Best. Disney. Day. EVER.

We hit up Disneyland a couple of times a month.  We have season passes, the kids love it, and, most importantly, it makes them nap.  

Still, there normally comes a point during the trip where one of us loses our cool.  Usually it's the kids.  Sometimes it's me or my husband.  

But we went for a family trip last weekend -- and it was amazing.  

We terrorized Boyo by making him ride "Dark Mountain" (or Space Mountain, as it is known to the rest of the world).

Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Star Tours, Finding Nemo, Splash Mountain -- all walk on.  

Longest line was 15 minutes -- for Peter Pan.

No crowds.

We got to sail on The Columbia, something I have never done. 

We went to eat in Aladdin's Oasis -- and it was empty.  

Girlie got to have a 20 minute conversation with the bored Princess Jasmine. 

Baby Girlie napped for 45 minutes in her stroller without the normal hour and a half temper tantrum first. 

Overall, the entire day,

from playing R2D2 (BabyGirlie very grudgingly let me put the Mickey Ears on her heard): 

 

To hanging with the White Rabbit: 

 

To testing my willpower and staying on my diet (Disney sells mini cheesecakes now! Bastards!)

...To Shooting Guns (who cares if we can't see over the counter, Mom?) ...

... To helping crash -er, sail -- The Columbia ...

... To Riding Winnie-the-Pooh with Mommy (who wants to go on Splash Mountain anyway?) ... 

... and, lastly, to having an ice cream break... 

... was an AWESOME day.  And EVERYONE napped when we got home :)

Wordless Wednesday: What My Daughter Wears to the Pool

I have been informed that this a very South County thing to do.  

Sweet Jesus.

I Love You More Than...

I always tell my kiddos that I love them more.

And they get to fill in the more.

Some of my favorites that they have come up with:  "I love you more than chocolate.  Or I love you more than TV.  Or I love you more than Doc McStuffins (don't ask).  Or I love you more than books.  Or I love more than swimming." 

Last night, as my husband was carrying Girlie to bed, I overheard,

"Daddy, I love you more than painting.  And more than lollipops."

As my husband was melting into Daddy goo, she continued,

"But I love Mommy more than you." 

CAN'T. STOP. LAUGHING.

How Do You Get Fired From Hide And Seek?!?!

~
I don't know, but I did.

Either I'm waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to good at it, or I am reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllly awful at it.

After I found them for the 3rd time in 5 minutes, Boyo demanded that I "Go get Daddy.  You no fun!"

To console me, Girlie told me, "It's okay Mommy.  Maybe the baby wants to play with you."

Stinkers.

Wordless Wednesday: What Do You Mean, I Can't Ride The Dog?

A Letter To My Daughter on her 19th Birthday....

Happy Birthday, My Darling Girl!!

Today, you are a five year old, sweet princess who refuses to wear anything but skirts and dresses and will put up a fuss if they aren't pink and/or purple.  You are so big, now, my angel baby!  You are growing further and further away from me and I see your blossoming independence in the little things -- get yourself dressed in the morning and brushing your own hair, getting your own snacks, buckling your seatbelt by yourself.  I know that when you start kindergarten in September, I'm going to be bawling all the way home.  I cling to the few remnants of "babyhood" you still allow me -- climbing in our bed in the middle of the night, snuggling me when we are watching TV, crawling up on my lap for a story.  These times are  fleeting now as you grow up, and it makes me cherish them all the more.  I hope you know that, whether your are 5 or 19, you can still come talk to me about anything or cuddle up with me.

You are so good with your baby sister -- you love her a little to vigorously sometimes, but it is clear you adore her.  I hope the 19 year old you still adores her.  And you tolerate your brother's incessant demands on your time and are (mostly) patient with him -- again, I hope the 19 year old you is still like that.  You have an answer for everything -- and your explanations are often hilarious and matter of fact.  For example, you told me today that I can't bend down to pick up your toys because the baby might fall out.  So therefore, we don't need to clean up.  Nice try, kid.  And you aren't afraid to ask questions -- your curiosity (as much as it makes me nuts sometimes) is a gift to be cherished and nourished.  You love to color and paint and create -- your artistic ability is one of your greatest gifts.  

