Mads goes to timeout!

Today was Madilyn's first "time out". In our house we have three different spots we tend to use. In public I call it the naughty wall and they have to grab a seat against the wall. Mady has been more curious about why the girls are in time out and she will try to sit with them and even comfort them if they are crying. Well today was her first visit to the naughty wall. She has been discovering that she can not only fight back but pick a fight too. Little stinker!

Mady's new favorite feisty activities (in no particular order):

Hitting with objects

Spitting at you

Spitting in general

Biting

Pulling hair

Snatching toys from others

Throwing toys

I am sure there are probably more if I watched her for another two minutes...yep, pinching and slapping. She just did both, to me, while I was typing this. She now knows that these behaviors are BAD and she knows she shouldn't be doing them. She will even get an evil grin when doing them (I knew there was a reason we call her Mads). So today when she hauled off and bashed a toy into Layla's head. I gave Layla the attention first and then escorted Mady right to the naughty spot. Her little face was in SHOCK.

Disbelief...

I AM IN TIME OUT!!!???

Then she just started to wail and huge tears came down her little cheeks. She sat for a moment and then she got up and came to see what I was doing with Layla. I had to take her back about three times but she finally stayed. Layla said to me, "Mom are you going to have a talk with her about acceptable behavior?" I reassured her that I would.

My girls favorite part about their sisters going into time out is that they are told to say they are sorry and they have to apologize, NICELY, and give them a hug. I usually have them repeat a phrase about how we SHOULD behave, such as..." I am sorry I did____ to you. I am sorry and I know better. I am your big/little sister and I WILL BE nice and ...well you get the idea.

Mady's vocabulary is not quiet there yet but Layla was ready for her apology. I spoke to Mady and she just had a huge sad frown on her face. When I said to her "you can't hit because it hurts", she started to bawl again. Through the tears, she gave Layla a big hug and smooch and then, Layla took a tissue and helped wipe her face, then took her hand and walked her into the kitchen to have a snack with her. Soon Mady was smiling again. I think she learned a big lesson today. I can't believe I have to start time out with MY BABY! They grow up too darn fast.

DisneyLand- Day THREE

Every morning is a great morning in Disneyland. As soon as we walk through the gates we are able to visit with some fun characters. This year there were more characters than I remember last time and a huge variety of them too! The girls loved being able to spot them and get their autographs.

This being our last day here in the Happiest Place on Earth, we have two main goals...See Santa in his Christmas Village with the reindeer, and Find The Enchanted Forest and track down Sleeping Beauty. First Stop Santa's Village~

They had live reindeer too, but Pluto was more fun!
Outside of Santa's Cabin~

Samantha was excited to tell Santa she wanted a Nintendo DS for Christmas!!

Layla was less excited to share her Christmas list....

On Santa's front porch...we ran into someone SPECIAL~ Mrs. Claus

Have I ever told you how much I love smooches, especially from this little one! Awww!

Jack and Sally at the Haunted Mansion~ We seen them while sneaking over to fit in Splash Mountain yet another time.


As we are walking over to go to the Enchanted Forest, we round the corner and I notice a little cottage that we had looked at last night called TANGLED. They have a line roped off and they are just taking down the rope when I realize they have the NEW PRINCESS HERE!! Rapunzel is just getting ready to greet the crowd for the first time. We quickly ditch the stroller and jump in line...about twenty people behind us they close the line as quickly as they had opened it and we had made it IN!
Inside the cottage, Rapunzel's hair is strung up along the window, like a thick, lush curtain and down the wall and out the door...my girls FREAKED! Layla instantly had a new favorite and she had never seen the movie (at that point).

Nothing makes my girls smile...like a REAL LIVE PRINCESS!

After meeting this great duo...it is off to the Enchanted Forrest for us. There is a big amphitheatre and there is a princess show every hour. We happened to get there just before another show started and got front row seats. Some of the characters came out onto the dance floor to meet and greet the children.

