A free trip I think I'll pass on....

So today my friend Misty and I hit up the L.A. travel and adventure show downtown. Fun times, wow! Let me just say people watching opportunities galore. They had some fun dance performances from different countries, a panel of experts on how to find the best travel deals and some pretty cool presentations by Andrew McCarthy (of Pretty in Pink fame) and Rick Steves, but what would a travel show be without the giveaways. I admit, I was expecting some better prizes than what we found. Well, we walked around the corner to this booth, with a long line waiting to spin a wheel for a prize, so I thought sign me up, until I stepped a little closer to read the sign.....

Sweet dreams.....

So this is the latest addition to my bedroom and have to say I am in love!!! It's amazing how a few new things or rearranging things in your room can be such a pick me up. I had wanted this coverlet for a while and I finally just splurged and got it. Now, I have my eyes on some cute grey/white striped sheets and some fun, funky bright pillows. My other thought was, wouldn't this be so cute w/navy blue accents like little side tables or a dresser.

On a side note....I'd like to formally invite all of you in 11 more days to join me in Vermont at our new family vacation home in Stowe :)

After 2 months of nearly daily entries by multiple members of my family, have to admit, will be more than a tad disappointed if we don't win. I know it's weird, but I feel it....we've gotta win!!

Carson's big day....

What a fun weekend, only wish it could’ve lasted longer! On Saturday my nephew Carson got baptized, so I flew out to Folsom for the baptism and to be with my fam. It was such a great baptism! All of the kids: McCall, Parker, Gracie and Bayden prayed, sang and gave talks, and it was so sweet how excited they all were for him. Seeing how excited Carson was about it was a good reminder to me of how fortunate we are to be able to be baptized and to know why we’re here. Seriously, because I think I take it for granted sometimes. Mark and Beck had a little dinner at their house after which was so fun to just be together and get all caught up. We had such a great time playing games, talking, eating, laughing, jumping on the tramp, etc… , etc…

On a side note, I know I always share my work stories here, but sometimes they're just too funny to not keep track and this way I'll remember them. So, today I was working with this really cute little boy who's 9. He has Asperger's and would seriously talk your ear off if he could and all about the most random topics. Anyway, I had pulled out this puzzle game to work with him and this is the conversation that followed:

Kim: "sorry, looks like I'm missing a piece of this puzzle. bummer, don't know where it could've gone"

Tommy (fictional name): "do you have any brothers?"

Kim: "yes"

Tommy: "do you have any little brothers?"

Kim: "yes I do"

Tommy: "Well, maybe he was playing with it and lost it"

Moral of the story: Guess I better call my "little" 30 year old brother and ask if he's been playing with my toys

Pretty cool...

A couple of nights ago some friends and I had the chance to go and hear Temple Grandin speak at UCLA. For those who don't know, she is an animal science expert who has worked to promote more humane treatment of animals within the slaughterhouses, etc... (kind of a contradiction I know) and she happens to have high functioning Autism. Since a lot of the kids I work with have Autism, I always think it's interesting to hear what's happening in the Autism world, especially first hand. There was recently a movie made about her starring Claire Danes and let me just say the portrayal was spot on....cowboy shirt, belt buckle and all. She is quirky as she readily admits and funny without even trying to be, but I just loved what she had to say. When she was younger, they didn't have a lot of the therapies and treatment readily available as they do today. She talked about how important the influence of her Mom and other teachers in her life were to her and being exposed to many different things so that she could develop these talents into a career. Pretty impressive considering the doctors told her mother to put her into an institution, that she would most likely be non verbal and dependent on others. She definitely proved them wrong!

At one point she was talking about how she wishes that Autism wasn't the first thing people thought about a person when they met them, but instead focused on their interests and what makes each individual special. At one point she said "The world needs all different kinds of minds to work together to achieve great things". It's funny, I don't think I ever set out to work with kids with disabilities, but felt like I just kind of arrived at it, but as I have worked with them, they have taught me more about breaking through stereotypes: each one is so different-some are affectionate, feisty, playful, literal, stubborn, happy, full of random facts, etc..., but more than anything I've seen that they are just kids. Every Friday when I get to work, there is one kiddo who I just adore who is 5 and constantly has a smile on his face, no matter what happens. He always comes up and gives me the biggest hug ever, pressing his cheek to mine. Those are the times when I think, I'm pretty lucky to do what I do.

Tango Time

On Saturday night a group of friends and I went to see this tango show in Orange County. It was so awesome, they had free tango instruction the hour before and then the show was right after. Kind of made me laugh because I don't think some of the guys who came had any idea what to expect and halfway through the show I looked over and one looked like he was practically asleep. But, I thought they were amazing! Seriously, the musicians and dancers were so incredibly talented! I'm thinking I might need to add tango lessons to the list of New Year's Resolutions.

Happy Holidays 2010!!

Just got back from a great 3 weeks at home and am missing everyone already!!

Pow wows and Hannukah....

So, last weekend I was feeling a little sick and was taking it easy (o.k., basically in bed for a big chunk of the day). I had to finish prepping my lesson for church on Sunday, so I set out to start reading when all of a sudden I heard a drum thumping: "pum, pum, pum, pum...pum, pum, pum, pum" and then again and then voices chanting...and it continued the whole day long!! I neglected to mention we live right next to a park that has a site that is supposedly a natural spring that was inhabited by some of the first Californian Indians. Don't know how I've missed it in past years, but I guess they have this pow wow to celebrate the site once a year. A cool tradition and all, but not when you're right next door.

and....Today I was working with this group of kiddos with high functioning Autism, they are such cuties, totally bright, affectionate and with the funniest outlook on things. In this group, there's a mix of kids who celebrate Hannukah and Christmas. So, I was working with them on a little fine motor craft of a Christmas tree and one of the kids says to me as were finishing up: "Miss Kim, after I'm done being Jewish, I'm going to buy a Christmas tree".