I am trying to imagine what 19 year old you is like and I can't think about grown up you without my throat going tight and my eyes filling with tears.  So I can only tell you what I hope for you:

I hope that you are patient with people who irritate you.  And that you love vigorously.  And that you still ask questions and offer explanations to those who don't understand.  I hope you still create.  I hope you still look for fairies and see the magic that exists in the world.  I hope you still read fairy tales.  I hope you believe.  I hope you know how to take time for yourself, to finish what you start, and to at least try.  I hope you know that there is no dishonor in failure, as long as you gave it your best.  I hope you know your self worth lies in who you are and how you act, not in who you are with or how you look.  I hope you know that you are stronger than you think you are.  I hope you  laugh.  I hope you are happy.  I hope you know that your father and I love you.

I hope you know that you can talk to me about anything,
I love you,

Mom

Girls Vs. Boys, Vol III

 Chuck E Cheese with Girlie.

Chuck E Cheese with Boyo.

Dysfunctional

These Rules are MUCH better than these ones....

Why You Don't Give Your 3 Year Old Your iPhone To Keep Him Quiet

And there are 47 more....

Wordless Wednesday: Beach Babe!

30 Day Mom Challenge (or, Why Pintrest Irritates Me)

 

I found this on pinterest and decided I could never be a good mom until I did everything on this list.  

Day 1: I asked my daughter, what is one thing we can do together this month?  

She said color.  

I said, "Don't you want to do something more exciting?"  

She said "No, color."

I decided not to over think it or put ideas into her head.  Maybe this experiment is doomed to failure.

Day 2: I made it 20 minutes before I started yelling not to take juice onto the carpet.  Chalked that one up as a failure and decided to hug my kids 3 times today instead.  Hugged them each at least 10 times.  Wore a jelly hand print around on my back as a reward ... my husband told me about it at dinner.  

Day 5: I always kiss my children when they are sleeping.  And I made it an hour before I started yelling.  I don't think I am understanding the point of this experiement.

Day 7: Told myself, "He's only 3 years old.  He's still just a child." when my son decided to hit the baby with his Brave sword (really, thanks sooooooooooooooo much for that Auntie Erin.)  I decided to treat him like a three year old and made him take a nap.  He screamed for an hour.  My neighbor came over to ask me to close my windows.  I don't like her.  

Day 9: We made chocolate chip cookies - Boyo's favorite food.  Girlie threw a temper tantrum that we didn't make snickerdoodles.  I ate about a dozen cookies. 

Day 11: Today's focus is joy.  I am joyful that my husband took the older two to the pool while the baby slept.  Truly, this experiment doesn't seem to be working.  I prayed for wisdom mothering my children the other day and I'm pretty sure I heard God laughing.  

Day 13: 884 more weekends until the baby goes to college.  That seems like a lot.

Day 15: I wrote a note for them and put it into their lunchboxes before I sent them to VBS.  When I picked her up, Girlie reminded me that she can't read.  I don't think she gets the point of this experiment either. 

Day 17: I told Boyo and Girlie that I was so thankful that God gave them to me.  Girlie said, "I know," and Boyo pretended to shoot me with some Legos.  I am pretty sure I need a nap.

Day 19: "Imagine what it felt like when you were their age."  I remember being with my grandmother a lot -- I should drop the kids off at my mom's. 

Day 20: "Picture what you want your child to be at 25 and mother that way, today."  I want her to be employed and living on her own.  Does that mean I should ignore her?  That seems counterproductive to the point of this exercise.

Day 21: Laugh with your child today.  Done -- we started laughing within the first 5 minutes of starting our day.  And I made it 2 hours before I started yelling.  Baby steps, people, baby steps.

Day 23: "Teach Your Child One Thing They Can Do By Themselves."  Does teaching them how to operate the DVD player, so they don't wake me up during my nap, count?

Day 25: "Teach your child a new word."  I taught Boyo s!%#.  It was an accident.  

Day 27: "Ask your child his/her opinion about something today."  Girlie wants to name the new baby Frogera Frogo Gerlach.  No.  Just No.

Day 28: "Turn off your computer, cell phone, and TV for just one day when your child is with you."  I made it four hours.  On the other hand, I only made it 20 minutes before I started yelling.  Does anyone else see a correlation?  

Day 30: "Do not interrupt your child when she is talking."  Girlie talked for 4 hours straight!  My head is pounding.  But I didn't interrupt.  And I made it all 4 hours without yelling. 

Wordless Wednesday: This is What Working At Home Looks Like

So those of you who tell me how easy it is?  Yeah, you can suck it.