Fluids and Magic

Yesterday, I woke up at 5 to make the rigid 7:15 departure for Disneyland's California Adventure. 

   After I got myself and baby ready, I walked into the hall to the unmistakable smell of vomit.  I thought: My sister's morning sickness?  No, she makes it to the bathroom and I never smell it.  Beer pong aftermath?  No, the players seemed sober as we went to bed last night.  Vague memories of hearing my husband gag in the night came to mind, but he didn't drink, so I'm sure if he had gotten sick, he would have made it to the bathroom.  A quick glance in the bedroom confirmed it.  And then I smelled it again, and I knew.  A glance into the boys room and there it was, my 6 year old sleeping in it - it was everywhere on and around his side of the guest bed...ugh, fluids.  Shawn, while campaigning for husband of the year, did the intensive clean up while I marched my children to the shower determined to make our 7:15 departure time - 14 people with 2 cars, so we just keep chugging along despite the many who have fallen to this little virus that is going around. Anyways, I think we were out by 7:20 and off to Disney!

First timer.

Disney norms allow girls to wear dress ups all day.

Danielle is also a fist timer.

 For those of you who haven't experienced a Disney theme park, Shawn was one of those until yesterday, they are indeed MAGIC.  I am a Disney girl myself, but I think that my bias only slightly tints this.  Let me break it down for you:

1.  They let you bring in food/drinks.  Blessing when you're not in the market to buy the fantastic turkey legs and other delights every time you get hungry.

2.  Fast Pass.  They don't make you wait in a line for 2 hours unless you choose to.  You can get a Fast Pass and come back after a few smaller rides and it moves you to the front at your arrival time.  There are, of course, limits, but we easily used 4 passes per person yesterday and it maximizes your experience.

3.  Disney is all about customer service.  And from what I understand from those that have done the internship there, they treat the employees well also.  So kindness and courtesy are just leaking from their "have a magical day."

4.  They don't cut corners or miss a moment to make you smile.  Shawn, in particular, was wowed.  When you enter the town replicated like Radiator Springs from the Cars movie, you will feel like you are there in every way.  And, for those of you who have seen the movie, as a tribute to attention to detail, the little yellow blinking traffic light is slower on every third blink.  Shawn noticed this and was a bit impressed.  When you wait in lines like Monster's Inc, you watch funny commercials for stinky deodorant and when you wait in line for Toy Story Mania, you watch life size Mr. Potato head sing and dance.  

Dom loved the parade

5.  Their parades, spontaneous street dance parties, shows, restaurant meals, and character meet and greets are just oozing with humor, creativity, and show true intuition into what people and kids enjoy.  Shawn said to me, after the mid-day parade, "Wow, they really want you to have a great day here."  And they do.  I cannot recommend Disney parks enough, if you can find a way to afford them.  

Okay, so I sat out the first ride with Wilson while the others went on a Mater ride.  I took advantage of the lull to nurse.  Wilson took advantage of the lull to poop out his first outfit.  Fluids.  I changed him on the pad right there on the ground.  In the bathroom?  No.

I just wanted to wear my Monster's Inc onesie.

meeting Lightning

After some rides, we ended up on Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  I love these little hokey kid rides.  For reasons unknown to me, I teared up here and again during the Disney Junior show which my boys loved.  I cannot tell you why.  Hormones, tired, overwhelmed with gratitude - all of the above - fluids.

The rest of the day was a whirl of rides and tagging in and out of sitting with baby and sleepers and too shorties.  Highlights include riding the roller coaster with a short wait with Shawn and only Shawn.  And it was a smooth, fun ride.  Magic.  A girl's lunch at the princess restaurant to celebrate Coletti's 3rd birthday - magic.  

Happy Birthday to a lucky and sweet Coletti.

The Cars ride was the BEST.  You hop in the car and go through Radiator Springs, meeting characters, tractor tipping and then racing away from Frank, and then the quaint little music from Lightnings cruise with Sally plays as you glide out into the mountain.  Then you go under a pass and the majestic music plays as you see the waterfall and bridge.  I was taken.  Magic.  And fluids.  (Blame the hormones.)  The ride ends with a fast race through the canyon.  So much fun.  

Now it wasn't a perfect day.  There was some over-tired Dominic drama and typical Dominic naughtiness which meant I had to pull him out of a few lines to miss the ride for a time-out, and another clothes change after Wilson spit up fluids.  Dominic was 1/4 inch too short to ride the amazing Cars ride - I was devastated, he was fine.

