California Adventure

Randy's parents are retiring to Washington this summer, and we wanted to make one more trip south before they move.  We chose to go on a weekend when the chances would be high that the weather would be crappy at home and beautiful in Riverside.  We predicted well.

Trey has flown a handful of times, always to see Grandma and Grandpa, and he usually does really well on the plane.  I think it's a combination of a short flight, an easy going kid, and a very prepared mother.  Have you seen these Melissa and Doug sticker sheets?  They're genius, and Trey loves them.

Even Randy had fun.

The sun was shining when we arrived, so we went straight to the backyard.  First order of business was to feed the fish, and then Trey and Grandpa had to pick some oranges.  I think Doug and Carmen are going to go into orange juice shock when they move to Washington because they are pretty used to delicious fresh squeezed juice straight from their trees.

We hit the park for some Clark family frisbee and to play in the sun.  Had to soak up as much vitamin D as possible!

One of Trey's favorite things to do when we visit is to help Doug make the juice.

But for some insane reason, he won't drink it.  Crazy kid.  

Sunday was our big Disneyland day.  Part of the reason to make one more trip to California was to take Trey to Disneyland at a time when he would enjoy it.  When we went in December 2011 with the whole Clark clan, he was just as enamored with the bolts on the gate at the duck pond as he was with the rides.  Right now he loves all things Mickey, Jake, Doc McStuffins, and Toy Story, so I knew he'd love it.

My top priority for our entire Disney day was to take Trey to California Adventure to see Disney Junior Live.  He loves this show and watches it on the iPad all of the time.  I got really lucky and was able to buy four park hopper passes from a woman in one of my Facebook mama groups for the price of just going to Disneyland.  The idea was that we would go to California Adventure in the morning, see the 10:30am show, and then go spend the rest of the day at Disneyland.  I should have known that when I said, "The only thing I care about is Disney Live," that I was totally jinxing myself.  

Waiting in line for the first Disney Live show...

After 30 minutes they told us it was cancelled. 

This picture should give you an idea of Trey's mood for the day. 

After the first show got cancelled, we went to meet Randy and his parents, who had separated from us to go on a ride, and went on the Mickey Mouse ferris wheel.  Trey really liked it and said later that it was his favorite part of the day.

After the ferris wheel, Trey and I raced back to Disney Live to get in line for the 11:30 show.  We waited for a while and then were told that there were sound problems and the show was likely to be cancelled again.  We soon found out that it wasn't going to happen.  I didn't really know what to do because Disney Live was the only reason we were at California Adventure, and it was the one thing Trey got really excited about when we told him we were going to Disneyland.  However, I didn't want to spend the whole day waiting in line just to find out it wasn't going to happen.  We decided to leave California Adventure and go to Disneyland.  I don't know if words can really express my disappointment.

What do you get your kid when you're not able to provide 

the one thing he (and you) was really excited about?  

A giant cookie, of course.   

Once we got to Disneyland, we went straight to Mickey's Toon Towns and got in line to go through Mickey's house and meet the mouse himself.  Trey liked the house but didn't seem too enthralled with the big guy...60 minutes later.

After looking around Toon Towns a little more, we headed over to the Peter Pan ride.  We got to see Peter Pan and Captain Hook which Trey wasn't overly excited by.

I think it's because he was about to do this.

Trey fell asleep while we were in line for the Peter Pan ride, and he continued to sleep for the next two hours...in my arms.  Randy and I got out of line and made our way to a restaurant to get lunch.  Two sandwiches and two sodas...$30.  Can we talk about what a racket Disney is?

Trey and I parked ourselves on a bench so he could continue to sleep and Randy and his parents could go on some more rides.  The Sound Spectacular parade was to start at 4pm, so Trey was going to be able to see it when he woke.  I made it a huge deal when he woke, had a big smile on my face the whole time (despite my cranky mood about the stupid Disney Live show), and basically tried to tell Trey that this parade was the best effing thing ever.

Trey was excited to see Mickey and his gang in costume. 

 Princess shot for Camille

Peter Pan, Smee, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell,
and their friends were also a hit for Trey. 

After the parade, we went to find Randy and his parents so we could go on a few rides.  We were able to go on Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise before we went home.  Trey kept asking as we waited in line, "When are we going to Disney?" and I'd say, "Honey, we are at Disney," and he'd start to cry and say, "No, DISNEY!"  It broke my heart a little every time because I knew he was talking about Disney Live.  When he finally asked when we were going to see Mickey Mouse Live, I told him the guys were all sick.  He seemed okay with that answer.

What do you get your kid who is sad that he can't see Mickey Mouse Live but is watching the parade one more time?  Another giant cookie, of course. (Disclaimer: he only ate a few bites of each of these giant cookies before he was done.)

