Disneyland Days

We have successfully waited four years to take the kids to Disneyland. We wanted to wait to because it is so expensive and the kids weren't big enough to enjoy it or remember it or go on many rides. So we finally did it. We took them over Spring Break and they loved it!!!

Taylor is a roller coaster junkie!!! Josh took him on Space Mountain, then we all went on the Matterhorn. I took him on Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones. We tried to get him on California Screaming in California Adventure, but they said he was tall enough. That's a bunch of crap, but also a rant topic for another post.

Tacey wasn't much for the roller coasters, but she excited to see the castle and loved meeting all the Princesses. Just that totally made her trip. Although it was extremely expensive, we had lunch with them and were fortunate enough to meet all of them. It was worth it, just to see Tacey's little face light up when Cinderella walked up to our table and introduced herself.

I got to spend my birthday at Disneyland. That was pretty cool. I'd always wanted to eat at that restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Turns out, it is called Blue Bayou. We had a lovely dinner there on my birthday. The food was great and the service amazing.

Thank you SLOCM friend for letting me borrow your Ergo! It was a life saver when Tacey got tired. She was able to take a nap and we were still able to enjoy Disneyland as a family.

Despite the fun we had and the memories we made, Walt was rolling over in his grave over the poor customer service that we received by some "cast members." This piggy-backs the height comment above, but it is best mentioned in a rant post or a "Disney Dos and Don'ts" post. Let me just say that make sure your shortest members are two inches taller than the posted height requirements if you intend to take them on any of the bigger rides.

We are looking forward to going back at least two or three times over the next 12 months. And I will be running in the Disneyland Half Marathon in September.

Happy Birthday Tacey!

Happy birthday to my baby, Tacey, the baby of the family. I can't believe that she is 4! It is such a bitter sweet feeling. The birthday of the first born and second born are totally different, at least for me. With the oldest, it is a feeling of nostalgia, one of accomplishment, the firsts, the parenting mistakes, the uncharted territories. With the second, it is one of relief that we have both survived, the twos and the threes, and are safely headed into the fours. It is one of sadness, that this little person, was the last baby I nursed, the last one in a crib, the last nursery that was decorated, the last one rocked to sleep. But it is also liberating, free from bottles and sippy cups and feeding times and diaper bags and diapers and diaper pails and strollers and high chairs. Four is a milestone. It is that age when you realize that your baby isn't a baby anymore, she is a big girl now. She is capable of washing her own hands and putting on her own clothes and opening the car door on her own. It is a feeling of finally being able to reclaim my life. The person that I am and was before I was someone's mom. Don't get me wrong, I would never trade being someone's mom or wife for anything in the world. But now that my youngest child is four, I am Sunny again, not just Taylor's and Tacey's mom. I am free to peruse my own interests again, while the kids are at school of course. But for six beautiful hours each week, I am just Sunny.

Tacey, on her fourth birthday.

My angel, on the day she came home from the hospital.

Happy Birthday Taylor!

My first born child is six years old today. Yes, I am feeling nostalgic, wondering where the time has gone and reminiscing about the day of his birth, although I will spare you the long, gory details. Instead, check out my favorite picture of my baby and I when he was 12 hours old.





And one of us today.

Isn't he a handsome kid?


Happy birthday Taylor-made! You made me a proud momma six years ago today! I look forward to many more amazing memories with you. I love you, sweetheart!

Shout out

I would like to send a shout out to all of my friends that read my blog that I never knew because they don't comment! Welcome! Thanks for reading my blog. I'd love to have you comment, but I just wanted to acknowledge you and appreciate your reading! Love ya.

The Chronicles of School Days, Issue 6

One week of school under our belt and a three day weekend. Labor Day. I remember school starting AFTER Labor Day. Labor Day was the last hooray before going back to the grind of a new school year. But, not anymore. School is quickly in full swing before the unofficial start of fall graces us with its presence. Our first week went really well. But, our second week, wow, busy as a family of little bees.

We quickly learned how early we need to leave to get everyone to school on time. We found shortcuts and figured out the best routes and learned parking secrets. We had Back to School nights on back to back nights,costing $30+ for a babysitter. Yes, some preschools have Back to School nights. I really enjoyed Back to School night. I spent the prior week, wondering what the kids were doing in school all day. Typically when you ask a 3-year-old what they did in school today, you get little more than "Played." The 5-year-old isn't much better, "We read a story." So, both Back to School nights were enlightening for me. It was also very beneficial to how I could help the children learn by reinforcing their school lessons at home. For example at Taylor's school I learned that children do not know what an "Lmnop" is. Instead, it is now, "Lmn," clap, "op," clap. Hmm... okay, good to know. At Tacey's school, we learned that the primary objective is for the kids to learn how to sit, semi-still and listen to a story for three minutes. And that Deedee Dear says "duh."

