Disneyland Pt. 2

After realizing how busy Magic Morning could make the park, I had also read online somewhere that someone recommended going to the opposite park of where Magic Morning was being offered. So our second day we decided to start at Disneyland again since Magic Morning was going to be at California Adventure. The lines were so much better and we were on Main Street waiting when they finally opened the park. It was so great to just walk through and then have most of the morning with very little wait times. We did Dumbo first off, and let June try it since she was sleeping in the stroller the night before. She was nervous, but as soon as Ryan showed her the knob to make Dumbo go up and down she grabbed it with both hands and loved it.

We did a few more Fantasyland rides that we knew would get busy later, and then we headed over to California Adventure around noon to watch the Frozen musical.

In line for the second day and in HIGH spirits.

She got the purple Dumbo!

 Right around this time they really pepped up and were super excited to be there and super happy. It was a nice contrast from the first day when they were mostly frightened and were also tired of dealing with crowds.

Being silly in the Finding Nemo line.

June and Grandma on a double decker bus.

 The Frozen musical was good if you like the movie Frozen. The girls LOVED it. I mainly wanted to go because I was so impressed by the musicals on the Disney Cruise and I had heard that these ones in California Adventure were similar. It was about an hour long and it was nice to sit. After, we headed straight for the Ariel ride, which they also LOVED. When we came out of it, Judy Hop and Nick were outside from Zootopia. My girls probably wouldn't have cared too much, except that morning in the hotel they had been watching the movie. They BEGGED to stand in line for a picture and hug. We were towards the end of the line and the characters were getting ready to go in, so they hurried down each side of the line to give each kid a quick hug. It was perfect. My girls don't need a long conversation, just a quick hug and picture.

By then it was time to head back to the hotel for our R&R. We headed back to the park around 5 pm for the Bibidi Bobidi Boutique. It was a birthday present for June. One of the best things I did was to go to the Disney Outlet in Vegas and bought a few birthday presents for June. She got to unwrap them the second day and was thrilled to receive an Elena of Avalor dress that she could wear to the boutique. The presents were perfect because then the girls didn't ask for anything to buy at Disneyland and June got to enjoy her Disney presents there.

They both fell asleep on the way to our appointment. We woke them up when we got there only to find that after we signed in we still had a 30-45 minute wait because they were behind! The girls were so tired and miserable. I felt bad because it was really unpleasant. When we got in, the experience was fun but wasn't nearly as fun or magical as on the cruise. June had a good time and didn't know better, but the cruise was just so special. They took so much time and talked, this time they just rushed them through like a conveyor belt.

Willa was pretty crabby after being woken up and then waiting forever on a hard bench. Plus, I had her wear a princess dress from home instead of buying one there. I'm so mean.

She cheered up by the end and managed a smile.

June is 110% girl and LOVED getting pampered and wearing a beautiful dress. She got a special birthday sash and even though it was chilly outside she didn't want to put on a jacket or change out of her dress. She's very careful about all things like that.

 We were rushing out of the boutique because we had fast passes for Soarin' over California. We hurried there and the girls had no idea what to expect. Willa loved it and June was a little nervous. Afterwards, we stopped for a much needed hamburger and then headed home to the hotel for bed.

The entire trip we ate breakfast in our hotel room. They didn't offer a breakfast, but they had a small fridge so I had packed some milk and cereal, bread, cream cheese, gogurts, and lots of stuff like that. I would pack a small cooler bag with food for during the day, and then we'd eat a real meal for dinner. I was shocked at how well the girls ate without complaining compared with how they do at home. At home, it's a whine every morning about what to have for breakfast and lunch. On the trip, I just got the food out and they ate. Honestly, I think a lot of the time when they were unhappy or grouchy was because they were hungry and didn't realize it. They ate a lot less than normal and wouldn't normally ask for snacks. I usually instigated eating by handing them something from the pack. It saved us a ton of money, though :)!

