On a Break

Well we are all loving the holidays here. Of course I have failed to fulfil all my ambitious plans for going over sight words and numbers and speech and cutting etc with the twins. We have done a few things like that but not many. They are tired and really needed this break. Hannah has had an ear infection for the whole of the holidays so far - which just goes to show how run down she was/is. The brats got good Gym reports and hannah got a lovely music report too. I am not enrolling her there next term though. I haven't given up on her learning an instrument but I think we need to try another path for a while - so dance it is. She seems quite excited about it which is good. Today for example she dragged me out on the trampoline with her and broguht a tutued dancing dolly she has - she then insisted that the three of us 'dance' -so I think she is looking forward to it - which is what I wanted. A lot of that love for movement comes from her years at music - but learning an instrument that way isn't going to work for her - and relaly I can't see any way of us enrolling her there next year - hence we decided to move her now so she could settle into an alternative activity. In a year or so I am hoping (so long as she wants to) to find a small group or individual instrument tuition that suits her.
The holidays began with a kindy party - it was fantastic. Hannah had an ear infection so I let her lie low and play on her own inside for the beginning of the party but as I expected she couldn't resist coming out and joining in - she loves this group of kids - and the party was so full of pretty things and so well organised - tehre were heaps of great things to engage the children's attention. The parents and their family (sisters and grandparents I think?) were especially fantastic with hannah - treating her with respect but also looking out for her and making sure she had every opportunity to join in.
Tomorrow is another party - Hannah is the only girl invited apparently - but I don't think she'll mind.
I have also got my act together for another play opportunity. After every party Hannah always excitedly says "Hannh's party!". It seems mean to make her wait until Oct so I decided to kill the two birds with one stone. She wants a party and I want to help her develop closer friendship patterns with the other kindy kids. One of her favourite activities is to have a 'tea party' (often leaves, dirt and water!) so invites went out to 6 kids - 4 girls and 2 boys for a tea party. I chose the girls (in consultation with the twins of course!) because at each party I have watched Hannah and them interact for lengths of time easily and happily - especially trampolining - one of Hannah's other favourite activities. The two boys are to make sure poor old Kit dosn't feel like a shag on a rock - although it is hard to imagine him ever feeling like that!! The idea is for the kids to decorate cupcakes and otherwise just play - I thought I'd make sure the trampoline was ready - as well as some playdoh and the kids box of musical instruments (one of the girls has already been over for a play last school holidays where the children ended up performing a 'concert' for the adults). Once again I thought I'd put Hannah's gorgeous dollhouse out in the lounge area where it is easily accessible too. The rest is up to them - I hope it works and they have fun.
It was actually a little embarassing giving out the invites - so many of the children are friends with the twins but I want this to be about depth of friendships - I will have to make sure that we ask those other children to the twin's birthday party in October.
Kit also has his first Sibkidz activity this week - a craft and cooking mornign which I know he'll love - and hoepfully he can start ot get o know some other siblings like himself so that one day when he is older if need be - he won't feel like he is the only one with a sister with a disability. I am quite excited about it for him and he is viewing it very positively. "In my day we never had anything like that" and I think it would have been great - it may not only have provided myself and my sister some support but it may have helped us build a more positive relationship with our sister who has disabilities.