Official posting of the Armed Services YMCA Annual Autism Holiday Party Photos

Every year our family -- whomever is fit for public adventures -- attends a party put on by the ASYMCA for active duty military families who have a child (or in our case, plural) with autism. It is our one and only holiday party that allows us to let our guard down a bit as everyone there knows the unpredictability and stress of not just living with the neuro-atypical but also this military lifestyle. Kid pulling his pants down before he makes it to the bathroom? No worries! Kid spinning (form of beg-waiting) while the balloon guy makes a fish on a rod for a different kiddo? No problem (unless you're the balloon-twister who didn't get the memo on autism). Kid who won't eat if food touches other food? Not even a batted eye lash. Groaning, shrieking, echolalia all welcome here. It is the equivalent of landing in a foreign land and, while you don't quite recognize the dialect, you know you've descended from the same tribe.

This year was no exception. Held at the USO, we were treated to a luncheon and two kinds of CAKES(!) along with a balloon guy (grumpy) who was also the same as the magic show guy (my favorite line was when he announced that he was "looking for boys and girls who can sit nicely with their hands in their laps." *Flappers, rockers, and ear-grippers, for whom this party was created, you are out.* But, hey, he was a volunteer and we were glad to have him. Each family also receives a photo with a Very Youthful Santa (maximum age: 31), who is the husband of one of the ASYMCA staff and a bona fide good egg. The highlight, though -- aside from the cake -- is always Bingo. Bingo is the best structured game ever ... unless your kiddo is overwhelmed by amplified human voices. Repetitive with big-winner prizes. And, you know, it kind of reduces that whole expectation of social interaction ('cause you might miss a ball being called!).

We lasted 1.75 hours not including travel time. A new A-------n Family World Record!


Charlie was a Grinch-in-red ALL day but rallied once he got in the door and realized he'd been to this party before. By this point, alas, Ben was rethinking whether Baghdad was a more relaxing existence than R & R.

Jack, after a trip through the "nacho bar", was in the B-I-N-G-O groove.

Tim (with some facilitation from Mom) called BINGO! in a disturbingly deep voice. Jamie trekked up to the prize table with him to select an indoor basketball hoop -- just what JAMIE would love.

Charlie hugging St. Jack. (When Jack won his Bingo card mere moments after Tim's *big win*, his maternal puppetmistress hissed that he best darn well bring back something that the child with autism would enjoy since we were at the, um, Autism party). Jack made a good choice...

Mr. Potato Head.

Especially fitting for those of you who have read about Jack's "family life" curricular experience!

Tim and a former schoolmate greet each other like it's a cocktail party!

O Happy Day...the balloon guy visited our table. Charlie got a sword at his idiot mother's suggestion. Quickly regretted that idea...like 3 minutes later when Jack got one, too.

Tim's "Rudolph" looked suspiciously like a poodle!

General mayhem...Tim, now thoroughly ensconced in puberty, has discovered the joy of protein in a way we previously only dreamed. Taco bar meat -- no thanks to the accroutrements.
Not really sure what fresh prank Jamie has in store...he looks like he's playing ping-pong.

Action shot...the yellow blur is the sword.

Mandatory photo of me. I had to have all these children to ensure that in any given situ (!), I'd have props to hide behind. :-)

with Mommy.

with Daddy.

Lucy's First Autism Christmas Party.

Jamie and Tim...their barber is incredibly consistent (or, more accurately, their barber knows exactly ONE haircut).

In this edition of "Where's Waldo?", the game is to find SANTA!
Here are my people...and no two of them can establish and sustain eye contact with the same onlooker. (Mind you, there are only 3 folks -- me, the other photographer, and an "elf" -- as onlookers while SIX of my family members look askance and askew).
I do suspect that Tim and Charlie were grinning at the gift-wrapped parcels. Little mercenaries will "smile for present."

Lucy's first visit to Santa. What do they have in common? Bellies that resemble a bowlful of jelly!


Tim and Ben.
Notice that Lucy DEFINITELY inherited her mama's delight in cake. She has the cake in her tractor beam.