Mixed Nuts: Kindergarten, Cookies, and impending Snow

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Monday, January 31, 2011

Kindergarten, Cookies, and impending Snow

Finley spent the afternoon in Kindergarten today with my mother-in-law, and her teacher, Gail. Finley loves going to Kindergarten, and she loves spending time with Gail (and of course her Gramma). So she had a great day.

My MIL did take the camera with her, and took a few pictures of Finley in Kindergarten.

She has been doing really well, and is able to participate in the class activities, which was nice to see.

This is her teacher, Gail.

Gail has been a life saver this last year and a half since we met her. I am really going to miss her next year when Finley is no longer her student. (Gail only works with preschool age)

Gail has been there for our whole family. She means a lot to us. She has sat with me when I have cried about feeling helpless. She never comes empty handed when she comes to see Finley - always bringing her a story box, fun paper and stickers, and all kinds of things to make her life easier.

She has been encouraging and fun. She is witty and easy going. I just can't say enough good things about her because we wouldn't be where we are without her to lean on. I can ask her anything at any time, and she calms my nerves. And if there is something we want to try with Finley, she makes it happen. BESB is lucky to have her and we are lucky she was assigned to be Finley's vision teacher.

Before Kindergarten today, Finley had an orientation and movement appointment with her specialist, Terri. Terri met Finley and my in-laws at Target for some practice in a public space. I gave Finley a little change purse with some money this morning, so she could buy something. It encouraged her to go to Target with Terry and navigate it with her cane, so that was a plus. Terry said she did a great job with the cane. I think Finley's wrist are getting stronger, so she moves pretty well with it now.

Tonight after dinner, Gramma and the kids made these cute little heart cookies.

Gramma had seen the recipe in our Family Fun magazine and wanted to try them. They are just tortilla shells and sprinkles. You have to spray the tortilla shells with Pam so that the sprinkles will stick.

She and the kids cut hearts out of the tortillas and then put a lot (a lot) of sprinkles on the cookies.

They all took turns sprinkling the cookies. There wasn't much left in the sprinkle container when they were done.

Then they bake in the oven for about 5 minutes, and you have these cute little cookies!

And they tasted pretty good. Probably because they were covered with sprinkles, but the kids loved them and we thought they were pretty good. And it was easy and fun. Thanks Gramma for the fun project!

Tomorrow we are expecting snow. What? That doesn't surprise you? You say what WOULD surprise you would be me telling you we WEREN'T expecting snow? Oh........um........sorry. We are getting a lot of snow and ice, so that day isn't today.

See you tomorrow.