Life According to A.J.

2011 Winter Games

2011-02-06T07:22:00.000-05:00

Ready to hit the slopes!

Coach Mike helps AJ master the gates

   AJ "The Red Dragon" Maynard

   AJ won a Bronze Medal in the Giant Slalom
   and a Silver Medal in the Slalom!

2010-07-23T19:47:00.002-04:00

Lately, AJ is all about recipes. Just about any food that's put in front of him prompts the usual questions of, "How'd you make that?" and, "What secret ingredient?"

We were at a restaurant, and there was an advertisement on the table for apple pie. I asked him how to make that and he launched into a dissertation about sugar and bowls and stirring.

I asked him what the secret ingredient is in apple pies. He very seriously replied, "Apple Trees." Huh.

I asked how you cook it. According to his recipe, it's baked in an "oven" at "One Hundred Frisbees".

Delicious.

Mechanics

2010-05-20T20:36:00.004-04:00

AJ and I were out running some errands today. Upon exiting from the store, we got in the car and when I turned the key....nothing. Not a click, not a buzz...zilch.

*&^@!$#!!

AJ has an immediate solution. "Car broken. New one. Store."

Uh...yeah, buddy...let's just walk on over to Walmart and pick one up.

So...since the thing is nothing but a big paperweight at this juncture, I decide I can't break it any worse and open the hood to explore.

I ponder aloud what might be wrong. He offers, "No power. Lightning storm."

Since there's not a cloud in the sky, I highly doubt the car was struck by lightning while we were in the store. But, the young man makes a good general point....since not even the clock is working, it's gotta be electrical.

The only part of the electrical system I know I can get to (or even identify) is the battery. Checking that, sure enough...a loose cable. I have AJ help me get some tools out of the trunk and he looks on as I tighten it up.

I turn the key and...Tah-Dah! Starts right up.

He's grinning and obviously very impressed with what we've done. He proudly proclaims, "Mom. We're a GENIUS."

Indeed we are.

2010-05-13T20:42:00.001-04:00

Lots of great things AJ has learned over the past few years seem to all be coming together functionally for him this school year.

Whenever we do any kind of written homework together, I always tell him to write his name on it when he's finished. Apparently giving credit where credit is due, since I help him, he seems to feel obligated to write my name on it, too. He's learned to spell "Mom" on his own, a wonderful accomplishment. But it always seems that the "o" in my name is a little shaky.

Tonight I realized that it's because he always spells it:
Mm.

First Shave

2010-04-02T13:22:00.000-04:00

AJ and Grandpa went shopping for a new razor today and Grandpa taught him how to shave.

He seemed to get the hang of it and is looking handsome!

Champion

2010-02-09T06:23:00.000-05:00

A.J. started downhill skiing this winter. It's been frustrating for him, but he's stuck with it. He started the season unable to make all the way down the hill without falling...even when he had two coaches propping him up on either side. By the end of the season, he was able to make it all the way down without any assistance at all.

The course at the State Winter Games was much more difficult than he had seen at the Area Games. He practiced and practiced, but making those gates was a real challenge. During his competition run, he fell about halfway down losing his poles and a ski. He was determined to finish. He struggled and struggled, but finally retrieved his poles and got his ski back on. He started down the hill again. A few yards from the finish line he had another wipe out, this time losing both skis. He wasn't going to give up. It took him several minutes, but he finally got those skis back on and crossed the line. I met him at the bottom. He was clearly frustrated and had tears in his eyes (he never cries). But he wasn't giving up. He headed straight back up the hill, telling me, "I not cheat! I try again!"

I don't think I've ever been as proud of him as I was at that moment.

Listening to Coach Mike

Getting his Award Ribbon

Having a blast with Bailey at the Dance!

Looking Cool in the Team Jersey

Girlfriend?

2010-01-25T20:26:00.002-05:00

At Basketball practice tonight, 15 yr. old Savannah (who also has Down Syndrome) confessed to me that she thinks AJ is "cute" and that her Mom teases her about him. Savannah's mom had shared with me a few weeks ago that Savannah has had a crush on him for some time. This girl is absolutely adorable.

On the way home from Basketball I told AJ, "Savannah told me she thinks you're a cutie." His mouth fell open. I told him, "She likes you."

He's now grinning from ear to ear. Absolutely beaming, he tells me, "That's so cool!"

He thinks for a few seconds and then asks, "Can I talk to her?"

I told him that....yeah...that would be a good start and that I'd point her out to him at Swim practice on Saturday.

