Christmas Light Spectaculars!

Mommy/daughter picture opp! 

Mia and I have Christmas traditions, just like most people do. But our most favorite thing to do during the Christmas season, is going out in search of Christmas lights! The other night, we headed down to Freeport to check out their light setup. 

Their tree is enormous, and lit with red and green lights. I tried to get a picture of Mia in front of it to depict it's gargantuan size, but she was having too much fun running around the cluster of small trees up on the wooden deck. The picture below should show it's size in relation to the building behind it. 

Next year, I think we should have a tree like this in OUR living room!

They also had some "Kid's Crooked Houses" set up for the kiddos to play around in. These things are so cute, and come in a ton of designs and sizes. 

Kids Crooked Houses! We want one, or two! 

Mia thought they were pretty neat also, and had fun playing around in them!

Mia in the Kids Crooked House!

The best part of the gigantic L.L. Bean tree, is that every hour on the hour, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the tree and surrounding lights become a light show with some great music playing along. Mia loved this, and loved the fact that we were outside watching instead of sitting in a car like some other light shows!

The video below is short, as I had to keep an eye on Miss Mia, but in total the show lasted about 20 minutes. 

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?!

We’d Rather Be…….OUTSIDE!!!

Mia enjoys the cooler temps of the fall/winter seasons!

Hello all! I hope this finds you all in good spirits. It's been a bit since I've posted, and though I dislike excuses in general, mine for the lack of posting is simply that I'd rather be outside than stuck inside on the computer.

Further north in the state, we found some snow to play in!

The month long firearm season for deer hunting seemed to come and go in a flash. And though I spent much of the season walking and sitting in the woods, I had no luck in harvesting a deer. I even took out the muzzle loader for the two week loader season, to no avail. Oh well, a bad day (month) of hunting, is better than a day at work! And there’s always next year! :)

Ice fishing season is soon coming!

Mia and I have also been out bird hunting and rabbit hunting (searching) on our weekends together. And, we're gearing up for the soon coming ice fishing season!! We’ve had a lot of outdoor play time despite the cooling temps, and we’ve found a ton of cool things to see in the woods. Animal tracks, snow capped mushrooms growing on trees, and tons more!

Snow capped mushrooms!!!

Now, we’re just patiently awaiting the arrival of some snow so we can adventure out in our snowshoes!

Baby It's Cold Outside!: Keeping Kids Warm in Winter Wonderlands

The reading on the thermometer is dropping here in Maine. And while many people are setting up to enjoy a warm and toasty winter indoors, Mia and I have been preparing to spend our winter exploring all of the outdoor fun that the cold temperatures bring. Call us crazy, but snow, ice, and cold temps really gets our adventure engine running!

In preparing for an outdoor winter with a child, a checklist of necessary items always ensues to ensure comfort, warmth, safety and enjoyment in frigid weather. Proper clothing makes the difference between a fun day in the snow, and a freezing day that may lead to a dislike of playing in a glorious white wonderland.

In the past, since clothing is something kids outgrow faster than you can say "let's go ice fishing!", I had found it somewhat difficult to find pint sized outerwear that is not only effective, but also affordable. Luckily, over the years companies have begun realized this black hole in winter wear, and the search has become relatively easy. I've found some great sights that help bridge the gap in this area. No longer will I need to down size adult clothing to fit my little adventurer!

Let's get ready to layer! 

Layers work best for outdoor exploration. The right layers can keep your little one warm and toasty, even on the coldest of days.

The most important thing to look out for while purchasing these layers is the material used. If anything you are looking at involves cotton, DO NOT BUY IT! Cotton absorbs moisture (sweat), and is hard to dry out. If a warm body cools down with a moisture filled cotton layer on top of it, this can cause the body to lose warmth rapidly, increasing the chances not only of discomfort, but of hypothermia as well.

Layer One is the base layer. This layer of clothing should be made of a moisture wicking material. Keeping moisture away from the skin ultimately helps keep the body warm. This set found on LuckyBums.com is super affordable at $39.99 for the tops AND the bottoms!!!

