A Day at the Beach!

Friday we spent hangin' out at the beach. Thanks to our awesome friends the Gilberts we had amazing accommodations. The house is absolutely gorgeous and perfect for families with a little beach for the kids to play on and big windows for parents to watch them from inside (or a hot tub depending on your mood.)

It was chilly but sunny and the kids had a blast. McKay was soaked from head to toe after losing a game of "run from the waves." She didn't care in the least. Luc took a little while to warm up to the idea of all that water but he loved chasing waves as long as daddy was holding him. They also built a nice little sand castle. Still no pictures because my computer is not working and Seth's laptop won't read my card reader. I think I may have to just go make a disc at Costco.

Kimball was quick to let me know that she thinks it would be "way fun to live at the beach." By the end of the weekend after telling her multiple times that we aren't moving to the beach anytime soon she was willing to settle for "staying here until next Christmas." Me too Kimball, me too.

While playing in the sand with Kilian and the other kids McKay had a little accident. They were playing tug-a-war with a rope that conveniently had a brick tied in the middle of it...? Jenna and I stood back watching and commenting that this probably wasn't a good idea but... oops too late. McKay ended up landing face first on the brick. She was such a sport. She cried for about 2 minutes and then was almost proud of her latest battle wound. She kept asking to look in a mirror and I'd change the subject. About 10 minutes later she walked by me and said "you were right I shouldn't have looked!"

Seth and Chad ventured out in the kayaks. It was crazy cold. I personally never even touched the water. I could feel how cold it was without getting wet, thank you very much.

That night we went out to eat with 5 tired, hungry kids and waited almost an hour for our table. Enough said. Next time we go to the beach with our friends I will seriously consider leaving my kids with grandma.


PS. Totally off subject but I did finish that quilt I wrote about a while ago. Check it out over here -MilkandHoneyDesigns- on my sister-in-law's blog

DISNEYLAND!

At the urging of my wonderful husband I am again posting so that these sweet memories won't be lost forever. I feel them slipping away into the depths of my exhausted mind at this very moment.

We hit The Happiest Place on Earth today and it was awesome. Minus the constant reminders that crying/whining/pouting are not allowed on such hallowed ground it was a great day. Oh and despite Luc having an accident while waiting to get on Dumbo (to his credit he did say he needed to go but there was literally no way out... until he started to actually pee and then miraculously we found a way out.) And... scaring McKay on multiple rides until she has lost all trust in us and thinks we are determined to ruin her life by forcing her on rides that we promise are not in anyway scary only to realize that we are completely wrong and that to her (slightly wimpy) 6 year old little soul they are her worst nightmare. Other than those few things it was a grand day.

I don't know how people start at 8am and go 'til midnight. When I first realized the park would only be open from 10-8 I was so disappointed. Now as I sit here completely wasted I am so glad, it was really all the fun I could take.

So in an effort to get my tired body in bed I will just bullet point the rides we made it to, our favorites, not so favorites and the tidbits of happiness that sum up our day.

