"Today's my birthday!"

 It was the first and sweetest thing he could have said.  I hear children come in to the library at school, saying, "today is my birthday!"  They have every right to be excited, but Zachary has never said that to me, let alone another person.  But today was different.

This is what he came in with as he announced his birthday! 

We started off with little gifts, and gave him 1 item every hour he was home.  Thank goodness for presents mailed and dropped off (we used those too).  The first thing he said was, "I got a homework pass in English because today is my birthday."  He was very proud, and admitted having shared with other teachers it was his birthday. 

We skipped swim team (another gift) so we could have dinner out for his birthday.  To my surprise, he wanted my nachos at home.  I think this was so he could have more time on the computer.  Anyway, he loves the nachos at Lupe's so we just copied those at home.  An easy dinner to make a little boy very happy.  We ran to grab yogurt by the ounce and planned a sleep over in the coming weeks with a few boys. 

He did a couple of funny things.  He's saving for an English Horn, and so a few sent money in cards.  I figured that is what it was, but he wasn't too interested in opening those.  I'm sure he figured they were just cards, and he still doesn't see the point in cards.  I snickered at that.  Secondly, he squeezed one bag that had a warm-up suit to go over his swim suit after practice.  When he squeezed, he said, "feels like clothes" and passed it over.  More signs of a typical child developing out of autism. 

I'm 12 now.  I'll be a teen next year!

Atlantis

We badly needed a vacation; John has had several stressful work projects, Lauren has been working on her basics for nursing school and finished in December, and Zachary and I have been facing some new tween behaviors that finally seem to be changing for the positive.  So on Dec 31st, we set off for a 5 day adventure to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.

 We laid by the pool reading and napping, swam with the dolphins, ate good food, and went on the available water rides.  The coolest ride was a tube ride that ended with the slide encased in clear plastic and sharks swimming around you on the outside.  The best food we ate was at Chop Sticks.  We had smelled it the night before and the food did not disappoint!  We went exploring around the resort and walked on the beach.  There were various pools around the facility that had sea turtles, sharks, sting rays, and hammer heads that were fun to watch as the trainers fed them.  Lauren had never had a massage, so we figured we would try that out too.  And honestly, it was the best massage I've ever had.  And thank goodness for digital cameras because Zachary took almost 100 pictures at the aquariums.

We could have stayed longer because the resort had so much to offer.  While it was wonderful, and I guess I would go back, it would not be my first choice since the pricing was more than I expected.

On New Year Eve, off the back of a docked boat.   Welcome 2013!

From our room, which was prettier when it wasn't overcast!

Crazy, bright curtains!

At the pool silliness!

Beautiful tiger sting ray

Some other breed of sting ray that was HUGE!!!

Surprise!  He took to the music.

Crazy hats for island entertainment.

While Lauren shopped, we entertained ourselves.

Bridge over shark infested waters!

Little shopping and trying on handmade leave hats.

This was as relaxed as he got, and a smile, to boot!

Back to the real world, and already one week of school done and Zachary's 12th birthday passed.  That will be next week's post.  Until then...

Is Mr. S real or not?

We told Zack this year. But all season long there seem to be some additional thinking as he saw Santa and other Xmas paraphernalia.  Christmas Eve was no different. He found the Santa Tracker on Google.  He couldn't stay in bed that night. He kept checking the computer to see where SC was.  I tried to ask various questions about the logic, but it seemed he wanted to believe.

Well, then, I found a way to send Zack an audio from Santa.  The message made several personal comments, & ended with "hurry to bed before Santa arrives".   Off he darted, only to be heard from one time to make sure we were in bed for the impending delivery. 

It was hard to let go of his delight and excitement, especially with his understanding of the magic coming a little later than most. Despite being almost 12, he still has the innocence of a younger child at times.

We enjoyed my parent's company at church, dinner, & opening their gifts to Zachary.  Lauren stayed the night & Christmas was over by 8:54 am the next morning.  

Opening his Oboe 1-3 books so he can work on being an oboe teacher.  Thanks Pops and Granmommy.

Opening gifts, having a jolly ol' time!

Happy Lauren on her new iPad!

Grandad stopped by to deliver goodies too.

The most desired gift...R2D2 Star Wars Lego set, only 2,167 pieces, recommended ages 16+.