Layer Two is the warmth layer. This layer further carries moisture away from the skin, while reflecting warmth back toward the body. This layer should consist of materials such as fleece, wool, flannel, or a blend of natural and synthetic materials. Backcountry.com has a ton of affordable fleece tops, as well as bottoms! (Don't forget those legs, they get cold too!) Be sure to get a top that has the ability to zip and unzip at the neck at least. This allows the ability to regulate body heat when moving or sitting. If you plan to sit for an extended amount of time, think about doubling this layer for added warmth.

Layer Three is the weather proofing layer. This layer should be waterproof, wind proof, AND breathable. Obviously, keeping the lower layers dry is extremely important. But keeping the wind from cutting through is just as important. We all know how a swift breeze can give us goosebumps, so we want to keep that chiller out! Picking an outer layer with added insulation is also a good idea. I really like this jacket from L.L. Bean. It's expensive, yes. But in my past experiences, you get what you pay for when it comes to this layer. (I usually buy jackets a tad larger than needed, gaining the ability to reuse it the following year!)

I also like the snow pants that L.L. Bean has to offer. They're water and wind proof, and insulated with Thinsulate for added warmth. They also have added protection in areas that need it most. So kids can play on without the worry of a knee or the butt of the snowsuit giving out! (More the parents worry than the child's I'm sure!)

Head, Hands, Neck and Feet need to be insulated as well! Remember, no cotton in this layer either!

For feet, be sure to use socks that are moisture wicking, like these from REI. Double if you think added warmth will be needed. Also, a good pair of boots is a must. L.L. Bean offers these boots at a decent price. The added height of the boot adds warmth to the leg, as well as decreasing the chance of snow falling into them. To further safe guard against that, they've added an adjustable draw string at the top to ensure a snug fit. Also, they come with an extra set of liners, which means the play can continue if the first set of liners does happen to get wet!

Hands should first be covered by a good moisture wicking glove, like these offered at REI. On top of these, should be a water and wind proof layer. L.L. Bean offers many affordable choices and styles of cold weather gloves to choose from.

For the neck, I like to use a good neck gaiter. This gaiter sold by REI is made of microfleece, which insulates even when wet, and dries quickly.

Last, and most importantly, keep the head under cover! Start with a good fleece hat, as it wicks moisture away while keeping heat in. I always double this layer on especially cold days with a polyester version or another fleece hat.

By planning ahead, and getting all of these layer options set and ready to go, you can ensure that your tots time outdoors will not only be comfortable, but memorable as well!

Extraordinary Outdoors December Event!

Hello all! I hope that this post finds you well.

I have decided on a simple get together for the group in the month of December. This time, the plan will be to meet at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. The link below provides ample information about their abounding trail system, an address to map to, and other information about the farm! We will meet near the welcome center!

http://www.pinelandfarms.org/visitors/contacts.htm

If you plan to attend, please register using the form below. We'd like to keep a head count! If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me by email (miasmomma06@gmail.com) or by phone (207-408-0090).

Please dress warmly for the cool weather. Should the weather be too severe for travel or enjoyment, we will reschedule this event! We look forward to seeing you all there!




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Extraordinary Outdoors First Outing

It was a glorious fall day. You know the kind. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing. The smell of the turned leaves filled the air. And it was the perfect temperature for a stroll in the woods. Mia and I waited in the parking lot of the Mount Apatite Trail for people to arrive for our first outing. She occupied herself by running around, kicking up sand and leaves, and watching the militiary trucks pass us by. Mount Apatite is located near the Auburn military base, and today they had the gates open to move some of their equipment around.

Soon, people started to arrive for our first event, and not long after that, we were heading down the trail. We had a couple of families stay with us, while one large group walked through the trail system on their own. While we walked, we looked for leaves, acorns, and anything interesting that we happened upon.

It was great to talk to the families that attended. Building a community among parents is one of the many great things that will come out of Extraordinary Outdoors. Sometimes, families feel isolated because it can be hard to find other families that live life in similar situations. Getting together outdoors, in a neutral environment with people who understand, is so therapeutic for parents and kids alike.

Over all, we had a great time being out on the trail, getting to know each other. We stopped for a group photo before heading back down the trail. What a great time these families had exploring the outdoors! We can't wait for the next one!!

