Everybody Spring Break Tonight

Due to sinus surgery being exponentially worse than advertised, we postponed our spring break trip to California from our spring break to Everyone In The Nations' spring break.  Here are some highlights from this particular Disneyland trip (because as I've often said, every time is different).

The girls' favorite part of the airport:

 We went straight from the airport to Disneyland since I screwed up the airport we were flying into and the timing worked out really well.  Happy accidents.

Livi really didn't want to go Splash Mountain, but we eventually talked her into it, by promising multiple treats, the Winnie the Pooh ride, and that I would sit next to her in the back.  She assured me it would be better if it was Dad sitting next to her, and I was a poor substitute, but she did agree to go on the ride.

Immediately after this drop she said that she would never go on it again.

I laughed when I saw these helmets and asked the kids to try them on and without prompting THIS happened:

 We were pretty tired by the end of the day, what with flying half way across the country and putting in a solid 9 hours at Disneyland, but everyone wanted to stop and watch the fireworks when we were in the parking garage.

 The next day we realized that Fridays during Spring Break are kind of the worst days in the world to spend at Disneyland, but we still managed to have fun.  Dad was able to come for part of the day, and it was fun to just spend time with my parents, even if it was for an hour in line at Roger Rabbit (which is only worth a 10 minute wait, tops).

Livi noticing Cinderella's castle on the Story Book Land ride, in sequence:

 

 

 

 

 Ethan has become a wee bit obsessed with Jim Henson's Muppet's lately (hey, better than a lot of things 11 year old boys are obsessed with). We hadn't realized before that there was a Muppet theater here in California Adventures, so we made sure to stop by for him.

 The kids really wanted to go on Chip and Dale's Horrible Line/Short Ride Coaster and unfortunately Ghirardelli single handedly gave me a gallbladder attack, so while I was fitting in multiple bathroom stops my mom kindly went on the ride with them.  Doesn't she look like it was the most fun thing in the world?

 The weirdest thing about the whole trip was Livi's new OCD behavior (no joke).  EVERY TIME we went on a ride she would freak out if we had any drinks or food on us. We got churros in line at Splash Mountain and she just about had a heart attack. She didn't want to eat it because she was afraid they wouldn't let us go on the ride if we had food, while also worrying they would take the food from us and throw it away.  I tried explaining we would have over an hour in line, which was plenty of time to eat a churro, and she just wouldn't calm down.  It kept going the whole trip.  She would try and take our drinks and throw them away, even if we weren't finished.  She wouldn't want to get snacks, and would try and cram them in our purses as soon as we entered a line.  This was the reaction when she found a drink in my hand:

Hopefully it was a one time thing.  I'm sure she will have something different to feel strongly about next time.

ODF or Overly Dramatic Female, plus Christmas Break Part 1

Olivia is a charming, fun, silly, wonderful little girl.  She tends to feel things strongly and wear her feelings on her face (I don't know where she gets it from).  Here are a few high (feeling) points from the trip:

Eric was using his teeth to light a match (because what self respecting former boyscout lights a match using the box when they have zippers, teeth, walls, or anything else that is not in any way associated with matches?).  Livi was very scared he was going to get hurt by the fire that would inevitably come shooting out of the tiny wooden stick and let us know

Every Christmas Eve the kids get to open one pre-marked gift that always ends up being pajamas.  Everyone was very happy with their new p.j.'s...

...until Livi tried hers on.  The pants were too long for her liking.

So she hid in a little alcove while the rest of us read Luke chapter 2.

I don't even know why she was mad this time.  She was playing golf with the other kids, Aunt Cheryl and Grandma Joan when Cheryl asked them for a picture.  Livi was less than willing.

Ethan is an enigma, we never know what is going on in his head.  Ella is sweet and has a hard time asking for anything she thinks might be a bother for anyone else.  Livi, well...we always know what she wants and where we stand with her.  Life with Livi is anything but boring!

