Roller Coasters and Golden Tickets

I have blogged about the disability card we get to use at Disney. I am starting to feel like it's the Golden Ticket. I wanted to skip down the hall ahead of the 45 minute wait when we used it last weekend. I really wanted to start singing... we've got the golden ticket and wave it around in the air. There aren't many other times when disability are a true advantage but when it comes to Disney, we've got the GOLDEN TICKET! I am giddy when I get to use it! We recently realized that Gabriel is tall enough for all of the rides. When we were at Epcot, Andrew took Gabriel on the Everest ride. Gabriel LOVED it.

Last weekend, I took Gabriel on Space Mountain while Andrew took Lane and Alex on another ride. Gabriel had no interest in the ride they were going on so I decided it was a good time to conquer Space Mountain! Gabriel made me hold his hands through the entire ride.

Shortly after, we realized that Alex is now tall enough for Space Mountain. He wanted to check it out. Within a couple months, both boys went on their first roller coasters.

I honestly think this is one of the best Space Mountain photos ever. Alex's reaction is perfect! Gabriel and Alex think Gabriel can protect Alex so he can go on Everest too. They are very sweet to each other. I think it will be a couple years before Alex meeets the height requirement for Everest though.

ASGO bowling

I am coordinating events for an elementary school social skills group for ASGO. ASGO is the autism support group of great Orlando. I have 18 children in my group plus their siblings.
The task isn't overwhelming as it's only four events over Feb-April, one per month. Since I'm "new" to the area, it isn't an easy task either. I probably should have taken this role on in another year but no one else was stepping up to the task, so I did.
Our first event was yesterday afternoon. We went bowling at World Bowling Center. It's a clean and open bowling center which is key with our kids.
It's nice to be a with a group of parents who understand what it's like to have a child with autism. What a difference to get a sympathetic glance instead of an evil one when a 7 year old has a meltdown. Or to feel like you're with parents who "get it" when you hear their child make a completely socially inapporpriate comment. As I looked around at the parents, though, we all look tired. More tired than I've noticed other parents looking, in fact, downright drained.

My children had fun especially once we were given a ramp for the kids to push a ball off. Lane even wanted to wear the shoes. The size 9 shoes, their smallest shoe available, were too large for her size 6 feet but it was soooo cute.
All in all, it was a nice family activity.
*on a side note, Flat Stanely joined us and got to hold a bowling ball too*