Some Changes Are Coming

In an effort to keep things as streamlined as possible, I am going to be combining two important parts of my life together here on the site.

As many of you know, I am in the process of starting a group called Extraordinary Outdoors. This is a group in which I will lead extraordinary children and families into nature in an effort to help children gain access to some useful therapeutic opportunities that nature has to offer, offer a new way for parents to interact with their child, and help create a solid support system among children and parents alike.

This venture is very near and dear to me, and so is sharing our story. So, in the very near future, this site will be changed to Extraordinary Outdoors, so that I can offer more information about the program and upcoming events. I will also continue to blog here as well.

I hope that during this transition, all of my valued readers will continue to follow along. Changes can sometimes be difficult, so I promise to make this as easy on you as possible!

If you have any concerns, thoughts or suggestions please let me know!

Finding The Small Details of Forest Life

I found a something for you mom! Deer poop!

Over the years, I have tried to engage Mia into as much of our natural surrounding as possible. One of the greatest ways to have her connect with all of this life, was to look for signs of life.

When Mia started hiking on her own two feet, she seemed to show little interest in paying attention to the small details of the outdoors. (She was actually paying attention to more than I had originally thought) She would explore as much as she could on foot, running down the path, never even entering into the taller grasses and ferns to the sides of the trails.

Throughout 2012, I have focused on getting Mia off of the trail and into the wild growth, which has helped her learn to pay more attention to her surroundings. It started early in the year with snowshoeing. It took her a bit to get comfortable in the overly large frames that were attached to her feet. But once she did, it was smooth sailing from there. When I tried to get her off of the trail, and into rabbit territory, she wanted no part of it, shoeing away from me further up on the trail.

Much of the same happened when the snow melted. I wanted her to explore the new growth that was offered to us in the woods, so we went on a fiddle heading adventure. She wanted to head up the trail in search of a bridge, a brook, or both, to watch before moving on. Oh, well, I knew it would take a bit to get her comfortable with off trail exploration. At least she is happy out here.

So over the course of the year, I continually but slowly hauled her off of the beaten path, and into the lush ferns, grasses, pines and birches of the woods. And slowly, she came into her own.

Forget the trail, it's much more interesting in here!

The greatest draw in getting Mia to want to explore the more intricate parts of the forest, was getting her to pay attention to the fine details. Every pile of deer droppings I came across, I brought Mia towards it to show her what it was, and told her why it was there. I did the same with animal tracks, and other animal droppings that we found. We pulled rocks away from the earth to search for bugs, watched fallen stumps for chipmunks, touched flowers and leaves, and fished to pull aquatic creatures into our realm.

I showed her everything. Even when I thought she wasn't paying attention, because over the years, I've learned that even though it might not seem like Mia is looking at what's going on around her, she is. Most kids with Autism do this also. They survey their surroundings without looking at everything head on, like most people do.

Earlier this fall, Mia did something that made me realize just how much she had been paying attention to mom's relentless banter in the woods. First, she started walking off of the trail, all on her own. Then, she grabbed my hand, and hauled me into the woods behind her. She walked through the woods like a woman on a mission. And what she did next surprised the heck out of me.

Right before my very eyes, Mia stopped, looking intently at the ground. She bent over, reaching her hand out to towards the cool earth floor. When she stood back up, she giggled, and walked to me with her hand formed into a fist, arm thrust in my direction. I instinctively put my hand out, ready to take the usual pine needle or a leaf that she had picked up. When she placed her hand in mine, and opened her fist, I found that she had picked up several pieces of deer droppings!

Mia is headed for the ridge! Could mom's deer hunting skills have be genetically instilled in this little trekker?!

This means that now while we're out in the woods, she's not just looking at random things, or waiting for mom to show her something. SHE is looking, REALLY looking, for things to show me!She stopped at deer tracks when they were plainly visible. When we camped in White Mountain National Forest, she found a coyote track in the sand by the river, and waited for me to investigate it with her! She is connecting to her environment, to her surroundings.

