Disneyland Re-Visited (Feat. Grandma and Grandpa Cardon)

**Note to Reader: This is one LONG post. You may want to head to the bathroom, grab yourself a snack and an ice cold drink, before you settle down for this nice long snooze, er, read. Otherwise feel free to skim through the pictures!**

Last week Jonathan was required to attend the California Dental Association's (CDA) convention in Anaheim, CA as part of his AEGD residency. Originally I thought there would be no way we could go too because I did not want to wrestle kids alone at the park while he was attending class all day, but as it worked out we invited his parents to come with us and made a magical vacation out of the whole thing!

Grandma and Grandpa Cardon flew in early Wednesday morning so we swung by the airport, picked them up and headed on to Cali-for-ni-A. We made great time to our hotel (thanks to the kids being entertained in the back with grandma and grandpa) and debated whether or not to use up one of our 3 days in our park hopper passes that afternoon since we were all eager to get started, or just wait and get 3 FULL days Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We opted to wait since it was already 3 p.m. and the park closed at 8 p.m. and headed instead over to Downtown Disney which seemed like a good compromise.


We played at the Lego store and admired the ENORMOUS giraffe made entirely out of legos, as well as Woody and Darth Vader.


Then we got dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, which is just a fun, super kid friendly place to eat. We shared the chocolate volcano which is this humongous chocolate cake with ice cream-- and Zachy certainly enjoyed his fair share!

We headed off into the sunset and back to the hotel to rest up for an early morning wake-up call to get to the park!


Jon didn't have classes that day, so he got a whole day to vacation with us (PAID for, mind you) so he was on cloud 9. I remembered from the the month before that for some reason the "Finding Nemo" submarine ride gets busy QUICK so we hurried over to Tomorrowland and rode the Buzz Lightyear ride, did the submarine ride (which Zach LOVED), Space Mountain, and Autotopia. Then we headed over to Adventureland to ride the Indiana Jones ride, look at Tarzan's treehouse, do the Jungle Cruise, and ride my personal fave, Pirates of the Caribbean.

We had a reservation for lunch at the Blue Bayou (the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean) and enjoyed the super cool ambiance while we chowed down on monte cristo sandwiches.

By this point Zachary was out cold, so Lucy got to pick the lineup and she was begging to do the Haunted Mansion. From there we did Winnie the Pooh, Thunder Mountain RR, (Splash Mountain was STILL closed!), and all the little rides around Fantasyland since the lines were all super short.

Zachary, well-rested and ready to go again, got to go on Casey's circus choo-choo and LOVED it. He was very stoic about the whole thing, but every now and then he couldn't help but let a smile slip out.



We did some more rides around Fantasyland that Zach had missed, and then we all went and did It's a Small World. By that point we'd basically done just about all of the major sights and rides so we headed back to the hotel to relax.

Lucy and Zach got to take a quick dip in the pool with Grandpa before bed.

Friday morning we were up and at 'em in order to get to our Mickey and Pals character breakfast. I'd never done a character meal with the kids, so had no idea what to expect (and they are expensive!), but basically it was a buffet style breakfast where the characters come up to your table to meet you. They also put on little shows and skits as part of the entertainment.

Meeting Stitch! Zachary LOVED Stitch, even though he was probably the one character Zach had never seen a movie about.


Meeting Daisy Duck! Zach kept pointing at her and calling her the "Quack, quack!"

Meeting the Mouse himself!

Another hug and kiss for Stitch.

Zachary dancing along as Stitch taught them how to surf-- he totally got into the dancing and it was really cute to watch how excited he was to meet the characters!

Finally getting a hug from Pluto. We missed Minnie Mouse coming around while we were up dancing which was kind of a bummer so we don't have a picture with her.


One last picture in front of Goofy at the hotel where we had breakfast, and then on to Disneyland!





Lucy was all excited now to keep meeting famous peeps (and thought there would be princesses at breakfast, but hey, you can't please everyone!) so we headed over to the Fantasy Fair and got to meet Belle (who Lucy's a regular with now) but also two princesses she's never gotten to meet-- Tiana (from Princess and the Frog) and Ariel. She was SO excited!

Then we hopped the Disneyland RR for Zachy's sake and rode it around for awhile.

We got off to ride Peter Pan's Flight, and then did Alice in Wonderland. The kids had had kind of a rough night previous, and were hitting that point of grumpiness and all around exhaustion that takes the fun out of it, so since we wanted to stay out late for the fireworks that night we decided to head back to the hotel and take some naps.

Jonathan finished with his classes at 3:30 p.m. so he hurried and met us at the hotel and we packed up to head back over to the park. We started with the California Adventure side since this would be Jon's last time to do rides, and we did Ariel's carousel, California Screamin' (the roller coaster), the swings, and Soarin'.

