low expectations

As stated previously, Disneyland is not the best place to go on spring break, or anytime in March.  Combine bad timing with 2 toddlers, and you've got a potential disaster on your hands.  Fortunately, our experience was not disastrous. Thanks to careful planning and low expectations on the parents' part, I'd call it {mostly} pretty successful. Mark may or may not agree.

Hank and George were, for the most part, happy to stay in their stroller - eating, sleeping, taking turns with my water bottle.  We got them out to go on a few rides, which proved foolish since the lines were long and they just wanted to run through them - away from us.

The other kids had a great time, trading off going on rides with mom or dad. {Mostly dad. I went on 4 rides the whole day, but surprisingly, I didn't feel like it was a waste of money. I must be getting older because it just wasn't about me.}

I always run into someone I know.  This time, it was our friends, The Churches, whose daughter is in Owen's preschool class.  He was thrilled to see her, especially when her dad took Owen and his kids on the merry-go-round while I stayed with the babies.  Mark and the other 3 kids were on California Screamin'.

Here's Owen trying to see the kids as they zoom by on California Screamin'.

I purposely did not bring my big camera to the park. I had wanted to bring my little point and shoot, but forgot the battery charging in the car.  I quickly realized there is no need for a camera when you have your phone. Seriously, it would have been one more thing to carry and I was already loaded down with snacks and water and diapers. It was such a better experience, not trying to get perfect photos. The few I took were all towards the end of the day, when the kids had slowed down a bit.
The lesson I share with you is a good one:  EVERY other family is trying to take pictures at every turn.  It is completely overrated. It becomes part of the crowding issue. It's crowded, it's hot, you have 6 kids who don't want to stop, they've never cared about meeting Buzz Light Year or Cinderella. Move on and enjoy the rides and the food. Take a few no-pressure shots when time allows. If they don't turn out, so be it.
So much more enjoyable for everyone.

Candyland and the Showtel

Walt was Irish. He must have been. How else do you explain the mania at Disneyland on St. Patrick's Day? Disneyland. Yes. We visited this happy little place during the dreaded "it's-going-to-be-packed" spring break. And it was. Packed. Our second day was more enjoyable, less crowded, decidedly more fun than the first. It was a non St. Patrick's kind of day. And since we had friends with us, it was much easier to keep track of everyone. I only lost Owen once. He won't let me forget it.
Owen appears in most of these pictures. When you can't go on the The Tower of Terror, and such, your mom gets to take your picture on the merry-go-round, and such. Mom needs a subject to shoot. And Owen was it. When asked what his favorite part of the trip was, Owen said, "I liked the showtel [hotel] and climbing the mountains [Brother Bear's boulders]. I just love Candyland! [Disneyland]" The showtel was nice, but Club 33, TWICE, was the highlight for me (thanks Pepper). Quiet, peaceful, air conditioned, white linens, service galore, all-you-can-eat great food, etc. etc. AND I pretty much met Troy Aikman in the buffet line. Actually, Grace stood next to him impatiently, while he was taking his time with the shrimp or cheese or something that she wanted. I encouraged her to be patient, thinking he might look over and say, "that's OK." He didn't. Not even a glance. Close encounter might be a better description. Read about last year's club 33 celebrity sighting here and here. Also on this trip I saw:

• Christine Welch (or is it Welsh) and family
• Shelley DeWitt and family
• Mindy Neal and family
• a short man at club 33 who everyone thought was a famous rapper, but we were all clueless about rappers and their names. "He walked like he was somebody."

10 points if you know who any of these people are.
{If you don't see someone you know at Disneyland, was it really a fulfilling vacation? I say nay.}
Here we are at Club 33, dressed in our best greens (well some of us) just like the rest of the crazy masses at the park that day. Note to self: Candyland and St. Patty's Day don't mix. Sorry Laddy Walt.

But Wait, There's More

Not to beat a dead horse...but Jay just sent me this better image of Jason. Clearly it's him. He really seems like a nice guy, helping his mom-in-law and all. And for those of you who haven't a clue about Step By Step or Full House (think DJ's rich boyfriend), shame on you for not watching enough 90's TV.

