Camping, NH, Aug 2009 (64 photos), by Jennifer Long

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Monhegan Island, Sept 2009 (51 photos), by Jennifer Long

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Autism in Action

This is another video worth posting (link to youtube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmi3Z9Kt1II )......my 18-year old, autistic son performing at Frieda's Installation Ceremony (June 7 in Danvers). This is a kid who was not supposed to be able to learn to talk, according to the neurologist when he was three. He now drives, has passed the MCAS, works part time at Stop and Shop, plays the piano (obviously!) by ear and by reading music, is active in youth group, and is doing well in school. He is an all-around great kid!

The lyrics are posted below -- Mary Chapin Carpenter song called "Why Shouldn't We":

We believe in things that we cannot see
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

Hands that heal can set a chained man free
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in peace within every heart
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

Burning brightly, brightly in the dark
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

So come on darling feel your spirits rise
Come on children open up your eyes
God is all around Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears your prayers
It's not too late

And we believe in things that will give us hope
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

Let your voice be heard, celebrate your vote
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things that make us all the same
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

Love belongs to all in deed and name
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

And we believe in things that can't be done
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

Lift up your heart, put down your gun
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things We're told that we cannot change
Why shouldn't we

We had heroes once, and we will again
Why shouldn't we

So come on darling
Come on children
God is all around,
Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears our prayers
It's not too late
Why shouldn't we

Again, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmi3Z9Kt1II

A great race for Tim!

Tim had a terrific meet this weekend at UConn. He had a bunch of best times, and won several of his heats. Mostly, he just felt great about how he was swimming. This has been a wonderful year for him, swimming-wise. He is getting better and enjoying it so much.

This was his most spectacular race of the weekend -- a 200 meter Individual Medley. Tim is in Lane 3, the third from the top of the screen, wearing a red cap. Notice that he falls behind in the backstroke, but watch his recovery in the breaststroke and freestyle lengths!

I am very proud of all the effort and dedication he is putting in to his swimming --a very good kid all around.

Julia's Research Fair

Everything in Spanish! Wow!

Bailey and Julia discussing observations

Bailey and Julia with their project

So today was the Third Grade Research fair. Each class had a project, and different teams of students studied different aspects of the project. For example, Julia's class studied the pond ecosystem. They went across the street and gathered pond life (water, weeds, rocks, tadpoles, snails, insects, etc.) and created four aquariums. One aquarium they left alone (intact); in one, they removed all of the living things that are "decomposers" (clean up the dead stuff); in one, they removed all the rocks, sticks, and non-food items; in the fourth, they removed all of the pond plant life and replaced it with plant life from the forest (dirt, oak and maple leaves, grass, twigs, etc.) Each group came up with an hypothesis about what would happen to their assigned tank (Julia had the tank with the forest plants), and then they made daily observations and journaled about what they saw. Simultaneously, each student was assigned one animal or plant to research (Julia had damsel flies --- other kids had tadpoles, duck weed, snails, etc.). And they created wonderful displays of everything they learned. The kicker??? EVERYTHING IS IN SPANISH.....all the research, all the journals, all the displays.....and today, when the kids made their presentations and answered questions? ALL IN SPANISH. WOW!!!

So Julia tells me about this fair at 8:00 PM last night. I was surprised -- and have to work the next day. I tell her there is no way I can go on such short notice. She is disappointed, tells me how important this is to her, and offers to call my boss (!!) to ask him if I can go (she said -- "Your boss likes me -- he'll say yes if I ask!"). SO I went ahead and emailed the team to let them know I would be an hour late to work.........it was an hour very well spent! I am so impressed with these third graders!

Ben and Friends Singing "Hey Jude!"

Big Weekend - Ben's Party