We also watched the 3D Bugs movie at Flik's Fun Fair.

Once it got dark we headed back over to the Magic Kingdom and staked a spot at a little cafe where we'd be able to watch the fireworks. Even though it was a little chilly and we were out way past bedtime, the kids did GREAT.

Saturday was our final day in our park hopper passes, so we decided to finish up what we didn't see at California Adventure, starting with the 3D Muppet movie. We also did the Monster's Inc. ride and saw Aladdin at the Hyperion Theatre.

While Jon's parents did the Hollywood Tower of Terror, I took the kids on some of the kiddie rides in Flik's Fun Fair.

We got lunch, headed back over to Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours (where the crowds were AWFUL!) and did the Tiki Room and a few other rides again, and called it a day. But not before Zachary said hello to McQueen and Mater-- the pies de resistance of the day. Perhaps even the trip.

Following in his daddy's dentistry footsteps, he must have been checking Mater's teeth for a cavity.:) We thought maybe we'd head to San Diego and do Sea World since Jon didn't have to be back until Tuesday, but we were all so tired we headed home Sunday morning and have been valiantly striving to get back into our routine but with no luck. We are over-tired, over-stimulated, and over real life.:) My head is in a fog and there are about 25 loads of laundry to be done, and we all wish we were back at Disneyland. Zachary has looked at these pictures on a loop slideshow for about an hour now. He LOVED his first Disneyland experience! In fact, I'd even venture to say if we end up going next year for our 3rd year in a row I'm officially making it a tradition.:)

Tribute to our Moms: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

TO OUR MOMS and GRANDMAS:




“Most of you are mothers, and very many of you are grandmothers and even great-grandmothers. You have walked the sometimes painful, sometimes joyous path of parenthood. You have walked hand in hand with God in the great process of bringing children into the world that they might experience this estate along the road of immortality and eternal life. It has not been easy rearing a family. Most of you have had to sacrifice and skimp and labor night and day. As I think of you and your circumstances, I think of the words of Anne Campbell, who wrote as she looked upon her children:

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

You [mothers] are the real builders of the nation wherever you live, for you have created homes of strength and peace and security. These become the very sinew of any nation.” Gordon B. Hinckley, “Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov 1996, 67


"Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. “Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels. Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women." Russell M. Nelson, “Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999, 38

I don't think we can add anything more than that. Thank you, THANK YOU for being who you are. WE LOVE YOU!!

Ssssssprings Preserve!

This Saturday mommy got to pick where we went and what we'd get to do since it was Mother's Day weekend-- and I decided we'd check out Springs Preserve, which is a nature conservation area around Red Rock. They have some botanical gardens, outdoor walking trails, museum exhibits, and animal shows-- so I figured that combined with a picnic would be a perfect Saturday outing.

As soon as we got there we headed into a little theater to see some live animals, but being a few minutes late we ended up clear in the back standing. The emcee asked the audience if there were any kid volunteers who would be super brave, and Lucy immediately raised her hand really high (before I could knock it down:) because I don't know how else she was seen, and got PICKED out of like 50 people. I think I was way more nervous than she was since I HATE being in center-of-attention situations, but she hurried right up to the stage and closed her eyes, and held out her hands like this:


So they could put this HUGE snake in them. I thought when she opened her eyes she would totally freak out, but she just smiled and petted the thing. Holy moly! I know I would have PASSED. OUT. Maybe these snake charming skills will come in handy in the South where they have all those churches that feature those snakes (which determine whether you are holy or not). At least Luce would survive a sermon.


I was very proud of her for being so brave and letting it slither all over her, and for answering the lady's questions in front of everyone.

After the live snake encounter, the rest of the day was a bit anticlimactic, but we headed outside to look at the gardens and eat lunch.

We met our friends there from Jon's AEGD residency, so Lucy was glad to have a friend to play with-- and roll around with in their "carriage going to the ball."

I love the cactus around here! That is one thing we most likely will not find in the South. Jon keeps commenting on how great this spring has been without the terrible allergies he got back East with all the trees in bloom.

Zachy's favorite area was definitely digging in the sand for fossils. He could have dug out there all day. He needs a sand box!!

Lucy proudly showing off her newly discovered fossil. It was definitely a good place to spend a Saturday!

Yucy's Return

And return with a VENGEANCE, she did. Oh! She did indeed....

