Disney Date

Now that we have two kids, Jim and I want to be intentional about giving each kid special times one on one.  Of course Emily is too young yet to feel any impact from this, but it needs to be a priority with Josh now.

So Josh and I had a date night to Disneyland the week before I returned to work.  I scooped him up from his nap and we headed out for fun.

I really enjoyed our time together.  He has so much fun at Disneyland and is so good waiting in the lines.  We went on a Wednesday afternoon/evening and the lines were pretty short.

We always make a stop to see Mickey Mouse.  This time as we exited, Josh noticed the roller coaster and said he wanted to go on it.  I was surprised and didn't think he really knew what he was asking.  So I suggested we watch it for a little bit, and he still wanted to go.  I found the height requirement and he was so barely was tall enough.  The minimum height is 35 inches and he is just between 35-36.  Whew!

Here is that adventure...

His eyes are comically wide open the entire time.  But his eye were open the entire time!!!  I may have a new thrill-ride-buddy in the makings!  Hooray!  He so serious and just taking it all in.

After we got off, I thought he was asking to go on again.  But it seems he just wanted to watch it.  It's the second time that might be more fun to watch his reaction. 

Daddy's Train

The Grand Canyon Limited

The locomotive Jim helps maintain, Santa Fe 3751, is making a special excursion to the Grand Canyon.  Jim will be gone for six days as part of the crew.  If you want to know more specifics about the trip itself, check out Golden State Rails.

Jim is so happy because Josh is finally at the age they can share the train experience and excitement.  Josh understands enough to get excited and that just tickles Jim to no end.

Saturday the engine was on display at Los Angeles Union Station, so Josh, Emily and I drove up there to meet Jim and see it.  This morning the consist left L.A. at 9am.  It was coming within just a few miles of our house so the kids and I found our spot to see it pass by at about 9:30am.

As you will see, Josh was pretty excited...

Jim was on the back platform of the first passenger car.  So if you watch, there is the engine and its tender, then two Amtrak engines, then the first car.

It's been fun to me to watch all the chatter on Facebook and Twitter.  There are people all along the line watching for it and giving updates of where it is.  Videos were posted on YouTube pretty quickly as well.

Let Them Be Little

Below is a song by Billy Dean called "Let Them Be Little".  I have loved Billy Dean since I first started listening to country music (he was even my first country concert!), and I have always liked this song.  I have been hearing it again lately and love it so much more now.

It's a good reminder to balance raising, disciplining and guiding my children with also allowing them to be the little creatures that they are and embracing all that entails.

Happy Mother's Day!




I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:

Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

Let them be little.

Emily: 3 Months. Josh: 2 1/2.

Itchy?

They call it the seven year itch.  You know, that seventh year of marriage.  I've always found it a funny phrase.  Well, this is our seventh year and I don't see any (new) itching going on.

We celebrated with Disneyland.  On our actual anniversary, April 16th, Jim and I spent the day at the park without kids.  We got to go on big-kid rides.  Jim was especially anxious to check out the new Star Tours.  It was overhauled last year but we (I) couldn't go on it because I was pregnant.

But two weeks before our anniversary, we had a nice dinner at Club 33.  If you don't know what that is, it is an exclusive restaurant in the park overlooking New Orleans Square.  You have to be or know a member.  There is an exorbitant annual fee for members and the wait list has been cut off since it had reached about 15 years.  Jim has had various connections so we have been lucky to have the opportunity to go a couple times.

This was our (my) first night away from kids and it was a really wonderful time for us to connect.

You enter through a not-so-obvious door, check your coats and step into a little elevator.  Since it was our anniversary they gave us pins and wrote our names and "7th" on them.

I enjoy having an elegant dinner.  Afterwards they brought us a complimentary little treat (in addition to the dessert we ordered).

Jim tried to get a picture of the room without the flash so that we didn't disturb the other guests.

Walking through Disney in heals and a dress was weird (not to mention uncomfortable) and you can feel the looks from people visiting the park.  But you also feel like you have a little secret...kinda fun.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!