Disneyland USA

A few months ago I was perusing the www and kept coming across ads for Disneyland.  AH and I have talked many times about taking the kids there but have been waiting for them to be the perfect age . . .  seems like this year they are the in that perfect zone so I booked a trip that night to spend our mid-winter break at the Happiest Place on Earth.  AH are getting smarter in our advanced years and we DID NOT tell the kids about the trip in order to ensure that we all got a good nights sleep before our very very early morning flight.

The morning of the trip I first snuck into Beeb's room and gently shook her awake.  She ignored me. 

I said to her, "Beeb it's time to get up." 

She still ignored me. 

Then I said, "Beeb how about we go on an adventure today?" 

No response. 

"How about we go on a plane ride today?" 

Still no response. 

"How about we go to Disneyland today?" 

Nothing . . .  I think she actually may have fallen back to sleep. 

"Beeb wake up.  We are going to Disneyland today!" 

FINALLY a response. "No we're not." 

"Yes we are."

"No.  We are going to Grandma's this morning." She still has her eyes closed.

"Yes we are.  That's because Grandma and Grandpa are taking us to the airport this morning because we are going to Disneyland today!"

It finally starts to sink in a bit.  "Really?"

"Yes, really!"

That got her attention.  She finally got up and started yelling that we were going to Disneyland and then started getting dressed.  Then I went into Mr. B's room and had nearly the exact same conversation and response from him, though it did help that Beeb came running into his room screaming that we were going to Disneyland.  And so the adventure began. . .

We arrived that afternoon and checked out Downtown Disney, bought souvenirs and picked up our park passes for our stay.  We were all pretty tired after a 4:00am wake-up so we went to bed and tried to get a bit of sleep.

Thanks for taking the picture daddy!

We'd received lots of great Disney advice from family and friends so when the park opened we headed straight for the Star Tours ride.  The kids were completely mesmerized just by the things to see while waiting in line.  The actual ride blew them away and made me totally nauseated (I subsequently closed my eyes during the other many times we did went on it).  I will admit that it was very cool and that not knowing which show you'll experience made it extra exciting and new each time (during the short periods of time that I had my eyes open).

We drove some fancy new cars: 

Explored Toon Town:

Made friends with a goat (the goat loved Mr. B)

Visited Tarzan's Treehouse:

Canoed around Tom Sawyers Island:

.

Got wet on Splash Mountain: 

(Beeb has her head down, hiding behind AH, so she wouldn't get wet. 

It didn't work - she and I got soaked)

Beeb was picked first for training to become a Jedi:

Mr. B ticked the wrong people off:

Battled:

 Graduated Jedi training:

Had some fun waiting for Indiana Jones:

Learned to drive the Indy way:

Ran out of steam:

Had fun with Nemo:

Got a little Goofy:

Put on some weight:

Saw Radiator Springs:

Became bugs:

Screamed our way through California Screaming eight times!:

Begged Daddy for a piggy-back ride:

Took a piggy-back from anyone who'd give it:

Did some weight training:

Stood next to some freaky strangers (we now know who they are):

Loved Big Thunder Mountain:

Hung with Phineas and Ferb (mom had no idea who they were):

Earned our Wilderness Explores Badges and hung with dog:

Loved Sully:

Stayed up way too late: 

Crashed in our hotel room:

It was a great adventure - so much more than what is pictured here.  The kid's were exactly the perfect age to enjoy all that the parks had to offer.  They are already asking when we can go back again; a sure sign of a good time!

Running & Naps

My running is ramping up as we get closer to our 1/2 marathon date.  Saturday morning I met the ladies and we ran 12 miles (12 freaking miles!).  I felt really great until about the last 3/4 mile and then my legs just really didn't want to pick themselves up anymore.  It was the strangest sensation because usually it is my brain that says "Stop!" or "I'm so bored - why am I doing this?" but this time my upper body was feeling great and I just ran out of endurance in my legs (though I made it to the end).  The amazing thing is knowing that now my legs are stronger and next weekend when I run 13 miles the 12 will be easier and my legs will probably seize up at 12.25 miles instead of 11.25.  My world has turned upside down.

In the afternoon AH and I did some yard work.  My legs were still not fully functioning by this point but I helped where I could.  It was a beautiful sunny day and our whole family was outside enjoying it.  About half way through our work AH told me he didn't need my help right then so I went and sat on the grass to read a magazine and watch the kids playing with their friends in our driveway.  It was so warm with the sun on my back that I put the magazine down and laid back on the grass.  The next thing I know AH is shaking me awake and its been about an hour.  I so needed that nap.  I am always super tired in the afternoon following my long Saturday runs but life goes on and kids need attention and house work still calls out so I don't usually get that nap, but yesterday my body took over and it felt so glorious to sleep with the sun on me.

Give Me a Break!

Today is our first official day of spring break and the kids stayed in their pajamas all day.  I ran 10 miles this morning and then, after getting showered, I stayed in my pajamas the rest of the day too.  We needed it. . . desperately. 