So if you haven't been able to figure it out yet, I was really disappointed with our Disney day.  I mean... REALLY disappointed.  I was so excited to bring my child this joy that I knew he would totally love, and I had very high expectations which were all pretty much blown to shit.  However, as we were wrapping up our day, I saw a post on Facebook by a close friend who just lost her father and was writing about the overwhelming grief she was feeling, and I thought, "Okay, Kristin.  Snap out of it.  Yes, you're disappointed, but Disneyland not going the way you wanted is a total first world problem and not that big of a deal."  I will say that shifting my perspective helped a little bit (didn't take away the sting of that stupid #$%&ing Disney Live show getting cancelled), and the amount of pain my arms, shoulders, neck, and back were in from carrying Trey ALL DAY LONG was also a distraction from my foul mood.  Also, I reminded myself that our day was a different day from Trey's three year old perspective than from my nearly 40 perspective, and I just had to make it great for him and his memories.

It's also hard to stay cranky when the sky looks like this.

On Monday, Randy and I left Trey with the grandparents and went to San Diego for the day.  We went to lunch with Kim, Shane, Kaili, and Dave, and then we spent the rest of the day with Dave hanging out near the beach.  At the end of the day, Randy, Dave, and I went to my friends Elizabeth and Rob's house for dinner and catching up.  It was a really fun day, and it was nice to enjoy the sun and conversation without having to parent.  Really nice.

 Pizza and beer for lunch...and eating out in the sun! 

 There was a lot of Super Bowl discussion. A lot.

 The clouds rolled in, but it was still warm and nice to see the ocean.

Me and Elizabeth, my old Annie Bloom's friend

Trey had fun with his grandparents, and they had fun being alone with him, so it was a win-win for everyone.  Tuesday we spent a lazy morning with Grandma before starting the trip home. Trey did great on the plane again, and we were proud of him.  He's constantly amazing me, that kid.  

Will You Be My Valentine?

We survived the snow-in and got ready for Valentine's Day in one foul swoop.  As I blogged about the snow, Trey was about as close to climbing the walls as you could get.  Yes, he has a box on his head.

 Nothing better than grilling in the snow.

I had one last trick in my pocket and that was to make Valentine's Day cookies.  We have a family recipe for sugar cookies that I love (Trey might love it more), and making cookies and decorating them is about as crafty as I get for holidays.

We also had to get ready for Trey's Valentine's Day party.  Last year we had only been at this daycare/preschool for 1.5 months when Valentine's Day rolled around, and I asked, "So do people do crafty stuff on holidays or just bring store bought stuff?"  "Just store bought stuff," I was assured.  BIG FAT LIE.  I think Trey was the only one who didn't add something to the V Day card that the kids gave out (store bought or not).  I was not going to make the same mistake again.  We put together our Valentine's Day goodies during the snow-in, and when Trey brought home his bag of loot from the party, I was impressed that I was on the right side of the bell curve this time with my contribution.

This kid was almost happier about his Valentine's Day

 sweets and treats than his Halloween candy.

I got to spend an evening with Grady and Case, and I took Trey along to help me babysit.  I love watching these boys together, and I know it will only get to be more fun.

I just finished reading Kelly Corrigan's newest book called Glitter and Glue.  It was one of a few books that I eagerly awaited and bought on the actual release date.  I also saved it to read because I didn't want it to be over.  Then, of course, once I started it, I finished it in four days.

Did you read the Middle Place?  It was about Corrigan and her relationship with her father in the midst of their battle with cancer.  This one was more about her relationship with her mom.  I started to cry on page one.  I was a little nervous about how the 222 page book would go, but I only cried steadily for the first eight pages, and then it was just every once in a while.  Corrigan writes about her relationship with her mother and how much she values/needs her in her life, especially her life as a mother.  There are a few quotes that I really loved:

"It may be that loving children, radically and beyond reason, expands our capacity to love others, particularly our own mothers."

I don't think I needed anything to make me love my mother more, but I definitely view her in a new way now that I am a mother.  I wish, more than anything, that she was here to ask questions not only about how to raise Trey but about how she chose to raise Julie and me.  I also find that I probably mirror her in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to discipline (or lack thereof) and pouring on the affection to my child.

"The mother is the most essential piece on the board, the one you must protect.  Only she has the range.  Only she can move in multiple directions.  Once she's gone, it's a whole different game."

Ain't that the truth?

One of my favorite things about Corrigan is what she has to say about women and friendship.  I love this video of hers where she talks about women supporting you through hard times.  I am so lucky to have so many amazing women in my life who are there for me through the thick and thin.  This experience of parenthood would not be the same without my girlfriends who are also raising young children as well as the women who I care about who have already raised children.  Thanks to all of you who enrich my life and make me who I am.

Snow-In 2014

We have spent the last three days basically homebound due to the biggest snowstorm we've had since Trey has been born.  I think we have at least 10 inches accumulated on our patio table (which I am considering the official count for our house).  It has been fun for Trey to play in the snow and for us to have some quality time together as a family, but I am almost done with limiting screen time and trying to stop my terrible eating and drinking habits while stuck in the house.  If there's one good thing about going to work tomorrow, it will be to stop snacking.

But we before we get to the obligatory snow pictures, I have a few other things to cover.

