Halloween is always a to-do at our house. Since moving to Colorado Carter has not been able to trick-or-treat. Too many stairs and inaccessible hills to peoples houses. Instead we stay in, buy full size candy bars for ourselves and scare the pants off the neighborhood children. We have fog machines, creepy decorations, spooky music, sound system on a mic that Carter yells things through and cameras to catch all the action. These are some of the things that are staples: I have a plethora of hanging skeletons that are all named after former evil children I have known. Seriously. I could tell you their names but I am not that mean. The problem with the skeltons is that they are all trained to howl, moan and talk at the slightest bit of motion. It gets pretty annoying hearing them talk all night (much like their live namesakes were) and honestly, if it snows the switch is pretty darn cold and inconvenient to get to. This year I have them on a WeMo switch so that I can turn them on and off from my phone. It will be awesome to be able to do this even when we aren't home. In past years, we have used a camera to tell when kids are getting close to the house. Then Carter would turn ...
The New Disability Plan at Disney Parks
People keep asking me what I think of the new changes to the guest assistance card at the Disney Parks. I first reported about it when the new disability access pass was just a rumor for Traveling Mom and watched as the uproar among the special needs community commenced. It's been ugly. People are upset about these new changes. I just don't happen to be one of them. I guess people consider me a leader in the spina bifida world or disability travel world and maybe that is why I keep getting asked why I am not up in arms over it. Mostly it is because I was one of the people who asked for change. Remember our trip last Spring when Disney World hosted us for a week? And all I saw was abuse after abuse of the wheelchair system? Yeah. That. That is why I am not upset. Look. Disney has to do something. I don't know that I think this new plan has it right. But I don't know that any plan will have it exactly right at this point. This is what they have told us the new plan will look like: Frequently Asked Questions About the Changes to Disney’s Guest Assistance Pass How will the new Disney program work? The Disability Access Service Card will offer Guests a return time for an ...
Remembering Today
Growing up I would always hear people in my parents generation talk about where they were when President Kennedy was shot or my grandparents talk about when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Tragedy is an odd way to benchmark time and space. Yet, those of my generation are sure to remember this morning just where they stood when airplane one hit and then again as the horror of another and the realization fell upon us all that this was no accident. Me? Bob and I had just woken up and heard the news on the alarm clock radio about the first plane. We were saddened hearing about such a tragic accident but continued to get our adorable little blond haired Kindergartener ready for school while getting the cute little 3 year old out of his crib. By the time we got downstairs for breakfast in our tiny little starter home, we knew it was not an accident. I can't remember why but Bob continued to take Connor to St. Francis for school and headed to work at a bank in downtown Phoenix. They were on the freeway 20 mins before I was frantically calling them to come home. Everything was closing. Everyone was being advised to stay home. Everything was wrong. Fast-forward to when Connor was a ...
Camping at Snow Mountain Ranch
This summer was sort of lame in that we didn't get to travel too much due to Carter healing from the surgery he had in May. That is OK. We still had a great summer with tons of family time AND we still were able to go on our annual trip camping at Snow Mountain Ranch. I love this camping trip. Each year we go with 9-10 families to Snow Mountain Ranch right outside of Winter Park, Colorado. Of course, we stay in a lodge, Indian Peaks to be exact, in a wheelchair accessible room. What? It's camping! There is no TV for goodness sake. We have to bring our iPad's and stream our home cable apps over their wi-fi just to watch Iron Chef! That's as primitive as I get people. What's great about camping at Snow Mountain Ranch though is that our friends that do choose to rough it in a tent have that option in the Hopi Campground area, or you can rent a yurt, or a cabin. Really, there are a ton of options for where to lay your head at night so it works out perfectly for a large group of diverse families. But I love staying at Indian Peaks because right outside our room is this: To the right of that is a huge playground for the kids. During the day, all the families ...
Chemo Care Package for Women: A Thoughtful DIY Drink Gift Idea
When someone you love is going through a difficult season, it’s not always easy to know how to help. Putting together a thoughtful DIY chemo kit cancer care package for women is one thoughtful way to show support. This simple homemade drink is one of the first things I like to include — a small, comforting addition that feels personal and made with care. Why a Chemo Kit Cancer Care Package is Important A chemo kit cancer care package can include items that provide comfort and practical support during treatment. Last year when I was going through a low dose trial of chemo meds for lupus, I found something that really helped with my nausea. Through time I adapted the recipe to where the moment anyone in our family is sick to their stomach, THIS is what they crave. My very special Chemo Moonshine. I have had friends use this for pregnancy nausea relief and it's good for just everyday upset tummies too! Including it in your chemo kit cancer care package can truly be a lifesaver. **First and foremost, this DOES NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL! It was just a cute name I made up to make my friend laugh. I am far from being a recipe blogger so please bear with me and know you can ...