Music lessons and spelling words

Who remembers a music chalkboard staff liner??  That is it’s technical name, right? I googled it and that is what google said so it must be true. 

We were at Cayman’s piano lesson on Tuesday when sweet Mrs. Um upturned her table cloth to reveal a multipurpose kitchen table as a chalkboard. She’s so clever!! She took the staff liner and drew 5 symmetrical lines as she continued on with the music lesson. Cassady asks with crescendo in her voice “What is that THING???”  She was intrigued. I could see it in her eyes. She hoped to be granted the chance to play with it. Once the portion of Cayman’s music lesson moved to the piano, Mrs. Um was ever so kind to let Cassady draw on the chalkboard table and with my help draw the multi lines with a single swipe of the tool. From there Cassady practiced her spelling words on those lines. She loved it! Smartboards may be amazing and modern but they’re not as cool as 'old school'. *wink*

How is Cayman doing these days?? She’s great!! She started piano lessons just before summer. We take it at Cayman’s pace. I am so blessed to have found Mrs. Um and her expertise as she teaches Cayman with joyful patience and perceptive insight..

Books

I always hoped my kids would enjoy reading but against all valiant efforts on my part you never know which way the scales will tip. 

Kobe loves reading. All over the house I will find his books opened and turned over holding its place.

 

Cayman has taken notice of Brother’s way of “bookmarking”. When I sat down at the couch I saw Cayman’s book she had been reading, opened and turned over holding its place where she left off.

I smiled and curiously reached for it to check out how far she read during her 20 minutes of reading for homework. 

She made it all the way to the Table of Contents. 

A Gift in an ETR Meeting

When you receive a brain diagnosis with a poor prognosis for your unborn baby it's future blurring. At twenty weeks pregnant with Cayman an ultrasound gave us the news of the now very common to us word: Hydrocephalus. It's an accumulation of extra fluid in her head compressing her brain, damaging it. It was hard to believe anything was that dreadfully wrong even though I could see it on the screen, a dark area filling the space within her head that showed very, very little brain tissue. There she was tucked within my body, moving, and growing. Every choice I made every day was with her in mind, loving her, and caring for her. As her mom I was suppose to protect her, keep her from harm, and I couldn't do anything to stop the hydrocephalus from damaging her precious brain. Prayer was my tool; my faith in God. He gave me strength to keep planning life for Cayman even though any day it might change and it all be taken from me.   I heard some great advice during those early days: dump all expectations. The baby I was planning to have, the things she would do, the picture I had of my days as a mom; everything. Emptied out. In doing so anything we would get back was a gift: this day, that heartbeat, that breath!! Holding her head up, drinking from a bottle, laughing, sitting, walking, signing, speaking, asking questions, reading, writing!! All of Cayman's life has been a surprise. We couldn't imagine it. We sit on the edge of our seats waiting to see what else she will do. Finding so much to celebrate; the joy of the little things. Today we had Cayman's Evaluation Team Report meeting. The ETR is done every 3 years. It is what determines a child's eligibility for special education services. It takes the complete picture of a child's abilities as they relate to their education performances and makes recommendations on how to meet these specific educational needs.  I'm still glowing over today's amazing meeting. We sat around a large conference table as we've done numerous of times before with many of the members that make up "Team Cayman" at her school. These special people are part of my village. They bring their best every day to help my girl succeed. Some of them have known Cayman since she was 4 years old in preschool and most of them have been with her since Kindergarten. Cayman is now 8 and in the second grade. The assessment of Cayman's abilities has always easily qualified her for several special education services such speech, OT, PT, audiology, Adaptive PE, Intervention Specialist. From the beginning Cayman has had long lists of people she has needed to help her. Today that list was shortened by one - Physical Therapy! That is HUGE for Cayman! It shows how far she's come! It's not at all that she is now as fast as her peers or she has the lightening reflexes. These were never the goals. Most of what we strive for Cayman are safety and independence. She's met all of these types of goals in physical therapy. She can get up from a seated position on the floor with her arms full, where once she needed those arms to push herself up for balance. She can carry her tray of food and navigate the cafeteria independently. She can take care of her belongings at her locker and move about a busy hallway with obstacles to step around while carrying her school supplies. She flies up and down stairs with ease. This is not to say she has mastered everything in gross motor. She still has strength and confidence to gain in locomotive skills. These will continue to be addressed in adaptive PE and will come with time and maturity. The time she would have spent in PT at school is now more time she will get in the classroom, focusing on academics. This is such a big testimony for Cayman!! It took me on a journey back to the beginning, the place where I emptied out expectations. The memory of her holding her own head up for the first time at 6 months old, sitting independently at 18 months old, crawling at 2 years old, walking and talking at 4 years old. It was a slow, long beginning. The past 2 years the pace has changed, like a switch flipped to hyper-drive. All of us around the conference table said where she was two years ago heading into kindergarten, we could not have imagined she'd be where she is today. She's made huge strides! Gifts we are getting back!