Disneyland pt. 1

We went to Disneyland!!! I can't believe we actually did it. I remember once in Houston just having a hard day and feeling like our old life in California was completely gone and lost to us. I thought we'd never have stability, we'd never have the means to take the girls to Disneyland, or just to revisit our old Los Angeles stomping grounds. Even as I was sad and depressed back there, I knew it was a little ridiculous - but still, sometimes it's the little things that make you even more sad.

Since we've been in Las Vegas we've wanted to go, but the timing hasn't been right. This Christmas my parents decided to give everyone a 3 day park hopper pass. My sister and I planned the trip so that we could go together. The girls were very excited even though they really didn't know what to expect. I tried showing them little youtube videos of different rides and parades. We decided to go during the weekdays of the first week of March. Ryan worked Monday and then we drove off in the afternoon when Willa got home from school.

Carrie's sister-in-law works for Marriott and got us a deal at the Marriott right across the street. Originally, we were going to try one a little further away that would have been bigger and nicer, but in the end Ryan and I really wanted to be within walking distance with our girls. We knew that we would need a rest every afternoon and didn't want the hassle of the Disney parking garages and driving back and forth so much. It was so nice to stay that close. I highly recommend it with kids.

Getting ready for the first day. I also highly recommend a stroller. I wasn't sure if I should be no stroller, a single stroller, or the double. I ended up packing the single and the double just in case Willa wanted to walk more than ride. Let the record read that she did not wish to walk more. Plus, the seats could recline and they had a big sunshade. The girls fell asleep multiple times in this puppy.

Waiting in line to get through security. My my, how things have changed. I forgot about the security lines and I was shocked at how long they took to get through on the first mornings, even though we arrived about 30 minutes before the park opened.

Disneyland actually started out a bit traumatically, we tried to get there as early as possible, but got held up waiting in the security line (see above). Then, we didn't realize that that day was a Magic Morning at Disneyland, so we immediately hurried to Fantasyland only to find out that it was already packed with people. The girls recognized the teacups and the line wasn't too long, so we go in. Unfortunately, it was a little faster than June's tummy could handle and both girls were a little nervous the whole time. It's sad to see the happy expectation turn to genuine fear. After the teacups, we headed straight to Alice, since the line is right there. Unfortunately, this was a bad decision because neither of the girls had seen the movie and they both chose to sit together in the front with Ryan and I sitting behind. Those Fantasyland rides can get a little scary and about halfway through they were both crying. We felt so bad! We hurried over to Dumbo, but by then they were spooked and didn't want to go on it. It took a lot of coaxing to do the next few rides even though they were very gentle. Ryan and I realized that we needed to each sit with a girl on the rides to help keep them calm.

Happy before it started.

 Happily the Carousel is pretty much like every other carousel - except June didn't get the bench seat that she prefers and was nervous on the horse going up and down. Her poor tummy.

 They didn't dare go on Dumbo right away, it looked to fast, but they were happy to get a photo on the Dumbo sitting outside of the ride. Ryan and I kind of kept to the mantra of not forcing them. This was their trip - we would push and urge them a little, but we wouldn't force them on things they were scared of or that they wouldn't like. We also didn't force them to stay in the park. Every afternoon they were done and begging to go back to the hotel and swim, so we would abruptly stop where we were headed and just go back to the hotel for a couple hours of R&R.

We are getting on the Casey Jr. Train and you can see Willa's fresh anxiety after Alice in Wonderland.

 I also realized that even though they liked the rides, my girls probably would prefer more of the shows. So we took time the first day to watch a little Beauty and the Beast play that was about 20 minutes. I think they liked just sitting and laughing and relaxing. It was strange to get out of the mindset of "how many rides can we get on" and just take in the atmosphere of the park and the other entertainment.

After swimming the first day, we headed back to the park around 6 pm and the girls were in much better moods. June slept in the stroller for a bit while Ryan coaxed Willa on Dumbo. Willa LOVED Dumbo, they might have even done it twice that evening. But every other day she begged for it and we did it at least once or twice. We did a few more Fantasyland rides and then ended the night with Autopia. They were so excited and thrilled to have their cars. Willa drove with me and June was with Ryan below.