He looks out the window, pondering the situation some more and I hear him say to himself, "Huh. Girlfriend."

Oh, boy...let fun begin...

He's Back!

2009-11-03T19:56:00.003-05:00

AJ was in the hospital with H1N1 and pneumonia and hasn't been to school in 10 days. Thankfully, despite the scare he gave everyone, he's recovering nicely.

When I told him last night that he was going back to school for part of the day today, he was thrilled and immediately told me they were having a party for him. I asked what kind of a party and he told me, "Donuts". (?!) As I highly doubted that his teacher was in any way prepared for the party he had planned for himself, we had to stop and buy donuts and cider on the way in to school this morning. He couldn't have been more pleased.

I think he knows what a lot of us tend to forget. Celebrating the fact that you are alive and planning a party for yourself because of it is simply the right thing to do!

Soccer Star

2009-10-18T11:05:00.010-04:00

AJ played in his first Special Olympic State Soccer Tournament this weekend. He had a great time and did really well! Here's a few pictures:

And some video (He's the one in yellow that starts out with the ball):

Solar System

2009-09-17T19:41:00.002-04:00

For years now, when asked what he did in school, AJ usually replies with a rather vague "Nothing" or "Lunch".

Not one to give up, when he got off the bus today, I asked him, as I do every day, what he did at school today.

I got an enthusiastic, "Planets. Pluto and Saturn."

I was impressed. And, indeed the lesson plans sent home from school all week have said that they are learning about the solar system.

So, while we were out for a bike ride, I was asking him to name the planets for me. He again named Pluto and Saturn. I asked him to name another planet. He thought, and then told me "Moon."

I kept pushing, asking for him to name one more planet. He thought for a long, long time and then excitedly exclaimed, "I know! Animal Planet!"

Fossils

2009-09-07T18:09:00.002-04:00

AJ is really interested in dinosaurs right now.

We've been out roaming in the woods behind the house the last two afternoons, looking for treasures.

Today, much to his delight, AJ found a good portion of a DINOSAUR skeleton including the teeth and head. It appears to be a Deerosaurus, that were known to roam these woods during the Triassic and Jurassic periods. He loaded it all up in a grocery bag and hauled it back to the house.

He wants me to put it back together...like the "museum". Near as I can figure, it's one of those half-spined, no-necked, one-legged Deerosauruses.

We're definitely gonna need Grandpa.

What Is It?

2009-08-15T05:29:00.002-04:00

Despite my best efforts, AJ continues to refer to a "Skunk" as a "Stunk"...which really makes a lot more sense if you think about it...

Anyway, as we're driving home, we pass a "stunk" that has been hit by a car. This of course leads to animated comments from AJ about how terrible it smells, how disgusting it is, etc.

He asks, "What a Stunk?"

I reply, "What do you think a skunk is?"

He ponders and replies, "Cat with smelly medicine."

It's Not Halloween Yet....

2009-08-05T06:27:00.002-04:00

I woke up one morning to the promise of a hot and humid Michigan day. I decided to wear that jumper that hadn't been pulled out of my closet in quite some time. Keep in mind, the dress code at work is pretty casual and I very rarely wear a dress....

When I came down the hall, AJ looked me over, patted me on the head and commented seriously, "I like your costume."

Interpretation

2009-05-01T16:54:00.003-04:00

AJ often substitutes words and language he knows for lyrics of songs...it makes me giggle to myself.

But today...I had to laugh out loud....

Right now, he's stuck on the soundtrack from Jesus Christ Superstar. He was singing at the top of his lungs in the car on the way home from school. I was very amused to find out that, according to AJ's lyrics, Jesus was "King of the Shoes."

And, to think....all along I was lead to believe Jesus was Jewish.

Shrinking?

2009-04-17T07:16:00.000-04:00

AJ's on a huge growth spurt.

This morning, he snagged me in the hall and gave me a hug. Suddenly, he put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me away to arms length. He put his hand on my head then over his head, measuring.

Grinning, he announced, "You're shorter again!"

Pet Names

2009-03-26T06:14:00.004-04:00

AJ has never quite caught on to the Mister and Misses thing. Despite everyone's best efforts, he simply calls all of his teacher by their last names. Sometimes, however, he just can't quite remember the whole last name.

AJ's regular ed teacher caught me in the parking lot the other day. Her name is Mrs. VanHoe. With a smile, she was remarking how it makes her laugh every time he addresses her.

He simply calls her Ho'.

I told her that I was sure he means it affectionately!