Onto happier moments in our trip:
Eric was actually able to go with us to Disneyland, and Dad was able to go the entire day!  It was such a fun change to have the men there, especially for things like going on Tower of Terror...

and beating them soundly at Toy Story!  Woot Woot I got the high score out of EVERYONE!!! (ok, just our group, but still).

Our group on Splash Mountain.  Livi is covered by Ella's head and a random lady is in the middle, but still a cute picture.  On a fun note (for me) my shirt was a big hit.  I had 13 random strangers come up to me to tell me they liked my shirt.  It was a lot of fun to meet so many Whovians and get their approval!

Livi and I stayed off of Indian Jones while the rest of the group used their fast passes.  We got her a sucker and when I told her, her tongue was green she immediately had me take 10 pictures so she could see it from all sorts of angles.

On a VERY cool note, since Livi and I didn't go on the ride we had two extra fast passes.  Christmas is always SUPER crowded and the wait for the regular line was over 90 minutes.  It was such a little thing for us, but saving someone 90 minutes when this is probably their one trip to Disneyland can be a big thing for someone else. My dad found a young couple at the back of the line and asked if  they wanted to use the extra passes.  They thanked us effusively and the man made sure to shake Dad's hand. They were so excited and happy it was heart warming.

Eric feeding the kids like baby birds (they didn't want to share germs on the water bottle).

Mom really wanted to see "Mickey's Magical Map," which was a fun Broadway style show.  The girls loved the songs, and dancing and the rest of us enjoyed sitting down!

Livi also FINALLY got her Jessie doll.  For the last year she has asked, every single time we got off the Toy Story ride, for a Jessie doll.  We would go over, look at her, pull the string and listen to her, but eventually put her back and move on.  She has talked about her constantly at home, drawn pictures of her, and finally, finally someone (Grandma) made her dream come true.

I was afraid it was a flash in the pan toy.  One that would soon be left with the others, never to be played with.  I was SOOOOOOooooooo wrong.  Jessie is still sleeping with Livi, with her hat on the bookcase right next to the bed.  She has gone to church with us, gone to pick up kids, been to tea parties, shopped at made up accessory stores, and been read book after book.  It reminds me so much of the toys on the movie it makes me tear up if I think too much about it.  Her only complaint is that the doll has "Andy" written on her foot instead of "Livi."  I may have to break out the paint and rectify that soon.

Pretty Pretty Princesses or Why Can't We All Keep The Magic Of Childhood?

It has been really fun to go to Disneyland so much, not only for the obvious reasons, but also because you don't feel so much like you have to hit the big, well known attractions.  You can explore, try some of the smaller rides, or try experiences that you wouldn't if it was your only time to go.  I feel a little stupid even writing things like this because most people don't ever get to go to Disneyland, let alone multiple times per year.  I feel pretentious and obnoxious, but since this goes in our photo album I should write about it.

I don't know why, but one of the things we have never done is the Bippity-Boppity-Boutique.  Ok, I do know why, it is expensive and takes a LOT of time out of the day, but with two absolute princesses it seems odd we have never done it.  One of Dad's employees mentioned how much her granddaughters enjoyed it and showed us pictures so we decided to give it a try.

This is definitely NOT an every time type of activity for Disneyland, but it was amazing and, of course, I cried.  To start off with you have to have an appointment ahead of time so when you get there you wait until you are called, and they make you wait, of course, in a princess shop full of the most fun costumes.  I still desperately wish they sold adult princess costumes at Disneyland (thanks for lying Big Bang Theory), but I can live vicariously through my girls, that's totally healthy, right?

When the girls get called, "Princess Olivia" (I was the "Queen", making Mom "The Queen Mother" I guess) they are walked back to a beauty station and their very own "Fairy God Mother In Training."  They get to pick out one of three looks (at least with our package) and then the magic begins.

I have never had Livi sit so well for me when I do her hair,

Every time they sprayed detangler, hair spray (lots and lots and lots of hairspray) or glitter they have the girls put up these shields.  As an Ophthalmologist's daughter I thought it was a smart touch.

