A Visit With the Mouse

We recently took a trip to Disneyland.  This had not been part of our vacation plans this year, but we managed to fit in a short 4-day vaca this month.  Since we had only decided last month, we thought it would be fun not to tell Sydney that we were going.  She had to know that we were traveling ‘somewhere,’ so we told her that we were going to Oregon for a ‘work-thing.’  Although it was a true test of character for us, we never told her or let slip where we were truly headed.  Our plan succeeded until small hints began to surface at the airport in California.  “Why does that sign say Disneyland Express?”  Of course, my casual response was that it was just advertising…after all, Oregon is next to California.  We managed to keep it a semi-secret all the way to the hotel, distracting her from the obvious signs that we were literally right next to the park.  In fact, we managed to get about 100 yards from the park before she was certain we were at Disneyland.  We passed about a dozen garbage cans that said Disneyland on them.  As we rounded the final corner, she said “it’s weird this looks a lot like DL.”  I agreed and said it was strange that this convention center had so many similarities.  Finally, she looked at Space Mt. and said, “but what’s that then?”  Okay, if you’ve ever seen it, there really is only one Space Mt. (except for the other Disney parks).  I told her that was an odd shaped building and moved on, but by that time she basically had it figured out.

                Aside from the fun of keeping it a secret, this was a fun trip because Corwin was old enough to enjoy the park and even go on a number of rides.  And let me tell you, that little dude has serious thrill issues.  I was a little nervous, at first, about taking him on some of the fast, twirling, or spinning rides, but the reality is he loved it.  He had no trouble grinning and laughing on the rides, and it’s almost like he already rode them his whole life.  Okay, I know he’s 2, so perhaps a ‘shortish’ lifetime so far.

                Sydney also enjoyed all of her favorite rides, plus a few new ones.  Beyond the rides, it was helpful that Sydney and Corwin like the movie Frozen, because everything was about Anna and Elsa at the parks.  In fact, Disney’s marketing experts had done such a great job they just asked us to turn in our wallets as we entered the park.  They could just install bins with a picture of a wallet that reads “Deposit here.  You won’t be needing this back.”  Ha ha!  On the Frozen theme, one of the cool things (I guess literally) was an indoor area dressed like a scene from the movie.  In this building, every 10-15 minutes snow would come down from the ceiling (the real stuff, not confetti).  I’m sure the locals were ecstatic since they rarely see that white stuff falling from the sky.  Syd and Corwin both loved playing in the snow, too…but what kid doesn’t?

Playing in the snow...inside!

                Unfortunately, trips like this are never forgiving to the waist line.  Churros, ice cream, and park food are not a recipe for a slender figure.  But, as they say, “when in Rome.”  That’s a strange saying, and I don’t know how it applies to Disneyland, but I will use it anyway to feel better about the quantity of calories consumed.

                All in all, it was a fun trip to ‘Oregon.’  With that said, it’s always nice to come home.  Plus, that also re-sets the countdown for the next trip.  I hope you enjoy pictures from our most recent adventure!

 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!  Okay, so it's almost February, but I think etiquette lets you say it at least for the first full month.  If the first few weeks of the new year are any indication of how 2015 will go, then we should expect to be in for another busy year.

Sydney continues to stay busy.  In fact, sometimes I think she needs her own personal activity coordinator.  She's loving school, and she's recently taken up acting.  She's taken it up around the same time I did.  Actually, this was the age when I starred in a play with an actress that later won Academy Awards...but I won't name drop since I told Hillary Swank I wouldn't do that, ha ha!  Actually, I'm sure it's the opposite and that she name drops me all of the time! :)  Sydney's acting is coordinated through school, and apparently she will be in the Lorax sometime later this year.  I'm sure it'll be a while before they assign parts, but I know she'll do great, whatever part she is...and if happens to be a tree, I'm sure she'll be the best, most lifelike, inspirational tree anyone could possibly ask for.  In other Sydney news, she is also signed up for soccer.  Soccer doesn't start for a while, but she's been asking about it for quite a while.

Corwin is also not void of activity.  Fairly soon Corwin will start his swim classes.  He'll start out in the pollywog or tadpole class, or some sort of little slimy creature that hasn't mastered swimming yet.  I'm sure he'll love getting in the pool and flexing his gills.  I just know we'll have to invest in another critical piece of equipment for his class, and that is the swim diaper.  I don't want to go to far down this path, but let's just say he had an accident in the tub last week, and we can't have the same occurring at the kiddie pool.  In other Corwin news, he just continues to amaze us everyday with his new vocabulary, and his sense of humor.  He loves laughing and saying "that was funny."  And believe it or not, he actually has a good sense of what is funny.

