halloween

This is the school parade.  We are allowed to have a dress up day for Halloween in our public schools as long as it's for something else.  Most schools do a dress as a book character for the day.  Thankfully comic books count.  The teachers dressed as crayons crayons.  This is his para Miss Aiken.

Luke and Audrey at their class party.  We had an unseasonably warm October.

Luke designed and helped cut out his pumpkin this year.

bubbles

More bubbles, please!

hot lunch

In an effort to further Luke's independence as well as introduce him to foods outside of his comfort zone, we want him to eat lunch that he can purchase at school.  Called hot lunch, it's not just hot these days with a fruit and veg bar and PBJ sandwiches always on offer.  They serve fish sticks, chicken nuggets and hot dogs every month.  Until he gets used to it, I'll go with him.  The first day was a success, and Audrey joined us.

When the noise level in the cafeteria gets too much, Luke puts on headphones.  I would have done the same if there had been a spare pair.  It's LOUD but happy.

hot lunch

In an effort to further Luke's independence as well as introduce him to foods outside of his comfort zone, we want him to eat lunch that he can purchase at school.  Called hot lunch, it's not just hot these days with a fruit and veg bar and PBJ sandwiches always on offer.  They serve fish sticks, chicken nuggets and hot dogs every month.  Until he gets used to it, I'll go with him.  The first day was a success, and Audrey joined us.

When the noise level in the cafeteria gets too much, Luke puts on headphones.  I would have done the same if there had been a spare pair.  It's LOUD but happy.

first grade class photo

Mom forgot it was picture day and put him in a 'recommended not to wear shirt' with writing on it.  Oops

letter formation

Luke colored the pumpkin in September and brought Yoshi home today.  Both of these were done hand-over-hand with an adult.  Yoshi shows a greater tolerance for this activity that he has never liked.   His improvement in  forming the letters of his name is remarkable.  On the pumpkin, he wrote his name in red, not blue.  His letters were written independently.  He and his teachers are working very hard every day.

learning to read

Luke is building his vocabulary of sight words in literacy class at school, enough that he is starting to read.     He is not learning to read phonetically and may never sound out the words.  Instead, he is memorizing words.

The other day he was looking at a DVD cover.  He has been calling the DVD "Pirates" since we bought it.  However on this occasion he said to me "'The Pirates' Mommy."

You might need to turn up the sound.  Proud doesn't begin to describe us. 

dentistry

Luke's dentist treats a lot of children with needs, and knows all the tricks to make a visit to see him enjoyable.  Luke particularly likes the arcade in the waiting room and playing dentist before getting in the chair.  No cavities!

first grade

For a week, we've been telling Luke how many days he has until he rides the bus and goes to school.  His response has been a consistent and convincing "No!"  We got the same when we gave him his new backpack (No!) and his school supplies (No!).  So we thought perhaps the first day might be a bit of a trial.

Not so.  When the bus rounded the corner this morning, we were outside playing basketball and he dropped the ball and ran for the curb.  When reminded, he ran back to the porch for his backpack and back to the curb.  He greeted Kelly, his driver from last year, with a cheery hi, said, "I'm WALL-E" and told Mom good-bye with a "Bye Eva!"  

The end.

Until tomorrow.

missing tooth

Luke has had a loose tooth for a week now, and yesterday morning I noticed it was missing.  He has literally lost his first tooth.  When I asked what happened to it, he replied, "I don't know."  It's as likely that he swallowed it as that he yanked it out and gave it a toss for the cat to eat.

swimming

Luke is in the pool at his summer camp three days a week.  It's about half play and half instruction.  He became a bit overconfident and got a fright for it (as did Timothy and Mom).  It seems to have instilled a bit of the healthy fear of water that has been absent his entire life.   He uses a floating device to kick himself anywhere he wants to go and is working on dog paddling and spending more time under water instead of just quick dunks.

soccer

He's got the look!

Coach Justin

Team Broncos

kindergarten class photo

Ms Gaes' class

Ms. Weber's class

soccer 1

Luke and his teammates are warming up for the game with their coach.  Luke is in the centre of the photo in the grey hoodie.