Getting Boo'ed

Every year our subdivision does a fun Halloween activity.  We call it - Getting Boo'ed.  Here's how it works. You put together a halloween goody bag or basket.  Take it to someone's door step, ring the bell, and run like the dickens before you are discovered!! It's the good angel's version of lighting sh*t in a bag on fire on someone's porch.

We were boo'ed just last night.  It's always an entertaining surprise to open the door after the doorbell has been chimed to find no one there and a mystery package left on the 'welcome' doormat.  Which neighbor was it?  Who could it have been?  The suspense is so much fun!  And the kids have a blast going through the goodies to see what is left.

Once you've been Boo'ed then comes your turn to be someone else's halloween phantom.

We put together a friendly bag of goodies.  We looked for a house without the ghost sign posted in their front window indicating that that house had already been boo'ed.  The kids and I were so excited when we discovered our neighbors right next to us had not been boo'ed yet!  Oh we were going to get them!!

I felt particularly excited that Kobe is old enough now I could send him out the door late in the evening to the neighbor's door and he could do all that fast, crafty work of running away before being caught. He was chickening out at the last moment though so I slipped my crocs on (omg, why do we still have those ugly things around to wear?? Because they are convenient, people!!  and took him by the hand to walk over to the neighbor's door.  Cayman and Cassady begged to go.  I had them remain on our doorstep awaiting our return.  The chances of us all getting away discreetly if we all went was slim to none.

Kobe and I tip toed up to their front door.  I set the bag down in front of their door.  I gave Kobe the warning, "Get ready to run fast!"  I pressed the doorbell and away I ran.  Kobe had already started ahead.  He ran with such force and enthusiasm, I couldn't believe I almost missed this fun by sending him by himself, he was hysterical to watch!

We giggled and laughed when we blasted through our front door feeling accomplished we did it without being discovered!

A couple days later, Kobe was standing outside waiting for his bus to pick him up.  He's in Kindergarten and goes in the afternoon.  I was sitting inside at my sewing machine set up overlooking the window to the front driveway.

While working on my 4th quilt I heard the doorbell ring and then saw Kobe dash down the sidewalk.

I had just been Boo'ed.

I played along.  I opened the front door once he was out of sight and shouted, "Hey!  Who's there?"

Then I returned to the sewing machine.  I could see him through the window as he came back up the sidewalk with a big grin on his face.

that's the grin

*Ding dong* And away he ran again!

p.s. it was crazy sock day at school for Red Ribbon Week, can you spot his minions?

He did this tirelessly and soon his little sister Cassady joined in on the shenanigans.    

The time spent waiting for the bus had never been more fun!

Gatorland

On this day we took another day off from the Disney park.  It was not like our other day off though, when we lounged, swam, and relaxed.  We packed up and completely moved out of our "hotel house" to check into a hotel resort.  With enough travel points saved up Mike booked us a beautiful hotel suite at no cost.  Before we settled in for the short one night stay at the new hotel resort we made a visit to Gatorland and spent nearly the entire day there!  We enjoyed it so much! 