She is always so serious!

Karen has taken on some new direction at work, and she will begin taking the lead on some of the new projects.  This will be a good challenge for her, and I'm sure keep her from spending her days shopping on the internet (oh, I meant it'll keep her busy...ha ha).  On the home front, Karen is spending some time going through all of the infant/toddler stuff that has outlived it's purpose in our household.  We've been making some good donations, and consigning some of the rest.  It's fun to see some of the old stuff and reminisce, but it's even better to get a few things out of the house that no longer serves much purpose.  So, if you know of anyone looking for clothes or toys that have been heavily drooled on, just let us know.  

We are also looking forward to a trip to Hawaii in July.  None of us have been to Hawaii before, so we are looking forward to a little relaxation and fun.  I know what you are thinking, and you would be absolutely correct in thinking it...it's speedo time!!!  Someone will have to rock it on the beach, at the pool, and at local luaus.  My challenge will be to find a matching one for Corwin.  After all, what could be more awesome than a dude in a speedo than a dude and his kid both in matching speedos?  If you come up with an answer let me know, because I don't think one exists.  Five of the seven days we'll be at Disney's Aulani resort.  It has plenty of fun things to do for the kids, including a massive pool, snorkeling area, splash pad, man-made stream, and everything else that offers you plenty of chances to prune up your body in the water.  We'll also be spending time with the Eastmans on this trip, giving the little ones some great time with friends!

Well, there is always a lot more I could say, share, or make up, but I'll just leave it at that for now.  Have a great weekend!!!

Who's your Daddy?!  Oh wait, I guess
that's me!

Sydney and her artistic gifts...

It’s the Most Wonderful Time…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…I think that’s how the song goes anyway.  And while the holidays mean plenty of fun and plenty of family time, it also means a much busier schedule in general.  To get through these busy patches (at least for me anyway) I make sure there’s plenty of coffee on hand.

This year was a little different for us, as we were hosting family Christmas for the first time.  I’m not sure if it was just nervousness around not having enough food, or just general stress trickling into the grocery list, but we had enough food for an army.  I instructed Karen it was mandatory to have turkey, but she was dead set on having a roast.  Soooo, we ended up with some of both…but I wasn’t aware of what I was really in for.  I’m not going to lie; I was a little in shock at the big hunk of meat that I saw when I opened the fridge.  I guess 15-18 pounds of beef may not seem like a lot, but that’s already in addition to the 7 pounds of turkey.    22 lbs of meat later, I wondered if there was a small village coming to our house that Karen had forgotten to mention.  We did end up with about 17 people in total, but when some of them are 2, 3, and 6 years old, they don’t really consume the portions necessary to decimate a good portion of a cow’s whole body.  I know I was stuffed after dinner, but the desserts were too irresistible to ignore.  A small dessert sampler and I’m sure 23,000 calories later, I knew I was done for the day.

Nana joined us from Montana and flew in on Christmas Eve.  She was able to help us participate in the ritual of going to my Grandma’s house on Christmas Eve for snacks and drinks.  She was then indispensable in helping to prepare all of the delectable food that no doubt will make my trips to the gym so much more important over the next month!  Although she Skypes every weekend, it was great to have her here in person.  I’m sure it’s much more entertaining to experience Corwin’s latest developments, Sydney’s new interests, and everything fun that comes with that, in person.   

Of course, Christmas morning was full of wrapping paper flying everywhere, toys being tripped on, and the general fun chaos that is expected.  We were able to Skype in my uncle from Florida at one point and my brother and his family from Oregon a short time later.  Even though we wish they were all here in person, it was great to see them, talk to them, and share in some experiences with them over the holiday!  Although the gifts were all great, and the food amazing (as it will continue to be over the next few days with leftover meals), nothing was better than having family and friends together and just having fun and enjoying our time together.  There's much more I could write, but I need to go sleep off some calories and lapse into a food coma.  I hope everyone else had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Somebody is hungry!  I'm glad I moved my fingers in time!

6 is the New Awesome!

