Thursday, October 30, 2008

Trip to Disneyland

As part of Matt's company trip, we had the opportunity to spend a few days in southern California. I waited as long as possible to tell Sam that we would be going to Disneyland. Once she found out, she began singing "It's a Small World" with relative frequency. (Apparently, she'd learned a little about the park from a Sing-along Song video at daycare.) As it turned out, though, that was one of the few rides that would be closed while we were there. Once we started driving on Wednesday, it wasn't even ten minutes before she asked if we were almost there. Just a little excited about it.


We visited both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. Sam loved the carousels and the flying Dumbo ride. If you ask her what her favorite was, she will tell you her favorite was the Pirates ride. She will tell you how we went down the water slide on the boat and laughed at the silly pirates. She will even move her arm from side to side at the elbow as she sings "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!" (Immediately after the actual ride had ended, however, she was very clearly a little relieved the ride was over.) Our favorite part of the park with Sam was in California Adventure Park in the "Bug's Life" area. There were fountains that would randomly spray out of the ground and "jump" from place to place. Sam was fearless as she ran around trying to catch the water and play. Suddenly, we noticed that there was water dripping off of her, but no water spraying her. In her excitement, she had forgotten all about the potty. We then encouraged her to wash off her bum to get the pee-pee off. It was hilarious to see her identify a place where water was spraying and back up toward it with her backside sticking out. Inevitably, just as her bum would make contact with the water, the spray would shut off and she'd have to redirect her soggy pants somewhere else. Funny!



Before we left southern California, we had to seize upon the chance to visit the beach with the girls. Sam had never been to a beach and was very excited about it. As soon as we got to Huntington beach, she wanted to run through the sand. She loved digging for crabs and seashells and chasing the waves back to the sea and running back up the shore when more came rolling in. It was a quick trip, but she soaked it all up--all the way to her waist.


As for Kelsie's enjoyment of the trip south, well, she slept a lot and seemed intrigued by all the people in the theme park. She did wake up when we got to the beach, but wasn't feeling up to getting her feet wet...yet.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

On Saturday, I took the girls to the pumpkin patch. Sam wanted to wear her Halloween shirt and her "bug eye" on a string around her neck. Our friends Beth and Andy came with us with their one-year old daughter, Jennah. As soon as we got there, Sam started to look for "her" pumpkin. She couldn't have one unless she could pick it up all by herself. The path wound through areas filled with pumpkins of all different sizes and varieties. We walked through the whole patch, taking pictures and checking it all out. Ultimately, Sam decided on a nice orange pumpkin that was just the right size. Before leaving, Sam and Jennah got to ride on the little train that traveled in a giant circle. Overall it was a nice autumn day.