In January AH and I made the tough decision to take Mr. B off his ADHD medication.  We think it may be causing an undesirable side effect and can only find out if that’s the case by removing it from the equation.  It has been hard for us all.  AH and I are refreshing ourselves with “The Incredible Years” program that we did a few years ago, Mr. B is doing a refresher as well.  We haven’t had to deal with some of these behavioral issued in a long time or at this degree and at times I feel like a soldier sent back to the front lines but still suffering from PTSS – all the anxiety came back on very quickly and to a heightened degree – my mind and body do not want to go through it again.    Mr. B and I are now meeting with a specially trained Incredible Years therapist – it’s helping a lot.

This week I had to meet with Mr. B’s principal.  Due to his heightened behavioral issues Mr. B and his teacher have been at each other’s throat and it only seems to be getting worse.  I really need for her to get on board with our program – I need for her to listen to me in order to be able to help her have a wonderful experience with my son (because he really is wonderful especially when you understand how to work with him).  There is no doubt that she is a really great teacher but I need her boss signed on too in order for this all to come together since he is vital in providing encouragement and support to her.  Thankfully our elementary school is fantastic and our Principal had already sent some staff to be trained in the Incredible Years program several years ago just for Mr. B.  It was a great meeting and he fully agreed with me on my plan.  He spoke with Mr. B’s teacher that very day and then called me to say she was very receptive to the plan.  I hope it all works because this program could rock her world if executed properly.

So now I look at a long week of no homework, no lessons, and no plan – just fun.  I am looking forward to taking the kids to the beach for a few days and just spoiling them with undivided “mom” time.  They are looking forward to swimming in the pool, staying up late, eating popcorn while watching movies,  playing at the beach (if it’s not too rainy), sleeping in the loft, and playing with friends. 

Tonight while AH was attending a meeting the kids and I made chocolate chip cookies together and then we pretty much ate them for dinner (very unprecedented for our house).  Hallelujah for Spring Break!

Forts

Warning:  No pictures for this post, though there should be, but I am a bad bad lazy mom.


Mr. B rearranged my living room a few weeks back and made a stellar fort along one of the walls using our couch, all the cushions off the couch and nearly all the blankets (about 5).  The fort stayed up for about 10 days despite my daily pleas to the children and AH to return the family room back to normal.  AH and Mr. B struck a deal that Mr. B could sleep in his fort on a non-school night.  Due to our unusually busy calendar we had two weekends of very late nights and kept putting off the fort sleeping experience, looking for a day when we'd be home and Mr. B could enjoy the whole evening of fort bliss.  This past weekend we gave up and let Mr. B sleep in his fort despite it being 10pm when we got home.  He loved it!

Beeb, not wanting to be left out, wanted a fort to sleep in but Mr. B refused to share the family room (and mom & dad refused to let them sleep in the same room knowing no sleep would actually happen should that occur).  Being a judicious parent I built Beeb a fort in her room between the foot of her bed and her giant doll house.  She was very pleased and actually slept in it two night in a row (to Mr. B's chagrin) because AH is wrapped around her little finger.

I know these are the kinds of memories that will last for them and that makes me very very happy!

A Vortex of Activities

My life is spiralling out of control busy these days.  I simply don't know how working parents or single parents do it without live-in family or paid help.  So I am especially thankful that my husband has a great job that allows me to be home trying to manage the crazy schedules of our own lives, church responsibilities and our childrens' activities. 

One of these nights I will clean off my desk (again), organize all my "to-dos" (maybe even check a few off) and put together a weekly plan to get me back on task so that I can at lease feel some sort of sanity again.

That's it . . .  I have to run my kids up to ski lessons now.

Up To No Good

This is the new desktop background image on my monitor, courtesy of AH, Mr. B and my scanner:

Santa, The Big Meany

Mr. B has not written his letter to Santa yet and tonight he is in a bit of a panic. 

Mr. B:  "Wouldn't it be great if Santa brought me Lego Star Wars III for Christmas."

Me:  "Too bad you can't guarantee it since you didn't write a letter to Santa this year."

Mr. B:  "Well if he doesn't get me what I want I'll just get a receipt and return it."

Me:  "There is no receipt; Santa makes all the gifts he gives out."

Mr. B:  "Then if I don't like it I'll just give it away."

Me:  "Okay.  That's very generous of you."

A minute later. . .

Mr. B:  "Santa is just a big meany making me write to him so I can get what I want."

Me (to myself):  Yes she is.

Mr. B has resolved to writing his letter in the morning but this is how he felt about it tonight:

2011: Out With A Bang

It seems that Beeb is determined to go out with a bang this year. 