Oh and at Taylor's Back to School night introduction, I was decisive enough to choose a seat right behind the bitch of a school board president, who patronizingly, turned around to ask how our son was doing. When we replied that he was adjusting well, she replied, "I just wanted you to try it." I am still kicking myself for not replying, "But you took away my fundamental right as a parent to decide what is best for my kid." Josh was right when he told me that it wasn't the right place or right time. I should've protested at the school board meeting a few eeks ago. Oh well. She is up for re-election and I know at least a few people who are unimpressed and unhappy, even, with how the school board has governed this school district. SAVE OUR STUDENTS, REPLACE THE BOARD!

Okay, enough of the tangent. I provided Taylor's teacher with a copy of his IEP for Speech Therapy and he saw the Therapist for the first time. Tacey had her first sick day from school. Not even a full week of school for her and she is already sick. I hope this isn't a precedent. Her illness was short-lived a night time fever and a runny nose. Back to school for her next week.

Happy Halloween!

We continued our annual Halloween traditions this year. First we decorated the house. I picked up some really cute jack-o-latern tiki string lights that are around the door and a black light in the outside light fixture next to the door. A few inside decorations too and some cute red, Pom Daisies to finish the look.

I added a "Welcome Scary Friends" sign outside and a few window decorations.







Then, we visited a pumpkin patch. And picked out costumes. Although, I have to say, that Mother Nature does not seem to be in a Halloween-type mood this year. I have never been to the pumpkin patch in 90 degree heat! For the first time, I was worried about whether or not the kids' costumes would be cool enough! It is just wrong!

We carved and painted our pumpkins, just like every year. Usually we paint slightly bigger ones, but the white babies worked just fine.

Taylor doesn't care too much for cleaning out the pumpkin's guts, but in our house everyone helps if they want to pick a face for their pumpkin.

Tacey did a little better job helping, but she wasn't into it much either.

Mommy is the "scraper." I get all the pumpkins to scrape out.

Daddy is the "carver," except for one this year. I carved one. Keep reading, you'll see it.

Taylor went for a simple look this year, with triangle eyes, circle nose and smily mouth with one, lonely ole tooth. Kudos to the "carver!" And that lovely little white pumpkin turned out beautifully with blue topped with orange topped with white paint.

Tacey got a bit more creative with star eyes, triangle nose and smily mouth with one tooth, like brother. Another great job, Daddy! Of course, her little white pumpkin had to be pink and purple, her favorite colors in case you hadn't guessed, just like her costume.





I opted to try one of the templates that came with our pumpkin carving kit last year. Did I do well enough? Can you can tell what it is?

Tuesday before Halloween, we went to an afternoon Halloween party with our play date pals. Tacey ate a chocolate bat cookie with black sprinkles that made her lips look like they were decorated with black lipstick. Then all 25 or so kids, aged 10 days to 7 years, had a costume parade around the house! They looked fabulous!

On Halloween night, after getting into our costumes, we headed downtown to the Safe and Fun Trick or Treat where hundreds of little ghosts and goblins, pirates and superheros, fairies and princesses, including my little Batman and Barbie Island Princess Rosella, gave the ultimatum "Trick or Treat" to the local businesses. Of course, none of the business owners wanted their storefronts tricked, so they all opted to give the kids treats. They filled their buckets before they even started on houses.

But, trick or treating downtown just wasn't the same as going from house to house with our friends by our sides. So we were fortunate enough to meet up with some friends. Batman and Superman hung while Princess Ro befriended a little Spider.

Aiden and Taylor met in Kindergarten. In fact, they sit next to each other and share coughs! Tacey befriended a little blond-haired, blue-eyed doll, just like her, at Taylor's school as well. Brynn happens to be Aiden's little sister, only a few months younger than Tacey! Their mom and I have enjoyed hanging out a bit a getting to know each other.

Our usual Halloween traditions were fun, as always. But I haven't had quite so much fun as this new game that I tried this year! I booed some friends! Yes, a mothers' support group that I belong to "Booed!" each other. We played the classic game from our youths, "Ding-dong ditch," but with an added twist. You left your "ditchee" a nice surpise, a "Boo" basket or Halloween bucket filled with decorations, treats, stuff for the kids, nothing extravagant, but something she and her children could enjoy! The first round, Josh helped me after a soccer game on a Saturday morning, with a new member.