Can you believe it?

2009-02-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

He's TWELVE!!!

"Said"

2009-01-28T20:41:00.001-05:00

AJ and I were doing his reading homework. He buzzed through reading the assigned 'Max' worksheet three times with lightning speed with the exception of stumbling over the word "said" each of the three times it appeared on the sheet.

When he was done, I told him that I had a test: "Find said."

He pointed twice at what seemed to be random. I thought maybe he didn't understand what I was asking.

I repeated "Find said."

Again, he pointed twice at what seemed to be random. I was puzzled at why he was so confused.

I told him a third time, "Find said."

He pointed twice and it hit me that he WASN'T pointing at random...he was pointing at the quotation marks!

Persuasion

2009-01-27T19:17:00.000-05:00

I was tucking AJ into bed the other night. As I lean over to give him a kiss, he lets loose the biggest, loudest fart you've ever heard....and proceeds to giggle hysterically.

Not being a boy, I don't find it nearly as amusing as he does, immediately back away, say a distant goodnight from the doorway and make a quick exit.

He desperately tries to persuade me to come back:

AJ: "Mom. Hug"

Mom: "No way."

AJ: "Mom...c'mere. Kiss."

Mom: "Nope. Go to sleep"

AJ: "Mom. No more stink."

Mom: "Yes it does. Goodnight"

AJ: "Mom. Hug. Please."

Mom: "Nope!"

AJ: "Kiss!"

Mom: "No way."

AJ: "Mommmm......be friendly!"

Eye Exam

2008-12-17T05:03:00.000-05:00

AJ needed his eyes checked. I suggested to the doctor that he use letters rather than pictures since he has become quite proficient in identifying them over the last year.

AJ was a willing participant, with the small exception that he took his eye exam "phonetically". Rather than saying the name of the letter that was being shown, he said the sound the letter makes and gave an example of a word that begins with that letter. The doctor said he'd never had it done quite that way before!

Halloween Costume

2008-10-12T10:18:00.000-04:00

Since we turned the calendar page to October, AJ has been agonizing over what he wants to be for Halloween. We went to the costume shop yesterday. He scrutinized costume after costume...Pirates, superheroes, doctors, ninjas, rock stars... Finally, something caught his eye and he told me breathlessly, "HERE IT IS!" I was rather surprised by his choice and asked him, what is it? Immediate reply "Pharaoh. Joseph Coat!" So...here he is. The Pharaoh from the musical "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat."

Just like...

2008-09-26T06:16:00.000-04:00

I told AJ to go pick out clothes to wear to the Fair and get himself dressed.

After a bit, he came down the hall in his nice khaki shorts and...the camouflage shirt Grandpa had given him.

He struck a pose, hands on hips. "How do I look?"

I told him, "You look just like your Grandpa."

He shot me a grin that about split his face, "Wowwww.....Thanks!"

"Q"

2008-09-17T02:14:00.000-04:00

We went for a walk last night and were playing our usual game of, "Give me a word that starts with _______"

AJ was doing great thinking of words that began with random letters.

"Z...Zebra."

"S...Snake."

"A...Apple."

Give me a word that starts with "Q".

"Q...Cute."

Makes more sense than "C", doesn't it?

Smoking

2008-08-08T18:53:00.000-04:00

We were over at the neighbor's the other day swimming. Mike and I were sitting at the table talking. AJ came and sat down next to Mike to dry off. As we continue to chat, Mike lit up a cigarette.

AJ watched with interest as Mike inhaled and blew out smoke. Mike kind of chuckled and asked AJ, "Are you going to smoke someday?"

Without missing a beat, AJ replied, "No. I too careful."

Vocabulary

2008-07-19T11:51:00.000-04:00

We were getting ready to go for a swim when, out of the blue AJ asked me, "Mom, What's 'warrior' mean?"

I was floored...a complete sentence (rare), a new word and a request for a definition.

Now I just need to figure out whether or not what he was watching on TV with the sitter that day that prompted the new word was appropriate! (Though I highly suspect it must be from Power Rangers.)

AJ Meets the Power Rangers - Video

2008-04-28T06:35:00.000-04:00

A Dream Come True!

Art Work

2008-04-15T18:34:00.000-04:00

AJ's becoming quite the artist. Here's a picture he brought home from school today that was drawn on the back of one of his worksheets. He explained that it was Peter Pan and the gang.

Note the great detail on "Wendy". No...not the long hair. Lower...

Super Mario

2008-03-21T06:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was 'fantasy character' day at school. AJ went as Super Mario from his favorite video game.

