Tuesday, November 29, 2011

 Since we have no family around, and because our biggest Thanksgiving feaster is on a mission, we usually travel to California or Arizona. This year we decided to take a trip to Disneyland as I have never been there during Christmastime. IN addition, my dad, brother, sister-in-law and niece met us there (they live in CA) - Double treat!  My dad loves Disneyland just as much as me.

My brother, Anthony, kept referring to me as the "Target" woman. I guess there is this Black Friday commercial that comes on every year showing this mom prepping for the sales. She's on a treadmill and pumping weights to get conditioned to beat everybody. Well, I am a serious Disneyland fan. I choose my routes ahead of time knowing which ride we will ride in order and when to get fast passes for which. You have a two hour wait from your first pass before you can get the next. I had fun directing Matt and Anthony to different attractions to get those for us.  I mean, I am serious!! Waste no time - get it all in.

We thought we would take advantage of the short lines and no crowds - ha, ha, ha!  Not a chance. It was just a busy. When is it not?  Anyway, I thought I would simply post some photos for those of you who have never been during Christmas time - DO IT!  It is truly beautiful.  Disneyland, I must admit is one of my most favorite places. I feel like I could live there and enjoy the magic, escape the world and just be a kid again with my kids.

Here we are at Sleeping Beauty's castle. It is truly the most beautiful at Christmas time. At night during the Christmas fireworks show, it lights up with different colors synchonized with the music and fireworks. Breathtaking
It's a Small World is probably my favorite ride, I must admit. What can I say, I 'm just a big kid. During Christmas, they sing Jingle Bells and It's a Small World and every doll and country is decorated for the holidays - pretty amazing. 




The Princess Walk is always at least a 50 minute wait.  Matt didn't want to wait to save a spot for the parade and I was determined to be front row and center and at the beginning so I waited. It was great traveling with other adults also so that they could watch the kids that were to small to ride a ride or too scared.  :)


At 7:30 am I wasn't about to ride the tea cups but the kids were dying to and neither Matt nor I did. Can you tell who won?

I love this photo for some reason. 


And now, the Christmas Parade!  Yay!  It was so wonderful. It's obvious the people in it have to have a certain look to make Disney's cast. They are all so wholesome looking.  I love it.










This, of course, was the best. Aidan's jaw dropped and he said he hoped Santa knew he tried hard to be good this year. Ella is beginning to be more quiet about it. I'm so sad.


Yes, that's me with the big smile. I have to laugh at myself sometimes



My wonderful family. What a great Thanksgiving!
The next day, the type A in me got all the Christmas decorations up and made gingerbread cookies and candy cane cocoa. It's great to be home.


Sunday, November 6, 2011

I know, on with Thanksgiving but . . .

So, I'm a week late. Here are some photos of our Halloween festivities.
Mummy hot dogs. I love to make different "goulish" dinners during Halloween. We also did "tarantula" tacos where I made the olives look like spiders. Way cute! The kids loved eating these.
Graveyard pudding for dessert. Bwaahh, ha, ha, ha!
Just some good old fashion pumpin carvin'
Jack O'Lantern pizzas anyone?
Me and the kids get ready for some trick or treating! It's was kind of funny how many people liked my costume. It was just stuff I had except for the hat. I had a blast trick or treating except I could barely keep up with the kids in my high heel boots. Can I just say blisters?
Happy Halloweens-giving!
I'm a Esme! I found out through TwilightersAnonymous.com. Which Twilight Female Are You? Take the quiz and find out!
Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

Playing Opposites

I have been discussing opposites with the kids lately. Today (Oct. 1 ) we were doing an opposites puzzle and Aidan was doing amazingly well (turned 3, 3 months ago). There was a picture of fire with the word "hot." Here's the conversation: Me - What's the opposite of hot? Aidan - warm. Me - Well, not quite. Okay, fire is hot. What is ice? Aidan - slippery! LOL :)

Aidan - "See, I can do opposites with my toes!" ??