Max's Baptism

Last week we baptized our son into the Catholic faith. It was a momentous and joyous occasion in a parent's life. For those of you who are not familiar with Catholicism, there are seven sacraments one receives. They are blocked in three categories; Sacraments of Initiation, Healing and Service

 Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation into the Catholic faith. It is a decision made by the parents and Godparents to raise the child in the house of God, as he grows up he will have a couple opportunities to accept and confirm this decision for himself. 

There are some important symbolism involved with a baptism. One is the white garment which symbolizes purity. Oils of Catechumens and Sacred Chrism are placed on the forehead, chest and back to symbolize the anointment of the Holy Spirit that the person baptized is called to be Priest, Prophet, and King just as Jesus was. Water is used to cleanse and wash away Original Sin. The Lighting of the candle is the done at the end of the ceremony from the Paschal/ Easter candle to remind us to of the Light of Christ to shine bright within us so the whole world can see. 

After the ceremony at the church we celebrated at a family member's house. Our theme was Anchored in Christ and here are a few pictures of our event. 

A huge thank you to some of our vendors

Two Angel Kisses - cake, cookies, & cake pops

Paperlette Designs- ship centerpieces 

Red Ink and Paper-  photography

Disney Family Museum

Magical Monday:


Earlier this year we spent a couple days up in Northern California, and if you haven't been I highly suggest going for at least a day or two. We were there helping my best friend move back down to Southern California so our time was a bit pinched. However we did manage to squeeze in a day in the bay city and check out some local attractions. 

One that can not be missed by any Disney loving fan is a trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum. I could spend all day there. It truly is an awesome collection of memorabilia and history.

Concept art, awards, equipment, family treasures. It really brings out the spirit of Walt. There are several hands on pieces, such as adding audio to an animation. No easy feat. And talking with animatronic parrots, quite entertaining. The concept model of Disneyland on display is ahh inspiring. 

One of my favorite parts of the museum was the observation deck. Check out that view! But that's not the reason why I love that display. In that area is a special bench, to all you Disney fans you know what I am talking about. When his daughters were young, Walt Disney would take them to the carousel at Griffith Park. While they rode the ride, he would sit on a park bench and watch them. He said that one one of those visits the idea of Disneyland came to him. The idea of a magical kingdom that has brought so much joy and  wonder to generations for the past 60 years just poof manifested itself to this great man in such a simple way. Now no one know for sure which bench exactly it was, so you will in counter some debate on which is the true "Disney Bench"  but in any case here is one of the original benches form the park. 
Who knows what dreams were thought up here, all I know is that: 
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney 

 

Kid vs Kid- Do you jump in if you kid has a problem?

When J was smaller she used to be a total push over. Like everyone would cut in front of her, or they wouldn't rotate off the equipment or toy when their time was up. There was even a time a couple kids in my complex were playing and J tried to play with them but they got up and moved, twice! Then she brought out her own toys they they thought were "cool" and all of a sudden she was ok to play with. Even now she may not get the invitation to a party, or be included in dressing alike with the other girls, I've seen a kid wedge themselves in a place they don't fit to sit next to a special friend, and poof my kid is pushed out of the way.

As a parent what would you do in these situations? Would you redirect your child to something else to avoid any escalation, or stand by and watch how they handled the situation? That's what I would do mostly. If she looked at me for help I would give her some suggestions like remind them their time is up, or let the teacher know they are not paying attention. I would also remind her that not everyone is going to want to be friends and that's ok, just be polite and move on. However there are many would call the other parents and expect some sort of magical apology or action that would fix the hurt caused by pointing out that something bad has just happened. Many times the Juliana, and most kids for that matter, forgot about what happened almost immediately. Its when we remind them of the hurt they should be feeling about something that happened earlier, or when we blow things out of proportion that the child associates this action with pain and anger which then leads to kids fighting and parents having those awkward moments in the school pickup line.

Over the years J has gotten some backbone in her. Mostly because she thrives on rules. If something is supposed to go a certain way then there is no margin of error this is how it goes. Your time is up, move one, you are not playing right. Its pretty cut and dry. And there goes my new problem, this cut and dry attitude can sometimes be misinterpreted. I remind her that her actions can be perceived differently. Some children are sensitive and think she is being mean, others might feel like she may not like them. But it is frustrating when parents become overly involved causing tension between the children and families that may be aware of the situation.
Now I am not saying not to rescue your child when you see they are in over their heads. Kids need to know that Parents = Security. But to go through the 'he said she said' with another parent or play telephone (that preschool game) to let the parent know that there may be a problem is a bit childish. Let the kids handle their business!!
I know that my child can be very sensitive but I also believe I am raising her to be tough enough to handle herself if someone isn't being very nice, or if one of her peers calls her out on her behavior, and not to be wavered if she is left out of something. Its their loss, because in MY opinion she kinda rocks!



