Go! Dog Go! One Last Time

We took it literally this time. We took Leeloo to the dog park. She was beyond thrilled. It would have been perfect if it hadn't been 800 degrees. Yup, that tiny silhouette down there by the tree is my dog who took off like a shot when I unleashed her. The dog park is a Golden Retriever's idea of heaven. Room to run and fetch and lots of dogs and people to socialize with. Leeloo made an adorable little friend.

Riley meeting Leeloo's friend the 3month old Pitbull Terrier, Heaven.

Riley "gardening."

Leeloo and her friend playing.

Leeloo wore herself out playing mainly with her little buddy, but she had a kiss for every single dog there. We went out the "back" way when we left so we could walk around the lake to the little playground. After begging me to take her to "Riley's Playground" the entire time we were at the dog park I couldn't get Riley to follow us. There were ducks! Very friendly ones who erroneously assumed Riley had bread.

I convinced her to leave the ducks for the playground by promising next time we came we would bring bread.

We when got home we had one pooped puppy.

Go Dogs, Go!

So, as it happens there was so much cuteness yesterday it required two posts. Despite living walking distance from the mall, we rarely make it. I decided for our trip yesterday that's where we'd go. We left our get well cards for Grandma to dry and headed out.

They each got a new oufit (there was a good sale at Old Navy), had lunch and played in the play area before we went home. After nap it was off to deliver our get well cards.

Grandma was pleased with her cards and seemed to be doing pretty well. I kept looking at Riley's new shoes and wishing they came in my size!

After everything had wound down (dinner, bath and jammies were done) Daddy helpped Riley take some pictures. Here's one of the best ones:

It was a clear indication of how much better things are that I got the kids, myself and the wheelchair loaded, unloaded and manuvered on not one, but two outtings. On a side note I think I'm already over this hair cut. I'm gonna start growing it out. I'm glad the kids had fun today, but I really need a trip to the mall without them. Besides some giftcards burning a hole in my pocket I really need to get some work clothes. I have about three business appropriate outfits at this point. Maybe next week while Isaac's at summer camp.

Take a Trip Thursday: Second Edition

This Thursday was much more smooth (and far less expensive) than the last one. We had breakfast and took our time getting ready. We loaded up around 9:15am and headed for my Dad's house (the house I grew up in). Over the last few years he's acquired chickens and very recently started growing vegetables. The kids visit Grandpa's house now and then. They always say hi to the chickens, but this was the first formal farm tour.

After hellos and candy (grandparents, what can you do?) we were off, armed with bread, to feed the chickens.

They seemed indifferent to the kids, but very excited to see the bread. Riley looked like Eva Gabor from Green Acres feeding chickens in her party dress. Isaac was a bit to imposing and for the most part they ran from him. The chickens enjoyed Riley's quiet approach and took bread from her hand. Just as we were finishing up she got a little scratch from an over zealous chicken's beak. Feeding the chicken's was Riley's favorite part.

Then we moved onto the chicken coop. We learned that chickens only lay eggs when they are young. Apparently there's about a two year window. He has brown chickens that are about done laying and two white ones that haven't started laying yet. Apparently, the color of their legs reveals what color the eggs will be. The coop was Isaac's favorite part.

Grandpa's growing raspberries, mangos, grapes (at least two varieties), tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, green beans, bush beans, cow beans, pineapple, lemons, peppers (at least four varieties), sweet potatoes and strawberries. It was thrilling for Riley to see all the different plants and how they grow. Isaac was only interested in what was edible now. I think it's great for the kids to see where food comes from. I don't think I understood the concept of growing/farming food until I was older. Food comes from the store, right? The cupboard? A box/can?

We all got out in the world and learned something, I declare Go! Dog Go! Day number 2 a success.

Go! Dog Go! Thursday (aka Take a Trip Thursday)

It was a bumpy start today. I wanted to take the kids to my Dad's to see his chickens and maybe discuss farms, but he left town. Then I thought I'd find another farm locally, also a bust. I called the place where Isaac is doing his science camp for the planetarium schedule, but the timing didn't work out. Then I decided we'd pack up the kids and dog and hit the park.

Out the door we marched with the dog on a leash just as it started to rain! So, we took her for a quick, but brisk walk. We put her inside with a treat and fresh water. She watched broken heartily from the front window as I pulled away with the kids.

Plan E (I think we were up to) was to hit one of our old favorite places from when we lived on the other side of town, the children's museum. That one panned out.

As you can see we farmed, played vegetable instruments (Riley's favorite thing all day), swam in the ball pit, played a laser harp, mini golfed and put out fires among other things. It was a fun two hours. It's much improved since we were members and we'll either join again or not go back until the end of summer with admission being what it is.

We grabbed drive-thru lunch on the way back home. I was starving and desperate for some caffeine. The kids devoured there nuggets/burger and apples when we got home. The puppy greeted me so enthusiastically she spilled my whole Coke. I wanted to cry. Then Riley went down for nap and Isaac did some reading.

I took advantage of the quiet to work on my other job, more on that later. After that Isaac and I worked on his "Orange Workbook". It's called Worksheets for Teaching Social Thinking and Related Skills. We've been working on pages from this book before school ended. It seems to help Isaac to have his behavior/social issues broken down in an academic way. Also, it removes them from the context of him having just gotten in trouble. Ironically, today's page were about focus and guess what he could not do?

He behaved so badly that I had to send him to Riley's time out chair. It was the most appropriate place for such immature behavior. Once he clammed down I released him (just like I do with Riley). The worksheets and discussion about them lasted less than 15min. Then we moved on to his Summer Bridge Activities Workbook. It's got 3 sections for the 3 months of summer and a group of activities for each day. Yesterday we did 4 days worth in about 25min. Excited by the possibility of catching up to mid-June I assigned him 4 more after a stretch/run around with the dog break.

Little did I know the first section started with trial and error math. He is so used to things being easy academically he refuses to try. He just gives up. I offered help several times and even did one for him. It dragged on waaaay to long. Plus, even when he was through it his momentum was just broken. It was hours and hours before he was done. He took breaks, stared out the window and generally tried to drag his feet enough that I'd change my mind.

I reminded that my schedule afforded him hours of free time, but his choices were eating that all up. When Riley woke up I took her outside with an umbrella so she wouldn't bother Isaac. After a while I let her sit across the table from him and sort the bag of marker caps my teacher friend gave me into her cups. I played Disney music for her to dance to and explained the no cartoons during business hours rule once more.

Somehow we all made it to dinner. Riley's eating and happily enjoying Tangled again. Mike's cooking for the rest of us and Isaac is "sorting" Legos. Next Thursday I'll have the trip locked down much earlier. As a matter of fact I'll have my week planned out better in general.