Thanks for making the trek all the way from Kennewick. Smiths, you're Awesome! As we exited Club 33, Ashley thought I should get a picture of this man in mickey ears because he was such a funny paradox - a very somber face wearing the happiest of happy hats. So I made Derrick pose so it didn't look so obvious. There were crowds of people walking in front of him so I kept having to wait. By the time I finally got the shot, the somber-faced man was LAUGHING at ME! Derrick overheard him say, "That poor man! Why doesn't she just take the picture?" So I became HIS joke. Ahhhh, a paradox again! It was really funny. I couldn't stop laughing.
Post-Splash Mountain. Jen and Derrick, how'd you get soaked? The rest of us are completely dry.

The Tower of Terror was HORRIBLY TERRIFYING and SICKENING and FUN! Mark had been before (with Molly on another trip and she loved it), but not the rest of us. Some laughed, one cried, most panicked, and one cheered and cackled with excitement! Hmmm...who could that have been?
Just running off some of our churro, caramel apple and funnel cake calories.
Thanks Walt. Let's do it again sometime.

Don't be jealous that I met Jason Marsden

Who is Jason Marsden, you ask? You know him better than you think.

Do you recall Rich on Step By Step? He was J.T.'s friend who moved in with the family after becoming Dana's boyfriend? (Yeah, that sounds healthy and normal.) He's the short guy (5'4")in the front. If you are one of my younger siblings, don't even try to tell me this wasn't on every Friday night at the Godfrey home in the mid-90's.

And what about Max in A GOOFY MOVIE? Yep, that's Jason's voice. He's been in countless other forgettable movies, commercials and TV shows. But I think now he mostly does voice-overs for the Disney Channel and Disney cartoons.So here's how it went down. Last week we enjoyed 2 lovely days at Disneyland with our friends the Lees and the Smiths. The highlight was getting into the park for free and then eating our hearts out at the exclusive Club 33 for a pretty penny. {Thanks again Pepper!} Club 33 is a private, semi-hidden 5-star restaurant in the French Quarter that only members and their family, friends and clients can use. Beautiful fine-dining ambiance, impeccable service, and exclusivity, make it all the more enjoyable. And if you're interested, there's a 5 year wait list to become a member, along with a hefty membership fee and monthly dues.

As I prepared to take this iconic photo at the "secret" entrance, I stepped into a crowd of foreigners on a self-guided headphone tour, and in front of a man pushing a woman in a wheelchair. I know, rude. I thought I could be lightning-quick. Then I heard him say, "Excuse me" along with members of my own party telling me to get out of the way. But since my camera was being stubborn and wouldn't take the shot, I stayed firmly planted until the flash finally cooperated. I then stepped out of the way...for JASON MARSDEN pushing his mother-in-law, and very tall wife, who were also heading into Club 33. Only Ashley, with her eagle eye and keen star sense, could later identify this man and piece the whole story together.
As we entered the restaurant lobby, Jason cheerfully asked, "So are you all enjoying yourselves today?" We were the only other party there, so of course I count this as an official meeting. A few of us chimed in, affirmatively. Later as we took pictures of our dreamy lunch venue, we unknowingly captured our friendly star in the background. That's his cute wife, Christy in the white cap and braids, his mother-in-law in the orange (don't ask how I know that - the whole thing is unexplainable except to say that Ashley is keenly aware of her surroundings and has a fantastic memory and sense of hearing), and Jason with the long hair (pony tailed) in black behind Jay. Oh the speculation and fun we had recounting the happenings at Club 33 that afternoon. Mostly picking Ashley's brain and surfing the web via Derrick's phone.
Jason Marsden citing confirmed by all sources.

Jen + Derrick, Ashley + Jay, Mark + me

Leapin' Lizards!

January flew by.
February looks promising: I am excited to change the month on my letterpress calendar* {and just look at April, May, June,... - gorgeous!} Excited for the Hannah Montana 3-D movie TOMORROW. Excited for Disneyland - for two. Excited to see old friends. Excited for Owen's birthday. Excited for the changes our "special stake conference" will bring. Excited to teach Art Masterpiece in Grace's class. It's going to be a great 29 days!

*I bought this calendar from ilee on etsy. I bought one last year too. I didn't think it possible, but I love love this year even more.