It's that Time of Year Again...

Well, it was February...

tax return time, 2fer promotion time, and low season time
=
Disneyland time!

A weekday in February is the absolute, best time to go to Disneyland. Virtually no lines. The only one we really waited for was the Finding Nemo submarine ride, and still, that was only 15 minutes. Considering it is one of the longest rides at Disneyland, that was nothing.

(She's in funky smile stage right now.
When you ask her to smile she does weird things with her mouth.)

With the 2fer deal, we got to go to Disney California also.

(There's another funky smile)

Taylor didn't remember much from when we went to that place last year (Disneyland was much more memorable for her than Disney California), so it was like she was watching the Playhouse Disney show for the first time. I wish I had gotten video - she was totally amazed.

She met Cinderella this time. She was pretty excited. Cinderella was her new favorite princess for a day after this.

Disneyland... it's like the first time, every time.

Sharing is Caring

One of the qualities I most wanted to foster in Taylor was a spirit of love - a heart of compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, and consideration of others. I am not always the best example, but I do my best and pray and watch as the days go by. It warms my soul when I catch her exhibiting uncoerced love.

Right now she is all about sharing. It has become her obsession. In fact, she will split her cookies 3 ways to make sure there is enough for Mommy and Daddy. Even if we refuse and tell her she can have the whole thing, she will nibble on it for 20 minutes and ask 15 times, "are you really full, Mommy?" to make sure that there isn't a possibility that she would be eating a portion that could be shared. Also, if her and I are sharing the last of a treat while daddy is at work, you can be sure she will insist we save a bite for Daddy. This is really a great thing for me to see her so serious about, since she is an only child and sharing hasn't been a lesson she's been forced to learn yet.

So, when she was halfway through her last lollipop from a Valentine party she went to, it was no surprise that she said she was saving the rest for Daddy. She put it on the desk, determined that Daddy would have the rest when he got home from work. I asked her if I could have a lick. She said, "Yes, but you have to save some for Daddy."

That lollipop must have been quite tempting, however, because it wasn't long before she came back for more.

I said to her, "I thought you were saving that for Daddy."

She thought about it, put the sucker down and asks, "He will share some with me, right Mom?"

I laughed, "Yes, he will share some with you, but I think it would be okay if you ate it all."

She picked the sucker back up, "I will just lick it, okay, Mom." (By this time she had bit some of the sucker off, so I guess she resolved to only lick.)

"I will just lick it, so Dad can bite it."

What daddy could say no to that. :)

Blue Sky Reserve

After many sick and rainy days, I was itching to get out of the house. Actually, I was much more than itching (think Jack Nicholson in "The Shining."), so we headed to Blue Sky Reserve. It's a nice patch of peace in Poway.

The last time we were there, Taylor was small enough to be carried around in a baby pouch. This time she could run and explore. It is a 2 mile hike to the lake, but this time we only made it halfway.

Survival

Taylor was the first to catch Strep. For her it was mild - a low grade fever and a couple complaints of "hair in my throat." She was over it in 2-3 days - just in time for her to enjoy Christmas. I was counting my blessings and praising the Lord that she didn't get a sinus, ear, or lung infection as a result.

So what does a princess do when she has Strep in her throat? She takes a hot, steamy bath and then has a warm cup of tea with honey, of course...

Kennedy and I weren't as lucky. I woke up Christmas morning with no voice and the most swollen, sore throat I have had in my life. Two days later I developed a double ear infection and then my left eardrum ruptured. I lost all hearing in that ear for about a week, and had constant drainage. My ears are slowing clearing up, but still feel "full." I don't think I have ever had an ear infection, or at least not that I can ever remember. Maybe my mom recalls one. A few days after that I developed pain in my kidney (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis), which lasted a few weeks and is only just about gone.

Kennedy had his first vacation in 2 years and spent all of it sick as well. I recall we went to bed around 9 o'clock on New Year's Eve. Before we were even over Strep, Kennedy and I then caught something viral, which added sneezing, coughing, and nausea to our list of symptoms. That, at least, only lasted 3-4 days. I think we are in the clear now, but anyways, that is why I haven't posted to this blog since before Christmas.


So... the latest around here? Rain, and lots of it! It's a nice change. Our Southern California climate is usually so mild, and predictable. It's a rarity to get a tornado warning, but I heard one actually touched down in Huntington Beach, tearing off a roof and flipping an SUV. That's huge weather news around here! No tornados in Poway, but some significant wind and flooding, and church service was cancelled due to bad weather and flooding in the nursery. A little rain really turns our world upside down here. I imagine people brave snow storms for church service in Minnesota. We are quite dainty and spoiled I suppose.


Taylor wanted to play in the rain, at least until she got wet. The thrill of being out in the rain only lasted about 3 minutes, but it was enough time to snap a few pictures.

The sugar cane didn't fair so well in the wind and rain. Thank goodness, now it HAS to be dealt with. Since the wind knocked most of it down, it shouldn't be too difficult for my husband to finally rid our backyard of the eyesore. :)