After a week of rain, everyone needs a little fun.

Especially staff, who I think enjoyed playing volleyball and making collages even more than the kids did today!

String Painting

Here is a sampling of the artwork the kids created on Thursday. Some of them are going to be entered in a fair next week!

Food coloring can turn your skin green.

Little known fact: In the English-Autism dictionary, "put in one drop," is translated as "squeeze the bottle as hard as you can and douse the Rec Therapist's hands in green dye."

Another little known fact? It doesn't wash off immediately, causing said Rec Therapist to somewhat resemble Elphaba for the rest of the night.

There's beauty in the mess.

Even when things seem out of control and you're covered in paint and people are screaming and jumping and eating string and climbing on the tables, take a step back and look at what's been created. It just might take your breath away.

We did string art today, which resulted in an incredible mess and probably more paint was eaten and worn by the kids than actually got to the paper, but some of the results were pretty amazing. I'll try to post some pictures of them soon.

Sometimes it's just time to go.

It might be earlier than you'd planned, but when you sense that the #^!@ is about to hit the fan, it's time.

Skittles are magical.

Having trouble getting someone to do something? Give them a Skittle when they finally do it and, miraculously, they'll start doing what you ask! Just keep those Skittles coming.

Have a favorite tree and visit it often.

Just make sure getting there doesn't involve running from well-meaning staff who would prefer that you stay in the gym for another 5 minutes. It's also best if you're wearing pants.

This picture, by the way, is of my favorite tree. It's in the middle of a huge field in Cades Cove and I'd like to be sitting under it right now. (Thanks to petergrantfineart for the beautiful picture!)

Soft things are fun to poke.

This could include pillows, cushions, balls, mud, hamburger buns, stomachs, butts, or breasts.

[Disclaimer: I do not recommend trying the last three. Unless they're your own. But that's just weird.]

Dogs are exciting!!

And when you see one, you should get everyone's attention and point it out because who knows how long it will be until you see another . . . ooh! Another dog! And another one! Look! Look! Dog! Look!!

Sometimes autism hurts.

Especially when it comes in the form of a 14-year old boy tired of waiting.