Dinosaur World

Every time we drive to the Tampa area, we pass a place called Dinosaur World. We've driven past it many times since 2001 and every time we tell each other that we should check the place out. The problem being that there are so many cool places to go to here in Central Florida that we forget about some of them.
One of the coupon sites had discounts on admission, making it more feasible to jump at the opportunity to try something new. I anticipated a run down, very small park. What we found we much better. I supposed it's good to have low expectations!

The kids enjoyed a large playground. There was a building with an education tour. We learned about fossils and how archeologists dig and find fossils. In the building there was a touching area, which is always a good thing for my three sensory kids. 

Our favorite part was the walk through trees and over a stream that showcased many dinosaurs. The kids were learned a lot and wanted to read every sign. It was well shaded and showcased Florida's natural beauty.
There are no rides or food stands and that was a positive for me. It was nice to have a day of walking around and learning about new things. The kids didn't even know they were learning, double bonus!
I don't think I would go back, unless we had a huge dinosaur buff or a toddler who enjoyed running around a nice park. I don't think it would hold my kids' interest again. It is worth the visit, especially with a coupon.

Poster Action

Alex's teacher led me into a classroom, pointed to a poster on a wall and said, "I want that."   Gulp. I haven't been creative in a while but I adore his teacher and classmates so I took on the task. 

It took me a few days to contemplate what was needed to recreate a similar poster.  

I don't know why I got nervous when u saw the poster.  It seemed like a big undertaking for me.  After assembling the necessary products, including stencils and scrapbook paper, I had fun assembling the poster. I had to resist pulling out the glitter! 

I think the third graders will learn how to work with rubrics and assessing their achievement using this poster. One side is intended for math and the other side for reading.  All that is left to do is dropping it off for lamination.   I look forward to seeing it on the wall in Alex's classroom.  

Keep On Swimmin'

Prior to meeting our GREAT aunt and uncle for dinner on Saturday, Gabriel informed us that he wanted to domesticate a shark. Since we were headed to the coast to watch a movie and have dinner, we took a big bucket with us. Gabriel knew there was a dock with fishermen on it near the restaurant and he was prepared to get his shark. (what the hell am I going to do with a shark?!!)

We had a nice dinner with lovely company and conversation. The older I get, the more I appreciate time with people who share their lives with us. It is a gift.
Gabriel proceeded to the dock and found a fisherman with a plastic bag full of bait fish. He allowed Gabriel to pick one out, essentially saving the fish's life. Gabriel happily put the fish in this yellow bucket and named him Jake. (somehow this felt better than a shark to me, maybe I can keep a little fish alive?) 

Gabriel excitedly showed his Jake to people who walked near him. He was thrilled.
Then a woman about my age walked past Gabriel and as she gawked at the fish, she told Gabriel that he needed to put the fish back because he was killing the fish. Over and over again, she told my kind-hearted child that he was killing a fish who in fact, he saved. Gabriel looks neurotypical, "normal", if you will, so I can't complain about her ignorance when she first meets my son.
My aunt told her to stop a few times. I don't know if she envisioned a possible massive meltdown but I did. I was impressed that my aunt, who did not raise children in a day and age of autism awareness, was willing to step up and ask this stranger to stop talking about a fish's death.
As the stranger began walking away, I quietly informed her that Gabriel has autism and everything will be okay. She raised her voice and told me not to use autism as an excuse! 

 
Holy hell, I was pissed. I think it's the closest I've come to wanting to punch someone in the throat. Really? The kid SAVED the fish from his death and now you're going to tell me I use autism as an excuse. I wish I had just said, "well, fuck you, you nosy bitch." I didn't. My relatives and children were with me and it wouldn't help someone so ignorant.
These are things we deal with constantly.
This person had no idea how we got to this situation. Gabriel was sad when he learned that our fish named Flower died. He wanted to ease his pain by getting a shark. Instead, he had a fish named Jake in a bucket. Why did this woman think the situation warranted her comments.
It took about an hour but Gabriel decided that he wanted Jake to live a happy life. Jake actually swam away when Gabriel released him. Keep on swimmin' Jake!

Exotropia Strabismus

Lane had eye surgery for exotropia strabismus a couple years ago.  In other words, she has a lazy eye that tends to drift outward. It isn't as noticeable as it was at the time of surgery but it does drift still. 

She also has some vision loss and she's officially far sighted.  I think the medical term is amblyopia. Unfortunately, she can't correct her vision with glasses because it will make her lazy eye worse.  

Shortly after Lane had surgery, her ophthalmologist moved offices.  I was thrilled when I found her at the same hospital where the boys' specialists are located.  Even better -- she remembered us! 

Lane had the same tests that she had a year ago but this time she was able to read the letters rather than name pictures.  It was an obvious developmental growth and so fun to watch.  

 

Lane hates the dialation drops but she loves the plastic glasses given to her at the end of the appointment.

As long as things stay the same, we will go back in a year to check her vision again.