I'll nap when I'm ready!

Nap time has been a difficult time lately.  Sometimes Kendall can't wait to rest, while other times she wants nothing to do with it.  With her now in a toddler bed, it's harder and harder to keep her down.  She sleeps great at night, but for some reason, she now hates to nap at home.

During those difficult days, we've tried everything that we can think of to get her to nap.  A consistent routine, soothing moments before bed, negotiating, removal of favorite toys, and bribery.  Lately, I've been blocking her doorway with a baby gate, so that she can open her door and look out if she needs to.  But, this forces her to stay in her room for a while and at least play quietly.  Even this strategy is hit or miss.  Take today for example:

Trying to escape is tiring.

I guess I just leave her there, right?

The 2011 Inauguration

Life is busy.  It seems like I never have enough time to spend with my dear friends that I met during my college days.  In previous years, bachelorette parties and wedding brought us together, but with only a few single ladies left, we knew that we must find time at least once a year for each other.  So, my sisters in the bond and I made the decision earlier in the year that 2011 would be the inaugural year for our annual get-together.

Someone suggested Santa Barbara for 2011, and off we went:

Wine tasting...check
Eating...check
Gabbing...check
Horrific birth stories that have probably scarred those without kids...check

We had a great time (as we always do) and I can't wait until 2012.  Melody will be picking the location, and Rachel will be the "tour director", which ensures that she'll pick the 2013 location.  I hear a spa weekend in Scottsdale is already being planned...

The Happiest Girl in the World

Last week we took Kendall to Disneyland for the first time.  Considering that we live less than an hour away, it's kind of a surprise that we haven't already visited.  Then again, considering that the happiest place on earth isn't at the top (or even towards the middle) of Dan's list of favorite spots, I'd say that getting Kendall there before she graduated from high school was actually quite an accomplishment.  Gram and Dude joined us for the big day, and we had so much fun!

We were up early and got to the park right as it opened so that we could meet some of Kendall's favorite characters at the Minnie and Friends Breakfast.  Kendall is enamored with Minnie, so I wanted to make sure that we met her.  Minnie had a number of friends there too: Captain Hook, Chip (or Dale - not sure which), Eeyore, the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, and Tigger.

When Minnie finally came to the room that we were in, she started with the opposite side of the room.  Kendall was suddenly last in line to meet her, and she wasn't too happy.  She'd turn and look at her, while yelling, "Minnie!! Minnie!!" and then looking back to us wondering why Minnie wasn't coming to greet her.  She finally made it though, and Kendall couldn't have been happier.

This part of our day was really what we had come for, and boy was it great.  It was so amazing to see how excited Kendall was to meet Minnie and her friends.

We spent the rest of the day walking around the park and riding on many of the rides.  We hit Pinnochio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Scary Adventures, the Merry-go-Round, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, It's a Small World, Toon Town, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, the Haunted Mansion, and the Jungle Cruise.

We even visited Mickey's house and met Mr. Mouse himself!

We really couldn't have asked for a better day.  And, believe it or not, Dan actually had a good time too...