What I Learned From Our Family Trip to Disneyland Day 2

I learned what goes on along the highway between Paso Robles and Lost Hills, which I'd only driven previously, at night. I also learned that James Dean died along here... And that gas stations will sometimes have ENORMOUS posters of James Dean outside of their mini-marts.




I learned that Peach loves the wind in her face from the tram going from the Disney parking garage to the park. She squealed and clapped the whole way.





I learned that Disneyland can make a liar out of you, when you've told your kids that the trunks of palm trees are rough. Hm. At least they're not painted brown, like in Las Vegas.








I learned that I love tradition. And I love that we spontaneously went this day, rather than the next, after looking at the forecast... (See Day 3)









I learned that City Hall is an awesome resource for recommendations for things to do, places to eat, rewards, treasures, and pin trading.









I learned that skipping down Main Street is the only way to go. I learned to appreciate this, since the last time I went, my kids were in strollers, delightfully unappreciative of the magic before them. This time, the magic carried them.






I learned to look up for more magic! Everywhere!







I learned that you can get a treat, when you let your kids use the camera.







I learned that Peach isn't afraid of Pirates - her first ride. I also learned the changes, with Jack Sparrow, weren't too bad. The ending was an eye-roller, but the rest were quite good.










I learned that there's a cute little clown in each popcorn cart, turning a popcorn tumbler. And that churros are truly amazing, at Disneyland.









I learned that Disneyland is still so awesome at bringing the entertainment to you!!!







I learned that Walt Disney stayed in an apartment above the fire hall. After his death, they kept the light on, in the window.









I learned that it's fun for all ages, to bring a $1 tube of glow sticks, from Michaels. I also learned Coca-Cola corner (with hot dogs and chili) is an unfortunate, major rip off. Our only sad dining experience.








I learned that Bear is surprisingly good at Frisbee!








I learned that ElecTRONica was awesome. And that the dancers really enjoyed watching my kids jam. Too bad it's ending March 31st! It had to be one of my favorite things to do on the trip!

What I Learned From Our Family Trip to Disneyland Day 1

I learned that my husband could eat In-N-Out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I don't blame him. Thank you Redding.






I learned that even the smaller LDS temples are beautiful and serene, and totally worth stopping for. Even in bad weather.







I learned that it's good to stick with your gut, and leave the chains in the car if you feel you should, rather than take them out, providing more room for luggage. It saved us $85.





I learned that The Captain is really my hero. He's also not afraid to try things he doesn't know, which is admirable in a crisis.









I learned that backtracking to go through Crescent City and the California Coast would have been quicker than taking 3 hours to drive 30 miles. But, it was beautiful...





I learned to laugh at irony.






I learned that I'm genuinely thankful that I don't need a map and transport to get around my home.






I learned that my husband likes Gerber Puffs. Maybe more than Peach does.











I learned that Peach is a pretty good traveler, considering her age. And she thinks it's party time when we reach our destination.









I learned that being surrounded by good friends can feel like Home.

The Captain

My treasured friend, LC, asked me today if I actually called my husband "The Captain". I know she was referring to a TV show, but since I do not exactly watch TV, I don't know what she was talking about. Except that she mentioned Kyle MacLachlan, and that can't be too bad, right?

I would like to imagine that I call him The Captain because he has always wanted to learn to sail. Or that he is control of this crazy ship that is our life. Or that our first, uber romantic, date involved sailing out into the sunset. Or...

How it really went is...

One day he came home after I had super detailed the house, which is a ridiculously difficult feat with three young children, and plunked a handful of change on the bookshelf. We have an "A" vase...which might be described in another blog, or perhaps you'll never know what "A" stands for, ever... but for now we'll say "Adventure" vase. It's where we put all of our loose change. For trips. Frustrated by his plunking down the handful of change, when he was about to run upstairs to the room where the "A" vase is, I said in my best shrew-like tone, "Why don't you put all of that in the 'A' vase?!?!?!" (--Ending there, not finishing with something evil like "you lazy slob". Because in my non-shrew state I really don't see him that way.) To which he replied a sarcastic "Aye aye, Captain." Which of course, in my evil state of shrewness, made me reply in a much gentler tone, "What did you just say? Because I'm sure it was very kind, since I know you love me more than anyone in the world." He indulged me by repeating the sentiment.

Soon after, I forgave him, and he forgave me. And now, as a joke, when the other is being a little too bossy, we call each other "Captain", and chuckle. One day it will become funny enough that we'll really, REALLY laugh. And it will be much more fun.

What he calls me, when he loves me, is Chief. And I love it. I feel like we have our own language because no one would know that "Chief" is loving. And I call him "Buddy".

What's Your Style?

I woke up this morning at a horrifying 5AM. I had just had a dream that my mother-in-law was telling me that I was so difficult to buy gifts for, that The Captain's previous girlfriend was so much easier. She could just purchase anything, and the previous girlfriend AS, could do wonders with it. "She is eccentric, and can work miracles with books, and odds and ends," my mother-in-law in my dream told me, The Captain in my dream nodding in agreement.

Poof!

Suddenly I'm in AS's home. It was an early 1900's home. And it looked something like this:
Feeling defensive, I argued that it was cluttered, and lacked warmth and direction. That it was not a home, etc etc. I woke up feeling...lousy. And I worried about how The Captain felt about my style.