Mia is now navigating the woods almost completely on her own. She heads into the woods and leads the way, watching where she places her feet, making sure there's enough room for her head to clear, and pushes branches out of the way as she passes through the brush. She stops at brooks, and looks into the water watching for anything that will pass. She sits on the ground with me and listens to birds, scurrying rodents, and rustling leaves in the wind. And yes, she notices animal dropping and tracks!

It's the finer details in life that people miss out on most in the busy concrete world. Out here, among natures finest, it is almost impossible to ignore even the smallest of details. Mia has come a long way in paying attention to the world around her, and our involvement in the outdoors has obviously played a huge role in this success!

It's so much fun out here! Let's go this way! 

A Perfect Fall Day in the Woods

Headed out for a birding adventure!

Mia and I enjoy all of the seasons that Maine has to offer. They each have their benefits for us in the great outdoors. Though, out of the four seasons we experience, fall is probably our favorite. The cool air is refreshing. The smell of the woods takes on a crisp, earthy flavor. The colors and textures give us more to explore. And the residents in the woods scurry about in preparation of winter, giving us the opportunity to change our normal forest pace from moving to explore, to exploring from a seated position.

Perfect bird hunting road!

Today, Mia and I decided to head into the woods for a bird hunt. The other great thing about fall in Maine, is the availability of options to partake in during the beginning of hunting season. Right now, we can hunt partridge, woodcock, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Because Mia is still learning to sit still and quiet in the woods, we headed out in search of partridge. Noise making, and walking would eventually flush a few up for us, so this was a perfect sunny day hunting activity. I also brought my mouth diaphragms along in case we did want to sit and call a few turkeys.

Mia listening to a partridge fly away from her presence!

Mia and I headed out on a newly found partridge road. As we got far enough away from the road, I loaded the shotgun with ammo. As soon as I made the motion to pull up to chamber the first round, Mia promptly plugged her ears, ready for a shot. Because she has sensory processing disorder, foreign objects, in this case ear muffs, are not always welcomed on Mia's person. But, because she's been in the woods with me since day one, and have slowly introduced her to the world of hunting, she always remembers that when the gun goes up, her ears get plugged.

We walked along this road for only a few minutes before we scared a partridge away. It was behind me, beside Mia, where she had started to walk off of the road and into the woods. She stopped, and put her right ear to the noise of the bird taking off. When I told her that it was a partridge, she smiled and got very excited, and then left the road to explore the woods. As we were meandering along, we scared another partridge, and Mia took immediate notice. Realization sank in that SHE was making the birds fly away. Mia then took on the job of a bird dog, and searched relentlessly for another one to see if it would fly away!

Mom, that turkey call is great! Do it again!!

After an hour of hide and seek with our feathered friends, Mia and I sat down to try to call in a turkey. This part of outdoor exploration has been a long road for Mia. Because she's so sensory based, constant motion is just another way for her to gain sensory input, so sitting still is super hard for her. UNLESS, mom has a turkey calling diaphragm in her mouth! We sat for an hour calling for these big birds. Mia loves the sound of turkey calls, and every time I stopped, she pointed at my mouth and smiled, "do it again mom!" I imagined her saying. Every time we heard a russle of leaves, or a snapping branch, Mia looked in it's direction. Though I can't be 100% sure that she knew exactly what we were calling in, I am sure she knew that we were looking for something to cross our path.

Oh, what was that noise?!

We headed further into the woods in search of more partridge after Mia had her fill of "turkey mom", and she was able to seek out a few more birds to scare. She shrieked with delight every time one flew away from her. This was a great lesson in cause and effect for her, and will eventually lead to future hunting and life skills all around!

We navigated back to the road, where we found a nifty little "bridge". Mia was very intrigued by this unique structure, and stood at it's edge watching bright red and orange leaves floating over and through it, and further away into this little brook.

As we waled further, a woodpecker drilled into a tree right next to the road. It seemed undisturbed by our presence. Mia clicked her tongue in response to it's "tap tap tap" noises. We watched chickadees flit around in search of food and warm sunlit branches. We saw chipmunks running in and out of rocks, and tree trunks. Mia was excited to see all of this life around us, and watched these little beings with wonder as they moved around us.

A cute little "bridge", and my cute little Mia.

