Sleepover Camp and Enchanted Castle

     Caroline decided she was ready for sleepover camp this year and found a friend to go with her.  We dropped her off at Camp Manitoqua this morning.  She scored the top of a 3 level bunk and is rooming with her friend Claudia.  To her, this whole adventure is no big deal and she is ready to take on the week!  

*As I write this, a huge storm is rolling through but a friend close to the camp says they do not have much wind, only rain at this point.

So with Caroline at Camp Manitoqua and Mitchell at ESY (extended school year) and then camp with Tri-County SRA, I thought the other kids and I should do something they both enjoy - video gaming & exciting rides!

Steven has been asking to return to Enchanted Castle ever since we went there for a mother/son outing 2 years ago.  And a bonus came my way when I looked up the phone number online an a Groupon offer popped up - BAMMO!

Grace says this is one of her Best Day Ever days.

 Grace looks like a giant spinning in this teapot for really little kids.

Steven located his favorite game Animal Kaiser and met a kid who looked just like him playing the same game - weird.

 Grace acted 15, not 5, as she rhode the Catapult with arms up and everything.  That is her on the right.

And the play area had taken a few steroids since we were there last and Grace had a blast.  She ended her day shooting giant spiders in Jungle Safari.

Fresh Air

If you drive by our house and you see the windows open like this it is a good sign Mitchell is not home.
Today Mitchell started ESY (Extended School Year) in the morning then onto Tri-County SRA afterwards.  It was such a good feeling to be able to walk around the house,  remove the safety wedges from all the windows and open them wide.

In years past Mitchell would only pop out a screen on a window if it was open all the way and he REALLY wanted to get out but for the most part it was not an issue.  Then he would try to get out more often but was not strong enough to lift the windows up further so as long as it was locked or only open a bit he could not get out.  Starting last summer he began to raise the windows himself and even unlock them first if he was determined enough.  He has popped out his bedroom window on the 2nd floor and sat watching the kids outside with his feet dangling down and even climbed out our bedroom window onto the new roof over the patio.

Starting this spring we installed wedges on all 20 windows and keep the windows open only far enough so Mitchell cannot get his head through.  As you can imagine not much air comes through this tiny opening.  If the wind is blowing right we get a little breeze but mostly we get hot, sticky air.  At night we cannot leave the windows open at all so even if it has been nice all day the air conditioning comes on because there is no air circulating at all without it.

On a morning like today, when I know Mitchell will be gone for the majority, I can open the windows wide and get some nice fresh air and start to feel normally for a few hours.

Last day of Camp

It's the last day of SRA Camp for Mitchell.  This means the next 3 weeks before school starts we will be on semi lock-down here at Casa Ivey.  I will need be on my A-Game to make sure Mitchell doesn't get into too much trouble.  This also means no showers for mom unless someone comes by for a few minutes.  We will try to fill our time with eating breakfast out with Grandparents, the watersilde & swimming at Aunt Maureen's.  I'm sure everyone else is just as excited as we are.
Camp has been such a relief for all of us.  I know Mitchell has a great time while at camp and he gets to do so many fun things he wouldn't otherwise.  He went to the movies twice, Rainforest Cafe, Pump It Up, made cupcakes at Walmart Bakery and Pizzas at Cici's.  Weather permitting he swam every Tuesday & Thursday and got to hang out with his friends and the awesome counselors.  It was wonderful to hear how much everyone thought he had grown since last summer.  He sits with the group and participates well during reading, crafts & lunch.  We only one instance of head butting that resulted in xrays of a nose but it was only bruised - yay.  Brings back memories of Mitchell fracturing his teachers nose less than 1 month into Early Childhood, sorry Miss Tracy!

Camp

Yesterday at the Sox game there was a teenage boy behind us who was cleary on the autism spectrum. Between his verbal stimming and covering his ears in anticipation for the loud crowd noises, his mom kept telling him camp is tomorrow not today, you get on the bus on Monday, today us only Sunday. I hope Mitchell is that excited to go to camp still in 10 yrs.

We are halfway through the second season of summer camp through Tri-County SRA. I am so glad we found the special rec association and it is so close to us. I don't know how I could possibly keep Mitchell occupied all day as well as give the other kids the attention they deserve. The counselors are awesome and have genuinely care for all these kids. Last year I was hesitant to send Mitchell but he fell in love with the camp right away. This year the counselors have commented on much Mitchell has grown since last year, he plays well "with" the other kids, cleans up and sits with the group appropriately. The fact that he has outgrown biting others is a bonus. I am so proud of him and all his hard work. Last week they finally got to hear him actually speak for the first time. First they were reading a book about letters and when they got to O, Mitchell stood up and started yelling P P then when asked if he needed help with his shoes he responded yes! Camp is just as excited about his progress as we are. Tri-County SRA rocks and I am so happy to have them in our lives. Steven & Caroline say Mitchell is so lucky to go to camp and do all the fun stuff. I tell them they're right but they are also very lucky they can make friends in a way Mitchell doesn't know how to... yet.