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

thanksgiving

Luke got to take part in the Thanksgiving concert performed by all 60 Kindergarteners.  

Directly behind Luke is one of his best friends, Audrey.

He was the only child from his autism classroom that joined the concert, and we're very proud of how well he performed.  He was a Native American and wore the 'bib' but refused to put on the head piece.  I was seated too far away to get any video that shows him singing and doing the motions, but he joined in often.  His favourite was fishing with the stick, line and paper fish that he got to carry for the entire show.

Throughout the show, he checked on Audrey, seeming to make sure that he was doing the same thing as her.  The little girl behind Audrey, in black, cried through the entire show.

At one point, his costume fell off and he struggled to right it.  His general education Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Harding, righted it for him.  Thanks!

Towards the end, he was struggling to stay focused (he was not alone) but he remained in his place and didn't distract from the production.  We're very proud of his ability to attend to things that don't necessarily interest him.  What an important life skill!