Simon's Top 6 Things So Far This Summer (and a couple challenges)

Love the Simon stories. At least he's not telling you "you're fired" or "go home you don't live here"....I get this from one of this kids I work with pretty much every week.

my HUSBAND is a big star wars geek (SWEEK). A few years back, he bought the supplies to make his own storm trooper outfit, and is actually part of the 501st brigade (a group of storm troopers that does special appearances, mainly for charities). And now he's gotten his nieces and nephew hooked on star wars, as well. too cute! and as for the harry potter series...love it love it love it. we had decided to start the 8 year old niece on the series, thinking we could spread out the stories so that she would be older by the time she read the later books, which are more intense. no such luck... we don't know WHAT we're going to do, yet. the girls is a total bookworm and FINISHED the second book we gave her in just over 24 hours. sheesh!!!

Isn't it amazing how much children grow over the summer? I love the Simon stories and never tire of them. My own geeky adventures with children have revolved around Link and Zelda - the greatest honor ever bestowed on me is when my daughter walked in on us playing our usual saber fights. "Hi Mom" she said to which my grandson scowled "her name is ZELDA!"
Love, love, love these kids!

@Michelle - maybe you'll have to give her the next book one page a day ha ha!!

Ali, I'm a newcomer to your blog- just love it! The HP books are so amazing. I wish that the movies were mini-series instead and could really do the books justice. I have a daughter who loves star wars and harry potter, and I haven't let her get a light saber for fear of being attacked! LOL Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with light saber issues!

hi there --
i love reading your blog and hearing both the scrapbooking tips and the stories about simon. he surely does have a sparkle in his eyes! i am curious about when you say "simon is working for a ..." what do you mean? i have three sons and am always looking for tips! :) thanks!
-margaret

harry potter - book seven was one of the highlights of my summer last year. (maybe you're thinking I must not have had much of a summer, but oh no, it's the book, it's just so good). not sure if you're re-reading or reading for the first time, if so, you are in for a treat. (I guess either way it's a treat, but nothing beats that anticipation when you just have to find out what happens next).
love, as always, hearing about simon. you and chris, and your whole family, give him such wonderful, exciting opportunities, and he takes you up on them in that great simon way.
thanks for sharing. keep enjoying your summer. :) Kirsten

Just curious what Simon needs to do to work towards a costume. What strategies or plans do you use? (if you don't mind sharing)
We are trying something similar with my son and I am always looking for new ideas once the old wear off :)

Don't know if Simon has seen where Han Solo is frozen by Jaba the Hut, but Simon always reminds me of my Aidan so I think he'll love this "experiment" as well.
Pick any palm-sized action figure and freeze him in a large pixie cup filled with water. Then run warm water on the outside of the cup so that a big block of ice falls out with the action figure (ala Han) frozen inside.
Outside my two little boys run relay races with a bucket of warm water and two small bowls at one end of the yard and the frozen figure in a large metal bowl at the other end. They have to fill the small bowls and dump them over Han to free him.
Somedays they just slowly free him in the bathroom sink--but they still think it is the most fascinating thing in the world.
Let me know if you try it with Simon.

That's so funny - me too (about Harry Potter) I read all of them as they came out, but happened to catch "Order of Phoenix" on tv over the weekend and I just dug out "Half-Blood Prince" to re-read. I always read those in "gulps" instead of really enjoying. Does that make me weird? Probably

I chuckled over the "take us out with a light saber" comment...I love when they finally figure out that we do not pull their strings. Taking you out is such an extension of that freedom finding! Ours used to say: "Dis is your choice:" Because of course we would give HIm choices...and he quickly learned that sometimes it was "none of the above" in his mind...so he would go right back at us with "our" choices. Good luck to you AND Simon!

LOL and a sympathy hug, too. Duncan is up to the same thing -- light sabers and Harry Potter spells. Well, that and ray guns (because sometimes he's WALL-E and Eve has a ray gun).
What I love most about all of this is that he's integrated all of the Lego sets (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Sponge Bob) and his Harry Potter figure (from a different building toy) and they all have wild adventures together! At least we're not the only ones getting sabered/lasered!
=)

I remember summers as a child like it was yesterday. Oh to be a kid again. Simon is such a cutie and I'm glad he's enjoying his activities. How cool is it to sit in a hot tub on a deck and fly a kite. I want to give that a go.

Ali...that place looks so cool! We have a place here called Pump it Up that is similiar, but that one looks better! Also, thanks for the reminder of fun...I may just have to pick those Harry Potter books back up again! They are so easy to read and very entertaining! :)

Ah, my 19 yr. old daughter is diving back into Harry Potter land this summer---she just spent 6 days at the Oregon Country Fair & would escape the crowds now and then in the back of the booth she was living in to read! Love your top 6 list and the challenges too. I should make a list of my own challenges I need to work on!!

I didn´t know you were a Harry Potter fan too! :) And it sounds like you are having a great summer!

Love the photos of Simon. I too have a son on the spectrum and can relate to the challenges, love hearing your stories of success and frustrations, I always somehow feel better. These kids are very special in so many ways, I wouldn't change a thing. I always tell my son he's like a christmas package everyday, always a great suprise :) thanks for sharing.

If you have an iphone, there is a new free apple download where it turns your iphone into a light saber of sorts!

The photo of Simon is amazing! I can definitely see how much he has grown & can definitely see the young man he will be. TFS your wonderful boy Mom!

Good to hear from you and several other adults re your enjoyment of Harry Potter. He was my grad school escape, and my DH didn't quite get it...They do get darker, but JK Rowling did not disappoint (at least me!) in the final books. Hope you enjoy them!
So cool to hear re Simon's summer--it sounds like he is growing TONS in a variety of ways. One of my clients (with Autism) hasn't made it to spells or light sabers yet, but I have to go to jail when I have been a "bad girl." (i.e. asked him to do something difficult or not on his agenda!)