June asks for and receives another "short cut"

 Meanwhile, we've just had normal days. June had been complaining about her hair again so I asked if she wanted a haircut again and she was very much in the affirmative. I get a little sad, but it really does look cute short and it's so much easier to do. She likes to say that she looks just like her Grandma Knoles with her short cut.

Shannon sent us some matching dresses that her girls grew out of. Willa love them and posed, but after admiring them for days June then refused to wear them and match her sister. I have no idea what she'll like from one day to the other.

 

We went to Red Rock one beautiful Saturday. The girls were climbing and scampering all over and it was all a little beyond my skill level at this point in my pregnancy. Still, it's hard to believe how beautiful it is there. When I look back at the photos, I'm always surprised.

I went out on a limb and purchased these swim suits that have the rash guard and a separate bottom layer. I just always think it would be easier for them to use the bathroom, etc. Plus, the ease of not sunblocking the shoulders! They begged for them, we'll just have to see if they actually want to wear them swimming. The downside of the rash guard is that I think it makes the kids colder. It really sticks to their bodies when they get out of the water. I'm hoping that this won't be an issue for them in 115 degree Las Vegas weather  :).

 I love to hit the grocery store the day after Valentine's Day and stock up on discounted candy, flowers, and balloons. June is holding a little teddy bear sucker and the balloon lady gave her all the leftover balloons for FREE. Then she told me to pick whatever flower arrangement I wanted and she would discount it too. Score! I would probably be annoyed if Ryan brought me flowers on the actual V-Day because I know I can get them so much cheaper the next day. So romantic :).

The girls finally had their first every dentist appointment. I can't believe I've been so bad at getting them in. Willa cried, but June was a trooper. This pediatric dentist was so great. The office did so many things I'd never thought of - like giving the kids sunglasses so that the bright overhead light wouldn't bother their eyes when they were laying in the chair. June had SO much tartar around her bottom teeth. I've noticed it for a long time and brushed really hard. The dentist said that if she drools a lot or sleeps with her mouth open it can make it worse, so I think maybe the pacifier exacerbated it. They also had this cute dragon with real dentures for June to practice brushing on with a giant toothbrush. Willa is ready for Sealants - how did she get so big? So we are scheduled to go back for that in two months. I think she'll be okay next time, it was just the unknown that scared her.

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33 Weeks and more

Ahhhh, I'm so behind! I've got drafts started and I've honestly been trying and wanting to blog, but whenever I would try on the iPad or phone, it would shut down. Finally, I did a little google search and read that Blogger hasn't updated its app for quite a while and it's not working well on recent system updates. So that's what has been happening!

I hit my 33 week mark on Saturday. It's been smooth sailing like my other ones except for one thing: major hip pain. I mean, major. I can't really explain how it feels, except it's like someone grinding my bones together. By evening, I would be hobbling around and sometimes the throbbing would keep me up at night. In the morning, I would crawl out of bed stiff as a board and hobble some more. Finally, I broke  down and bought a support belt. It came a few weeks ago and it's been amazing. I was kind of skeptical of them, I just couldn't believe that any benefits would compensate for the uncomfortableness of having one more thing confining your belly. I'm so glad I was wrong. It sits just under the belly and I hardly notice it (I shopped for the one that got the "most breathable" reviews). I was even able to run a little again and not be totally incapacitated for the rest of the day. I love it so so so so so so much.

Running. For the last two girls I ran the whole time. This pregnancy it isn't going to happen. I think I must just carry super low (see above: hip pain). A friend was telling me that all the support belts she tried pushed up into her lungs and were super uncomfortable. But for me, I don't notice anything like that. And I've never really had heartburn or reflux or anything like that. I think it's a symptom of all my ab muscles being similar to wet noodles with regards to strength. I'm nervous to not run because the studies show that if you exercise vigorously in the beginning of your pregnancy but not through to the end, you will actually end up having a bigger than average baby. When you exercise early on, the placenta gets more blood flow as it is forming - thus, more food for the baby. So if you stop, the baby keeps getting extra food and you aren't doing anything to help him slim down. I'm trying to walk and do a lot of hills by our house, but I don't know how great it is.

