Happy Family

With a beautiful weekend (80's in February - gotta love California winters!) what else could we do but go to the park for a picnic? Daddy spent the morning hours out taking photographs and when he was done, he came and picked us up for simply the best family outing we've had. Because of Anna's age, holidays and weather, we've done little out all together but family gatherings and doctor appts. and errands. So, loaded down with sandwiches from Subway (which Hallie loves!) and blankets and toys, we headed for Hallie's favorite park in Sierra Madre - the 'Shady Park'.

With Anna able to sit up on her own-6 months old that day, thank you very much-we all could really participate and enjoy the park and the company. We ate and played and laughed at Anna rolling around and playing with some of her favorite toys, trying to catch our faces and hair in her hands and the occasional tipping over; Anna, not us. Hallie, as always, was great with Anna and was SO excited to have Anna out with her. After lunch, big sister went off to play with Dad while Mom and Anna stayed behind to enjoy the fun of grass between their fingers and toes, sticks, leaves, small bugs and the occasional dog walking his human. We had good luck with the timing of our visit because we arrived as a party was being cleaning up and could actually hear the wind and the birds and Hallie's laughter echoing over to us on the breeze. After an hour or so we noticed it was looking like nap time (sadly, not for us) and that another party was coming to set up so we put shoes back on and packed up. We had been in the shade so we were quite surprised to see the temperature gauge in the car showing 95 degrees! It cooled down a few once we were on the way and the yawning (mostly from us) spanned the 7 or so minute drive home. It sure is easier to get naps in when you've run/rolled the kids around at the park!

We ended the great day by celebrating Uncle Chad's birthday with steak dinners, salad and cheesbread at Northwoods and great dessert made by Auntie Ann. This is definitely what we signed up for!

Just think of a wonderful thought.....

When Peter Pan is asked how he flies, he has to stop and think. He realizes that "you think of a wonderful thought". The chorus of voices then sings to us that to "think of the happiest things" is the "same as having wings". That's how you fly. Musically they remind us that "when there's a smile in your heart, there's no better time to start". Our hearts are smiling with love for our girls and we find that our hearts fly a lot in this little family. Never Land has nothing we don't have - it's all right here.
(Guest columnist Anna)
A wonderful thought? Hmmmmmm. How about a nice day with Mommy or Daddy? That's my wonderful thought. On Saturday I spent a fun day at home with Daddy all to myself. I held my own bottles to drink and ate turkey, pears and sweet potatoes along with my cereal. We played and sang songs and practiced crawling. Daddy knows I like to try walking with his help, too. I napped a little but was having too much fun to do it for long. We giggled and talked and I played peek-a-boo. In case you don't remember how to play, I'll tell you. I hear "Where's Anna?" and I pull the blanket or cloth up to my forehead and then pull it down - so fast. Then I just smile and wait for Daddy to say "Peek-a-boo!" We sent pictures to Mommy and Hallie on Mommy's phone and they sent them back so we could share our fun days. Daddy and I got to hear all about the fun they were having too!

Mommy took Hallie to Hollywood to see Peter Pan at the refurbished El Capitan Theatre. They had reserved seats which meant no waiting in line and, popcorn and a drink for each of them. When they got there, Hallie showed her ticket to the usher and she and Mommy were led by flashlight to their seats in the front row! No big people to block Hallie's view - how lucky! Before the show they got to listen to the world champion organist play on the grand, gilt theatre house organ. When the performance was done, the organ and the organist were lowered right into the stage! What a surprise they had when the lights went down! At the sound of some tinkling bells, they saw a green light flickering around the theatre and when it landed, the stage lit up to show a castle with Tinker Bell herself flying and showering pixie dust and sparkles of magic. At the end of her flight, they were showered with pixie dust (and they quickly tried to cover their popcorn). Then the curtains went up and the magic began. they were riveted throughout and laughed and cheered with the rest of the families there to enjoy a classic. They applauded when the movie was over and had big smiles on their faces as they retraced their steps up the aisle.

