Finally

FINALLY found a way to transfer photos from the camera to the ipad!!!! Here is one of my favs from Christmas - what do you think?

Painting the Dog

Miss JiJi did a beautiful painting project today. We used swell paper to draw a dog and then combined shaving cream with glue to paint. When it dries, it is supposed to leave a fluffy raised texture. Somehow it doesn't look like it will much resemble a dog, but that is ok - we had fun! Fortunately she checked out the drawing first to see that all the parts were present and accounted for. Couldn't be painting an incomplete creature, you know!

Do you see what is sitting on the table in front of JiJi? YUP - it IS Mr. Marty, the traveling SmatBrailler! Thanks to so many of you, the braillewriter arrived at long last a couple of weeks ago and is being used with gusto. She is busy practicing her braille skills to enter into the national Braille Challenge competition in a few weeks - wish her luck!!

Venting

OK - what would YOU have done? It seems whenever we are in public there is nearly always one comment or question about the big B word. You know - the word everyone is afraid to actually say - Blind. Education of the public is fine. We are a conspicuous family - a silver haired caucasian mom with three adorable eight year old Asian girls, one of whom is blind. In a small, rural community.

We were at the grocery store in the self check line. A little guy of about 6 left his mom's register and was getting in our faces trying to look at my daughter's eyes. I was in a hurry to check out and get out so I really didn't even notice him for a bit, other than another little body in front of me. It finally dawned on me that he was REALLY eying my daughter. He finally said "what's wrong with her?".

My teeth automatically ground down and I had to force a smile and pause for composure. "There is nothing wrong with my daughter. Are you asking about her eyes?" "uh-huh" (articulate little fella - not) (and where is his mother, anyway?????) "My daughter is blind and her eyes don't work the same as yours." He left and we got busy with finishing our checkout.

Then I noticed that he was back, more in her face than before. hee hee - this was probably not my best moment, but I got in his face at his shrimp level and said "you asked your question, I answered you, and now you are being rude. Go to your mother", I smiled, turned and we waltzed off.

Would you care to share some of your words that you use to answer the B question?

iboy's part time job

And of course his sisters have to check it out!

Dantsing

I LOVE this picture that Chicka just drew - it makes me want to dants!

Glue Dots, Our New BF

We decided to get some calendar work done today and found that glue dots saved the day. A project to most kiddos, using glue, is anticipated. However, when you have to use your fingers to make sure the glue goes in the right spot, find the paper that you need to glue, again find the gooey glue spot, put the paper on the glue and then start the whole process over again? Frustrating to say the least. Glue everywhere. I was able to put the sticky dot on the calendar, leaving the plastic cover on it. Miss JiJi was able to find the spot, remove the plastic, get her paper and find the slightly sticky spot and presto-whammo, another date on the calendar. Success AND a smile!

My New Grand-daughter!!!!

She was a surprise to me, too! Meet Charlie. The pig. I just met her this morning. Her mom, Miss JiJi introduced us - encouraging her "daughter", Charlie, to shake her Grandma's hand. Gee thanks, Ji. She was so proud to have figured out a beautiful baby carrier from her braillewriter backpack! Quite the fashion statement, as usual - with all her fancy rings on.