There's no denying that Mia is happiest when we're spending time out in God's country. Spending time together is our greatest benefit. But seeing Mia become more confident in her abilities to maneuver through the woods, watching her sense of independence grow as she explores things on her own, and seeing her joy in connecting to our natural world, are her biggest benefits. Here, she learns things that carry over out of the woods, and I feel that each lesson brings her one step closer to overcoming the effects of Autism.

Laughter in the Woods

Mia and I headed out to one of our go to trails close to home after school the other day. It started out like every adventure, with Mia skipping and squealing happily into the trail. I stopped to take a picture, and she hurriedly came back from her climb up the hill to grab my hand and pulled me further. This is probably the only part of our outdoor experiences that Mia dislikes. Mom’s obsession with photographing!

We walked to the top of the hill where the land flattened out for a bit again. The forest floor is now covered with crisp fallen leaves, decorating the ground with colorful reds, oranges and greens. Mia kicked the fallen leaves into the air as we walked, shreeking with delight as the flew up and then floated back down around her.

Mia can't wait to get off of the trail and into the woods!

When we came to a steep decline in the trail, Mia stopped kicking the leaves and reached for my hand for support to get down the hill. As we were climbing down the hill, a cool gust of wind hit us in the face, and Mia giggled as it swept across her skin. She has always loved the wind in her hair! Me, being the goofy mom that I am, acknowledged her excitement with a loud “Oh, how we love the wind!” statement, in a sing song sort of way, while I attempted to do a little jig.

As I shuffled my feet, they came flying out from beneath me, and in an instant I let go of Mia’s hand (so as not to pull her down with me) and was swept down the hill, on my backside. And in the instant that I had fallen, and let go of Mia’s hand, I heard the start of laughter.

That hill on the other side of Mia isn't depicted well, but it's steeper than it looks!

Yes, in that moment of unsteadiness, Mia had found humor. As I slid further away from her, her laughter increased in volume and strength. By the time my quick ride to the bottom, on my bottom, was over, I was laughing with her. She laughed harder with my laughter. Mia climbed down the rest of the hill to get to me, laughing harder with every step. Since I was still sitting on my bottom laughing, I was at Mia's level. When she reached me, she put her forehead to mine, a sign of affection (and possibly in this case her way of saying "it's all right"), but continued to laugh with me like this for several more minutes. I couldn't control the tears that had started to fall from my eyes. Tears of laughter, and tears of pride.

It’s common for people to laugh when such thing like this happen to others that they are close to. But to someone with Autism, this type of situation most times goes unnoticed, For Mia to laugh at the site of mom sliding away from her, is just another wonderful sign of progress in connecting to the world, and the people around her!

Still laughing at mom!

Extraordinary Outdoors!

My dream of forming an outdoor group for extraordinary children is becoming a reality! I have planned a first outing, inviting all families of extraordinary kids (Autism, down syndrome, etc.), to join Mia and I in an initial meet and greet walk at Mount Apatite in Auburn Maine, on October 20, 2012. This will be an easy walk, and will provide an opportunity for us as families to meet each other, and to get our kids outdoors together, in an accepting and understanding environment!

I will share some of my thoughts and ideas on how to get kids excited and interested in being outdoors, and some stories of what I have experienced with Mia out on the trails that have helped her gain a sense of awareness, confidence, and more!

Please share this event with anyone in the Maine area! We would enjoy meeting anyone who is able to join us for this event!! A rain date will be posted in case of inclement weather, and future events in other areas of Maine are in the works!

Sabattus Mountain: Mia Climbs to New Heights

It was the last day before Mia was to start her new school, and I was still in celebration mode of her new adventure. I wanted to take advantage of the continued good weather, so I searched for a new hiking spot. I had looked in one of my many books for new hiking spots appropriate for kids, and had settled on Sabattus Mountain in Lovell.

When Mia and I arrived at the parking area, we traded our sandals for our hiking sneakers and I grabbed our pack full of goodies. I had packed us a lunch along with many snacks because it was nearing 10:00 in the morning, and I expected us to be hungry by the time we reached the top. I had read that the hike would take about 45 minutes to reach the top, and that it was about 3/4 of a mile to the summit.

