Benjamin's Swim Lessons

Thanks to a grant from the Bureau for Autism, I was able to have Benjamin take swimming lessons this summer through a program for special needs kids. Benjamin has had some sensitivities and fear of water that we wanted to help him with. His instructor happened to be the mom of one his classmates so it was a really great experience for him. Thanks to my friend Amanda, I was able to go by myself the last lesson and take these great photos and videos to show off all the great things he has learned.

End of the Summer

What a summer it has been and since I have gotten so far behind on the blog with the craziness of it all, here is my attempt to recap it all for you. In backwards order...The cool praying mantis that we found in the driveway the other day.

Benjamin got to take swim lessons at the Y this summer and loved it.

Matthew decided he wanted to take a bath one night...there was just one problem:)

Yummy Cinnamon Swirl Bread that I made for August Book Group.

My kids using their bean bags to be mushrooms.

These are the mini roasted marshmallows that we did using a candle.

And here is Matthew saying "To heck with the roasting! I am shoveling them in!"

It was pretty fun!

The joys of having a trampoline!

Benjamin being big enough to give his brothers piggy back rides.

The fun T-shirt hats we made.

The fun visit we had with our friends the Millards!

Fun 4th of July dinner with friends.

Evan getting creative with his Tinker Toys.

Yummy Father's Day! Lasagna, S'mores bars....

and the Klondike bars that my kids let melt all over themselves!

Matthew's cute Father's Day tie.

Benjamin helping dad make lasagna noodles with the pasta roller for the above lasagna.

Last day of school with Miss Marianne, the bus driver and the frog fridgie that we made and gave to her:)

Waiting for the bus on the last day of school.
So there you have it. The summer in a nutshell and in backwards order.

Career Day

Evan chose to show what a veterinarian does for Career Day at school. Here he is practicing. He drew all of the pictures himself! A special thanks to my friend Amanda for lending us the medical kit:)

Soccer Time Again!

Evan, Benjamin and Jacob on the first day of spring soccer season!

Applesauce Making!

Evan got a book from the library called Max and Mo Go Apple Picking. There was a recipe for making applesauce in the back that he insisted on trying. So we did! It was so easy and delicious! I want to try the Strawberry Applesauce next time now that they are coming into season. For anyone that wants the recipe, it goes like this:

Mott's Homemade Applesauce

6-8 large granny smith apples
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

I used my apple peeler/corer/slicer to cut up the apples and then we diced them with a knife. We put them in a pot with the water and cooked them until they were soft for 20-25 minutes on medium heat. Then we added the brown sugar and cinnamon and blended it up with a stick blender. I chilled it in the refrigerator and it was yummy! Ben and I even made Caramel Applesauce milkshakes with vanilla ice cream that night and it was so good!