Christmas!

Christmas started bright and early, as it does when young children live in the house! My alarm went off around 6:45 so that I could get breakfast going. Then Sophia woke up and was ready to see what Santa had brought for her. Unfortunately, Ernie's sister and brother-in-law were running late due to the additional few inches of snow that had fallen overnight. We all took turns keeping Sophia occupied in her room until they arrived and we were ready to open presents.

Sophia LOVED the train set that Santa brought for her. Notice in the picture that her stocking is still full, sitting in the middle of the train table. We had to distract her from the train set just to get her to open more presents. I say Santa knew what he was doing, bringing her the train set!

While Sophia was occupied with Thomas and friends, the adults (Ernie's parents, grandparents, sister and brother-in-law, Ernie and me) went to work on breakfast - cinnamon butter braids. They are SO delicious! I buy them every year from whatever kid I can find that is selling them for a fundraiser. Another Christmas tradition in the Dickason house!

My mom came over for a couple of hours in the morning before heading to Portland to spend a few days with my sister and her kids. We had a relaxing morning of opening presents and eating treats. My dad and step-mom came over in the afternoon for more relaxation and dinner and more presents. And of course, we watched A Christmas Story - my favorite! We had a wonderful dinner, per our tradition, of ham, company potatoes, corn, and rolls. And of course, birthday cake and ice cream for dessert (we were celebrating Jesus' birthday after all!) After dessert we watched Kung Fu Panda - Sophia's gift from Ernie's sister and brother-in-law (okay, they watched and I slept).

We had a wonderful day with our families. I really couldn't have asked for better!

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was busy! Ernie's parents and grandparents made it to our house around 3:30pm, all in one piece. They said the worst parts of the drive were getting to the freeway, and getting from the freeway to our house. Ernie was nice enough to shovel the driveway for them, so they could get in and out of the house as easily as possible.

We did not make it to church for Christmas Eve service, as we were worried about the roads. But that is the only part of our Christmas tradition that didn't continue as normal. We had lasagna, salad, and French bread for dinner, as we do every year on Christmas eve (well, except the year I was pregnant with Sophia and I had an aversion to red sauce). I started this tradition because lasagna is an easy thing to either make or buy ahead, and is easy to clean up. I have too many other preparations for Christmas to worry about Christmas Eve dinner. Then we frosted cookies for Santa,

Sophia opened her Christmas Eve presents, Christmas PJs and a book (the idea is to keep her occupied!),

lit the candles on the advent wreath,

and hung the final ornament on the advent calendar.

Whew! Then it was time for Sophia to go to bed and for us parents to go to work. (Luckily construction was much easier this year!)

I changed my mind...

About the snow, that is. If there is enough snow in Bellingham to require closing my office, then I don't mind the snow so much. I got to have a snow day! I haven't had one of those since high school! (Well, I think we had a snow day when I was in high school. I know we had flood days, but those weren't fun since our house actually flooded.) I was able to get my Christmas cards done. And take a nap! It was glorious!

Then this afternoon the three of us ventured to the store since our friend said that the roads to and from the mall were passable (if not great). We made it back safe and sound thanks to Ernie's stellar snow driving. I am glad that he knows how to drive in the snow and has such confidence doing so. Another thing I'm grateful for about Ernie? His fabulous idea to pick up a movie at the video store! (I love Blockbuster online since we can turn in a movie at the store and pick out another one if we don't want to wait for the mail. How great is that?)

As much as I enjoyed the snow day though, I still would like the roads to clear up so that our families can make it safely to our house for Christmas.

I'm Sick of It!

The snow, that is. I know other people love it, but I'm tired of the whole mess. We got another 6 or so inches last night, so my plans to go to the office today have been canceled. I am grateful that my job is portable, and that I can work from home on my laptop and do not need to either brave the roads or take a sick day. But I'm a bit tired of being stuck at home.

Ernie and I were able to make it out of the house this weekend though, and it was wonderful (even if it was cold and for running errands). Ernie took off on Friday at lunch time to do his Christmas shopping (he only has to shop for me) and much-needed grocery shopping. He made it home okay, but did not make it up the driveway. He discovered that he had not shoveled enough of the lower driveway to get into the garage.

On Saturday I ventured out to get the last few things on my Christmas list, and to pick up a few more groceries that we decided we needed (and to take advantage of deals that had item limits). Target reminded me of Black Friday, with no carts available and one long line that fed to the cash registers as they became available. It was nuts! And the grocery store was a madhouse. I have never seen lines at the grocery store like I did on Saturday. Not only was it the Saturday before Christmas with shoppers buying everything they needed for their holiday meals, but also the day before more snow was predicted, so people were stocking up also. On the way home I stopped at The Woods coffee stand and picked up a treat for Ernie as a thank you for shoveling enough of the driveway to get into the garage (and of course got a drink for myself - hot chocolate, no caffeine).

The weather report is calling for highs around 30 degrees, and possibly more snow Tuesday afternoon/evening. We might get above freezing for a bit on Wednesday, but I'm not holding my breath. I just really want the weather and roads to clear up enough so our families can make it for Christmas!

Potty Training

Potty training has officially begun, as of today. We planned to work on potty training during Ernie's winter break, since he would be home for two straight weeks to make sure Sophia sat on the potty every hour during the day. Well, since his school was canceled for today, we decided to start one day early.

We have been talking about it for months. Sophia has a few books on the subject, she helped pick out big girl underwear, etc. We have a few rewards for her which we've also been talking about. Her rewards include a Dibs ice cream nugget and a sticker on her sticker chart for going potty, and two of each for going poop, in the toilet. Then, when she is officially potty trained she will get to move into her big girl bed, which is currently in the garage.

Today we had three wet accidents (big girl underwear covered by pull ups so she would feel it but not make a huge mess) and we were a bit discouraged. Then tonight at dinner she indicated that she had some gas. We told her maybe that means she needs to go poop and she should sit on the potty. I filled the tub, as it is bath night, while she sat on the pot. She did not want to get up to get into the bath, but insisted she was not done yet. I finally traded with Ernie (I couldn't sit on the bathroom floor any longer) and he eventually got her into the bath. When I came in to wash her hair I noticed it, but barely - poop in the toilet! We were so excited! Sophia declared that she is no longer afraid of the toilet, and even flushed it! After her bath we got her the promised rewards of ice cream dibs and stickers. Here's hoping for more success tomorrow!

SNOW!!!

After watching the weather reports for the last few days, we were prepared for a significant amount of snow this morning. I woke up to use the bathroom at 2:30 this morning (a pregnancy side-effect I could do without) and there was no hint of snow. At 5:30am, we were awoken by Ernie's cell phone - it was his principal calling to say that his school was canceled for today. (I have never seen Ernie so excited to answer the phone. When it rang, he said enthusiastically, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Luckily he was able to compose himself before actually answering.)

So I immediately went to the front window to check the damage and was surprised to see barely a dusting of snow. I mean for pete's sake, I could still see pavement below the snow. Where was this 4-7 inches they were predicting?

