Updates on life

Mostly Owen related, of course ;)

School is going well for him. He's done mostly well. We had a day last week where it was a complete melt down. He melted down for about an hour before school started (because I was making his muffins but he didn't get to help until half way through- he was watching a movie- so he was pissed that he couldn't help "from the beginning"). Anyway, he melted down for about an hour before school. I had to carry him to the car screaming, he sobbed all the way to school, I had to carry him into the building still sobbing. Once there he tried to escape as soon as his feet hit the ground. His aide was by the door to stop him. His teacher distracted him with the computer so he calmed down and I left. However, he had a rough day at school that day. They were definately more challenged by him. At one point he was in the middle of the classroom and took of all his clothes. ALL of them. And refused to get dressed. (secretly I laugh at this because it *is* kinda funny) They ended up putting him in the bathroom that's in the classroom. They didn't lock him in there or anything, but they did tell him that he couldn't come out until he was ready to get dressed. He apparently stayed in there for quite awhile. I don't know how long, I didn't ask. The teacher went in at one point and tried to get him dressed... no go. She left and a little while later the assistant teacher went in. She tried.... no go. She then told him the other kids had to go potty so he needed to get dressed and get out of the bathroom. That logic worked on him and he said "okay" and got dressed without any further arguements. LOL! Oh boy.

He did make a friend though! I came to pick him up one day last week and he was standing next to a little boy, *J*. *J* rides the bus home so was standing in line (bus riders are in the line, car riders are at the tables/floor). Usually when I come, Owen's in the reading corner alone (never any shoes on, sometimes no shirt either). But that day I came in and he was ready to go, backpack, shoes, everything, standing next to *J*. They saw me come in and they both just started yelling that Owen was going to ride the bus to *J*'s house. LOL! Uhhh... no. Good try boys ;) They were both too cute though. They apparently had it all planned out. They just forgot to tell their mom's. But, the teacher says Owen and this boy have been playing together very nicely for the last couple school days. YAY! This is Owen's first friend :)

Shoes are still a big issue. He'll almost always wear the shoes while outside (the ones he wore on the first day of school.... the only shoes he'll wear). But as soon as he gets in the house/car/school/daycare/whatever he takes them off. So he's been doing this at school and his teachers have been letting him. However, I don't want him to get in the habit of running around the school barefoot (the GERMS.... ARGH!!! lol). Come winter it'll get too cold for that. So, this weekend I bought him a pair of Croc lookalikes. They're lined with furry stuff. They are now "slippers", specifically for school. He has a choice at school to wear his shoes or his "slippers". But his slippers are only for classroom use, when it's time to go outside he needs to switch to his shoes. It worked for today, his teacher said he wore the slippers during classroom time and switched to shoes for outside play. Cool beans.

Today was Owen's first soccer practice! We bit the bullet and actually put him in the 4/5 year old soccer. It's much more structured than the 3 year old soccer (they have practice for 1 hour every Monday night and a game every Saturday). We were really worried he wasn't really going to get it and wasn't going to do what they wanted him to. And, well, that's exactly what happened. Jason picks Owen up from daycare at about 5 to take him to practice at 5:30 (I get out of work at 6). So I went there after work and what do I see? A bunch of little kids running around the field kicking the ball somewhat in an organized manner. And one little boy with his mesh jersey (ya know, the ones they give half the kids to make them a certain color?) covering his face while he's spinning around in circles and running around everywhere except where they wanted him to be. Yup... that's my boy. LOL! But he had fun while doing it and, honestly, that's all we want (well, secretly I think Jason wants him to be a future soccer player but....). Jason said he did kick the ball around a little bit at the beginning. But he made it the entire 1 hour practice with no melt downs, which is HUGE for him, AND he wore his soccer shoes the entire time (only because he loves them because they're "just like Jason's"). We'll see how the game on Saturday goes.... should be interesting.....