The Happiest Day!

Yesterday we went to the Happiest Place on Earth for my (early) birthday party! :-) My birthday is actually tomorrow (Friday) - but all the stars aligned and Wednesday was the best day to go. Paprika got out of school early, Mr. M was able to take off work, and the park was practically empty. We hit the sweet spot after Labor Day but before the weekend. Even the weather was perfect - cool and threatening rain - my favorite because it whispers: Crowds, Go Home! :-)

And indeed, we did have the whole park to ourselves. Originally, I was going to have Paprika skip school...but after the whole drama with her changing schools three days ago, I didn't think that would make a very good impression. As luck would have it, her school was released at 1:30 yesterday, so we had the whole rest of the day and into the evening at the Magic Kingdom. Yay!

Our first stop, of course, was at Vivian and Annemarie's brick. It's right by the entrance to Disneyland, so you can't miss it. Our girls' brick is right next to Devon's sons' brick and I almost texted Devon a picture of her brick (like I always do) but yesterday I didn't for some reason. Well, what do you know, but Devon texted me a little while later, and it turned out that SHE was at Disneyland for a work conference! So, we met up for a little bit. What a crazy co-inky-dink, right?!



I love having that little brick right outside of Disneyland - it's my little touchstone whenever we go, and always makes me feel centered when I am there. I remember the year after Vivian and Annemarie passed away, I took Paprika to Disneyland like 50 times (seriously, about once/week) - because I figured that even if I was feeling sad, there's no place that can cheer you up like Disneyland!

After saying hi to our brick, we went on the Carousel, or "the horsey ride" as it's often called around these parts. Paprika named her horse: Fluffy.



Before we left the house, Ginger did not want to put on clothes or shoes (it took her about three hours to get dressed that morning)- but once we got to the park, she was a doll. She had so much fun, I don't think it even occured to her to be anything but delightful! Haha!



Violet had the best time of all, I think! She is such a daredevil. The crazier the ride, the happier she is. She wanted to do it all and was so excited by everything she saw. She loves music, lights, and adventure. She rode all the rides with the big girls, even the Ladybug Teacups twice. And those things are fast!

She rode with Mr. M and Ginger on the Buzz Lightyear ride, and thought it was the best thing ever:



Since it was my birthday trip, I got to sneak away to ride two rides by myself! I rode Soaring Over California (at California Adventure) - because no one will ever go on it with me! I love that ride. We also got to check out the new Cars Land everyone has been raving about. No one in our family has seen the movie Cars (the girls have zero interest)- so I don't think we were as excited as everyone else about it. Haha.

We rode so many rides yesterday. The lines were negligible - most rides we just walked on. So, while everyone else rode Winnie The Pooh over and over, I slipped over to Splash Mountain! :-) I had never ridden it before and I had NO idea how wet I would get. I knew there would be a camera, and I admit, I planned on smiling pretty for it. Haha. Well, I can safely say that I was SHOCKED by the drop at the end of the ride. This is the picture that the ride camera took (I took a picture of their picture with my cellphone):



Gorgeous, right?! Yea, I got off that ride SOAKED. I almost drenched my cellphone but I had the forethought to stuff my phone down my pants halfway through the ride!

One of my favorite moments of the trip was right before the park closed. Paprika begged me to take her on Pirates of The Carribean one last time, so we skipped across the park holding hands to make it in time. She clutched my hand through the whole ride and at the end squeezed my hand and said, "You are the best mom ever!" Yea, that kind of sealed the deal for me...

I have been to Disneyland a lot of times since I moved to California...but yesterday was probably my favorite day of all. And that is saying something! :-)



The End.

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Labor Day Weekend!

We had a relaxing weekend. I needed it after last week. The combo of coming back from Indiana, getting Paprika ready for one school, switching her to a new school, and then starting at the new school...well, that was just about all I could handle for one week. ;-)

Sunday, Paprika had a little birthday party to attend. It was for her friend Marle, who she went to preschool with over a year ago. We haven't seen her in awhile, but the girls got along like they saw each other last week. It was so cute! It was a swim party, so you know Paprika was all over that!



This week is a kinda weird week for us. Mr. M ended working on Top Gear on Friday, then went right over to working for the new Ricki Lake show...he's working nights, which is great because we get our days together. Next week he starts back on Dancing With The Stars (back to working days), so by next week, everything will change again. Nothing is certain except change...at least in this house!

Paprika has this week off from swimming and piano lessons - so, we have lots of free time after school. Today after we all picked her up from school, we went over to the park. There is this adorable house right next to the park that I have wanted to rent forever and ever (okay, like for two years)...anyway, it is for rent! So we talked to the owner, and we might put in an application. It costs less to rent than the house we are currently in ($300/month less) - but it would involve moving, losing our security deposit here, hiring movers, and did I mention...it would involve moving with three small children??? Yea, no fun.



The plus side is that it is across the street from my favorite park ever, which would be pretty amazing. It's as cute as a dollhouse, and very well maintained. It's in the same school district, which is great. The downside is that it's a busier street and we'd be moving away from the neighbors here who we love so much (really). The landlord said he will never sell it (it's in a trust and he lives next door). He grew up in the house we'd be renting (as in, he came home from the hospital to that house) AND raised his three kids in the house. It is small but perfect in my eyes.