I went to work as normal, since the roads between here and there were fine. Big thanks to my friend Michel for driving - I would have been a nervous wreck to drive myself! In fact, they improved as we got closer. And then that 4-7 inches started to fall. We had a luncheon scheduled that day at work, but as soon as it was over we high-tailed it out of there. I am very fortunate to have a job that is portable. I set up shop in the office with my laptop and worked from home so that I wouldn't have to use my vacation leave.

But with Ernie home I took a short break and we took Sophia out to play in the snow. We didn't last long on account of the wind, but it was still fun. She was disappointed that the snow was not good for snowman building, but she was able to make a snow angel.

While it is hard to say how much snow we have outside, due to drifting, it looks like four inches. And while some might think the snow is beautiful, I would rather look at it on TV on someone else's lawn, ruining someone else's roads. I prefer to have clear, safe roads and be able to go wherever, whenever I please.

So This Is What It's Like...

When you don't pay your heating bills? For the homeless?

We woke up Sunday morning to a VERY cold house. I knew immediately that something was wrong, because according to the clock, the house should have been a cozy and warm 70 degrees. Instead, I was COLD. I checked the heat vents, and they were blowing...COLD AIR!!! The thermostat read 54 degrees, and I immediately called the heating company.

They sent their on-call technician and we started a fire in the fireplace. Too bad it was so stinking windy that the wind sucked all of the hot air up the chimney! We set up our two space heaters (yeah, like they did a lot of good for 1800+ square feet) and waited. Unfortunately, the technician told us that a part on our furnace was broken and they didn't have it in stock. So, the earliest it could be repaired was Tuesday. (Seriously though, why do these things only happen on weekends when the outside temperature is below freezing? Why can't these things happen on a Monday when it's 60 degrees outside? I hate Murphy's Law.)

And poor Marilyn, her party was scheduled for Sunday afternoon (see previous post). She immediately started calling friends to warn them to dress warmly, including hats and gloves. Ernie said we should turn it into a theme party - Graduation in the Alps. We ended up curling up under blankets and watching movies.

We are blessed to have wonderful friends, Aaron and Shannon, who happen to have a guest room available and live very nearby. So, we packed up and headed to their house for the night. Thanks again you guys, for providing us a warm place to sleep!

Ernie and I decided that after a few repairs to our furnace already and this and another that was recommended, it was time to just get a new furnace. So, I called first thing this morning, and by 2:30pm, it was installed and blowing hot air! Yippee! It is currently 63 degrees and climbing! Not quite comfortable yet, but we're on our way! Big thanks to Feller Heating for getting the job done so quickly!

Of course, a new furnace wasn't QUITE in the budget, but we'll figure that out later. (Ernie has an extra kidney for sale, if anyone is interested.) In the meantime, we're enjoying being in our own home and not needed hats and gloves.

Two Parties in Two Days?

What was I thinking? This weekend we hosted (not just attended - that would have been easier!) two parties in two days.

On Saturday night we hosted my work Christmas party. We invited everyone to come and bring either an appetizer or dessert to share (so, no food prep for me!) and a gift for the White Elephant exchange. Also, new this year for the party was an ugly Christmas sweater contest. While I thought I had a sure win with my consignment store find, my co-worker's husband won hands-down. He decorated a green sweatshirt to look like a Christmas tree, complete with presents glued to the bottom. It was great, and I thought he deserved extra points just for wearing it.

On Sunday afternoon, our home was the site of our roommate's graduation party. Granted, we didn't do anything for this party except open the door, but it still added to the hectic-ness of our weekend. However, we were very happy to provide a place for the party! (And truth be told, I'd rather have two parties in one weekend and only deep-clean the house once, than have two parties in two weekends and have double the cleaning.) Unfortunately, because of the weather in Bellingham, most of the planned attendees were unable to make it to the party.

But the real doozie is detailed in the next post...

Oh, Christmas Tree!

We continued a Dickason Family holiday tradition on Saturday by going to the Christmas Tree Farm and cutting down our Christmas tree!

The first order of business was to find the tree. We had to walk quite a way back to find a tree - the front of the farm was pretty picked over! We found a tree that is about 7 feet tall (we have vaulted ceilings - we can't have a little tree!) and has a long trunk, which leaves plenty of room for the stand and PRESENTS!

The second order of business was to cut the tree down. This job was all Ernie's! We asked Sophia if she wanted to help, but she said it was too hard for her. Can't argue there!

Then, we had to get the tree strapped to the top of the car and get it home safely. This part is the most difficult for us. Every year when we get our tree I regret our decision not to get the roof rack on our CRV. It would make Christmas tree transportation so much easier. Instead, we run the string through the interior of the car and hope for the best. Luckily, we don't have too far to drive to get home!

When we got home, Ernie and I put the tree up in the stand while Sophia was napping. But we waited for her to wake up before decorating. (In our house Ernie and I compromise about the tree decorating. He gets to watch football while we decorate. If I insisted on Christmas music as I would prefer, he would not help. Thus, the compromise.) Sophia was so excited to see the lights on the tree - she even helped put them on.

Then she helped with two ornaments before she found the train ornament. Then all she wanted to do was play with the train while Ernie and I put the rest of the ornaments on. We finally got her help with a few more (I had to use my stern "Mom" voice) and got a few funny placements: a penguin on a branch, with the train hanging from the penguin, and Santa Goofy pulling the tree branch down about a foot. Priceless!

Christmas Decorations Are Up!

Well, mostly. Around here, the day after Thanksgiving is the start of the Christmas season. And that means decorating! I took a short nap after my trip to the mall for Black Friday and then set to work on the interior of the house. Ernie was kind enough to bring in the bins of decorations from the garage, since I really shouldn't be lifting anything that heavy.

I put up the Advent Calendar, to Sophia's delight. It was made by my mom and is the same as the one we had growing up. It is a felt Christmas tree with 24 pockets underneath which each hold one miniature ornament. On each pocket is a gold ribbon bow. Starting December 1, each day we pin the gold ribbon on the tree and hang the mini ornament from it. Sophia has so much fun decorating the Advent tree.

I also set up the Advent Wreath which was given to me by a co-worker who had an extra at home. On Sunday evening, before Sophia's bedtime, we read from the Bible and said a prayer after lighting the first candle for advent, symbolizing Hope. Ernie and I participated in this ceremony at our church growing up and wanted to continue it in our home. Hopefully, it will help Sophia to understand that Christmas is more than presents.

And new this year is my Willow Tree Nativity! I have had my eye on it for a few years, but was unwilling to spend the money to buy it. Ernie's parents bought two parts for me for Christmas last year, and I am so glad to be able to put it out.

Of course, there are also candles everywhere, which Sophia loves to help "turn on" and also blow out. Funny story: when a candle burned out recently she came to me and said "Uh oh mama, the candle not working." Luckily we don't have to worry about her getting into the candles. She burned herself on her first birthday candle, and I don't think she's forgotten.

Thankful

I know, it's a few days late, but I finally have had enough rest to put together a coherent post about Thanksgiving.

While I LOVE Christmas and the Christmas season, I feel bad for Thanksgiving. Everywhere you look the day after Halloween, Christmas is in full swing. Thanksgiving barely gets a mention from retailers, and it's too bad, because Thanksgiving is an important holiday.

Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect on the blessings received over the past year. We truly are blessed, and while it is important to be thankful for those blessings each and every day, Thanksgiving is a good reminder to stop and say thanks.

