What is a trip to California without going to the Happiest Place on Earth? Disneyland, my kids would be there everyday if I was a supermom. We have passes that allows us to go any day, anytime. It has saved me, in the pocket book and in energy! I think we went 6 times. Often we'd go in the evenings when it wasn't so hot, the lines weren't as long and Grandpa could go also, those extra hands make a big difference and Mason minds him more than he does me. So I especially love it when Grandpa comes along!









After a long day at Disneyland, I just wanted a bed. My kids just wanted cotton candy.

We went to American Girl Place in Los Angeles

In 2004, we went to the New York store and I think I loved it more than my kids did. I think the same goes for this time also. I think we'll wait a few years before we go again. She's kind of in that in between age, too old for the bitty babies but too young for the dolls. She did find some really cute things to buy with her birthday money that she plays with almost everyday. This store is amazing!

Lunch was my favorite part. The decorations were adorable and the food was yummy, which I was pleasantly surprised.



She has no idea what "the finger" is, but this must have been her subconscious way of telling me to stop bugging her

She ordered a tic-tac-toe pizza and we all had pink lemonade

For dessert she had a candle in her cake and plugged her ears when they sang. I had to assure the waiter that she also plugged her ears during her birthday party a few days earlier. That's my Taylor-girl

Her favorite part was playing in the bitty baby area with the dolls. She and her cousin Hunter could have pushed the strollers around all day.

I told her when she turned 8 we could go back and get a doll. She was surprisingly okay with that. Steve will have to go with us so that he makes sure I don't break the bank!

There is never a shortage of Entertaining things to do in California.
Birthday Parties



Waterslide

Playing Baseball


Mason hit his head on my parent's fireplace. This is what we looked like after 2 Staples in the back of his head


The kids loved playing in the wagon at Collie Momma and Uncle Steve's house

Swinging at the Park

Sea World in San Diego





Ice Cream Truck

Drive-In theater to see Wall-E

Lounging in the backyard, enjoying the warm weather

Swimming

Food





Shopping




This is why I was tired when I got home and so unmotivated to do anything. We had such a great time. At least I was tired from having fun. I can't wait to go back!

08-08-08

Last week I took the kids to the Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs. We have never been there before and the timing was perfect, just a week before the Opening Ceremony in Bejing (which is tonight).

I was completely fascinated by the facility and gained so much more respect for the games and the athletes. We got to tour the entire facility, seeing where the athletes eat, sleep and train 5-6 days a week. We even got to see some of the wrestlers, swimmers, syncronized swimmiers, shooters and trampolinest (sp?) who will be at the Olympics this year.
At the facility, they had life size statues, lines to show distances of courts and fields, and the exact heights and widths of beams, goals and baskets. Here were some of our favorites

Equestrian

Judo


Basketball

Soccer

Field Hockey



Baseball

Shooting

Skating and Skeleton

Bobsled

I tried so hard to get Mason to cooperate, it just wasn't working. I didn't tell the kids until after the picture that the top podium was for the Gold Medalist. I didn't want to deal with the fighting over that one!

When I was little, the same age as Taylor, I used to pretend I was Mary Lou Retton. Juli, Heidi and I would spend our summers pretending we were gymnast in the Olympics, we'd even pretend we were on the podium accepting our gold medals. Remember that girls? Taylor also loves gymnastics so I had to get her with the balance beam and then in the Hall of Fame with Mary Lou's picture



As we were walking out the torch that was carried in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics was on display. I had to get my picture with it because when I was 6 yrs old, I got to hold the torch with a man who was running with it. The picture is somewhere at my parent's house in an Olympic frame. I also was able to go to some of the events with my family that year, I would love to be able to do that again someday.

And proof that Mason was there with us

There are 5 Mascots for the Olympics. Each one represents each of the Olympic rings and together convey the message "One World, One Dream." These 2 are Nini and Huanhuan.

They even light the flame at the Olympic Training Center the same time the flame will be lit during the opening ceremony and then put the flame out during the Closing Ceremony.

We are really excited for the Olympics this year! Tomorrow night we'll be watching the Opening Ceremony with our friends. We'll be in our new Beijing Olympic shirts, and as requested by the kids ......... eating Chinese food and a fruit pizza shaped like an American flag. Bring home the Gold USA!