Noah's 5th & Lydia's 3rd Birthday Party!

I cant believe it... another party, and another two children, each a year older, just.like.that.

Not fair. I want them to be babies forever.

*Que whining to Husband about having more babies*

The kiddos were super hero's for Halloween, as were most kiddos their age. So I decided to do a cute super hero theme for their party. The primary colors fit well in the Gymboree Play & Music, where we had their party, and the equipment easily turned into roof tops and sides of buildings to scale.

 

 

I invited Noah's class to his party, and much to my surprise 4 of his classmates came. It was wonderful being able to spend some time talking to the other moms, more so then the "hi" and "bye" in passing at school. One mom just stood with her mouth open- Her son had never went to a birthday party before and she just couldn't believe how well he was adjusting and how much fun he was having.

Let me back up the bus.

Its a little bus. And it has some really, really cool kids on it :)

Noah is currently in an SDDPre-K4 (Significantly Developmentally Delayed Pre-kindergarten 4 year old) class. We say SDDK because
1. its easier to say.
2. it sounds a whole heck of a lot nicer.
He is in a class of 8 boys, all on the autism spectrum with varying needs.

I have had to bow out of a party or two because of Noah's meltdowns, but in the last 12 months he has been doing really well. So I understand this mommy's amazement. I was able to put my guard down because Noah was use to the party's surroundings (Hes been to Gymboree many times) and there were a lot of familiar faces around him. All the special needs moms huddle together, with intense eyes on their child. As they talked to one another, rarely the woman's eyes would meet eachothers because they were watching their boys. It was something that I know all too well. Just as if we were at anothers gathering and I'm in constant panic mode as to "Wheres Noah?" "Whats he doing?" and "Where is he going?"

Briefly we were able to talk about healing, and the many forms it can come, but how the Healer is the same. We talked about practicing wisdom in helping and assisting our children. We talked about "THE BOX" society tries to stuff our boys into. It such an wonderful feeling to know the secret language of a special needs mom and speaking in that language about God's love, mercy and grace.

Lydia, my little SuperGirl, had so much fun running with all her cousins and friends. She's so smart, so tiny but so feisty. Her ability to lead FEARLESSLY at 3 years old is something to marvel at. I'm learning how to nurture and maintain her confidence without raising a brat, lol. She has her moments, but so far, so good :)

Ok, so I had put on the invitations for little ones to wear their super hero costumes. And to fit the theme, I decided to make super hero capes for the party favors. I am so stinkin' thrilled as to how cute they turned out!

Just some felt, glue and scissors and I was able to whip up some SUPER HERO MAGIC!

*Insert Holly doing the Cabbage Patch*

I also had a Spider Man cape and Wonder Woman, but forgot to take a picture before they were snatched up at the party.

I would say to not skimp out on some quality fabric glue. Felt absorbs the glue quickly, so you need something tacky and thick to hold. I wouldn't suggest using a hot glue gun on felt, as it can melt the fibers and show hard patches through the fabric. When cutting felt be sure you have some super sharp fabric scissors. I like Fiskars Heavy Fabric Cutters. The one thing that bothered me, as the perfectionist I am, was that I just couldn't seem to cut the fabric perfectly straight, The scissors did such a good job cutting that it was easy to veer off my patterns. I'm sure there's some trick to cutting felt that I have yet to discover, If you have one, do share!

Speaking of patterns- I didn't really have any. I just printed images off the web and scaled them to fit my capes. Here are some you can use:

Max California is a great sewing blog where I picked up these stencils:

(via Google images)

TO THE BAT CAVE!

For food we just had pizza, pop and cupcakes. What Noah and Lydia would eat every meal, every day, if we let them.

For tunes I was able to put together a pretty sweet song list on my Spotify:
(Download and enjoy!)
Super Hero Party Song List (Spotify)


In true fashion, I was way to busy to take any blog worthy photos of the party. But since the party, the left over capes have been getting great use at home:

Superman LOVES left over Birthday cake!

"Hey Spidey Girl. You wanna climb the Christmas tree and I'll fly up to save you?"
"SURE!"

Counting, Sorting, Matching Eggs

Noah LOVES eggs.

At school His favorite toys are the eggs and egg carton in the house keeping area.

At home his favorite toys are the (real) eggs and egg carton in MY refrigerator. 

So I came up with an idea :)

 I found these wood eggs on clearance at Hobby Lobby after the Easter season. 

I Panted them with tempera paint, stamped them with my rubber stamp set. 

(love it!)

 I also used a coat of Modge Podge to keep the paint from chipping off. 

So far so good.

 I felt like a genius when I came up to this idea. It reminds me of a Melissa and Doug toy, however they don't have anything like this.... 

Maybe I should try to sell them my idea!?

 I saved an x-large egg carton to put them in,

its the only size that would fit the wood eggs.