Mia led the way from the start, a continuing trend that likely won’t ever stop. The path seemed like it was going to be a good one. Relatively wide, with lots of tree roots crossing it’s surface. I another nice way to get Mia to pay attention to not only her surroundings, but also to where she is in relation to the world.

By the time we reached the sign announcing that the trail to the summit was a loop trail, the ground had taken a slight incline. The trail to the right still looked wide, just a bit steeper than before. The trail to the left was narrow, but still didn’t look like it would be a hard climb for Mia. And, she found an interest in this narrow trail, so up it we went!



It wasn’t long before I realized that this trail was quite a bit more challenging than any other that Mia had been on. With the narrowness of the path, I had to stay directly behind her at all times. And when we got to a few tricky spots, I put myself into the brush off of the trail to offer her my hand.

As we continued up, the trail got steeper, and I kept wondering when it would level off again. The book hadn’t mentioned that this trail would be this steep. Just that it would be a good climb for active kids, which describes Mia to a “T”. And that the summit would offer great views of the surrounding land. Mia is pretty good at telling me when she’s had enough, and she showed no signs of slowing down. So I figured when she was ready to turn back, if she wanted to, we would.

We happened upon an older couple climbing down the mountain when we were 3/4 of the way up. They looked very surprised to see little Mia at this point on the trail, when they said “aren’t you a cute little mountain climber?!” to her with excitement in their voices. This excitement, and attention, gave Mia an extra burst of energy, and she climbed to the summit nearly effortlessly.



When we arrived to the top, I was surprised by the view we had from up here. It was gorgeous, and the day was nearly crystal clear, offering great views in the distance. We explored the summit and found that there were a couple of benches perched at the top. This offered us a great spot to sit, rest, and eat our lunch while taking in the stunning surroundings.

While we were at the top, a party of four crossed our path, also seemingly surprised to see little Mia at the summit. And they too, greeted Mia and told her how adorable of a mountain climber she is. I couldn’t understand why it was so shocking to anyone that a little girl would be out here, up here.



When we finished with our lunch, Mia and I started heading down the other side of the loop trail. This side was much less steep than the way we came up. And for this, I was grateful, because Mia was exhausted and needed some help on the way down. Because I had a pack on, I couldn’t piggy back her, so I carried her for a great length down the trail on my hip. This was a challenge to say the least, as Mia is now well over half my height, and weighs nearly 45 lbs. But she rewarded my efforts with smiles, snuggles, and eye contact when I stopped here and there for a breather! 

I am guessing we were about half way down when Mia felt that she could finish the rest of the trail on her own again. The spring in her step was back, and she ran down the trail effortlessly. I thought back to the last time I really had to carry her for any length while we were out adventuring in the woods, and I think that last time was when she was about three. But again, this trail was a lot more than she had experienced to date, and for a six year old, she did really well.

We made it back to the parking area, and traded our footwear again. While Mia drank her water, I pulled out my book to see if I had missed something in the trail description. I read exactly what I had read before, still no mention of a steep climb. I looked at her and reiterated my findings, to which she just smiled, giggled, and handed me her empty water cup. She had a good time, and that was all that mattered!

I wouldn’t find out until later, that this is the tallest point in Lovell, with the summit at 1,253 feet. The trail itself has an elevation gain of 600 feet! No wonder the other hikers were surprised to see Miss Mia at the top of the mountain! It was quite the adventure for Mia the Mountain Climber!!

A Mom and Daughter Camping Adventure: The Departure

Exploring the rocky bank of Wild River

I woke up suddenly, from what I thought was a dream. A dream that something was rustling through our camp site while we slept. It was dark, and I reached over in the stillness of our tent to feel that Mia was snuggled safely into her sleeping bag. I reached above my head to grab my cell phone out of the tent pocket to check the time. The light of the screen was bright when I clicked it on, and as soon as the tent was illuminated by it’s bright blue glow, I heard something outside of the tent bustle into the bushes.