I now outweigh what I did when I delivered June and Willa. I have SIX more weeks to go! This is equal parts depressing and not interesting to me. I'm mostly just shrugging it off, but the funny thing is that a few weeks ago I've ripped TWO of my favorite pairs of maternity pants bending over or squatting for something. I wore them almost everyday when I was pregnant with June and a lot this time around, so I'd like to just say that they'd had their share of wear and tear. But...if they hadn't been so "strained" in other areas maybe they wouldn't have gaping holes in the rear :). The second one happened at the library when I was squatting down to get a book. I didn't know how big it was or if anyone could see it, so I had to shimmy sideways with my back against the wall until I could grab my jacket to wrap it around my waist, ha ha. There are worse things that could happen.

I hate to complain because really, we are so thrilled and excited for this baby. But I just wanted to write a few things down so I remember. Note to self: try to repair abdominal strength before embarking on another pregnancy.

The rest of the break

We've had a very rainy and wet winter (compared to what we're used to) so on a whim the day after Christmas we decided to drive to Mt. Charleston to see the snow and maybe go sledding! Of course, we didn't really have winter clothes or sleds. Quick thinking led me to grab a large piece of cardboard out of all our Christmas trash as we were pulling out of the driveway. It was funny to see the girls not know how to handle snow at all. They didn't know how to brush it off their clothes or anything like that that I suppose you just learn while growing up in it.

I think we double-pants'd the girls and then brushed them vigorously after snow angel attempts.

This was not good packing snow and they were very disappointed that our attempts at snowmen failed. Luckily, we found a pre-made one to get a photo with.

Cardboard sled!

Ryan actually went into work that Monday afternoon, but most of the day still felt special and like vacation. However, on Tuesday I woke up with the full-on blues. It was sad to see Christmas over and to have Ryan back at the daily grind. Bleh. I pulled myself together and decided to try this awesome jump place a friend had recommended. I checked their website and they had a deal every morning from 9-12 pm for kids aged 6 and under. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. Plus, we almost had the place to ourselves. It was just the kick in the pants that I needed. To top it off, after almost three hours of jumping, just as we were leaving I ran into Emilie Wong - who was a friend from our USC ward 7 years ago! What were the chances? We didn't have long to chat, but it was so great to see her again.

The girls called this the Green Jello.

Foam blocks, they had gladiator style weapons you could fight someone with and try to push them into the blocks.

They even had a climbing wall with harnesses and the workers were so friendly and helpful in getting Willa buckled in and helping her.

My parents came to visit and see our Christmas haul a few days later. They brought a sled and some old snowpants they had from their house. Since my girls are the youngest grandchildren on that side, they left the snowpants for us to keep. The snow was almost melting, but it was amazing how much more pleasant actual winter gear can make a snow activity. Ryan and I took the girls one more time a few weeks ago after a heavy rain here. There was about 18 inches of great snow to play in at Mt. Charleston.

For our last day of break before Willa went back to school, we decided to check out this new aquarium. Friends had talked about it, but I wasn't too interested until I learned that it was really hands-on and tactile. I figured that we might as well try it. The girls stayed for hours and begged to come back, so we ended up upgrading to an annual pass (it wasn't that much more). It's small and kind of weird, but the staff was so friendly and helpful. They were standing everywhere with animals to pet or hold.

You can use tokens for "enhanced experiences", one of which was to feed the parakeets. I'm just going to say this was the freakiest thing ever! It looks sweet at first until a second or third or fourth bird lands on your and they start fighting each other. By the end of our time inside the atrium, both girls had handed their cups of bird food to me and it felt like a horror movie as birds flocked around.