So, here is a list of some things I am grateful for, in no particular order, and by no means exhaustive: a wonderful husband who is truly my partner in life, a happy and healthy daughter who makes me smile daily, another baby on the way, great family and friends, a warm home, a stocked fridge and pantry, job security, hot chocolate, Sophia's laundry fairy, Subway sandwiches, A&W Rootbeer, Tivo, my dishwasher (even though it's ghetto, it's better than handwashing!).

Just One!

I had my first OB appointment today, and it is confirmed that we are having just one baby. There were some who thought maybe, since I'm already showing and wearing maternity clothes, there might be two (or more!) babies. Thankfully (from my perspective) there is just one.

Currently I am at 11 weeks, 5 days gestation, putting my due date on June 11, 2009. My doctor congratulated me on a due date before summer - he cracks me up! If the due date holds then I'll probably have a C-section around June 4, 2009. The schedule works well, as Ernie can take the 4th and 5th off, plus the next week, and be able to return to school for the last two days of the year. He'll be able to get grades done and clean up his classroom for the summer.

My doctor is happy with how things look right now. The baby moved around quite a bit during the ultrasound and even waved once. Of course, it promptly moved out of the way and we didn't get a picture of the wave. Looks like already this kid might be uncooperative! ;)

According to babycenter.com, the baby is nearly the size of a lime. In the pictures we got from the ultrasound, the image is nearly life-size. It's so crazy to think that it is so small, yet already has hands and feet that we can see!

Computer Whiz

Sophia LOVES the computer. What kid doesn’t? She gets especially excited when she gets to play a game on the computer. She recently started “getting” the mouse, and has been able to move it with purpose. Ernie found a game on the Sesame Street website, Peekaboo, that Sophia can play all by herself. In the game, the characters hide and when a key is pressed (any number or letter) they pop out and say “Peekaboo!” Sophia was so proud of herself that she was able to play the game without any help!

Well, then I decided to try teaching her how to push the mouse buttons. She has another favorite game on the PBSKids website, Everything Must Go, where Curious George sorts items into three bins. For a while she has been able to move the mouse to indicate the correct bin, and then I push the button for her. Well the other day I showed her how to hold the mouse in place with one hand and push the button with the other. When it worked, she beamed from ear to ear.

Of course now Ernie and I are concerned that we have created a monster of sorts. We’re afraid that she’ll be outsmarting us in computer skills in no time. And we’ll turn into those parents who have no idea what MySpace is or what their kids are posting on it.

Happy 30th Ernie!

That's right, today Ernie became OLD. I don't mean to offend anyone of an age older than 30, but Ernie just feels old today. Well, truth be told, he's been talking about how old he feels for the last 6-7 years. I told him I was sick of hearing about it and he wasn't allowed to complain about being "old" until he turned 30. I am now regretting that remark in part, wishing I'd set the age older than 30. Oh well.

But, he certainly doesn't act old. I mean really, he still plays video games, begs for new video games, and reads comic books. How old can he be?

To celebrate we had dinner at Applebee's and got ice cream at Dairy Queen. We are planning another celebration with Ernie's family this weekend, complete with German chocolate cake. I feel bad that I don't have the energy to celebrate properly with a party. I didn't even have the energy to make a cake! But Ernie is wonderful and even lied and told me he had a great birthday. I know it was not the best, but hopefully I'll be able to make it up to him with a spectacular party next year!

Ernie, I love you, and wish you a very happy birthday!

Sunday Morning Pancakes

Whenever family or friends were visiting from out-of-town for a weekend, my grandpa made pancakes on that Sunday. I have many fond memories around my grandparents’ kitchen table enjoying pancakes and bacon with family. Grandpa made the best pancakes!

Well, we have re-started that family tradition in our house. We have recently started making pancakes for breakfast on Sundays, especially if Chris and Marilyn are here for the weekend. (I don’t make bacon though. Pancakes are enough for me.) The best part is that it makes it easier to get out of bed on the weekend, knowing that there is a reward of pancakes in the kitchen.

Usually, Sophia and I are in charge of pancake breakfast while everyone else sleeps. While I make the pancakes, she gets to work setting the table. Then, when everything is ready, I send her to wake up the rest of the house. They can’t get mad at a cute little girl knocking on their doors to wake them up, especially for pancakes!

Pregnancy Update

Well, we had a bit of a scare last night when I noticed that I was bleeding a bit. I immediately called the on-call doctor to get a professional opinion. She confirmed that it was completely normal at this stage in my pregnancy to experience a little bit of bleeding. She said that it might last for a day or two, but not to be concerned unless it got worse. I knew that in my head, but had a hard time getting my heart to understand!

Of course, I was completely freaked out. But Ernie was so calm, and exactly what I needed. He reassured me that the doctor was right and we had nothing to worry about. He hung out with me until I fell asleep. And he never showed a flicker of his own anxiety (though I'm sure he felt some). For those of you who know Ernie well, such a task was not easy for him, and I am so grateful for his calmness.

***Update*** In response to a question left in the comment section...We did not go to church this weekend, as we planned to go this morning. But then I was too freaked out to go anywhere. Instead, Ernie took care of Sophia so that I could have some quiet time. I reflected on Phil 4:2-9 and was reminded not to be anxious but to bring everything to the Lord. So I did and immediately felt calmer. God even gave me a sign that all would be well - I felt a flutter in my stomach similar to what it would feel like to feel a baby move. I know that's not what I felt, since this baby is about the size of a blueberry and I wouldn't be able to feel it move yet, but it was just what I needed. God is good!

Things are going much better today, and I am really glad that we had no plans for today except a few chores (which I have put off until Tuesday). I have been able to relax and calm my nerves.

Other pregnancy-related items:
I am craving Subway sandwiches and apple juice. In an effort to save our budget, Ernie bought me Haggen hoagie rolls and deli meat so that I could make my own sub sandwiches for much cheaper.
I do not enjoy macaroni and cheese at this point. Just thinking about it makes my stomach turn. I tried to get past it, to no avail. I am making my peace with it.
I am still tired, but able to sleep better these days, so am not as tired as I have been. Yay!

Heathens No More!

That's right folks, the Dickasons finally attended church again. And we didn't burn upon re-entry! It's been so long that I can't remember the last time we went. How terrible is that? We didn't go at all this summer, as we were usually out-of-town or had plans. But we're two months into the school year, with our regular routine back, and we just didn't have an excuse anymore. So we went on Sunday morning. Sophia had a great time in Sunday school, and it was nice for us to be back at worship. I feel better already!

Trick or Treat!

Friday night we took Sophia trick-or-treating for the first time. Oh, was she excited! We have been talking about it for about a month or so. We started preparing her early, in hopes that if we talked about it enough she wouldn't be scared, and maybe she'd even say "thank you" after receiving candy. Well, all of the preparation worked because not only was she not scared, but nearly giddy with excitement!

We bought Sophia's costume at Old Navy, since they are practically snow suits and we knew she would be warm enough. And you just can't beat the price! I called home from Old Navy (by the way, whatever did we do before cell phones?) to see what costume Sophia would like best. Of course, without even seeing them, she picked the most froo-froo option - a pink poodle. She loved it once she saw it and couldn't wait until the big day!