December is full of holiday adventures, and Christmas and the New Year seems to take center stage.  A little girl with blond hair, a never ending stream of energy, and a five full years of living, might, however...have something to say about competing celebrations.  That's right, on December 15th Sydney will turn the big SIX!!!  So before there's any turkey dinners or holiday singing, there's going to be birthday cake!!!

It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone.  It seems like just yesterday she was eating stuff off of the floor and drooling all over.  Oh...wait, that was yesterday.  But regardless of her never broken habits, she is, in fact, turning another year older.  She is becoming a true little lady.  She's very smart, and for better or worse we never know what crazy thing is going to come out of her mouth.

Her last year was a busy 5th, which included her entering kindergarten at Silver Beach, enjoying more swimming classes, gaining more princesses outfits, and having a full year of fun.  Today, Sydney got to celebrate her big occasion with friends, some from school and some from the private sector.  The Elsa cake is certainly a reflection of the theme this year.  Sydney was Elsa for Halloween, and often wears her Else stocking cap with the creepy hair that moves...gross!

Sydney's little brother Corwin is also doing great.  His speech seems to increase exponentially each day, and his comprehension is right on par, too.  He really is a smart little guy, but he really enjoys laughing and also tormenting the blue bird (I'm so proud of him!...ha ha).

Other than
Birthday festivities this week, we continue to get all of the traditional holiday stuff done.  That means wrapping presents, baking cookies, food shopping for Christmas dinner, decorating, and all of the other usual things this time of year.

There's plenty more I could write, but I'll just keep it as a simple update and wish our little Sydney Ru a very...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

It was hard to get her to leave after she found
the excitement of the slide.

Syd had over 17 little friends celebrate with her :)

Corwin hits his bounce house stride!

Food, Sugar, Sleep

Food, sugar, more food, more sugar, some sleep…followed by some leftovers, and then hit repeat.  This is probably all the description you need to guess that it’s Thanksgiving time.  Food is certainly a nice part of Thanksgiving, but it’s also great to have several days off to spend with the family.  We’ll be making the long, arduous, and significant trek…braving the immense holiday traffic, to my Grandma’s house a full ten minutes away :)   

The itinerary for the time off will hopefully include some fun activities, putting up remaining the Christmas decorations, and having some fun around the house.  I wish I could say sleeping in late was on the agenda, but that never happens.  The inevitable chores and small projects will undoubtedly keep the time off practical and deliver a dose of reality, but hopefully those can be minimized.

Getting ready for the
Sounders Game!!!

After Turkey Day, Karen is deciding to brave the Black Friday shopping.  I hope her helmet, shoulder pads, and other protective gear provide ample defense against the hoard of anxious, ravenous, and unforgiving shoppers.  I’ve witnessed the mob in action before, and I’m more than happy to kick back and relax at home with my little buddy Corwin.  Sydney is going to participate in the madness with Karen this year, so we’ll see what she looks like when she returns home.

While I could sit here and rattle off all of the traditional things I am thankful for (friends, family, health, etc.), I’d like to assume you already know all of those and just highlight the few other things that I thankful for:

*The bad weather…believe it or not, the bad weather prevents some of the outside house projects from being done, opening up time for more fun activities  

*The Sounders…who are one win away from being in the MLS cup

*Sydney’s reading…who can now read bedtime stories to her brother at night

 *Corwin’s sleeping…who now can sleep through the night (even if he gets up 20 minutes too early each day)

*Corwin’s vocabulary…he’s adding new words on a regular basis (and no swear words yet either, ha ha!)

*Although Sydney may accessorize Corwin with princess attire, he still enjoys playing with trucks and soccer balls

*Sydney’s card-game skills…she can beat me at Uno, without even having to cheat

*My changed hearing (or likely increased tolerance)…I am becoming more accustomed to Sydney’s off-key singing

*Coffee (nothing more needs to be said)

*Karen’s ability to realize how funny, witty, handsome, and modest her husband is

As you can see from the pictures, the arrival of Thanksgiving has also meant the preparations and decorations for Christmas!  I’m sure there’s plenty more I could share, but rather than drone on to the two or three of you that may actually see this, I’ll instead wish you a Thanksgiving filled with fun, family, friends, pie, turkey, potatoes, and gravy!!!

Sydney's school assignment...
disguise the turkey so
he doesn't get eaten!

The kids watching Mary Poppins...
always a classic!