George Washington

2008-02-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

AJ has been spending more time in the regular ed classroom. One of the things he has been participating in is social studies. The regular ed teacher has done well either adapting or finding something similar to what the other kids are doing. She says that he really seems to enjoy being in there and that, when he's finished with his work, he always asks her to "show kids". So, she lets him get up front and tell them what he's done. She says the kids are great and clap and tell him what a great job he did.

They were apparently doing reports about George Washington. She had him work on some Kindergarten/1st grade worksheets about George Washington that had dot-to-dots, matching, fill in the blank, sentence writing, etc. All very appropriate level-wise. When he was finished, she stapled it together and he had his "report". He was really proud of it and wanted to show it off to me and tell me about it when he brought it home. Went something like this:

Front page - Picture of George Washington. His explanation:
"The man."

Next page - Cherry trees. His explanation:
"The man's trees. Knock 'em down."

Next page - Dollar bill and a quarter. His explanation:
"The man's money."

Next page - Picture of Mount Vernon. His explanation:
"The man's hotel."

Apparently, since it was really big, it couldn't have been the man's house!

But, the fact is, he did seem to grasp some of the basics of George Washington.

Musical Instruments

2008-02-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

I was recently spring cleaning the kitchen. (Yes...I know it's a bit early, but I'm really ready for spring.) We collect old bottles...several small ones from the windowsill were down within AJ's reach.

I heard an interesting tune coming from my dining room. I see that AJ's got a bottle in each hand, blowing a beat. I told him it sounded pretty good. He pointed to the top of my cupboards where there are probably well over 100 old bottles. "Mommy, please down ALL instruments."

All?

He talked me into climbing up there to get couple more big ones for low tones.

2008-01-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

There was a two hour school delay....

I explained to AJ that there was a delay and that he was coming to the office to help me work 'cause Jody (co-worker) and I have a lot to do (we had both set aside the entire day to do file review on 138 files). Keep in mind that AJ absolutely ADORES Jody and her big blue eyes. He always makes a bee-line straight to her office to see if she's there...which works for me 'cause when I need to bring him to the office she watches him for me while I do what I need to do...

Anyway...

I explain to him that Jody and I need him to help pull, stack and carry files. (And he really was a good helper!) He asked me, "AJ work?"

I told him, that he was going to have a job at the office and do some work.

"AJ money?"

WHAT???

I asked if he thought he should get paid money to do the work.

"Yes."

I asked how much.

"Ten dollars."

(The offer was very firm, no room for negotiating.)

I asked him what he was going to do with the money.

"Give Jody."

She was delighted with the arrangement.

I was not.

Dirty Stick

2008-01-25T17:55:00.000-05:00

AJ came out of the shower yesterday morning and asked me for a "Dirty Stick".

Maybe I didn't hear him correctly, "A what?"

"Dirty Stick."

I'm clueless and need another hint. "What do you do with a Dirty Stick?"

"Clean the ears. Dirty."

Oh....

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-18T20:39:00.001-05:00

Big Foot

2007-12-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

School was closed today due to an ice storm. After things melted off a bit, I decided to drag AJ out to do some Christmas shopping for his cousins and teachers. (Okay. I admit it, there was a bit of a bribe involving lunch at his favorite restaurant, Mongolian Buffet.)

I kept getting after him for walking slow (-er than usual) and, well...weird. After about the tenth time I said something to him it occurred to me to check his shoes. They certainly did seem a little tight...could account for how he was walking. We popped into the nearest shoe store to get measured. He limped in wearing a size three. He skipped out wearing a size 4 1/2.

There are lots of up-sides to having a kid that never complains about anything, but this isn't one of them.

Yeah...as a matter of fact I do feel like a real jerk.

Ho, Ho....Uh-Oh

2007-11-25T20:55:00.000-05:00

AJ, in his spontaneous way, can sometimes unknowingly make things seem a bit better...