Our friends were nice enough to let us come trick-or-treating with them. Our street is pretty quiet on Halloween (we got around 8 trick-or-treaters last year) and they live in a development with plenty of houses and sidewalks and streetlights. It was great! We all had dinner together and then got the kids dressed and ready. We couldn't even get a good picture of the two of them together because they were too excited to sit still!

So, off we went to trick-or-treat. All of that preparation did come in handy. The kids rang the doorbell and knocked on the doors and said "trick or treat" until the door was answered. They took their candy and said thank you (needing prompting only about half of the time). The best part was that at this point they just stood there, staring at the homeowner. We had to pull them away from the door and lead them to the next house. In all of our preparations, we never told them what to do at the end!

Sophia had such a great time. If she knew how, I think she would have been skipping down the street, she was having so much fun. She's talking about going trick-or-treating again. We told her there are LOTS of sleeps until the next time, so she will have to wait.

Time for Cookies!

One thing I love about holidays is the excuse to make sugar cookies. Halloween is no exception, as I have Halloween-themed cookie cutters. This time, though, Sophia got to help. She was so excited, counting down the sleeps until Cookie Day.

My sugar cookie recipe requires all day to complete cookies. Let me assure you, it is worth the effort! We started after breakfast by making the dough. Sophia very patiently filled the measuring cups with sugar, then flour (BIG THANKS to Ernie for running to the store for additional flour!). She learned how to crack eggs and we had just one minor shell incident. (My mom taught me to crack eggs into a clear glass container so that it’s easier to see if any shells get into the mixture. That piece of advice has come in handy on many occasions!) Once the dough is mixed, it goes into the fridge for a few hours.

After Sophia’s nap, we rolled out the cookie dough and cut it into pumpkin and ghost shapes. Of course, in typical toddler fashion, Sophia put the cookie cutter in the middle of the rolled dough. I think we got only two cookies out of that attempt. I then asked her to wait for me to help her. We baked the cookies, and set them aside to cool.

After dinner came the best part – frosting and sprinkles! Sophia did one cookie on her own, and then asked for help with the rest. She is a perfectionist (gets it from me!) and didn’t like the way hers turned out. So, I helped her get the frosting over the entire cookie, and then she chose sprinkles and added them sparingly. I’ve never seen a toddler be so “fiscally conservative” with sprinkles!

For snack time, we enjoyed a cookie each with milk. What a wonderful way to cap off a day of hard work!

Pumpkin Carving

Another family tradition was marked off the to-do list last Saturday – we carved pumpkins! Sophia loves pumpkins, and she was so excited to cut a face into hers. We cheat and print a template from the disk that came with our pumpkin carving tools. This year, Sophia got to choose the design.

First, I cut a hole in the top. Then, Ernie and Sophia get to work gutting the pumpkin. I really don’t care for that step in the process, so I leave it to them. Sophia has so much fun getting messy for this chore. Usually, she prefers to be clean, but somehow she can handle pumpkin guts. I say, good for her!

Then, Ernie hands the pumpkin off to me and Sophia and I carve it. Ernie doesn’t have the patience for this part of the process, so we make a great team. Sophia actually did a majority of the work – I just guide her hand in the right direction as she saws away!

We were glad to have Chris and Marilyn here for the weekend so we could all carve pumpkins together. We had a great time. Sophia especially enjoyed being up WAY past her bedtime!

Dickason to be Named Later

We recently found out that we will be adding to our family, around mid-June!!! We really couldn’t have planned it better, since Ernie will be finishing the school year at that time. Of course, I figured that God would think it funny to have my due date around the first of September, when Ernie would be returning to school. I’m glad that He agreed with me on this one!

When we told Sophia that mommy is going to have a baby, she asked to come. We think she thought I was going to go to the store to buy one. We told her the baby is in mommy’s tummy, and boy, did she look confused. So we sat down at the computer and showed her the pictures of me when I was pregnant with her. She said, “Mommy, that’s a big belly!” She sometimes thinks of the baby and asks to see it (look at mommy’s tummy) and talk to it.

I have my first doctor’s appointment at the end of November, and I will be sure to post pictures of the little one. No, we are not finding out the sex of the baby. (Ernie has been asking to find out the sex of this baby since before Sophia was born. I told him that he can find out when he carries the baby.) I have been feeling good so far, just very, very tired.

Please pray with us for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and baby.

Photography by Sophia

For Christmas last year, Sophia received a Fisher Price digital camera. I tell you, that thing is indestructible. It is designed for toddlers and young kids who have a tendency to drop things. Every now and then she asks for her camera and takes a few pictures. Well, recently, she started to get pretty good at it! She’s starting to actually take pictures of people and things, even if the people’s heads are cut off, or the things are barely in the frame. I have attached some of her best for your enjoyment. (That’s right, the camera comes with a USB cable so the pictures can be downloaded!)

Partylite, Anyone?

Hey, for those of you faithful readers in the Whatcom county area, I will be hosting a Partylite candle party at my house on Saturday, October 25th at 3pm. I'd love to see you, whether you want candles or not! Leave a comment if you need additional information...

Artwork

Recently Sophia decided to turn the bottom shelf of our “pantry” into a work of art. She got out her black crayon and went to work on her masterpiece. It is unclear when the drawing occurred. I think it was an evening when I was taking a nap and Ernie was in charge, though he insists it didn't happen then. Either way, my mom noticed it and got to the bottom of things. When she asked Sophia if she had done it, she proudly said yes. She was told that it wasn’t a good choice.

When I got home from work I asked her about it and again she confirmed that she had done the deed. So, I put her to work with a sponge to clean up the mess. I immediately regretted not taking a picture of the “artwork” and barely got the camera in time to get a picture of the cleanup. I hope that I missed my one chance to capture such shenanigans, but I’m not holding my breath.

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we headed to a local pumpkin patch for a fun fall tradition. (Does two years in a row count as a tradition?) We went to Stoney Ridge Farm to see the sights. They really have quite a setup, and if you live near us, we highly recommend you check it out. We started by walking through the bin maze (smaller, easier version of a corn maze for the kiddos), and let Sophia direct us. She was quite good and got us out of there in no time! Then it was off to see the animals.

We saw a few miniature horses, chickens, goats, turkeys, peacocks, full-size horses, a cow, and some rabbits (just like on Curious George!). They have a pulley system for feeding the goats, and ramps to send food down for the turkeys and peacocks. Sophia had a blast, but was a bit bummed when the animals didn’t come to eat. Too bad for her we were there 45 minutes after opening – I’m sure the animals were all stuffed after being fed continuously for that long!

After the animals Sophia got to ride the little train pulled by a mini engine and consisting of cars made from plastic barrels. She got to ride by herself and was feeling pretty proud. She looked a bit freaked out at the end, but I think she enjoyed herself mostly.

Then it was off to the pumpkin patch, courtesy of a hayride! Sophia was so excited to see so many pumpkins all in one place. She LOVES pumpkins. We wandered through the pumpkins for quite awhile. We decided to bite the bullet and pay the extraordinary amount and buy one pumpkin for Sophia. (Ernie and I will pick out cheaper pumpkins at the grocery store later.) It was such a fun day for all, and especially for us parents watching our daughter enjoy herself so much.

