Standing Tall is easy. Push them down and climb on top.

Portnoy vs. School District...we won! Woo-hoo! I am actually shocked. No lawyers needed this go around. After being told, repeatedly, that Gilbert would NOT do what we ask, has NEVER done what we were asking, and that what we are proposing wasn't ever gonna happen. Well, they have had a change of heart. They are giving us every last thing we asked for, the bulk of it being one to one therapies for Nate. GPS does not currently provide this to students and does everything in their power to confuse parents and keep them in the dark about their methods of providing therapies.

 I won't go into it all as it will bore most everyone I know (except my awesome friends that actually ask about all this and don't care if I ramble for hours about IEPs), but  the school district here provides "individualized" therapies which is code for, "Let's stick 4-6 kids at a table for an hour, have them all work on 'individual tasks' while a therapist oversees it all..then we only have our therapists in there for one hour to service MULTIPLE children...so that frees them up to hit a few more classrooms in the same day and up their caseload so high that they barely know the kids' names. We shall call this INDIVIDUALIZED therapy. It will be awesome. We will overwork out therapists to save a buck while confusing parents into assuming that "individual" therapy is 1:1."

Parents eat this crap up here. Not ONE person I spoke with actually knew what services their child was receiving. They all said they were getting individual direct therapy.

Fools.

Anyway, there were more issues involved but that is the main one. This will set a precedent for us as long as we are in this district. This win was huge as if I lost, they would have used all of next year as ammo in their reasoning for how "GREAT" Nate was doing with the type of therapy they proposed.

Anyway, we won. Nate is set to receive everything we asked for and it will be serviced in the exact manner we demanded. Now we wait til Fall and see what really happens. lol.

The best news though is that Disneyland is ON. Our vacation fund no longer needs to go towards our legal fund. I know Disney is no big deal for so many people..but it is for our family...so thanks for not rubbing in our face the , "oh yea? We go to Disney every month! Yay for us!"-crap. Just let me have my moment.

Captain Hook: "If I were you, I'd give up!" ........ Peter Pan: "If you were me... I'd be ugly!"

FINALLY heard from the school district. The head of Autism that we are working with? Her husband died last week. Great timing. No, I kid. It's awful and my heart goes out to here as I am sure the last thing she wants to have is some bitchy Autism Mom screaming in her ear. BUT, this is about MY kid. We are not friends, we are supposed to have a professional relationship...and to me, that means I can tell her how sorry I truly am- and then she tells me who is now taking over our case. SO, again, more waiting. I don't know if she is even coming back or what....more phone calls and waiting are in my future. Grrrr..

This week is Neverland week at Neve's summer camp. She was sportin her pirate pants this morning and was excited to practice her flying with pixie dust. This is also her very last week with her preschool friends from this year. So, so, sad....and she asked again today about Logan. I didn't have the heart to tell her he moved.

Nate has been asking for "Race Cars" all the time and is still enjoying the Wii. Yay for that! He also is loving homemade popsicles that he is allowed to have.

Yuuuuum!!! Blueberry Pomegranate!

From A to Wii...

Garage Sale was a success. It was exactly what I thought it would be. It was 114 degrees outside, so, you know, nice and breezy. The day varied from everything I previously expected- Grandma trying to buy EVERYTHING she could get her wrinkly hands on for 10 cents...to the old whacked out guy that peeks into my garage asking if I had poker chips for sale. He's a professional poker player, (duh!), and is looking for practice chips. Look, I know you're lonely and it's incredibly sad, but please move along. You are freaking me out and your zipper is down. Just sayin.

Made a bit over 300$, so I was happy with that considering I wasn't selling any big furniture or anything. I bought Aaron a Wii for Father's Day with it and he is pumped, so hey, it's a win win. One day of Garage Sale Freak Torture for a present for Aaron and kids=WINNING.

Aaron has been wanting a Wii since they came out. I know we are YEARS behind the times, but who cares. I despise video games as they suck away your time. Aaron is so good about that crap but I didn't even want it around. I told him that when the demon spawn are old enough to play with him, we'll get one. Well, they are old enough now and I though just maybe Nate might enjoy it and we can add it to the one half page list of things Nate actually enjoys doing.

I guessed right.

Mario Kart was a success so now we will pick up some more games to start our collection. We are thrilled it's something we can do as a family..especially when it's so dang hot outside.