The day I was driving Kylene and baby Sophie to the airport, Lucy got invited to go play at a friend's house-- which was perfect, because it meant she no longer had to sit in the car for the hour long drive and be bored and whine at me that she was indeed bored. I dropped her off at her friend Gabby's house and Lucy was ecstatic since this was probably only the third or fourth play date they've had (Gabby's dad is the Endodontist at the Air Force base, so one of Jon's supervisors-- and they also happen to be LDS and in our ward). Without a specific time given to come pick her up, I told Gabby's mom to just call me when she wanted me to come get Lucy. Around 2 p.m. Gabby's mom calls and asks if I can come get Lucy, which I of course replied I would. I pick Lucy up and get her in the car where immediately I can SMELL her. I lift up her dress and there is POOP smeared everywhere. It is like caked between her legs and in her panties and on the back of her dress, and I'm like, "Lucy!! What happened?!?" She explained that she'd had to go potty but was too embarrassed to have Gabby's mom come help her wipe afterwards, so she "did it herself." But folks, please, there is enough poop residue here that I'm beginning to wonder if she actually DID make it to the potty at all, or maybe it was just a reeeeally runny one this time. I am MORTIFIED. Not only is this Jon's boss's house that she could have potentially smeared poo all over (heaven forbid if she sat down on their couch!!), but Gabby's mom said NOTHING to me about it, even though Lucy said she told her about it and that's why they called to have me come get her. No wonder she did!! Oh yeah, and last time Luce was there she peed her pants, so this is the 2nd of 3 times she has soiled herself while there. So she's probably wondering if Lucy is a little slow... and I'm sure she was probably just so embarrassed for me she didn't want to make me feel bad by pointing it out, right? I about died. I pull in to Costco (where I HAVE to pick up my prescriptions before they close for lunch) and begin vigorously wiping Lucy down with wet wipes, strip her nasty panties off (which I don't even bother bringing home but immediately throw in the trash), all the while dying wondering if I need to call this poor woman and apologize for whatever poopy mess may be left behind in their bathroom...and all over their house. Ughh. Yucy: 1 Mommy: 0

Then, awhile ago I decided to spice things up and sign Lucy up for a 6 week gymnastics class (instead of dance) at the Rec center and the first class was this past Tuesday. If you know Lucy, you know she has this completely irrational fear of teenage boys. Which heck, that's a GOOD thing! Unless the gymnastics instructor happens to be a TEENAGE BOY. In fact, when we first moved here I simply transferred my membership at the YMCA from Philly and started going here, but oddly enough there were ONLY teenage boys working in the kids' playroom, and Lucy was an absolute hysterical mess. I'd usually get in about a 30 min. workout before they'd come and get me because Lucy was so inconsolable about being left with rowdy teenage boys. So we switched to Gold's Gym where there are ONLY women working and all is well. Anyway, I digress. So we get there and immediately she launches into a MAJOR meltdown about how she is TERRIFIED of this poor boy ("Coach Spencer" who looks pretty harmless and unassuming to me-- Zachy was itching to "wessle him"), and she wants TO. GO. HOME!!! WAH!!!! I finally get her calmed down enough to at least stay and watch the other kids, plus her friend Julia shows up who's taking the class with her, and she bravely begins participating in the class. About 15 minutes in I see her doing the tell-tell hopping and I know, "Crap! She's going to pee!" And sure enough I see this HUGE puddle blossoming out onto the mat they're all tumbling around on, and she bends over quick with her shirt and tries to wipe it up before anyone notices, but realizing it's futile she raises her hand to ask Coach Spencer if she can use the restroom (which bless her heart, probably took EVERY ounce of courage she had), and we run into the bathroom...but her bladder had definitely been emptied on the mat. I am frantic trying to think fast on how I can salvage this stupid class, so I take her wet clothes off and rinse them in the sink and then start drying them with the hand-dryers, but there is no way she can go do it because they STINK. But that's not the end of it! I come out of the bathroom and there is Coach Spencer waiting for me, with the class all huddled on the mat corner furthest from the pee, and he's like, "She had an accident." And I'm like, "Yeah, I know. I'm really sorry." And he's like, "Can you clean it up?" You betcha! I gotta track down the janitor to get the official "Bodily Fluids Clean-Up Kit"-- follow the extensive directions (it is just PEE people, not blood), so on hands and knees in front of like 10 other parents, Coach Spencer, and 10 little budding gymnasts I clean up the pee-pee with all eyes on me. And seriously, some of those moms are shooting me daggers, like "How dare your child PEE and interrupt the important athletic conditioning of my gifted and talented 4 year old?!?" Oh man. If only I were as lucky as them-- who I am sure have children who never do ANYTHING embarrassing, and this were only the first public humiliation I'd suffered at the hands of my children. But alas, it's like 5,063 now. Oh well. I'm sorta kinda dreading next week's installment of Gymnastics with Yucy. Yucy: 2 Mommy: 0

But on a lighter note, last Sunday at church Lucy got really excited when she saw the Sacrament being passed and said, "Oh good! Look Mom, they're bringing the samples now!" I think we have been to Costco WAAAAY too many times...