Sophia’s Laundry Fairy

Unlike the toilet paper fairy, Sophia’s laundry fairy actually exists. Since she started watching Sophia when I went back to work, my mom has washed Sophia’s laundry faithfully every Wednesday. I am sure that I can count on my fingers the number of times I have washed Sophia’s laundry. Those times include only when Sophia has transitioned from one size to the next, or when she has been sick enough to require her laundry to be washed ASAP. And not only does my mom wash Sophia’s laundry, but she folds it too! I know that I have a super-sweet deal, and I try very hard not to take it for granted. THANK YOU MOM!!!

Swimming!

Tonight my mom and I took Sophia to the local swimming pool for an hour of "swimming". Of course, Sophia doesn't know how to swim. In fact, it usually takes a few moments of screaming before she'll even get in the water. My mom was trying to talk her into getting into the pool and she looked to me for help. So I picked her up, walked her in a few feet, and put her body in the water. Sure, she hated it for a bit, but then she was all smiles and had a great time! We mostly just hung out, watching the big kids come down the water slide and shoot out into the water. The other big excitement for Sophia? The inflatable Spongebob Squarepants hanging from the ceiling. Pretty boring for the adults, but a great time for Sophia. It's too bad she's too young to appreciate the sacrifices I make for her...

Shopping with Sophia

Last weekend Sophia and I headed out to run errands and shop for groceries together. Usually this chore is reserved for Ernie, but he was mowing the lawn instead. Our first stop was Old Navy for more 4T pants (that’s right, my 2-1/2 year old is in 4T!) since two pairs that I bought are just too long and won’t stay rolled up. Sophia had so much fun. She actually picked out both things we bought, and asked for a few more. She turned her nose up at a few of my suggestions even (is this a sign of things to come?). She was so excited to carry her own shopping bag, even if it was dragging on the floor.

I know that most parents don't enjoy taking their kids along on errands and shopping trips, but Ernie and I actually prefer taking Sophia with us. She definitely adds more fun to a very mundane chore!

Train Show

Today we went to Lynden to see the Model Train Show, held at the fairgrounds. Sophia was so excited to go see the trains. Ever since we started talking about it, she has been asking, “How many sleeps until trains?” She woke up this morning ready to go see the trains!

Sophia was so excited once she saw all of the trains, I thought the room must have been depleted of oxygen, she gasped so much. It was so much fun to see the excitement on her face when the trains would go by. They had model trains of every scale, from the itty-bitty trains to large trains (from say 1 inch tall to about 6 inches tall). The detail of some of the set-ups was amazing. I can’t imagine the amount of time those folks put into their displays. They even had a little train to ride! We of course took a ride on the train.

In the middle of the hall was a train of about four cars, large enough for Sophia to climb all over. She really wanted to get on that train and check it out but we told her no, she was not to touch it. Then, just before we left there were other kids climbing all over the thing, and we figured if they hadn’t been stopped yet, it must be okay. So, Fia got a chance to climb on the train and even paused for a photo op.

Cheerleader Sophia

Recently Sophia found her pom-pons in her toy box and started “cheering” with them. We kept trying to get her to say “Go Seahawks!” but she refused. What does she cheer for? “Go Movies!” I guess she likes watching movies more than she likes watching football. Ernie is working on changing her mind…

Family Game Night

Ernie’s family had a tradition of family game night. They would choose a Friday night to play games together. Usually, there was junk food involved, and staying up late. And usually both he and his sister each got to choose a game to play. That tradition continues even though Ernie and his sister are both adults. Whenever we visit Ernie’s parents (or they visit us) there is usually one evening set aside for games. When Ernie and I were first dating and I found out about game night, I was excited, since my family liked to play games together. Some of my best memories with my extended family center around playing games at family gatherings.

Well, we had our first family game night recently. Sophia noticed her Memory game on the shelf in her closet and asked about it. She received it as a birthday gift, but was too young to play it, so in the closet it has sat for eight months. When I told her it was a game, she got very excited and asked if she could play. So, we gave it a try.

We decided to make it easy on ourselves and only used 16 of the cards. Sophia did pretty well the first round, when the matches were all next to each other and she got a lot of help. The second round the cards were mixed up more, and she started to lose patience. But we still had fun. And she’s still talking about it!

And I am proud of us for continuing a wonderful family tradition.

Curves!

With the start of the new school year means a return to my normal 8-4:30 work schedule. Which means that I can also return to my regular workout at my local Curves. I know, I know. I’m thin and I don’t need to work out. But I tell you what, as I approach the big 3-0, I DO need to work out. My bathroom scale will agree that my workouts have been missed! Not only has my waistline suffered, but I’ve also missed the gals that I work out with. And I do feel better and more energized when I’m done. Sure there are days when I want that extra 30 minutes of sleep, but it’s definitely worth the effort to get out of bed.

Safety First!

This weekend Sophia and I went grocery shopping. We have taught her, since she was very young, that once she is out of the car that she is to keep her hands on the car until one of us takes her hand. We explain to her that doing so will keep her safe.

So, I took her out of the car at Costco, and took her hand to walk into the store. And she said, "Thank you Mama for keeping me safe." I melted.

Booster Seat? I Don’t Need No Stinking Booster Seat!

That’s right, my little girl isn’t so little anymore. Sophia recently decided that she no longer needed her booster seat at the table. I nearly shed a tear. Not only for the fact that my little girl is growing up, but also because I am no longer able to strap her in when she’s being obstinate.

American Idol 2022

If the show is still around by then, I think Sophia might be a contestant on American Idol in 2022. Usually, she doesn’t like singing. She doesn’t like to sing at song time in the mornings with her friends, and she certainly doesn’t like it when Ernie or I sing (not that I can blame her on that one!). That all changed last Thursday night.

She brought out the holder for her top (a toy top made out of wood by Ernie’s uncle) and turned it into a microphone. After interviewing Ernie and me, she put on a show for us. And what a show it was! Complete with two rounds of the ABC’s, followed by an original song about a boat, and then another original song about a helicopter. (These songs were just the words “boat” and “helicopter” repeated over and over to an unrecognizable tune.) We wished we had had the video camera handy, but knew that she’d stop as soon as we got it out. So instead, we just enjoyed her performance.

They're Ba-ack!

That's right, the bugs are back. Argh! What does a girl have to do to get rid of these disgusting super-bugs? No, seriously, suggestions are welcome here.

After giving Sophia a bath on Tuesday night, I was combing her hair, and I saw one. Just one, thankfully, which meant that the problem had been caught early. So, after fighting my urge to cry, back in the bath she went, this time with the pesticide shampoo. Then a very thorough comb-through while watching Monsters Inc. Of course while I'm working on details, Ernie is working on laundry and vacuuming. I sent him to the store for a bottle of anti-lice spray to spray on everything that couldn't be washed, bagged-up, or vacuumed.

So, it was another late night for Sophia, by the time her hair was taken care of. Of course, she REFUSED to sleep without her Dora blankie and pillow, which were in the wash. Literally, the girl who loves to sleep would not sleep until the blankie and pillow were clean and available for use. Ernie and I set to work getting the house cleaned up and, hopefully, the bugs killed once and for all.

