The Magic of Disney

 

 

While we did witness some "not so happiest place on earth moments," at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (DCA), it was a very happy and magical place for the Peavy family. The boys survived two 11+ hours days at Disney. There really isn't much we would have changed about our visit to the Magical Kingdom. Things pretty much worked out: the weather, the crowds (or lack there of), the rides, the meals, the hotel, everything. The unofficial Disneyland guide book we got from the library and Marshall's abuse of the FastPass system (Disney's priority line program for more popular rides) were key factors to our success when we got to the park. While we were VERY happy to be at Disneyland during the low season, that meant two major rides were closed, It's a Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean. I guess we will just have to hit those next time.

 

We started day 1 at Disneyland at 9:00 right when it opened. Our first ride was Space Mountain. And while T-man was old enough to ride it, the ride had a goblin theme for Halloween and was quite scary. Fortunately, the scary ride did not deter T-man from the other rides at the park (although he didn't ride Space Mountain again). We hit some more rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland (including the Matterhorn Bobsleds) and then headed over to Frontierland for a ride on Mark Twain's boat and some lunch. After lunch, we headed over to Critter Country and took in Splash Mountain - a family favorite - as well as some other rides.The boys enjoyed some ice cream during a country western singing act which was a nice break for all of us.

We then headed over to DCA and took advantage of the Fast Passes Marshall had picked up earlier in the day for Soaring over California. After more rides (Monsters, Inc and the Tower of Terror which both boys LOVED), some dinner and more rides, we took in the World of Color show before heading back to the hotel and getting the boys to bed just before 10.

 

 

While we were shocked the boys were both up at 7:00, it allowed us to get to the park a littel after the 8:00 opening. We headed to Adventureland where Marshall and D-man hit the Indian Jones Adventure and T-man and I headed over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (a T-man favorite) and then we all hopped on the Jungle Cruise. A trip back to Tomorrowland allowed for a ride on the Finding Nemo Submarine and found D-man participating in Jedi training. Some lunch and some more rides over in New Orleans Square wrapped up our morning. We then took the train to Mickey's ToonTown where the highlight was getting to meet Mickey Mouse (I have to say one benefit to having boys is not having to worry about character sightings).  A train ride back to Tomorrowland for Star Tours (a repeat request of Marshall's) and then the Monorail to Downtown Disney (for a much needed snack and downtime break).

 

We then headed to DCA  for the Grizzly River Run before it got too late in the day (I didn't want to be in wet clothes all night) and Toy Story Mania and California Screamin' (a D-man favorite). Both Marshall and I enjoyed Disneyland more than DCA so we drug the family back to Disneyland before it closed for a few more rides thanks to our Fast Passes after seeing a Bug's Life. We had dinner back at DCA and wrapped up with the Tower of Terror and California Soaring. It truly was a wonderful, wonderful experience for all of us.

The night was made even more special when we got back to our hotel. We had been upgraded to a room with a view of Disneyland and because of the Halloween party that was happening at Disneyland that night, there were fireworks! According to the web site, there were no fireworks while we were at the park, but we were able to view the fireworks from our hotel room right before the boys went to bed. It was our own piece of Disney magic and a wonderful way to wrap up the Disney portion of our trip.

Snow Day!

DU Homecoming

An afternoon at the family event at DU Homecoming with a girlfriend. Time to catch with a friend and time for the boys to have some fun.

October Birthdays

Yes, I am the parent that takes advantage of any day my kids don't have school - even if this means missing parent-teacher conferences (to be fair, we did meet with D-man's math teacher). But, off we went for a 3-day weekend in Nebraska to celebrate my parents' October birthdays. Not only did the boys have a great time with their cousins, the adults had a kidless evening - limo ride, a wonderful dinner, and time with family. The kids (and I) experienced a ride on a combine for the first time and sliding down a hill of corn. Quite the treat. It was a great weekend of memories for both kids and adults.

Halloween!

Back from California just in time for Halloween trick or treating. D-man is off with his friend and while I'm happy for him, I'm a bit sad that T-man is "stuck" with Mom and Dad. We did manage to go to a few houses with both boys, but it is times like these that you realize how quickly they grow up. And you are also reminded that we have no "neighborhood"......... But the boys look great and are excited and happy to be home. THAT warms my heart and is really what matters. Sent from my BlackBerry. Please forgive any typos.

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Mickey!

Ten and a half hours at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure and no tears. A great day of memories.

Hello Disneyland!

Goodbye snowy Colorado!

Universal Studio

Traveling for work isn't so bad......

