Our Little Beastie Blog

Thursday, January 30, 2020

11 Reasons We Go To Disneyland (Again And Again)

"They're too young to remember."
"It's so expensive."
"They can't do the big rides."
"It's so exhausting."
"There's so many other, cooler, places to go."

We've heard all kinds of reasons not to do a Disney vacation. In passing, online, or directly to our faces. Here's the thing though - you can tell us how Disney is a megacorp who owns everything and is ruining arts for everyone and we won't even 100% disagree with that - but this family will still go to Disneyland right now. Kind of a lot.

Of course, we'll go other places too. When the kids get older, Disney vacations will probably be less frequent and longer trips with more varied destinations will crop up. For now, an hour flight to the happiest place on Earth is too easy to pass up.

Everett, Obie O, and Stitch - February 2018

1. Toddlers have a blast at Disneyland.

Look, we waited until Everett was walking and that was probably a good choice. We've taken Imogen much younger incidentally, and she's always had a good time. There are tons of rides with no height requirement - more than 25, and we haven't even ridden them all yet in six trips. Then there are shows, parades, play areas, and characters. Our little kids have found big smiles in all those categories.

Will they have actual long-term memories of trips from when they were under three? No. Will we talk about it with them for weeks afterwards when they do remember? You bet. Will we have adorable pictures? YES WE WILL.

Riding Jessie's Critter Carousel (and loving it) - August 2019

2. It isn't too much work to schlep them around.

Elizabeth remembers saying she wouldn't take kids to Disney in a stroller. She was WRONG. Strollers are the best. A handy place for the kid to nap so you don't have to leave the park and a handy place to put all the stuff you need that no one wants to steal - like wipes, goldfish crackers, and extra kid clothes just in case.

Disneyland makes it EASY to have babies and toddlers there. Because they are smart. They have food our kids want to eat, changing tables everywhere, clean facilities, copious stroller parking, and you can even babywear on certain rides. It was a BREEZE having infant Imogen in the park and nursing her. We still haven't taken advantage of the Baby Center or taken a rest / nursing break in the Main Street Cinema for privacy and cooler air - two of the top tips we saw when researching "infant in Disneyland." Elizabeth just sat on a bench to nurse and people-watched while Chris and Everett rode a ride or something.

Meeting Mickey - February 2018

3. It's not cost-prohibitive.

Every family has to prioritize their spending. For us, we find it worth the money. Of course, if we had to do a cross-country flight we would see things differently. We're taking advantage of living close to Disneyland while we do - and Southwest fare sales.

Plus, the ability to stay with family instead of always requiring a hotel helps too.

Dumbo after dark (and sick of smiling for Mom) - August 2019

4. We can do it in a weekend.

We can do Disneyland in a long weekend, and that's how we like it. Yes, committing a full week and two weekends for a Disney vacation feels like a lot of time investment. Maybe we'll do that to go to WDW in a few years. For now, we usually take a four or five day weekend and have two park days. It's the perfect amount for our family right now. And it's one of the pluses of Disneyland over WDW - you CAN just take a day or two and not feel like you missed out on everything.

Watching "Mickey and the Magical Map" - February 2019

5. We can be more relaxed about "doing it all."

We'd be stressed six ways to Sunday if we tried to do it just once and do everything. We've been enough now that it is no big thing if we miss a few rides or shows, if something is closed for refurbishment, or if we just want a lower-key day. So we didn't ride "Peter Pan's Flight" - we'll catch it next time. Because we go frequently, there isn't that intense pressure to maximize every minute. Oh, the kids want to go play with some beads that hide a back door to a snack shop? Go for it.

Behind Fillmore's in Radiator Springs - February 2018 (and many times after that)

It means we take the time to see the live shows and savor treats and let the kids run around the playgrounds. And let us tell you - we've never been disappointed by the less flashy or famous attractions and activities they have.

Along the same lines - when the kids aren't tall enough to ride the "big rides," it frees up a lot of time for the less popular, but still magical, experiences.

Our first rodeo as Disneyland parents - April 2017

6. They are the right age for magic.

They still believe it. They can still be swept up in it. It is a whole new world experiencing those little eyes light up and those little jaws drop. Our hearts MELT. Big kids, teenagers, and young adults can all feel the Disney magic... but it's not like this for long.

Immy dances with Minnie - August 2019

7. They'll grow and the experience will change.

Everett just hit 40", so many of the new rides are available to him now. On his sixth trip to Radiator Springs in Disney California Adventure he was able to ride "Radiator Springs Racers" for the first time. Which he LOVED. He already loved Cars Land, and this new experience just made it that much better. There are still many of the "big rides" he hasn't tasted yet, and we're already excited about our next trip when we'll get to experience those with him.

