Disneyland... We're Back!

School has almost started, which means soon freedom has just begun for us! No more day camps bombaring us at the park, farmers market, or field trip. Disneyland has been blocked out for us for the past six to eight weeks, and this was the first week we were able to go back. It was still packed! Yesterday my mom and I took the kids to Disneyland. Well, I should really say that my mom took the kids and I to Disneyland. I think I was just there for the enormous workout that involved walking all over the park and sitting while my mom took the very over-energetic children exploring and on rides.

We went on our favorite rides through out Adventure Land, the Pirates, the Haunted Mansion, and Winnie the Pooh. After that the adults were pretty much done with lines, so we explored caves on Pirate Island. Again, I say, "we" and really I mean that my mom explored the caves with the children while I sat on a bench. I'm not very mobile this days.

After the Pirates Island we spent some time with the goats at the petting zoo. I think this was Nathan's first experience there, but it was as if he had found his long lost buddy the black goat. He would stand next to that goat, with his arm around him, and pat his back or lay his head down on the goat's fur.

Speaking of little animals... do you see what color Nathan is wearing? So cute, but after I bought that T-shirt at Target for a dollar I brought it home and all of a sudden I thought, "Why on earth did I waste my money on a white shirt?" Well, yesterday was an experiment. Results? I don't think that shirt will ever be the same!

Kaeley was a mess yesterday. That little girl must have been sent to Earth to fulfill the curse my mother put on me a long time ago when she would almost cry, "I hope you have a daughter just like you!" I'm not sure why this was, but my mom never said that in the midst of joy and laughter. She always said it when I was stuck on my bed being punished, and her face was filled with angst and exasperation. So anyway, that's why my precious flower Kaeley was sent to me.

Kaeley can be so incredibly sweet and loving one day and then the next day she is just convinced that she's our equal and can do and say anything she darn well pleases. Thursday was a good day. I heard lots of, "Mommy, since you're standing up would you please get me a drink?" "What else can I help with, Mommy?" "It's okay, Nathan! Do you want me to hold you? Oh, Baby, don't cry!"

Yesterday? Argh. Every time she disobeyed me (which was quite often) I would reach over to get her attention or something and she'd whip her arm away from me, position herself on the other side of my mom, and scowl at me with hatred. I'd pull her out of the line to speak to her in no uncertain terms and she spent the time fighting against my grip and then would say that I was hurting her! If I said the sky was blue, she said it was red. You know those days.

My little advocate even spoke up when a near-by mother told her son to say cheese for a picture. Kaeley quietly informed the mother that he didn't need to say cheese if he didn't want to. I apologized and explained that she was just born a lawyer. The mother said it didn't bother her a bit. She remembered a song she would sing in Brownies that said kids are people too. I thought, "Oh, she's one of those." Just kidding.

Well, on the slow walk to California Adventures both children fell into a deep sleep. My mom and I were amazed! We sat on a bench and chatted quietly for a while and then headed back to the car. Poor Kaeley fell asleep on the way to the amusement park, but woke up to find herself getting into a car seat! Needless to say she was quite disappointed by the turn of events.

What's funny is that we got home just in time for a prenatal appointment with Christy. Kaeley went right back to her, "Excuse me... I'm sorry to interrupt, Mommy, but may I be excused from the table, please?" Christy gave me an impressed look and I looked at her with a look of "Is that your child?"

You know some families boycott Disney due to its support of homosexuals and magic. I began to wonder yesterday if there was any truth to their opinion. Any minute Kaeley could have looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I'm sorry, but the devil made me do it!" No. No. No. I'm totally just kidding! I say that in jest. That child is a blessing given to me by God and by golly I will do my best in raising her God's way and will get through childhood without putting a curse on her to fulfill the family legacy of having a strongwilled firstborn daughter who runs havoc of a mother's dampened spirit! I will get through this time without beating her or throwing her off the balcony! I will shout for joy and say, "Though you slay me I will trust You, Lord." Again... mostly kidding with the whole "smite" thing.

In all reality and joking aside I do know that Kaeley is a blessing! She has a good heart with a spirit of fire that God has purposefully woven into her DNA. She's a natural born leader, just as I am and just as my father is. One day, when she's all grown and a powerful warrior for Christ's kingdom I'll finally be able to enjoy my cup of tea and praise the Father in heaven that He brought me through it all kicking and screaming! He'll probably say, "I don't know what you were complaining about. You were the one with the attitude."