NoAlice?Rabbit,Hatter&Chessie Do a HolidayTrip.NEW11/27 1 More Day&I crush on Snowmen

[solana131]

NEMO! My favorite. I have a custom park backpack that has Dory on it....my phone ringtone is "Just keep swimming...just keep swimming...." yep, you could say I'm addicted

[PracPerfPatricia]

Originally Posted by solana131

NEMO! My favorite. I have a custom park backpack that has Dory on it....my phone ringtone is "Just keep swimming...just keep swimming...." yep, you could say I'm addicted

Dory is too awesome... she has some of the best lines... so many from the beginning when she's supposed to be taking Marlin to find the boat and she forgets... and she turns on him all "What's your problem...ocean isn't big enough for you? huh huh huh?

I also saw a great shirt... don't totally remember exact quote but something by Marlin to Dory " It's because I like you that I can't be with you. It's a complicated emotion...

[PracPerfPatricia]

Of Asperger's and Apples...

First, of Asperger's

David... Dave... Deedles... my 10 year old little man, my conscience, my laughter... It can be hard to grow up in the "shadow" of an older sibling that is in many ways the "perfect" older child...but David isn't in Em's shadow...he can stand on his on as his own unique person.



David is one of the smartest, funniest, most compassionate and most positive people I know. He's been known to make really deep mature pronouncements... Driving to school today, listening to the soundtrack to Frankenweenie, he says "Mom do you know why I like Tim Burton's movies...like Frankenweenie and Corpse Bride?' "Why David?" "Because I like that his monsters may look scary but sometimes they're really kind and the people who aren't monsters are the scary ones..." Wow my 10 year old has figured out something that take a lot of people a lifetime to figure out... if they ever do...)


He can also be ridiculously silly -he thinks Annoying Orange "what's up?" is very funny...and some other ridiculous 10 year old boy humor.

He also has Asperger's Syndrome... and while that is a part of who he is- it doesn't really tell who he is...

There is a saying that if you've met one person with Asperger's , you've met one person with Asperger's. Many people put Asperger's on one end of the Autism Spectrum. Some people see it as its own unique category. Either way, it is pretty universally accepted that Aspies have difficulty in social interactions for a variety of reasons but one of the major ones is that they are not wired to read social cues (literally their neurological wiring is different)... most of us... are able to do a quick scan of a person (without even thinking about it) and get all kinds of information... facial expressions, body language, what they're wearing, etc... and use this when interpreting what they say... (in fact non verbal communication gives us 90% of all of our social info...). People with Asperger's Syndrome being wired differently -don't instinctively pick up those cues.

In David's case, he doesn't have very many sensory issues that sometimes accompany Asperger's and he also happens to have a gifted diagnosis.

He does however sometimes experience amorphous anxiety, can be a bit distracted (ADD like) and has a tough time knowing exactly how to interact with his peers. He is great with younger kids because he is kind and gentle with them. With older kids and adults... he seems really bright and funny. It's his own peer group that he doesn't have an easy breezy way of socializing with. They may not always get his interests and sense of humor and he sometimes has a hard time "reading them" and kind of getting what makes them tick. Fortunately he goes to a really warm, small school with a traditional but creative learning environment. The overwhelming majority of the kids don't have any special needs, and for the most part academically neither does he. But interpreting the social world and its conventions can be a struggle for him.

I think he is the bravest person I know to be such an upbeat positive person and yet have to deal with the anxiety of sometimes not getting the whole social scene around him.

I also think he is one of the coolest & unique people not to mention 10 year olds I know.


He also loves old Tin Tin comics, Silly Symphonies and just about every film Pixar has made- he wants and is trying to make his own stop action movie.

He loves science, languages and culture(-he's learning French in school, had a little Chinese at camp and wants to learn Latin and German,) poetry and mythology but he also like Pokemon, Bakugan and Kirby...

He doesn't like to have to write long assignments; although he loves to read books... well books that interest him like anything by Roald Dahl & Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympian Series,- and he has no problems expressing which ones don't interest him-

He loves music and is ls now earning to play the drums...& his drum teacher thinks he is a pleasure...and doing really well.

He doesn't always like all team sports... because he wants to be very good and while he is coordinated it can take him a bit to process the game in his head but he does like baseball, and he absolutely loves swimming and swims on a team three times a week.


He wants to help others... yet sometimes isn't sure what to say especially if he doesn't know them.

He loves animals with all of his heart... complaining the cashier the last time we were at the supermarket about how he wanted to complain that they sold veal and how "heinous" that was.

He can work well with this peers on an academic assignment... but doesn't always know how to make small talk or make "trash" talk.

But I know in my heart, for whatever struggles he and I in turn will have with Social Learning, he will grow up to be an amazing, cool adult and whatever he winds up doing... it's sure to be awesome.


He is a little Disney man and even though I think he'll miss his sister on this trip... I think he's secretly going to enjoy all the personal attention.


His first trip to Disney was when he was 6 mos.





He's been to Disney World and Disneyland and met the furry characters and the Princesses....









He's been a Jedi...









