bodacioussylph

Last Tuesday, we got up early and loaded up for the drive to Disney's California Adventure. Tom and Juanell preceded us in her car, and I sat in our backseat between the girls while rainfletcher drove.

We were zooming along at the limit when Ivy decided she wanted to nurse. This is possible (if slightly uncomfortable) while driving if I loosen my seat belt all the way, sit on my heels, and lean way over.

From Rain's perspective, a motorcycle cop was riding past us on the left and suddenly slowed and started hovering in our car's blind spot.

From my perspective, I was nursing my baby and making soothing "go on, have a little nap" noises when I noticed a motorcyclist pacing us. When he realized I'd noticed him, he zoomed off. And we had a bit of a giggle about the curious? pervy? incredulous? CHP.

We had allowed plenty of time for bad traffic, so the virtual lack of same had us in Anaheim well before opening time. (Maggie: "I want to go there NOW.") We fortified ourselves at an expensive McDonalds and then got in the line for the parking lot. Parked, headed in, and went straight to the King Triton carousel. No sooner had the ride started than Ivy, sharing a dolphin with me, literally squeed. Shrieks of baby joy. We rode the rockets, we rode the ferris wheel (after a long wait in line due to the need to clean up some apparently prodigious and wide-ranging vomit). Maggie was tall enough to ride on one of the double seats on the Orange Stinger, so she rode that with Grandma & Uncle Tom while Ivy, Rain and I sat out.

Ivy was in need of some quiet time so we went to the challenge course area...which was filled with yelling kids (quite a contrast from the near-emptiness of the area the last time we were there). Still, Maggie enjoyed the various activities and dragged her father and uncle all over.

Maggie wanted to ride on the whitewater ride...sadly, she wasn't quite tall enough. Instead, the gang went off to Soarin' Over CA while I found a quiet nook and tried to settle Ivy. This took a little while but I was finally able to coax her down. Maggie's take on the ride: "I saw Disneyland! and Tinkerbell!" We discovered that my "quiet nook" was actually right by the start of the Pixar parade, and that we were therefore in the front row.

Ivy loved the parade. Bright colors, pretty dancing.

Maggie was terrified of the parade. Loud music, unfamiliar characters.

I passed Ivy over to Tom, and she happily sat on his lap and watched everything. Pulled Maggie up on to my lap and held her tight, pointing out things I thought she'd think were cute or funny, telling her that it's all pretend. She recovered quickly once the parade was over.

We spent some time in the Bug's Life area, riding Ivy-appropriate rides. Ate dinner, then went to ride the carousel again. Rain noticed that the wait for California' Screamin was only 20 minutes, so he and Tom went to ride that while the girls and Grandma and I went on the carousel three more times. Mags wanted to go on the rockets again, but by the time we got there the ride was closed for the day. We suggested the Orange Stinger instead, and while they were riding the Electric Light Parade started. Both kids loved this parade.

Time to leave, and again Maggie fell asleep in the stroller as we walked out, while Ivy was drowsy but remained awake. Again we walked back to the parking lot instead of waking Maggie to ride the tram, but this time we found a significantly shorter route.

We had booked a hotel room so we didn't have to drive home tired; this was definitely a better plan than last time's. Leisurely breakfast in the hotel and then home.

Mags was a bit off for the next couple of days; I guess such a busy and exciting day really sapped her reserves.

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Last Sunday we went over to Juanell's to use her pool. Maggie was very cautious at first but after a while was paddling around by herself (under very close supervision, of course!). Daredevil Ivy, on her first time swimming, was ready to go for it, and quite frustrated that I wouldn't let go of her. I loooove my new bathing suit, very comfortable and secksay.

After swimming, we watched Cars. The girls really enjoyed it, though I suspect much of it was over their heads.

Then dinner, and afterwards Tom brought out The Little Mermaid. Maggie was concerned during the shark chase at the beginning, and did not like Ursula at all. We warned her about gigantic Ursula and cuddled her through the scary climax, and she did OK overall. Then we took our exhausted children home and they fell asleep in no time.