Mr. M says it's a step sideways, and that it's not worth it to move sideways...just up. So we probably won't do it, but it's fun to think about. Besides, the landlord said he got 15 great applications since he put it on the market this weekend...I guess a lot of people want to live in a cute little dollhouse. Not just me. Haha. :-)



Paprika seems to be loving her new school, by the way! She has a lot of girls in her class. There were 13 girls in her class on Friday, but today a new family came in and now there are 14 girls! That's a lot better than the 4 girls at her old school. I asked the new family where they lived and it turns out that they live literally around the corner from us! This is kind of crazy because this new elementary school isn't our home elementary - so they got transferred because our home elementary school is apparently full now. Wow.

The mom was talking about carpooling, and that kind of sounded good except she has two kids at the school and I don't have enough seats in my van for that. The little girl she is sending off to kindergarten is TINY (as in, I think she might still be 4 years old). She said she just made the birthday cut-off...so probably.

I am so glad that I had Paprika do Transitional Kindergarten last year. I know I was on the fence about that, but she is so confident and ready for Kindergarten now. Plus, it means that she'll be a little older (and hopefully wiser!) when she goes off to college.



Ginger has been enjoying her time being "big sis" while Paprika is at school. With just Ginger and Violet, I feel like the van is half-empty and I barely know what to do with myself while Paprika is at school. Ginger has been my little buddy and has been helping me with Violet. They play together, and Violet chases after Ginger. Violet has started coveting everything that Ginger has (toys, food, etc.) - so I know that Violet's baby days are numbered. Pretty soon she'll be running with the big kids. Blink!

Friday is my birthday. I am so excited! Mr. M is taking the night off work one day this week so we can all go to Disneyland! I'll be the Happiest Girl on Earth at the Happiest Place on Earth. I can't wait! :-)



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Happy Labor Day!

We got the holiday weekend off to a great start - I took the girls to the beach by myself. I think this past week was the first time I've taken all three by myself, and then I did it twice this past week. I am so proud. Little victories!



I had been waiting for the summer crowds to pass, and then all of a sudden, it felt do-able. I had Violet in the Ergo and one eye on Paprika and the other eye on Ginger. Paprika only wants to be in the water, and Ginger only wants to be in the sand. So, when they run off in opposite directions, I am in a pickle. But, I think that Ginger is starting to get to an age where she will listen and stay close...which makes things a little easier. Before, she would run a mile up the sand and it was so hard chasing her down. This time she stayed mostly near me and built sand castles.

I had Violet in the Ergo, but she started to get soooo fussy and mad after awhile. I realized that she wanted to be in the sand playing with Ginger. So, I let her down and she was so happy about that!



Ginger was pouring sand all over Violet's head, her arms, her legs...everywhere. And Violet was loving it!



So, now that I've mastered going to the beach with three kids, I think I can do it again (and again)! The girls had such a great time, and I did, too. I think the key is being organized...making sure we have quarters (for meters), a snack in the car, swimsuits in the car, towels, and then not sweating the AVALANCHE of sand that comes into the van.

Oh, and showers when we get home are a must. ;-)



Because when I look over and see something like this, it makes the trip soooo worth it:



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First Day of Kindergarten!

You know, I may have mentioned it...but Paprika started Kindergarten last week! ;-) She was soooo excited. Here she is on the very first day of school. She was up early and ready to go about three hours before school started.

Here's what we looked like at drop-off that first day! Everyone thinks I own a double baby carrier, but it's just two carriers - one on back, one on front. I thought I would be more emotional on the first day of school, but since Paprika did transitional kindergarten last year, I kinda felt like a seasoned pro.

Paprika was a little nervous. Excited, but nervous:



And then, of course, the next day we switched schools! I spent all summer (and the year before) preparing Paprika for Kindergarten at that other school, only to change on her at the last minute. Doh! But as I said, it really was for the best and she loves her new school. Here she is on the way to her new school: Kindergarten, Day 1 Take 2!



One awesome thing about her new school is that it is three blocks to the beach. So, every day (so far) afterschool, we've gone to the beach as a little reward for a day well done. Before you know it, I'll be sending her to school in her swimsuit. I could get used to this! ;-)



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To The Motherland!

Baby Violet's first trip on an airplane! She was excited! :-) I was white-knuckling it a little, but I figured that all I had to do was get through the next six hours and it would be over. We met some great people on the plane (I always do!)- and it was actually kinda fun...you know, in retrospect. ;-)




Violet was excited to see her Grandpa and Nana Nancy. She hadn't seen them in nine months, which was kind of a long time ago to her. Ha!



Me and my baby brother, Robbie. Except he isn't such a baby anymore. And he's a foot taller than me. How did that happen?! Violet pretty much only slept in the Ergo the whole trip. So, I basically carried her around all the time. Which might explain why I ate like a linebacker and still managed to lose weight. :-)



Uncle Robbie hard at work. His work looked so fun, I kinda wanted a job there:



Of course, I had to see Ann, my sister from another mister...and another mother. Details, details! ;-)



Here we are 18 years ago. I don't think we've changed a bit! Ha!



I was super excited Auntie Ann got to meet her newest neice. I think the feeling was mutual:



Uncle Robbie is driving now, and I got to meet his wheels! :-)



Grandpa holding his newest neice. She was smitten with her Grandpa:



And, of course, the big highlight of the trip was spending time with the Grand Matriarch of the family...my Grandma and Violet's Great Grandma (we call her Mimi)! I loved seeing these two together...my Grandma is soooo very special to me:



After too short a trip, it was time to say goodbye. Violet was all smiles (and wiggles) on the ride home. She didn't sleep a wink on the plane - of course. I ended up having an amazing conversation for six hours with a lady on the plane - so the ride went by lickety split...and then we were home!



And so, after not sleeping hardly a wink in Indiana, someone was ready to rest! :-)



The End.

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