate and Evy have decided our coffee table is a stage.  They love to get up there and sing us their favorite songs.

- Evy loves when daddy gets home.  She starts jumping up and down and runs to great him.
- Such a little monkey.  She's taught herself how to do forward rolls. And she does headstands. I need to put her in gymnastic classes.

- Evy can be quite naughty.  Like dumping milk on the carpet.  Or slinging yogurt on the table. Or making mud pies in the rain. Or making "soup" out of leftovers. Or drawing on her hands. Or rubbing hummus on apples.  Or peeling all of our bananas. Or taking out everything out of her drawers. Or spreading peanut butter on the windows.  Or turning over her laundry hamper so she can climb on it.  Seriously, this girl is a little bit crazy!  Now I know why there are so many safety things designed for toddlers.
- She's becoming more of a snuggle bug which I love.

- Evy loves to help in the kitchen.  She's always willing to come help me.
- This girl definitely has a sweet tooth!
- She loves our neighbors across the street.  She's always asking to go play with Joel.

- This little one definitely came packed with personality.  She's sweet and sassy and headstrong and so loving.  She brings so much happiness to our house!