I think having her hair so gently played with for such a long time was relaxing for Livi, she kept closing her eyes.

Ella has so much hair it took twice as long as Livi just to get it in a slick ponytail.  I had a few people ask if the girls hair was real, or if we had extensions put in there (yeah, cause I am totally the type of Mom who puts extensions in her 4 year old's hair).

When their hair is mostly done they have a helper (I guess a Fairy God Mother In Training- In Training) come over and paint their nails.  They also get real makeup put on, face stickers to choose from and accessories that go in their hair.  Any of the choices they didn't choose goes in their goodie-bags and they take it ALL home.

Ella getting the final touch (gallon) of glitter

Livi ended first so she came over to admire Ella and "help" her pick which face jewels to wear.

The final results:

 I asked Ethan if he wished he had gotten the boy makeover (they do have one) and he responded with this:

Now this is the part that made me cry.  I feel stupid I cried, but there is something about the magic of Disney, helping to maintain the innocence of childhood, combined with the look on the girls' faces that show they believe totally that magic could exist in this world, that just hits me so hard at moments like this:

Somebody Stop Me, or Like This Post My Words Keep Going and Going and Going...

I am not very good at not speaking my mind, just in general.  I have a hard time hiding how I feel (ok, I can't hide it at all), and for the most part I say what I think.  Before my trip to California I was not in a great place which made me have even more vocal diarrhea.

Hopefully my friend doesn't care that I am sharing this because she was only tangenantly involved.  Yes "tangenangtly."  She had just had her 5th baby and had a nerve thingy which made it so she couldn't walk.  I knew my ward was eager to help, but one day when I, through our texting, found out she didn't have anything lined up for dinner all week.  After making dinner I texted my Relief Society president to find out if they could set up food for the rest of the week.  Here is my text word for word-

"Just wondering if there were any meals planned for Melissa. All her help is gone and she still can't do much.  I am making dinner tonight but hoping relief society can manage a few more."

 I probably shouldn't have written "manage" because it is one of those word that can take on multiple implications depending on tone of voice.  My Relief Society president kept calling until I answered and was very defensive and here is our conversation:

Her: I have 20 people lined up to bring dinner but Chad said they didn't need dinner this week.

Me: Ok, I just went over this afternoon and they didn't have dinner so I thought I would check on the rest of the week.

Her: Nicole, I checked with Chad on Sunday and he said he took this week off so they didn't need dinner.

Me: I know he didn't take today off because I drove the kids from school and I know he took last week off.

Her: Nicole, Charity is bringing the kids home, Nicole.

Me: ????? Um, well I am actually doing Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays and Charity is doing Tuesday and Thursday.

Her: NICOLE, I know that Charity is taking their kids home.

Me: I don't know why that even matters, all I wanted was to make sure they had dinners.

Her: NICOLE, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU THINK I DON'T HAVE DINNER PLANNED FOR THEM.  I HAVE PEOPLE LINED UP, NICOLE.  I JUST NEED THE OK FROM THEM TO BRING DINNER, NICOLE.  I KNOW CHARITY IS DRIVING THE KIDS HOME, NICOLE, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP.  NICOLE, I DONT KNOW WHY YOU THINK WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM!!!

At this point I was severely annoyed, not only by the unexplainable overuse of my name, but by the volume and the fact that no matter how hard I tried to interject and end the conversation she just kept steam rolling over me and wouldn't let me talk.  I had had one of the worst psychological days in my life and this wasn't helping.  I hadn't talked to anyone all day before she called, because I knew if I talked to people I would end up being mean to them.  I was right.  I finally yelled over her

"ALL RIGHT I GET IT.  I WAS NOT TRYING TO IMPLY YOU AREN'T DOING YOUR JOB.  I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD FOOD."

And I hung up.

Not a great story, but it makes the next one make a little more sense.