We decorated the house for Christmas today. Began with him helping me put up the tree...putting all the branches in the wrong places so it looked like a sculpted shrub until I got everything where it belonged. Then, I got lots of 'help' putting on the lights, which amounted to untangling the stuff I had already untangled but he was trying to put on the tree while I was putting on the other end. Finished that and repeated the process with his continued 'help' with the garland. Hoping to distract him, I brought in the 20 gallon plastic container of decorations. I immediately recognized this as a mistake as the tub was excitedly and promptly dumped upside down so he could look at everything that was in there all at once. While trying to decorate the tree, he decided he was hungry, so the decorating process was interrupted to make some pizza. While he was busy eating in front of a Christmas movie, I proceeded to decorate the tree as quickly as possible to avoid more 'help'. He announced that he needed more juice. In an effort to promote independence (and because I was still trying to untangle the garland he had assisted with), I asked him to get it himself. He happily dashed to the kitchen, pulled out the gallon pitcher of lime-aid and immediately dropped onto the floor. This catastrophe necessitated having to wash the sticky mess off the floor, including pulling out the refrigerator to get at the lime-aid that had made it's way under there. All the towels it took to mop up the mess made for yet another load of laundry. There was just enough juice left in the bottom of the pitcher to fill him a cup to drink. We went back to the living room to continue decorating. I kept working on the tree. He busily pushed every button on every singing, noise-making Christmas toy bombarding me with Santas, snowmen and a host of other winter characters belting out a variety of Christmas carols. Either he lost interest in that or all of the batteries in all of those toys died (I haven't checked yet...might not until New Year's). Suddenly it was quiet...for a few seconds. He turned on the Christmas piano, setting forth another barrage of Christmas melodies to which he made up his own words: "Christmas...Mom is nuts. Lights. Crazy mom. Decorations. Thank you, Mommy...Christmas tree. Happy. Merry Christmas. Thank you Mom."

Okay. I'm a sucker...I'll decorate with him again next year.

Abra Cadabra

2007-10-21T07:53:00.000-04:00

I was a bit early picking AJ up from school. As I walked in, his aide spotted me from the office and pointed me toward his classroom. The door to the classroom was ajar. AJ's back was turned and so was his teacher's. The kids were busy readying the classroom for the weekend, stacking chairs and the like, and no one really took notice of me. I quickly crossed the room and sat in a chair in the corner, fairly out of sight.

I chuckled as his teacher, who was obviously glad it was Friday, displayed extreme self control trying to get the kids (who were also obviously glad it was Friday), to finish their assigned tasks.

AJ pushed stacked chairs in the opposite direction of which they should go. Not that he didn't understand...he understood perfectly well that he was clowning and had the attention of the boy giggling next to him. That finished, his teacher directed him to finish putting away the clean dishes on the sink. He started toward the sink, she turned away and he began happily fiddling with the pencil sharpener. After a bit, she turned back his way and he scurried toward the sink.

Coming my way with a couple of clean dishes to be put away, he finally spotted me in the corner. I told him, "I saw you goofing around with that pencil sharpener instead of doing your job."

He looked stunned and said with awe, "You're magic!"

Looking Good

2007-09-25T19:45:00.000-04:00

I was in AJ's room, putting clean linen on the bed. He comes in fresh from his shower and pulls out clothes to put on for bed. A ratty old t-shirt of mine and a pair of incredibly baggy boxer shorts he snagged from Grandpa.

He puts them on, then admires himself in the mirror. He turns and asks me, "How do I look?"

"Comfortable." I reply.

He rolls his eyes at me, "No, Mom. Perfect."

Really too bad about his low self-esteem.

Mommy Must be a Monster

2007-09-12T06:10:00.000-04:00

I was tucking AJ into bed last night and sort of rubbing his back. He begins to relax and then tells me, "AJ itchy. Use claws."

First Day of School

2007-09-05T16:11:00.000-04:00

AJ started school yesterday. We really raised the bar as far as addressing targeted behaviors and, so far, so good...

Last year, we finally got to the point where I dropped him at the curb and he walked into school by himself where his aide would wave at me that they had him. He had some major changes this year...new classroom on the opposite end of the building, new locker, new door to line up at in the morning. I took him up to school every day the week before school to practice finding the right door, finding his locker, learning how to open the locker, etc. and finding his classroom.

First day of school. I drop him at the curb...he goes right to the correct door. Greets friends, hanging out. After a few minutes, turns around to see I am still parked at the curb watching to make sure he's okay. He's appalled. Stomps his foot, points to the exit and hollers, "Go! Got it! FINE!" So...I drive out of sight. Park the car. Enter the building on the opposite end, hide around the corner to watch. He walked in nicely with his classmates, found his locker, got his folder out, hung his backpack, closed his locker quietly and went into the right classroom.

You know what?

I need to "Go!" He's "Got it!" He's just "FINE!"

Geesh, Mom...grow up.

First Shave

2007-08-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

AJ came out of the bathroom and announced to Caleb, who's watching him this summer, that he had "Shave a mustache".

