Vacation Series, Disneyland 60th!

Happy happy birthday to the happiest place on earth! Jamie and I went- sans kids- with the full expectation of not riding a damn thing. We figured it would very crowded. It wasn't as bad as expected though. 

When we arrived, we received special edition map, and a reprint of the paper when Disneyland first opened. Pretty cool! We also received a neat button pin. The map had the original Disneyland map on the back. 

Then- free cupcakes! They were so very yummy!

There were televisions set up all around the park so we could watch the dedication ceremony. We scored a semi shaded spot near small world. It was pretty good! 

There were also some pretty fun picture spots set up for the 60th. 

I cannot hang with the direct California sun, so we went back to the house for a bit. We returned to catch the fireworks and parade!

The paint the night parade was so cute! All the characters were lit up so magically. For me though, the highlight was the fireworks show. I cried- they projected Imagies on the castle!

At Disneyland, everything is magical. If you get a chance to check out the 60th celebration this year, do so! It is a must! 

Vacation series- vomit fun times!

I know I know- it's been busy. Anyway I still have a couple of more vacation articles- Disneyland 60th and that should be it.

Sooooo- I tend to get sick a lot lately, pregnancy, gall bladder, who knows. All I know is it strikes fast and suddenly. So what do you do when you are in a brand new Honda Odessey when the need strikes? Oh yeah coming from San Diego? In the middle of 5 lanes of traffic? No where near the shoulder?

You try to win the iron jaws award. Sadly, with vomit rising, it may be too late. 

Tips: Try to keep it contained. Use whatever you can get you hands on, purse, backpack, diaper bag, jacket.

I used my jacket. It held up nicely. Unless you have a Birkin, then save the bag. 

No complaining! Do even utter a word about your discomfort. Sit there in shame for you have soiled the upholstery!

Laugh it up!  You're covered in puke, there's an hour left to go. Reminds you of those wild nights of youth. All that's missing is the Taco Bell. Of course that could be the cause of the problem. Gingerly, gingerly... No, that does not mean dye your hair red. (It's a good look though, I recommended it!) it means when you get out of the vehicle keep those knees locked! Move slowly, don't let any spill! Be careful not to brush against anything. Scrub a dub dub! Once you've hosed off- get some cleaner and clean up your mess immediately! Can't let anything like that sit or else it's puke smell forever- and no one wants that. Also, it is wise to leave all windows down to insure proper ventilation. 

Throw those clothes away- or in the washer.  Protip- shake those clothes out! You don't want to end up with a wayward pair of panties at Disneyland. (True story!)

Just Stick-ing Around

This is a topic that seems to be attached to much debate right now and so I wanted to write about it and maybe get some discussion going (if anyone reads this?). The topic is Selfie Sticks. :::ducks:::

Selfie Sticks, for those who have been living in a cave, are an extendable pole that you can hold your cell phone in and they are used to take...well selfies.

They have haters! I don't quite understand such hatred for an inanimate object not created for the sole purpose of murdering people ::cough::, but man do people hate these things.
Arguments go: They symbolize the 'me' generation, they are for vapid narcissist who feel the need to document their every deed, there is no need for them and they serve no function/purpose, people do stupid crap with them (only valid point more on this one later) and the hatred goes on and on.

Okay, I get it, but those same people making these arguments, if you glance at any of their social media sites usually have plenty of pictures of themselves. It's not pictures they are against. Which means their complaint is having a convienant way to take pictures? Is this the modern day equivalent to when I was your age we had to walk/write letters/ arguement? We had to ask strangers to take pictures and we were just fine! Okay that's wonderful, but you only did that because that was your only option, that doesn't make this generation terrible for using modern conveniences. Why is it more okay to bother a stranger to use your phone to take a picture (and take a risk of them running off with it), but doing it yourself with a pole is terrible? I am not trying to dump on the haters, but their arguments seem weak. These things are useful and that's what I want to discuss and also some disclaimers about the responsibility that goes along with selfie stick usage!

For starters, I hate pictures. Hate them. HATE them. I run when cameras are brought out and the idea of asking a stranger to take a picture that I would rather jump off a bridge than take makes me want to...well jump off a bridge. Maybe you photogenic photo lovers don't understand this, but it is a phobia like any others and doesn't need to make sense to you. Just know that my phobia is very really and can produce very real panic attacks. Enter my selfie stick...or as I call it my groupie stick! I can now quickly and without thought or production snap photos of me and the kids when we are on vacations or doing activities. They aren't terrible either! Like this one...

Donner Lake in the background. Glad we weren't stuck here I don't think my traveling companions would have made a good meal. :)

I don't know why I don't get the anxiety, but I think it is due to the lack of anticipation. It is quick and I can focus on the technical aspects, angling and making sure whatever I am setting up is in the shot rather than OMG I AM IN A PICTURE. It works and it's handy! This is the first vacation I am in more then 1 picture.
The other reason they are useful is the angle, you can take pictures looking upward....

or pictures looking down on you....

That last one I took while my husband and I were on a ski lift. It was cool, but I made sure it was okay and safe before taking this which brings me to responsibilities!