At that point they told the audience that this was an interactive show and everyone was welcome onto the dance floor...my kids didn't have to be told twice...they bolted down in a FLASH! Sam started posing with all the beautiful scenery...

This place is beautiful...and not very crowded...at least when we were there.

Soon the show begins...and GUESS WHO MAKES AN APPEARANCE...

SLEEPING BEAUTY!!

To be fair, we new she would be there, because I had to go and ask how to track her down. I was told that she does the breakfast two or three times a week and then she appears in the Coronation Show (next we will know to just come straight here). The princesses come right down into the audience and dance with you. They have a place that you can meet the princesses and there is at least 3-4 out at a time and they change hourly...such a great find for my girls. I wish we had done this attraction on the first day.

Now if you have ever spent time with my kiddos you know how much they LOVE face painting. Of course after the show we find the Princess Beauty shop~

Swans and Butterflies...what could be more beautiful? Oh, and did I add sparkles too!

From here we went over to toon town...

this place is a T R I P

...it looks like you have walked right into a cartoon. So fun!!
In Minnie Mouse's House~

~Minnie's powder room
~Minnie's bedroom

T O O N T O W N ~

I love this picture! And I loved this vacation with my girls and family. So glad we were able to go. I have to say that soon after Christmas we went to see Tangled and Layla just LOVES that show and that princess. She kept shouting out, "We seen her in Disneyland!" Every morning when we comb her hair, she tells me that her hair is long like Tangled.

In the preview of the movie there was also a commercial for Disney Cruise Lines...Grandma made the comment, "That would be fun." In turn I replied, "Yeah it would". Well that is all it took, Layla is certain that we have already booked the cruise. So if you have enjoyed the blog please leave me a donation for our CRUI$E fund :)

DisneyLand- Day TWO

What is a trip to Disneyland without all the Royal Princesses? We started our second day off with breakfast with the princesses at Ariel's Grotto. But first we had to make our little girls into princesses too.

Madilyn with tiara and tutu! Sporting the colors of Miss Minnie Mouse.

Layla dressed as Cinderella...her favorite princess.

...And Samantha as her favorite, Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.

Hair done and heels on, we are ready to walk out the door!

Sassy little DIVAS~

Yikes...we open the door to POURING RAIN...oh well we are having breakfast with Royalty come rain or shine. Bring out the umbrellas.

We are welcomed by Ariel and seated for breakfast, while we wait to meet the princesses. Sam was hoping for Sleeping Beauty...last time we were here she didn't show for breakfast. We were told she had slept in. Well, Princess Aurora wasn't here this time either but look who was...

Sam was happy to see Mulan. Anyone that fights with swords is AWESOME in her book.

Layla was SO HAPPY to meet Cinderella~

Look at the love and the smiles!!



After breakfast, we went back to the room, changed clothes and tried waiting out the rain. After an hour, we headed back out and were graced with glimpses of SUNSHINE!

Since we were already wet, we headed back over to Splash Mountain and visited Pooh's Corner and all of the gang. Mady and Layla loved this bright, fun ride!

POOH'S CORNER ~ Sam remembered this spot from our last visit (almost three years ago). She wanted to pose here all day, because she loves her picture here from her first visit.

Who can spot the grumpy LADYBUG...in the middle of the hunny bees?

Our busy little HUNNY BEE~ A smile that guarantees LOTS OF SOUVENIRS~


Aladdin and Princess Jasmine~ The Lamp...Sam wants to make 3 wishes too~

With all the rain...we were forced indoors for souvenir shopping/playing. My princess immediately found herself a shield and sword. My Mad Hatter found her companion...The Cheshire Cat.

MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE~

Shopping creates an appetite for CHURROS AND HOT CHOCOLATE~

(more please!?)


Sugar HIGH! Sugar LOW~

We adore the Sleeping Beauty Castle at night~

A Happily Ever After~ Grandma Susan told us about the Enchanted Forest where the Princesses live...guess we will find that tomorrow.