Was it a deer, or maybe just a nosey raccoon? I wasn’t sure. The only thing that I was sure of was that my “dream” was actually my protective momma bear sense working, as always, in high gear. It’s doubtful that the animal would have bothered our tent anyways, so the fact that it had happened upon us (whatever it was) bothered me very little.

I looked at my phone again to actually look at the clock this time, to find that it was merely two o’clock in the morning. I put the phone back in the tent pocket, and rolled over snuggling in close to my little girl. She moved slightly as I wrapped my arm around her, and soon I was back in a deep, comfortable sleep.

When daylight broke, Mia was in a great and smiling mood. She was again in no hurry to get out of the tent. Instead, she wanted me to play funny faces with her. She laughed so hard and so loudly, that I think our nearby camping neighbors could hear her. Mia was, as she had been all weekend, happy to be here.

Soon we were out of the tent, and I was getting breakfast prepared. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon were on the menu. As I got the the materials ready to prepare our feast, Mia made friends with a little boy from a couple of campsites down. He had ridden his bicycle down from his site, to see if he could play with Mia. She and him were the only kids in the Hastings Campground this weekend. It struck me as odd that there were no other kids here. After all, camping was introduced to me as a kid, and always as a family affair. 

The New School Transition!

Mia's first day of school, and they had her favorite toy waiting for her!

Mia started her kindergarten year of school on August 29, at a brand new school, with brand new people. My biggest concern was the transition from the old to the new school. But, as usual, Mia impressed me with her ability to adapt, and the transitional issues have been minimal.

The only transitional issue that she really has had, has been the one from hanging out with mommy in the morning, and then going to school. Over the years, Mia has grown accustomed to lazy morning proceedings meaning that she was spending the day with mom.  I not only wrapped my living area around Mia’s school needs, I have also wrapped my work life around her school hours also, so our before school and work routine is a lot more laid back. So for the first week and a half, Mia had to adjust to the idea that a lazy morning, still meant she was going to school.

Today though, she has made a full adjustment to this new routine, and upon arrival, looks in the window of the door as if she’s asking her teachers to let her in! Upon entering, she runs up and greets her teacher with a smile, and then runs around the school and greets all of the other teachers as well!

The first couple of weeks there were play for Mia, so she would feel comfortable in this new environment and with her new teachers. Slowly, they have integrated some work into Mia’s routine, and she is already starting to show signs of progress!

Because the I.T.P. (individualized treatment plan} her previous school had in place for her was so vague, it was clear that a more specific approach would be needed. So we recently had a thirty day I.E.P (individualized education plan), to reassess her goals and learning needs. The school wanted to be able to spend at least a month with her to see exactly what her strong points were, and what areas needed to be worked on before a permanent I.E.P. was set in place. What a novel idea!

Walking into this meeting, I was filled with warm feelings of opportunity for Mia, which is something I was very grateful for. Ordinarily, I.E.P. meetings are regarded by parents as an ambush from the school district. Here though, these meetings are constructive, child specific, and detailed to that child’s needs. There are no empty promises about what should happen. Instead goals and timelines are made for optimal success. There seems to be nothing that these people won’t do for the kids that they teach, and I am so lucky that Mia has this opportunity to experience this great approach to learning in her own unique way.

The goals and plans are set in place, and it will be great to see the progress that Mia makes here! Updates to come!

A Mom and Daughter Camping Adventure: Day Two

I rolled over in my sleeping bag, facing Mia to see if she was awake yet. Of course she was, she is just like me in the respect that we are morning glories, opening our petals at the first glimmer of sunshine. Her big blue eyes were full of happiness, and her laughter was full of joy. She slid out of her sleeping bag and closer to me for some snuggle time.
As we laid there, listening to the sounds of birds awakening outside of our tent, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy. Or was it pride? I couldn’t tell to be honest, I just knew that it was a sense of wonderful. I get this feeling all the time when I’m with my little girl. This mornings feeling was a direct reflection on our time together here.