In a couple years, Imogen will get the same experience of enjoying something she already loved THAT much more. And we'll love watching her.

Everett and Lightning McQueen - January 2020

8. We hang out with family.

Of all the trips we've had to Disneyland the past few years, exactly one park day was just our immediate family. We've had extended family with us on every other day. Chris's brother lives in SoCal, so it makes sense we've had the most park time with them. It's adorable to watch the cousins together.

For non-local family, sometimes it's nice to fly across the country and meet at a destination (like Disneyland!) instead of just hanging out with us in San Jose. Both are nice, but it's a good option with a built in plan of what we're going to do. We've been in Disneyland now with all of Chris's immediate family and all of Elizabeth's.

Thoma cousins - October 2018

9. Holidays at Disneyland bring EXTRA magic.

We've been at Lunar New Year, Halloween, and many moons ago Christmastime (NYE, actually). Disney really brings it for holidays and festivals, and we take advantage when we can. Everett saw a picture of us with "Dracula Mater" on a photo calendar and asked when we can see him again. Who knows? Maybe Halloween 2020!

"Monster Truck" Dracula Mater - October 2018

10. It doesn't take an inordinate amount of planning energy.

We just GO. Maybe we plan some stuff out because the anticipation is fun, but we don't need to. The Disneyland app has all the showtimes and allows us to order ahead food. We know where stuff is so we can just walk to the things we want to do.

Magic photo moments - January 2020

11. It's always been part of our story.

Of course, we didn't always go twice a year like the current cadence, but we always had a magical time. We were even there before we knew Elizabeth was pregnant with Oberon.

Our second anniversary, pregnant with Obie but didn't know it yet - April 2014

P.S. Our bright, bold, boundless Everett turned FOUR YEARS OLD this month. We love him so much, he's growing so fast. He started preschool and he's doing amazingly well - better than we could have expected! We're sure the bumps are coming, but for now it's smooth sailing. Oh yeah, and his birthday party? Disney's BOLT!

Everett is FOUR! January 7, 2020

Happy BOLT Birthday Party - January 11, 2020

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

For Auld Lang Syne

The end of another calendar year. A time to reflect, but truth be told we don't feel much like reflecting on this one.

Instead, we'll focus on today. New Year's Eve. The day that is our small little family's traditional celebration day. So instead of getting all emotional - because we're exhausted - we'll give you the play-by-play so far, and the plans for the rest of the day.

Santa kindly left a letter for the kiddos on Christmas morning letting them know that since we were traveling, he would make a special New Year's Eve trip to our house in California. To prepare for his visit, we left our cookies for Santa and vegetables for his reindeer by our chimney last night.

New Year's Eve Eve - treats for Santa and the reindeer - December 30, 2019

We slept in a bit (oops), then woke up to find the stockings filled by the big guy. We opened them right away... well, the kids did. Chris and I still haven't found the time, but it'll happen.

Stockings! - December 31, 2019

Then, we made bug pancakes with strawberries, blueberries, cookies, and sprinkles. Imogen helped a lot, Everett only helped smash cookies.

Helping prep bug pancakes, filled with goodies - December 31, 2019

Meanwhile, the furnace guy was here for the fifth time to try to diagnose why our furnace turns off all the time (annoying, but not terrible in a California winter). Everett told him (Mr. Tony), that he thought the problem was a part that was broke. He's obviously right, but also not going to be making a living fixing furnaces any time soon. Then, it was off to Happy Hollow for NOON Year's Eve celebrations. Imogen picked the carousel, Everett picked the playground, then we made some NYE crafts, watched some magic tricks, and counted down a disco ball drop to ring in the new year. Happy New Years were exchanged and kisses were freely given.

Noon Year's Eve at Happy Hollow - December 31, 2019

Kids are exhausted and napping, and when they wake we still have: present exchange amongst our little unit, London ball drop and countdown (with sparkling juice!), maybe homemade apple pie (we might save that for New Year's Day), and sushi dinner. It's a full day, but it's also such an intimate day. Just the four of us and remembering Obie throughout (Obie bear, bug pancake pan, lots of yellow...).

Happy New Year. On to 2020.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Obie's Fifth Bee Day

Social media is at it again with the "decade challenge" or whatever it's called. The one where you are supposed to put a picture of yourself in 2009 next to one from 2019. Look how old we look now! Look how young we were then!

We haven't done it. We haven't cataloged the things that have changed between then and now.

In 2009 it was five years before we would become parents. In 2019 it's five years since we became bereaved parents. Recency bias being what it is, the five years from 2014 to 2019 loom large in our memories. It started with trauma and tragedy, followed by joyful births, growing toddlers, and persistent grief.

