Mr. Potato Head and Bro

So Bro has been completely obsessed with Mr Potato head. It all started with a Toy Story Potato head dressed like Woody because he loved woody so much and now our potato head collection has become quite extensive. This boy can play with a Mr Potato head for an alarming amount of time which then spurred me to buy him more. Little did I know that the fact that Mr. Potato Head's bottom becomes easily reattached and not so easily attached would be such bother to Bro. Imagine turning around about every 5 minutes to find your ever so cute toddler looking up at you holding these two pieces and saying "Mommy fix it". How can I not. Ill be doing dishes "Mommy fix it". Laundry "Mommy fix it" Blogging "mommy fix it" Startled to death while in the shower" Mommy fix it!". Any how when we heard there was a Potato Head exhibit at the Natural Science museum in Orange County. We had to take him. This little boy who is terrified of all Characters at Disneyland and tantrums at the sight of Santa ran up eagerly to meet this life sized spud like he was an old friend. The exhibit was really quite fun as it incorporated Mr. potato head all throughout. I think it really was the best day of his life.

so very far

It doesn't seem so long ago when we were pleading with Sadie to point to a picture of Mommy or Daddy or herself when she was two years old. I remember sobbing while screaming her name half hoping for just a glance and half hoping she was deaf rather than autistic. Anyone who met Sadie today would not beleive it. It puts a smile on my face to think of how far she has come. I hesitate to say "how lucky are we" because it is not so much luck as it is this little girls determination. Of course I feel blessed, blessed that we have all had the strength and support to make it this far.

Sadie just graduated preschool (in May, yeah a little behind here). I am so excited and scared about kindergarten. She's not quite 5 yet, but she's too smart for another year of preschool and staying home threatens social regression in her case. I've tried to remember my kindergarten class. I remember a yellow tulip dress and Mr. Vidola playing the keyboard, (hey a kindergarten teacher rocking out on the keyboard- I never pondered how cool that actually is). I was so very shy however, I cringed at contention and anything rowdy. I remember "when in doubt go color". In truth Sadie will manage much better. She had an incredible teacher this last year. Ms. Adi's class was unbelievably organized and Sadie couldn't get away with her antics. I always knew that when I left Sadie in Ms. Adi's class she was safe and equally as important, always progressing. I hope you get to read this Ms. Adi and I thank you dearly for being the wonderful person you are!

So this is my first attempt at a mood board in photo shop. I usually make them from magazine clippings and photographs however the folder in which they are kept is bursting. This is my vision for my master bedroom. I figure I will collect slowly but surly. Give me a year (or two) and I hopefully I will have the eclectic retreat I dream of. I have had this vision for quite some time but it was fun to see it evolve in front of me. I have already painted my house the soft gray you see in the background. I love that with this color I can use a bold color palette without it looking too crazy. This also helps when your using the collect as you go method. That way I don't have to be so matchy matchy. I have also gone mad for brass and I even love how it look with a modern silver mixed in.

Chickens?

Doesn't this picture make keeping chickens look glamorous? Can't you just see me in a fun summery dress with some bright colored garden boots tending to a couple hens? Alright so common sense and "Animal Farm" tells me that chickens don't equal glamor however I seriously want chickens!

Ok so right now I think I want chickens. I ordered this book by Ashley English from amazon and it just arrived today, so I will let you know how badly I feel I need chickens in my track home back yard after I read the book.I know I'm crazy because I actually have negative time in my life but I think when Sadie is in kindergarden I can possibly put in the time to clean and care for chickens. I have called the city and I am totally allowed to have a couple chickens in a coop in my yard. I just need something else going on. I have this vision of myself cooking healthy meals from my organic garden (while the kids play with the chickens). I am an knowledgeable advocate that helps other moms like me , while being Sadie's Girl Scout troop leader, constantly blogging about it and sending in so many manuscripts to children's book publishers I can't keep track. Oh and my floors are wood. (Sigh) Maybe it could happen. Until then I'm reading this chicken book and possibly investing in the yellow garden boots to keep the dream alive.

