the Happiest Place on Earth: Day 1

Our first day in the park we made a beeline for Cars Land. We heard all kinds of warnings about how crazy, busy it would be. The rumors were true, but that didn't stop us from having an amazing time in Radiator Springs. The main street looks so accurate to the movie, both Cole and I were completely blown away. 

Heading out for our quick 10 minute walk to start our day at the park.

Starting our day right with Jamba and oatmeal in downtown Disney each morning.

Meeting Lightning for the first time. Crew walked up the the car, patted the hood in a circular pattern and said "Wow."

Waiting in line to seeing Lighting, while expressing concern to us that he couldn't see Sally "at her Cozy Cone."

Fueling up at Flo's. He loved hanging out at each little business. 

Cars Land was our equivalent to the meeting Princesses. Such a fun day.

After meeting the Cars Land gang and getting our fill of Mator's Tractor pull and Luigi's floating tires, we made our way to a A Bug's Land. This is not a movie I was very familiar with, but what a great area for the younger, shorter guests! I thought every ride was so age appropriate for Crew and since lines were so short, we were able to hit several rides in a short time period. Which was amazing since we were dangerously close to nap time.

Enjoying the Bug's Life Bumper Cars with Daddy.

Waiting in line for Flik's Flyers.

After a relaxing nap, we headed back to the park for the Disneyland evening parade. Wow! I am so glad we did that. The performance was amazing and I was impressed with the effort that the performers made to interact with the kids on the sidelines. Aladdin's genie spent a minute or two engaging with Crew; poor kid has never seen the movie and had no idea who the "blue man" was. 

Tired but loving the evening performance

Carousals seem that much more magical at night. A great way to finish off Day 1.

the Happiest Place on Earth: The Beach

Crew turns three this week and we seized the opportunity to take a trip to Disneyland in celebration.

I had my reservations about him being old enough - there were a lot of rides that he wouldn't be tall enough for, many movies we have yet to see (thus characters he wouldn't know) and so on. That being said, I was wrong. You heard me Cole, I was wrong, and you were right. :)

We had a blast and it was a vacation I will always remember.

So here we go... 

After a long car ride from Utah, our first stop was a trip to Huntington Beach. We were first-timers who took the first parking spot we could find, which made for a very long walk to the pier. But after all the time in the car, it was just what the doctor ordered.

Crew had no fear with the water and spent the better part of two hours feeding and chasing the birds, sprinting towards the waves and then running back the minute he got his feet wet. Gorgeous, amazing, words can't do it justice. 

Picking up shells became searching for treasure and gold doubloons. Ten points to the parents out there who can identify the Disney Jr. show reference there. 

I'm still finding sand in some of our shoes, but what a beautiful day at the beach!

Birthday Calendar and Important Dates Binder

Our ward's January Additional Relief Society Meeting was wonderfully simple and a lot of fun. 

We made Annual Birthday Calendars and Date Organizers. 

Prior to the activity we purchased a printable from mycomputerismycavas.com and permission to use the printable in a group setting. The printable set included a title page and a monthly page for recording important dates and occasions. The idea is to put the sheets in a page protector and use the back side or separate pocket dividers to store cards for each upcoming month's occasions.

We asked each sister to bring her own binder, and then provided the printed page for each month, page protectors, pens to fill in important dates and treats to fuel the chatter. 

We also encouraged sisters to store stamps and a spreadsheet of addresses in the binder so it could be a 'one stop shop' for sending a card, so to speak. I've already stashed some '90 percent off' Christmas cards from Target in my binder this week. 

I received a similar binder several years ago when I got married and am excited that so many sisters attended the evening. Even in today's digital age, I love getting a card in the mail and hope my new (organized) binder will help me do a better job of keeping in touch. 

 

Morning o' Sledding

Updating after a 2-month absence is going to come slow and will probably be motivated by the posts I am least overwhelmed to write. :)

Christmas break gave Crew and I a few days home just the two of us. And I must say the time has been just as magical, busy and tiring as I had ever imagined "stay at home" mommyhood to be. 

On one such day, we ventured out to one of our favorite near-by parks for some sledding. Crew got a sled for Christmas; and had had an evening adventure with it at Grandma's house. So basically, we were pros. 

Crew stayed warm and an excellent sport. He was also bound and determined to climb, slide and generally, fend for himself. I watched him with mostly pride as he made his way up and down, loving every minute of what I thought would be an exhausting trek for him.

Only the tiniest part of me was sad at how little he needed my help. 

And of course, what is a morning of sledding without a cup of coco to top things off?

Our "Spooky" Halloween

Crew was such a blast this year. He totally caught on to the concept of Halloween. Every pumpkin, ghost or skeleton he saw was met with squeals of excitement and comments to the effect of "Spooky Halloween, right, Mommy?"

The new found understanding created a minor catastrophe when the week before Halloween he got it in his mind that he did not, in fact, want to be a train conductor. Nope, he was heck bent on being a pumpkin. As in the costume you put on your infant because they are unpredictably chubby, can't walk and frankly, can't refuse in favor of something cooler. 

Luckily, a visit to the party store for a train whistle = crisis averted. 

I had fun taking photos of him during a church Halloween party, on his way to a daycare party and then of course, the big night.  

Crew rocked the Trunk or Treat Halloween games. There was no foolin' this kid with fake eyeballs and veins. He immediately yelled, "It's noodles, Daddy!"

Finally made the connection between Trick or Treat and getting free candy.

Sporting his loot from the party

On his way to his DayCare party with a belly full of ghoulish treats

Hurricane Sandy had Dad working from home on Halloween so we got an early start with the fun!

Ready to Go!

And for your viewing pleasure, Crew at his first door.

IMG 0753 from Maura Lansford on Vimeo.