C-B-R: November 2007

Worth the wait.

So, it has been a bajillion years since I posted anything on this site. I am trying to get more pics up here. But I thought I would post some of our trip to Disneyland and then see if I can work backwards (and most likely forwards too).

Shelbi decided to snap a photo of me in my driving nirvana. The long road trips over the years, long commutes to work and driving nearly 40 hours a week for the past nine years have helped me develop a healthy case of road hypnosis.

Our arrival was fun but I didn't think anyone needed to see the hotel we stayed in, or the room. I figure you are looking at this blog to see Rowan...so here she is. Hook on hand, (purchased the night before in the shops outside of Disneyland), wondering why we aren't in Disneyland already. By the way, it is reeeeeeally early in the morning, we had gotten up before the sun. The hook is forshadowing....just fyi.

Apparently if you get there early enough you can get some photos without other tourists in them. Truly a golden moment. As a part of our package

we were able to get into the park before the gates opened for general admission and go to Toon Town.

We had some time so Rowan got to ride the Dumbo ride three times. Once with me, once with Beth, and once with Shelbi.

I went first with her. I figured out pretty quickly that I also became the one who had to explain to her that when the ride was over we had to get off.

She didn't think that was how it should work.

Thankfully the line was almost nonexistant and the ladies got to ride with her also.

Toon Town opened and Rowan was very excited. At this point she is super happy because this is the coolest playground (and maybe biggest) she has ever seen.

That is all she thinks it is, a fun place to run around, neat things to climb in, pretend to drive.

Until this guy walks by.

And she lost her little baby mind.

She looked at us as if saying "He's real?" and completely blissed out.

At Toon Town we got to meet and get autographs from Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, and saw Minnie.

We worked out.

And broke out.

She planned this one. I had a plan too, but it involved toilet paper, an egg beater, and navel lint. We went with hers.

Worth the wait part 2

Our photo op with The Mouse. Rowan had a great time exploring his house. It was really nice to get there so early (before regular admission). Some of the people in line who had been before were telling us that on other visits they had waited over 3 hours to see Mickey because they had shown up when the park opened at the regular time.

Daddy was told he needed to wear the hat. I could come up with no argument to the contrary (and secretly reveled in it).

Momma and Ro need no accessories; natural beauty for sure.

Refueling. The fruit here is GI-NORMOUS, it is half the size of childrens' heads. In all honesty she only gnawed on this a bit before moving to easier prey (meaning: more bite sized).

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!!! Ro quickly told Daddy to hush...and please stop asking Buzz to see his LASER!!!!!!

This lady to the right was one of the best characters we met. As Ariels go I was IMPRESSED. She talked with Ro for quite some time, despite there being a line behind us. It was pretty obvious that this meeting and time spent was important to Rowan, the actress picked up on it. In this picture Ariel is noticing and commenting that Rowan has her picture on her crocs. Rowan complimented her on the beautiful greens and blues in her tail. I can't express how great this Ariel was with Rowan and us.

Just because she is so cool (and gives me more space to praise her) here is another picture. You can see the girls giggling. I realize that this is a job for her but the joy she brought my little girl was amazing. Words can not express...

Daddy and Ro waiting in line for Storybook Land. She really wanted to go on the ride where we go through the whale's mouth.

And she seemed to really like being swallowed by the whale. I had forgotten about this ride. She liked seeing all the castles in miniature.

Keeeeeeeee-RASH!!!!! Impromtu nap, recharging the batteries for more excitement while the old people (us) shop.

My two beautiful girls about to watch the parade. One of my favorite pictures.

A tigress from the Lion King float. Rowan attracted a lions share of the attention from a lot of characters. I think she has some serious charisma, but then again...I am quite biased.

California Adventures, same day....lots......of.....walking. Shelbi and Rowan are on the Chew Chew ride (Heimlich the catepillar from Bugs Life .This ride is made to look like Heimlich has eaten through a bunch of oversized fruit and snacks. They even went so far as to add scent to the experience). I love the smiles these two have.

California Adventures at sunset.

Rowan's quote about the pizza here: "This is the best supper I ever had." She was also starving.

To be honest we were all pretty happy to be eating it.

Waiting for the Electric Light Parade.

Pete's Dragon, Elliot. This parade hasn't changed since I was a kid. Sounds are the same eighties electronica. Rowan loved seeing all the different characters.

Worth the wait part 3

We signed up for the character breakfast.

Rowan loved meeting the Fairy Godmother. "I love your BOW."

Rowan was happy to see Minnie. As you can tell from the picture she got REALLY excited when she saw...