Then, just as we were heading to bed after midnight, Sophia woke up with a bad dream and a soaked diaper. So I got to change her sheets yet again, along with her clothes, and get her calmed down and back to sleep an hour later. We had a few hours of sleep before another bad dream hit (I think re-living the torture of being rinsed with the shower head - she hates it!) and it took another while for her to get to sleep.

Ernie had already put in for a sub for the next day, so that I could work (and save some sick leave, and get my work done since deadlines are rapidly approaching). The idea was for him to get up with Sophia and be the one to finish laundry the next day. However, in reality, the man snores, and doesn't hear Sophia until well after I've already woken up. So the plan for him to help Sophia so I could sleep didn't work out as well as we had hoped. But he did help once he did wake up, and he did do laundry the next day, so it worked in part.

I can't wait to get the utility bills after all of this laundry!

Please Meet our Maid, Sophia

Toddlers are definitely a mixed bag. On one hand, I really love that Sophia is becoming more independent with each day. It truly does make my life easier. But there are times when that independence is not appropriate. Such as when she wants to decide what to eat for dinner (she eats what we eat, no exceptions) or insists on performing a task that she just simply cannot do.

However, I embrace, even encourage, her desire to help with housework. Since she was able, she has been expected to clean up her dishes after dinner. She is quite proud of herself after putting her dishes in the sink, her milk in the fridge, and her napkin (yes, she uses a napkin) in the garbage. The other day after cleaning her place at the table, she asked if she could clean my place. Of course, I let her. As a reward, she was given a whole ice cream sandwich for snack. Now she is eager to help with setting the table and clearing the table. Now if only she were tall enough to use a broom and mop…

Football Season is Here!

Ernie has always been a football fan. He has many fond memories of spending Saturdays and Sundays watching football with his dad. In fact, back in the day when college bowl games were all played on January 1st, they would program the TV to show only those channels that were showing a football game. But I digress…

Unlike many wives I know, I embrace football season. I know enough about it to follow a game and understand what’s going on. Okay, I’ll NEVER understand why any team runs the ball up the middle, but I understand the rest. (Seriously, do they not see the big pile of guys in the middle that will inevitably stop all forward progress of the ball? Am I the only one who sees this coming?) What’s more, is that it is actually FUN to sit down and watch a game or two with Ernie.

I’ve gotten the fever so bad that I even have a fantasy football team. It all started by default last year, when Ernie’s league needed one more team in order to do a live draft, literally at the last minute. He originally thought he would run both teams, but I objected. I was not about to let him sully my good reputation with a (possibly) mediocre fantasy team. No, if that team was going down, it was going to be of MY doing, not his. Well, I made it to the playoffs – I beat out a few boys to get there! Now I’m hooked, and I have a team again this year. (Please see my team's record on the left.) I still don’t know who most of my players are, but I’m trying. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I do research or participate in a live draft (Yahoo does a fine job in my opinion) but it is still fun.

With participating in fantasy football and March Madness pools, I think I have a shot at Best Sports Wife Ever. I think if I could just get into mixed martial arts I’d definitely win, but I’m just not that dedicated.

Craig Ferguson Show

For those who don't remember, while on vacation in Southern California, my mom and I went to a taping of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. They taped the show for that evening, as well as parts of the Labor Day show. Well, my mom and I were on the Labor Day show! You can see us in the bottom right corner of the screen, clapping as the show returns from commercial. I have a white and brown shirt on, and my mom is to my left wearing a striped shirt. I am not technologically savvy, so I have added the entire clip, though we only show up for the first 4 seconds or so. I think that means I have about 11 seconds of fame left!

Why I LOVE my husband…

Let me count the ways. Oh wait, there are too many reasons to count! I have a husband who willingly, even joyfully sometimes, jumps in and helps out. If he’s not sure what needs to be done, he asks! (Jealous yet, ladies?) He cooks on non-school days, he cleans up dinner everyday, he does laundry, he vacuums, he mows the lawn (okay, not so joyful about that chore), he takes out the garbage and recycling, he empties the Diaper Champ, he bathes Sophia, he does the grocery shopping…I could go on and on. Even on a day when he’s feeling a little yucky, he still helps out. He really is my help-meet, and I couldn’t ask for better! Love ya, babe!

Big Girl Underwear

Notice the post is not entitled "Potty Training". We have been talking with Sophia about potty training for about a year now. It started when she first showed interest in the toilet - what it is, what it is for, etc. We bought a potty seat (our bathroom is too small for a separate potty chair) and encouraged her to sit on it and try it out. We were so excited when she used it for its intended purpose a few times at the beginning. We thought, "Wow, this is much easier than we expected." WRONG! After those first few tries, she didn't want anything to do with the potty for quite a while.

We often ask Sophia if she wants to sit on the potty. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't. She gets an M&M each time she sits on it. She has been told that she will get a Dreyers Dibs whenever she actually goes potty on it. But we don't push. There really is no sense in pushing the subject. I learned when I worked at the daycare in college that kids feel control over two things: inputs and outputs. I know that pushing potty training is a losing battle.

Fast-forward to Friday evening. She started asking about Big Girl Underwear. I'm not sure why. Maybe because she had seen the episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 where the sextuplet girls potty train a few times recently. She talked about it all evening, saying she wanted to wear Big Girl Underwear. So, that night I washed her Big Girl Underwear.

We started Saturday morning with Curious George undies and hoped for the best. They didn't last long before they were seriously messed. We tried again with Disney Princess undies, this time with absorbent plastic pants over them. Sophia ended up soaked from head to toe. At this point I was out running errands and Ernie wasn't in the mood for any more messes without my help, so he put her in a diaper. She has not asked about Big Girl Underwear since. I just hope she wants to try the Big Girl Underwear again before she grows out of them!

Being Thankful

Monday night as I was combing through Sophia's hair to remove all bugs, nits, and eggs (and again Tuesday morning as I made SURE that all bugs, nits and eggs had been removed), even through her wailing, Sophia said "Thank You" for getting the bugs out of her hair. I nearly melted.

Sophia made me think of a verse that is sometimes difficult to follow: give thanks in all circumstances... (1 Thes 5:18) I was amazed at the way God was using my little girl to teach me. It is hard, in difficult times, to be thankful. But I was able to find some silver linings in our difficulty. I am grateful for a husband who is my teammate, and is willing to jump in and help out wherever he can. I am grateful that my house is now cleaner than it was before. I am grateful for a daughter who can be grateful even when miserable.

I figure I must be doing something right if my 2-1/2 year old can be thankful in the midst of hardship.

Pretty Cute!

So the other day I told Sophia she was cute. She disagreed. I asked, in disbelief, "You don't think you're cute?" She said, "Not cute. Pretty." So we all agreed that she was pretty.

Later in the day I told her she was pretty. She said, "Not pretty. Cute." I told her she needed to choose an adjective for the day and stick with it.

She goes back and forth between pretty and cute, being contrary just for the sake of being contrary. So I have decided that every day, all day, she is pretty cute!

Lice!

Oh my goodness. We had hoped that we wouldn't ever have to deal with this problem. Or if we did, that we wouldn't have to deal with it until Sophia was in grade school. But no, we have already had our first bout with lice. Yuck!