Less and less we talk about the worst moments. They might never be spoken aloud again, but the emotion from them still wells up on occasion. We have stronger coping mechanisms now and we are more practiced at pulling back when the grief threatens to suck us into a downward spiral. Most of the time.

Oberon would be five. FIVE.

Instead, he has been dead that long, and we live on in the absence. During and after his birthday this year, we focused more on our first baby.

Obie's O, Obie's Bench, Obie's Siblings, Nov 23, 2019

On November 23, we hiked at Uvas Canyon. We haven't prioritized hiking as much, so it was anyone's guess how well Everett and Imogen would do. They did great. Both of them hiked up to Obie's bench at Manzanita Point on their own (3/4 of a mile up trail that is quite steep in places), and Everett made it almost all the way back down as well. There was some drama about hiking poles and getting too close to the end of the trail, but generally speaking they were good listeners. Everett and Imogen tend to spontaneously break song these days, sometimes with a made up tune. We were treated to Evie's Hiking Song: "We're hiking, we're hiking, we're very very hiking. We're going up a steep hill, so let's keep going!" (to the tune of "It's Raining, It's Pouring). Everett also hollered at passers by that it was "Obie's Bench," which made us smile. We do wonder if any of them read the plaque on their way back down.

Obie's Bench, Manzanita Point, Uvas Canyon County Park, Nov 23, 2019

Evie's Hiking Song, Nov 23, 2019

Family Selfie on Obie's Bench, Nov 23, 2019

Hiking at Uvas Canyon Country Park, Nov 23, 2019

On November 24, Obie's Bee Day, we were somewhat mellow. We did the typical double gym and swim rigmarole in the morning, where Everett tried to tell his gym teacher that it was Obie's birthday. She replied, "Oh yeah? Who is Obie?" Then she got distracted by another child or parent, not hearing Everett's response... "The first baby Mommy and Daddy had." The wording was familiar, repeated from a photo book we have that discusses Oberon.

Later in the day we made birthday cake and Elizabeth got in some scrapbooking time. Five years later, there are still photos in the bin waiting to be grouped together and decorated. Some piles are shorter than others, and many of the remaining pictures are grainy and out of focus.

Making Obie's Birthday Cake, Nov 24, 2019

Everett has said a few times now how sad he is that he doesn't get to see Obie alive. Elizabeth showed him a video of Oberon on her phone, and he wanted to watch it over and over. Is it simply the novelty of getting screen time? Is he really curious about the brother that came before? We think probably both.

Oberon, Dec 9. 2014

A new book we've been reading is A Perfectly Imperfect Family. While the baby who died in the story is a girl, many of the other details line up with our family story. She was the first born, she lived for 33 days, and her little siblings participate in traditions keeping her memory present.

With more data points now, it seems that every November might be this way. Astonishment at how much time has passed, longing for the boy who didn't live, expressing the love that still does. Both looking forward to and dreading the holiday season.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Imogen Is Two! (And So Much More)

We feel a bit like a broken record. Yet another all-over-the-place kind of month. Maybe it's time to admit this is "normal" for us and will be for the foreseeable future. It reads more doom and gloom than it feels, but we'd be lying if we didn't admit we are a bit extra run down.

It's October. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month complete with events and projects. Imogen's birthday complete with parties, cake, singing, presents, and lots of visitors. Halloween complete with costume projects, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, more parties, and so much sugar. Work travel complete with unexpected emotional moments. Unplanned medical events complete with cramming in doctors appointments, prescriptions, and inconvenient time away from work. Homecoming (just Elizabeth) complete with physical travel, quasi-spiritual time-travel, and family time. Annual vet visit complete with a potential thyroid problem for JJ (we are in the watchful waiting phase).

A lot.

Officially Two - October 29, 2019

Even with all the volatility, we've been in a pretty good place emotionally and mentally (most of the time).

Vacation Mode

In the past month, we've taken two week-long vacations. It has been... luxurious.

Hole-in-the-rock Trail, Papago Park - Phoenix, Arizona - September 16, 2019

First, at the end of August, we went to Southern California. We met up with parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. We were with extended family every day. It was amazing to get this quality time with people we love. Watching Everett and Imogen interact with their cousins is heartwarming in a way that is difficult to describe.

Cousin silliness - August 30, 2019

Two of the days we spent at Disneyland - and we got the most out of our park admission. Got there when the gates opened, stayed until the night shows. About 13-hours inside the parks each day. It was the first time we did that, and the kids did pretty well.

