holiday season than spend it with family? As part of what may very well become an annual tradition, we played, ate, rode and shopped Disneyland to our hearts content. Not unusual for us you say? No, but this time we had the pleasure of having Granny and Grandpa along for all the fun! We spent a terrific weekend at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, had some really great meals (WHICH required utensils) enjoyed a rare, empty park and even made a new acquaintance - artist, Jim Shore.
We checked into the hotel the night before Granny and Grandpa's arrival and got settled in. We made ourselves at home, especially grateful to have a place to dump the unbelievable selection of jackets, sweaters and kid apparatus, and explored the Christmas grandeur of the hotel lobby. Santa, Christmas carolers, Santa and storytellers helped create the early holiday atmosphere in the craftsman inspired hotel. The girls especially liked rocking in the chairs placed cozily in front of the fireplace in the 
Great Hall while listening to the piano being played.
The next morning, with all the preliminaries out of the way, we enjoyed a room service breakfast and managed to buy the last child sized poncho from the gift shop before heading out into a RAIN-Y park. Hallie chose to spend her birthday gifts from Uncle John and Grandpa Jim on a Minnie umbrella and wallet and she even had enough for a new jacket! We dodged the drops and made it onto quite a few rides before heading back to the hotel to dry out, drink some hot chocolate and nap. Unfortunately, the picture of the 'drowned rat 
family on vacation', taken by a cast member, was too blurry to salvage, but let's put it this way; the rain was so heavy, that we couldn't have been seen even without the blur. Still...WAY FUN!! Once rested and dry (and of course, snacked) we awaited the arrival of Granny and Grandpa. We had actually done it right this time and had called days ahead to make our dinner reservations so they literally took up their bags and came back down to wait for our name to be called at the Storyteller's Cafe. They have a great buffet which is particularly helpful since Anna wants a little bit of everything. So, she and Mom shared while Hallie ordered her favorite - the make your own pizza. The server brings her a Mickey shaped tray with dough, sauce, cheese and pepperoni and she gets to design her own pizza and dictate the amount of toppings. Then it is whisked away to the pizza oven to bake and comes out perfect every time. We had such a nice relaxing meal which we attempted to walk off afterwards by checking out the shops of Downtown Disney. Bedtime came soon - all the more important since we had early entry into the park the next day.
Our day together began with a few rides, Grandpa's favorite theme park breakfast (churros) and a short wait to buy our sculptures and have them signed by Mr. Shore. After a brief visit and bag check, we were off to enjoy more of the park. 
The girls were thrilled to have somebody other than Mom and Dad join them at one of their favorite places. It was pretty hard not to think we have the most adorable kids on the planet when Hallie carefully explained the rides to Granny and Grandpa - including those that were too scary - and, to hear Anna scream out 'Mickey', 'Minnie', 'Doofy' (which, though mispronounced, is equally apropos). Yup, we've done our job greasing the corporate machine by being sure our children recognize Mickey heads somewhere just after MaMa and Dada.
and wanted to revisit them several times. That combined with the umpteenth trip to see It's a Small World Holiday was about all we needed. We made a few more stops (including a visit with Santa) before taking a break. How were we ever able to go from morning to midnight? At least once each trip we lament the fact that we used to open and close the park and have energy to wonder what we were going to do afterwards. We're not sure whether it's the ever increasing crowds, our advancing age, being parents or any number of unknown factors that dictate the need for us to call it a day earlier and earlier. Or... we're almost 40. Enough said. Maybe the trade off is that we are now able to handle the expense of a hotel to allow for (the girls') naps. Again well rested, we returned to the park for dinner and more rides, opting to leave before the madness that is the fireworks show. It was a tricky departure as the annual Candlelight Processional was letting out at the same time but we survived. As you can imagine, crying baby aside, we slept pretty well that night.
So, upon turning five, Hallie was able to tuck a few more milestones in her bag. She started kindergarten, learned how to snap her fingers, has chewed gum and is now tall enough to ride pretty much everything at an amusement park. The most significant for her at this point was evidenced by the number of people she told. After her last check up, her yellow card was full. She will happily tell anyone who asks, that all the spaces are full and she doesn't have to get any more shots. She also had her first kid birthday party. Still seeking a career in science, Hallie chose to have a Mad Science party. Then, she reasoned, her friends could see how "science could be smart and cool for all the children"
She was excited to invite her old preschool buds to the party as well as a few of her new kindergarten friends. Thanks to the generosity of our good friends, we were able to accommodate the mob 
that is our family + friends at a lovely home (with a yard to rival any park) and had a lovely afternoon. The kids got to play on the equipment, swing, bounce on the trampoline, hula hoop and draw on a gigantic roll of paper. The group was loaded up with pizza and salad and got ready to experiment. When the science
lady arrived, parents and kids alike gathered on the lawn for some slimy, bubbly, oozy fun. To top it all off, after a grand finale dry ice extravaganza, the kids got to make their own slime to take home! 
tongues and sugary rush it produces. For a child, it brings the focus of attention back to her and symbolizes hope in the form of a wish, and pride in the achievement of reaching the next age. For the parent it symbolizes the forward march of time and the hope for an even brighter future, and pride in the accomplishments of one so small who has learned and become so much in such a short time.