Today, while sitting in the emergency room with my niece (another story all together), I received a call from the school.  Beeb had fallen during recess and had hit her face on the cement.  I was assured that though there was a red abrasion across her cheek and above her eyebrow but no blood had been shed.  The nurse was called in and her evaluation determined that she was fine and sent back to class.  Due to the nature of the injury a report was written up (head injury) and thus I was called.

Mildly distracted at the time I took the calm voice of the office assistant to mean that Beeb was really just fine, which she is, but she looks terrible!  When I finally made it home I was a bit shocked to see my sweet girl with the below. 

I guess the swelling came later and I bet she will have one heck of a shiner to show off in the next day or two.  The poor girl is just so full of energy and always flittering around but she's not necessary the most coordinated person - which makes for memorable blog posts for me.

Something is Missing

She never seems to lose her teeth at home - I hate missing these important milestones! 

Today Beeb came home from school with this big gap.  Apparently a boy in her class bumped into her during P.E. causing her to fall against the wall and hitting her mouth which resulted in her tooth to be hanging limply to just one part of her gums - it was then extracted. 

Tonight each time she talked to me I just thought to myself that she looks so strange with a big gap in her teeth!  It was hard not to stare.

Hall-o-ween!

My neighbor, friend and running partner has been playing single parent for these last few weeks.  On Tuesday evening her son called to see if Mr. B could play but instead we invited his family to our house to carve pumpkins.  These things are always more fun when friends join in.

Beeb's pumpkin

Mr. B's pumpkin that he carved himself!

AH's pumpkin on the far right and my vampire pumpkin in the middle.

The kiddo's could hardly contain their excitedment for the actual Halloween day!  Thankfully our rainy weather took a break and we ended up having a nice trick-or-treat evening.  Our neighbor joined us again and we teamed up to take the kids out.

Beeb was a "My Little Pony" - I forget which one specifically though you'd better bet she knows!  She has a horse head hat but she misplaced it sometime on Sunday and we didn't locate it in time.

Mr. B was a ninja.  He really wanted to be an "army guy" again, but thankfully they didn't have his size so I had to go with his backup costume.  I think he looks cute!

Apparently in this picture Beeb is a MLP Ninja.

 We did our usual route through the neighborhood but then followed a friends advise and headed into town.  It was really fun to see the residents of our quaint little town get into the holiday spirit.  The decorations were amazing, there was a potluck and even a bonfire; I felt it all had a very New England/Martha Stewart feel to it.  What a great little community we live in.

A House of Sickos

My house is under quarantine unless you have the strange desire to become ill.  I have had a cold that has lingered with me for four weeks and continually morphed its symptoms just about every 7 days.  Thankfully I am finally on the mend and nearly 100% again.  Unfortunately I passed it on to other members of my family. . .

AH (and several of his hiking buddies) appears to have contracted giardia from his hiking adventure last month, and if that wasn't fun enough he recently caught my cold and has a full blown sinus infection.  Every time I walk into our bedroom I feel like I can cut through the germs with a knife.  Seriously gross!  (I'll be nuking the room once AH is all better) 

Mr. B has been sniffling up a storm the past 5 days and has permanently moved the bathroom waste basket to his bedside along with his own personal box of tissues.  One night this week he was up four times between 10pm and 11pm because of his cold and was so miserable that he asked for some medicine (you have no idea how much he hates to take cold medicine!) to which I accidentally gave him the "day time" version.  We were both then up the rest of the night.  I kept him home from school the next day so as not to subject his teacher to the delights of a tired Mr. B and we both took a long afternoon nap!

Beeb has remained unscathed throughout it all.  She flutters around and occasionally complains of boredom due to our confining ourselves to the house but, overall, she's been a good sport and I am praying that is skips her all together.

Beeb: The Delinquent

Our sweet little Beeb is finally growing up.  We have basked in the glory of her obedient behavior for years but it was inevitable that she would stray from the path and test the waters.  {sigh}  2nd grade has been hard for her thus far.  A few weeks ago she got into trouble for vandalizing the girls bathroom (locking the stall doors and writing on the mirrors with soap) with her new BBF.  After a harsh punishment of lost recesses at school, a letter of apology to the janitor, and a grounding at home she seemed to be back on the straight and narrow. . . until today.

Today I contacted her teacher to find out when homework would begin after weeks and weeks of having no homework coming home on Fridays.  Apparently homework began the first week of school.  Miss Beeb has been hiding her homework packets in her school cubby so that (in her words) she could "have more time to play with her friends at home".  This is the same little girl who told everyone at the kindergarten concert that what she was most looking forward to in 1st grade was "homework" - it was short lived. 

Beeb is in the process of making amends (or in her case "a-girls") by having no TV until she is all caught up with her homework and she is grounded from playing with friends for a week.  Beeb is humiliated that she has tarnished her image, meanwhile her brother is gloating about not being the one in trouble for a change.  Mr. B offered lots of other suggestions for her consequence but we ignored him.

AH tells me that Uncle Tip did the same thing when he was young - he is now a dentist.  I hope this pans out as well for Beeb.