7 Week break AKA 'The Summer'

Ahhhh...!! The joys during 'The Summer". Also known as the 7 week break (end of July to Middle of September). We've enjoyed this so far.  Steve's enjoyed not having homework. Even though when I mentioned I wanted to audition for White Christmas at the Colonial in Idaho Falls he said I couldn't because he'd come home and not be able to get any homework done. I kindly reminded him that there wouldn't be any homework until January.  He smiled that goofy smile and trotted off.  He keeps us laughing. 

I have enjoyed not working, but I've got my next semester cut out for me.  Steve will continue to work at the Vision Center and the temple.  I will be trying to work full-time as an accompanist.  I have 9 recitals and will hopefully fill in the other days as well.  Steve apparently doesn't qualify for financial aid until he gets more of his major requirements filled. Why is this happening, you ask?! Well, along time ago, in the year 2003, Steve started school.  He stopped in 2004/5 so I could go. We didn't think both of us could attend without living with our parents.  So Steve went to work full time.  There also was not a program available for him.  So rather than losing a majority of my credits I finished and hopefully by then Steve would be able to go back.  He's been in classes for 3 semesters and will graduate in 2013...sometime that year. So he's been sitting on all these credits from his first year of college and the school won't exclude them eventhough the entire generals program has changed. So we're just going to work hard and save up and maybe pay for it all.

Kids are doing great.  Taylor starts school soon and is really excited.  He has also been doing an hour a week in the Speech and Language Clinic's Peak and Plains Occupational Therapy.  This program helps kids like Taylor with hands on, everyday activites, like balancing across a small beam, holidng a pen correctly to write and simple things that can help boost his ambidexerity.  He loves it and is glad to go!  It's never been an issue when I drop him off.  The clinic is designed as one of the best clinic's ever.
Steve keeps telling me that I just need to tell people he's Autistic. Well, he is and he isn't.  He is on the Autism spectrum which ranges from learning disabilities to extreme cases of Autism.  But because of his skills now he is being treated like he has Asperger's Syndrome.  This affects more of the social aspects but there are a few things that put him on the Autism Spectrum.  So after getting over the 'autism' card, I am fully ok and open to talking to people about it and what's best for him.  Alot of people can't tell there's anything wrong because he's such a mild case but his speech and occupational therapy have helped tremendously. I'm so thankful that there is all this information out there because even five years ago all they did, really, is instituionalize Autistic people.  A great movie that helped us see what Autistic people are dealing with was Temple Grandin, with Claire Danes.  Watch it.

We're mainly just relaxing at home and enjoying spending it all together. I really need a hair cut and new clothes. Some are too small and some are too big.  I need another dress to perform in.  There's this lady in Rexburg that rents formals. So we'll see what happens in the next couple of months.
Enjoy!