A few days later at Disneyland Ethan and Ella really wanted to go on the Tower of Terror.  I really don't like that ride, but Ella really wanted to go on it for the first time so I agreed to go:

Ella was a little scarred from the amazing spooky ambiance Disney accomplished and was holding my hand and staying close to my side.  We got shuffled into a room where they show you a video about the "history" of the hotel.  At one point in the film a teenager thought she would be funny and yell at the top of her lungs at a particularly intense point.  Everyone jumped and Ella clung harder to my hand.  I looked over and noticed a little girl, probably 4 or 5 and she looked spooked!  At the end of the video the lights go out for a second and that same teen screamed at the TOP of her lungs.  Exasperated, and having no control or filter anymore, I said loudly "You know, there are little kids in here!"  Then I felt stupid, because that is who I am, and I worry constantly about being shot or stabbed when I complain about something in Southern California.  But then two other people said "Yeah!" so I felt a little better until...we were right behind them in line to get seated.

We, of course, were put in the front row, and they were in the row behind us.  Since they had been mumbling and looking back at me I really did not want to sit in front of them.  I explained that my kids were a little scared (ok, maybe it was me) and would they mind switching us so we wouldn't be right in the front.  They debated in some language I didn't understand and agreed.  Then about 2 second later I realized, nope, we HAD been in the back row and had switched them for the middle.  Now we really were in front of them.  Feeling even stupider (if that was possible), and because I couldn't stop myself,  I explained my mistake and asked if they minded switching back.  They really didn't want to but I explained (insisted) that my kids (me) would do much better in the back.

I guess sometimes it pays to keep talking.  We didn't end up getting stabbed in the neck with a turkey thermometer either!

Disneyland 5,674 or The Best Trashcans You Will Ever Throw Up In

Ahhh, that wonderful time of the... quarter...when we head off to Disneyland.  Really, I could write a book about how happy Disneyland makes me.  Here are some highlights from this trip:

Going with Baby Lincoln on his Fir.... no wait, what is this his 3rd trip to Disneyland?  Geesh, good thing he is free! (I bet Julia loves this picture!)

This LEGO rendition of Maleficent (my favorite villain) and Prince Philip was truly stunning not only because it is a work of art, but because...

of how amazingly big it is (That is beautiful Jes giving us a reference)!

We went straight to Dumbo first thing, which was good since we only had to wait 25 minutes instead of an hour and a half.  In a stroke of total luck Livi got the purple Dumbo (shhh...YES it IS purple, NOT BLUE!!!).

In line for Toy Story Mania.  We ended up losing a child, coming in 2nd in a trivia game, passing children over barriers, and eating who knows how many calories while we waited in what was our longest line of the day.

I thought Livi looked particularly chic in her 3D glasses and binkie!

I somehow got suckered in, by my kids, to ride the Merry-Go-Round.  It was worth it to see this.  Andrew started out helping both his kids...

but ended up spending most of the ride clasped tightly in Autumns arms because she sure thought the ride was less than fun (I agreed with her).

I somehow feel like we have arrived, now that we take up 4 rows on Pirates of the Caribbean.  When we have Eric and McKay there I hope it ups to 5! (you can see a little bit of Lincoln in his cute Tiger outfit on Jes' lap)

A horrible picture, but I wanted to document the fact I was going on Star Tours.  Last time I went on it I had to stop and wait over a trashcan right off the ride, because I was fighting my breakfast, and losing.  I swore to never go on it again, but I had to break that promise to myself.  Everyone else was going on their favorite rides, but it looked like Ethan was going to have to miss Star Tours.  He was so heartbroken that no one would go with him, and started to tear up (yes, you did) that I swallowed my pride (and knew my lunch was soon to follow the same path, only up) and agreed that I would go on it.  I had already been on Dumbo and a Merry-Go-Round so my stomach was already mad at me, but Ethan was SOOOOOOO happy.  He talked more in that stupid 100 minute line than he had talked the rest of the trip combined.  It was awesome to get to spend that time connecting with him, and to see him to excited.  I lasted about 6 seconds into the ride before I had to close my eyes and go limp, but Ethan assures me it was AWESOME.  I was sweaty, clammy, and nauseated for a couple hours after, but he's worth it!