& a Pirate...





He'll pretty much ride anything he's tall enough for... which at this point is everything... except Haunted Mansion used to freak him out as did Tower of Tower...


He's definitely a Disney Dude...
















& a brave Disney Hero

[PracPerfPatricia]

Now of Apples

The Boys and I went on a little Apple outing this past weekend...

Anyone who read my previous posts know that Fall makes me a little

Bouncy and while Pumpkins are my favorite...

Apples come in a close second...

especially when you get to pick them...


















And we did get cider and cider donuts... Solebury Orchards rocks...


A couple of miles away, Peddler's Village was having a Scarecrow Festival...




Just a sampling...













Next time... some Disney plan changes and later Disneyland...

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

David sounds like an awesome and great kid - wonderful observation about the Tim Burton movies!!!

Your apple outing looks like it was a lot of fun!!

[inkedupmomma]

Your little man sounds awesome! I am always impressed with people who have children with any sort of special need. Then again, my DS has (undiagnosed) ADHD. It takes a special person to love, mentor, guide, help these children though life. I'm learning a LOT about patience with my Jack! My friends son is Aspie, and she very much familiarizes with the show Parenthood, have you ever watched? Whats your opinion?

SO glad you made it to the orchard! Next time inbox me so I can swing buy and do a crazy Dis stalker meet! Too weird?

[PracPerfPatricia]

Originally Posted by Stringbean&Wingnut

David sounds like an awesome and great kid - wonderful observation about the Tim Burton movies!!!

Your apple outing looks like it was a lot of fun!!

Thanks he really is an awesome little guy... he's the kind of kid that is always coming out with some pretty wise comments... I really need to start keeping track of them...

Oh I love that corny kind of stuff... apple picking, pumpkins, chopping down Christmas trees... it's all good... That Orchard is particularly nice... they have great berries in the summer...

Originally Posted by inkedupmomma

Your little man sounds awesome! I am always impressed with people who have children with any sort of special need. Then again, my DS has (undiagnosed) ADHD. It takes a special person to love, mentor, guide, help these children though life. I'm learning a LOT about patience with my Jack! My friends son is Aspie, and she very much familiarizes with the show Parenthood, have you ever watched? Whats your opinion?

My little man is supremely awesome... (Ok sometimes he has his moments... I have a really high tolerance for personal eccentricity and he is so smart and positive that he is a pleasure to parent.... Jack may also just have Iamalittledudeitis...I think many little boys have that... and if it does turn out to be ADHD, lots of really cool, creative, successful people work through it... the thing is that most of these diagnoses also have gifts that accompany them... I have seen and do love Parenthood... at first I was just excited that Lauren Graham who used to be in Gilmore Girls had a new show... I really like pretty much all the story lines on that show... I think the character of Max (the Aspie) has been great for raising public awareness and I applaud the writers for holistically integrating his story into the show... David's personality is definitely mellower and possibly more upbeat... Max can be tough sometimes... but the social awkwardness... not always knowing what to say is similar...

SO glad you made it to the orchard! Next time inbox me so I can swing buy and do a crazy Dis stalker meet! Too weird?

LOVE LOVE the orchard! and those donuts... OMG too good... I am totally down with a crazy Dis stalker meet...it would be awesome... and my personal tolerance of weird is pretty high...

[jeremysdisneymom]

Getting all caught up. Love your updates from California. I loved San Francisco when we were there. Was disappointed as it was very foggy most of our stay and we never got a really good picture of the bridge. We gave up the rental car before we ever made it to the Golden Gate Park so I was bummed about that. We loved the Museum!!! I could have stayed in there all day. I think we spent a good part of the afternoon there.

We are heading to Disneyland next Thanksgiving. Our plans are to spend some time in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon and then head back to LA for the week.

California is so beautiful. It is such a different world out there. We had so much fun and look foward to going back.

Love all the fall fun you have been having. It is a pretty time of year here in Ohio as well.

Oh, we are all getting so close. I have scored us a room at BLT the night before the cruise and then our 5 days at WDW after the cruise will all be at the BC. I am giddy with excitement. I have some major Disney luck or pixie dust as I call it this week getting all the days I needed.

[Mickey_Mom]

Your writing so feels like we're chatting over tea. Just the two of us...

It was a pleasure learning more about David.

[PracPerfPatricia]

Originally Posted by jeremysdisneymom

Getting all caught up. Love your updates from California. I loved San Francisco when we were there. Was disappointed as it was very foggy most of our stay and we never got a really good picture of the bridge. We gave up the rental car before we ever made it to the Golden Gate Park so I was bummed about that. We loved the Museum!!! I could have stayed in there all day. I think we spent a good part of the afternoon there.

San Francisco is just such an awesome city. We've been lucky with our weather the times we've been there... we've seen the fog but it sort of dissipated by later in the morning... The first time we were there the chilliness struck me but I'd probably rather that than too hot...
Awww the museum... you really could spend a good amount of time - there are lots of stuff to watch and read... or you could have a family member (DH)... putting a little pressure on you to move it along...

