October 2006
It's been a while. But here is the long overdue update...
We moved into the cute house next door which D5 and I call "the Good House". Busy, busy, but slowly getting sorted and caught up.
First, Bucket Head. No clue what this was about, but I look out and see him running back and forth across the tard with a red sand bucket on his head. Occassionally bonking into a tree, or the dog... no comment.
Donnie now rides the bus to school all foru days. We had been walking to and from the sweet three blocks. And each day he asked to ride the bus. The school complied, and now he is the last they pick up and the first they drop off. He digs it. And frankly, I'm liking the lengthy shower I now take each day after he boards the bus. :)
The kitchen window is our place to keep track of where we are with lessons. Covered in 3x5 cards. Keeps ME on track. Tater keeps track of Donnie. In his room, thruout the house and in the yard. The dog is extrememly tolerant of the poking and pulling of this active little boy. He is not cruel to her, although he sometimes teases her.
I raked a big pile of leaves on the front lawn. Then quietly walked away. Not seconds later he was in it having an autumn fest of his own.
Halloween Cowboy. And the coon skin cap was donned for Nevada Day Parade.
Donnie Loves to help. Like Tater, and most of us, he enjoys the feeling of being useful. He carries in groceries, empties trash, clears and sets the table. All cheerfully. He is quite confident and independent, while still craving time snuggled in our very own "snuggle chair".
Class trip to the Punkin Patch. He waits his turn without pushing. Squeals with delight when an animal nuzzles or licks him. Especially puupies who lick his face! He is unafraid. He is inquisitive.
Each child selected their own Punkin, which was loaded onto the tractor, then onto the bus. It came home the next day. Once in his care, it's life was short. He explored it's parameters. And NO, it didn't bounce. But he kept the remains around a few days then asked for the trash...
The Teacher's Aid in his class is fabulous. She comes up with wonderful bullitin boards like this spooktacular presentation. There is a digital camera in the classrooom which gets a lot of use. He regularly comes home with Booklets of the class project that week. With photos and captions. The class is well funded, well staffed and taking good care of our little monkey boy. His progress is amazing.
At home we continue the lessons. I did NOT show him how to hold the scissors, he took them, puzzled it out himself and the cutting began. The "bonnet" well, the boy likes hats... 
Shopping. Hmmm, Spiders. Can we eat these spiders?
The teacher needed two more milk jugs, whoch we collected from recycle bins on our street, and he carried into school tied together with string , hung around his neck.
Walker came over after school for a week while his mom traveled. Donnie set the table and served the meal. Both boys cleared their dishes, then went off to ride bikes in the yard.
Witness Protection Program"Donnie Do it. Ice ah Knee."
Donnie might as well learn to dress wounds. He is an explorer.
Another favorite Donnie-ism, " TakeApart". He knows "pliers, screwdriver, hammer, drill"