Last weekend was the sporting event of the year, at least in the Clark house, but it turned into a topic that bears no real discussion.  Randy, Bronco fan since childhood, was over-the-top excited for the Super Bowl, but as you all know by now, it did not go well for the Broncos.  We had a party (I think most of our friends were secretly rooting for the Seahawks), and by the end of the night I was getting repeated texts asking, "How's Randy doing?"  It was a sad night for the Broncos (and for Randy).  I honestly don't think it could've gone any worse for them.  It's a real bummer they lost, but I think (as a non-sports fan, so I might be way off base) that it would have been better if they lost in a real competition.  I really like this opinion piece about Peyton Manning.  Couldn't have said it any better myself.

Dear Mr. Manning,

We had as much fun at our party as one could expect during a blow out.  We had good food, good friends, and a selection of Washington and Colorado beer.  

Helping Mommy make brownies 

All dressed and ready to go 

Washington vs Colorado beer

I'm not sure we even discussed who won.   

Baby Case, almost one year old!

Before the game, I got some fun puppets to make to give the kids something to do.  Unfortunately, Trey saw them the day I brought them home, and he ended up making them all by himself.  I think it ended up being a good thing because the number of kids outweighed the puppets, and it would have been a little bit of a pain to have all the kids doing it.  Trey had fun regardless.

(Post superhero day at daycare)

Even Randy got involved.

Now, you know that's a good craft!  

(If you can call putting stickers on bags a craft...which I do.)

The morning before the game, Trey and I went swimming with Julie and Grady at the local pool.  It was fun to get in the water with Trey and see him so comfortable in the pool.  

(This is Trey at swimming lessons on Saturday, but I wanted to throw it in.

He's doing so great in lessons, and I'm very proud of him!)

Grady and Trey

I could seriously eat these boys I love them so much.

Thursday was when the snow started.  I was out in Estacada doing some testing, knowing that the snow was on its way.  As I was leaving one school on my way to another to drop off some checklists, a police officer rushed into the school, talked to the principal, and rushed out.  The principal immediately got on the intercom and announced they were on lockdown.  I was standing in the entryway, so I rushed out of there not wanting to get stuck in the building.  I tried to make my way to the high school to drop off my checklists, but kept getting turned around due to road blocks.  WTF?!?  Apparently, there was a shooter on the loose (I didn't know this at the time or I might've been a little nervous) who had just shot and killed a county employee (on the road I took about an hour before it happened).  I was able to make my way back to the office through Sandy (quite the detour) and had to rush out because the snow had started and daycare had closed.  Luckily, Randy was able to get Trey by the time they closed because I wouldn't have made it in time.  

Here is our road as I got home.

Not too bad, but I got home pretty early. 

Traffic that afternoon...so glad I was already home, and especially glad that Randy didn't have to make his way from Beaverton to NE Portland where we used to live.

Getting Trey out in the snow on Thursday...

it was a little too blustery for him. 

Umm, this is Portland, right?

Bailey jumped up on the bed during story time. 

He wasn't a huge fan of the snow at first, but he really liked it by the end.

I love this picture of Randy laughing with Trey and Bailey.

I remember when we first met loving those crinkles by his eyes when he smiled.

Friday morning I put off getting Trey out in the snow because...well, I was lazy.  Every time he asked if he could watch another show, I'd say, "Okay!!!"  But around 11 I finally got him dressed and outside.  He, of course, loved it.  The snow was too much like dust to make a snowman which was a real bummer, but he still had a good time.

First snow angel

We have spent a lot of time reading and using a variety of different screens.  I hate to say it, but I am really sick of playing Mickey Mouse and "disappearing things" (I still haven't figured out that game). I finished Lowland which I have been working on, and I just read another book in two days.  It was a really easy read (obviously) written by the writer of Sex and the City about marriage.  I can't say I'd recommend it, but it was a fun read...sort of.

Here we are feet-to-feet...

just like I used to do with my mom.

Cuddles, books, and the iPad.  

Who could ask for more on a snow day?

Saturday there was even more snow, and Trey had fun outside again.

We went to Kris and John's for lunch, and it was nice to get out of the house.

Trey entertaining himself, as usual, at Kris and John's.  

This is probably the place I feel the worst about him being an only child, 

but it is also one of the only places we go where there aren't other kids, 

so the kid doesn't have it too bad.

It's a good thing we came home when we did because the freezing rain started shortly after.  Now the snow outside is covered with a layer of ice, and we aren't going anywhere.  Hoping for a clear commute to work tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

It's a good thing we had a snow-in because I mismanaged my library holds again and got several at once.  I finished Lowland and the junky marriage book, so now I have one more to read before I pick up two more.  I'm looking forward to reading Blue Plate Special by Kate Christensen because my new favorite genre is cooking lit (if that's what it's called).  I also have All Joy and No Fun: the Paradox of Modern Parenthood on hold at the library which I'm really hoping is good, and a Fork in the Road (another cooking book) edited by James Oseland.

Right now I'm listening to Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss, and it is really interesting and rather depressing.  

I definitely relate to how eating more sugar makes me crave more sugar whereas when I don't eat sugar I don't think about it nearly as much.  I also have been doing a running inventory in my head of my pantry and all the crap I feed Trey.  I'd like to think we don't have a huge amount of processed food, but if I really went and looked in our cupboards, I would probably be horrified.  

On that note, time to go get another snack and drink...