CA trip part 1

So…

Another trip to Disneyland/SD is complete. I’m hoping we’ll go one more time, likely in September, and then not again for a good long while. Kammie, Steve, Rhys, and Gavin will be moving in with Scott’s parents come October, and the idea of packing us all in after that is a bit daunting.

Not impossible, but …not as relaxing, for sure.

How is it that every trip is better than the last? Avie was old enough to really appreciate the wonder of the Tiki Room and the Aladdin show, and watching her was such a thrill. She sang along the second time. I couldn’t tell who was soaking it in more — her, or me.

We took out a measuring tape before leaving for the parks, and knew Betsy wasn’t quite tall enough for all the “tall people” rides. So we packed her Sunday shoes, which really don’t scream “park attire” but give her a solid inch and off we went. They let her get on the swings ride at DCA, and after she was buckled in, she turned to me and insisted that I “get my wings out!” so we could “fly together.” Nobody else that day let her on any height-restricted rides — I guess the shoes alone weren’t enough — so the next time we tried, a few days later, we also gave her a cheerleader-style pony tail. That cinched it.

Betsy adored Aladdin even more than I thought she would. At first she was afraid, and kept saying that Avie and Daddy could go, and I assured her I’d take her on another ride instead. That she didn’t insist her Daddy stay with her instead was already something of a wonder. But after enduring what we thought was a nice little “A Bug’s Life” themed show, and ended up being full of large scary bugs she thought were monsters that blew out our ears and threatened to eat us, suddenly Aladdin seemed like a walk in the park. So off we all went. (P.S. she totally hugged the life out of me. Maybe that was the beginning of all the bonding. Praise that spider and stink bug and termites and what-have-yous!)

But out of everything, my absolute favorite memory was when Betsy and I waited in line for the Midway Mania ride/game in DCA. The wait was 80 minutes, and five minutes in, Betsy asked for a story. Nephi and the Brass plates, of course, which she is more than obsessed with right now. Which was followed by Abinadi, and Daniel and Goliath, and Daniel in the lion’s den, and Nephi building the boat… wow. She was persistent. But kind. And never impatient. And so sweet. Lately she and I have struggled — I think she feels oppressed by me — and this was just the time I needed with her to strengthen our relationship.