Bark off biscuits, fractions, Swimming lessons,Tubing and video making and visitors.

After demolishing oatcakes for breakfast, we started off working on equivalent fractions. Owens a bit camera shy at the moment , so if he isn't present in the photos, trust me he was here with us.

Then history with Timeline.

Followed by UNO which is great for planning/executive functioning skills ( and a lot of fun).

After this the children decided to make dog biscuits for the pooches.

Both weighed and measured ingredients 

Owen is struggling with noise a lot this week so he left the room whilst Sam did the mixing. Sam isn't impressed with the smell of the cheese or linseed in the dough.

Owen loved cutting the bone shapes out and tried to guess how many we would make from the mixture. 'Wow, 40 Mum!'.

The finished treats, Owen tried them on our doggy testers and they were willing participants.

They then went off for free play whilst I tackled the devastation in the kitchen!

We started with more pizza games this morning (equivalent fractions) , the boys are really starting to grasp the concept now.

Then some history with Timeline. Timeline has always been a good game , not just for the date element but because it also starts great conversations about social and economic history.

After this we watched the rest of the series of  Walking with Dinosaurs: Sea Monsters, which is on Netflix. It's really good but initially caused some consternation because it's produced like a live action documentary and the boys were telling the presenter off.... they knew these animals were extinct. So I had to pause it to explain why they had done it that way.

Owen is saving for something, this is hard for many reasons. Firstly, he obsesses about the item he wants, it becomes all consuming, distracts him and causes anxiety. So I try to redirect him to more positive steps, like finding ways for him to earn the money. We worked out a plan to help him add to his pocket money and he decided which things were the most agreeable to him ;-) . Of course being Owen, he tried to negotiate a better deal and increase the amount I was willing to give. However, after some ( read a lot) of back and forth banter we struck a deal and he enjoyed the work. He vacuumed the stairs, hung the washing out and sorted/emptied the recycling bins etc. I paid up...then horror of horrors our ancient Xbox ..the thing he needed to make his much wanted payment to...well it completely died.

As you can appreciate, this was incredibly disappointing ...que a very long and emotional time. Sam was understanding and quite wisely, decided to busy himself elsewhere. It was tough and I fully understood Owen's upset, particularly when he has so many issues around impulsivity. We had anger, dismay, blame and finally floods of tears at the injustice of this. Finally, he calmed and we had cuddles and he understood I was totally sympathetic to his despair, so we worked out a plan. Sadly, we can't miraculously fix this but at least he knows we are doing our best and these days can accept that a little better. 

Later he had recovered enough to attend his jujitsu class with Sam. Even better, they both found out they are ready to be put forward for their next belt. So the day ended on a high note.

We decided to check how our cultures were doing. Thankfully our hands and iPad screens swabs, weren't too bad. Owens foot swab and the one taken from our Bilbo sensory toy, were pretty grim. The boys were both interested and appalled. 

This morning we had free play, then later we popped out to visit friends and have a good run round in their garden...despite the hail, snow and rain...now if I had suggested that, I can imagine the response.

The next day I take the boys for trial swimming lessons. The instructors are ASD trained and we have to get the children ready for swimming by 9 am. I managed it but I can see Owen struggling if he has to do it regularly at this time..he makes a huge effort and we get there early! Sam finds it fun but a bit perplexing as he just wants to bomb up and down doing lengths. The instructor quickly addresses any communication issues and is good at identifying Owen and Sams coordination issues..she puts together some great ideas and gets them working on it. Afterwards it gets a little busy and Owen feels overwhelmed in the changing room, so has to lock himself in the cubicle to keep calm. Both want to go back and I arrange another 3 sessions at a different time and we will reassess after these. It will be with a different instructor but All of us feel less anxious now I have seen how the team works. 

Back home we have lunch and Owen works on setting up video recording with his friend. They then go on to make various vids together. Sam decides to sit quietly and use his iPad , so I leave him to it. 

Today was Tubing day..we battle the elements to meet up with friends old and new and whizz down the wet slope...it's true, dry ski slopes are MUCH faster in the wet. That, and the fact we are all rather more confident, meant a few scrapes and collisions...still all wicked fun as ever.

Blokey is under there somewhere, Owen scared himself and Sam sat out for a few minutes after this.

Meeting a new family was brilliant!

Sam and Blokey

Climbing back up the hill.

 

After we grab snacks and head off to Blokeys parents to leave her present for Mothers Day, then to the GP's to collect meds and back home for a quick tidy round. Blokey is off to London to see friends , so my Mum is coming over to help out and have a stop over for Mother's Day.

Friday night and Saturday were very hard for Owen, he misses his dad terribly. When Nanny arrives we formulate a plan to get the boys outside and arrange a treat in Town. We visit the Olde Sweet Shoppe, go on a big slide, look round the gallery and visit Pizza Express. Owen then tortures the three of us with his Warhammer Extreme Sour sweets...none of us can eat them...blergh.

In the evening we play board games and have a roast dinner, Nanny and I enjoy a glass of wine and an early night .Next day we take Nanny to the garden centre and buy her a gift for Mothers Day. We stop off for French bread and nibbles, then go back home for a buffet style lunch. 

Later on, before the children go to bed, Blokey makes it home...both boys launch themselves at him , so I have to wait for my cuddle. It's good to have him back.