I played with Lego...........

I spent yesterday morning on "fruit duty" that's "Claytons fruit duty" , the fruit duty you do when there is no fruit...But I digress. I was on duty at Mr5's kinder which means Mr 3 gets to be a big boy and attend also. I love fruit duty...This is shitting me... Let's call it kinder duty OK?? Like I said, I love kinder duty as it gives me an opportunity to watch Mr 5 in an environment outside of his control ( the kids are not additional needs and all speak well , apart for the two other additional needs kids there) to watch him communicate his needs and ideas to other and how they react and reciprocate (or not).

There is a new Lego set called "Action Man" which has propellers, wingsets, wheels and cockpits for construction of flying machines and space ship which George Lucas will never ,ever think of. Do you think I can find this set of Lego any where...Of course not!!!! It was amazing, the Lego set has been available for play during free time for weeks and all the kids gravitate to it, good thing they have quite a few sets or there'd be trouble. The concepts that these minds come up with and what they put on the "ships' is just beyond comprehension...Their minds are like blank paper and along comes an instrument of creation like a pen and a masterpiece is created. It was wondrous to watch and when asked to build something I could come no where near to the masterpieces these kids created.

I watched and helped some girls cut and paste some balls for a juggling clown, listened to them chatter and chatted with them...One is going to Italy on a cruise for a holiday at Christmas, she tells me...I was later told by the teacher this is a fib and she is only saying it because her friend did go on a cruise to Italy. One upmanship and competiveness starts at 4 it seems.

I was involved in a conspiracy to hide one of the teachers shoes, I built a landing pad with wooden blocks for a the spaceships, I painted funny pictures whilst they ate their snacks, I played with play dough, made cakes and pizzas and "ate" them, I coloured, read ,painted and kicked, climbed the fort (one child would not leave it when it was time to go back into the classroom) I had a ball...dunno about the kids but I had fun.

Driving in America

And this is just as scary,who Do you give way to???? maybe I am never meant to drive OS. AND maybe our driving is just as scary to OS visitors as us

Now is it just me or does this look so scary and wrong to us in the Antipodes?? Driving on the other side of the road.....Looks so wrong

Nearly the years end....

Sadly, it is almost the years end and time will definitely fly for the remainder of the year. I still have to wait and see if Mr 5 has gained any funding at school, although given that he has had an one hour orientation session he, the teacher/s seem very aware of his limitations and asked about pencil grips (something they picked up on without my mentioning it) and if he signs at all for words he cannot pronounce. We did not encourage sign (Auslan or other) as it would allow him an "out" for trying to say the word...Whilst he understands some signs, he has never been encouraged to sign instead of speak.
I still have to source a speech pathologist(S/P) for him as he cannot access his s/p at EIP after he starts school and she is leaving to have a baby this week anyway. I want a private one anyway so they can attend meetings with the school and teachers and such...But many do not know what their client base is until December so he is on umpteen waiting lists. Some do not even call you back , even after 4 messages!!! And others you get references for from the Victorian Independant Speech pathologists Network and some of them are associated or work through bigger offices so if you pick a S/P based on credentials (what else would you choose them on...LOOKS?) You get a call back from an admin person who tries to allocate you one who has to drive by your town on the way to the office instead of the one you choose based on credentials!!!!!! If I want convenience I go to 7-11, if I want a S/P I pick the most relevant and experienced.
Mr 5 was very exited about his new, "whizz bang" school bag and I am thankful to the designer who has placed a drawstring net bag attachment on the side so drink bottles which are unsealed can leak happily everywhere but INSIDE the bag. We also have a art smock with racing cars on it and a library bag with rockets on it (I was told we could not use the Thomas Tank Engine library bag he has for kinder as" big boys at school don't do Thomas") we have shorts and polos for summer, his sisters old sports shorts will fit him and her tracksuit pants. I am leaving winter pants till later in term 2 as I am sure he has some growing to do. Shoes we will get in January as well as new ones for Miss 8, new runners for her and Mr 5 has a brand new pair of Nikes which a friend bought for her son but are the wrong size and for yet fit Mr 5 perfectly.

some people have Christmas decorations going up already, I think it is the influence of the shops who had lights and decos on sale as early as three weeks ago. I am dreading getting the lights out at they were put up in a rush last year and put away in almost as much haste. They seem to be a tangled puzzle which I know I have to tackle some time but keep finding other things to do , like cleaning the toilet, washing windows, digging garden beds...You get the picture.