We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We had no plans or houseguests - a rarity for us! I had big plans to get some much needed, much belated, spring cleaning done. And we wanted to do some shopping, watch a movie, and relax. We were able to accomplish most of our list. I had one major project to complete, which I planned to do after dinner Monday. Then came the bugs. So much for tidying the office. (Not that I wanted to tidy the office, but I would have preferred that job to dealing with lice!)

I noticed that Sophia seemed to scratch her head a bit earlier in the day. But, she was overdue for a bath, and the weather had just changed, so I figured she just had an itchy scalp. But then, just before dinner I took a peak at her head and said "Oh crap!"

I made a run to Rite-Aid for some lice-killing chemicals, and as soon as dinner was over, we sprang into action. While Ernie handled leftovers and cleaned up dinner (including unloading and loading the dishwasher!) I put Sophia in the bath. Then after the bath, I combed out Sophia's hair - for TWO HOURS! (I am grateful that Sophia has fine, thin hair, as I can only imagine what it would have been like had her hair been longer or thicker.) While I was doing that, Ernie went to work cleaning her room and the rest of the house. Laundry was started immediately, followed by vacuuming, bagging up all stuffed animals, and spraying any fabric that could not be bagged up or thrown in the wash. I have to say, we really do make a good team.

Sophia was quite a trooper through most of the torture. She lost it toward the end and screamed that she was done, and she really just wanted to be held. She got ice cream for her trouble once she calmed down enough to want some. The poor thing was up two hours past her bedtime! And she now has a new word in her vocabulary - crap. She likes to say that she has crap in her hair. We tried to explain that crap is a word for grownups and mommy should not have said it. We tried explaining what it meant, in hopes that she would not use it anymore. But no, it is her new favorite word.

Bye Bye Pacifier

They're gone, the pacifiers are gone! I, for one, am excited. Sophia, on the other hand, not so much.

I have been trying for over a year to remove all pacifiers from my house, without success. When I first suggested it, Ernie said that Sophia was too young and it would be too traumatic for her, so we waited. Then we actually tried it once, to no avail. Sophia was so stubborn, she literally wouldn't sleep without it. (And for those who don't know, I am not a softie when it comes to Sophia's sleep habits. I let her cry.) Out of concern for her health and general well-being, I gave in and gave the pacifier back.

This time, we decided that the time was right for Sophia to lose the paci. She has only used it for sleeping, car rides, and illness for quite awhile now. Often, she loses it in her sleep and couldn't care less. And she is old enough to understand what is happening. We decided to wait until after our vacation (we really wanted it for the airplane and to avert meltdowns - and we were glad we waited!) and for a 3-day weekend (so Sophia would be over any withdrawals by the time my mom was in charge).

We prepped her for about a week. We read a book about it. Sophia noticed a baby in a store who was crying and declared that said baby needed a paci. We talked about sending her pacifiers to babies who needed them, like the baby in the store. Ernie took a great opportunity on Friday to gather her pacifiers (well, the ones he could find) and have her put them in an envelope. Then they walked to the mailbox and put them in the mail. She was so proud of herself!

Then bedtime came. She wailed for an hour, but then was asleep. It was a terrible hour, but we all made it through it. The next day at naptime, she cried for her paci for about 15 minutes before giving up and going to sleep. Again at bedtime Saturday, she whined for a bit, and then fell asleep.

Then naptime on Sunday came. She had a meltdown. Not about the pacifier though - she wanted "jam jams" for naptime. I calmly explained that no, we don't wear jam jams for naptime, only bedtime. Well, she LOST IT. She went from sweet Sophia to devil-spawn in 0.3 seconds. I don't know if I have ever heard her cry like that before. It truly was a bit scary.

Now the pacifier is but a distant memory. I just hope that the other memories of Sophia's baby-hood do not become too distant too soon.

Light vs. Dark

Here at the Dickason house, one member of the family has started a question for the optimist vs. pessimist debate. Just like the glass-half-full vs. glass-half-empty debate, Sophia questions whether the light is on or the dark is off.

She has recently grown tall enough to turn lights on and off and has been given permission to do so. However, she refers to this job as turning the dark off and on. No matter if we correct her, she is adamant that she is turning the dark off and on.

And honestly, between her choice in dark vs light and her affinity for her black crayon, we are concerned that we have a 2-1/2 year old going through a goth phase. And we're not sure what to do about it. We weren't prepared to deal with such a phase for at least another ten years. We have not researched how to handle such a phase; we have not sought out the wisdom and guidance of parents of teenagers who are dealing with the same problems. I mean, I know that kids seem to be growing up too fast these days, but this is ridiculous.

First Head Injury

Poor Sophia. She experienced a couple of firsts this weekend that we wished she never had to. We were visiting Ernie's parents, and the girls (Ernie's grandma, Ernie's mom, Sophia and I) were outside on the patio. Sophia was attempting to climb onto the picnic table bench to sit down, and in a very un-Sophia-like fashion, she slipped and fell. And her head went CRACK on the concrete patio. Oh, it was loud. I still shudder when I think about it. It was her first major fall, and it was a doozy.

She got her first goose-egg with that fall. We noticed after a bit that her head was in fact bleeding, though thankfully not much. At this point I decided that I needed the opinion of a medical professional in order to sleep that night. Ernie protested, but I won with the help of his grandma and parents who agreed it was better to be safe than sorry. He was simply out-numbered.

So, off to Sophia's first visit to urgent care. We were there before it even opened for the evening, which meant we were seen quickly. We were prepared for a long wait with the ever-present baseball backpack, filled with distractions. Too bad Sophia didn't care about her toys, but instead just wanted to sit on my lap and suck on her pacifier (and drool all over me in the process).

Turns out Sophia was fine. The cut on her head was too small to require stitches (thank goodness) and she seemed to be free from concussion or any similar ailment. However, to be on the safe side, the doctor told us to wake Sophia up every hour until 12 hours had passed from the time of injury, to make sure she didn't develop a concussion while sleeping.

Remember how I wanted to seek medical attention so that I would be able to sleep that night? Fat lot of good that did me! Ernie, his mom, and I took turns getting up and rousing Sophia. (Ernie's dad did not help with the overnight duties as he is on crutches. We were all jealous that he got a good night's sleep, though not jealous that he currently requires crutches to get around.) Usually I am very grateful that Sophia is a good sleeper. But when it took a few minutes to rouse her from sleep enough to ensure that she did not have a concussion, I wished she slept just a bit more lightly than she did.

The bump is still there, though much smaller than it was. And I think we have all caught up on the sleep we missed. I just wish I could get that sound out of my head...

SoCal Vacation - Day Eight

Today we are headed home! Yay! While I was bummed to see the vacation end, I was also ready to return to normal life, my own bed, and an easier schedule.

Our flight didn't leave until 2:00pm, so we had a fairly easy morning of packing our suitcases, and then the real challenge of getting all of the people and suitcases into the van. We made it though! We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, and security was a breeze since the airport is pretty small. We ate lunch while we waited to board our plane and didn't have much time to spare (or time to get bored).

We had an uneventful flight (Sophia slept through take-off) and landed early in Seattle. We headed home and were so glad when we made it there. Sophia was happy to see Milo, and happy to be able to sleep in her own bed. It had been a great vacation, but we were very glad to be home!

