Friday, September 21, 2012

Last Day on the Beach


Granna & Pap build yet another monument to Gus.
 

No wonder he doles out his eye contact carefully - those blue eyes are so devastatingly beautiful.
I couldn't decide, which of these two shots was better - my heart overflows looking at them.
Gus is truly happy in salt water and sand.

This is better than any school year picture!

Pap tells Gus to play to the camera.

Having a "birthday picnic" next to the Shell Station in Newberry, South Carolina on our trip home.
We are tanned, relaxed and feeling good about this fall.
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Lazy Days on the Beach


Watching College Football with Daddy - Roll Tide!

Celebrating his Birthday again - with a proper tea party with Granna

Charlestown Harbor with Pap.
 
GQ pose for Momma.

Boats everywhere!

Cindy & Ronnie sneaking in a romantic moment - and me capturing it!

Gus takes an extended bath in the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park.

Haphazard snapshot with Momma.

Gelato with Granna.

Looking into mailbox slots - and waking up a few sleeping dogs along the way.
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Birthday on the Beach


Admittedly Momma took a shortcut when it came to baking - but nothing tastes as good as a warmed up Krispy Kreme Doughnut with candles in it...especially when you just got back from swimming in the ocean.

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet son!

 
 
 
 
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First Day on the Beach


The Images tell it all - Gus celebrates his 5th Birthday at
Folley Beach, South Carolina, Sept.14, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Birthday week


When you have an autistic mind, you have to warm up slowly to change, and so we have been celebrating every day this week leading up to Gus' 5th birthday birthday Sept. 14.
Today was an extra awesome day, as Gus got to celebrate - separately - with special buddies, Rion and Elijah. Unfortunately, we only have pictures of the former - at least for now.

You can't see it in the picture, but the cupcake is a cute, cute owl - and Gus' is plugging his ears because we are singing. He kind of likes it, but wants to make sure his fingers are at the ready if one of us hits a sour note - he has experience with bad singing by his mother, and has developed tools to deal with it.

Gus takes care of the five candles.

Rion takes care of his half of the cupcake.

Gus loves his present from Rion - Curious George goes to the beach - as are we in just 2 more days!
Elijah & Gus birthday fete involved capes and crowns, presents and bad-for-you food.
It was sweet, unrehearsed, unstructured and really relaxed and fun.
Gus loves his new accordeon, and we love the Bahnson family.
Happy Birthday, Gus. Three more days as a four-year-old boy.
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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Egg-O-Mania!


Maybe it was the brandnew doughnut pan complete with recipe for buttermilk doughnuts, that I scored at the thriftstore this week, or maybe it was the fact that Gus has been watching "Ratatouille" again lately, but this morning, we both looked at each other, after waving Daddy off, and decided to fire up the oven.
Baking/Cooking adventures here we come!
Gus has become sort-of-proficient in egg-cracking and scrambling....there are casualties and I try to keep extra eggs at hand.

Gus is definitely proficient in all things microwave...here he is getting ready to melt butter after expertly cutting it into the bowl.

Gus is ready to mix it all up and pour it into the adorable pan.

Gus is ready to bake these puppies! See that
face..that's Gus' low blood-sugar face.

Because we are saving the doughnuts for later, we (he) decided to whip up a quick cheese omelette for lunch. He cracked (one egg on the floor, two in the bowl), scrambled, salted, poured, watched it set in the pan, and flipped it (with Momma's help) and then sat down to eat it all.
The best part is that you can cut omelettes into pieces...that's Gus' biggest pleasure at the table these days...cutting things with the side of his spoon.
Bon Appetite!
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Fair Time!


One of the best things about a September birthday - other than staying in preschool for one more year before the "grind" of kindergarten begins - is the fair. And while Gus has his doubts about Santa, The Easter Bunny & The Tooth Fairy, he believes with all of his almost-5-year-old heart, that the good people of Western North Carolina throw him a big ol' party every year for his birthday - complete with flags and a ferris wheel.

The fun begins as soon as we pull into the shuttle parking lot - we park there regardless of whether the fairgrounds have parking available or not - because riding the fancy tour buses is Gus' first ride of the evening. This year he made the nice bus driver ladies laugh with his chatty exitement.
At least everyone on the bus was aware that "we are riding the bus!" as Gus proclaimed this fact at every turn - literally.

Next stop, after we stock up on tickets, is the U.S. Forest Service Huey Helicopter. Gus has been visiting this helicopter since he was 2 and he still loves it the same. It's bright yellow and he finds it wherever they try to hide it on the fairgrounds.

For a splurge we all decided to take a ride over-across the fairgrounds. As you can see Gus was busy doing his research from above. Starved for snow here in Western North Carolina, we can't say no to a chance to ride a chairlift - even if it is over dry ground.

View of the North Carolina Mountain States Fair. Gus spied his favorite ride from here. You can barely see it behind the ferris wheel.

Voila, here it is. A perennial favorite of ours: the small yellow helicopter ride. Gus loves it and loves to be on it, though this year he was good about getting off and taking breaks walking around and seeing other things. Last year I had to repeatedly peel him off this very ride - ah a mere memory now.

Jacob's perennial treat at the fair: Funnel Cake. He ate almost the entire thing all by himself. Nice going, Mr. Health & Wellness Officer. I might have something of interest to send someone at the Hendersonville City Government.

Gus' other favorite ride. I remember the first year he rode this. He had to be belted into the backseat for support, while I stood by all anxiety and pucker. Then he cried his heart out, every time I took him off.
Now he is riding the hog - up and over the humps with great delight, while Jacob and I relax on the benches.

No birthday party can rival this!

Happy Birthday to our sweet son, Gus, who turns 5 on Friday!
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