Disney Adventure -- Firsts, Flashmobs, and Fantasyland

Thursday evening the hubs, J and I set out for Disneyland. We hadn't gotten to go in a few months, and though she had visited before (proof:

)

this was the first time she was big enough to go on anything and potentially enjoy it. Stephen wanted to take her on the carousel, so that was our first stop. I was not completely convinced that she would be allowed to ride, but was quickly proven wrong. We found a horse and strapped her on and started documenting her first ride with all the thoroughness of a moon landing. I remember when I was young and would ride the carousel thinking that it must be no fun for the adults who had to tend to their kids instead of getting to ride.

How wrong I was. We probably had more fun than she did. It was so precious.

Next up was a trip on Small World, which is something of a sensory overload for a seven month old, I think. She sort of like it. Sort of.

A rare mom-baby photo. Usually I wield the camera.

Earlier, when we had arrived at the park, we could see there was some sort of media event going on, but I didn't do my due diligence beforehand, so we didn't know quite what. Had I done any research I would have known Thursday was the opening day of the new "Mickey's Soundsational Summer" Parade and they were having a huge sort of VIP opening for it.

Lots of media guys.

Normally we're not huge parade-watchers, but my sister's boyfriend's mom was involved in a flashmob which opened the parade (we knew there was going to be a flashmob, we just didn't realize what it was for).

Finally the flashmob began. They faux-interrupted a speech.

Don't they make you want to dance? Between this and the return of So You Think You Can Dance, I'm one step-ball-change away from signing up for jazz class.

By the time the flashmob was over, I was SO stoked to see the parade, which ended up being pretty great (not surprising, given it was Disneyland). The floats are themed to look like pop-up picture books, and were really gorgeous.

Click on read more for all the float-goodness.

Stumble: Yoga and Starbucks Water Cup Edition

This week I went to yoga.  I love yoga.  I am not very good at it (Ali would say I need to have "compassion for my practice," and she'd be right, but my faint competitive streak comes out in these situations), but I am always calm and sore after, which is a nice combo.  Anyways, she kicked our tailfeathers on Saturday morning, making us do things like dolphin:

 All rights reserved by Richard-

Um, I had no idea my arms could bend like that.  Although I definitely didn't look like that.  

Which apparently leads into things like peacock scorpion, which, I seriously doubt:

Photo by maureen miranda

When I got home I realized I had somehow managed to skin my elbow during all the dolphin-ing.  It was weird.

As further evidence of my definite inability to be able to do any sort of freestanding armstand, today I attempted to use my very broken Starbucks cup (I dropped it on the way to work and the inner cup separated from the outer cup).  I filled the sad cup at the water cooler (yes, we have a literal water cooler.  No, no cool gossip or American Idol chitchat occurs there) and started on my way back to my office when I dropped said sad cup (I would like to blame this on its being broken, but let's be honest) and it bounced and then splashed ALL OVER my sweet, pregnant co-worker who was using our copy machine.  Also, the whole office is carpeted.  I'll just let all that sink in.

I got her some paper towels, I sopped up the water, I furtively swiped at the copier (I'm sure it's fine...), we laughed and moved on but seriously.  I cannot be trusted to do peacock scorpion!  It's a very, very bad idea!

Via Snuzzy

The end.

UPDATE: Ali informed me the above shots are of something called "scorpion," which sounds rather more unpleasant than peacock, but is perhaps more appropriate.