Luke is playing soccer this spring with the city club called Arsenal.  His teacher Whitney mentioned that she thought he would enjoy it, so we signed him up.  We did this in England and after the first practice it was clear that he wasn't ready for organised sport, so we were interested to compare his experience this time. 

Our first practice was last week, but it was cancelled because the fields were covered in about three inches of snow.  Such is spring soccer on the Front Range.  Our second practice was on Thursday, and  Luke showed that he's clearly ready for some play.  These are the changes:
1. He was willing to wear a soccer shirt, which has a V-neck which he dislikes.
2. He didn't fuss at all about the shin guards or ridiculously long and tight soccer socks.
3. When we arrived at practice, he eagerly joined his team mates for some practice throwing the ball in.
4. He didn't spend most of his time at practice rolling around in the grass behind the goal.

I spoke with his coach, Justin, about Luke's extra needs, and he enthusiastically offered his support.  Whitney has also offered to help him with learning the drills.  The parents I met at practice were very friendly and accepting as well despite having children who can dribble like pros.  Several of them have played three years together!  The game will test their patience and sense of humor.

Game day couldn't have been nicer.  The sun was up and actually warm by the time pre-game practice started at 08:10.  I brought blankets, hats and gloves and boots for all, but they stayed in their bag and our jackets joined them.  We need peeked caps and sunglasses!  It was great. Again Luke willingly suited up and joined his teammates.  

The game was four quarters and lasted about an hour.  They break it into four quarters.  It's six-on-six.  There are 11 boys on Luke's team.  Mom and Dad came to watch and so did Whitney.  Timothy played water boy for Luke.  

In the first quarter, Luke picked up the ball and ran with it.  The crowd laughed good-naturedly, and Paul and I relaxed.  He didn't pick up the ball again.  His coach kept him in the game for three of the four quarters, so we feel like his inexperience with the game is within acceptable bounds and that he'll get to have a great season learning about soccer and sportsmanship.  

When we play with him in the back yard, he does well handling the ball.  What he doesn't know how to do do is play in the crowd, and at this age it really is just a crowd around the ball at all times.  

ms weber

ms weber painting luke's foot for an art project.  (side note to credit the great teachers of his past - it took months of teaching and patience to get him to allow paint on his feet!)

One of our local radio stations, honors teachers with what they call teacher tuesday.  If you click on that name, you'll go to the video of Ms Weber being honoured.  Paul and I nominated her back in January and she was surprised early this month.

not an american accent

He has The Gruffalo memorized.

jaws

6

Happy Birthday Luke!

Audrey and Ruby, friends from school, helped him celebrate.

Angry Birds is a fast favourite.

Giving Ruby some tips.

riding the bus!

To say that today was a big day for Luke and the Attridge family is like saying last night was a big night for Leonardo DiCaprio.  Huge.  Luke rode the bus to school today all by himself.  Literally, he was the only child on the bus.  He acted as though it was the most ordinary and common thing to do, "Of course I'll ride the bus to school."  I managed to get him on it and almost back to the front door before a few tears of happiness leaked out.  Paul was on a conference call for work, but he got to watch it all from his office window.  We're so fortunate to get to experience these moments together.

This is the bus as it drives up our street to stop in front of our house.  Luke is the only passenger.  

He got on without any prompting and took his seat.  Kelly, his driver helped him buckle his belt.

The bus leaving with our big boy.

We are continuously impressed, amazed, gobsmacked by the excellence of the team of people working with Luke.  Michelle made this video (Wheels on the Bus for Luke) for Luke to watch in the days prior to his first ride.  Video modelling is very effective with him and relatively new to autism therapy.  

shepardson star

Mrs Harding is telling the class why she chose Luke to be the Star for December. (Jenny has video of this that I will include in the future.)

The teacher for each class at Shepardson Elementary chooses a student every month to be a Star.  Luke was chosen for December for showing respect to self during literacy, which is identifying letter names and sounds!  We are very proud of (L)Uck.

 Luke is with Audrey.  She has voluntarily become his helpmate and he looks to her for guidance on behaviour and actions.

Standing with the other Stars at the assembly

Visiting Luke in his classroom after the assembly