My pal Julie and her daughters Laney (4 years and 1 month) and Kira (22 months) were supposed to arrive Wednesday (Sept. 1), but they surprised us by coming in on an earlier flight for Sedona's actual birthday! All the girls were excited to be together. When Kira went to bed first that night a little earlier than the other three girls, Maven said, "What happened to my person?" Later, Kevin twice caught Maven, who is pretty good about not getting out of bed, up and balancing across the ottoman while staring down at Laney, who was sleeping on the floor.
Everyone woke up bright and early to head off to Pretend City in Irvine. (And if you're wondering how Riley is in the picture already at 8:30 a.m., you should know better! Riley is practically everywhere we are.)
Everyone packed into my parents' Acura MDX SUV to allow us all to be together. After having five girls in my car for the bulk of four days, I am further certain I don't want a load of kids. I have pretty much lost my voice from all the talking over them.
Sedona's friends Mackenzie and Isabel joined us for this Pretend City trip. It was actually planned before we knew Julie was going to be in town. Pretend City is a museum where kids move around a set-up town and pretend to work and dress up as in different areas (grocery store, beach, post office, theater, farm, etc.).
Sedona a gas-station attendant? She might need to move to Portland, where self-service gas pumping is not even allowed.
Maven had work to do also, including fishing.
Maven a doctor? She and Sedona do play with a doctor kit at home pretty often.
After a full day at Pretend City, we came home for naps, hit up Chick-fil-A upon Laney's request and did a little shopping at H&M at the Del Amo Mall.
Thursday morning (Sept. 2) was our planned Disneyland day. We decided that in order to see the fireworks at 9:30 p.m., we would head to Anaheim after mid-day naps. This allowed us time to go to Valley Park in the morning.
After some great naps at home for three of them and on the drive down by Sedona, we arrived at our Disney destination in matching outfits from H&M for easy spotting. Little did we know we were going to get so many comments from people. "Oh, wow! They are all matching!" "Look at those girls. All four of them in purple!" It was like the most creative idea anyone there had ever seen.
Kevin saw this photo and said Maven already looks brainwashed by Disney on the tram to the park.
On our first ride, Orbit ....
The girls riding by themselves on Casey's Train.
The old stand-by ... the carousel.
Tea-cup time. We went on this ride four times. The girls loved it, even if Maven was a little miffed that she didn't think she was getting enough of the wheel.
On Friday (Sept. 3), we hit up the L.A. Zoo bright and early with Whitney and Riley. (Sorry, I don't have pictures, because we didn't bring a camera.) After the zoo, the moms ate Qdoba and drank much needed Mexican margaritas while the girls bounced in the house and played in the tiny pool we put up on the deck.
On Saturday (Sept. 4), we finally kept it simple: lunch at McDonald's, nap and then beach time!
We did have another activity scheduled that day, actually. It being Labor Day weekend, there was the usual Fiesta Hermosa fair in our neighborhood. After stopping off to play on the beach, we continued to the fair.
The girls got to go on a number of rides. Kira fell asleep in the stroller, but while Kevin watched over her, we all got into the petting zoo just before closing time.
On the girls' last night together, they were coloring and didn't want to go to bed.
We had so much fun even if it required Julie and me to drink a bottle of wine every night to unwind and get ready for the next day. Ha-ha! Laney and Sedona shared clothes and toys; it was just adorable. We look forward to taking a trip to Austin next year!
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