A map of Gatorland

Kobe is my map boy.  I can't say he gets this drawl from me.  As a child, even as a young adult, maps bored me.  A diagrammatic representation of an area of land designed to bring clarity only further confused and discombobulated me.  I can't explain it but I can say with age I have improved and a talking navigation system has immensely assisted me in my directional handicap.  It pleases me when I see Kobe studying his maps.  He is going to take after his dad, I hope.

At this time Cassady woke up.  She had fallen asleep on the ride to Gatorland.  She was so wore out from our busy days at Disney she slept right through parking, getting out, and loading her into the stroller. 

She looked at us like we had two heads...
Sat back in the stroller seat...

Reached up...

And shut out the world... 

The grumpies didn't last long though when she saw her siblings racing off to peer over a wall.  There is nothing she ever wants to miss out on.

And just what was over that wall???

Gators, of course!!!  Lots and lots of gators!

These gators have the life - laying in the warm Florida sun all day.

A lot of birds hang out near the gators waiting for food.  We thought we might see a bird become food but we didn't.

This yellow deck area is reserved for small children and wheelchairs allowing them to view the gator feeding time without an obstructed view.

Cassady signing "alligator".

It was here in this yellow deck area where we met Lisa Brodeur, from A Mother's Journey along with her son Kyle.  They have an incredible, hard but inspiring, story.  Many years ago a person made a very bad choice to drive intoxicated.  They hit the car with Lisa and her family in it.  Her husband was killed instantly, Kyle was left with severe brain injuries, and her two daughters traumatized.  Lisa has devoted her life to her kids and to herself to be overcomers.  She wrote a book and speaks in schools to spread awareness of how dangerous bad choices, like doing drugs or drinking and driving, are. She was so sweet and inspiring to talk with.  I wish I would have thought to get a picture with them. 

Then the Gator Feeding Show began.

The crazy brave gator trainers threw pieces of meat on top the alligators' heads.

Lazy gators.  They didn't move much to try and retrieve the meat on top of their noses.  The birds were excited to snatch the meat fallen between the slats but they sure kept their careful distance when near the gator's mouth.

When larger pieces of meat were dangled above the water this got a few of the gators moving and interested. 

After the gators were fed we decided it was time to feed ourselves.  We walked toward the lunch area.

On the way we found the home of Cuddles. 

The kids, including Cayman, checked him out.

He's not real.

But to be absolute certain he wasn't real Cassady and Kobe threw sticks at him. Cuddles had a lot of fallen sticks in the crevices of his coiled folds.  No doubt it was evidence of the universal testing among all the tourist children (and possibly dads too) that have tested Cuddles on his genuineness.


Lunch.

There was gator meat.

Everyone ate a piece.

Cassady gave it a good look over first.


After lunch we went on a stroll through the woods. 

Right off the bat we heard a woodpecker and spotted him quickly in the tree above.

In the woods there were a lot of caution signs.  That's not a good sign.

It's a dangerous area that could be inhabited by poisonous snakes.  Of course the kids didn't want to stay put in the stroller and wanted to walk out in front of us. 

We stopped and read this sign to the kids so they could understand how careful they needed to be.  They had been trekking through the winding deck path, poking their heads through the railing, and acting like maniacs ignoring our parental warnings meanwhile Mike and I were growing gray hair.

I found a sign that I knew Grandpa would like. 

While taking a picture of Grandpa with the "tree that gets no respect sign" Mike spoke over his shoulder "I'm going to keep going and take the kids out of here."  I didn't take too long taking the picture, that I thought, but when I looked up I didn't see Mike and the kids anymore.  I left Mark and Sue behind as I briskly walked to catch up to Mike.

Soon I found myself on the winding deck looking forward as far as I could see but seeing no Mike and looking back and no longer seeing Mark & Sue.  I was alone.  All alone.

Along the way many more signs...

Although creeping dangers lurked in the forest it was quite beautiful with lots of texture and color...

Another sighting of the woodpecker (see his red top head?).

Finally there was a clearing and the deck path ended and I was out of the forest.  Still there was no sighting of Mike and the kids.  I checked my phone and a text from Mike let me know where they were.

I found them here...

Goodness, Gatorland was full of endless adventures!

After this show the tourists were given the opportunity to hold the big snake (at charge).

