disney-super-mom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2004
- Messages
- 6,466
Well, since we're all sharing.........
I'm Capri, adopted when I was a week old through Catholic Charities by my mom and dad. I've been married to my hubby Justin for 16 years. We have two boys, Ryan who is 10 and Luke who is 6. Ryan was planned after years of no baby and 7 months of fertility drugs. However, Luke was a BIG surprise.
I was born and raised in the Spokane Washington area, and still live there now. We did leave the Spokane area for a spell in 2002 when we moved to Glendale Arizona, but we couldn't take the unrelenting heat and the various shades of taupe everywhere, so in 2004, we moved back to the Spokane area.
Ryan, my 10 year old, has high-functioning autism. He's sweat and a little shy and quiet. He's really the reason we fell in love with Disneyland. It was the one place he could go, have the time of his life, and be accepted by all the characters and CMs without being judged, rejected, or expected to perform a certain way. The costumed characters don't talk, and he LOVED that he could "make friends" with the characters without having to talk to them. They would give him hugs and high fives and goof around.....all without having to talk. It was "autism heaven" for him. So we do all we can to continue to provide him with that experience every year.
Don't misunderstand.....Ryan can talk. However, his language skills are a little simplistic. His interests are the same as any 10 year old boy, but his language skills are simple, to the point, and literal. If you've ever watched the movie Forest Gump.....well, Ryan talks just a little better than that, and he's a little self-conscious about it. Anyway, Disneyland is a place that really does provide "magic" for him on so many levels.
On the other hand, Luke, our youngest, is like living with someone who is a cross between Tommy Boy, Jim Carrey, and Dennis the Menace. You know how Jim Carrey can make all those wacky funny faces and change his voice......yeah, well Luke does that every morning while looking at himself in the mirror before school. EVERY MORNING! Like he's rehersing for something.
If it's crazy.....he'll do it. If he's not supposed to do it.....he wants to do it. If there's trouble to find.....he'll find it. If there's a hole in the ground......he'll fall in it. If there's a mystery button to push....he'll push it. If there's a mess to be made.....he'll make it. 
Me, well I've been a stay at home mom since I had Ryan in 1999. Before that, I was a front desk manager at a family-owned hotel, and for a while I was a realtor. We now have a small real estate appraisal business, and I do all the bookkeeping, which these days isn't too hard of a job - LOL. However, I want to go back to work full time now that my kids are both in school full time, so last April I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Elementary Education. These days, most of my time is spent writing papers and doing school work. (My undergraduate degree is from Eastern Washington University in Broadcast Journalism). I'll be student teaching next fall.
Oh, and I've been part of this group and going on the ladies trip since the first girls trip to Disneyland, so this will be my third ladies trip......no matter what Justin says. LOL!
I'm Capri, adopted when I was a week old through Catholic Charities by my mom and dad. I've been married to my hubby Justin for 16 years. We have two boys, Ryan who is 10 and Luke who is 6. Ryan was planned after years of no baby and 7 months of fertility drugs. However, Luke was a BIG surprise.
I was born and raised in the Spokane Washington area, and still live there now. We did leave the Spokane area for a spell in 2002 when we moved to Glendale Arizona, but we couldn't take the unrelenting heat and the various shades of taupe everywhere, so in 2004, we moved back to the Spokane area.
Ryan, my 10 year old, has high-functioning autism. He's sweat and a little shy and quiet. He's really the reason we fell in love with Disneyland. It was the one place he could go, have the time of his life, and be accepted by all the characters and CMs without being judged, rejected, or expected to perform a certain way. The costumed characters don't talk, and he LOVED that he could "make friends" with the characters without having to talk to them. They would give him hugs and high fives and goof around.....all without having to talk. It was "autism heaven" for him. So we do all we can to continue to provide him with that experience every year.
Don't misunderstand.....Ryan can talk. However, his language skills are a little simplistic. His interests are the same as any 10 year old boy, but his language skills are simple, to the point, and literal. If you've ever watched the movie Forest Gump.....well, Ryan talks just a little better than that, and he's a little self-conscious about it. Anyway, Disneyland is a place that really does provide "magic" for him on so many levels.
On the other hand, Luke, our youngest, is like living with someone who is a cross between Tommy Boy, Jim Carrey, and Dennis the Menace. You know how Jim Carrey can make all those wacky funny faces and change his voice......yeah, well Luke does that every morning while looking at himself in the mirror before school. EVERY MORNING! Like he's rehersing for something.
If it's crazy.....he'll do it. If he's not supposed to do it.....he wants to do it. If there's trouble to find.....he'll find it. If there's a hole in the ground......he'll fall in it. If there's a mystery button to push....he'll push it. If there's a mess to be made.....he'll make it. Me, well I've been a stay at home mom since I had Ryan in 1999. Before that, I was a front desk manager at a family-owned hotel, and for a while I was a realtor. We now have a small real estate appraisal business, and I do all the bookkeeping, which these days isn't too hard of a job - LOL. However, I want to go back to work full time now that my kids are both in school full time, so last April I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Elementary Education. These days, most of my time is spent writing papers and doing school work. (My undergraduate degree is from Eastern Washington University in Broadcast Journalism). I'll be student teaching next fall.
Oh, and I've been part of this group and going on the ladies trip since the first girls trip to Disneyland, so this will be my third ladies trip......no matter what Justin says. LOL!
I went to 
Almost all the stores on Main Street were packed and had long lines to pay for merchandise. I waited in a long line to buy a big bag of Salt Water Taffy for my aunt for Xmas. lol. 
Cute boots! You are another one who's so crafty. 
and dining at Club 33 with a bunch of awesome friends. 
Yikes! I was quite busy yesterday afternoon/evening and I get back on this thread and it as grown by 20 pages or so! 
Even though I'm up there, I still loves me some good rides. My favs are ToT, Space, Soarin, and Indy. Splash is pretty fun, but I'm not into getting too wet when it is cold. So I wear the poncho. 
We live across the way from a dairy about 1/4 mile from us. I love living in the country, but I do get sick of the flies. 
Every once in awhile I threaten to move, but we have put alot of blood, sweat and tears into this place, so we stay put. 
I love to garden, cook, and lately have taken up sewing again. I also love to read!! Finally read the Twilight series. Loved them. Not as strange as I thought they would be. Team Jacobs are traitors.
Next a hummer plows into that van. 
. We're doing a late breakfast and then will head up to LA for the Imagination Movers show. After the show it's back to Vegas, so it's a really quick trip for us. But, I am so thankful to be going at all. I seriously have a truly wonderful hubby 
Anyway later today on Oxygen they're showing Steel Magnolias. That's what I'll be watching as long as I'm awake.
