Disney in November

This was a month of Arthur not feeling well at Disneyland. 

I caught on video Sienna's infamous "tic tock." It's so adorable, and hilarious.  In other news, it's 90 degrees. Arthur fell asleep in the car (twice). A WWII vet said Arthur was the cutest thing he'd ever seen, and that he could take his place next time. The entire park is sold out of Mickey ice cream bars. Sienna dropped Arthur's hat and we had to walk 15 minutes back to get it.  Actually found it, which makes one hat found out of three lost.  The idea was to avoid whining kids.  Mildly successful.

Arthur is on his second illness in a row and having a rough time.  But he was my least whiny of the four at Disneyland today.  He loves it all.  Being out and about, making friends, visiting with characters, riding in te stroller, being carried by mom, going on rides, listening to music and entertainment.  It's his happy place.

We discovered World of Color was at 8:15 on weeknights (9:45 on the weekends) so we made a late night of it.

First time riding Screamin' at night, for the kids.

John came with us for a few hours, while we met up with a friend and her two little ones.

Arthur's First Birthday

Birthday cookie

Birthday trip to the hot tub.

Birthday haircut. 

Birthday going down the stairs safely (present to mom)

Sienna's Fourth Birthday

It already seems like Sienna was four, and we went to Utah on her actual birthday, so this year seemed like no big deal.  We had a little playdate at Big Air toddler time with three of her little friends.

She asked for a Rapunzel cake and also a doggie cake, so we made the Rapunzel cake with some palace pets friends.  

Saturday Morning

We spent a few hours at California Adventure yesterday morning. Got bored around 10:30. Might be time to leave Southern California.

Sienna earned a toy with her kindness points and picked out a reversible Rapunzel/Tiana doll.

Arthur is sick and was more than ready for his stroller nap.

Maggie said she was bored and wanted to go home, while we were in line for California Screamin'.

Quick meet n greet while everyone else drew Pluto at the Animation Academy.

Halloween: Zootopia Family Theme Costumes

Halloween 2016 Sneak Peek!

Zootopia!

The idea for this year's family theme came from Sienna wanting to be Nick Wilde.  Dalton then claimed Officer Hopps.  Maggie actually joined our family theme for the first time since she had a choice when I suggested she be Gazelle.  John wanted to be the sloth, Arthur being Toot Toot made sense, and I got stuck with Assistant Mayor Bellwether.

I made all the hats, as usual.  Same hat pattern as previous years, made up the features myself. Here is the fox before I changed to green eyes.

I used this skirt tutorial to make my skirt, not that it was difficult. My hat was the most difficult.  I crocheted a basic white hat and sewed piles of polyfill on it. The ears are just pink felt.

Actually, maybe Maggie's top was the most difficult because glued-on sequin fabric gums up the sewing machine, and mine crashed and burned while making it.  I did a lined top with a snap closure, and sewed stretched 2-inch silver sequin trim to the bottom to avoid hemming.  Her leg warmers ("boots") are just tubes of stretchy dance fabric.

Made by me: fox, rabbit, sheep and sloth hats, my skirt, Maggie's top and "boots"
•
Target: Maggie's shoes, Maggie's skirt, Sienna's shoes
•
Amazon: John's shirt, both ties, kids' accessories (paw-sicle, fox tail, microphone, badge and carrot recorder)
•
Etsy: Dalton's shirt (@alyssaparisd) and Maggie's fabulous antlers (@wingsnthings13)

Borrowed from friends: Arthur's "Toot Toot" costume, my sweater and a double stroller that saved us at Mickey's Halloween Party.

Maggie's make-up is white acrylic paint, white eyeshadow, and black eyeliner. Her costume is my favorite and I wish I had taken more/better pictures.

We got lots of use out of our costumes. Mickey's Halloween Party, trunk-or-treat, trick-or-treating, kids wore them to school, Sienna wore hers to Disneyland several times, Krispy Kreme, play group party, music makers, etc.

Mom Shots

As a mom who would like to be in the picture more, I appreciate selfies. But I think there's a lot to be said about the random candid shots my kids (Dalton) take on my phone.

Making peanut butter muffins.

In line for Pirates with sleeping Beep.  She's probably nursing.

Purple girls

Looking through some scrapbooks for good TBT pictures.

Dalton took some random selfies to go with this one.

Playing Minecraft.

courtesy Disney photo pass