Otherwise, not much new. Just been a busy week for Aaron at work (with the AZ fires), so I have been puttin the miles on the car haulin both of them to their respective camps, therapies, and playdates. STILL no final word from the school district. They are clearly pushing us off and it's annoying. The main lady pulled at my sympathies by talking about her husband in hospice, but enough is enough. This is a professional relationship and you needs to shit or get off the pot and let someone else on that has decision making authority. Grr. Monday will begin the shit storm I am working on... (not sure what's going on with me and the potty references. odd. lol)

In Neve news, she got a new chore chart and calendar from my mom.

So far it's working. The threat of losing "smileys" is the end of the world for a 3 year old, lol. This weeks targets include, "Stop Whining, Keep Your Hands To Yourself, Share, Clear the Table" and a couple more. I just need to find a cute way to display it, but for now this will do. :)

The weekend is here and it couldn't come soon enough. Tomorrow is a day of shopping with hopeful new mom friends..then dinner with a girlfriend I am very much looking forward to seeing! Yay for a break.

I never knew how much I loved your father until I saw how much he loved you

Father's Day.
Well, of course I am not a huge fan of this day- just reminds me of what I am missing with my Dad..and picturing how things COULD have been.

I am adopted. That is no secret. ..but I can't even imagine anyone loving me more than my Dad. He wanted me more than anything and it showed in everything he did and in everything he said. I was spoiled. I was rotten. I was HIS. I had the cool Dad..and no, I don't mean the dad that sat around and drank beer with me..I mean the dad that everyone in my neighborhood WISHED they had. He actually spent every moment he could PLAYING with us. He would round up the neighborhood kiddos and we would all bike down to Friendly's for ice cream..or he would take us to Kent State and bike around campus....or take us all to Leisure Time DAY after DAY ...or he would take us ALL on skiing trips to New York...my list could go on and on. My Dad was the ONLY Dad I knew that did this stuff. Really, he was. he never said he had too much work to do..or couldn't make a game or recital because he was too busy. He ALWAYS was present and a part of it EVERY second of it.

This is the day I met my family. I was a few days old and left the hospital with my Mom , Dad, and brother.

I am eternally grateful that he chose to be my Dad. He showed me what a Dad really looks like..and guess what? I married a man who became that same kind of Dad. That was no coincidence.

My kids did get screwed in some aspects though- they could have had this awesome hands on Grandpa in their daily lives. I can only picture how life changing that would have been for all of us. But Nate and Neve really did hit the jackpot with their Daddy...and yes, so did I.

To My Husband,

Thanks for showing me everyday what a hands on amazing Dad looks like. You make it look easy and you have never ending patience with our demon spawn. You deserve more than a public thank you..and I would give it to you if I could..but instead I give you two pretty darn cute kids that look up to you and love you more than anything. Happy Father's Day.  Love, Wifey

Yahd Sale!

I hate friggin yard sales. If you know me, you know this. I hate GOING to them, or even consignment shops, and buying people's old shit. I can't explain why it is so awful to me, it just is. I hate the smells, the freaky people, and did I mention the smells?  My old roomie was a garage sale junkie and just LOVED them. Vintage was her bag..but oh no, not me my friends. Thankfully, I am not going to any this weekend BUT, the time has come to throw my own garage sale. My garage is actually overflowing and I can't even park my car in the 3rd bay comfortably. SO, Miss Neve is headed off to Grandma's for a couple nights, and I am entering the garage sale world in hopes of unloading some stuff. One day only..then it all gets donated. anyway, that's the exciting news around here lately. ha!

Nate survived his first week of summer school camp. he did fine..but it made Aaron and I nervous as hell. It's this tiny drop off area with 50 thousand special needs kids with ALL types of disabilities..they are mostly confused and there are wheelchairs flying around with kids breaking free..seriously, crazy stuff. I have been lovingly calling it the loony bin because of the madness that ensues every day at drop off and pickup. It's beyond accurate description. All I know is that Aaron or I drop off Nate into the HAND of the aide and watch him walk down until the door CLOSES to his room and I know he is safe..THEN we get back in the car and pray to Jebus that we don't hit any stray kids in the parking lot. It's so dang stressful!!!

Neve went back to school camp this week and had a blast. It was Fizz, Bang, Bubble Week and she made vinegar/baking soda volcanoes and all that cool stuff. BUT, we did find out some horrible news. Neve's recently rekindled "Summer Lovin'" with her boyfriend, Logan, is coming to an end. Logan is moving to Iowa. Kinda puts a damper on the relationship. Oh well. I am pretty sure he wasn't good enough for her anyway..I mean, he can't even tie his shoes. Ya know?

