Disneyland

We went to Disneyland. Or, rather, I went to the American Library Association conference, which happened to be in Anaheim CA, and brought my family + Grandma (Emily's mom) to Disneyland. So I went to some ALA programs (which were dull compared to Disneyland's offerings), and also went to Disneyland. Hadn't been there since I was 18. My high school graduating class went there after we graduated. This time was more fun, though also interrupted by my obligation to attend ALA.

Hits:

Watching fireworks from our room at the Disneyland Hotel (now Erin thinks that all Hotel rooms must provide fireworks).
Seeing Katie meet the various princesses which are currently part of her imaginary world.
Seeing Erin meet Minnie Mouse--true love at first sight!
The Disneyland Hotel Pool.

Misses:

Taking a five year old on "Space Mountain when A. I don't even really like roller coasters, and B. What was I thinking?!!!

If you have some time to kill, you can check out our Disneyland photos.

Erin in thought

Erin in thought
Originally uploaded by leapinglemur

Erin with one of her favorite tools--a pen. In addition to writing on paper, she also enjoys writing on walls, clothes (especially new clothes), furniture, skin as well as sucking on the ink end.

Hooray for common sense

[Note:  I found this unfinished draft from May.  New commentary added today, 7/19/08.]

The front page of the SF Chronicle reports today that for the first time in 30 years, a majority of Californians support Gay Marriage! It is a slim majority though, and depending on how heavily the prop-22 people sell their anti-rights constitutional amendment, some may be swayed to the dark side. What to do? Well, first off, I guess, we will be getting married.  Yep, that's right.  The date is set, October 25th at the Temescal Boat House in Oakland.  Arrangements are underway.  Another poll came out yesterday saying that of likely voters in California 51% oppose proposition 8, and about 7% are undecided.  I wonder what the issues are for those who can't decide?  I'd be happy to speak to any of those voters.

Raccoon-proof kiddie pool

I'm on the prowl for a Raccoon-proof kiddie pool. So far we've lost two blow-up pools to our local band of back-yard prowling, night-swimming rascals.

The model to the right was savagely attacked, apparently after the raccoons believed they were under a shark attack while wading in the deep end.

Another pool one was just half-heartedly chewed--nothing like a shark to get the adrenaline going. Apparently, raccoon pool wading and destruction is not uncommon. Other enemies of the blow up pool include birds, and logically challenged people, like myself, who dragged our hard sided, but soft-bottomed pool along the rocky mulch to empty it.

Alas, the hard plastic type of pool that used to be in style when I was a kid seems to be no longer in production....so, I must turn to Slate magazine for my pool recommendation.

Mommy Hossy

Whenever I even slightly bend over, before I know what's happening, Erin yells "hossy ride" and tries to climb on my back. And if one girl wants a hossy ride, the other wants one too, so it becomes more efficient just to give them one at the same time. With recent back and neck troubles, my doctor has recommended I lay off this activity. I recently did a backwards somersault to show Erin what fun it was at Baby Gymnastics--and while I failed to convince her to try it, I wound up with a stiff neck for two weeks. My gymnastics career is over. But regardless of what my doctor says, I'd say I have at least one more year of hossy rides.

January Twuonleyeth

Katie's 5th birthday party was Jan 20th and a bouncy time was had by all (well almost all). We decadently rented a bouncy-house for the day, for $90 bucks. Not bad considering we had it from 8:30 AM till almost 7 PM, though of course bouncing was not constant during that period. I'd say we got our money's worth: 13 girls, 2 boys, and at least 5 adults had a go in it, there were no major injuries, Disney princeceses adorned said abode (Katie can rattle them off, but all I know is Cinderella & Snow White (who I never realized was a princess)).


The only major trauma was Momma accidentally serving the first piece of cake to a different Katie (Katie C., not Katie A.), and some minor ouchies which, when it comes down to it, are an essential part of childhood.

While the party had a princess theme (which, on one level I don't relate to, but on another can't object to) we didn't overdo it. Or I should say I didn't. Momma E. made a smashing good princess cake inspired by the princess cookbook that Grandma N. got for Katie last year, and this post will close with an homage to the birthday girl and her adored baked good:

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers

This book is one that Katie and her friend Julia have built an entire fantasy play world around. I love the description by the author of the article on "100 books every child should read":

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers, by Beatrix Potter(Frederick Warne, £4.99)Tom Kitten learnt nothing from his parents about the consequences of curiosity. Abducted by a psychotic rat, he comes within a whisker of being turned into a pudding. Nightmares guaranteed.

100 books every child should read - Pt 1 - Telegraph

In fact, Katie & Julia have never lost a wink of sleep over this story.  Katie is Annamaria, and Julia is Samuel Whiskers, and sometimes, if she's lucky, little Eri gets to be Tom Kitten, and J & K turn her into a "rolly polly pudding".  More often than not though, it is just J & K running around gathering food for their rat dinner, and finding sticks that will be useful in constructing infinite rat houses.