Skylar's 1st Trip to Disneyland

Well we finally made it!  I always see and hear about my girlfriends taking there kids to Disneyland and I was starting to feel a little guilty that Skylar hadn't experience it yet.  I wanted to make sure Jake could go and we wanted to go during the week so we picked what I thought wouldn't be a busy day and went on Valentines Day.  You could tell that I hadn't been there in a while myself  because I was way wrong and it ended up being a fairly busy day.  Luckily it wasn't too bad and the lines weren't too long.  I hadn't been to Disneyland in 13 years so I didn't know what to expect, especially with the new California Adventure park.

When we first arrived we decided to go into Disneyland and everything was pretty much just as I remember.  I knew that some of the park was probably a bit too old of Skylar so we went straight to where it wouldn't be a problem...the Castle and into Fantasyland.  I wasn't sure how Skylar would handle some of the rides as they can a dark and a bit scary, but she didn't seemed to mind.  We rode Pinocchio and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and she loved them both.

Next she saw the carousel and wanted to ride.  She made sure to ask us to name our horses to which Jake named his Blackjack, my horse was Madden and Skylar named her's Cho-Cho.  As I did miss Madden, it was such a relief not to have him there so both Jake and I could ride with Skylar.

Not being the biggest fan of the Teacups I let Jake take Skylar on them.  She looked so cute trying to spin her teacup around while having a big smile on her face.  When she got off the ride she asked "Why are you scared of the teacups Mama?"

Being a big Disney Junior cartoon watcher we knew that Skylar would love Toontown.  It was packed and the line to meet Minnie read 45 minutes so I was bummed because I knew she couldn't wait that long.  We decided to ride the roller coaster that she just made the height requirement for.  From watching it, it was a pretty fast roller coaster and we weren't too sure how she would take it, but she showed no fear.  We definitely have a little daredevil.

The wait for Minnie was a lot less after our roller coaster ride so we headed straight into Minnie's house in anticipation to meet her.  Skylar was in awe admiring everything that Minnie's house had to offer.  When it was our turn to meet Minnie, Skylar went right up to her full of excitement and gave her a great big hug.

After seeing how excited Skylar was to meet Minnie we went right next door to Mickey's house.  Dad wanted to meet Mickey as well!

We had lunch in Toontown and then hopped on the train to the other side of the park where I was hoping to ride Pirates of the Caribbean.  Right when we got to the entrance of the ride, they were stopping people from going on because the ride had malfunctioned.  I was pretty bummed!!

We went on Winnie the Pooh where we saw our first signs that Skylar may need a nap as she fought getting on the ride.  Once she was on she stopped whining and said she was happy to see Winnie.  We thought we should cruise Skylar around a bit in the stroller and see if she would fall asleep.

Well no napping was happening so we powered on into California Adventure.  Jackie told me that we had to go on Littler Mermaid so we went on that ride first.  I really liked it and it made me wish that Skylar had seen the movie so she could really understand the ride.  After meeting Mickey and Minnie, Skylar kept asking to see Daisy Duck, who we hadn't seen yet.  While walking around we found Donald Duck.  Skylar said that she wanted to ask Donald where Daisy was, so when it was her turn to meet Donald, she gave him a hug and asked where Daisy was.  Donald told Skylar that Daisy was out shopping, so for the rest of the day Skylar kept letting us know that Daisy was out shopping.

We continued to walk around and Skylar asked to ride the huge Ferris wheel.  Jake and I weren't feeling the long wait for it, so we went on the Zipper instead.

We tried to go into Cars Land, but it was so packed, and with Skylar never seeing Cars we decided not to hassle with it and went next door to Bug's Life where no one was.  We got onto four rides without having to wait.

 

 

After getting our fill of California Adventure we headed back into Disneyland and back into Fantasyland in hopes of riding a few more rides.  We went on Snow White and Dumbo, which ended being the longest wait of the day.  It was a good thing we waited because Skylar said that Dumbo was her favorite ride of the whole day.  By that time it was starting to get late and we needed to get home since my parents were watching Madden and they both were working the next day.

Skylar keep telling us she wanted to go on another ride and not go home.  We didn't want her to have a meltdown which could of been highly likely since we were going on no nap.  So we got her a sucker and she didn't seem to care we were exiting the park.  There was still so much more of the parks that we didn't get to see, so I hope I'm able to go back soon to hit the places we missed.

It was a great day with just the three of us.  It had been a long time since Jake and I were able to give Skylar just one and one time and it was nice we were able to spend Valentines Day with just her at the happiest place on earth.

The first 5 minutes into the ride home....then 5 minutes later!

It's not goodbye....It's see you later

I believe Skylar was eight months old when our nanny moved away and she started going to an in home day care.  Michelle was recommended to us by some good friends who's son had been going to Michelle's day care for a few months before Skylar started.  From the beginning I felt very comfortable with Michelle and I could see how much she loved the kids she cared for.  On Skylar's first day there was a little boy who was a month younger than she who was crawling all over the place while Skylar still hadn't showed one sign on wanting to move.  Well after two weeks there and watching that little boy Skylar was crawling all over the place.  I know that Alexander was the one who taught Skylar how to crawl.