Caleb said he saw hair on his face and shirt and couldn't quite figure out what was going on. Upon closer inspection, indeed AJ had shaved...one eyebrow.

Poor Caleb was so worried I'd be mad...I found the whole thing rather funny. What kid hasn't tried to cut his own hair...or whatever?

Did tell Caleb that, when it is time for AJ to learn to shave, we'd be calling him home from college and I expect that he will teach him to shave properly!

2007-08-10T06:22:00.000-04:00

We were walking into Dollar General the other day. AJ held the door for me and then for the elderly lady behind us (Good boy! I've been working on that since he was big enough not to have the door crush him.) I thought he was behind me, but, glancing back, I see he is still holding the door and watching two teen girls walking across the parking lot. He patiently waits and waits until the two girls get to the door he's holding. He gets big thank-you's, and is quite obviously pleased with himself . He trots up to me, grins and announces, "They gorgeous."

Lost

2007-08-09T16:55:00.000-04:00

We rode our bikes to the library to return some books. On the way home, AJ decided that he wanted to take an alternate route. I followed. He wound around a couple of different blocks, then told me he wanted to "Go home". We rode up to the next corner. He looked left, looked right, looked straight ahead and then gave me a quizzical look and asked, "Where'd go home go?"

2007-07-17T06:45:00.000-04:00

AJ loved to ride his bike....until he got too big for his farm tricycle four years ago. I've tried everything...big fat training wheels, the tag-along on my bike...you name it. Everything was pure torture for him and he hated it. He seemed absolutely petrified every time he got on the two-wheeler no matter how much we practiced. I finally figured there just must be something I was missing about the whole deal. This link about Down Syndrome, poor vision, muscle tone, ligamentous laxity and balance pretty much was talking about AJ:

http://www.downsyndromeconnection.org/index.php?page=ask-dr-trotter

So, here's pics of AJ on the new trike he got a couple weeks ago. He thinks he's big stuff when he rides into town to help me run errands. The other day we rode to the library to return a movie, to Village Hall to pay the water bill and to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. That basket comes in handy...he toted home four bags of groceries!

He LOVES it and is so proud to be out and riding in the neighborhood. Unlike I worried about, he's gotten nothing but positive comments from the kids in the neighborhood about how "cool" it is. He doesn't call it "my bike". He calls it "my OWN bike".

Restaurants

2007-07-15T21:05:00.000-04:00

We were finished doing our running around Saturday and on our way to find some lunch. Told AJ we were going to find a restaurant. We passed McDonald's. He pointed, "There it is!" I told him that we were going to find a "sit down" restaurant. He looked disappointed.

We passed Burger King, he pointed and said "Speed."

"Huh?" I asked.

"Speed food!"

The rest of us call it fast food...but...I got the point.

Trip to St. Louis

2007-06-24T19:51:00.001-04:00

Special Olympics Summer Games 2007

2007-06-12T21:04:00.000-04:00

FORE!

2007-05-28T20:07:00.001-04:00

We've taken AJ out golfing a few times the past couple years. He loves it this year! We have him play a scramble and drop a ball near one of ours. He played all nine holes both times and was an absolute riot. When he’d hit a ball off the tee he didn’t like, we’d ask him if he wanted to take a Mulligan and give him another ball. After a while when he didn’t like his shot, he started asking on his own…for a “Missed-Again.”

Golf according to AJ:

Don’t give a second thought to handing someone else the club you just used and expecting them to put it back in your bag for you.

You may start getting tired around the sixth hole. Feel free to sit on the grass to plant your tee in the ground so that you can fully concentrate on balancing your ball on it prior to hitting.

Golfing is much like being in a parade. Wave at everyone within your field of vision. If they are close enough, feel free to try and start a conversation.

When someone hits and creates a divot, yell, “Too bad!” and then run after the chunk of grass with wild abandon and replace it for them with a grin.

If someone “whiffs” and misses the ball entirely let out that belly-roar that others would politely hold back.

Flatly refuse to drive the cart. If someone insists that you should at least try, make them work the accelerator while you steer.

If you hit a shot that you are particularly pleased with, hustle right over to the nearest person and hug them.

Do You Understand?

2007-05-09T18:40:00.000-04:00

AJ was out playing with some neighborhood kids this evening. They were all making a "garden". Daina told AJ to come with her to get more rocks. AJ immediately picked up a shovel and began digging.

Riley said to Daina, "I don't think he understands."

Daina, who adores AJ, looked at Riley in disgust and replied, "Oh, he understands, he just doesn't care what I said."

