Annual Disney Vacation

We had another great time this year at Disneyland. It was much easier with the kids being older. There are days when I wish we had another baby (which is NOT happening) until I see all the mommies at Disneyland and all that they have to pack and take with them. Diapers, baby food, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, snacks, pack and play, sling and the list is exhausting. I also saw many mommies and daddies with toddler in hand and a baby strapped to them in the squelching 90 degree weather we had the first day. That is when I am glad the kids are older. Don't get me wrong, I loved when the kids were younger, but it's moments like these that I don't miss the "baby" stage. We didn't have to go back to the hotel for nap time because someone was cranky. We walked in with nothing but a backpack to hold my wallet, camera etc. And we stayed out till midnight without any unhappy kids. It was great!

It was also great because the kids remembered it from the time before and could tell us what they wanted to go ride or see. And as always the kids LOVE to have their picture taken with any character they see.

This year we had breakfast with Minnie and friends at the Plaza Inn. Yummy!!!! Sometimes when you have meals with characters the food is not that great. Breakfast was delicious!!!

Here are some of the kids favorites:
Aladdin show
Bugs Life show
Soaring Over California
Toon Town
Face painting
Disneyland Hotel pool

As usual I took way too many pictures! I will only post some to spare you!

Boats

The O'Bryan's took us on their boat at El Cap. Dylan had the best time and is such a dare devil. Mackenzie is much like me and a little reserved!

Dylan would now like daddy to buy him his own boat! Of course daddy is VERY excited and thinks it's a GREAT idea. (Will has been trying to talk me into getting a boat since we first got married 9 years ago!)

Barbies

When I was little I loved my Barbies (Japanese version of course!). Every week I saved my allowance and my mom would take me to Seiyu and I would see which piece of furniture I could afford to buy. I remember standing in the Barbie aisle looking at all that they had to offer and carefully choosing the piece of furniture that I could afford and wanted most.

Looking back now, my mom taught me such valuab le skills of money management. I am sure it would have been easier for her if she would have just bought the pieces for me - after all each piece was only $5 to $10 but I distinctly remember having to save money for a couple of weeks to buy what I wanted. I am so grateful for what she taught me about money management at such a young age. Thanks mom!

To this day I still have those same Barbies and all the furniture in their original boxes. I saved them (not sure why - maybe because I had to work so hard to buy it all?) They are stored safely in a toy box that my grandpa made me when I was born (wow - that toy box is 38 years old!!!)

This past weekend, I opened up the toy box and let Mackenzie play with my treasures! She was delighted and mesmerized by all the things that I had. In fact Dylan was also interested and played along side her for a little while. (Don't tell his daddy!)

It was nostalgic for me to see all the pieces I had collected and to see the little blankets and pillows my mom had sewn for me for my Barbies. I also had little wooden dishes that my dad had brought back to me from his Philippines deployment in the Navy. It all brought back so many good memories I had from my childhood in Japan.

I loved sharing them with Mackenzie, and I loved that she seemed to treasure them too. In fact she told me that she hopes one day she can pass the stuff onto her children. Sometimes she seems so wise beyond her years .

Preschool

Well . . . it has happened. I now have two children who go to school. They are growing up so fast it just breaks my heart - but that's a whole other post!

Dylan started preschool at ABC Barn on August 4th. I sent him 3 days early so that he could get accustomed to the routine before I started work. He has the same teacher that Mackenzie had - which I am delighted about.

All along before school started, when anyone asked him about preschool - he let them know that he was not excited and was not looking forward to it. End of conversation.

In my gut, I knew he was going to cry when I dropped him off and I seriously dreaded the moment. I hoped for the best, but I knew what was coming. He is my shy mama's boy after all.

So the morning of, he hesitantly gets ready for school. He is a little curious, a little excited, and a lot scared! When I dropped him off, he clung to me and cried, "one more hug, one more kiss". Now as a Kindergarten teacher who deals with this every year I know that the best thing is to peel them off of you - hand them over to the teacher and walk away. They are resilient and stop crying shortly after the parents leave. In my head I know this. But when the shoe is on the other foot - it is heartbreaking and easier said than done. But, I did what I know is best and did not turn around. I left and then sat in my car and cried there! Poor baby. My heart was breaking for him because I knew he was nervous and scared and wanted me or sister to rescue him. He had never been anywhere without either one of us. As it turns out, he only cried for a little while and then he was fine.

Now he loves his school and teacher. The summer program ends this Friday and "real" school with academics begins on August 23rd. We'll see what he thinks of all of that. So far he has loved playing - let's see what he thinks about learning his ABC's?



Miss Cecilia and Dylan

Obsession

This post is for you Tiffy . . .

I have an obsession with hairbows. Isn't that the first step in addiction? You have to admit you have a problem? Ok Tiffers, cat's out of the bag. I said it. I LOVE hairbows! Tiff thinks I need counseling for my bow addiction.

Ever since Mackenzie got hair long enough to stick a bow in it, she has never left the house without a bow to match her outfit. I had the perfect bow to match every outfit in her closet. I had my favorite bow makers on Ebay bookmarked so that when she did get a new outfit and I did not have the coordinating bow - with one click the problem was solved. We often would get comments from people on how adorable the bows in her hair were. I was one proud mama!

Then it slowly happened. Mackenzie started to become particular about what was going in her hair, and how she was going to wear her hair. Oh no - it's another one of those growing pain moments. No - not for her - for me!

I LOVED those adorable bows. I think she looks so cute and well groomed might I add with a coordinating bow. Well, Mackenzie has been thinking otherwise. She is not into looking "cute". She would like to look "stylish". Stylish? At seven?