Most of the party decided to ride this seemingly benign looking Ferris Wheel which was for about 8 of the 10 riders a 15 minute fear inducing dangler.

Dominic laughed wildly because he loved every minute of it, while I begged to switch sides securely between my mom and dad and my nervous brother, Fred, would not allow it. 

We ended the day after a show with 5 sleeping kids as we left the park, smiling.  MAGIC.

We are blessed.  Or spoiled.

Picturesque Chaos

This day was really nice.  San Diego is like storybook beautiful.  The family spent a day there doing what we do best:  talking and eating.  And seeing the gorgeous sights.

How do I get the she-shells out?

Whoa!  Waves!

Fred loves it when I make him pose for pictures.  

Seals on a rock.

The one coming out of the water is cute.

Seal puns ensued for some time after this.

pensive baby

why mother, why?

This family photo was brought to you by: room for improvement.

Gus and his girlfriend Danielle. 

Gretchen, Mike, the girls

Solomon is so happy when he's eating.

First bite of anything - avocado.

artsy square in Balboa Park 

 We definitely engaged in a 20 minute family debate on how these pieces of playground equipment work.  It followed with almost all of us trying them out to make our point.  And, it was an Oxler debate, so no one was wrong because we all were right.

We also got dessert at a fabulous restaurant.  I sat out dinner at the Italian place in the car with Wilson and Solomon.  Sol was just wired and I was just done.  1 hour in the car beats on hour of trying to keep a tired Sol socially enjoyable and from giggling and arm flapping himself into a knot.

Sunday Best

Grace is doing a Sunday Best link up and I love love LOVE to dress up myself and the kids, especially for Mass.

However, we went to Mass last night, because we are in Orange County at the most beautiful vacation house I've ever seen compliments of my awesome dad.  There are 14 of us total, my parents, 4 kids, + 2 spouses + 1 girlfriend +5 visible grandkids and one hiding out inside my sister.  So my dad is both generous and crazy.

generous and awesome Dad with Dom.

My mom snapped a photo of us on the flight.  So enjoy until Shawn sees it.

Wilson made a friend

pool, hot tub, wading pool, fountain, slide - love

selfie on the veranda at nap time?  sure.

Walk in the neighborhood in our vacation best.  Gordmon's maxi, Walmart sandals and $5 shades.  Swimsuit under because . . . 

Shawn and the kids.

Mass grades:
Solomon- a C which is a deviation from the typical A
Dominic:  F (3 million times worse of an F than usual)
Wilson: A+  (teacher's pet)

I blame pre-vacation excitement - excuses, excuses. . .

Well this nurse/post is over, time to hit the patio party!

I'm new to this. . . be forgiving

So the ever classy and hilarious Grace is hosting a link-up.  I will admit, I didn't really 'get' how to do this, so forgive me for not giving her a shout-out sooner.  I will likely NOT bring any followers to her blog, but I read after a google search (yes, I had to do that) that it is courteous to link it to your blog.  My favorite is her conversations with Julia - that girl cracks me up, like her mom, and her dad.  (I went to grade school and high school with Simon.)

So forgive me.

Here, let me put a picture of my son to detract from my novice.

If he is ugly, I won't know for a while. . . I look at him too much right now.  Like Troll dolls - sometimes ugly catches on and you think it's cute.

I made...

a hibiscus out of fondant!  (For my aunt's surprise luau cake)

Keep on scrolling, these are the failures.

tried to shape.  nope.

also nope.

Do you like to stop in the middle to entertain me?  nope.

Built inside the shot glass. . .finally!

Dom made and flew this duple plane while I worked.  It's safe to say Dom is doing this 9/10 times, actually.
Insert motor sounds.

promised pepper prints

Just one second after this photo was taken, Dominic proclaimed, "I'm done!"  Then stood up and did an almost humorous slip and slide and fall into the acrylic(because I'm crazy) paint.  I successfully rescued the clothes in the washer.  (Dom also survived.)

The definition of PATHETIC
One hour after my last post - after I composed the last sentence of it - I strolled on over to pick up Sol at 3:30.  I was actually going to get there at 3:25.  Patting my overachieving back, I got to my sister's to drop off her girls and found out it was over at 3:00 and they were trying to reach me.  So, I don't get an A . . . despite my generous-to-self grading.


 Dom composed and sang a lovely little shower song the other day:

I'm really nakey, 

a nakey, nakey bottom.

I'm really stanky,

a stanky, stanky bottom!

I'm not usually a fan of the bottom and naked talk, but since it was topical, accurate, and catchy, I'll allow it.  And sing it next time it fits, probably.