Besides that, the days have been filled with...

wrestling

and more wrestling

...and then Dad got involved

followed by the Portnoy standard: dual magnadoodles in front of the Wiggles. shoot me now.

8 more weeks to go....

A few days with Granny E

Neve's Granny E is here for a couple days and Neve is lovin every minute of it. Yesterday she got to spend some time at Granny E's hotel pool and she was thrilled. Well, I think they both were. :)

Arabesque in the water..very tricky. ;)

The week has been long, but we are surviving. Neve started preschool camp 2 days a week and is happy to be back with her peeps. The latest scuttlebutt is that Neve asked Logan to marry her, and he said yes. PHEW! I am not sure I could handle another preschool break-up. I suppose I will contact his dad to arrange dowery, etc.

Granny E and I took Nate to an inflatable bounce house place while Neve was at camp one day. Nate had a blast and played very well by himself, not bothering the other kids with inappropriate pressing, etc. Yay!

(crappy cell phone pics...but there they are :)  )

Anyway, one week of summer break down, 9 more to go. Ugh.

This Little Piggy...

Nate's latest magnadoodle creation. I just love it.

I really, really love it. :)

The fight for our little piggy continues. The school district came back to us suggesting we meet in August when school starts to discuss things. HA! No way, Jose. Meet with us now or it's mediation, which sucks for both parties involved. So...now we wait for another reply. Cross your fingers that our vacation fund doesn't go to legal fees. :(

When life hands you lemons....

MAKE LEMONADE!

The Great Escape

We survived.

Early Saturday we left to stay at the Arizona Grand Resort for 2 days. It's really a great place- totally family friendly- huge resort with multiple pools in addition to a big water park with lazy river, wavepool, slides, splash area, etc.. I was happy to try a new place for our mini-staycation. Aaron and I have been to the Phoenician, The Scottsdale Princess, JW Marriott, Westin Kierland, Squaw Peak Hilton, The Boulders, the Wigwam, and now we can add Arizona Grand to our list. I LOVE that AZ has such AWESOME resorts right here in town. They really are amazing and you feel completely like you are on vacation..PLUS you can stay at these 4/5 star resorts for next to nothing in the summer since it's off season.

We had two adjoining suites with living areas and Grandma Ding stayed next door.

Neve dove right in and claimed her bed. So funny.

We attempted to get a pic of them together, but this sums up what we got. hahha. Nateman was NOT diggin pics this weekend and neve was wound up with excitement.

We hit the wavepool- they both love that. Nate gets crazy stimulated by the wave action- Aaron was definitely playing safety defense!

Where's Waldo? Can you find Aaron and Nate?

Then it was lazy river time..

Nate and Dad checkin out the slides...Dad DID go down, but the pic is on a different camera. Sorry!

Then it was chill time.

Sharing a lemonade. :)

My favorite guys!

For dinner we headed to Rustler's Rooste- this steakhouse type place on the bluffs. There is a cow out front, a slide inside, a band, and dancing. How can you go wrong?

They were awesome and were able to accommodate ALL of our crazy food allergy requests with a smile. yay!

 

Then I attempted to get more brother/sister pictures..and again, wasn't gonna happen.

 

Most of them were of Nate looking sideways and Neve pulling a "Lindsay Lohan" crotch shot. Niiice.

After dinner and bathtime, we finally got the kids to sleep..it was about 8pm which is 1.5 hrs LATER than usual bedtime. Grandma Ding watched the sleeping munchkins so Aaron and I could sneak out. We had Pina Coladas and cocktails and watched the dive-in movie at the pool. All was good.......UNTIL...

4:15am. Nate pees himself and wakes up Neve. They are both upset and NEVER get back to sleep. Ugh. We were dragging and pretty cranky...BUT we enjoyed the rest of the next day at the water park again and then headed home. This was the view in my living room by early evening..

So..was it worth it? I don't know. Nateman, as predicted, loves everything about parks and activities, etc...crowds are ok with him and loud noise isn't that bad...BUT it's just being off the schedule in general. He was scripting nonsense and was clearly confused. We hate to see him that way. We feel so helpless as nothing provides him security or relief. I mean, I DO think this trip was worth it..but if we were at Disney or anywhere for multiple days I don't know how we would recover from that and then just plug away again for another day at Disney or wherever. You can't do that day after day with no sleep.

Anyway- I suppose as time goes by here we will make a decision and just go with it- one way or another! I DO know we are going to book up another resort in town. Staycations are always a good way to stay busy this summer. :)