We want to say thanks to my dad and KJ for all they did to make the vacation happen, to my mom for providing the condo, to my sister for driving 5+ hours each way, and to our roommate for bringing in our mail and keeping Milo alive and making sure our house was still standing when we returned. We had a wonderful trip and we couldn't have done it without you.

SoCal Vacation - Day Seven

Our last day in Southern California. It was another early morning, though everyone had trouble getting going. Today was our day to spend at Disney California Adventure (DCA). But first, we had a couple of hours to kill at Disneyland.

DCA opens at 10:00am, while Disneyland opens at 8:00am. So, we headed to Disneyland at 8:00am to have one last chance to ride some of our favorite rides. First it was off to Tomorrowland, and Buzz Lightyear. My dad and step-mom missed out on Buzz the first time, and really wanted to ride it. We rode it once while waiting for KJ to get her glasses fixed (the first aid center at Disneyland is prepared for anything including eyeglass repair!). Then we met up with Dad and KJ and they rode it with the rest of the group while Sophia, my niece, and I rode the Astro-Orbiter. Then it was off to the Matterhorn. Sophia said she wanted to ride it, but then changed her mind once she saw it. Next was another turn on Dumbo.

And then, DCA! My sister, her kids, and Ernie were all excited for DCA since it had more roller coasters (or roller coatser as Sophia says). We started with Soarin over California. That is an AWESOME ride. It feels like you're hang-gliding over California. While I wasn't too keen on the heights in a few places, it was a great ride. Next we went to ride Monster's Inc. We liked it so much that we rode it twice!

After lunch we headed to Grizzly River Run and got our FASTPASSes to use later. Then it was off to Toy Story Mania. It was a 45-minute wait in the heat but it was worth it. Everyone had fun on this ride. (I don't think it was worth much more than a 45-minute wait. For anyone headed there in the near future, I would do this ride first unless they add a FASTPASS.) A few brave souls tried California Screamin while the rest of us enjoyed King Triton's Carousel.

It was starting to get hot, but we weren't eligible to ride Grizzly yet, so we headed to Muppet Vision 3-D since it would provide air conditioning! It was a fun show. Sophia got a kick out of it, as did the adults. My sister's kids were a bit bored, I think. My mom, my nephew, Sophia, and I headed to Turtle Talk with Crush (from Finding Nemo) while Ernie, my sister, and the rest of her kids headed to Tower of Terror. My dad and step-mom went shopping. We met up and headed to Grizzly and were glad for a chance to get cooled off!

We were ready for a break and headed back to the condo for naps. We sent my dad and step-mom out for dinner on their own, so they could have some time together. The rest of us ate the remaining sandwich fixin's for dinner before heading back to DCA. My dad and step-mom offered to stay at the condo with Sophia for the evening. A few rode Tower of Terror and California Screamin again. My mom, my nephew and I watched the Electrical Light Parade (which I remember from my first visit to Disneyland). Then we headed back to Disneyland, after DCA closed at 9:00pm.

We attempted to ride Space Mountain, but the line was 45 minutes and we didn't want to wait that long. We headed to Big Thunder Mountain, but it was closed. That left Splash Mountain, which a few brave souls rode. I took two of my nephews on the Winnie the Pooh ride. Then it was late, and we were all tired and heading towards cranky, so we decided to call it a night and head back to the condo.

SoCal Vacation - Day Six

Thursday was a great day. We had little planned, so we had another day to get some extra rest. This time, I actually got to rest along with everyone else! In fact, my mom and sister suggested that Sophia go to their room in the morning so that Ernie and I could have some time to hang out, just the two of us, and be free of parental responsibility for a few hours. Thanks again!

After a morning of relaxing, we headed to the pool. I had yet to see Sophia play in the pool since every other time I had been out running errands. I was excited to see how she'd do. Well, it was a fight to get her to the pool. She didn't want to stop watching Spongebob Squarepants,(seriously, do they put subliminal messages in that show? It's like crack for preschoolers!) or put on her swimsuit, or put on sunscreen, or even walk to the pool. Then, once we got her in the pool, she had a great time. She had so much fun, we had a similar fight to get her out of the pool.

After the pool we had lunch and took naps. Then it was off to LA, this time with the whole group in the 15-passenger van. I am proud to say that I made it through LA during rush hour in a 15-passenger van! Why were we headed to LA? To see a Dodger game! When we started planning the trip, we thought about going to LegoLand. Ernie and I decided that Sophia probably wouldn't care about LegoLand, and we thought we'd go to a Dodger game instead. Well, everyone thought that sounded like more fun, so we all went. (Some might wonder why we didn't just go down the street from Disneyland to see an Angels game. But, they were playing the Mariners, and we can see the Mariners lose to the Angels anytime. And Dodger Stadium is more interesting and has more history.)

We had GREAT seats, in the top level, right behind home plate. We could see the whole ball park from our seats! It was a great game too! Now Ernie and I have checked off "Dodger Stadium" from our list of ball parks to visit. (Okay, we don't really have a list, but whenever we vacation to a baseball city, we like to go to a game if we can. We enjoy visiting other baseball stadiums, but we don't necessarily need to see them all. For instance, I can't think of a reason to visit Detroit, so we probably won't ever see that stadium.)

Before the game Sophia found a pink baseball bag at the teamstore. She HAD to have it, and she and I were able to talk Ernie into buying it. She loves that bag, and now likes to pack it with toys and take it with her wherever she goes. After the game, Sophia had a MAJOR meltdown when we wouldn't let her walk down the stairs all by herself. It was fine to let her walk up the stairs before the game, since there weren't many people around, and we weren't causing any delays. But when the whole ballpark empties at once, no one wants to wait for a 2-year-old to walk down the steps. Oh, did she scream! And kick! I noticed the look of pity in the eyes of other moms who had obviously been there before.

SoCal Vacation - Day Five

We're going to the zoo, zoo zoo. We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. Wednesday was another early morning so that we could make it to the San Diego Zoo when it opened. We nearly made it (I NEEDED coffee this morning, since I was tired and I was driving!) by the time the gates opened. We were glad that it was overcast, and there were a few sprinkles, and the temperature was mild.

Since we were at the zoo early, most of the animals were active. We saw the flamingos, tigers, hippos, okapis, and monkeys. Then it was off to see the pandas. Sophia was super-excited to see Kung Fu Panda at the zoo. We were lucky that we could see all three pandas (including the baby panda Zhen Zhen). Then we headed to see the polar bears and the zebras. Then we had some lunch, followed by the big cats and the meerkats. The meerkats are much smaller than they look on TV. (I guess the camera really does add ten pounds!)

By this point, Sophia was asleep, which was too bad since she missed the other animals she was excited about - elephants and giraffes. Then it was off to see the koala bears, the other bears, the lions and more of the monkey family. After a quick stop at the gift shop for souvenirs and bathroom breaks, we were done with the zoo. We made it through the zoo before it became too crowded or too hot. I was impressed with the wide range of animals they have at the zoo. I think they have nearly everything!

We made it back to Anaheim for dinner at Denny's (next to our hotel) and an evening in. My sister was awesome and washed my laundry for me that night so that I could get to sleep early. Thanks Brookee!