Daina's going to be a really good mother someday!

Money

2007-04-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

Today's note from the teacher:

Gave him the Brigance (test) today. That was an experience. Did you know that one dollar bills are called "buyadrink" and that two one dollar bills are called "one-two buyadrink"? I didn't know they had new names!

Loach: a.ka. - "Snake Fish"

2007-04-24T07:21:00.000-04:00

This morning, AJ was sitting in front of the aquarium eating his breakfast. He pointed to one of the loaches and asked, "What's his name?"

I told him that he had never really named it, but that he could name it whatever he wanted. He thought a minute and replied, "Snake Fish."

"Well," I replied, "That's what it is, but that's not a name. You are a boy and your name is AJ. That big snake fish, what could you name him?"

He thought again and firmly stated, "Grandpa."

"That's a good name," I told him. "What do you want to name the little snake fish?"

Without hesitation he answered, "Grandma."

His grandparents will be so flattered.

2007-04-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

Coconut

2007-04-23T18:00:00.000-04:00

I recently bought a whole coconut thinking it would be fun and interesting for AJ to see how it was opened and what was inside. He was immediately intrigued. I pierced the eye and was shaking the coconut milk into a glass. He was watching intently and dancing along to the rhythm of my shaking. I laughed and told him, "Sing!" He immediately broke into song. The tune was vaguely familiar and I kept hearing the word 'coconut' and saw him put his hands on his stomach a couple of times. He quite obviously knew exactly what he was singing. It took me a minute to catch on to the lyrics...but then I got it and I have no idea how he knows it:

Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
His sister had another one, she paid if for a lime
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
She put a lime in the coconut, she called the doctor, woke him up
And said, "Doctor ain't there nothing I can take.
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
I say, Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?"

~ Harry Nilsson~

Amber

2007-04-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

In the car AJ out of the blue says, "Amber."

Mom: "Amber, who?"

AJ: "Amber school."

Mom: "Amber at school?"

AJ: "Yeah. I like her."

Mom: "You do? Is she your girlfriend?"

AJ: "Yeah."

Mom: "Is she nice?"

AJ: "Yeah."

Mom: "Is she in Mrs. Smetana's class?"

AJ: "Yeah. Pledge."

Mom: "She does the Pledge of Allegiance?"

AJ: "Yeah." (He recites the Pledge.)

Mom: "Do you eat lunch with her?"

AJ: "No. Not lunch."

Mom (Knowing he usually goes for the blondes): "What color hair does she have?"

AJ: "Stripes."

I gotta meet this girl.

Small Town

2007-03-30T21:20:00.000-04:00

After dinner, I wanted to take the dog for a walk. AJ insisted that, on this walk, he needed to wear his Batman costume...complete with ankle length black cape and full face mask. I'm not thrilled, but...whatever... Off we go... We get to the middle school playground where about two dozen boys between the ages of 6 and 16 are playing basketball. AJ makes a sprint toward the courts. Several kids good naturedly holler, "Hi, Batman!" AJ rips off the mask and cape, and smiles, replying, "It's me. AJ." He hands me the costume, tells me, "Hold this" and runs off. Someone tosses him a ball. He's involves himself in two different games. Depending on where he is at any given moment, the boys either include him, or dodge him in a gallant effort not to squash him. He's having a blast giving and getting high fives and telling everyone "Good shot!" even if they miss the basket by a mile. After a while he tires. Wanders back to me and dons his costume once again. As we're leaving, one kid near rides his bike over to AJ and asks, "Hey, Batman. Want a piece of candy?" We continue our walk. Only in a small town...

Lipstick

2007-03-30T21:16:00.000-04:00

Notice that AJ's lips are very dry. The only lip balm I have is the kind you have to dip your finger in to put on...seems like a disaster waiting to happen, so we make a quick stop at a gas station to buy a tube of chapstick.

Back in the car, I hand it to AJ. He never sees me put on anything but the stuff that I put on with my finger. I curiously watch to see if he knows what to do. He purses his lips and applies the chapstick carefully. Lips still pursed, he says in a high-pitched voice, "Hi. I'm Grandma." Guess he's been watching when Grandma puts on her lipstick!

Improved Math Skills

2007-03-30T20:52:00.000-04:00

AJ was watching TV. Told him it would be time for bed in ten minutes. He replied, "How 'bout forty-eight?"

2007-02-06T18:06:00.000-05:00

A.J. zipped his coat all by himself for the first time today!

Even without being told...took me totally by surprise.

