For the second consecutive year Christian is involved with EDMTs Training Show. This year the show is called The Greatest Race, a takeoff of the Tortoise and Hare story. I’m glad he’s doing another show, but this may be the last one he does… He doesn’t like the dance portion of the shows and, of course, for a musical the dance portions are key. He LOVES the singing part. However, the rehearsals are Saturday mornings and it has interfered with some Basketball games. And while he won’t admit this is an issue it also interferes with Saturday morning screen time.
The show kicks off with auditions in early January to determine what part each kid plays. I was hoping for a named role this year and he did well with his auditions (videos below on the website) but too many kids in the show are simply amazing in their abilities. Even though the oldest kid is only 9 years old some of them have already been in 10 or more shows, including some of the big shows at Three Stages. So Christian is once again part of the ensemble cast. We have rehearsals every weeks until March, then dress rehearsals on the 6th and shows are on the 7th, 8th and 9th of March.
Christian REALLY appreciated the few of you that could make it to the show, “Goldie Rocks! And the Three Bears,” last year. After each show the cast does a meet and greet with the audience members and it’s great to see your friends there supporting you. So I’m putting a plea out there on his behalf --- if you are able to make it up for one of the shows please (please, please) consider attending!! Tickets are on-sale now – he is part of the “Forest” cast with shows on Thursday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 11am and 5:30pm. The show lasts about 45 mins and is at Pleasant Grove Middle school in Rescue (just off of Green Valley Rd – about 20 minutes up the road). Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for children/seniors and can be bought at http://www.edmt.info/TGR.html ... I’ll be helping out backstage for his first two shows and will be watching for the Saturday 5:30pm show. We really hope you can make it out to one of his shows!!
Dance Audition – sorry for the so-so video, it’s from my digital camera and not my camcorder
Singing Audition (may need to turn the volume up a bit)
Lately I've been reminiscing about days long gone... A couple of Saturday's ago I remember sitting inside the house "late" at night and hearing the cars outside traveling along a main street near the house; a bunch of "kids" in the car going out cruising around for fun on a Saturday night. The memories that brings up... It makes me think of much simpler times.
Not that I ever regret being a parent, I love Christian and wouldn't change a thing - or at least not much. But thinking about the time before being a parent and I can remember things like --- SLEEPING IN! Not having such a rigid schedule all the time. Not having anyone talk back to you. No frustrations over homework. Just overall simpler times…
But, if things were different, then I would miss out on moments like last Saturday... I got Christian out of bed in the morning for rehearsals (more on that in another post, later) and he tells me that he wants to do something for me but I would have to stay out of his room and playroom --- for the next 3 weeks... Yes, THREE WEEKS! And he was sincere, this was for me and he said it was more than just cleaning the rooms. He came up with this on his own, no prompting (that I know of) and planned it all himself. I let it settle in, thanked him but told him that I couldn't stay out of those rooms for 3 weeks, it just won't work.
He didn't let it go and with grandma/grandpa coming up he enlisted them to help him as he modified his plan for me; he wanted to go shopping and I think he was planning on making me breakfast with grandmas help. After rehearsals, basketball and lunch they met and hashed out his ideas and then set off without me and took the afternoon getting things ready and finally late in the afternoon Christian announces he's ready.
In his room was a card which said, "For a great DAD! Thank you for giving me whatever I wanted and whatever I needed." Under the card was a small homemade envelope with a drawn picture of his globe bank. In the globe bank was an envelope/note to check in the pool room. On the pool table was another envelope/note to check outside. Heading into the backyard I found an aloe plant on the table with a wrapped present waiting for me... The wrapped present was a gift card for my toy store (Best Buy). He wanted to use his allowance to buy some things for me, and he did, with some help from grandma/grandpa...
Faith is always an interesting topic and one that I keep close to my heart and don’t share too much about… And this post is no different, I meant to post this last month… This is about the faith a kid shows during the Christmas season – I absolutely love the way a young mind works and justifies how things work even when others are starting to turn the other way.
Last year (Dec 2011 that is) we were having a playdate with a friend and on the way home they started talking about Santa. I guess his friend no longer believes and his parents have confirmed that there is no big guy, just a belief in the spirit behind it all. Of course, since they were talking about Santa Christian’s friend tells him exactly what his parents told him… I overheard the conversation and I WANTED to react – I wanted his friend to keep his mouth shut – but I didn’t, I kept my mouth shut and Christian came back with something along the lines of, “That’s too bad that you don't think he's real, we believe, I KNOW there is a Santa.”
Now come around to this year and more and more kids are no longer believing but Christian’s belief stands strong and his belief has now extended to “Elfie” our Elf on the Shelf. Yes, that dang thing that you have to remember to move every so often and who would respond to some questions in a fancy handwriting… Many kids didn’t believe in their Elfs because they were bought at Target --- but Christian believes in his because (even though he has a tag on him – doh) Elfie just magically appears, "he was NOT bought"…
I wonder if our trip to Disneyland helped even more in his belief in both Santa and Elfie, after all Elfie was there Christmas Eve so celebrate and then disappeared at night and then Santa made the trip to Disneyland. I mean, if Santa isn’t for real then who would have brought those gifts down??
For those that know me, you know I don't like rides... Small ones, no problem --- the bigger ones, forget about it. So for me Disneyland is all about it being Disney, experiencing the parks, the shows and watching Christian have a great time.
