Lots of photos!

 Cute has been found!  Joey had placed him inside this egg.  Now I don't feel so bad for not finding him sooner, but now, what to do with Cutie's clone . . . . .

 

Joey's favorite center.  After school time. 

 Papa and Joey!  Right before the "Amazing Silly Joey Show" according to Joey.  He is really an entertainer.  He sat us down on benches so he could perform his comedy show.  This has become a ritual when we visit this restaurant.

Kathy took this beautiful photo of my little guy!



Take one!




Take Two!  Kathy thought this was so funny with the before and after I had to add it.

(I guess the first photo of these two is more the reality!)

Joey wrote his first word (other than his name)!  This was very exciting to me.  I always try to integrate writing/reading into activities when I can.  So, it was battle time and we had to choose our teams (per the game and rules provided by Joey).  Instead of telling him which one I wanted, I would write down the color of the action figure I had chosen and help Joey sound out the word.  Next thing I know, it was Joey writing the color word.  I'm such a proud mom! (It was only one time - but we have started!)

The Comal County Fair!  Joey getting his face painted.

Joey excited to see the results!

Daddy joined in the fun (after I "double dog dared" him).

I only dared him because I wanted to get one, too.

The family!

Joey played games at the fair.  We usually don't play the games when we go places, but this was fun.  You alway won a prize.  I was excited - Joey hit 2 out of 3 balloons with the darts.

The carnies at this fair were especially great with the kids!

Joey shooting corks.  Again, great for kids - you got to shoot as many times as you needed to hit down 3 cups.  I think it took Joey 7 times.  Not bad for the first time.

His prize was a Pokeman poster.

Joey on the rides!

This was for his "agency" (per Joey).  It was a fun house, and Joey considered it training for being a Secret Spy.

Beautiful!  My little guy waiting in line to go through his agency training once more.

Daddy enjoying the petting zoo.

A calf - no teeth yet - so we let Joey play with his tongue.

Just to get another picture of me in.

Bernice, Sophia, and Frank met us there.

Just had to add this photo for the story of it.  We told Joey he could play two games.  He wanted so badly to play another.  I told him he had only one dollar of his own money left, and this game was two dollars.  But, as we were talking in the shade of this tent, Joey left us and convinced the guy to let him play for one dollar.  This kid is amazing!  He has even played the games at Six Flags for free because I wouldn't let him have any money to play them.  Watch out world, we have a charmer and a really good negotiator!  He doesn't take "no" for an answer.  He definitely has his father's charisma. 

Leaving the fair.

Joey's art collection.  At work, I give out activity ideas that promote pre-writing skills.  In one, I include to always post your child's work so they know you value it.  I had to follow my own advice.  Once I hung them, Joey had to categorize the pictures after I hung them - things that fly, things that start with B, and others.  We plan on changing out artwork as new items come home from school and as new items are created at home.  The refrigerator wasn't cutting it anymore.

Joey with some friends from school.  Yes, Joey is big, but he is also the oldest?  OK, he is very tall.

I keep saying how happy I am for his class this year.  Not only are the teachers exceptional, I am thankful to have some active boys in there.  Last school year, Joey looked like a barbarian compared to some of the docile boys in the class.  He was definitely the most active last school year - this school year he has some fierce competition. 

Joey's new nap mat for school.  He thought it was funny to pose in his sleeping position. 

My quote for the day:  "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Teresa



Cutie is MIA!

My dear friend, Nicole, and her sweet Victoria in Gruene.

Me and my Joey at one of my favorite getaways . . . Greune (pronounced green).  Joey was excited when I told him we were going to Greune.  He said, "Like my favorite color!"  We ate outside by the river - just calm and beautiful.

In Gruene, Joey getting close to a squirrel - interacting with nature - so important for development.

Joey was thrilled with the water misters.  He was very intrigued.  We spent a good 10 minutes in this area.

My handsome guy!

This is the marble run I put together this week.  I believe it was 350 pieces (so please praise me).  I built it - 1.) because Joey enjoys marble runs, and 2.) because I thought it may work on his eye strength, tracking, and focus.  I keep trying to integrate fun activities into our world that will encourage the skills Joey is working on right now.  

(OK , here I go off on a tangent. . . . )  As a mother, I want the best for him.  I have goals such as getting as much integrated before kindergarten.  As you OTs know - now is the time - early intervention, the brain is still developing rapidlly, easier to break the patterns/habits now.  I feel limited on time, but Joey and I are definitely on our way.  Thank you, Barb, for all of your insight and ideas.  Thank you, Marla, for saying it so plainly - You need the reflexes integrated to have isolated movements - this makes so much sense to me now.  This has been a journey for me personally and professionally - I am really learning.  AND, I believe in what I am learning!  Thank you all for listening to me and supporting me.  This has been a challenge that I didn't expect.  But, I am already growing and changing.  (OK, I'm done.)