In my previous life, I had a great sense of style. I had people asking if I could design a room for them, or complementing my decorating. In my current life, I just make do. It all looks fine. It is not fancy. We don't spend much extra to spruce it up or decorate. I'm not sure if it's kids or money, or just outside stress... but I don't care like I used to. Part of me misses it, part of me just wants to have a day off from laundry.

This morning, after I was awake, and calmed down from my dream, I asked The Captain if he liked my style. (You know, to confirm that I was after all his dream girl with the most captivating look and fashion sense and decorating sense of anyone he's ever met.) And he told me what I know to be true. We are at a time in our lives when we focus on family and kids, and keeping cars running. We don't have time or resources to focus on expressing personal style.

And then he described his dream living room:

Don't forget a flat screen TV.











And I described mine:







or something like it.









I realized compromise would be in order, and really, it's fine to have a makeshift living room that we're both "fine" with. There's so much more to life than looks. However, if you're comfortable, it can do good things for your spirit. And we are. There is love in our home. And that's my favorite style, in all the world.

Giving It To You Straight

I love to laugh. I remember, as a child, the power I felt when my mom genuinely laughed at one of my jokes. I remember working with a very very difficult person, and making her laugh for the first time, breaking the ice, creating a great friendship. I remember going to Conference once, my sister ES and I laughing, and someone approaching us saying "I knew you were here because I heard you laughing." Before The Captain and I were reunited, his mom told him he needed to make sure to marry someone who liked to laugh.

I like to laugh, so we are a good pair. However, sometimes I'm too sarcastic, and hurt feelings unintentionally... So whether or not these make you laugh, now you know what makes me laugh, and I couldn't help but share.

















My friend, Ardith's, blog inspired me. Sometimes I have crossed the line in "trying to be funny", but I have found that when I just let funny happen, it's a lot funnier, and a lot more enjoyable! Like when babes wake up to find their hair's been partying all night long...

"Celine Dion Good" Brownies!

The Captain and I have talked a lot about Celine Dion lately. In fact, I think I owe a blog to some of the conversations we've had about Celine Dion.

The point is, whether or not you like her, how she looks, or her music, you have to admit: That girl can SING. She is truly a genuinely, flawlessly, amazing singer.

Over the course of my young life, I have had my "fool proof" recipe for brownies. My family has encouraged me to enter them into the State Fair, but I didn't feel like they were "perfect" enough. They lacked the "shazam".

Last Saturday I was attending the baptism for our friend's son, TDV. I decided in the morning that it would only bring joy to have an extra pan of brownies. So I whipped out my usual fool-proof recipe, and discovered I was out of shortening! Even my food storage was lacking shortening! Desperate, and out of time, I grabbed 2 sticks of butter, and replaced the shortening 1:1.

After baking, terrified I was going to poison TDV's friends and family, I tried a square, to ensure I wasn't about to go down in history as the "woman who makes brownie looking bricks". They were a-MA-zing. Let me rephrase... they were AMAZING! They had SHAZAM! They had reached perfection! Angels were singing! *I* was singing!

I had to leave the baptism early, but as I understand, a riot broke out over the brownies, those left with crumbs cried, and several have asked for the recipe. I'm not one to hoard, so here it is. All I ask is that you wait until after 2011's State Fair to submit them to the State Fair yourself. haha.



Cocoa Brownies
1/2 c softened BUTTER (who knew?)
2 eggs
1 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla

2/3 c flour
1/2 c cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c optional chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350. Mix softened butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well blended. Blend dry ingredients together (no need to sift unless it's hand ground flour). Mix together. Spread in a well-greased 8x8 pan. For 9x13, you need to double the recipe. Bake about 30 minutes.


The Captain had heard of the ruckus, and asked me to reproduce a pan, so I did. And last night another pan... To which he declared "These are 'Celine Dion Good'!" Which, as you now know means "Even if you don't like brownies, you have to confess they are amazing!" My husband who doesn't like sweets has eaten over half of the pan.

What, in your world, would you consider "Celine Dion Good"?

Hopes and Dreams

When I was a child, I loved dandelions. I would merrily pick my mom a bouquet of the greatest collection of dandelions anywhere. I would make sure the stems were slightly varied in length, so that they looked nicely in the vase that my mom lovingly made them home in. I would make necklaces, bracelets, collect them, draw them, and cry when they were killed or mowed.

As an adult I realize that they are a nuisance, a pest, a struggle to destroy. They can make a perfectly green lawn flawed with its bright yellow face. You know your lawn is in danger if they get to the point of turning to seed.

However, if they turn to seed, you can pluck them (carefully), walk them to the middle of the road, and blow them (downwind), making a simple wish.

A wish that they could figure out why my sweet son who is "normal" 90% of his life, gentle, funny, brilliant, witty... struggles with behavior, with hardly-noticable-tics, cries at a whim, isn't growing much, worries about everything, obsesses about everything else... A wish that the specialists could decide, is it Anxiety? Tourette's, Asperger's? All of the above? How can I help him? How can I build his confidence? How can I help him see that even though he feels like he's a dandelion in my perfectly green lawn, that dandelions are so beautiful really... with their bright yellow face. What would we do if there were no dandelions in the world? I think my dandelion makes my green lawn appear greener.