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother's birthday. I'm one lucky woman. I have a great Mom and have so much to thank her for. She's taught me so many things.....

1. Always carry a cork screw in your purse. You never know when you will need it.
2. An up-to-date calendar is crucial for a busy family.
3. When it comes to sorting, it always gets worse before it gets better.
4. Eating dinner as a family is important. Meals are a time to connect and share with the most important people in your life.
5. Traveling is crucial to understanding the world around you. There is so much out there to see.
6. It is ok to drink adult beverages out of a coffee mug for happy hour if necessary.
7. Music makes a happy home, even if it is only a tambourine, recorder, or electronic drum set.
   
8. Friday night it take out night. You've worked hard all week, treat yourself to dinner once a week. 
9. You can be a wonderful mother and work a full time job.
10. Take time to enjoy a beautiful sunset in the west or the full moon rising in the east. They are even more spectacular when viewed over water.

Happy birthday Mom. I work every day to give my children the wonderful, loving environment I had as a child. Thank you for building such a strong foundation for me to build upon. I love you. 

Centerpieces

For a few months, we have been doing "Pits and Cherries" during dinner. It has really helped our dinner conversations and dinnertime is definitely a highlight of my day (a standing cherry).  I'm currently reading a book, The family dinner: great ways to connect with your kids, one meal at a time to help us connect even more with the kids during dinner. The books provides several reasons why the family meal is so important. From battling childhood obesity to better conversationalists and children less likely to use drugs, sitting down to share a meal is valuable on so many levels.
A couple of weeks ago, we started implementing "centerpieces." Each night, a family member gets to choose a centerpiece for the table. It can be anything, but must fit in the center of the table and have room for our plates on the table. The boys feel special when it is their turn and we are starting to work meal preparation and setting the table into the routine. With our busy lives, mealtime is definitely a staple in our daily routine and something I look forward to every night. I hope the boys feel the same way as well.

Marshall Family Visit

A couple of weekends ago, our adorable nephew came to visit us. His parents, my sister Jacki and her husband Sean, also made the trip to attend a wedding in Winter Park. This meant the Peavy family got to have an extra member for 24 hours. It was great fun to have a little guy around and the boys LOVED to play with him. When it was time for bed, our youngest piped in, "He doesn't want to go to bed, he wants to play with me."   The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed time on the patio, happy hour and take out Friday (a PV family tradition inherited from the Karlen family), a trip to Cherry Creek State Park, and getting to spend some time with the Marshall family. Of course, the time was too short, but it was great fun while it lasted. Thanks for fitting us into your weekend Marshall family!

I'm Five?

Today we woke up to snow here in Denver. While going from 80's on Monday to snow on Saturday is not unusual here in Colorado, we were expecting to wake up to rain, not snow.  When D-man woke up, he was hovering outside our bedroom door. He wanted to tell us that it had snowed. When T-man woke up this morning, we called him into our room to have him look at the window. The first thing out of his mouth, "I'm five?"

Because time is such a difficult concept for kids, we have been telling T-man that his birthday is when it snows. So, this morning, there was such awe in his voice when he saw the snow and said, "I'm five?" Fortunately for us, he was not upset when we told him it was 60 more days until his birthday.  He just said, "I thought I was five." Marshall and I just smiled at each other and will bottle up this memory so we can recall the innocence of our sweet, little guy.

Go Avalanche!

Join the Cub Scouts - get free tickets to a pre-season Avalanche game. Good news - tickets were free. Bad news - the Avalanche lost 6-0.

That's Why They Call it Fishin' not Catchin'

 

 

We spent a great weekend a couple weeks ago at Lake McConaughy with Nana and Pop. The weather wasn't great on Saturday, but we enjoyed some fishing (or "catching" as Marshall would say), sitting by the fire, listening to the Nebraska game, and eating by candlelight before the storm rolled in. While we didn't catch any fish, the boys enjoyed watching the fish getting cleaned.
With a beautiful day on Sunday, D-man was bound and determined to catch a fish. He fished off the beach, off the dock, and off the boat. We enjoyed biking (except for the part where my son exhibited one of my worst qualities and was too scared to venture out on his bike to explore the campground), boating and actually catching a fish. Unfortunately, the dedicated fisherman D-man did not catch the fish. His mother did. But, it was wonderful to be out on the lake and actually see some results.After returning from the boat ride, the boys enjoyed swimming in the lake on a gorgeous afternoon.

Mona Lisa

As seen through the eyes of a 4 year old. Made my day.

Katy Perry!