I went back the other day with June and some friends during a school day and we were standing by another "enhanced experience" where you can feed the sting rays. We didn't do it this time, but you could tell that the sting rays were starting to expect it because when we'd go look at them through the glass they'd come up really close and flap up the side of the tank so high that one of their fins would be slapping the glass above the water. Ugh. not right. But, overall besides creating all these new phobias for me, we've had a good time there and I'm glad we get to go back for more.

Christmas Day

We had a very small Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as far as numbers were concerned. It was just the four of us on Christmas Eve and for Christmas Dinner. Rebecca was able to come in the morning for breakfast and to open a few presents.

Christmas Eve jammies

There were pluses and minuses to being just us. We missed family and the hubbub that goes along with a big family and the excitement of Christmas. On the other hand, it was really nice to just follow our own schedule - to be able to shorten or lengthen dinner/dessert and any activities according to how the girls were feeling. We love having friends for dinner sometimes, but with children it feels progressively harder because entertaining often lasts until long past our routine of baths and bedtime. So it was nice to keep it special but also to follow a good schedule for us.

The girls work up very early - but that is pretty normal. I took them in the guest room and thought I would keep them in there with a tv show until closer to 7 a.m. But Ryan got up and we figured let's let Christmas begin! So he turned on the tree lights and also set the Netflix on the fireplace thing, so it looked like we had a nice roaring fire when we came downstairs.

Santa really had a hard time deciding on what big gift to get them. In the end he decided on this dollhouse, which ended up being about two feet taller and wider than he had remembered when he saw it in the store! I'm pretty sure if Santa hadn't had elves to help him, he would have been locked up in the music room of our house from about 1:00 pm onward putting the entire thing together on Christmas Eve. His grip strength would be so totally gone afterward that putting together this Ikea desk was almost beyond his capabilities at 10 p.m.

Stock Ikea photo of the desk. It's pretty large when it's put together, but I love how she can work on a project on top and keep the bricks stored below and nothing is falling off the back or sides.

 Ideally, the dollhouse would have been for June and the desk for Willa because she has SO many Legos and they drive be crazy. I saw this desk and loved it because it had edges all around so nothing could fall off the sides or back, and drawers underneath for storage. But Santa thought it would be a bitter disappointment for one girl to get a giant dollhouse and one to get a simple desk, so he decided to put their names on both items. It worked out really well and the girls kind of self-segregated so that by the end of the morning June was playing with her new Magic Clip dolls at the dollhouse and Willa was putting together her new Lego set at the desk.

 From Santa they each got a pink robe that has a little unicorn horn on the hood, an umbrella with their name on it, and Magic Clips (June) or Legos (Willa) - plus the dollhouse and desk. As for presents from everyone else, what didn't they get? It was a really nice Christmas and felt like just the right about of stuff or maybe a little more than the right amount. It didn't feel stingy.

Waiting at the top of the stairs for dad to turn on the Christmas tree lights before we went down together.

Dollhouse! June needs a stool to see into the top room.

All the other presents sorted and ready to be torn apart.

They wore the robes the whole morning (and still wear them often) and were so excited to see us open their gifts.

Lego Table!!

After the mayhem. Rebecca and I were hanging out in the kitchen when this was happening - it's not like the house was suddenly quiet or anything.

Rebecca got Willa some REAL make-up. This is one of her more "subtle" looks.

Fancy dresses from the O'Kelley's. Willa keeps telling me that this outfit if PERFECT if we get invited to a wedding!!

Ryan wearing a wooden bow-tie from Carey. This photo still makes me laugh.

Rebecca getting her not-so-subtle makeover too.

We had a nice day playing and hanging around home. For Christmas Dinner, I got our my grandma's china and made a fancy meal - that was wasted on half the diners - but it helped make the day special.
Overall, it was a really nice Christmas. I think we all felt happy, warm, well-fed, and comfortable by the end of the day.