The second round, he helped me just before bedtime, after dark. I was just so excited that I couldn't wait until someone did it to me first! I left two "boos" this time around! During the first, we happened to be followed home by my friend's husband, so Josh drove by her house. I told him just to pull over and wait like five minutes because we didn't know who was in the car. But he pulled too close to the house. I'm not sure if we were spotted, but I have a sneaking suspicion! I dropped the basket at the door, knocked, ran and hid around the side of the house. If you know who you are and you read this, comment and tell us your side of the story!

The next one was so funny, I laughed for about half an hour straight! Josh dropped me in front of the house and pulled forward a bit so the car was out of sight. There is a decorative window in the front door of this friend's house, so I peaked around the front of the garage and watched the shadows through the window, waiting for a safe time to knock and run. "Oh no, someone is coming, they are coming outside! The back gate is open, maybe they are going to the backyard. Oh no, where am I going to hide?" I am panicking and trying not to laugh out loud. Josh had backed up to the front of the house so that he could watch me do my thing. The door opened and out walked my friend. Well, I had no idea where she was going, around the garage to the backyard for all I knew. So out to the street I ran, to my car. She started laughing out loud. "Oh no! I've been spotted. Maybe she didn't know it was me!" I jumped in the car and Josh took off around the block. He circled and we looked for lights as we drove by. He circled again and this time she watched us drive by as she walked out to her garage! Finally, the fourth trip around, I was able to "boo" her! I was hoping that she didn't figure out it was me. But the following day, she left a message on our forum: "If it was SUNNY outside, I would have seen my Booer while I was taking the laundry to the garage!" It was pretty safe to assume that I was discovered. I know you know who you are, so if you read this, please comment with your side of the story!

And that was our Halloween season 2008! Hope you had a happy and safe Halloween too! Happy haunting!

PS I apologize for the formatting. I am still fighting with the thing to get it to look how I want. It is frustrating me and going to be flying out the second-story window any minute now. Thanks for your patience.

The Chronicles of School Days, Issue 5

After dropping Taylor off at his first day of school and getting him settled in, Tacey was very demanding of my attention. She, of course, was used to having someone to play with her all of the time. So, I set to work finding my little 3-year-old a school of her own. I spent the morning calling numerous preschools in town and setting up appointments to visit them over the next few days, in between games of Candyland, Sesame Street Chutes and Ladders, and Guess Who? I was bound and determined to have her in school by the end of the week.
Tuesday while Taylorcwas at school, Tacey and I spent our morning visiting the schools that I had called. Josh and I discussed what we had seen and the costs of the various schools and settled on one. It was meant to be, because they had one spot left and it was in the class and the time that I preferred. Unfortunately, after just getting back from vacation, we were a little strapped for cash, so I asked the director if they would split the enrollment fee into payments, which they gladly did. Tacey had a school! Yay!

So, Wednesday morning, I took Tacey school shopping, just as I had done with Taylor five days prior while we were on vacation. She picked out a couple of adorable long-sleeved dresses, one black with three different pink colored polka dots on a poodle skirt. So cute! And of course, she absolutely had to have a backpack, just like Brother, only Disney Princesses.

That afternoon, we ran around getting all the paperwork in order so that Tacey could start school the following day. Lo and behold, it worked.

Tacey's first day of preschool was Thursday, August 28, 2008! She opted to wear her "Shampoodle" dress that her brother picked out especially for her when I took him school shopping.


Then, Taylor insisted that we all take her to school, since we all took him to his first day. Daddy watched through the window to make sure she was okay after he, Taylor and I kissed her goodbye. I blinked back tears as I raced Taylor to school, 2 minutes late.


Now, what I am going to do with my kid-free time? On this glorious Thursday, I spent my time on the phone just catching up with my best friend in Michigan, after a quick stop at the grocery store, where I felt completely naked, like I was missing something. I guess that will happen after more than five and a half years of shopping with kids in tow.

Sidenote... How did Tacey's dress get the name "Shampoodle?" See the picture above? Notice the poodle on the front of her dress? Well, the kids have a Leapster game that they can earn jokes by completing the learning games. One of the jokes that they earned is, "What kind of dog likes to take a bath? A shampoodle." Ha, ha, ha. Thus, the dress with a poodle on the front, became a "Shampoodle dress!"