A Party For Three

Hi folks!

Please forgive me for not writing much lately, I'm just so tired most of the time, argh. Well, I just had to tell you about some of our latest adventures with the little ones around here....

We were invited to a neighborhood block party yesterday evening. We were looking forward to it. So, although I could picture in my mind how it was going to be with our little ones once we got there, we chanced it anyhow. After all, we like being social, we really like our neighbors and we don't get out much. We made sure not to forget to put their autism bites shirts on as well since we may not already know everyone there.

So, we put Ammon, 4, in the stroller, Mary, 3, walked with Nephi, 9, and Sarah walked with me holding the side of the stroller as we moseyed down the street. We went into the back yard where we saw two guests that had arrived so far, and the children immediately went into a frenzy on the teeter totter and trampoline as these guys looked on in awkward silence. However, Sarah, 6, went straight for the flower garden until the dogs came excitedly running out. Sarah then screamed loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear, which made the dogs even more excited as they ran up to her this time going "Ar ar ar ar ar!!!" So, Sarah continued to scream bloody murder. The dogs soon ran off elsewhere while Sarah was still shaking in her sneakers, but then...."Ar ar ar ar!!!!" again. The owner of the home then came out and loudly exclaimed something like "Don't run from the dogs or yell and scream because that just makes them get louder and more agitated!" Well, I stood there stunned. Well, it was private property and a happy event, so I kept my emotional reaction to myself and quietly started taking off with Sarah and Ammon as fast as I could. As I was leaving, the wife of the home kindly told me that they put the dogs in the house. I said something like "Oh, it's okay. She pulled up some of your flowers too."

So, I took them to our favorite hamburger joint, Arctic Circle. I prayed mightily to God that they would behave there, especially since it was just them and myself. On the way in, Ammon ran around some cars in the drive through, but we otherwise made it in alright. Ammon immediately went to the play land, and Sarah sat at the high table patiently waiting--I think God is very generous with tender mercies, especially when they are much needed.

A young family was sitting in the booth Ammon usually sits with us at. He tried to sit with them and started going for their food when I said "Nuh uh, Ammon" as he smiled slyly, then went off to the play land. Sarah and Ammon soon inhaled every last morsel of their fries and chicken rings. With Ammon, when he finally joined us, he started scooping his food up with his hands. I looked away for a moment and when I looked back, it was ALL gone. I looked to see if it was on the floor, then noticed that his cheeks were stuffed full as he was quickly and carefully chewing it all before it went down the hatch.

They soon were playing, and then Ammon was playing with the door. A 7 yr old boy with high functioning autism next to us told me that my son was at the door. I thanked him for telling me, that he's a good helper. Ammon had vanished right before that in what seemed like an instant. The 7 yr old boy's mom and I started visiting and by the time Ammon ran to the drive through for the third time, I had it. I gave Sarah what was left of my pop so she wouldn't fuss and I scooped up Ammon and we went to the car....Back at home, I watched them play outside in the back yard. In a first, Ammon kept coming up to me with a big sweet smile and taking his hands behind my back and butt to try and bring me to the swing where I had to swing him for like an HOUR. He was quite the laughing, happy boy as Sarah frolicked around the yard trying to eat dirt and unripened fruit from the trees.

...We may very well have to wait for the next life to be able to have and go to parties like everyone else. Oh well, this life is real short compared to eternity anyhow....


Robin Kirton.....the mom