We made yet another trip to Collers beach this week. The weather has been amazing, like spring. Once again we had a 'find the best fossil' competition, and my prize was to take everyone to get ice blocks after the beach. I claimed the prize, even though Jeff definitely found the best fossil on the way out. By that time the kids were too excited to get their ice blocks to proclaim their dad the winner.
The kids started tennis lessons on Tuesday. I was a little apprehensive, but they absolutely loved it. I was worried that Arley would flip out every time he missed the ball, or lost, but he was great, all smiles. We will be going back every Tuesday, and I'm even thinking of getting a few lessons myself :)
Horse riding started up again too, and I am so glad, because it makes such a difference to the kids. It is a lovely way to start the day, it makes them centred, and it is great exercise and fresh air. This morning the kids were trotting around the jumping course, and Carmie was on the bigger horse, Percy. Half way through the course, Percy started speeding up, and then suddenly he was cantering over the jumps, and Carmie was completely unprepared but took it in stride. She has only very briefly (and accidentally) cantered on Percy once before, because he is much faster, and when I saw it happen, my heart was in my butt! She wasn't even holding the saddle handle which helps her to stay on. So, I think pretty soon she will be learning to canter on Percy so that this doesn't spontaneously happen again.
We also had OT today, and our therapist sees big changes in Arley. He is sharing more, keeping his cool when things don't go his way, and now that the holidays are over, he is on the right track again. Going forward we are going to try to scaffold him more for school holidays, or any time his schedule changes, so that his anxiety doesn't escalate so much. The kids also started their social skills class this week. They weren't happy at all, because as Carmie said, it was just like school. I told her she can handle one hour a week given all the other kids in the group go five days a week!
I have been painting every chance I get. I am hooked on listening to this crime junkie podcast. I have listened so much that the podcast host is starting to narrate my dreams! But it is making my work more interesting if not more spooky and depressing.
Here's a video of Percy teaching Carmie how to canter over a jump:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YriD7g2Jdik
Collers Beach
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