I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much blown away by the fact that we’re on the cusp of 2013, that Theo is now officially four years old, that we have a new daughter, and that “my year” is stretching into Year 3. Wow.
I started this blog for a simple reason. At the end of December 2010 (Christmas Eve, actually), Theo turned two years old. At three years old, you have to start paying for a child’s admission, and there is no child discount on an annual pass.
Background information here: Kevin and I moved here in 2004 and pretty much the next day went out and got our annual passes because really, wouldn’t you? A couple of years later I got a job in Downtown Disney and got a cast member pass while Kevin kept his annual pass. I left the job when Theo was born, so we got annual passes again. But they get pricey (especially this year) and by the end of 2010 we thought well, we’ve been going to Disneyland nonstop for six years and next year it will be expensive to get Theo is own pass after he’s not free anymore, so let’s just do one more year and call it done.
I then realized that there was a ton of stuff I had actually never done at Disneyland. Stopping to watch atmosphere entertainment, for example, or riding on attractions I’d considered “throwaways” like the Main Street Vehicles. I thought gosh darn it, if we’re going to do one last blow-out year, I’m going to do it all.
And while I’m at it, I’m going to blog it because…blogging is trendy. Or something. So My Year With The Mouse was born. My first post was on December 18, 2010, and I only got around to 3 posts that December. The first one was this:
Which is what Walt would have said had the internet existed in 1955 and if Disneyland were a blog instead of an amusement park. Alas…
We’re about to go on a journey, you and I–a journey to a magical land where there are lots of things to do and a whole year (more or less) in which to do them.
Hold on to your hats and glasses, ’cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!
And please, remain seated with your arms and legs inside the car at all times.
Oh, I’m so witty! *insert eyeroll*
Well, My Year With The Mouse was both an astounding success and dismal failure. A success because I’ve met so many amazing people and made good friends and really got to know the parks. A failure because I ended the full year with things still left undone.
So My Extended Year With The Mouse was born. I was addicted. Call it Mouse Fever. I couldn’t give up my pass. We opened our wallet and got Theo his own pass too, and went another year.
And then I failed again because there’s STILL stuff I haven’t done. Like, I haven’t posted on the Haunted Mansion yet (either the holiday version or the regular one), or Splash Mountain. Plus we were talking, and we realized that poor Violet–we’ve got hundreds of pictures of Theo at Disneyland over the years and we’re going to give up our passes right when she enters the family?
I think not. We renewed.
Being a mom of 2 is SO different than being a mom of 1. I know, even you childless readers are like “duh.” But I’m so excited to have a whole new person to share my love of Disneyland with. And Theo’s finally reached some height milestones that make him eligible for even more fun. I will still be blogging here. No guarantees on what kind of schedule, but you can click on the “Subscribe Me, Baby” button on the right to have an email sent to you when I post, and I’ll always update with links on the MYWTM Facebook page. Thanks for reading!!!
And a retrospective–Theo on January 5, 2011:
Theo looking skeptical on Jan 5, 2011
And now:
Theo on November 18, 2012
And the reference picture for next year–our whole family at CA Adventure:
December 2012
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. It’s been a whirlwind of activity since we got home–feels like we haven’t stopped moving once. Literally. Violet is a very fast walker with tons of energy, just like her brother, except they’re always running in opposite directions. I don’t have much time to blog, but I thought I’d share a few pictures. Enjoy!
