What…what Disney?!?!

 

This past weekend two of the happiest me’s came together. The kid me, that loves all things Disney and the college me that loved all things social. I went to a convention, held at Disney World. Let me just stop right there and point out how happy this made me!



 

That was me during the planning of our day at the park. The next day was also spent at a different theme park Sea World, where I appreciated the marine life and shows. We stayed away from the rides on account of them being rained out and the whole of Orlando dealing with major thunder and lightning displays. Which I also love but that is a topic for another time.

Now this time we were determined to see all four parks in one day. And going to Animal Kingdom I realized I had my adult perspective on, I saw that we were not in Africa but rather in a park that had elaborately constructed sets, and roadways. At which point I immediately got miffed with myself and reminded myself “self you are in the most Magical place on Earth! You will lose yourself in it and become a big kid!” Happy to report this transformation took less than five minutes. For then we saw Pluto and Goofy and Donald and I perhaps gave the biggest inhale, saucer-like wide eyed, open mouth expression those characters ever saw and immediately proceeded to follow them to the picture area. I could not wait so I tried to take a picture while still in line… at which point this happened!

 

Yup photo bombed by Pluto! How awesome is that?

It totally reminded me of what it is like to be a kid. And what a great experience this is at any age. Especially as a mom walking around a theme park with pure liberation of not having to tote a tot. Of not having him run off. No temper tantrums was in itself liberating. It was two best friends who have known and loved each other for a decade enjoying a couple of days in the happiest place on earth.

It was the first time I went to Epcot and it was like a mini world trip to all different destinations. And let me tell you the best stop we made was to a French restaurant. Oh la la! There was a lobster bisque, salmon and lentils and crème Brule. I got to eat in peace. Oh the wonder of that. A glutinous peaceful feast.

So in conclusion this was my first vacation post baby without the little munchkin (he was not forgotten as attested by the Shamu Bubble gun, and 20 inch Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur). A friendship was celebrated, new connections made. Ideas learned through the Disney Institute and an overall great time was had.

I want to reflect on that a little  "But First... Let me take a Selfie!"

 

To Party???


It is my son's 2nd birthday in a few weeks and I am wondering should I throw him a party?
see for the first birthday we had a party, and it was family only (mostly because we moved and friends that he made were three hours away). Now for his second birthday we are again in a new city and the question is: Do we party?

Here is what we can do in our own town:
have a picnic
rent a party room / restaurant space
have a brunch in our new place

I would invite mostly my friends who have kids of varying ages and maybe a couple of kiddos from his daycare, although to be honest I don't know who their parents are. And I know he has a couple of buddies and one is a biter.

two we can drive back to our home town and have a family party again.

OR... Here is the crazy one. NOT HAVE A PARTY!

hear me out, I am thinking he is two and he is not quite aware of what birthdays are and that his is coming up. he will know for sure when he is three and will likely choose a theme... please no Thomas, please no Thomas the Train!

But in a few weeks he will not know that he has aged another year, nor will he treat it as anything else but another day.

So perhaps for that day, we can have a small birthday. He can get a cupcake, he can get some plastic dinosaurs (right now he is really into dinosaurs) and a call from either Dora or The Paw Patrol. Thinking that is the way to go.

here is where one can sign up for the birthday call.
http://www.nickjr.com/birthday-club/

It has been two years since I started this blog, and embarrassingly only managed to post 6 times. So I have decided to pick this up. I figure I can manage at least six more this year but hopefully more.

Little Riley is approaching two, and he is talking, smiling and engaging those around him. Here is what we got up to this weekend.

We went to his uncle Mike's WSU graduation, and he was surprisingly good, he paid attention as much as his little two year old brain would allow. Then he ate some popcorn. Played on the vacant chair next to him. Got his foot stuck in the aforementioned chair. And he pooped. A doozy of a twosie that required an immediate change. So we walked past a long line of people (I justified it as I was only going to use a counter and not the actual facilities) only to find that there was no counter. Just sinks, freestanding with no counter space what so ever. So there I was slightly stuck with a squirming two year old during diaper change time. So I stood him up on the porcelain sink, got him ready to reveal a squished down stinky poopy! *squirm squirm squirm* while I scramble for wipes and a diaper. Enter heaven sent lady who asks: do you need some help? Thank you I say, yes and thanks for not being one of those people who sees a struggling mom (whether trying to open a door with two full hands, or trying to purchase something at a grocery store and being cut off... perhaps a special shout out goes to the guy who cut in front of us at Subway on the road trip to the graduation only to state he needed five sandwiches from the ridiculously slow Sandwich Artist and after 10 minutes of waiting and their still not being done I went to the McDonalds next door and got my us burgers and fries in less than a minute and was that mom who let her toddler have fries... judge away). But back to the friendly stranger who held my toddler while he was standing while I proceeded to give his bum a good wipe-down. He got a fresh new diaper, he pulled up his pants. We both washed our hands and gave a high five for a job well done. And we got ready to leave the busy bathroom and I looked down at my dress... and Oh Poop! Yup I had poop on my dress, and that is what it is like to have a two year old.