A Mama's BlogWe took a drive up to Estes Park, today. Ryan loved throwing rocks in Lake Estes- Cole was more interested in climbing on the rocks. The famous Stanley Hotel, inspiration for Stephen King’s, The Shining, is in the background.
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Last weekend, I went to Disneyland for my mom’s 60th birthday celebration. My siblings, Jeff and his wife Kat, and my sister Mara, and her daughter, Maelin, (22 months) were also there. Overall, I had a terrific time. I arrived late on Friday night, and had evidently missed a huge rainstorm.
My mom and the others had been in Disneyland on Friday and had gotten caught in the rain for several hours. Fortunately on Saturday and Sunday the weather was clear. It was cooler than normal, but no rain.
The thing is- every time we go to Disneyland, someone is sick. I think we are cursed. This time, was no exception. I started with a cold early in the week. By the time I arrived, I still had some congestion, and a hoarse voice. But I felt fine. Mara was coming down with a cold, and so was Maelin. Nothing to worry about- or so we thought. Experience should have taught us.
Ever since my family has been going to Disneyland, (since we were teenagers in the 80’s), I think there has been one trip, where no one was sick. There was the time we went over Christmas break, when we all had an awful stomach flu, and each had a day where we were throwing up in the hotel room. I remember I actually threw up on Main St. I was probably about 15, and was mortified. We were not able to be in Disneyland all at the same time, because one of us was always sick.
Then there was the trip where my parents decided to take a family friend along- he had never been. We lived in Colorado, he lived in New Mexico. So my parents drove to New Mexico to pick him up. He was fine the entire car trip there, but once he got there, he got deathly ill. My parents were terrified he was going to die. They rushed him to the emergency room, and spent hours there with him. Then he was back at the hotel, too sick to make the trip home. Eventually by the time we were supposed to go home the doctors thought he would be OK. He was sick a few times on the way home, but by the time he was home, he was fine.
So on Saturday, when Maelin started coughing, we should have remembered these past experiences- but we didn’t. She was having fun, and didn’t seem that sick. In the meantime, my mom, Mara, and Kat, all came down with the cold. I still couldn’t shake mine. On Sunday morning, Maelin woke up at 3am screaming, because her eyes were glued shut, with that goopy, gross eye discharge. Her eyes weren’t pink, so we thought she had a cold virus settle in her eyes.
But after her eyes were cleaned up, and she had gotten some more rest, she seemed fine. By Sunday afternoon, it was clear that Maelin was sick, and was not feeling good at all. So Mara took her back to the hotel. We all wondered why we can never be in Disneyland without someone being sick.
My mom offered to go back to the hotel at 10pm so Mara could get out and have some fun, so it was nice to have those few hours, but my mom wasn’t there- it just wasn’t the same. When Mara got back on Monday, she took Maelin to the doctor and she had a double ear infection and pink eye. So once again, our Disneyland “curse” had struck. But at least no one ended up in the hospital this time.
But I still had a wonderful time. My best friend, Mary, who lives in California now, while she is in a traveling nurse program, drove up and met me at Downtown Disney on Saturday, and we had lunch. I hadn’t seen her in almost a year. We had lots of fun catching up.
I had not been to California Adventure yet, and loved it. I enjoyed the rides, Soarin’ Over California and California Screamin’ the most. I love roller coasters and I was thrilled with Screamin’ It is one of the best roller coasters I have been on. (I’m including a You Tube video of it, at the end of this post.)
On Saturday night, I met up with one of our friends from high school, Tom. I hadn’t seen him, in about 17 years. We used to be in drama, and the school plays. Mara, couldn’t make it since Maelin was sick. Tom actually works for Disney now. So we rode a few of the rides and chatted. It was nice to see two of my friends on Saturday.
On Sunday, we made it to the park for the Magic Morning (we got in an hour before they opened) which was 7am. Jeff, Kat, and I were still at the park 18 hours, and 15 minutes later! We finally left at 12:15am- Monday morning. I don’t think I have ever been so tired, and sore. We were talking about going to get a drink at one of the hotels, but we could not walk! My blisters had blisters, and I think I felt arthritis coming on in my knees. We figured out that the longest we had been there before was 15 hours, so we shattered our old record.
My favorite ride overall though is, and will always be Space Mountain. It is worth it to me to go to Disneyland just to ride Space Mountain. I got to go on it with everyone. Even though we all couldn’t be on the ride at the same time, I am glad I got to be with my family this weekend, catch up with some friends, and be there for my mom. Curse or no curse.
Now for the pictures:
All of us (L to R: My mom, myself, Kat, Jeff, Maelin, & Mara)
At the park’s entrance
In front of the waterfall in California Adventure
The Girls
My mom and I
Just in case you are a roller coaster enthusiast, you can watch a video on Screamin’ It moves much faster though, than what it looks like on this video.