• Snow White - first ride of the day and gratefully there was absolutely no line - all three children exited the ride sobbing. It's not called Snow White's SCARY Adventure for nothin'!
• Dumbo - (Luc missed this due to the above mentioned accident) we redeemed ourselves and the girls started to think Disneyland might actually be fun.
• TeaCups - This was one of the first and the last. Dumbo and the Tea Cups have no lines after dark. The kids loved going back to them. Luc pleaded to go on the Tea Cups over and over again. Seth obliged, three times in a row and they were rewarded by being able to watch the fireworks show right over their heads while spinning into a nauseating stupor. It was Luc's favorite part and the only ride he asked for over and over, "Pweese mommy can we go again pweese pweese pweese?".
• Small World - Not normally my favorite ride but it was awesome. From Nov. 1 thru Jan. 1 all of Disneyland is Christmas-ed up and it was really cool. The kids loved it.
• Space Mountain - Well now that the kids are trusting us and thinking we won't lead them astray lets take them on a roller coaster in the dark. McKay never really trusted us though and then we ended up in the front car and she cried the whole time and told me I was a rude mom for doing that to her. It wouldn't take much to gain her trust back.
• Buzz Lightyear - Mostly enjoyed by all. Except Luc who wasn't so sure of it even though it was the one ride he talked about going on for weeks beforehand. He also refused to stand by Buzz.
• Lunch - PB&J's that we brought in and 2 sodas that cost $10! FYI - Even though their website says you can't bring outside food into the park they really don't care. We had a loaf of bread, PB and Jelly all in plain sight in the stroller when they checked us through and nobody said a word. It saved us so much money.
• California Adventure - we headed over for just an hour or so. I am more of a Disneyland purist but we figured there were a few things Kilian should experience.
• Soaring Over California - One of my absolute favorite rides. I love it. And it is in no way scary. Completely relaxing and fun. That's how I remembered it and that's how I explained it to McKay. Ooops. Trust gone again. How many times in one day will I break my poor daughter's heart. Kimball loved it. I tried to buy back McKay's love with cotton candy. It worked.
• Bugs Life - Lame for adults but a blast for the kids. Jenna and I took turns with the girls and Aaron while Luc and Luke slept in the strollers and the "big boys" went and rode California Screaming. Then we headed back over to Disneyland.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - By this time Kimball was completely into it. She was willing to try anything. McKay and Luc and I went to go find some Mickey Ears. Kimball hated it and tried to get Seth to get them to stop the ride halfway through. Luc got the cutest Mickey Ears ever made. I will post pictures when we get back home.
• Pirates of the Carribean - The rude parents that we are we forced McKay to go on it completely against her will. She wanted to wait for us by herself. She covered her face and ears for the first half and then actually got into for a little bit and in the end decided she wanted to go on it again. Kilian declared it to be "lame." And Kimball thought it was just ok. Luc was unimpressed.
• Mickey's Toon Town - The kids mostly loved it until we took them on that little roller coaster then they hated it for a few minutes and liked it again after getting to meet Minnie.
• Dinner - $50 and we ate pretty much every last bite of it. It was mostly worth it just to sit down for a few minutes.
• Dumbo and Teacups again! (and the fireworks show)
• A little last minute shopping. Kimball had to find her Mickey Ears. She's a purist like me. Cute little original ones but pink instead of black.
• An exhausting walk back to the bus and then car.
• Back to the hotel - all of the kids were asleep and we were so tired - thank goodness for Kilian or carrying them up would have been impossible. We barely made it to the room and then of course our key cards wouldn't work. I ran back down to get that fixed and when I got back up Seth, Kilian, and all three kids were laying/sitting in the hallway unable to move. It was a great sight. Summed up the day perfectly.

Best part of it all was there were virtually no lines. I think the longest we waited was probably 15 minutes for the Dumbo ride the first time. Other than that we probably averaged about a 5 minute wait. And it was 75 and sunny. I officially declare mid-November the best time to visit Disneyland.

California Day 1

Too much happened today to not write it down before I forget it all.

We left Phoenix at 4:00 am in an attempt to get on the road with sleeping children. They slept until we made it to the gas station where I realized I had forgotten the RedBox dvd I had rented specifically for this trip. So we went back home where I realized I had not forgotten it and it was in the van all along. By then of course all three kids were awake. So off we went, again.

The kids slept off and on for the first few hours.

We stopped at the General Patton Memorial Museum. It's about 20 miles outside of Indio California, literally in the middle of nowhere. It's a little dirt road with about 15-20 tanks behind a chain link fence. We showed our respect by letting Luc pee in the dirt next to road (the real reason for our stop in the first place) and then I enjoyed a moment watching dad and son ooohing and ahhhing at the sweet tanks while the rest of us waited in the car.

About 30 minutes outside of Anaheim Kimball cried out in frustration "where are we going and when will we be there!" Then she fell asleep. We got here about 3 hours before we had planned. I'm not sure if we thought it would take that much longer or we just didn't do the math right, but we drove in to town at about 9:30 am and had no plans until it was time to check into the hotel. A traveling husband does come with it's privileges. We called the hotel and after checking our reservation (seeing Seth's "status") they said our room would be ready for us as soon as we got here. And this has got to be the most kid-friendly hotel I've ever been in. Could have something to do with it being a couple miles from Disneyland but the staff has been amazing.