Happy Halloween!!!

An absence of protein and an abundance of sugar and calories can only mean one thing, it's Trick or Treat'n time!!!

It was certainly a much difference experience being in a new neighborhood.  Our experience over the past 7 years in Sudden Valley was to wait for our 'one' neighbor kid to show up.  It was the same thing every year, but for some reason it didn't stop Karen from buying three big bags of candy.  I think that was her excuse for going into her own sugar-coma.  "Oh, look at all this leftover candy we have."  Premeditated I tell ya!  But this year, in our new place, we were literally swarmed with trick or treaters.  We finally decided to leave a bowl of candy out so that we could take the kids around the neighborhood ourselves.  Of course, when we got back it was totally empty, and I hope it wasn't empty so long that people considered egging our house or performing some other sinister act.  Many of the neighbors had good treats, and one even had a hot-chocolate stand, dishing out small cups of tasty goodness along with glow sticks and glow bracelets (not a cheap endeavor, but very cool on a cold night).

Sydney decided to wear her Elsa costume.  She acquired the costume a few weeks ago and has paraded it through the house on several occasions.  We saw about four other Elsa's in the neighborhood, and being sincerely 'not' biased, she was by far the best.  Sydney's little buddy Evelyn also joined us for the sugar collection process.

Corwin also had a fantastic time.  Being two years old and not really understanding the Halloween concept too much, he did not offer much resistance to being placed in an Olaf costume (Elsa's snowman sidekick).  Now that he's got one year under his belt, I think next year Karen will not get away with making him an accessory.  He'll undoubtedly want to pick out his own costume.  By the end of the night, Corwin was on a mission.  He would walk up and knock on the door, and when it opened he would actually say "trick or treat," or at least his version of it.  While we really haven't exposed him to much candy, we did actually give him a couple of pieces of candy last night.  He was so excited to try them, and with no big surprise he liked them immensely.

We all had a great time, and with our first Halloween completed in a new setting I'm sure we'll be well prepared for next year.

 We hope everyone else enjoyed

Halloween!!!

Two Down and Many to Go!!!

Two years ago our grocery bill increased, more toys began to litter the floor, and smells around the house changed.  These outcomes were created by the arrival of our little man Corwin.  That can only mean one thing now, that we are celebrating his second birthday!!!

Corwin celebrated in style, surrounded by family, friends, and enough sugar to feed a village.  The occasion was certainly festive, but the milestone itself also offered a chance to look back and reflect on the journey from then to now.  

We've enjoyed the first two years with Corwin, and he has definitely made the family more complete.  His progression on many fronts is also what you'd expect.  Corwin’s physical coordination and motor skills have always been great, and he loves kicking balls around the house.  His speech is also coming along.  He loves saying ‘fire truck, pumpkin, popsicle (of course), and other interesting words he comes across.  Given the multitude of sound waves dominated in the house by his mother and sister, I’m just glad he’s not mute.  That’s basically a nice way of saying that it’s tough for him to get a word in.  Corwin's sense of humor is also not lacking.  He enjoys shifting quickly between his 'serious face' and then his 'happy face,' back to his serious face quickly followed by his happy face...you get the idea.  He'll do that several time, then look at you, throw his head back, and laugh hysterically.  

For us as parents, he's brought quite a lot of joy, pride, and entertainment, which is a nice element to accompany the slobber, drool, and random assortment of body fluids and solids.  He's our little guy, and we love him :)

                                                                    

In other news, Sydney is loving school.  Kindergarten was built for her extrovert nature.  We recently attended her 'curriculum night' to learn about what they will be teaching the students this year.  To give you an idea of her academic abilities, reading level begins at "A".  Their spring goal for all kindergarten students is level "D."  Well, apparently our little Sydney Ru is already reading at least a level F, which is already first grade level.  She's become so efficient at reading, that many nights she takes over nighttime story responsibilities with Corwin.  She gets more practice, and he loves being read to by Sydney...a great time for both!

Everyone is getting ready for Halloween.  Sydney will be in a costume that we have not shown her yet.  It'll be a surprise for her, so I'll guess you'll have to wait to see the pictures, too.  For me...I will once again be playing the “Tired Dad” exhausted by life’s ongoing house projects and other to-do lists.  I had considered an alternative costume this year, but people have always commented on just how authentic and believable it is.

That's it for now.  I hope everyone else is doing great!!!