Back to normal

The parties are over; the celebrated houseguest gone. Dad and Mom arrived on Thursday and headed home this morning. It was a good visit, and a treat to have Dad staying with me for the first time in years. (Mom stayed with my sister. Mom and Dad are divorced, although obviously friendly enough to share the 400-mile trip from Rochester to Boston.)

The weekend was very nice; a good "real" birthday for Abby on Friday, followed by her "friend" party on Saturday. She wanted a High School Musical theme party, so we cranked up the soundtrack tunes, moved the coffeetable and let the girls all do their best dance moves to get the party started. Some of them were really good, and they all knew the words to sing along, too. Very cute.

We did a simple craft (no other kind ever happens in my house, actually) and then I told them the East High cafeteria was open for pizza, which I had made. The rest of the party took care of itself -- presents, cake, and a little time to play outside before it was time to send them on their way with their crafts and goody bags. It was fun, and better than last year's ballerina party -- probably because it was shorter.

I was very proud of Abby. She really connected with her friends, through the common bond of craziness about High School Musical. Toward the end, she was forgetting the social graces; when it was time to bid her last guest goodbye, she decided to do the bear walk down the hall in the opposite direction. Fortunately, the mom understands kids with ASDs and wasn't fazed in the least.

Of course, I still made Abby come back and tell her friend goodbye!

On Sunday we had a combined family party for Abby and Timmy, who will be 3 on the 21st. As always, everyone was so generous with gifts and yummy food for the party. We are truly blessed. Grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles -- it was so good to see everyone, and to celebrate Abby and Timmy with them.

Kids with both sets of grandparents, August 10, 2008

Left to right: Mom, Bobby, Brian, Judy, Abby, Dad, Timmy