But, the fun wasn't over yet...it was time for lunch.Right next door is theDisney Studio Store and Soda Fountain. At counters, tables or window, you can enjoy old fashioned Sundaes and, get this, Phosphates! Sandwiches, salads and chili bowls round out the food choices served there. Soon Hallie and Mommy were seated at the counter and checking out the menu. After coloring, and enjoying a Chicken Caesar Salad (Mom) and a Mickey shaped grilled cheese and fruit (Hallie), they enjoyed a Lost Boys Sundae complete with cannon balls, pixie dust and a gummy crocodile. They watched it being made and had so much fun diving into the whipped cream for scoops of chocolate chip ice cream and hot fudge, hoping for a (malted milk) cannon ball. There was even time for a game of hide and seek between Hallie and the soda jerk. He had fun making her squeal and giggle as he popped up and disappeared in various spots around the soda machines. She didn't mind being called Tinker Bell by the employees either.

And, the story would not be complete without mentioning the trip back to the parking structure at Hollywood and Highland As the girls were eating their sundae, sheriff deputies appeared and the street was blocked off to accommodate a protest march down Hollywood Blvd. Chanting people with banners and American flags were briefly filling the street to respond to someone demonstrating at the end of the block. It had cleared by the time Mommy and Hallie left the lunch counter (much to Mommy's relief) and they headed out to cross the boulevard. In true Hollywood Blvd. fashion, there was more to see. They passed a man being handcuffed as a man-headed Chewbacca gave his story to someone writing on a notepad. Mommy was distracted by a rainbow-wigged clown making balloon animals and when they made it across the street, she looked away from the clown to nearly bump noses with Sleeping Beauty! The third in the trio of, need I say, "oddballs" was an extremely gluttonous Elvis in jumpsuit posing with tourists. Mom was very sad that they were not close enough to each other for her to be able to get a picture postcard shot of the real Hollywood. They finally made it safely out of the depths of the parking structure and while waiting for the light to change, had a final glimpse of the greatness that is L.A. On the corner was, johnny-come-lately to the party, Spider-man. He clearly was waiting for his buddies to cross the street because, waiting for the same light, were Superman and Gene Simmons (complete with make-up and guitar) Ahhhhhhh, Hooray for Hollywood! What do you suppose their wonderful thoughts are?



What are your wonderful thoughts?

They're amazing - just ask us!

You can also ask any grandparent or aunt and they'll tell you tales of the wondrous and amazing things our girls are doing. We show them off occasionally and do make them perform (BAD parents!) but try to keep ourselves in check. We always say, one minute you think you've got a genius and the next they eat a bug. Well, we think these two are pretty great but, we're supposed to, right? You be the judge. For example, did you know.....

....Hallie can ride a two-wheeler? She also can read some signs around town, knows which direction we need to turn to get certain places and asks where we're going based on the landmarks she sees. She can print her name as well as her sisters' and mom's and dad's. She learned how to cut her pancakes herself and learned what 'bite-sized' means. She prefers pink but includes blue as a favorite in deference to us. She speaks very plainly and is quite polite and articulate. She loves school and seems to be coping well with the sudden loss of her teacher. Most recently, she learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (though she doesn't always get the order right) and pre-sold 16 boxes of See's for her fundraiser. That's 384 candy bars, folks. See us if you need chocolate. We recently went on an ABC photo safari around town and found about half of the alphabet in our local landmarks. After about half an hour of popping in and out of the car, she repeatedly reminded me that 'D' was for Denny's. She still LOVES, I cannot emphasize enough, L-O-V-E-S her sister and marches right past me to get to her when she gets home from school. She is sweet, encouraging, gentle and concerned and calls her 'sweetie pie'. She still reminds me every day of what my duties are to be in her absence. What would we do without her?

Did you also know.....
....Anna looks for her toes when they're inside her jammies? Or, that she doesn't sleep through the night because she has incredible thoughts of genius that require her to dictate them to us in the middle of the night? She can sit up for several minutes and takes it in stride when she tips. She just rolls over and looks like she intended to do it all along. She eats cereal and veggies and is about to partake in the joys of liquefied fruit. She somehow manages to roll herself around the room and gravitates toward the VHS and DVD boxes. One minute, she is in sight, and the next..she has rolled where we can't see her. She likes to reach for and grab toys and books and really seems to enjoy being read to.
It's amazing how long she will remain attentive when a story is being read. Sometimes Hallie invites her to hear her bedtime story and she can listen for at least half of most books. She will go down awake for a nap in her crib - as long as Hallie isn't home and will patiently wait in her bassinet while mom gets a shower - she has not cried once. She laughs hysterically at anything Hallie does, and by that I mean SHRIEKS and laughs until she cries. Well, in all fairness, Hallie IS pretty funny. She likes to see herself in the mirror and will take the little mirror off her baby gym, lie on her back and admire the face that looks back at her. Look out!