Yes, that is a picture of Katy Perry's stage. Yes, Marshall is there. No, I am not. Yes, I am jealous.
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Soccer Saturday

Saturday was our first soccer Saturday in over 3 years. It was a tale of two cities. D-man's team was, well, let's just say, they are going to need some practice. Apparently, a bunch of new kids to the league with only one practice is not going to cut it. The other team was better organized and the kids understood the game. D-man's team has no where to go but up. D-man tried out goalie for a bit (we're guessing this isn't the best position for him). But, after some pouting after the game and feeling frustrated with the situation, he's back to "liking" soccer today. We will see how long that lasts....
T-man also had his first soccer practice. He is a "white fox" and loved every minute of his soccer practice. He was really into the drills and the scrimmage (his team "won" of course). We are happy that T-man is finally able to take part in some activities. Not only did soccer start this week, swimming lessons started so we will be busy on soccer Saturday and beyond.

Sometimes all you need is a $100 hotel room......

to impress your kids and have a great 36-hour get-a-way. Over Labor Day, we wanted to take advantage of the 3-day weekend, but not spend a fortune or deal with the traffic of I-70. Our solution? A little trip to Manitou Springs just outside of Colorado Springs. We played tourist and took a ride on the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak, toured the Cave of the Winds, and walked around cute downtown Manitou Springs.  It was just what we needed. The boys thought this "was the best hotel ever" and enjoyed the pool, free breakfast, and staying up late to watch a movie in the hotel room topped off with popcorn mixed with M&M's.
Sometimes you just need to see the joy in your children's eyes to celebrate the little things and be reminded how truly wonderful life can be. And is.

Casa Bonita Survival Guide

Here are some tips for making the most out of your trip to Casa Bonita.
1) Go for lunch. There was no line and you'll get much better seats. We got great seats right next to the cliff divers and didn't have to fight crowds (the place sits 1000 people) for the pinata, puppet show, or arcade.
2) Get coupons at ValPak. We saved $11 by using coupons.
3) Everyone over age 2 must order a meal so come hungry. There's no getting in without paying for a meal.
4) Order a liter of Casaritas. Well, let's just say that the place is more fun for adults if you have a beverage.
5) If you are going to do the arcade, buy the tokens at the door and get an extra token bag for free (and then Mom and Dad can play too - see #6).
6) Embrace the cheesiness, explore the several different areas of the restaurant, and have fun playing skee ball, frogger, and some old school video games.
7) Truly enjoy the amazement in your children's eyes as they watch the daring cliff divers, the strolling musicians, and get to go to a restaurant where you don't have to sit down the entire time.
8) Be inspried by the decorations and book tickets to Vegas where you can truly be transported to another world!

Casa Bonita - Here We Come!

This week, our little guy passes his "blending" at school (this is the last stage of phonics before moving on to "books"). We have been building this up for weeks now and then T-man casually mentions the fact he passed blending at dinner on Wednesday night (quite different from his older brother's approach to such things).

Part of the build up and reward is a special dinner of your choosing. T-man was all set on Chuck E. Cheese, but his older brother had other ideas. And, the cliff divers won out over the oversized, slightly creepy mouse (I personally see this as a lose/lose situation). I am so proud of T-man and this milestone. He has been such a joy to be around and I am loving age 4.5 (soon to be 4.75). What a big boy now reading "books!"

So to Casa Bonita we go to celebrate a huge step on the reading super highway. And I bet you will never guess the last time I was at this "family entertainment destination" (as stated on the website)...... three years ago when D-man passed his blending. And now my baby gets to go. Sigh. So proud and yet, sad at the quick passage of time. Ole!

Beat the Heat

August was the hottest August on record in Colorado (our poor grass shows it). We made sure to take advantage of the last of our pool membership to beat the heat. The kids and our sitter were able to go to to the pool on D-man's first day of school and I was able to take the boys on Friday evening. Marshall joined us for our last night and happy hour at the pool. It was great to see the boys playing together in the water, seeing T-man so comfortable in the water, and enjoying an evening with when there were hardly any people at the pool.
T-man was also able to beat the heat last Friday during his end of the summer school picnic. The water feature at the park was quite a hit with the kids - especially with 90+ degree heat. We also enjoyed the playground and having Marshall join us.
On Saturday, we headed to the water park to cool off in yet another way. The water slides, lazy river, and pirate ship water area kept us all entertained and cool. Those hot days, while only a week ago, seem so far away with a chill in the air now, college football on TV, and school in full swing. Summer is over, but I can't think of a better way to wrap up the season and beat the heat than in the water.