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Last month, my middle son turned double digits! I still can't quite wrap my head around that, but he now declares himself a young tween. He had a great birthday party with a nice group of kiddos. We started out with a "quest" (scavenger hunt) and all the boys had to work together as a group. They took turns reading the clues and there were talking points on the clues which that they had to do first. I wanted them to talk to each other! Because two friends were new and half of the kids have speech goals, it was important to work that in. Success! So, flying around the house like a crazy lady getting everything ready that morning included cleaning, then filling up two bathtubs with red (lava pit) and blue (mystic lake) balloons. I was also writing my clues based on the Terraria game, one of T's favorites at the moment. The quest ended with a treasure box hidden under the kitchen table which was filled with Palladin hammers. Each kiddo was surprised and super stoked to get one. I was afraid they might bop each other on the head with those, but thankfully lunch arrived, and they forgot about the treasure.

T did not want to sing Happy Birthday on his non-bday, so we saved that for his actual day. The kiddos ate, opened gifts, and had some pool time. I found this huge inflatable pig with wings (Pigron) and they loved that! Surprisingly, it's still holding up and I'm storing it in the garage. Trying to get it out of the garage and into the backyard is hysterical! His party lasted about 4 hours which was good. We had rain in the forecast and the night before, I was so hoping and wishing for sun just long enough for his party. Well, someone answered as we did have sun the entire time until a few hours after the party ended and it was a total downpour! We lucked out, so grateful. We were rained out last year and that was hard for T.

We took him to see the Emoji movie a day before his birthday. On his actual day, he wanted to go to Olive Garden. We had never taken the kids to eat inside there. T liked it. He ordered a mini pizza and was just content with that. He blurted out that it was his bday to the server. Toward the end of the meal, we were waiting awhile for the check, and then a huge group of male servers come over about to sing. T is shaking his head like he didn't want that, but then reluctantly changed his mind. They sang and he liked it, thank goodness. There was a Toys R Us in the same parking lot, so after dinner, we walked over there for T to unload some of his gift cards. He is really into Stik Bots right now too and has to have different colors and animals. We left some of the party decorations up for a bit in the house and then slowly moved the ones he wanted to keep to his room.

T just started his online program yesterday.Same teacher that he had for 3rd grade. So, familiar face and I do not have to explain a whole lot to her as she knows him, his strengths, and weaknesses. We do not homeschool. My kids are not registered with the State as homeschoolers. To be identified as a homeschooler would be a violation of T's school voucher. I guess I'm hearing the term "online homeschool" more, but even then I don't embrace that one either. There are tons more students doing elementary, middle, and high school online than 10 years ago. There is competition galore for online enrollment. Hubby picked up an adjunct position for D's school, so later on this month when electives start, he'll see his Dad's name on his homepage! That will be cool and weird at the same time. D has already been in school for over a month now. His school year is already flying by.

Right now, therapies are few this school year. I want to focus on academics and if I can fit something in around his lessons, I will. I'm not going to stress over it this year. Basically, there is a provider shortage. I mean, quality provider shortage. I actually want to work on goals and get my kiddo to that next level. The switching frequently doesn't help that, but when I walk into a small office and there are distractions everywhere, I get miffed. If a goal is to work with distractions, then okay, but I just want to use the time wisely. Driving 40 minutes to watch someone play the same game we have at home just isn't worth our time. And . . . why is it so hard for people to use an agenda board? No more filling out papers and telling folks what works for your child (if they even have them). What's the point when you won't follow the advice? Whatever that level is beyond frustration, that's where I'm at with therapies.

We had a nice weekend away in CA over Labor Day. It was good to visit with family friends and stop by all of our favorite spots. Yeah, we eat when we go there. Thought we would be escaping the heat, but I guess we brought it with us because there was a total heat wave there. Not fun, but margaritas sure do help. I saw a French film too and that was nice. Kitty was not happy with us that we had left. He was probably thinking where the [meow] did you people go?! I wonder if animals assume you've been in the garage all that time when they see you exit there. One month of swim season down, two more to go. I'm always in a better place when swim season is over.

Passing out the treasure at the end of the quest.

Beach Boys 2017