Mommy turns 32

So last Saturday (June 22..mark your calendars for next year) I turned 32. It was a great birthday and Nick and Ellie and my parents made sure to make sure it was a special day for me. We decided we would go up to Santa Barbara for the weekend and so we all got up early on Saturday to hit the road by 8am. However, Nick and Ellie informed me that before we left there was something we had to do for my birthday.

For a very long time (I don't remember when it started but I was pretty young) I have had a Twinkie and a Coke for breakfast. Well, when the whole, Hostess-went-out-of-business-and-there-will-be-no-more-Twinkies-in-the-world thing started to go down, Nick went out and bought a couple Twinkies (among other things) and saved one for my birthday. Last year I learned the hard way that a Twinkie and a Coke is not a breakfast of champions (at least when you are over 30). I ate the Twinkie but saved the soda for another day.

I then got my first present of the day. You may not be so impressed with the fact that I got furniture for my birthday, however, I have been complaining about needing more storage in the living room and needing something for an empty spot in the living room as well. Nick, brave man that he is, went out and got something (without input from me). It looks awesome in its spot, serves its purpose, and is probably exactly what I would have chosen.

We then loaded up the car and headed up to Santa Barbara. The goal was to be up in SB in time to meet up with my parents and go to the Summer Solstice parade. Similar to the Doo-Dah Parade, the SB Summer Solstice parade is not typical and is not for the faint of heart. WE got there in time to find our own little space on the curb and also get some confetti eggs. I think there is a technical term for them, but these eggs (real eggs which have been emptied and cleaned) are filled with confetti and their sole purpose is to be cracked on people's heads.

Then we watched the parade. We didn't stay for the whole thing. It was hot, it was lunchtime, and we got our fill of crazy. There was also more confetti eggs cracked on each others heads.

We started to head back to my parents house for lunch and cupcakes but got distracted by a radio ad that said that some of my favorite bands (Guster, Ben Folds Five, and Barenaked Ladies) were playing that night at the Santa Barbara Bowl. So we stopped and picked up some tickets. Then we went to lunch and headed back for some afternoon cake and presents.
We opted to do cupcakes this year instead of a cake. Everyone got to choose their own amount of frosting (Ellie = lots and lots of frosting, Grandma Pam = just a tiny taste of frosting) so everyone was happy. Everyone got to put on their own sprinkles as well. It was fun.

Then there was more presents. Nick and Ellie had picked out some fancy gadgets for the kitchen and some tools for gardening, including a hose. Yes, I got furniture and a hose for my birthday and I couldn't be happier. Exactly what I wanted and needed. So after we all had our fill of cake and presents it was time for me, Nick, and my dad to head to the SB Bowl for the concert. It was an awesome concert and the weather was perfect (there was even a "super moon").



It could not have been a more perfect day for 32nd birthday. Big thank you to Nick, Ellie, and my parents for making it an amazing birthday.

Oh! random trivia. This was also the first concert Nick and I have attended together where the band was formed after we were both born. We've been to some amazing concerts, U2, Aerosmith, Van  Halen...but alas, all were formed before we were born. Just had to share.

Disneyland 2013 - The 10th Wedding Anniversary Edition

This could also be titled, "The One Where Ellie is 40 1/8 Inches Tall" or "Mommy and Daddy take more pictures of themselves than of Ellie".

In celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary Nick and I went to Disneyland...we took Ellie too. We had a FANTASTIC time. For me personally, this was the first vacation in a long time (since Ellie was born at least) where I was able to totally relax. There wasn't a fire at work which needed my attention or something simmering that I had to keep under control. We didn't have a house for sale or dealing with the stressers of moving cross-country. Also, we didn't have all the extra stuff (diapers, food, etc) or mental diversion that comes with taking a little kid to Disneyland. We were a family of 3 enjoying our time off and with each other in Disneyland....

...where 10 years previously Nick and I got married and started started our adventure together.

This trip was special. From when we first arrived and were met by our VIP coordinator Disney really took care of us. Thanks to some advance communication by Nick (and his, "I work for the media" cool factor). We got our room upgraded and Ellie had her own "special Disneyland bed". We received an amazing gift basket from Disney complete with a tiara and treasure box for Ellie. We had access to the concierge room where there was lots of food and amazing views. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel (where Nick and I also stayed after the wedding) which had just gone through a major renovation. The rooms were beautiful but the pool was even more awesome than Nick and I remembered it.