Kobe and Cassady wanted to do it!  I felt so proud of them for their bravery (they don't get it from me)!

Shortly later Kobe asked, "When we get home, can we get a pet?" *gasp*

We moved on to the next show - Gator Wrestling!

I walked a few steps away for a moment to take some pictures of this magnificent peacock showing off his glorious spread.  The others strolled on to sit down in the bleacher section which was just right there.  Apparently Cassady did not see we had moved along and turned to leave the area in search of us.  Poor little thing, she was only lost for just a few seconds or maybe a minute; but it doesn't take much to make your heart sink to your gut and she looked relieved as well when we found each other. 

Now we had everybody together and as if to seal the certainty of it staying that way we sat up in the highest section of the bleachers.  From there we could see that peacock again doing what he does best - distracting. 

Once the gator show began all attention was on that arena. 

Cassady's somber face watching the man wrestle the gator. 

Cassady was moved to amazement.

Grandpa too.

Did you know if you turn a gator onto its belly it will fall asleep (like instantly)?  I'm still skeptical.

After the Gator Wrestling show, the tourists had a chance to "wrestle" the gator too! 

I tried my hardest to get Cayman to do it, but nope!  First chance those feet had to hit the ground running in the opposite direction she took it!

With the gator's mouth taped shut, I found my bravery.

It wasn't so scary.

Kobe and Cassady had no problems.  They walked right up, sat down, grabbed that gator by the mouth, smiled for the camera, and got back up.

Grandma only had a problem getting back up.

Mike said he didn't put his full weight down on the gator, he wasn't interested in seeing what would happen if he did.

Grandpa missed out.  He went to the bathroom was off wrestling a different gator.

Nothing gets Cassady down unless she falls down on the bleachers, and then cuddles (not the snake) from mommy helps.

Next, probably our most favorite, was feeding the gators.  We bought a bundle of hot dogs.

The birds wanted some.  So we fed them too.  At first it was kind of fun.  Then they got annoying quickly, just like a presidential debate.

See a bird must take a bird selfie.

These birds stood as tall as Cassady.  Like Elmire on Looney Tunes, I'm sure she saw their height as only an advantage for easier hugging if the bird would just hold still long enough for her to catch one.

Flamingos are so pretty.

Cayman actually got involved feeding the animals too.

This is an albino alligator.  Unique and rare.

Another sighting of that peacock struttin' his stuff.

At this point we heard from Grandpa.  He went a little exploring and found near the back a whole other section of a winding deck path.  Instead of poisonous snakes threatening it, this time it was gators!!!

No worries.  Not unless those gators can climb a fence they weren't getting to us.

And for no reason at all I saw my girls giving each other a snuggle.  *snap* glad I got a picture of that!

Lined up and watching those gators feeding on the meat droppings we gave them.

Some of the birds there were so beautiful.

There was this adorable nest of babies.

There must have been hundreds of gators, we wondered if it was even into the thousands. 

A Family Portrait

The details of the next and last part of our visit to Gatorland I feel ashamed to share.  You can't come to Gatorland and leave without taking the notorious photo holding the exotic creatures.  Our kids were in perfect behavior.  I can't say so much for Mike and I.  We sat on each end with our kids in the middle, smallish bickering between Mike and I as we decided the placement of the gator and the snake.  We already knew Cayman wanted neither to be touching her.  Out loud Mike nor I were admitting we did not want the snake touching us.  I kept saying I'll take the gator and Mike kept on insisting it worked best if he took the gator until finally I blurted out, "I don't want the snake" to which then he confesses he didn't either.  "Put the snake on the kids." Now I don't remember who said it.  It might have been me, it could have been Mike.  Doesn't really matter; neither disputed the command.  That's right folks, we sacrificed our children in order to brazen it out.  Kobe was happy to hold the snake's head and Cassady caressed its tail like it was a cuddly puppy.  As we were getting into position, at one point Kobe sets the snake down gently, ever so slightly leans back and asks with earnestness, "Is this one a poisonous snake?" Relieved to hear it was not he returned to his position of holding the snake's head and smiling for the camera.