Hat

2007-02-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

Note from the teacher:

"Today during reading...we were sounding out words. I wrote 'hat' on the board. He totally independently sounded the word and said it correctly with NO prompts. AWESOME!"

Pledge

2007-01-23T19:40:00.000-05:00

Today AJ received an invitation in the mail to bowl in this year's 'Bowl-a-thon' to raise money for Special Olympics. I was asking him if he wanted to participate and trying to explain what it was all about. I told him he would have to call people and ask for pledges. He considered that a moment, then sat up tall, looked straight ahead and put his hand over his heart.

Donald Trump

2007-01-22T19:37:00.000-05:00

AJ and I were wrestling. I started tickling him and he was giggling like always. All of the sudden he stopped, looked at me and yelled, "You're fired!"

Fire!

2007-01-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

Today, due to a cooking mishap, the smoke alarms in the house went off. AJ ran right outside! On the icy deck...barefoot in shorts and a t-shirt...but good thinking nevertheless...

Alphabet

2007-01-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

Today's note home from the teacher said that AJ, "Knows his letters better than the regular ed students in reading."

Cool!

Music Man

2007-01-06T19:04:00.000-05:00

He's the Man

2007-01-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

Looking ahead, I bought AJ some deodorant today. Given his frequent reluctance to try new things, I decided that if I started introducing it now, he would gradually get used to it and get accustomed to using it regularly by the time he actually needs it.

I showed it to him after his shower. He was absolutely thrilled. You would have thought I'd bought him the greatest toy on earth. He took off the cover and confidently slapped it on like a pro despite never having used it before. Cracked me up.

Haircut

2007-01-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

Time for a haircut...

I set up the chair, and tell AJ to sit down while I go into the other room to get the clippers.

I come back, he's giggling like a maniac, and here's what I find....

Because...

2007-01-03T19:42:00.000-05:00

I asked AJ if I could watch TV with him. Teasing, he said, "No."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because." He replied.

"Because why?" I asked.

"Because..." He thought a second, "I not need a because."

Flu Vaccine

2007-01-01T09:02:00.000-05:00

AJ got his annual flu vaccine this year as always.

I had planned on getting the new flu mist for him. Injections are always a major traumatic event involving 3-4 people to complete the task. So, I was very excited about the flu mist nasal spray option.

On the way to the doctor's office, I just told him he was getting "nose spray" to keep well. He's a pro with nose spray, so he didn't think it was any big deal.

However, when we got to the office, they wouldn't give him the mist because of his asthma.

So, while one nurse and I held him still as the second nurse gave him an injection, he was screaming and calling me "CHEATER!"

Yeah...I felt like a real heel.

However, as always he had outstandingly good manners and thanked the nurse that jabbed him.

I, too, was forgiven... after purchasing that stupid Power Ranger toy...

Harmony

2007-01-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

AJ has a passion for music and is a big fan of Broadway...

On the way home one evening, AJ was singing happily to himself in the car.

I remarked, "That's a nice song."

He very clearly replied, "Harmony."

Amused and amazed, I asked, "What's harmony?"

He immediately replied, "A duet."

Next time they need a sub for the music teacher at school, maybe he can fill in…

Excuse Me!

2007-01-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

We were shopping at the Asian market. AJ was looking in the glass case in the seafood section at all of the fish on ice, which still have their heads. He really studies them.

He stands up on his toes, trying to see over the counter. He clears his throat several times to try to get the guy behind the counter's attention. Finally, he says loudly, "Excuse me. Excuse me! Your fish died."

Luckily the guy behind the counter either didn't understand him or didn't speak much English.

Grandpa

2007-01-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

AJ was sitting on my lap facing me and pushing my lips up and down, scrunching them for fish lips, etc.

Suddenly, he pushes all of my hair way back off my forehead, looks hard at me for a minute then says, "Grandpa!" (My dad has a rather prominent receding hairline!!!)

Hot Dog!

2007-01-01T08:21:00.000-05:00

One morning, AJ and I are in the gas station. He's trying to talk me into a hotdog. "I hungry." That didn't work. "Delicious, huh?" Answer is still no. "A bun?" No, nothing.

He looks at me, grins and asks, "You over it?"

What's the Problem?

2007-01-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

I was getting after AJ one day for a report from school about using inappropriate language in Mrs. Smetana's classroom.

He got the usual "You know better/That's not funny" speech. Exasperated, I finally asked him, "What's the problem?"

He looked at me solemnly for a minute then replied, "My lips."