ALL ABOARD!!

We left the desert for the day and hopped on the train to the North Pole. :)

This was our second year doing the Polar Express..Last year Grandma Ding and I took just Neve and spent the night at the Railway hotel. This year, they added a daytime train so we were able to take Nate! Yay! The problem with the night trains is that since the train car is inside lit the whole time and it's dark outside, you can't see the scenery outside the train...and we had a feeling, knowing Nate, that he would love to watch the train speed by everything so night trains just wouldn't cut it.

So we packed the car and headed north about 3.5 hours. The Grand Canyon Railway is just west of Flagstaff. The weather couldn't have been more perfect- high 30's and sunshine. Well, actually I wish there had been snow on the ground. I need my snow fix!

We had lunch at the station and played on the playground a bit til the train rolled in and it was time to board.

The ride was great. Nate, as predicted, LOVED looking outside and watching it all. Neve was jazzed she got a candy cane. hahahha.

Then the conductor came to punch tickets.

They read the Polar Express book and bring it up and down the aisles.

Then we made it to the North Pole!

Ok, so it looked totally chintzy not lit up like it is at night..but hey, for my kiddos it was prefect. You pull up slowly and see Santa and Mrs. Claus...then when you pull back, Santa is gone! :) he boards the train and starts making his way through the train cars.

Then they met Santa and got their special bells.

Then we sang Christmas carols and headed back to the station.

When we got back, they got to go meet Mrs. Claus and deliver their Santa letters to her to give to Santa.

Nate didn't want to go up, so Neve mailed her letter as well as Nate's.

Nate had some issues sleeping on the drive home and we got home really late, but overall a fantastic trip. can't wait to go again next year!!!

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Thankful

“So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.”

Aaron and I actually talk a lot about what we are thankful for. It is always about our kids.

We are so thankful that Neve is Neve- crazy smart and able to manipulate us in a single bound. It just means she's on track to rule the world some day. :)

We are ALWAYS aware and thankful that BOTH our kids SLEEP...and I mean almost never waking up for 12 hours and falling asleep within 10 minutes of being put to bed. The overwhelming stories we have heard of kids like Nate and sleep issues make us incredibly grateful for the gift of sleep in our lives.

We are thankful for our families- all of them...for always giving us hope and help for Nate. Our life is emotionally and financially draining and sometimes it gets to be too much. It's nice to know we CAN send out an S.O.S. and it's usually answered!

But what we have been looking back on lately is Nate and his progress. The quote at the top really hit home for me as I know I am blinded sometimes by my consuming need to help Nate reach for the stars, that I sometimes fail to see how far he has climbed. Maybe it's easier to reflect this year as compared to last year as he is thriving in school this year.

Most everyone reading this knows Nate's story, I am sure, but let me recap. Nate stopped babbling at one year following his MMR vaccination. Nate didn't even SPEAK A WORD til right around his 4th birthday. That's over 3 YEARS of silence and only repeating small sounds.

This is Nate at 3 1/2 years old..just a little younger than Neve right now. I remember this day so clearly. Anna, Nate's aide, came running up from Nate's therapy room at our house and was so proud and excited to show us what Nate was saying. He was finally repeating sounds. This was a HUGE step for him.

The next video is from exactly 2 years ago. Nate was 4 1/2 years old and was starting to label one word objects and actions. We were amazed.

Now fast forward two years to today. Nate is 6 years old and this is what our amazing boy can do.

Nate can read almost any new book we throw at him. He isn't memorizing them..he is READING them. Wow. That blows my mind to even write that. Aaron and I are both BEAMING with pride.

I told Aaron tonight how it reminded me of an old proverb or quote I heard somewhere once about never being afraid of going slowly, only be afraid of standing still. So, so true.

SO thank you, Nateman, for showing me what it really means to be THANKFUL.
Love,
your proud, proud Mommy

The Portnoy Justice League

I really had a hard time deciding what to do for Halloween this year. One of Neve's little friends invited us over to trick-or-treat together, which Neve would have LOVED, but we decided to brave it out at home. It was a school night for one, it started at 6ish which is bedtime for my kiddos, and you know there's always the "Nate issues"-comfort, dogs/allergies, etc.  I suppose at some point we will just go for it, but for this year we played it safe. I am so grateful I have friends that understand and don't STOP asking. :)

Our neighborhood was definitely "better" than last year, but still really not a lot of participation. Maybe every 3rd or 4th house was participating.

I tried to pick/make costumes for them this year as I assumed I would have another year left to be in control of the cutesy costumes...no such luck. The costume catalog came in the mail and it was out of my hands from that point on. Neve saw a girl superhero and she was dead set on it. She has been watching old youtube episodes of 70's Wonder Woman. Neve also picked Nate's costume. It was very sweet..she said, "Nate can Superman because he doesn't wear a mask. I know Nate doesn't like things on his face. " So so sweet.

They both did really great with everything. The only part Nate was bothered by was my taking pictures of them together- which is why he looks annoyed! He did awesome walking around the neighborhood and seemed to get the concept overall. The only thing was that he tried to let himself into everyone's house.hahahha

Neve couldn't wait to run back and show off her loot after each house. :)

We did a lap around the block and then Nate was ready for bed...so he went upstairs and we let Neve stay out and hand out candy to all the late trick or treaters that came. She thought that was awesome.

Overall, a success! I love Halloween!