Though we had only gotten to the White Mountain National Forest the night before, our camping trip was already the best one I had ever been on. Mia was happy, excited to be here. Ready to start out on our adventures of the day. Her eagerness to live life outside of the box is astonishing, and just another sign that I was on the right track in helping her overcome her struggles. I am not one to brag about the things I do for my daughter, but here I will say that if I were not the mom that I am, she would not be who she is today.
It wasn’t long before Mia was ready to get out of the tent. I unzipped the door and Mia popped out with a wonderful spring in her step. She headed to the car, and my initial thought was that she already wanted to go somewhere other than here. But when she went to the door opposite the one she normally gets in, I realized that I was wrong. I unlocked the car, and she reached in for the cooler. She was ready for breakfast and apple juice!!

As I prepared our breakfast, I let the sense of wonderful wash over me again as I realized how special this moment was. In the past, Mia would see an object of desire, such as the car, and it was as though it triggered a video that played in her mind. (Car means we get in, buckle up and go. But we’re not in it. Why aren’t we going? And then the tantrum of frustration would ensue.) At this moment, I could only smile at how amazing it was that Mia’s mind no longer played a “video” when she saw an object of desire (like the car), and how the tantrums of frustration have ceased. She was just…..HAPPY!
After breakfast, we changed our clothes and got ready to venture out of camp. I looked at the map to see what was around for easy hiking trails. I decided on the Mud Brook Trail. It was just down the road from us, and because it shared a name with one of our favorite outdoor aspects (MUD!), it was sure to provide us with a day of fun! I got the pack ready with supplies, and we were soon on the trail.
After heading out on the trail, it became clear that there was very little mud on it. But that was okay. Mia was pretty excited to be out here exploring. As soon as I had our pack on, she ran onto the trail, stopping a little ways in to see if I was still behind her.

The beginning of the trail was relatively flat, but as we continued the trail pitched up a bit. Eventually, we were walking along side the brook, which caused the trail to get quite a bit narrower. This didn’t bother Mia though, she just continued to motivate on up! Well, except for the moments where she had to wait for mom to get done taking pictures!
We spent nearly all day out here in the woods. We had lunch with us, so we found a nice place to park it while we ate. Mia enjoyed the moment of rest and relaxation, but as soon as our food was gone she was ready to get moving again!

It seemed like the day flew by quickly, and before we knew it we were back at camp preparing supper. Mia played happily in the grass while I got everything ready for our evening. We even had a little visitor with us at camp this evening! Can you see him, directly above the logo in the picture below? He was in the tree directly above Mia while she played in the grass, chattering at her the whole time!

Fall Af-FAIR! : Oxford County Fair

It’s here!! Cool crisp air, apples, pumpkins, the last crops of summer. Yes, fall is upon us! Soon the leaves will be turning, displaying for us glorious shades of reds, yellows, and oranges.
And along with fall, comes a tradition for Mia and I. FAIRS!!!! Who doesn’t love the maze of fair food vendors, rides, activities, and most importantly, the people?! Mia and I recently headed out to our first fair of every season, the Oxford County Fair. Grammy and Grampy came along for the adventure as well! It was such a great time!



We headed into the livestock barns to check out all of the animals. Mia sat as one of the bleacher sets inside, taking in the sounds and smells, and watched the people as they went in and out. She even got to see the BIGGEST turkey I think I have ever seen in my life! It was as big as she is, and he was pretty intrigued by her presence!



Mia was treated like a princess, as Grampy carried her around on his shoulders. Mia had the best view from way up here!



Mia and I rode in the big bears together! Once this ride got moving, she couldn’t stop smiling and laughing! She loved it so much, that I had to peel her out of it when it was over!



We took a break and had some typical fair food. Mia snacked on her red hotdogs and shared some hand cut fries with me. We all sat together here for nearly an hour enjoying each others company and our food. For Mia to sit for this long, is no small feat! She did such a great job!



We wandered around a bit more after eating, but Mia was getting tired so we decided to call it an evening. I picked Mia up and danced with her to the music as we walked towards the exit. Until we got to this….



When we got to this ride, Mia squirmed out of my arms to stand on the ground and watch as it spun around in an erratic fashion. She watched each car on the ride spin at it’s own pace. She was intrigued by this ride for nearly fifteen minutes, and every time I asked her if she wanted to go on it, she just smiled big!! I can see that my fear getting on big scary rides is going to have to diminish as Mia gets older!