As the title says, "Cutie is MIA!"  Cutie is Joey's favorite stuffed animal.  He has played with stuffed animals through the years, but he never really attached himself to any one until this summer.  Well, Cutie is missing.  He was here earlier in the week, but now is gone!  It wouldn't be that important, but today is the Teddy Bear Pancake Party at his school, and he didn't have his favorite teddy bear to take!  Joey always surprises me. . . . he accepted it well.  I simply told him that Cutie was hiding. . . . on vacation.  I asked him where he thought Cutie would vacation.  Joey responded, "South America.  No, the rainforest because Cutie likes to swing from trees."  What a trooper!  I went out today to find a replacement - not sure if it was to soothe my anxiety or his.  I am feeling much better now that I have a spare :)

Joey convinced me that the teachers said he could take 2 stuffed animals to school for the Pancake Party.  It worked out beautifully - a boy had forgotten his, and Joey offered the boy one of his to have for the day. 

When Joey wakes up in the morning, he always has precious things to say.  Like this morning, the first thing he said was, "Mommy. . . . . . kiss me!"  Sometimes it's, "Mommy. . . . I love you."  Occasionally, it's, "Rise and shine, kiddo!"  It used to be, "It's morning.  It's time to play!"

My Quotes

On Facebook, I have been writing quotes occasionally that have been inpirational for me.  I thought I should include them in my blog.  Here's a few to catch up.

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is life to praise and celebrate." - Oprah

"What you see in others has more to do with who you are than with who other people are." - Epictetus

And, last, but not least, a quote from a card I found today, "When the choice is to be right or to be kind always make the choice that brings peace." 



Oh, the rain!

Joey LOVES the rain.  He has since he was little.  We will usually let him play in the rain - it's always a good time.

Beware!

                         Here's our dangerous ninja!  We ordered the costume early this year.
                                       He has already gotten many hours of play. 

Joey and his special friend, Vonn.

It finally rained in San Antonio.  Although it was a school day morning, Joey insisted on wearing his (way too small)  rain coat and play in the rain.  I had to give in - how often does it rain? 

Our street is always fun in the rain.  We are at the bottom of a hill so, at times, the water really flows.

A playdate with Vonn - decorating and enjoying cupcakes.

OK, so it rained again the next day - who would have predicted that?  Joey had a great time in the backyard.  Has anyone else ever done this?  Gone down a slide with an umbrella - this was new to me.

I love the joy in his face when he is playing in the rain!

Me and my little guy!

Daddy and Joey!

Jose, Me, Adrian (brother-in-law), and Karina (Jose's sister) at Adrian's suprise 40th birthday party



Happy Grandparent's Day!

Here is the mess on our kitchen table.  This is a blessed mess since Joey has only become interested in these type of activities in the past few weeks.  Oh, how happy I was to have this wonderful mess!  (We will see how long I feel that way, but you have to live in the moment!)

These are the fabulous creations of "the mess."  When I asked Joey what we should do for Nana and Papa for Grandparent's day, he said, "Well, Papa likes pigs, and. . . all girls like flowers."  So, this is what became of that.  He worked very hard on both of these.  He was proud of his work.

Dad took on the big project of making Joey a spin board.  We have a sit and spin, but it didn't spin well.  So, all you have to do is take 2 pieces of wood and a lazy susan (hee, hee!  I know better - thanks, Dad for all of your time and effort!).  It turned out great.  This was one of my favorite things as a child.

                                         The Ninjas!  Dad is such a great playmate with Joey. 

Grandparent's Day.  Here's the artist with the receivers.  Everyone is so happy!

Down on the Riverwalk.  This may end up being our Christmas picture.  Time will tell. . .

The Grandparents!  I love my mom and dad.  I couldn't have better parents. 

I asked Joey where we should take Nana and Papa for Grandparent's Day, and he suggested the Rainforest Cafe.  It was perfect!  They had wanted to see it, and Joey was so excited to share it.  He, again, served as the tour guide, and, again, did an excellent job explaining and sharing the highlights.

Joey and Jose fascinated with the way the lady could turn balloons into figures.

Joey sharing the talking tree and some souveniers with my parents.

OK, a new experience at the Rainforest Cafe that could have, but didn't, relate.  Joey chose Spiderman as his option from a lady making balloons of rainforest animals.  However, it couldn't have been better.  He was so thrilled.  Spiderman was swinging from tree to tree in the restaurant.  I'm sure the wait staff loved us.

And, last, but not least, here's the card we made for Nana and Papa for Grandparent's Day.  I like to get Joey's quotes, because they mean so much more.  It kind of stops time - every year he will say "Happy Grandparent's Day" and "I love you," (I hope)  but this is where he is now.  I had hoped for a little more, but this is what I got.  You can tell by the "The End's" that he was not that into it this time.

Happy Grandparent’s Day, Nana and Papa!

I like it best when “Papa plays with me, and Nana, too.  The End.”

“My Papa takes me always to McDonald’s, my favorite place.  Papa takes me where I want.”

What makes Nana special?  “I love her, and she loves me, too!”

What makes Papa special?  “I just like to play with him.”

My favorite thing to do with Papa is “playing with him and water gun fighting with him.”

My favorite thing to do with Nana is “I like to cuddle with her.  I like to play with her.  I like everything about her. . .and Papa, too!”

“That’s my favorite thing to do with Papa and Nana.  The End.”

“I love you, Papa and Nana!”