The next photo session is up and coming. These portraits are from November (3 month shots) so the truly amateur photos below show just how big they've grown.

It had to happen some time!

Why was this picture chosen? To match the look that is about to be on the reader's face, of course. That's right, folks, we've waited long enough! It was time for Anna's first trip to Disneyland. I mean come on, it's been almost five months! If not for the holiday decorations, we would have waited, but Hallie wanted us all to go see her favorite "It's a Small World" all decorated for Christmas. She should know - it's not a terrible idea. After all, she went at 4 1/2 months for the grand unveiling of the then new "Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" ride. Hallie thought that it was about time for the whole family to go anyway. She always misses the others who stayed home. So, being the savvy passholders who know better, we drove to Disneyland on one of the first days into the new year.

Now, with the addition of California Adventure and Downtown Disney, we have lost the best thing about the journey to Disneyland. For the most part we have stopped reminiscing about how we could just park (hoping for Alice or Bambi rather than Winnie the Pooh) and RUN! Up the main aisle, down the concourse, past the information booth and directly through the turnstiles. We like DCA and the Downtown Disney district so we slowly accepted the change and remember that Disneyland was always supposed to be changing. This tolerance does NOT apply during the weeks of winter break. Instead of casually approaching the front gate with the ticket booths coming closer and closer into view (and no, at this point, we would NOT have run) we drove up to the long lined entrance to the parking structure at 10:24am. We were willing to arrive with the crowds because who wants to get up to be there before 8am on a vacation day with a baby who doesn't yet sleep through the night? We knew there was a risk involved and we were willing to take it. So after parking - granted we were on a freshly opened level, so were near the escalator - and waiting for the tram, checking bags and waiting in the actual entrance line, we found ourselves inside the gate at 11:24. Yup, by the hands of the happy Mickey clock on the train station, we were shown that it took ONE HOUR (sorry, am I shouting?) from getting off the freeway to get into the park. We were only going to stay about two hours anyway! Now subtract the time to convince a four year old that a bathroom stop is going to occur regardless of her opinion and a diaper change and we should have just turned around and gone home.

Strangely, our mood was not turned and we pressed on. The goal... no, wait...first, we had to buy hats for the fiftieth time since we keep buying them to keep in the car and they somehow NEVER stay in the car. They should have punch cards for the number of hats you buy - then these might have been the free ones. Anyway, the goal - Small World, maybe eat and, go home. What do you suppose happened? Any of you familiar with Murphy's Law want to buzz in here? What? Too good to be true! It's a Small World appeared to have NO line! Knowing what the crowd should have looked like and knowing our luck as we do, our step slowed and the wheels began turning in anticipation of the decision whether to stay or call it a loss. The ride was flanked on all sides by pastel blue clad people, in boater's hats, letting us know that the ride was down and crews were working on it. They estimated that it would be up again by about 1:30. SIGH. Still, we did not get grumpy - good for us! It was now about noon and we thought we'd try to get some lunch - just to give them a chance to get back in our good graces, you understand. Ever tried to find a table at an amusement park at noon? Usually, we eat at 11 when the restaurants start serving to ensure fewer crowds and a table of our choosing. We really needed to kill time in hopes of getting Anna on that ride. For whatever reason, no one (relative term) was eating so we grabbed a table and let the dad go off in search of food. Hallie and Anna and I enjoyed people watching and the girls were very patient. We had a leisurely lunch surrounded by, for the most part (another blog another day), polite, mindful families having fun. Even with a kids meal and a bottle (Anna's, not ours) to finish, we couldn't stretch it out until 1:30. So with a gulp and a prayer to Walt, we set out to meet the children of the world (for the millionth time) and pretend that the version of Jingle Bells played in the ride ACTUALLY masks the never leave your head theme song we hear the other 10 months of the year.