A Bed Fit for a Princess

Behold! Lucy's beautiful new bed frame! And this isn't just any ol' bed frame-- this was custom made, hand-crafted, just like the Amish do it back in the old country of Pennsylvania.


Lucy's BFF Paisley has a super, SUPER talented mom who was looking at bed frames at Pottery Barn online one day (which are upwards of $600), when she decided she'd just try making one herself for about a fifth of the price. And she did. She made it, never having dabbled in carpentry before. I had to explain that to Jon a couple of times-- like "no, she really cut the wood herself, measured and hammered it together and painted it, etc." So when I showed it to him on their family blog, I got permission and begged her to make Lucy one. Some great friend I am, huh?:)

I offered of course to pay for labor and supplies, but I still think I got the better end of the bargain because it turned out beautiful, and we LOVE. it.
Now I may just have to see what she's got up her sleeve on a boy bed for little Zachy before we move...:)

Visitors on Vacation!

Jonathan's brother Jeremy recently got a new job as a dentist in Albuquerque, NM so they decided to use our house as a pit stop on their halfway-across-the-country-trip-- which suited us perfectly because we always love seeing them and any chance to get some extra cuddle time with baby Sophie before WE move is great.

They left from Moses Lake, WA the Thursday before, and travelled down through Utah until they reached us on Monday afternoon. We had dinner, the kids wore Jeremy out by making him wrestle and chase and jump on the tramp, Kylene and I caught up, and we got U-Swirl for dessert.

That night (or early the next morning I should say) poor Sophie started vomiting and not feeling very well. Because she is still so little, Jeremy and Kylene decided they'd better take her in to the ER and make sure she wasn't getting dehydrated-- so baby Sophie got the works with an IV and meds. Tuesday we decided to just stay put and let the three of them rest up before moving on to their new digs in New Mexico. We did get Cafe Rio for lunch though, which always makes a bad day seem better (I think). Wednesday morning we took Sophie and Kylene (Jeremy drove their car) to the airport and bid them farewell. We LOVED having them come visit and wish them lots of luck in their new home while they're getting settled in!!


Zachary was SO enamored with Sophie this time. Last time we saw them in February he basically ignored her unless Grandpa was holding her (in which case he'd get jealous), but this time he wanted to spend every minute right by her. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, hug her, play with her, make sure she was getting fed her "ba-ba's," and he would grab my hand to take me to go lay down by her so we could point out her hands, toes, eyes, ears, nose, etc. If I would pat her head, he'd pat her head, if I would rub her tummy, he would rub her tummy. He LOVED that little baby!

The Cardon cousins doing a little bonding. They sure wanted to take her out on the trampoline, but she's still a bit young for that.:)

Zachy holding Sophie and simultaneously getting maple syrup rubbed into her hair from the pancakes smeared on his shirt from breakfast. Sorry Kylene!

Frousins (friend+cousin)!

Then, we got an unexpected visit from Aunt Whitney on Friday morning. The weekend before she'd driven down to Disneyland with some of her college friends, and only stopped in for about 2 hours to say hello. Naturally I gave her a hard time about that, so Friday morning at about 8 a.m. I got a call saying she was in St. George and on her way!! Best. Surprise. Visit. EVER. Friday night Jon watched the kids so we could go to dinner at Mimi's Cafe and then do a little shopping.

Saturday morning she entertained the kids so I could clean my house and Jon could go hiking sans the slow-pokes at Red Rock.

We went on a very WINDY (and kind of chilly) picnic to the butterfly park by our house. They have a great Splash Pad, but unfortunately it was way too cold to get in the water.

Zachary tried to poke the caterpillar's eyes out about 100 times.

And scared us a couple of times by trying to climb to the top of this with no one watching him. Jon barely caught him here.

After our picnic we went home and showed Whitney "Avatar" (one she'd missed while on her mission) and made some yummy streusel cupcakes.

That night Whitney offered to babysit for Jon and I, so we headed down to the Strip to try "Holsteins" which is a burger bar in the Cosmopolitan. A huge part of why I was interested in that restaurant is because the menu was supposed to have a lot of wacky "chef's treats"-- like duck fat fries, a foie gras stuffed burger, "philly cheesesteak" spring rolls, etc (you can see the old menu here), but when we got there they'd cut the menu almost by half and were missing a bunch of the things I'd wanted to try! I was bummed, but we were there already, we had a babysitter.....

So we tried the "Gold Standard" which was with dry-aged beef, bacon, and aged goat cheese, and the "The Steakhouse Burger" which was peppercorn-encrusted, with BBQ sauce, tomato confit, and cheddar cheese. The burgers were great, if not a little overpriced (we both though Smash Burger was just as good), but it was fun to try something new. Thanks for the date night Whitney, and for coming to visit!! I just can't bear the thought of no more Whitney visits though, so we'd better pressure her into a few more before we go.:)