ALICE AND THE MAD HATTER! This couple of actors nailed their characters and were incredibly gracious. Alice asked Rowan if she had ever seen the moon look like the Cheshire Cat's smile. Rowan still points out the moon and tells us that it looks like the Cheshire Cat's grin when it gets narrow.

Ro also fell in love with Captain Hook. Hook came in completely in character with swagger and strut. Ro saw him and said "There's Hook, he's a little bit grumpy. I'm gonna go give him a hug and make him feel better." Then she ran to him and gave him a hug. You could see him melt.

The staff told us that most of the kids are afraid of him. Rowan was smitten. They danced together, with Rowan teaching him a new dance. You could tell the actor was LOVING the positive attention. It probably helps that Ro loves pirates.

We met Tigger. But by this time Rowan realized this wasn't just a meet and greet.

This was BREAKFAST.

You could almost hear her thoughts:

"You two can play, I have some serious business to attend to."

After eating she had time for Minnie. I think Ro became an official choreagrapher because she taught Minnie a dance as well. Hook was standing by watching. I think he was sad he had lost the attentions of his favorite visitor. Either that or he was an impromptu body guard. He is a protective one, that Captain Hook.

This is when our friends came back. Seriously cool people. Rowan thought of something she wanted to ask them and one of the employees went and got them again. They talked for a long while after that. Beth and I were extremely impressed.

PROOF!!!!! She is my daughter. She loved the high flying rides and would not let Daddy make the rocket go lower. "No, no, no, up, up, up. Weeeeeee!"

She wanted to be as high as she could. This applied to Dumbo as well.

VRoooooooom.

We also went to California Adventure watched the Alladin theater show and rode on a whole bunch of Bug's Life rides.

We got pretty worn out.

Well worth the wait part 4

Huntington Beach.

Serious thought was given to the reconstruction of this beach. Fortunately for us Ro and Co. won the contact.

Rowan got to play with Lady Ocean.

And got a big hug from her. She even convinced Momma to let her sit down to get a bigger hug.

But she found out that sometimes Lady Ocean gives some sloppy kisses that are pretty salty.

We played with boats in the ocean.

Ate Pringles and layed around like we were on vacation or something.

Did I mention we layed around?

Well worth the wait part 5

Birthday cake at the restaraunt in the New Orleans area.

White Rabbit wasn't home. She knocked several times.

She was just as persistant on this one. I was really hoping she would pull that sword out of the stone. I could retire as Father of the Queen, or the "Queen's Da."

AND ANNOUNCING THE GREAT, THE FABULOUS:

We couldn't resist. These are letters from the big "California" in front of California Adventures. We were on our way to her Birthday Princess Dinner (Shhhh, don't tell her, it is a surprise). The Princess Dinner was at Ariel's Grotto in California Adventures.

This is the same Ariel we met on our first day. Remember how I said Beth and I were impressed with this lady? It is because she remembered Rowan's name, that it was her birthday that day, and noticed that Rowan was wearing an Ariel outfit. (Nope, we didn't provide any of this information when we made the reservations! It was all from the actress' memory.) She told Rowan that she loved the blues and greens in Rowan's tail (remembering Rowan's compliment to her three days before).

A truly wonderous experience for my girl.

The hotdogs are cut into octopuss shapes. The restaraunt is very cool too. They have some beautiful blown glass jelly fish and nice decorations all around.

Sleeping Beauty, able to rouse herself for a quick hello.

Fairy Godmother, she also recognized our little girl.

Before we left Ariel's Grotto Rowan said to me, "Daddy can I go see Ariel and say 'goodbye' and thank you for having us over for dinner?"

I dare anyone to say no to such a sweet request. So, we went back and we sais "see ya later." We
also talked about Ariel's lovely sea shell jewelry.

We decided we needed to go do more rides. So, it was off to Bug's Life where we got to get on the Tuck and Roll bumper cars. Rowan wanted to ride with Momma. That meant Daddy got to have the camera AND chase them.

She had no problem with me bumping them and was laughing pretty much the whole time. She did not like it when I flipped around to go against traffic to get this picture.

"Daddy, no, go this way." What can I say? She has a certain...um.. inherited need to get things organized. I am not sure where she gets this from momma but I am sure that it is from one of her parents momma.

Yup, crashed again. Waiting in line for the Finding Nemo ride. With Fireworks booming around us. Now that is tired.

And after Nemo we decided we needed to ride "It's a Small World" for the second and last time. You know you have the tune going through your head just looking at this picture. La,la,la,la...la,la,la.