31 for 21 - Creative Thinking!

K is getting much more creative & thoughtful when she is trying to get her own way.

A couple of days ago, while getting the kids ready for school, I noticed that K was no longer sitting at the table for breakfast - she often sleeps about 1/2 hour later & therefore eats after the older girls are all done. I went looking for her & found her in the bathroom............she had shut the door so I couldn't see & was quietly eating the organic bunny crackers that I had packed for her snack at preschool.

A couple of weeks ago, I taught K to use the computer mouse, so she now turns on Little Reader whenever she has a chance. Tonight, I needed to send an email, so I told her that when it was over, it was my turn. Twice when I wasn't paying attention, she put it on again. Finally, I said it was my turn to have the computer now. K is getting much better at thinking of how to get her own way & tonight,she turned to me, gave me a hug & very sweetly said "You need to go right to bed"

31 for 21 - Hoppin' for 21 Blog Hop

There is a blog hop happening for Down Syndrome Awareness month. Full details are on Crazy Beautiful Love

31 for 21 - Reading Comprehension

 These neat little cards from Discovery Toys are another  50 cent rummage sale bargain!  

They have short phrases & many of them are actions.  Most of them are really easy for K to read. Although we were very careful to avoid testing when K was young, we are much more relaxed about it now as she willingly reads out loud to us all the time.  I often read that kids with Down syndrome learn sight words, but that their comprehension lags behind their reading level.  I have always thought that k understood basically everything she reads, from simple words to more complex sentences. I purposely never taught her any of the words on these cards & have only had her read them to me.  They are a simple way for me to understand K's comprehension of what she is reading & I am very happy with how she is doing at this.  It is really confirming my thoughts that she is understanding what she reads.

K thinks it is quite a fun game to act out these cards:)!

31 for 21 - Monkey Bars

We have done upper body excercises with K since she was little.  By 1 year of age, she could grasp my thumbs in her hand & hold her body up for about 10 or 15 seconds. We have had a bar in the doorway for her to pull herself up with since that time & more recently a bar to swing from in the pantry, although, recently, we haven't encourage K to use it as often. We have been planning to make a brachiation ladder, but recently, I was given an older set of monkey bars, so I thought we would use them for the summer & plan to make the brachiation ladder in the fall, to be used next winter.  The fun part of having 4 girls, is that we don't  have to worry about the colors they choose:

PICTURE to FOLLOW - tonight, I accidentally bumped the little gadget that gives us wifi off of the desk & down the stairs. So, until my husband is able to take a look at it, the only internet I have is on my phone which does not allow me to upload pictures. I'll post a pic of our colorful monkey bars when I can:)


The brachitation ladder will be much more useful because it can be adjusted to your child's height. Here is an example of the sort of brachiation ladder we plan to build. 

31 for 21 - Random Stories From School Today

Things I overheard in the school hallway today:

"K is the smartest little kid I know!"

K is so smart that she is going to graduate in grade  9!

When I picked K up from school at lunch today, there was a little fighting going on at the playground.......... & she was right in the middle of it!  It sounded kind of like this: "I want to play with K.""  No, it's my turn to play with her. ""No, I want to play with her, she's my friend!"  I sat back watching & giggling until finally a  little girl stepped in & said, "Let K decide what she wants to do!"

Later, during my older girl's volleyball game, I was helping in the concession & K wanted a treat.  She started to grab a bag of chips off of the table.  I told her "no, this is like a store, & you need money to pay for things.  A couple of minutes later, as she wandered around the concession, waiting for me, she spied the cash box.  She found a couple of 10 dollar bills & happily brought them to me expecting to get to buy her chips........time for another life lesson!

31 for 21 - Check out these blogs

Tonight is Awards Night at school for my oldest 3 daughters. It is always a wonderful evening  Each child in our small school is honored for several of their accomplishments during the past year.  Some are measured goals, like the track & field record one of my daughter's was recognized for breaking the year before, while some are things like being the most compassionate, friendly or helpful student.  It is always a wonderful evening with lots of home baking & visiting afterwards. Our kids also have their class pictures this afternoon & thanks to a broken down water system which likely won't be fixed until later today, & a brand new washing machine that was broken down the week before, it looks like I'll be heading to the laundry mat to wash the clothes they will need.  Therefore, since I have very little time today, I'm sending you to read a couple of blogs that I have been honored to be featured on during the 31 for 21 challenge.  The links are to the posts about my blog, but make sure you check out the other posts too!

Four Blessings of Mine 

&

No Time to Be Bored

Make sure you check out the free printable quote on No Time to Be Bored which was inspired by K!

31 for 21 - More Swimming Lessons

Today, my youngest 2 daughters started swimming lessons.  They each passed a level this summer & I wanted to get them back in the pool again fairly soon.  My older daughters seemed to regress a little in their swimming ability during the winter at this age & I am trying to prevent that.

K is very comfortable in the water & had no trouble jumping in or putting her head under the water.  She was a little unsure about floating on her back, so we'll have to work on that.

I admit that I was a little nervous at the start.  Although I didn't mention that K has Down syndrome when I registered her, it is a small community, so everyone knew.  I don't know if this really makes sense, but I feel like sometimes she has to behave even better than the other kids because she has DS.  She made me very proud & really did well during the class, doing all of the activities when she was told.  At one point she did wander a little farther away than the others during an activity, but returned when asked & continued to do well in the rest of the class.   She was really good right until the end of the class when all of the kids were supposed to get off of the water slide & head back to their parents.  Of course, K had to show off  her independent side!  She came 3/4 of the way back to me, turned, looked at that big, empty, inviting, pool & jumped back in!

Afterwards, I had a chat with the swim instructor.  She was pleased with how well K was doing, but then made a comment about "them" not learning as quickly.  First of all,  our kids are not "them".  My child is a unique person, as is every other kids with Down syndrome.   This is one of my pet peeves.  It also really bugs me when people decide that kids with DS can't learn as well when they don't even know them.  Of course, I had to start a discussion about her comment.  Then to prove my point, I had K read some of the various signs around the pool like "No Running". The instructor called a couple of others over to listen.  They asked questions about her age, how she could read at such an early age, etc.  That's my little advocate!  I hope they think twice before judging people by their looks again.