Friday, January 11, 2013

Really Random Thursday/Friday, 1/11/13: The Disney edition

If you have been to Disneyland, then you know it's not hard to take an overabundance of pictures. My birthday was in November and I celebrated tried to forget the number that was associated with my birthday, making it clear that I did not want a party. Christa organized a wonderful luncheon on the day of my birthday, girls only, with family and a few close friends. But still...it was kind of a milestone. So I decided celebrating in Disneyland was the way to go.

We had such a great family time. Six adults, four little ones, including two in strollers. I'll just give you the highlights.
 
Even though my birthday was in November, Aaron thought it would be funny to have me wear this all weekend. Here's the really funny thing: nearly every single Disney employee would say Happy Birthday to me. Sometimes they would interrupt what they were doing to wish me happy birthday. Example: in the entrance/exit, you can only go through the stroller opening if you have a stroller. Otherwise you go through the turnstiles. So there is someone at the stroller opening saying "strollers only, strollers only," which she interrupted to say, "Happy birthday....strollers only." It was pretty funny. One lady sang to me: "This is your birthday song. It isn't very long."  And twice, performers who were with a band, driving through the streets of California Adventure in the back of a car or on a float, stopped mid song to say "happy birthday" and then carry on with the rest of the song. After a while I was quite enjoying the attention.

Upper left picture--Mark would say this is his favorite ride at Disneyland--the park bench. Although this time he spent a lot of time watching little ones while Charlotte and Levi and the adults were on assorted rides. What a wonderful Grandpa. Upper right: The Small Small World song can get in your head and never leave, but at Christmas they decorate over the top, and then combine the song with Jingle Bells. Totally worth any song that gets stuck for awhile.

Bathroom floor tile--quilt inspiration?

Why fathers want to take their kids to the shooting gallery in Adventureland--actually it's so the father can do some shooting.

Bottom left--Cars Land at sunset; bottom right--brothers!

Strollers everywhere! You basically park your stroller and only take your most valuables--leave everything else in the stroller. When we left the park Monday night, we passed the stroller rental place. I lost my picture somehow but I asked how many strollers they have for rent. One thousand!! I asked if they ever run out and they said, yes, every Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Take note. Because I would say the rental strollers only represent a fraction of the strollers in Disneyland at any given moment.

Attention to detail is always amazing. Cars Land carried on that tradition.The wreath and swags in the upper left picture were made out of air filters.

Bugs Land


Character" sightings--both Disney and our own two little "characters"

Top pictures--lunch time


Probably my favorite picture. It's like he is saying, "Finally free!! I thought they were never going to let me out of that stroller!"

Well, maybe this picture is tied for my favorite. "I don't care if I finally have my own Mickey ears. I'm tired."

Because this IS a quilting blog, except for once a week when anything goes, I'll end this week with something new in my sewing room:
I found a little time to play on it too...
What's happening in your world?


21 comments:

05 08
Mary said... #

wow, Cindy! What a fun way to celebrate your birthday! My niece is an imagineer at Disney...she loves it! I think she goes to Disneyland as often as I go to Target! I can't wait to see more of the happenings in your sewing room!

Lucy | Charm About You said... #

Ohh that looks like so much fun!! When we went my mum bought my dad a watch that played 'it's a small world' every hour!! No surprise they ended up divorced ;)
Enjoy your new machine, how fun!

Unknown said... #

Nice maachine! I think I have the Janome version of that machine. ;)

Lovely trip, too. So fun!

JHNickodemus said... #

Love Disneyland! Looks like a great trip!! Also looks like a great work in progress! Those colors are awesome! I couldn't figure out why they looked so familia. Then I realized they look just like the Vera Bradley bag we got Neola for Christmas.

Debbie said... #

What fun the Disney adventure looked to be!! And a new machine! Awesomeness!

Carla said... #

I haven't been to Disney in years! One day I'd like to take my grand girls . Happy be-lated birthday ; )

ChristaQuilts said... #

What a fun trip! We are huge Disney fans and the whole extended family is going to Dworld next week - can't wait (as long as I get enough sewing done ahead of time, LOL!!)

Terriaw said... #

Looks like a wonderful trip! What better way to extend your birthday celebrations than with the family and at such a fun place. Congrats on your new sewing machine too. It looks pretty heavy-duty and intense... in a good way.

Elisabeth said... #

We were at Disneyland the same day, and I was so excited! I hope your celebration was awesome. :D

Grandma G said... #

Looks like an exciting birthday celebration! Hurray for family fun (and new machines)!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said... #

Awesome post! Disney and new machine - hard to top that ;-D

Susan said... #

Great Disneyland day! I went to disneyworld in Florida once.... boy, that seems a lifetime ago! You look like you had an awesome day! And your new 'toy' is going to be fun, I bet!

Doris said... #

I've never been to a Disney park, looks like a good weekend.

Did you get a new Elna? I so wish we had an Elna dealer in Central Iowa, I would have one!

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Looks like a fun trip, you being like the Queen with 2 birthday n'all!

Katy Cameron said... #

Looks like you had a great birthday there, and love the idea of the badge!

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said... #

So fun! What a great birthday trip! Love the happy birthday stories. Can't wait to see what you did with your new leaf, looks awesome! ;)

Mama Pea said... #

What a great birthday. I love how they stopped and said happy birthday to you all the time. That's neat. You got a new sewing machine? Waddja get?

Carla said... #

What fun, Cindy! A new Elna......Yay!!

CitricSugar said... #

Hilarious random "happy birthday-ing"! Too cute - as are those sweetie-pies! Looks like a great time was had by all, with the exception of that one pic. :-)

That tile reminds me of Cherry House's City Quilts… Definitely inspiration. And woohoo to a fancy schmancy new machine - can't wait to hear how she handles curves! ( That was supposed to sound more like I was comparing it to a car but the joke got lost somewhere… lol)

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

What a great way to celebrate your birthday - it was your 30th, right? Your new machine looks amazing, have fun!

Elaine said... #

happy belated birthday! we just went there over the holidays! and lucky you-- a new machine! have fun playing!