We got into the room and you would have thought that the kids were already at Disneyland. They opened every drawer and closet and were amazed by it all. It was so much fun to watch them be so overjoyed by such little things.

Only problem with hotel is that the pool is closed until tomorrow or Friday and that was a major part of the day's plans. But not to worry the staff assured us that we could just go across the parking lot to the Hyatt and use their pool. We were promised it was all worked out. So off we went. Us and our 3 kids plus Kilian (our exchange student) and our friends with their 2 kids all decked out in our pool gear and the kids all hyped up and ready for some pool time fun. We walked across the parking lot and could almost feel the air change. Posh. That's all I can think of to describe this hotel. We asked the bellboy about the pool situation, he had no idea but suggested we check inside. In we went. Oh boy, I felt like I'd just walked into another world. Business men/women everywhere and it was quiet, really really quiet, until we got there that is. I think we talked to 5 different people before anyone knew about this little arrangement. We finally got a key and feeling seriously out of place went in search of the pool. McKay tugged on my shirt and said "mom, I kind of feel bad that we have to borrow their pool." Ya me too. Then Luc tried to pee right next to the hot tub. I'm pretty sure the Hyatt is no longer offering their pool to the Marriott's guests after today.

We spent the afternoon "resting" and just hanging out in the hotel. We decided to go to Downtown Disney for the evening. Seth and Kilian took Luc and McKay down to the lobby with our friends' kids and I ran back to the room to get my purse. As I was waiting for the elevator I hear screaming and thought "oh please don't let us get kicked out of this hotel, my kids are SO loud." When I got down to the lobby McKay is crying hysterically and surrounded by staff and guests while Seth is trying to comfort her. She had her hand on the elevator door as it reached the lobby and as the door opened it kind of just sucked her hand in with it and then got stuck. Seth had to pull her hand out to get the door to stop opening. She was not only in pain but traumatized by the fact that she was stuck there. Poor thing. Her hand is still swollen and red but she can bend all her fingers and I think she'll be ok. The staff doted over her for the next 20 minutes giving her soda and chips and ice and basically everything she could need/want. Then they had to fill out an accident report. We left and on the drive over she asked about why they had to ask questions and write it all down. We tried to explain liability and all that jazz. She started crying again "oh mom I don't want them to have to waste their money because of me." Oh sweet, sweet McKay. They aren't wasting any money on you because they don't have to pay for anything and besides that, Marriott has lots and lots of money. "Oh they're rich, ok." Then she was fine.

Downtown Disney was really fun. Just shops and really expensive food but the kids loved it. There was a live band and McKay danced the night away. Literally. She danced and danced and danced. It was really cute.

They all fell asleep on the way back to the hotel and are sleeping like babies as we speak. And tomorrow, DISNEYLAND!!! (or Disney Channel as Luc likes to call it.) So excited.

My goal for tomorrow: actually take the camera out of its' case!

You Know What Sounds Really Good?

At 15 weeks I am starting to transition from wanting to nothing to do with food to craving things and needing them as soon as possible. I'm not a crazy-craver. I don't crave pickles and ice cream or anything. But I think it's been funny to compare my cravings from one child/pregnancy to the next.

With McKay it was tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes with salt. We were in Las Vegas when I was about 12 weeks along and went to In-n-Out. I ordered a side of tomatoes with my burger and just at the tomatoes. After that I always had tomatoes in the fridge.

With Kimball it was a slightly less healthy addiction. McDonalds' cheeseburgers. No onion. And I could hardly drive by a McDonalds without stopping in for one, or two. Ironically, or coincidentally, Kimball loves hamburgers but not McDonalds.

Luc brought on the good ol' chocolote cravings. And I have never been a chocolate fanatic. I grabbed a snickers pretty much every time I checked out, anywhere. Luc eats chocolate every chance he gets. He can't get enough of it.

This one is a mixture of sweet and salty/spicy. It started with PowerBars and they still sound good but they're super expensive (usually) and I'm cheap. My salty satisfaction comes from nachos. Like the kind you get at the movies or sporting events. With jalapenos. Lots of jalapenos. Mmmmm. I'm drooling on my keyboard.

Do you have pregnancy cravings? Or non-pregnancy related cravings for that matter? Please share. I'd love to get some good ideas for new things to try.