She is truly someone of whom we can be proud. She is loving and sensitive and is the most unselfish child. She didn't even think about her presents until one of her friends asked her when she would open them. Of course she didn't turn them away - she's not selfish but knows a chance for some new fun when she sees it. She thanked everyone and made sure they all had their favors when they left. She even offered for a classmate to take one home to his brother! MMMMMM. Our sweet girl.
asked for all the trappings. She told us she wished for a good party and a special birthday. She also thanked us, on her own, for making her the best birthday party ever and for being the best Mom and Dad and Sister she's ever had. Yea 5 !!!
At what point in our lives do we stop hearing that phrase? It always seemed that we were never old enough - well, to do the things we wanted, anyway. Somehow we were old enough for a lot of other things we never asked about. Why is that? Once we are old enough to reason, our lives are sprinkled with "You're old enough to_______________ (know better, do your own..., clean the...., etc) When we are finally able to actually reach out and grasp one of the elusive privileges it is met with no less enthusiasm than we would express on Christmas morning. Those events stand out in our minds as milestones - these rites of passage - a first sleep over, a treacherous journey to an off-limits location, or perilous first bike ride. They are the very essence of what it is to be an American child.
Is it an inherently hopeful nature that humans possess or, is it simply the notion that the grass will always be greener? Teenagers see life beginning when, at 16, they can drive a car or at 18, can do whatever they want. (This obviously does not apply to those in this household who have passed teen age as neither drove at 16 and both wanted to be 18 so they could vote) After that, 21 and 25 afford a few more legal privileges and the continued perception that getting older is a good thing. (It should be noted here that we ALWAYS think getting older is a good thing - consider the alternative) Then somehow the ages turn into road markers by which we measure our accomplishments or lack thereof. 30 ahead - life in place. 40 - the beginning of the end, 50 - the new 30. Hopefully we do not all view those markers as being on a downhill slope.
this point, have been events celebrated primarily by the grown-ups. For all of us, milestones are developmental (physical or emotional) but for young children, they are rarely a personal or private experience. The physical changes are shared with, at the very least, the pediatrician and, depending on the discretion of family and friends, can become news to 10s of people. Those milestones have been granted no remembrance and have no ownership for the child. They must be for the benefit of the parents, giving them something to which they may cling while weeping over the next milestone crossed by their ever growing offspring.
Ah, but once age 3 or 4 comes around the seeking of elusive treasure begins. What evolves into a milestone to be reached is often a result of a mechanism for parents to bide their time. The desires expressed when asking "Mommy can I" and "Daddy can we" can be kept at bay by the response of "When you're older", "See, the sign says you have to be x years old","Maybe when you're five you can try it". Of course, you know what comes next. Eventually you have to make good because as many times as they can't remember to bring home a jacket or stop waking you up to ask if they can be awake, they always remember the date and time that you agreed they could have 'x' and try 'y' AND know when that assigned day has come. It's as though an internal alarm clock has rung to let them know "Today is the day Mommy said you could chew gum" or "Now Daddy will take me to...." How do they KNOW???
OK, not 12, but enough. Halloween is no longer a single day event for us around here. Since Hallie was a year old, we have had at least two days of goody bags, candy and costumes. To accommodate the M/W/F and T/TH preschoolers, the Children's Center has two parties and costume parades so no one misses out. True, Hallie barely remembers last year (Mom and Dad are glad it's blogged) and she only had one day thanks to an ear infection and we were only sleeping at 4 hour clips this time last year. Still, it's sweet to look back at her pictures and video as we embark upon Anna's journey into the world of preschool - complete with two days of Halloween.
By sheer coincidence, we avoided a third day of Halloween as our Mickey's Halloween Treat tickets were for the same night as the school Family Fun Night. I think we were all OK with that - especially Dad since dressing up is not his thing. Imagine!
Since Hallie was taking flight as Peter Pan this Hallows Eve', she decided Anna should match her when they went to the Halloween Treat. She allowed Anna to wear her Tinker Bell costume for the night. Basically it gave a new meaning to 'being an accessory'. The girls did look very cute and drew quite a few looks. They had more fun with the fact that they had a Grandma AND a Grandpa to entertain. Mom and Dad were fine taking a back seat to The Grands as they were led around by the pair from Never Land until those little feet just wouldn't work anymore - Grands or kids - you be the judge.
We went again to the 'Trunk-or-Treat event at church which, as each year rolls around, is getting larger and better attended. We look forward to next year when Anna can actually have some candy, and most likely will be able to eat things that have ever possibly been in contact with a nut. She had a bag full of pretzels and goldfish crackers like nobody's business. She managed to make off with a few m&ms and we 'took care of' the rest for her. Between the two event and costume parade at school, she did quite well for herself. She was the hit of the preschool in her peacock costume and really seemed to enjoy herself. The best part about this costume was that we knew she would wear the head. Neither of us can recall knowing a baby that actually enjoys wearing hats but now, we know one for sure. Anna LOVES to put on hats (and please don't start sending them to us because if you read back to the posting in January '07, you'll recall that we have hats and more hats). She often comes out of her bedroom with Hallie's hats, tilted ever so slightly, on her head - and not for a laugh! So the peacock head... no problem. It went one and stayed on until it was time to unzip her and put her to bed.