Well, there are some battles you don't pick, and this is one of them. I know she needs to develop her own style - and she isn't that cute little toddler that I can dress and accessorize as I please. At least she wanted to keep a few smaller bows for when she gets dressed up. So those of you who have little girls - have fun while they are little because one day all those cute bows are out the window!

Growing Pains

I don't even know where to begin. My heart is heavy and I am filled with so many emotions. What is giving me this feeling? My kids are growing up - way too fast!

Yesterday we went to Target and bought school supplies not only for Mackenzie, but Dylan too. He will start preschool in August and needed a lunch box and thermos. Of course he was so overjoyed and was beaming with pride as he looked at all the different lunch boxes to choose from. I on the other hand stood staring at all the lunch boxes wondering where had all the time gone? Is my baby really starting school already? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was toddling around the house in a diaper? Oh how my heart aches. I wish I could turn back time and keep them little just a little while longer. But instead I tried to share in his enthusiasm about the cool Iron Man lunch box and thermos he picked out when really I wanted to burst into tears and just hold him in my arms.

Then to make matters worse, when we get home Mackenzie decides that she no longer needs her play kitchen set and would like a desk instead! WHAT????? I love that kitchen set. Didn't I play with my kitchen set until I was like 10? I don't know who loves that kitchen set more. Me or her? I love all that play food, dishes, and pots and pans. We spent many days when she would cook for me and make all kinds of yummy concoctions. We use to have "picnics" in the living room. What happened? WAIT - I'm not ready for this! What is happening? I want to scream and burst into tears and convince her that she can't do that! She can't grow up - I'm not ready! But once again I suck it up and I calmly ask if she is sure - and she is- sigh. So we make the trip to the furniture store to purchase a desk. She is so excited and filled with excitement and glee. On the way home she thanks me for buying the desk and asks if I will help her organize her things. I agree with a very heavy heart. (She is so much like me - she is very into having things organized. Kind of scary!)

So - desk is all organized, lunch boxes have been purchased and I sit here with a heavy heart. I just don't want them to grow up! I know that as parents we are raising our children to grow up and be independent, responsible . . .blah. . .blah . . .blah. But, what about me? I now have a seven year old who can read, tie her shoes, swim, and do many other wonderful things on her own without the help of her mommy. And a four year old who is quickly following in sister's footsteps. I know I should be proud - which I am - but I want it to go by much more slowly. So, for those of you who have little babies - cherish every moment and take it all in. It goes by so much faster than you think.

Wow! Just noticed how much the two look alike when they were both 18months.

Bears

This was our first camping trip for all of us! We were very excited about our trip. We spent 4 nights in the beautiful mountains of the Sequoia National Forest. We saw a lot of wild life and many beautiful waterfalls and trees. We went on many hikes and had a great time. The children had so much fun and loved every minute! It was absolutely breathe taking. But I must say the highlight of our trip was being chased by a black bear! Here goes the tale . . .

We were told by the park rangers that there has been active bear activity by Crescent and Round Meadow if we were interested in seeing bears.Well, who isn't interested in seeing beautiful black bears in their natural environment? So we take a drive to this most gorgeous meadow. When we arrive there are a group of girls who are so excited to tell us that they just saw 11 bears! Of course we are all excited and giddy to see.

As we arrive we see mama bears with their babies and a park ranger standing guard. We stand behind the park ranger and admire the cute cub who is frolicking on the log, climbing a tree, and playing on the park bench. We stand and admire - oohh and ahhh - and then the park ranger tells us 5 more minutes. So after our 5 minutes you would think we would leave - well, we all get this brilliant idea to walk along the other side of the meadow where we see more people admiring bears!

As we walk along the trail we run into this nice lady who shows us all these wonderful pictures she has taken of the bears. She even lets us look at the bears through this wonderful telescopic lens she has. Once again we oohh and ahhh and what do we do? We continue onto the path getting closer to bears in the distance.

As we are walking I decide I do not want to get any closer and I get the kids and my hubby and we turn around and start walking AWAY from the bears. (Afterall there is a sign posted that states do not get too close to the bears!) They were getting a little too close for my comfort! We are strolling along when I hear one of our friends scream "RUN!!!!"! I do not run because we are told that it is the worst thing you could ever do until . . .I turn around and see this big black bear running in my direction. It was close enough for me to hear the sound of its claws hit the pavement - and then I began to panic! I yell at Will to scoop up Dylan and I grab Mackenzie and we RUN! I have NEVER ran so fast in my life!

Luckily the bear stopped chasing us for whatever reason. I have never been so scared in my entire life!!!! Once we were safe I ask what the heck happened? I guess as our family turned around and walked away there was a brown bear in the meadow who got up on its hind legs because a black bear was coming down the hill. I don't know if the 2 were planning on dueling it out, but that scared our friend because she was caught between them and she panicked and screamed and started running. Well, that set the black bear off! Instead of worrying about the brown bear, he saw her as prey!

We later learned that black bears are very docile and do not like the odors humans carry. We could even be holding food and it wouldnot attack us. However, the minute you run, there is something instinctual in them to chase after something that is running. So, if you ever run into a black bear - stop - stand your ground - and SLOWLY walk backwards. If it continues to come your way - look big and make loud noises - DO NOT RUN!!!!!

I must say since that first encounter with the bear I was very nervous about the rest of our hikes. I kept my eye out for anything that moved and NEVER ran! I must say it is much easier said than done to stay calm when a 250 pound bear is within 10 feet of you. When I saw a bear I stopped and did not forge on - I did not need to continue on the trail. I was ok with going back the way we came and not seeing the rest of the path. For me - the bears always had the right of way and I would gladly turn around and leave. One close encounter with a running bear was all I needed!