My niece and I, on her first visit to Disneyland this past weekend. She loved this carousel ride- she rode it ten times at least. I love her face in this picture, taken by my sister.
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No, I didn’t win the Super Bowl, but I am going to Disneyland this coming weekend.
My mom’s favorite place in the world is Disneyland. She has always loved it, and she always made sure we were able to go there a few times while we were growing up. I haven’t been so diligent as an adult going to Disneyland. The last time I was there was <ahem>…1997. I went with my mom and my sister for the weekend.
My mom is turning 60 in April (sorry Mom to reveal your age), and it worked out that my sister, brother, and sister-in-law, and of course my mom, could go to Disneyland and celebrate this weekend. I had been hoping I could go too, but wasn’t sure how it would work out with Joe’s schedule. I found out a few days ago that Joe would be able to watch the boys for the weekend. I checked out the airfare on Saturday, expecting it to be outrageously expensive, but there was a sale! So I get to be with my mom for her 60th birthday party.
One of my fondest childhood memories was going to Disneyland. We always had a good time there, and we were always happy. I am looking forward to spending time with my mom (who lives out of state, and I don’t get to see her a lot), and of course the rest of my family.
I wish Ryan and Cole could come too. Ryan is the perfect age, but Cole is still a little too young. I know we will have a trip someday, where they can both come and enjoy it together. I hope they will enjoy Disneyland as much as I did. But for this weekend, it is about my mom turning 60, and us being with her at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Now for your enjoyment (or amusement), I found some pictures of the last time I was in Disneyland (remember it was 12 years ago) Enjoy. 🙂
The three of us
In front of the castle (don’t you love the white shoes?)
My mom and I
With Goofy Claus
Trying on Donald Duck’s hat
So read my Evite invitation from my sister-in-law, Kat.
My entire family saw Mamma Mia over the summer and just loved it. Even my brother (who likes musicals) saw it at least three times in the theater. I never got around to seeing it. Evidently I am not alone and Kat knew some other people that had not experienced the ‘awesomeness’ of it. So she decided to throw a Mamma Mia party and basically invented the word, ‘awesomeness’ to describe the movie.
I was really excited to watch the movie at the party, eat the yummy Greek food we are bringing (the movie takes place on a Greek Island), and of course break out my Dancing Queen moves. I was going to save the ‘awesomeness’ for the party, which is on Saturday.
Then my sister, Mara, started telling me how much my niece Maelin, (who is 21 months) loves the movie. She even has her favorite songs. She dances to the songs. If she wants to hear the songs, she starts asking for “Mia, Mia.” Mara said my boys would love it, but I had my doubts.
On Christmas Eve, they brought over the DVD to my aunt’s house, and it was the funniest thing. Three little kids- ages 4, 2, and 1, were totally mesmerized by Mamma Mia. They should have been wound up and bouncing off the walls- after all in a few hours Santa was coming. But they just wanted to watch the songs over, and over, and over.
A week later my mom sent the Ryan and Cole the DVD which came with a CD. I had to break down and finally watch the movie with them one night, and then I understood the ‘awesomeness’ that is Mamma Mia. I will never doubt again. (I don’t want to give anything away in case you haven’t seen it,) but it is such a fun, and upbeat movie. The music is great. All the songs are from ABBA. I also loved that fact that the main character, Sophie, who is 20, is not decked out in a ton of make-up, and neither is Meryl Streep, who plays her mother. They look very natural which I think is a wonderful thing to see in a movie these days.
That was about a month ago and Ryan and Cole ask to watch Mamma Mia EVERY day. I’m not joking. I don’t let them, but it has become a great motivator. It goes like this (if you haven’t seen the movie, some of this may be lost on you, but if you watch it come back and read this, and it will all make sense):
Ryan: Mommy, can we watch Mamma Mia- Coley wants to watch Super Trooper.
Cole: No! I want to watch the Summer song.
Ryan: After Honey, Honey, Cole- remember?
Cole: Oh yeah. Honey, Honey Mommy.
Ryan: Okay Mom, I think we will just watch it from the begining.
Mommy (me-expecting an argument and tears): I ‘ll tell you what. You can watch Mamma Mia if you pick up the toys in your play room.
Ryan and Cole (as they eagerly run to their playroom): Okay, we’ll be back in a minute. You get the DVD ready- Yay! We get to watch Mamma Mia!
I keep waiting for the ‘awesomeness’ to wear off, but it is going just as strong today as the day they first saw it. Kat was really on to something.
I am still looking forward to the party, but since I have watched the movie and have heard it in the background almost every day for a month, I can have fun without having to worry about missing any of the movie. I can laugh, eat, talk, enjoy some good wine with good friends, and know exactly when Dancing Queen is on. ‘Awesomeness’ at its best. 🙂
P.S. We have not listened to another CD in the car since the day it arrived. I think the songs will be permanently etched in my brain- but at least it isn’t Barney over and over again.