Disneyland, Day 2 (July 13, 2010)

After a month of mild weather, California heated up the day before we came back to Colorado.  That didn't stop us from enjoying our favorite place.  Chris and I found adorable matching Minnie Mouse shirts at Target.  Let's be honest, a shirt like that would cost $26 in the park.  At Target? $5.99, thank you very much.  This day was extra special because Grandma came to join us.  We got to the park an hour after it opened and rode all the rides we could in Fantasyland.  By the time Grandma caught up with us two hours later, we had already conquered six rides.  Claire was so happy Grandma came because she could play with "MaMa's" necklaces.  She loves Grandma's necklaces!  The park started to get super crowded around noon.  This is when we decided to enjoy the air conditioning and relative calm of window shopping through Disneyland stores.  By the time we left around 2 pm, we were hot and happy but ready to go home.  On the ride home, Mom treated us to refreshing tall sodas.  Claire decided no one should hold her cup but herself.  At fourteen months old, I wasn't ready to let her take that plunge.  This started the absolute worst fit of her young life.  She screamed and arched and batted her arms.  She had so much anger, she could have fueled the steam boat back at Disneyland.  We made it through her fifteen minute fit and the second we unbuckled her car seat the tears stopped flowing.  Um, scary!  Kids sure know how to throw great fits.  Claire's tears aside, this day was a blast and one we would definitely want to do again-- over and over.

Disney's California Adventure (July 5, 2010)

The Monday following Independence Day, we spent the day at California Adventure.  It was a chilly January July morning.  The great thing about the chill in the air was the park was less crowded in the morning.  In this theme park, our girls really enjoyed the Bug's Land area because it had little rides suited for them.  Chris and I were a little bored with the rides, but pleased with the enthusiasm from Hallie and Claire.  Hallie really enjoyed Turtle Talk with Crush.  It is a chance to talk to Crush from Finding Nemo.  Hallie and I sat on the floor in the front row.  Even when the turtle was talking to other people in the room, she would respond as if he was talking to her.  Chris and I loved the gardening throughout the park.  Disney does gardens well.  Just as it started to heat up, the crowds showed up.  This was also the time that Claire had enough and started a scream fest.  We pushed her around in her stroller until she fell into a deep sleep.  Then we sat in the shade and shared an icey drink and cotton candy. 

Is that Chip or Dale? I think it's Dale.  Hallie could tell you.

I can't get enough of her munchkin face.  She was really excited and singing about it.

Notice we are wearing sweaters . . . in CA . . . on July 5.  Random.

I can't get enough of how cute Claire was when she would put her hand up on the rides.  You could tell she felt like she was "big stuff."

Princess Magic!

Good night!

Disneyland, Day 1 (June 23, 2010)

Call me fanatical, but one of the greatest things about California is Disneyland.  Just typing the word Disneyland makes me happy.  Disney was running a great deal this summer and Chris and I were able to take the girls to Disneyland twice (with one trip to Disney's California Adventure).  I am such a sucker for Disneyland.  I've been there at least fifty times (was a pass holder for years growing up).  It never loses the magic.  Sure, the rides used to be bigger when I was little, but the happiness is still there.  I love that it basically looks the same as it did when I went at Hallie's age.  Thankfully, Chris loves it as much as I do.  And now Hallie is old enough to be in on the excitement.  Taking her to Disneyland was equivocal to Christmas morning.  Claire was way better waiting in lines then I thought she would be.  She was fussy but no screaming involved (which is a plus with that firecracker).  I figure, she got to be held for long periods of time, so she wasn't complaining that much.  Here are some of our favorite photos.

Waiting for the Story Book Land boat . . .

In front of Casey Jr. Circus Train (that and Small World are my favorite for their ages). 

Claire was so proud that she was sitting all by herself.  But then she kept trying to grab trees while the train was moving.  The cardinal rule on Disney rides is "keep your hands and arms inside the cart at all times while the ride is moving."  Needless to say, she SCREAMED, arched her back and kicked her legs when we moved her to Chris' lap.

Claire starting to get restless in line.  This was about the time she started dive bombing out of my arms for no apparent reason.

Chris still digs the Jungle Cruise.

Claire is confused about how we ended up in an African Jungle.

Hallie was all about driving the cars in Toon Town.

Once a day, Claire would conk out in her stroller.

Claire finally figured out the straw concept.  I was really proud.

It was pretty muggy in the afternoon.  An ice cold Sprite in the shade was a perfect break.

After we tucked the kids in bed, my mom was sweet enough to do night duty with them so we could sneak back to Disneyland ourselves.  Heaven! It was like we were dating again (since that was our date of choice when we were engaged and newlyweds).  We loved it.

The following picture is very embarrassing. But, I feel it must be shared.  I thought I remembered how steep the descent on Splash Mountain was.  Apparently I didn't.  I must be getting old.

Enough laughing at me and onto the serious stuff.  This trip was just shy of one week since my dad passed.  I'll be lying if I didn't admit to tearing up on It's A Small World (the last time I rode it was with him) or in the Tiki Room (he got a kick out of that show).  I thought of my Dad throughout the day because he really loved Disneyland too and delighted in taking us kids there.  But, even though it was a bit painful, it was still fun and delightful.  He would have loved reading this blog and looking at pictures of the kids there.  So it was tough, but still good and totally worth it.

A Brief Respite

In the middle of winter, Chris and I knew we were ready for vacation.  We spent one entire Saturday talking about what we needed for a vacation and where we wanted to go.  Disney World?  It wouldn't fit in with Claire's nap schedule and was more than we wanted to spend.  Mexico?  I wanted to avoid carting two girls, car seats, and carry-ons through an airport.  A cruise?  It sounded fun, and it seemed my parents would certainly be able to watch the kids, but something didn't feel right about it. 

In the end, Chris and I discussed our vacation wishes and found we wanted:

• water-- a river, a lake, a pond-- anything with that soothing natural element
• gorgeous scenery
• a pool for Hallie to splash in that I could read books next to
• shopping
• restaurants
• a kitchen to cook in when we were sick of eating out
• a separate room for the girls
• lots of places to hike and walk
• no plane rides
• not too long of a car ride

We chose a condominium on the shores of Lake Dillon, CO (minutes from Vail).  I can't tell you how inspired our destination was.  Little did we know when we paid our deposit that in between our first and final payments for vacation Chris' brother Mike would pass away, I would get a tooth extracted and a bridge in place (more painful than it sounds), and that my dad would be diagnosed with an unknown and belligerent form of cancer. 

We needed this time away.  We needed this respite from the turmoil of recent months.  Please don't mistake me, the Lord has carried our burdens and we have felt uplifted throughout it all.  Chris and I have described that sometimes we literally feel like we are in a protective bubble as everything crashes and crumbles around us.  But physically, we needed a change of pace.  This was it.

I ordered onion rings three times in one week.  I feel simultaneously gluttonous and glorious.  We found a little cafe that was perfect to walk to and from.  Don't get me started on their food . . . Chris and I have never been so satisfied throwing down our hard-earned money for a meal.  The kitchen was perfect for the times when we couldn't eat out another bite (trust me, eating out got old).  Pictures of our view won't even do adequate justice.  It was even more majestic in person.  Hallie loved the pool and told me eighteen times "This is great!" when she swam in her yellow-tutu swimsuit.  The shopping was exquisite.  We were close to an outlet mall with high-quality stores, I tell you.  Except for one night, Claire slept like a champion.  Even though I spent significant time on the phone with hospital updates and on the floor with tears, all the in between time was peaceful and downright fun.

Just like all the other help we have been blessed with, this vacation home was yet another tender mercy to buoy us up.