It IS a Small World

Okay, so while I was writing the contest post, I figured that Miss GoLightly would figure it out – where we spent Valentine’s day – the moment she saw the photo. She and her little Harrison may get to visit the “Happiest place on Earth” even more than we do! (Thanks again for the help, Uncle Jeff!)

But, a lot of you knew where we were, and GL just happened to be a little quicker on the draw, so I gotta give it to her! (And one of these days we are going to get to actually meet up there, GL!)

So yes, we did spend the day at Disneyland. It was very, very fun. Em and Ad got to go on It’s a Small World for the first time (they had been on it before, but were just too little to remember it – or had slept through it!), and I think it is definitely Addie’s favorite. Of course, it didn’t hurt that when they just renovated it, they put in some of her favorite characters like Cinderella and…

A new addition to Small World

Oh, yes. It is, to Addie’s pure delight, Ariel.

Don’t worry Small World purists – they did a wonderful job adding the new characters. It is truly well done, and doesn’t distract from the charming, retro feel of the ride, in the least. I’m not quite sure how they do it, but they did do it, yet again. It doesn’t matter how many times I visit, I still get giddy, and just…happy being there. It is so easy to just let all of your “adultness” go, and just be an awestruck kid.

Arriving via monorail

Anyhow, on to the fun. We are working on riding every ride, so we tried to fit in ones we had never been on before. Of course we had to do some of the favorites again. There are some like Pirates and Space Mountain that we have to do every single time we go.

Last time we were there we realized that Addie was actually tall enough to ride the Matterhorn and she really wanted to try it. She liked the rollercoaster part, but when we got off she kept saying, “I just don’t like that scary monster (abominable snowman) part!”

waiting to get on the Matterhorn

But she wanted to go again this time, so we did. She still doesn’t like the “monster” part, but I think it has been added to the list of “must dos” when we return again.

It is the little rides that sometimes make the biggest hits, though. We did the Rocketships in Tomorrowland, which admittedly, we had never waited to do with the girls, and J. and I never did on our own. They are fun…

Driving the rocket

…especially if you can figure out how to get them to “fly,” right Em & Daddy?

Trying to figure out the rockets...

All in all, it was a perfect Valentine’s day.

The castle at dusk

It’s Our Favorite Place…Trader Joe’s

J. found this video last night and I think it does a good job documenting why we love (and love to hate) Trader Joe’s. Those of you the have been to one, or frequent TJs will think this is pretty funny. (Especially the part about stuff that isn’t there any more! Grrr…Chicken Chimichangas?)

Those of you who have no idea what Trader Joe’s is…might not see the humor. But the song is still very catchy and the man who made the video shot it all on his Palm Treo – so that is impressive.

I especially love the part about the “beautiful moms in yoga pants,” – and oh yes, I will be cracking out the yoga pants for my pilgrimage there later this week. Hee.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Yep, we have another birthday – and we are not done for the month of January yet either! We still have a few more up our sleeve in the next few weeks.

At any rate, today is my Mom’s birthday. So would you please send some good thoughts her way today?

Hiding from the wind

Happy Birthday, Mom (Nana)! Hope your day is great and you have a very happy upcoming year!

We love you,
Jam, Bean, Em & Ad