Being so close in age, Skylar and Alexander became the best of friends.  When I think about it, Alexander is the one toddler her age that she spends the most time with.  He was definitely Skylar's first real friend.  They went from little babies to independent (well somewhat) toddlers together!  They both learned how to walk together, learned how to talk together, learned how use the potty together, and even became older siblings together.

Sadly, last week was Alexander's last week at Michelle's as he is starting preschool.  My heart broke for Skylar when Michelle told me a few weeks ago that Alexander would be leaving.  I just felt like Skylar was losing her partner in crime and things at Michelle's wouldn't be the same for her.  I tried to explain to her that Alexander would be leaving Michelle's because he is starting school and told her new friends would be coming soon.  I like to think she understands, but it may take a few days there before she really realizes her buddy isn't coming back to play.

For Alexander's last week his mom gave Michelle her camera and asked her to take a bunch of pictures of the kids as a memento to Alexander's time there.  I was very grateful that she sent me the pictures as well because I will be able to show to Skylar when she gets older what her day care was like and who her first friends were.  Also, I like it because it gave us a small glimpse into what goes on there during the day.

Skylar and Alexander 

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Skylar, Alexander, and Jaka (Michelle's 2nd hand)

Playing with new toys for the sandbox

From Left to Right

Butol, Skylar, Alexander, Shuti, Zachary (Alexander little brother), and Madden

Michelle with her loves.  She has practically raised all these kids since they were infants.

I love Madden in this picture

Butol is also leaving Michelle's in the upcoming weeks, as well as Zachary so there are going to be some changes at Michelle's for both Skylar and Madden.  New friends will be coming and I know Skylar will be able to show them the ropes, but I know they wouldn't be able to replace Alexander and Zachary in her heart.  She likes to say "Alexander is my friend and Zachary is Madden's friend."  Side Note: Madden and Alexander are only about 7 days apart in age.  So I guess you can say Zachary is Madden's first friend as well.

Skylar and Alexander had a great two years together on a weekly basis, and hopefully we will be able to see him again.  I'm sure they won't remember each other as the years go on, but I will make sure to always tell her who her first friend was.

Princess Pals

Right around Halloween the home next door to us which had been on the market for what felt like forever finally sold and a new family moved in.  Our old neighbors were nice, very quiet, but their kids were in high school, so we were really hoping for a young family with young kids to move in.  Well, lucky for us we got our wish when Eric, Jess and Sophie moved it.  Random side note was that Jess and Sophie used to do Stroller Strides with Skylar and I, but stop going not to long after we started so we recognized each other immediately.

Skylar and Sophie have wasted no time and have become the best of friends.  The girls just loving playing together.  Whether its in the alley behind our houses, taking turns riding each others scooters or bikes, walking their babies in their strollers around the neighborhood and now Skylar new favorite thing; playing dress up at Sophie's house.

I honestly can't get enough of these two girls and just love when they get together.  We have so much to look forward to with them growing up right next door to each other.

A weekend with Papa

Last weekend Jake was up in Mammoth for Matthew's bachelor party and my Mom was down in Cabo for Erin's bachelorette party so the kids and I packed our bags and headed up to Riverside to spend the weekend with my Dad.  It had to be close to a decade if not longer that my Dad and I spent a weekend together, so I wasn't too sure how this was going to go.  We showed up Friday afternoon and Skylar couldn't of been more excited.  She was so happy to wake up from her nap in the car and be at Nana and Papa's house.  The first night we headed out to dinner at the mall and stop by Nordstorms.  Papa gave Madden his first taste of a banana milkshake, which of course he loved.

The next day Dad came up with the idea of taking the kids and I up to Oak Glen.  When we first arrived the place was dead and half of park wasn't even open.  Luckily they have a little viewing center that was open and we were able to walk through to kill some time.

When leaving the viewing center Skylar got a big cup of corn kernels and we headed straight to the animals walk to let her feed all the animals.

 

The train ride finally opened so the kids and I jumped on for Madden's first train ride, while Papa sat it out.  Madden loved riding the train.  He was smiling and banging on the train for the entire ride.

When riding the train Skylar saw that the ponies had arrived and let Papa know when we got off the train ride she wanted to go ride the ponies next.  Having rid several ponies over the last few months, Skylar has no fear and would ride for hours if we let her.

Our last stop was the bakery where we picked up a famous Oak Glen apple pie and headed home since Grandma was planning on coming over.  The kids and I had a great time in Oak Glen with Papa and I was glad he came up with the idea to go.

Skylar spent half the weekend sitting in Papa's office coloring with his highlighters.  She colored Papa four pictures which he put on display in his office for her.  Not allowing Papa to get much work done, Madden would crawl into the office wanting to hang out.

Dad put together a great dinner for the kids, Grandma, and I that night and the next morning Papa Papa came over for pancakes.  My Dad was a ton of help with the kids which I was very thankful for and the four of us ended up having a really good time together.  Well, I think Madden had the best time!!