Our First Science Fair

Yesterday we took the boys to Imagine RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). Chris was worried that it would be completely over their heads, but I have friends on FaceBook who have kids the same age, and they rave about it. So we gave it a try, and I am SO pleased with how the boys did at the event.

Highlights include:
- Tristan (age 7), at the Death of a Giant Star exhibit, chats up an Astonomy student about the Jupiter moon called Io. He knew that it was a warm environment, and that its the only Moon in the solar system that has active volcanoes on it.
- Sebastian LOVED the Robotic Lego display. He was like "I can play with Legos when I'm in college too??"
- Emerson loved the Ice Cream station, made with liquid nitrogen.
- Tristan also love the Animal Exhibit. He held a gecko and petted a hedgehog.
- Tristan and Sebastian also loved the Kinect Musical Program -- the kids moved their arms to make musical compositions.

I always worry about Tristan and his ability to make friends. With Autism, it can be so difficult for kids to find a group that is accepting of the social quirks and differences.

With squinty eyes, I can almost see a college life. Being in the campus over the weekend, I remember how much different college was from high school. High school was such a pressure cooker of peer pressure and cliques. College -- you could find "your people," your group of friends that we just like you, who felt passionate about the same things you did. I can see Tristan finding his niche at college, finding his group of friends that will last a lifetime.

Now we've just got to get him there -- another 10 years to go.

And yet, I don't want him to grow up either. Stay my little boy forever, so I can protect you and keep you safe. I love you, my brave Tristan.

Money Well Spent

We try and get out of the Winter weather every March, money-dependent. And it happens almost every year, except when we have some sort of financial emergency come up throughout the year.

This year, we made it. And if we balk at the cost, I just look at these little faces and know its money well-spent.

Traveling with kids with Special Needs can be challenging. Believe me, every night on vacation, I would collapse in a heap in the couch after the kids fell asleep. I was often asleep 30 minutes after they konked out.

And we had more than our share of hiccups along the way...

Emerson got his toe caught underneath a door and ripped off skin before we had a chance to check into the hotel (the first time we had to ask for a First Aid kit). Emerson got a giant sliver shoved into a finger at the Fort Wilderness campground (the second time we had to ask for a First Aid kit) and the wonderful people at Disney were kind enough to seek medical attention for us.

Tristan has Autism, so he had some difficulty regulating himself during the trip. For people who aren't familiar with someone with ASD, they can have a hard time with loud noises, crowds, and tight spaces. Waiting in lines can be a challenge. We did ok, but there were times we had to use everything in our arsenal of distraction and redirection to keep him from meltdown-mode.

With all of those daily hiccups, we still had a great time. I can only hope it can be repeated next year!



End of Year Insanity

We are fully immersed in end-of-year activities!

We have picnics, field days, Cub Scout ceremonies, school open houses, and class parties. This time of year, I am so busy shuttling kids here and there, and finishing school projects (Tristan and I are currently working on a Bald Eagle diarama, featuring an awesome paper mache mountain, nest of babies eagles, and a river full of fish).

And yes, getting the summer activities set up for all three kids. Tristan has "Better Together" - a program for kids with Autism. They work on social skills, turn-taking, making friends, conversational skills -- all while on the playground. It's a great program, and its contained within our local town's summer playground kid for typical kids, so Tristan's little brother gets to go to the playground program as well.

And Emerson is signed up for half-day camp, which will be his first experience with camp. I am just really hoping he won't be completely misunderstood by his friends and camp counselors. His speech is getting so much better, BUT we still have a long way to go.

Bring on the summertime fun!