We arrived down at the hotel on Thursday early evening. We dumped our luggage and headed out to Downtown Disney for dinner and to explore a little. Disney had grad nites going on and neither park opened till 9am. However, because we were staying at a hotel we got into 1 park an hour earlier at 8am. This was nice because it meant that all three of us actually got to SLEEP IN! But we were at the gates with our rented stroller right at 8! On Friday, our first day, we got into California Adventure bright and early at 8. The first thing we did was run to the new CarsLand and the big ride there. This is a big kids ride, where you have to be 40 inches. We had the moment of truth...would Ellie be tall enough...would this trip be "the trip" where she had her first big kids ride...

40 inches tall!

She was tall enough! Ellen (with shoes on) is over 40 inches tall! She is officially a big kid!! We wasted NO TIME in getting her on her first big kid ride, Radiator Springs Racers (where you go up to 70 mph in an open air vehicle as you race another car around a track). This was actually my first time on the ride (it opened less than a year ago) and neither one of us knew what to expect. She LOVED it! She loves going fast and the adrenaline rush (just like her parents). She was pumped to get to go on all the rides that she knew about but was too small before to go on. And so we wasted no time at all.

We immediately ran to Soarin' (aka the BIG swing) and then from there to Tower of Terror (which people thought Ellie was SO brave to go on). Once we got over to Disneyland by mid morning we ran to those big kid rides like Star Tours and Space Mountain. Space Mountain is my favorite ride at Disneyland and probably of all time. This was super exciting for me to get to ride Space Mountain for the first time with Ellie.Ellie now declares that Space Mountain was her favorite ride too. Unfortunately, Thunder Mountain was down for renovations so she didn't get to ride that...but it only gives us something to look forward to next time.

And then there was Splash Mountain...the first time we went on the ride Ellie was in the middle of the log and got a little splashed. She loved the ride. Thought the drops, even the big one, were a blast. The second time we rode the ride, Ellie sat in the very front of the log! I was a little freaked out about that. All three of us got drenched, but Ellie definitely got the brunt of it. She was all smiles until she realized she was wet and we spent some time with her clothes in the bathroom with the hand dryer getting them dry enough to be worn for the rest of the day.

Of course it wasn't all big kid rides for us while at Disneyland. There is actually a new area in Fantasyland where you can meet and greet the princesses. It is really cute and well done and makes you feel like you are hanging out in all of their villages (or kingdoms).

Of course we also made time to visit Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. Ellie gave Pluto the biggest hug ever. We didn't know that she loved Pluto that much. But it was also pretty much right after we rode Tower of Terror so maybe she was just trying to hold onto being a little kid a little longer...

We also made sure to watch the parades and the nighttime shows. As usual, Ellie was so happy see the parades. Everyone enjoys a good parade, but she LOVES Disney parades. She also loves fireworks (despite her saying that they are kinda scary). Nick and I also love the fireworks. It is such a great way to end a great day...like when Nick and I got married (we had a dessert reception in Disneyland with the fireworks, yeah...it was amazing).

We actually had the best seats in the house for the parade at California Adventure. Nick got us reservations at Carthay Circle the new(ish) fancy restaurant in California Adventure. The restaurant is on a second floor right on Buena Vista Blvd (the main drag). We timed our dinner perfectly that we got to watch the parade from a balcony on the second floor. Then we went inside and had a terrific dinner. It was very good and very nice. The children's menu actually was a 3-course meal...I kid you not.

We all got a little loopy. There was dancing in the street. Funny self portraits and pictures. One could blame the ice cream and churros, but I think it was the soundtrack that was constantly playing, the good weather, and that everyone was having a great time.

Its the official, "I'm a big kid dance"

Of course, we didn't forget while we were celebrating. Ellie was super excited to celebrate our wedding as well. While waiting for her first course during dinner, she drew us a picture and actually wrote Happy Anniversary.

Nick and I have spent an amazing 10 years together as a married couple. We have bought, sold, bought, sold, and bought houses. Traveled throughout the US and Europe. Learned to sail (I'll use learn loosely as I wasn't very good). Nick has gone from TV market in the high 70s to producing the #1 morning news show in Los Angeles (market #2)...how awesome is that? I'll pause for a round of applause. I've become a licensed professional engineer in two states and worked on several landmark structures and projects which has been so awesome.  We have moved from Illinois to Boston and then out to SoCal. We have an amazing daughter. If that's what we have achieved as a team in the first 10 years...I can't wait to see what comes next in our future...

Happy Fathers Day 2013!

That is one happy daddy! He didn't eat all those burgers, he did share with us. Before our lunch, we headed to the zoo where Nick had some great encounters with his favorite animals, gorillas and orangutans. Both were out and about and happy to get up close and personal.



Happy Daddy Day 2013 to all the dads out there.

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