Then I painted the matching colors inside the carton :)

Now he can sort, match and count his very own set of eggs!

And hopefully the ones in the fridge can be spared!

Sensory Bags

Yay for sensory bags! Here's some of my creations!

Noah loves them :)

I used 1 gallon zip lock bags, and I also double bagged them. Noah still likes to get input from his mouth, but if your child doesn't have those issues you wouldn't need that step. I sealed them up with some heavy duty duct tape and there ya go! When he gets bored with these I will think of some other themed bags to make.

All my items were purchased in my local Walmart store. I just went through all the aisle and looked for little objects that would show through the hair gel well.

Dear Lady In The Urgent Care Waiting Room....

Dear lady in the urgent care waiting room,

     Hi. I'm coughing my stupid head off and finally forced myself to come here. Everyone in my house has some funky bug that won't let up, so if anyone can't be sick, it would be me. They made me wear this stupid mask as soon as I told them I was coughing. Uhg, everyone is looking at me like I've got leprosy and kinda "leaning" in their chairs, towards the OPPOSITE direction of me. WHATEVER.

     I noticed you as soon as you came in. You looked like a Mom, hair piled on top of head, no make-up on. Had that classic disheveled look that I am learning to know all too well. Your Son was very handsome, with mixed skin and bright blue eyes. He was tall and stocky, and his frame instantly reminded me of my Noah Robert. I'm guessing your son was maybe 10 or so.

     As I sat in my chair, annoyed that I couldn't get cell reception so I could putz around on Facebook, something caught my eye. Your son made this hand gesture. Placed against his hip, with fingers spread and hand cupped, it turned in and out, over and over. Noah does that sometimes. I watched you, watching him as you were signing in and going over insurance issues with the nurse at the desk.

     I knew your son was autistic.

     And I couldn't keep my eyes off Him.
   

     I want you to understand something. I'm not like these other ignorant or maybe sometimes insecure people who stare strangely at our children. Was I staring? Yes. Yes, I was staring, studying, and watching You AND Him with the biggest amount of hope that I have ever strived for.

     One time when I was in Target, a group of young men were guided around the store by what seemed to be their instructor. I assumed the group developmentally delayed guys were with their class learning about shopping at the local store. I hate to admit it, but I started to stare. I couldn't help it. I wondered "will that be my Son?" I fumbled around the shelves and I listened to the clicking and random shouts. I thought "Noah does that now, Will he do that then?" But soon I was discovered, as loud and authoritative tone shouted "Hi! How are you? Have a nice day!" while looking me dead in the eyes. The instructor was acknowledging the fact that I was being rude. Good for Him. I would (and have) done the same thing for Noah.

     But please, Mom at the urgicare, let me explain. I was not trying to be rude. I searching for any glimpse of the future that I can. So please have more poise and patience as I study you and your son!

     So, finally, me and your son lock eyes. You seemed to notice. He couldn't keep his eyes off me, I couldn't keep my eyes off him. I was trying to smile, but this stupid friggin mask is in the way. He got up from his chair, and with His eyes bulging out, he slowly walked closer and closer to me. You prompted him to sit down, but he acted like you weren't even in the room. I waved to him and said "Hi!" He froze dead in his tracts. My eyes shot to you. "You've got that mask on. He probably thinks your a ninja or something!" You laughed, as I did too. Ok, that makes total sense. Slowly your son backed up never taking his eyes off me, sat back in his chair and kept looking over his shoulder in my direction. It was sweet.

     As I watched I was just overjoyed that you were clear across the room having a full conversation with the receptionist while he remained calmly on the other side of the room. Not trying to run away. Not climbing on everything. Not yelling or screaming or touching other peoples belongings. I was grinning so big under that stupid mask, let me tell ya!

     I'm sorry, looking back I realize I was indeed staring. But I wasn't judging. I wasn't condemning, And really since this day I have a new found approach when I do see older autistic children out in public. Your son AND you gave me hope on a day that I was simply trying to get relief for an annoying cough.

     I was called back and your sons eyes followed this "ninja" the whole way out the door. I kept thinking about your son as the chatty nurse went over my symptoms and currents medications, and blah, blah, BLAH. The nurse started telling me she has adopted a 5 year old girl, and that she had dental issues, and then somehow jumped to her nephew who is now in a special department in the Navy, who didn't start talking till he was nine, who was once diagnosed as autistic but is now considered to have aspergers, and "just how incredible is that?" In the midst of everything the rambling nurse was blabbing on about I realized a "God moment" had just taken place.

     Those are THEE BEST AND MOST SWEETEST MOMENTS you can experience in this life. When in the midst of normalcy and the mundane, God orders and ordains a series of events to revive, rejuvenate and encourage and weak and weary bag of flesh and bones.

     Maybe I will never see you again, lady in the urgicare waiting room, but I will never forget you!

Sincerely,
Lady looking for hope in the urgent care waiting room