Christian and I enjoyed rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Storyteller's Boatride, Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin, Tow Maters Tractor Spin, Jungle Cruise, Autotopia, various Bugs Life rides - and of course we enjoyed Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's a Small World Holiday. Christian also got to participate in the Jedi Training Academy again, always fun to watch your son become a Jedi Padawan!
When we went 3.5 years ago Grandpa took Christian on the big rides (Matterhorn, Mulholland Madness, Thunder Mountain, etc). Grandpa had his turn this trip with Soarin' over California (twice) and bumper cars but didn't have to hit the big ones - uncle Ken along with Kelsey and Evan took Christian under their wing and let him hit the big rides --- and hit them he did.
When he was 5 he tried Space Mountain with Grandpa and came off crying... This time, they rode it several times and loved it!
This was Christian's first time on the river adventure ride:
Of course, Radiator Springs Racers is a new ride to everyone:
And the big story is with California Screamin' --- He really wanted to go but each time we were there on Monday it was a long wait or closed --- bummer. Tuesday was better and uncle Ken got in line with him and tells us that as they were sitting in the coaster and the harness comes down around you Christian told him, "Uncle Ken, I don't think I can do this." Uncle Ken told him it was a bit late to change his mind and off they went. By the time they hit the third turn Christian told Ken, "I'm glad I didn't off this ride is AWESOME!" Throughout the day the rode it 3 more times with Evan joining in the fun for last two rides...
On Wednesday we were in the parks with Uncle Ken, Kelsey, Evan and Grandpa so that was one of those days when grandma, Christian and I did our rides but Christian wanted to do more. He had a taste of the excitement and missed it. So I let him go on Gadget's Go Coaster and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad by himself and he loved that independence.
The only ride we wanted to do that we didn't have time for (the line was always an hour long and since we stayed until the parks closed we couldn't get there early in the morning) was Toy Story Mania. We did last time though and had lots of great new experiences.
After a long couple of days/nights in the park, he crashes hard…
Wow, wow, wow, that's all I can say. Loved spending Christmas at Disneyland. There are Christmas decorations throughout the parks and the hotels and downtown Disney. Christmas music in the air pretty much everywhere and general good cheer all about.
I've been planning this trip for the family (mom, dad, brother, niece, nephew, Christian and myself) for the past 10 months or so, gathering a bunch of info on the best way to approach the parks during the busy holiday time --- Christmas is said to be the busiest days of the entire year.
Here are the highlights: Holiday Time Tour... The tour itself (the information provided) is very good, but not fantastic (imo) but the other perks make up for it making this a major highlight. Some of the stories are interesting - she even talked about special Disney Christmas things they do (Disney-made candy canes and Candle Light Processional). We visited both parks and heard stories not only about Disneyland but different cultures and how the holidays are celebrated/etc. Got to snack on either an Egg Nog or Peppermint Marshmellow (Christian and I did Peppermint and it was DELICIOUS). Part of the tour includes walk-on (no-wait) access to Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's a Small World Holiday. Totally worth it and both rides were amazing, love the way they re-did It's a Small World for the holidays - new decorations and Christmas music!! We also received hot chocolate in a souvenir cup (very tasty) and it was appreciated by all along with some gingerbread... But the creme de la creme was when we walked to the parade area with everyone sitting around and they open up a rope for us to cross the empty street/parade route to our our cushioned seats facing It's a Small World Holiday. It's a priceless moment when your mom comments on how she feels like such a VIP.
Characters and Christmas decorations... I already noted that the decorations were everywhere. So many Christmas trees all decked out, theme related decorations in different areas of the parks (New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion, Cars Land, Toontown, etc). Many different santa clauses that make appearances (each hotel, Elias & Co, Jingle Jangle Jamboree). The characters being dressed up in holiday outfits. I'm so glad that Christian is still into all of the characters --- not quite like he was when we were there last (2009), but still wanted to get pictures taken and get their autographs.
The shows... When you visit Disney there are always shows of various types to see. They had a Christmas themed parade which we had those awesome seats for as part of the holiday tour. Lots of fun and a GREAT way to catch the parade! We also saw World of Color after eating at Carthay Circle Restaurant from the reserved "Center-stage" viewing area. The nice part about this reserved area is that you have plenty of elbow room and can move around a bit without impacting anyone else. A great show with a Prep & Landing Christmas introduction to it. On Wednesday my mom, Christian and I did the Dessert Dining option to see Fantasmic and the Christmas fireworks shows --- another great choice as an add-on item. I waited in line 15 mins to "reserve" our seats on a seating chart and then we continued to enjoy the park and returned 5 minutes before the show to our reservered chairs where we served various drinks and each received a dessert tray with a great selection of desserts that lasted each one of us several days. Fantasmic was great though not changed for the holidays. Then we saw the fireworks from our chairs which was a great show and after the fireworks snow fell across all of us...
Shopping... If you visit Disneyland you have to get souvenirs --- and of course there is a lot of Christmas themed merchandise, especially ornaments. They did have Christmas-shirts (Merriest Place on Earth) that I wanted earlier in the season, but they sold out of them. Bummer. We picked up our share of souvenirs and were happy.
Well, I think that's it for now - at least with the important stuff! I'll talk about rides and the overall experience in a second recap post.
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