We are heading to Disneyland next Thanksgiving. Our plans are to spend some time in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon and then head back to LA for the week.

I want to go back to Disneyland too with all of those changes to CA... that should be an awesome trip... I'd love to see some of the National Parks... I've seen many of the historic sites... and we did go to Muir Woods which is like a baby National Park so beautiful... but I'd love to see some of the parks in Arizona and also Mt. Ranier in Washington...

California is so beautiful. It is such a different world out there. We had so much fun and look foward to going back.

It really it beautiful and driving around it in the car is such a great way to see a lot of it... Even for people that make the argument that Disneyland is smaller, I still think it is a different experience and so is California...

Love all the fall fun you have been having. It is a pretty time of year here in Ohio as well.

Autumn is the best... Halloween, Thanksgiving, all the pumpkins and apples..

Oh, we are all getting so close. I have scored us a room at BLT the night before the cruise and then our 5 days at WDW after the cruise will all be at the BC. I am giddy with excitement. I have some major Disney luck or pixie dust as I call it this week getting all the days I needed.

What an amazing trip that is going to be...

Originally Posted by Mickey_Mom

Your writing so feels like we're chatting over tea. Just the two of us...

lol...I feel like I'm talking to someone in my head when I'm writing... ummm... a cup of tea would be really nice about now...

It was a pleasure learning more about David.

Thanks... It was a pleasure writing/talking about him...

[PracPerfPatricia]

So today is 41 days and counting down...

& I have some Dis trs and ptrs to catch up on...

But the biggest thing I have on my mind right now...

is a 5 hour + drive

Once Emily comes home for school

for her to take a last look before she

Applies Early Decision to her her First Choice College...

I'm sure the drive will be full of thrills and chills

& diners and coffee...

and lots of girl talk...

and then the drive back tomorrow...

& more coffee and diners...

and lots more girl talk...

It should be fun, stressful and emotional... , ,

Wish me luck...


Please...



Hmmm... and that's not even worrying about what the boys will get into...

[Alysa]

Have a great mother-daughter trip!!

[inkedupmomma]

thats so exciting! thats only 40 days away from 1 day!!

Where yall going??

[DisMomAmy]

I really enjoyed your post about David! You really have a good understanding of his strengths & challenges.

[PracPerfPatricia]

39 Days and Counting Down to Trip



Tired today...need lots of coffee... which isn't a problem cause I always have plenty in the house...

Driving to and from the Boston area...should only take 5 hours... but it didn't seem to work out that way...


So much traffic in Connecticut on Friday night...& we wound up eating in what I'm sure is/was the worst diner in New England (despite me having found it on a list of New England's 20 Best diners) Where is that Luke's Diner (Gilmore Girls) when you need it?...... but we had a good time in a slap happy-we're tired and starving... kind of way...


Since this was a last minute trip -we had a bit of trouble getting a hotel -there was a huge rowing event in Boston this past weekend along with several college hosting Parent's weekends...but we were able to get a room in the Hilton Garden Inn Burlington-Boston. It was nice, our room was attractive and we had a rather decent breakfast there in the morning... but the halls were so long it was almost creepy...








Ummm... Shining Much?


After revisiting the University who must not be named (Emily is being very superstitious and I'm not allowed to name it other than it's in the "Boston area" ...)



We did have lovely lunch at a place called Sofra... which has a sort of Persian influence... lots of tapas/mezze/dips ...Moroccan inspired decor... a little bit like the food at Tangierine Cafe in Epcot... but even more exotic- more selection and amazing pastries... American but with an exotic twist... we got about 4 to go and 3 were finished by the time we got home...








Driving home from the "Boston area" was a much easier trip but the traffic outside NYC is never fun...


We did have a lot of conversation and it was fun even if the driving was tiring... Em is really into the University who must not be named... or UWMNBN... and I think it would be a great fit for her and so here's crossing the fingers...


On to Disney Related Things... As this is the "Dis" Boards...


So today we've broken through the 40s and our now at 39 days to go...


In keeping with our Disney Countdown film night...


We are going to watch a Princess film...


A Classic Princess (meaning pre-Ariel and the whole Disney film revival beginning with The Little Mermaid in 1989...) & actually there weren't that many princesses before Ariel... the majority have come after...


Here's a hint...






So French Minnie rules out the young German Miss, Snow White...



which brings us down to Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty and the Winner is







Sleeping Beauty!



and that fabulous Disney trio- those Fairies... Flora, Fauna and Merriweather....who are simultaneously very funny, impish and very brave...





Now no hating on me here- but I've always founding Sleeping Beauty more compelling than Cinderella (I am rather fond of Snow White... she's cute as button, love the dwarves and that cottage... has anyone ever looked at all that carving in there... amazing... I used to want to live in there...)



I love Prince Philip ... I mean seriously- the boy can dance and fight and take down one of the most wicked of all the Disney Villains,


Malificent


all while maintaing his perfect Princely hair...



It's just a really good story with a lot a action and romance - and the fabulous fairies to add some comic relief and impishness...




next update... Disney Trip details and some reporting on Disneyland 2011...