Today we find the beginnings of an oboe teacher.  Using the white board for instruction.

And his new companion, which seems to be moving from room-to-room.

He became Famous!

Saturday we had plans to attend the Hip Hoppin' Nutcracker by the Houston Symphony.  This would be our early Xmas gift and I knew Zachary would be excited.  It was a surprise until we picked him up from school play practice.  As excited as he shows, he was all in for the trip.  And then I told him that they had asked him to meet the maestro and to conduct a song.  Again with the modest response, but a level of excitement known only by a mom.

I really had no idea what to expect.  The lady met us in the lobby and then took us all (me, John, my mom and step-dad, and Zachary) back stage.  He got to meet the conductor and visit with him a bit. He was quite cute, asking his favorite restaurant, and telling him that he had played oboe for six months.  The conductor said oboe was his instrument.  Zachary then asked, "Are you good?"  The conductor, Maestro Franz, chuckled and commented that he used to be.  They exchanged a few more questions and answers, and then Adam Dinitz (English horn) was passing by.  Zachary called out to him, and introducted my mom as "Granmommy".

Granmommy meeting Adam

Zack talking with the Maestro

Then we went out from Maestro Franz's room and he met other musicians, asked them to play a few things, and they did.  He also took a few pictures with the maestro and Adam. 

Not the best picture as another flash was going off.

And then the moment we've all been waiting for...the opportunity to conduct.  Now, I just want to tell you that I was nervous.  Zachary does not do as many unexpected things as he did a few years back, but with this, I just did not know.  To my amazement, he did great!  The cool part was as we were leaving, musicians and attendees recognized him, and said that he did a good job.  I'm not the best camera woman, especially when I'm trying to watch and video, but here we go...

http://youtu.be/vEfVIoQP3vI


He was funny when he got back to his seat.  He said something about thank you letters, and I figured he was asking to write one.  So, I hushed him so he wouldn't disturb those around us.  He had written a thank you note to Adam after he met him the first time.  So later he said, "the musicians will all send me thank you notes now since I conducted for them, right?!?" 

We've been published

Back in June, we went to a free Houston Symphony concert at a local church.  I sent a thank you afterwards because a young lady made a special efforts to bring a bassoon along for Zachary to be able to handle.  That simple letter has turned into many opportunities for Zachary, including going to shows with tickets received as gifts and getting to meet certain musicians.  We owe the young lady who has taken interest in Zachary.  And now, she has gone and printed the thank you letter plus other correspondences in the December Houston Symphony magazine.

I'll be the first to say I'm no writer, but they said they would make it sound real good and the picture would look good too.  I'm hear to tell you, they must have forgot to do both, but then it is not about me, is it?  You'll have to click on the picture to be able to read the article.

And he wonders why the dog growls at him!?!

We passed a billboard sign the other day that said, "A+ Obedience School," which happens to be the school Pete attended as a puppy.  Zack said, "We need to take Pete there so he will listen to me."  Zachary's attitude toward Pete is often changing.  He likes him when he sleeps in his bed or sits with him in the chair.  But as soon as Pete growls or runs from Zachary, which is most of their interactions, Zachary says, "we should get rid of him!"  Or, Zachary wants another dog so the second dog will like him and mind him.

On this day, I guess he was liking the dog.  I'm not sure Pete was liking Zachary.  This was over Fall Break, and I limited Zachary's electronic time.  I guess this was one of his alternate forms of entertainment.

Rice University

On Monday, we decided to take a little adventure in to town and "explore" (as Zachary put it) Rice University.  Let me say, what a beautiful campus!  The first question I expect running through many of your minds is, "what about A&M?"  I've long since realized my Aggie legacy will have to carried on through cousins, rather than my son.  Zachary's love for music prompted him to chose a school his band teacher rated as high for this area and then he found that several musicians from The Houston Symphony had attended Rice as well.  The second thought that might have already ran across your mind is the expense since it is a private university.  Well, I've been told by two separate musically talented adults the oboe often gets scholarships since not many play it.  So score for us if he gets a scholarship.  And last, we have 6 more years to figure out what he wants to do and where he wants to go.  There's no telling if he will change his mind.  He may be attending Houston Community College for all I know.