This is not a new technology. Photographers have been using a professional version for years. This is new to the masses. Cell phones have made these popular and like them or not they are not going away. Places may try to ban them for a time, but eventually those bans will lift. The masses have to catch up and figure out how to use these things without being dicks about it. It will take time and some will never learn. Just keep in mind they are only terrible if the owner is terrible, it's not like it was created with nefarious horrible intentions ::cough::. It can be awesome if the owners are awesome, it does have good purpose. :D

Being courteous and thoughtful of others and where you put your stick (heh) is essential. Never use to your stick to obstruct someones view or put your stick in their face (hehe).  Getting that perfect picture is important, but not whacking people in the face is equally important. If you want to record something stand in the back and use that stick up high not obstructing any ones view, don't stand in the front and then raise your stick,  it is rude to stand in front of others with a raised stick (bwhaha, these innuendos are so funny, because I have a 13 year old mentality). Last, but not least DO NOT USE THESE ON ROLLER COASTERS or in any area in which it may be even the slightest bit dangerous to yourself or others! I posted my ski lift picture to show, yes there are occasions you can safely snap a picture, a slow moving ski lift and there was so track for it to get in the way of or any people I could accidentally murder by its use, but there is no need to snap a photo on a roller coaster with a selfie stick, that is not what they were designed to be used for people. It's people who do dumb things like that that give us responsible stick owners a hard time! 

So what do you think, if there are any yous out there? Pro selfie stick or no? Any additional responsibilities to add? Do you think I can get mine registered as an emotional companion and have permission to bring it places it's banned like people do with their stupid dogs (sorry I meant your beloved family members which I am allergic to and make me feel like death, my stick won't murder you just by standing near you :p)? Did anyone else appreciate my stick humor? :D

vacation series! traveling with kids!

Well, we travel a lot. We recently made the trip from South East Texas to the SoCal region. On the Agenda- San Diego Comic Con (Jamie is covering... Eventually) Beach, Disneyland with kids and Disneyland 60th.  This post is traveling with small children. 

So Eric (4) gets the privilege of being trapped in a car seat for 24 hours.  We left around 6 pm from Texas  and planned on driving straight though. Yes, we are all insane. I had an additional driver and we switched off. 

Life saving prep- we all took showers and put on clean clothes and mucho deodorant before we left. Cars get stinky fast- especially with boys. We also loaded movies on a tablet for Eric's viewing enjoyment. Games apps on phones were also loaded, and Nintendo DS were packed. We also brought a few small toys to play with.  These were amazing! He had 3 movies to choose from, and when he wasn't sleeping he was occupied and not fussing. I also brought a horseshoe shaped pillow for his head- this helped him sleep in his car seat. 

Also, there is a lot of age difference in my kids. Having big brother in the back seat helped. I could count on him and his super awesome girlfriend to help get the movies ready and make sure Eric was attended to. When Stephen was driving I sat in the back and tended to him. 

We stopped often to tank up and use the restroom. For breakfast we stopped at the New Mexico Welcome Center. This was a super nice place to get out and stretch you legs. It also provided an opportunity to have Eric run around for a bit. 

So- do your prep work, have movies and other entertainment to keep them occupied. Stop often to keep the natives from getting restless, and if you can time it during their sleep time that's great. Sleeping = quiet and no one likes a fussing kid. 

Well... We've been a bit busy.

Soooo comic-con this past weekend; Jamie is working on a post from that. Disneyland yesterday, and I'll work on that after I recuperate. 24 hour car ride. TWENTY FOUR HOURS WITH 3 teenagers!!!!!  I'm still recovering. 

Meanwhile I will leave you with this. 

On vacation

I'll post later - read when I feel like it. 

Toddler Tuesday: avoiding the toddler melt down.

Well, as I may have mentioned, been a mom for 20 years. I have in no way, shape, or form any professional expertise. I'll leave that to my awesome sitter, Leenie. Anyway, toddlers are basically little psychopaths in child disguises. You never know when they are going to straight up lose their minds and go berserk. You can, however, recognize the signs of imminent crazy and avoid the melt down. I am talking of vacation and the overwhelmness of it all. Places like Disney, Sea World, Legoland, and even the Zoo can be super sensory overload. Parents often want their children to have a memorable experience (we paid a fortune for this vacation!) that they often push their child past their limits, and a tantrum is the result. Too often I have seen crying toddlers; hot, sweaty, crying, and miserable. So here are a few helpful hints.  Remember every child is different. It is important to know your child's limits and communication methods. 

Look for the sleepy time nap signs:

It could be anything as simple as rubbing their eyes to a head nod. Once you notice these signs, remove them to a quiet place and intimate nap protocol. 

Hydrate and Shade:

Vacation is usually taken in summer, and often times outside of the child's usual climate. Children aren't used to being outside all day, so make sure they drink plenty of water, have access to shade, and wear sunscreen. There is nothing worse then a cranky toddler - except maybe a sick man... I don't know, that's kind of a toss up. Umbrella strollers are small and convenient, but don't really offer much in shade. Try to find  a lightweight stroller, cheap, yet shady. I recently purchased this (good for up to 50 lbs!) I'll review it later after Disneyland/comic-con trip.

 Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller, Slate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHKAMG4/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_kwWivb1D11KCH

Don't be afraid to breastfeed - feed the beast! 

Seriously, no one cares anymore. If your child is hungry, feed them. Besides, the Pope says it's ok, who are we to argue? They need the comfort as well, big busy places are unnerving, and they just want the comfort and reassurance of mama. 

Pack their usual snack:

Some things we don't really consider is that most kids aren't used to a theme park diet. All that rich food has to upset their little tummies. Skip a rich meal, opt for a pb&j, or just pack some Cheerios in a ziplock. All these can help alleviate the tummy upsets. Apple juice is the great equalizer, so have some of that. Also yogurt banana juice works wonders. 

Don't push your child past their limits:

You don't have to see the fireworks, show, or get that last picture. If they are too tired, they won't enjoy it anyway. Sometimes retreat is the best answer. Remember, you still have to pack up, find your car, fight your way out of the parking lot, and make it back home or hotel.  Besides, now you have an excuse to come back! You're welcome. 

Most of all, have fun and enjoy being a family.