Cars Land with the Fiorani Fam - August 26, 2019

Reasons this trip to Disney was awesome:

The parks were EMPTY - school had just started for most of SoCal
Our kids have been a few times, so it wasn't a huge deal if we missed an attraction or two (for example, we didn't seek out characters in the park, since it wasn't of interest to our nephews)
Extra adults and big kids meant we got to ride a few more of the "big rides" - Elizabeth rode Radiator Springs Racers, Splash Mountain, and Indiana Jones for the first time since the kids were born
Everett was tall enough for Smuggler's Run (aka the Millennium Falcon ride) - He was super overwhelmed, but still enjoyed himself; he is still talking about the great job he did rescuing the "spaceship" from the TIE fighter a month later
We finally saw the Frozen musical, and both the kids had stars in their eyes (when they weren't asleep)
Letting the kids pick out Bolt stuffed animals after being Bolt-obsessed for months was totally worth it
We lucked into a nearly private visit with Mickey and Minnie at the end of the day. It was dark, our pictures are blurry, but the kids were delirious and so in love with the mice
Our lodging was literally across the street from the park entrances - AMAZING for getting to the parks at opening (thanks Mom & Dad!)
We took a "rest day" between the park days to sleep in (to a leisurely 7am), use the hotel pool, amble around Downtown Disney, and best of all - character dining at one of the hotels. Watching Evie teach Minnie and Donald how to be a pup (like Bolt) was adorable.

Donald's Breakfast at the PCH Grill - HIGHLY recommend - August 27, 2019

Ways it could get even better:

It was sometimes tough to manage people going on "big rides" that Evie and Immy are too small for - we got creative, but it was a struggle at times
We should've opted for the fireworks instead of Fantasmic. As much as we personally love Fantasmic, it was harder to see and the kids didn't recognize all the characters. The fireworks and accompanying displays on Main Street (it SNOWED during Let It Go!) seemed more magical
When the kids top 40" and 42" - the ride opportunities really open up
It was very hot and sweaty - there's a reason we typically avoid the summer!

After all of that, we even checked out a new park - Knott's Berry Farm. Chris had never been, and Elizabeth hadn't been since she was eight. Knott's Berry is owned by the same company as Cedar Point and other amusement parks, and has a similar feel. We spent a lot of time at Camp Snoopy, with lots of rides for the littles and the opportunity to meet Peanuts characters. Then there is a wild west type area and loads of giant roller coasters / spinny things. While too short for most of the non-Camp-Snoopy rides, we had mostly a blast with a few major meltdowns. We got robbed on a train and Everett rode his first log ride (surprise - he loved it).

The day was shorter (only 8 hours of park open!) and getting to try a boysenberry frappuccino while the kids (finally) napped were highlights. Worth the trip, but a noticeable difference from Disney in the style of it. There's a significant price difference, and it's true that you get what you pay for in the ambiance and experience of the day.

Pig Pen's Mud Buggies with Grandma F! - August 29, 2019

That sounds like enough, right? But even after all that fun time (and saying goodbye to one side of the family), we spent the weekend with another set of cousins. Much lower-key from a planning aspect, but put four kids under eight together and "low-key" is not really an apt description. We swam, we played rescue-kidnappers, we dressed up, we read books, we screamed, we wrestled, we buried kids and adults under stuff animal mountains, and we made s'mores. It was awesome.

S'moresin' - August 31, 2019

Two weeks after that, we took an entirely different vacation. We packed up our little family and took a short flight to Phoenix, Arizona. Where we know no one. Where we had zero obligations. It was the most relaxing trip we've had in ages - six years, to be exact.

Hole-in-the-rock trail, Papago Park - Phoenix, Arizona - September 16, 2019

We spent our days visiting the multiple hotel pools and splash pads, seeing what Phoenix had to offer toddlers, and participating in some of the resort activities (more s'mores!). We only had a scheduled early wake-up one day - and that was to hike before it got too hot outside. The kids got to play ukuleles, harps, percussion, and nickelodeons at the Musical Instrument Museum. They ran around like maniacs at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. They sweated it out one morning at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. And they saw their first in-theater movie: Toy Story 4...

Elizabeth: Evie, what did you think of that?

Everett: That...was...AWESOME!

Musical Instrument Museum - Phoenix, Arizona - September 17, 2019

Everett said it all when he started crying that he didn't want to leave vacation and didn't want to leave Arizona (he told us he has already planned our return trip for our next vacation). We get it, buddy. And we need to keep prioritizing family time like this. It's so easy to get bogged down by the day-to-day chores and obligations. Even days off at home get swallowed up by to-do lists and anxieties. Getting away, just our little unit, was what we really needed.