For more on letting you kids handle their business check out these articles:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/letting-your-kids-fight-their-own-battles/00012438
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/all-parents/parenting/spoiling/what-happens-when-parents-fight-childrens-battles-them
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/kids/should-you-fight-your-childs-battles/

Spring Break 2015 & Sea World

Last week J was on spring break from school. Normally I get a little miffed that it our school goes on spring break so early, but after our visit to Sea World this year I was thankful for it.
We never really got a chance to enjoy spring break since J has been in school, because both One 24/7 Dad and I had to work. J was either at daycare, family babysitting or we would try to work our schedules to ensure one of us was home to take care of her. Last year's spring break Max was just under 3 months old and we were all still getting used the latest addition to our family. This year we have had some amazing weather, and I get to be here to take it in. Max enjoys nature walks, and J loves bubbles. Everyone screams for ice cream!

umm did everyone fall out of their boat?

Our big adventure though was heading to San Diego for a day at Sea World. We had not been there in years. Since it was a week day I was hoping it would't be too busy, and we were not disappointed.

We arrived prepared with our print at home tickets so we went straight to the turnstiles and had no problem scanning in.  One24/7Dad and J went straight to Atlantis fearing a long line (they rode it back to back no wait), and hoping to have a head start on drying off. Boy did they need it, they were soaked! All of the rides were walk on or just a few minutes wait. Js favorite ride was the new roller-coaster Manta, it was fun. It has a unique start and some unexpected surprises during the ride and don't forget to smile!

One24/7Dad & J on Manta (J rode it 4 times!)

Refreshed from a car ride nap, Max and I enjoyed the Sesame Streets Bay of Play area. Other than the exhibits and shows this was really the one only place Max could participate in. We rode Elmo's Flying Fish and Abby's Sea Star Spin a couple of times, got wet with the splashing fountains and climbed all around. I completely forgot that Elmo and friends come out for a sort of dance party and photo ops. Since this isn't something they put on their online program schedule you have to check the daily map for the most current activities.

We were able to visit all four shows. Because it was a warm day and the kids had a change of clothes we decided it would be fun to sit in the "SOAK ZONE." Max was not amused, but it definitely kept us cool and comfortable.

Sometime during each show there would be  a PSA about the many great things Sea World does for the animal kingdom and the community. This isn't new, but for someone who has visited the park semi regularly you could tell there was a different tone. A more obvious stop the show this is what we do we are good people tone. The shows are still creative, enjoyable and educational as always but I felt their need to put that out there for everyone to know. I know people on both sides of the Sea World (zoos/aquariums etc) controversy and I respect your opinion. I am just sharing my experience, that's all.

Sea World stock photo

One of my favorite things to do at Sea World in the afternoon is the Bayside Skyride. This is a gondola style ride over the Mission Bay. This tranquil ride gives your footsies a break, a chance to soak up the scenery and a quick recharge before continuing your day. Not to mention that breeze feels divine on a warm day.

My tips for your trip:
*Dress the kids in those rashguard swimsuits w/ UV protection. Between the shows and hands on exhibits they are constantly getting wet. Just put their change of clothes in a zip lock bag. Adults I recommend athletic/ sweat-proof clothing. Extra socks and flip flops are a must and I highly discourage jeans.
*Food- we always eat at the Shipwreck Reef Cafe. They have burgers, ribs, salads, teriyaki chicken and other stuff. Portions are a good size. This time around One24/7Dad had the cheese burger and fries and a coke. I had the teriyaki chicken, white rice and veggies which I shared w/ Max and it was quite tasty. J had the hot dog, fries and fruit punch. We were eyeing the cakes, jellos, and pudding but decided to wait for other treats. Average cost of meals were about $13 each. Many people packed lunches, and although this is against Sea World policy its not thoroughly enforced. We brought in handy snacks like pouch applesauce, frozen grapes, goldfish crackers, granola bars and frozen water bottles and didn't have any trouble with security during check in; though they have lockers available for rent at the park's entrance area.
*Shows- all the shows are amazing and there is a show going on at every hour. Some shows do not allow late arrivals for the animal safety or only during certain segments. Arrive early for your choice of seating. best seats are in soak zones and are generally available bu if you don't want to get wet then prime dry seating goes quickly. Since we didn't mind getting wet and the park wasn't busy we usually arrived to a show about 10 minutes prior. This gave us a chance to ensure re-hydration and enjoy a quick snack. Remember the main attraction is the Shamu stadium show. So many people make it their last show of the day so I advise to attend an early showing and/or arrive to the stadium early.
*Tickets there are many ticket offerings throughout the year, such as kids free, Groupon, annual passes, online specials and so on. Military service members who proudly serve our country are allotted up to 4 complimentary tickets for the service person and their dependents, additional tickets can be purchased at your local MWR.
*Photos take lots of them you'll want to cherish these memories. But be careful of all the water. Use water resistant cameras, cases, and phones to protect your electronic, especially when seated in the soak zones.

                    

here comes the splash

thank goodness this phone is water friendly