Pretend City

 On February 9, Hannah and Xavier met Andrew and I at Pretend City.  We decided to purchase a year membership so that we could enjoy it over and over again.  A daily ticket is $12.50 per person, so as long as we go 6 time the yearly membership pays for itself.  The other huge benefit is that you can go in an hour before the general population.  In the photo above, you can see that Andrew LOVES the place and took off without much worry.

 There is a special member story and craft time that Andrew was so into!  We read Curious George and made our own smily face with hair and bubble eyes.

 As always, Andrew loved the theatre.

 We saved the best for last with the marina--the boys got themselves completely soaked (like expected).

Pretend City, Take 2

 Hannah and Xavier met Andrew and I at Pretend City in Irvine on September 8th.  Originally we were supposed to have several other Bumpies join us, but between plans changing and illness, it was just the four of us. Andrew quickly remembered how much he liked the farm.  He picked tomatoes, strawberries, and dug in the "dirt." 

 I actually let him play in the beach this time.  He almost immediately started throwing sand on himself (like he does with water) and thought it was the best thing on the planet.

 We found a very cool room that Tawni and I had missed.  The "theatre" had a bunch of jumping/climbing tools.  Xavier showed Andrew how it was done!

 Being a firefighter!

 Using a screwdriver!

driving the fancy car

  Xavier was back into the sand playing with the big trucks.

 In the dentist office, Xavier played with the wooden blocks and Andrew excitedly cleaning the giant teeth.

 And, of course, both of their favorite parts was the Marina!  Andrew was pretty quick to splash all over, including Xavier who wasn't quite ready to get wet.

 See the dripping water off his head?!?  Yep, that was all him!

 He found a little ledge that he could stand on to make huge splashes!

 Xavier totally got into it too!

 We tried to go play in the house afterwards, but both boys desperately needed a nap.  I couldn't help but share their "sweat stain" water marks from playing so much in the Marina.

I'm starting to think that I probably should have bought the year membership--Andrew loves it and I do too!

Grins and Giggles

Xavier, Maddie, Avery, and Andrew

almost 15 months 

We got together with the April Bumpies today at Grins and Giggles in Santa Fe Springs (about 10 minutes from Grandpa and Grandma Bennett's).  Like the place we went to in Vancouver, this place was all about the kids.  There were two huge rooms full of toys, climbing structures, blown up jumpers, and cars that the kids had free running access.  If it had a full cafe it would be perfect in every way. 

 Xavier loved to run!

 this ball pit was really, really fun to roll around in for Andrew

 playing in the jump house

 eating lunch

 teeter totter fun (Mandi helped rock the kiddos)

 back to the balls with Maddie

 the kids had a grand time for three full hours!

 the cozy coup and cozy truck were big hits.  Andrew climbed in and out over and over again.

This little contraption was a hit too. 

It had a door that they all wanted to open and close on and for each other.

 Avery riding the airplane

Hannah/Xavier, Mandi/Maddie, Nicole/Avery, Jennifer/Andrew

Like my college friends who have become lifelong family, these women and their kids have become such a great part of our lives.  There is something special about having survived pregnancy and the first year of our kiddos lives together via the Internet.  Five years ago we may not have become friends or felt like we had nothing in common (probably not, but who knows), but now I consider them great friends!

Disneyland!

Andrew went to Disneyland for the first time!!

Tuesday, June 26

Ready for a ton of pictures?! 

 I'll try not to make this a photo dump blog, but in all honesty, isn't that what you're here for?

We planned to leave at 6:30 am to beat the morning traffic and get to the park by 7:30ish, but instead we left at 7:00 and got there at 8:15.  We met up with Nicole, Avery, and Linda (Nicole's mom). 

Funny story: Linda was in my admin classes at CSUSB in 2009-2010 before I was pregnant.  I met Nicole online through the Bump in September 2010 and we met in person for the first time at the zoo a few weeks ago.  As Nicole was introducing me to her mom and I knew that I recognized her, but I couldn't figure out from where.  A few minutes later, it came to me :)  What a small world!

 Anyway, we started in California Adventure's new Cars Land like every other person that came to the parks that day.  It is very well done and really cute, but there was too many people there to really enjoy any of it.  At 8:45 am, they were already out of fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers (the main ride) and the line for Mator's was over 90 minutes.  Instead, we walked down Route 66, stopped to take the above picture of the kiddos and then walked right back out of the Cars Land.  In a year or two when people are "over it," I bet it will be fantastic!

 Andrew and Avery are seven days apart and pretty much the same size.  She is adorable!

 We headed over to Bug's Land for Andrew's first rides.  He was a bit confused on what was going on, but he heard the bugs and saw the giant caterpillar, so he knew something was cool!

