Disney Day 6

Here it is folks, our very last (very tired) day at Disneyland, bringing up the proverbial rear. I'm not sure we went out with a bang...in fact, I'm pretty sure it was more like a slow, sleepy fizzle. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

Alexa and I on our favorite ride, Ariel's Undersea Adventure. 

Lately when Lexa throws a fit, she calms down as 

soon as I pull up the ride footage on youtube.

Julia and La on Heimlich's Chew-Chew Train, also known 

as "the best smelliest ride" at California Adventure.

(Don't worry, it's smelly in a good way.)

(Oh! Mein stomach is so empty!)

The gang at the Aladdin show. 

(Um, didn't Aladdin and Jasmine used 

to actually fly over the audience?)

This is actually where the memories ended, but you get the point.

Getting ready for dinner at Goofy's Kitchen

I was relieved to see that Goofy wears 

gloves while preparing our food...

Yes, even little girls dressed as mice are 

expected to use silverware at this fancy restaurant.

Doodling in her autograph book

Ready for a feast

Alice in Dinnerland. 

Alexa did not wish to be part of the spectacle.

The only time it is acceptable to see a dog wearing clothes.

What are the chances that Lex and Minnie would 

pick the same exact outfit on the exact same day?

Julia's reaction to the buffet's peanut butter and jelly pizza.

No words were needed.

Happy Birthday to Laura! Our gift to her was to embarrass 

her with a very public rendition of the happy birthday song. 

I hope we got the right size.

Julia and her edible Mickey Mouse head.

This was right before she spit it out 

and told us it was "deesgusting."

This guy again. At least this time we knew his name.

Aladdin promised the girls a Whole New World, 

but I have my doubts.

Minnie hearts the Monsons

This is what a tired Daddy looks like after 6 days at Disneyland.

One last hurrah on the Ariel ride. 

See you again in a few years, Disneyland!

(We miss you already.)

A Conversation with Daddy

Kids: "Can we play with water outside?"

Craig: "No, not today."

Kids: "Pleeeeease??"

Craig: "Well, okay." (Sees me giving him the evil eye.)
"It's really not that big of a deal."

Me: "And why isn't it a big deal to you?"

Craig: (slowly) "Be..cause I don't wash the clothes...?"

Me: "Mm-hmmm. And why else?"

Craig: "Because I don't clean the floors...?

Me: "Exactly."

Now you know: 

Mommies are the bad guys because we clean all the messes.

Disney Day 5

Before plunging headlong into the holiday season, and its inherent craziness, (and necessary picture-taking) I must re-visit (and finish!) documenting our Disneyland trip. Day 5 was great. No rain, and Laura got to join us for the second half of the day (after spending the morning hours in the hotel lobby correcting Boring Papers from her English students). (No offense to the English students, but Disneyland is waaay funner.)

We had Magic Morning passes for this day, which allowed us 

(and a non-magical number of many others) to get into the park

 an hour before it opened to the public. We figured Peter Pan 

and Dumbo were our best bets since those lines are notoriously 

long, and I am a certified Impatient Line-Waiter-Inner.

Lex proved to be an excellent elephant flyer.

Our family of 5 sitting cozily in a teacup.

Small World was such a big hit with the girls...and me too. 

(Speaking of small worlds, did I mention that we 

ran into a family from Julia's school when 

we were in line for the teacups? So random.)

The happiest Daddy that ever sailed...

Meeting Mickey. Lex sure loves this guy from a distance.

(Julia was having a moment and opted out of the photo.)

Here's Lexa-Boom contemplating shoelaces 

and pumpkins and not meeting the height 

requirement for the Toon Town roller coaster.

Thankfully Goofy's Garden offered a reprieve from her cares.

(It was harder to get this shot than you might think...)

Roger Rabbit's cartoon spin. Lots of fun if you don't spin.

(And if you ignore the scantily-clad state of Jessica Rabbit.)

We thought these kids were so cute

 we decided to help them post bail.

This one swore she was innocent anyway...

Cheetos are a good way to get a toddler through 

the long line at the Haunted Mansion.

I know, right? She could totally be my kids' mom.

3 of my favorite people ready to meet their Doom...

Buggy. Julia looks scared already.

Towards the end of the day, we staked out a place 

to watch Fantasmic, feasted on Subway sandwiches 

(smuggled in by Craig) and took turns either sitting 

with Lexa or going on Splash Mountain with the older girls. 

Euphoria on a log ride. 

Laura was kind enough to accompany the girls 

on Splash Mountain approximately 100 times.

Snuggling up before Fantasmic

My doppelganger and her Vannakin.

(looks like I wasn't the only one 

struggling with multiple chins that day...)

The Family That Plunges Together...Stays Together

A recent leak under the kitchen sink meant that we had to take everything out of the sink cupboards to save it from total wetness and ruination. Tired though they were, the girls wasted no time and got to work plunging the kitchen floor.

(Savanna has also been known to get a plunger hopelessly stuck to the floor of a certain bathroom implements aisle at Target.)