Great, I have the Kindergarden Slapster

Number one mortifying experience to date: Sadie hits principle of her school in the face during kindergarten orientation. Yes this really just happened not 40 minutes ago. Sadie didn't want to leave and so to reassure her that she would be back after summer, the Principal bent down to be eye level only to get her glasses knocked off by a disgruntled four year old. All I wanted to do was retreat to a deep dark cave were I've found my computer to blog about it. To get the scope of my mortification let me give you the back story. On Monday we had Sadie's transition IEP to decide weather she will attend a special needs class for kindergarten or a general ed class. Our goal was to get her in a general ed class with a one on one aid to keep her safe and help her when she's getting frustrated or distracted. This goal we kept hearing would be impossible because school districts don't want to fork out money for aids, it's just easier to lump all the kids into a special needs class. We hired an advocate (a person very familiar with special ed law) to attend the meeting with us. The meeting started off with Sadie's teacher doing a slide show presentation about Sadie with pictures and her achievements so that the team from her new school could get to know Sadie. It was so great, I just love her preschool teacher Ms.Audi! The team from the school Sadie will be attending for elementary consisted of a Gen Ed teacher, a Special Ed teacher, a speech pathologist and the soon to be slapped Principle. It was first offered that Sadie go into a special needs class with some time spent each day in the general ed class. Then our advocate spoke up and brought to everyone's attention that Sadie was academically above her typical peers and only had her physical disability, some mild behaviors(hitting) and some social goals which should not keep her out of a regular kindergarten class. The law is that the districts must consider the least restrictive environment and then place all the supports the child may need to succeed in that place. Micah and I kept emphasizing her safety and the new principle seemed just as concerned and wanted to do everything she could to make sure Sadie would be safe in whatever class the team decided. After it was decided that Sadie should be in a General ed kindergarten class, this ever so nice principle offered to hire an aid just for Sadie. We ended up getting just what we wanted for Sadie in part thanks to our advocate and to this principle. Afterwords the principle invited us to Kindergarten orientation and you know the rest of the story. Don't worry I did email her a apology before I started blogging. I realize it was probably unnecessary, she seemed very understanding (I hope). Anyhow one mortified mom right here, however I am so excited that Sadie is doing well enough to try a regular kindergarten class. Our hopes are that being around more typical children will help her socially but I'm still not ready to face the fact that she is old enough to go to kindergarten let alone smack the glasses of a principle.

Sadie singing a "Tangled" song (look out Mandy Moore)

I haven't posted in soooo long! I guess moving will do that to you. Sorry no pictures yet, there isn't much to show as far as our house goes. I had dreams of sweeping in and making it instantly organized and beautiful. I know you already home owners are laughing and those of you who know meeeee are laughing harder. I constantly yern to be organized and yet fight this genetically messy demond inside me that would rather do anything but dishes. Moving into a very unkept house was slightly overwhelming it still is a little. I seriously thought we made a huge mistake until Sadie's first day in her new program in the Temecula school district. This SDC (special day class) is so organized and they have so many qualified helpers in the room. Every child's needs are being met in this class. I feel so at ease everyday I drop her off, plus there is no sand for her to dump in her hair, need I say more. Her IEP meeting went so well, instead of fighting with the people that are supposed to be helping your kiddo I wanted to throw my arms around them and cry tears of joy, I refrained of course but wow what a difference from our last program. I get emails from her therapists and every two months a progress report regarding each of her IEP goals! This is major! I've never seen a team work together so well for my Sadie. It's like every teacher and therapist know her every goal and they are all implementing them throughout her school day, and they keep me updated about it!!!!! Sooo worth living on ugly pink tile and no base boards, any way as far as a special need program I couldn't ask for more. Next month Sadie will be put in a class that models a typical kindergarden class with more typical pers. This program is to gage whether or not she will be mainstreamed next year. Kind of excited but kind of nervous about it. She just keeps doing so well! She has caught up to where she needs to be cognitively. She is doing much better socially and her speech gets better all the time (still using G for B and P) She has regressed a little with her walking but she is a determined little girl.

Little Micah just turned two. He talks up a storm! I love it! His new response to everything is "yeah yeah" (I think his uncle Dave taught him that). He is super into Toy story. He ran up to us yesterday with Hamm the pig and said " docker po cha" (dr. Porkchop) sorry but there is not a more adorable two year old on this earth! Sadie is loving everything "Tangled". She tries to get Bro to play with Flynn Rider, infact he is the only one who can touch Flynn because according to her he is a boy and so is bro. This formula however does not carry over to daddy for some reason.

All in all life is splendid and would be a little more splendid with a personal assistant, professional organizer and hardwood floors.