Well, the pixie dust was sprinkling on us for, as we neared the ride, we saw the line beginning to form and we jumped in. We waited for a short time, boarded our boat and were off. Now,I try hard to take non-flash pictures when I can so as not to spoil the ride for others (who are flashing away, in case you're interested) but it is IMpossible to digitally capture an infant who is seeing all those lights and hearing all those sounds for the first time. Well versed on infant photo etiquette, Hallie smiled patiently in my direction each time, as I snapped away in hopes of one shot that was not the pale, pinkish blur of a rubber necking baby. She seemed to like it all - she loves lights of any kind so we figured we were pretty safe with this one - and only fussed when we sailed past a speaker that blared the fanfare and refrain of the holiday soundtrack. We emerged once again into the bright winter sunlight, put the fiftieth hats on, and made for the Mickey cartoon theatre and the exit. Hallie didn't complain one bit, she was so proud to tell Anna what she could do soon and how they would ride together, which made for very proud parents! Anna just had that wonderful, blank look of a 4 month old the entire time, but she didn't cry - woo hoo! We'll be back before she can say M-I-C-K-E-Y.
PS They actually give you a free button at City Hall if it's your birthday, honeymoon or first visit (see Anna in above photo) but you have to know to ask.

December 21st-January 1st.......

........Otherwise known as The Big Blur
'Twas four days before Christmas when the marathon began, the coordination of visits to include all the clan. With a family so large all vying for time, would Christmas be hectic or nearly sublime? I don't think there's anyone who can't answer that, after 11 years of marriage, we almost have it down pat. It was busy that's true, but we got it together and as each year passes it seems to get better.

For us 'Christmas' dawned on December 23 with gifts from Granny and Grandpa under the tree. They brought them of course, and no thanks to I-15, just before dinner arrived at the scene. Candyland, a hot meal and then the unwrapping left us quite full and happy, all the while laughing. Clothes for the girls and some great DVDs-needless to say the family was pleased! The cookies came out - forget those new pounds, 'cause a good time was had with hugs all around. At the close of the night, the grandfolks went forth and left us to play as they continued up north.

December 24 brought brunch with Grampa Chuck. Yes, more food, fun and presents and imagine the luck! Under the tree was TMX Elmo-even when toy stores had no more to sell though. New baby toys and a turtle that shines stars - it's been blazing constellations every night so far. We giggled at Elmo and played with the toys and generally enjoyed all that great Christmas noise. After Grampa went home, we took a quick rest, then got ready for church - donned our Christmas best. The Christmas story was shared in scripture and song, and when it was over before too long, we went out to the courtyard for a special surprise. There were animals there to pet - just the kids' size! After seeing the cow, sheep, goats and hens and a dab of Purell for a post barnyard cleanse, we said good night to Grandma and went home to our beds, while the gameplan for the next day raced through our heads.

Christmas morning had arrived - we were halfway through, and it was baby's first Christmas. What would she do? She slept pretty well and gave us a break so we actually slept before Hallie was awake. She came in and told us - politely, I might add, that Santa had come-"Come on, Mom and Dad". She was excited to see the gifts under the tree and that Santa had enjoyed the milk and cookies. Santa brought the Dora house and doc kit that was hoped for, penguin bowling for Anna and quite a bit more. After opening the gifts, what seemed a hundred or so, we had to get ready again, it was time to go. Off to Auntie and Uncle's for Christmas brunch, and a few dozen more gifts, we had a hunch. The girls opened toys, books, DVDs and games, Hallie was quick to read the tags for the names. A nice time at brunch, then to Grandma's Hallie goes, a visit to Rose Hills then home to cook potatoes.
Grammie arrived around 2:30/3:00 and we daydreamed of dinner-it was prime rib, you see. Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mike hosted Christmas dinner this year. We enjoyed good company and feasted with cheer. Another round of gift giving came after we dined, a more loving family would be hard to find. Then we packed up the sweaters, gifts were in boxes or bagged, and we drove to see Christmas lights though little eyes sagged. We oohed and ahhed at the elaborate displays, then headed home - a pleasant end to our Christmas days. What we could manage, girls and gifts came inside, no trick to guess which fell asleep on the ride. As the night wound down and we tucked them in tight, we cherished the memories as we kissed them goodnight. Our Christmas was magical, as Christmas should be, and we look forward to the many more we shall see.
The holidays were delightful with family so near, we wish everyone great joy in the coming new year.