Kindergarten Concert

Thursday night, February 4th,  Patrick and Payden had their 1st ever Kindergarten Concert. Payden was on the far left on the bottom row and Patrick is on the very top middle in black shirt. 

A little background - keeping it real - Being this is an outside or evening school activity, I had no idea how the boys would react (especially Payden) and truthfully I have been really anxious and stressing myself about it this last couple weeks.  Knowing what we know now, I know I should have prepared Payden better with some pictures because once we arrived, he went into meltdown mode with full on screaming for 25 minutes. He did not understand why were there, plus there were over 200 people there to watch their kids and it was a bit of chaos.  His special ed teacher and I tried so many things. Finally his one-on-one para showed up, Ms Yazzie, and all of a sudden he was following directions and lining up on the rug with his class and he was ready to walk into the gym.  We were told his para wasn't going to be there.  She had thought ahead and knew Payden needed her there.  We are so grateful she came.  It made all the difference for him. 

Patrick as he is doing all the actions and singing like his life depended on it.  He had so much fun up there!  Payden was standing by the group.. but holding himself together and staying with his class up at front. Believe me... we've heard all the words to these songs at home.. he knows the words and repeats them often but didn't sing them. Toward the end, he got exhausted and sat down. After it was over, he climbed on my lap and said, "I'm ready to go home to bed." 

Here's a scan of the program from that night.

Happy Birthday #6 for Patrick and Payden

Patrick and Payden's birthday fell on a Sunday.. the 4th week of us adjusting to the new 1:30pm time. Typically after church, it can get a bit crazy with possible meltdowns.. so I decided to do our Birthday celebrations before lunch when everyone was in good moods. It didn't disappoint! 

We made cupcakes!  Patrick chose yellow and Payden chose blue. Payden ate his 1st ever cupcake this same week at school.. I was so excited to make cupcakes!  The gummy worms on top were a hit! 

Here's some pictures! 

Yay! 

Here's one of Payden loving his book he got..

Here's one of Christian and the boys playing one of the games we got Patrick!  It's not as easy as it looks! 

Family Birthday Party - January 23rd 2016

Christian's sister, Lindsay, had asked me around Christmastime if she and Andy could host the Boy's Birthday party.  Patrick and Payden love her house and I said yes!  

Here's a picture of some of the decorations she had up.. I love how this party was all about the boys and it turned out to the best birthday party by far. I just loved it! 

Little did Aunt Lindsay know.. weeks before this party.. Payden had been a little obsessed with a Curious George book with a pinata in it.  He was SO excited that she had a pinata for him to hit!  Each time he hit it, he would turn out and while jumping up and down said,  "I hit the pinata."  It was so much fun for them!

Patrick loved it too!

I loved seeing the facial expressions of Christian.. he had a lot of fun too!

Finally Christian and I got a few whacks at it and it burst everywhere!  I absolutely love this picture of Payden finding suckers (his favorite and really only candy he'll eat). He was unwrapping them!

Here's one of Patrick - he was so excited about the candy..

Then while we waited for the pizza to come, we unwrapped some of the gifts.  This turned out to be perfect to do some gifts now and then some later. I definitely will push to do it this way each time!

This picture is a HUGE milestone for Payden... Look at those fine motor skills at work!  First year he was actually interested in opening!

Patrick had finished unwrapping this one - lots of crayons and markers from Aunt Brooke.  Elena and Violet are also in the picture.

After lunch of pizza from Dominoes, it was time for cake!  A Snake or caterpillar (depended on what child you asked) made by Christian's mom.  Very Good!

Here's a couple more of some of the gifts... taken at a later date to show here.

A bike for Patrick from Grandma.

Lindsay and Andy wanted to buy clothes and chose to buy Church Suit Coats complete with shoes!  They're size 6 so they'll fit really well for next year at least!   They look so grown up!

Lindsay and Andy got Payden got a Sit Disk, to go on his chair so he can move around while he sits. That night he was using it as a pillow to watch TV I think.  He also got the Buckle Backpack which he uses on Sundays to put his Sensory Tools. I love it.  In the background, you cans see the piano/keyboard that they gave Patrick. It was hit as well!

Halloween 2015

This year for Halloween, Patrick and Payden were Robin Hood and a Race Car Driver. While part of me wished that the two costumes would have some correlation to each other.. in the end they turned out to be just fine.  We read the story about Robin Hood and Patrick loved his character... Payden loved his costume and how it fit so well and easy to take on and off.

Friday October 30th, the 3 wards that meet in our Church building held a Trunk or Treat with a small carnival to start before. The carnival games were to be held in the gym. When that day came though, it was pouring rain and everything was moved inside.  It was beyond crazy with so many people there, many whom we didn't know.

As with most things.. we waited for awhile for it to start. Payden really enjoyed one of the carnival bowling games that had been set up for kids to play with. Once w'd decided to start all the parents lined up around the hallways prepared to hand out candy. I took Patrick and Payden, Christian stayed behind to hand out some candy.  We joined the throngs of the crowds walking around the hallways, and Payden got incredibly more nervous and agitated and making some screeching noises.  I left Patrick with friends and ran Payden to Christian to not agitate him any more.  Patrick was so good about taking Payden's bucket around and getting him some candy too.

Pictures from Church

Halloween was on Saturday.  Christian's sister, Brooke held a Halloween party at her house in Olathe, around 45 minutes away. . We got there around 4 and painted some pumpkins and then had a big potluck together.  Dinner was so good.. lots of appetizers, dips, and salads that we all brought.

Brooke lives in a little cul-da-sac that really goes all out for Halloween. There was a house a couple doors down that had made a huge haunted house and had a line around the block for kids and adults. Because Brooke lives close.. all those kids come trick or treating too.. She had a massive pile of candy;

I have never seen so many kids in a neighborhood trick or treating like that.  Most houses had a portable bonfire pit and big fires going and families sitting in lawn chairs waiting for Trick for Treaters and big flat-screen TV's with the Royal's game playing.  It was pretty impressive.

We went Trick or Treating as a family .. even brought the wagon which turned out wonderful as little legs got tired and needed the rest.

Picture of Trick or Treating

Pictures from after.. sitting around the fire, handing out candy to kids and kids enjoying their candy.

Topeka Zoo with Family

 In June, We went to the Topeka Zoo as as family. The Topeka zoo is a relatively small zoo and it only took us 90 minutes to walk and see all the animals.  And it was perfect for 2 five year olds especially Payden who would get over-stimulated pretty easy.

We saw all their favorites and they had so much fun!

Tigers (1 picture from Internet) 

 Orangutans

Giraffes

Elephants

Next to the zoo they have a train to ride and park for the kids.

At the park, there was a kid's train that they loved to climb on. 

The park itself is a true favorite. .. so much fun!

LAP - Preschool Halloween 2014

Patrick and Payden's Preschool always has a Halloween parade.  They dress in their costumes and then as a class, they walk around KU campus trick or treating.  Teachers have "placed" candy to students along the way to help pass out candy.  I had prepared Payden all week using the visual schedule from last year about what was going to happen.  I was so happy that my preparation paid off!  When the time came, tho I was stuck at the Dealership getting the car fixed and missed the whole thing.  :(

Betty, the director, said they both did very well.  Payden agreed to wear the vest only which was fine. he seemed to really enjoy himself. As he came off the bus he said, "Happy Halloween, put on costume."  It was really cute!   Patrick, of course, just wanted to dig into his huge bag of candy.  I asked him what he wanted for lunch and he said, "my candy." 

Here's a Class Picture - 

Parade - Trick or Treating 

 Sitting down to take a break

 More Trick or Treating