 He sort of had this concentrated stare going on during the whole ride, but the pointer did come out a bit.  Running off the ride was more interesting.  Thankfully there were five adults and two kids at this point, so we were able to wrangle them pretty well.

 Our second ride was the spilling ladybugs (picture tea cups turned into bugs and you got it).  We all sat together in one bug and Andrew was supposed to sit on the chair himself with no lap sitting.

 It didn't last long--the ride went faster than we though it did and Andrew was not a fan.  He sort of clung to me and made a whiny sound for most of the ride.  This was the first time in his ENTIRE life that he seems to be scared of something.  I have to say it was pretty cute; my independent daredevil was scared of the ladybug!

 Mommy was excited to get off--spinning in circles is not a happy thing for her.

 Our third ride was the flying take out boxes (think Dumbo, but put us into a huge Chinese take-out box and you'll have it).  Andrew concentrated really hard, but ended up liking the wind in his hair and the view down.

 After our rides in Bug's Land, Ashlee and Luke met up with us and we headed over to Disneyland.  As Melissa and Dave rode the new Star Tours, the girls and babies headed to Pizza Port for some air conditioning.  Andrew fell asleep on the way over and slept a full two hours in his stroller.  We enjoyed the air while Luke and Avery ate lunch and we talked.  It is crazy that we have known each other online for almost two years now.

After a bit, Hannah, Mike, and Xavier arrived and we headed to main street to meet them and say goodbye to Ashlee and Luke.   

The April Bumpies and Babies

Hannah/Xavier (April 8), Ashlee/Luke (April 16), Jennifer/Andrew (April 9), and Nicole/Avery (April 16)

 We ate lunch.  Andrew made a mess with his mac and cheese.

 We sent the boys to get Space Mountain fast passes, then rode Buzz Light year together.  Andrew didn't know what to do with all that noise going on.

 He was scared again (see him literally climbing up on me in the ride), but because the ride was longer, he warmed up and looked/pointed at a lot of things.  The bad guy scared him and caused a whimper.

 our attempt at a family picture

 Xavier and Andrew in front of the castle

 The Pfeffer's take Disneyland

 Next we headed to Toon Town so the boys could be free.

Andrew explored Goofy's Playhouse

 slide down the slide (a few hundred times)

We visited Mickey's house.

These carrots and the carrot stealing rabbit held Andrew's attention for quite a while!

there is so much to look at and point to

Meeting Mickey was kind of scary too. He clung on for dear life, but at least didn't whimper.

he refused to touch mickey, but stared with great intent

After Mickey, we met back up with Hannah and Nicole for the Jungle Cruise. We actually had to stand in line (which I've never done) which was pretty hot.

Above: Mike, Hannah, and Xavier

Below, Nicole, Avery, and Linda (in the background)

Who knew that the Jungle Cruise actually has a pretty big cue line?  It goes up and down several different sets of stairs and all over. The stairs made pretty good picture places!

Andrew was being a ham--"1-2-3-cheese" produced these smiles.

The actual ride was interesting. Andrew liked the animals and talked to them, but most of the time looked bored. Avery thought it was too loud and Xavier seemed disinterested. Oh well!

After Jungle Cruise, we said goodbye to Avery. Dave, Melissa, and Mike rode single rider on Indiana Jones. Hannah, the boys, and I sat in the shade. We split for awhile and Andrew played with water (by far, his favorite part of the day so far). The giant water suspended ball had enough water for him to get his head completely wet.

We also played with the rocket steam (misters), ate pizza for dinner, and ran around for awhile. We met back up with the gang for them to ride Space Mountain. I stayed with Andrew and Xavier outside. It was pretty funny to have both boys in their orange matching strollers in the exit of the ride because everyone that walked by looked and a lot of people asked me if they were mine (Xavier is much bigger than Andrew, but not big enough for me to have two, come on people!). An elderly couple, celebrating 60 years of marriage, sat down next to me and made faces at the boys--they loved it.
After they rode, we headed back to California Adventure. There must be something about the middle of the parks that puts Andrew to sleep, because he was quickly out cold again (it might also have been the timing). 

We had fast passes for World of Color at 9 pm, so we went and got ice cream to prepare for the show. Of course, the moment we get to our spot and get ready to sit and eat it, Andrew wakes up screaming bloody murder so I have to hold him and don't get to eat my ice cream without it being melted. He half slept, half looked around the for 45 minutes before the show started.

When the show started, he was 100% engaged. He loved every single second of it and made the noise and used the finger to prove it. 

we got in the car to come home at 10:30 pm--one long, but exciting, day at Disneyland!