Blake had his appointment with Nancy (and has another this afternoon) where I created a "sensory play" activity. I took an empty clear container with a lid and put some old cereal in it (some fiber squares no one was ever going to eat) and then a big empty plastic bowl, some measuring cups and a spoon. I then grabbed a small muffin pan and some coffee beans and put the coffee beans inside the individual muffin sections. We went upstairs to Blake's room since he seems to focus better up there and the dogs wouldn't be all over him. He loved it! He probably played for a half hour (which is a REALLY long time for Blake to do one activity) and then moved on to other things in his room. Nancy said the goal of the sensory activity was to try and see if he would be able to be focused on play and learning. Nancy would try and get him to say "more" when scooping or giving him individual pieces. She said that most times its easier to get kids to pay attention to you when they are focused on an activity that they liked. That was not the case with Blake. We will see how today goes.
One of my friends has recently moved very close by. We went to high school together and she has a daughter a week older than Blake. Her name is Maybelle and she is absolutely adorable! She is so smart and funny, she is really just wonderful! I think its great that Blake can be around her more and learn from her. They have a pool at their new complex and we have gone swimming with them twice. It has been amazing for me to see Blake so relaxed and just happy. I am so grateful that they have moved closer to us! Here is a picture of Blake and Maybelle after swimming earlier this week :)
We also went and had lunch with some of Blake's cousins in Snohomish. My mom's first cousins are younger than her and both have kids 6-12 months older than Blake. This was the first time we have gotten them all together at the same time. They had a great time being silly and laughing at each other. Hopefully we can get them together again soon! This is the best picture I could get...
So now for my first time away from Blake... I have never spent a weekend away before. I have spent a night away but I left after Blake went to bed and I was back before he got up, and I was in the ER so I don't really count that! I needed a break, just time to relax and get a little mental health time in. I decided I would go see my sister in Spokane and that we would go to the Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho. I only had $150 to bring with me. No extra money in the bank, nothing. This was pushing it. If anything went wrong I would be completely stranded/screwed/fucked.
Here is how I pulled it off:
- I found discounted park tickets at Costco... not much but saved about 25%. Ticket Price:$35
- RIDESHARE: This was my biggest money saver... I had been looking on CL to see if there were any babysitting gigs or last minute things I could sell to make my stay a little more comfortable. I have seen the Rideshare section before but never thought to click on it. Something told me that I should just do it. So I put out an ad saying I was headed to Spokane on Friday morning and if anyone wanted a ride it would be $35 each way. So I took a rider with me on the way there and one on the way back. Total I spent on gas: $36 ($21 of which I found in my change jar and took to a coinstar before I left)
- No eating out! I packed all my snacks and drinks from home, I had 3 water bottles that I made Iced Passion tea in before I left on Friday morning. Made a turkey sandwich and brought some crackers. I was lucky enough to be able to eat at my sisters and not have to go out for dinner that night. Saturday morning we ate toast for breakfast and packed our lunches once again.
- I brought $60 spending money since this was my big "purchase" my sister brought $50 and we decided we would just put our money together and whatever we wanted we would get. We ended up with $30 left over and after 11 hours at the theme park, decided we would get a pizza on our way home.
- I left early Sunday morning with $34 left in my wallet. My rideshare filled up the tank and then I put $15 in in Ellensburg and called it good.
I still can't really believe I pulled that off, but I did and boy am I proud of myself! I even got to make two new friends with doing the rideshare. Lee, on the way over; a 25 year old "wwoofer" http://www.wwoof.org/ on his way to a Buddhist Monastery, ridesharing and wwofing his way from the Indiana/Kentucky border. And Trevor on the way back; a 20 year old Mt.Spokane graduate, looking to make a name for himself outside of the "town" he grew up in. I had a great time with both of them, I had the best conversation with Lee, but had a great time jamming out to some good ol' Fleetwood Mac with Trevor. I will 100% rideshare again.
Boy did I miss Blake! The first night I found myself almost panicked. I missed him a lot, I was worried that my mom was overwhelmed with the dogs and Blake and it being so hot and humid. When I called my grandparents to talk to him on Saturday he burst into tears at the sound of my voice. Boy did that make me feel bad! I know that it was healthy for me to be away but next time I will bring him with me. It was hard for me to figure out that time away anyway. It will be easier to bring him along and that way we won't miss each other!
Little man is up early from his nap!
<3 Arielle
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