This is a new part of our lives here at the Blue Hutch. Bubba has a picture schedule that he carries around during the day to let him know the plan. He moves the red pointer after something is finished and he’s off to the next thing.

It’s been amazing to see how this has helped him. It’s not so much that he didn’t already know what came next in the morning routine – we’ve done the same thing just about every morning of his 3.5 years. Still, there is security in having the schedule in his hand it seems. Also, it has helped him communicate with us.

The other night he had his schedule and after dinner I asked, “What’s next? Jammies?” He said, “No” and moved the teardrop over to “Go Potty”. He took off for the bathroom and went potty. We got jammies on and I moved the pointer over to “Read a book and Pray” and Bubba said, “No – go sleep” and moved the pointer over to the sleeping square. He was really so tired that night. It was GREAT for him to be able to tell us without a tantrum and us forcing a book on him. Seriously, if he wants to skip the book he is REALLY tired.

So, thanks Mrs. Laura for such a great tool. He loves it. How do I know? This afternoon he came to me and said, “Where is my schedule, momma?”

So, it is 6:23 AM on Saturday and I just ordered my first book from Blurb.com. I followed the advice of a girl I don’t even know (who happens to live in my home town and “stalks” my blog) and used Blurb to make a book out of the first year of The Blue Hutch. I am SO excited.

All six little girls from Little’s class showed up last Friday in their dress up dresses and with their mommies in tow. I think only one found our home without a phone call to verify directions and only one was here at 2:00PM (when the party started), but it was really fun. The girls would stand at the window and squeal the others’ names as they arrived. I loved having the mommies in my home and hoped they felt welcome and at ease. Having my own mommy here was a GIFT to me – she thought of all the little things I had forgotten. i.e. how we were going to hang the signs and who was going to serve the food and where would we put the gifts. God was gracious and everything went well. Little had a great time. How do I know? Just yesterday, as we drove down the street, she said to no one in particular, “And ALL my friends came to my house and we wore our dresses. We had so much fun.” Mission accomplished.