The Times Have Definitely Changed

I sit down with my 4 year old son almost every day and go through what we call "homework". A collection of educational books, flash cards, games, and activities that we do aside from his regular preschool work. We added a couple new pieces to this collection over the holidays and today was the first time we tried them out. 

We were going through some new flashcards, and things were running very smooth. That is, right up until we got to one with a picture of a written letter and envelope. My son was completely stumped. The closest guess he had was simply, paper. 

No doubt technology has improved a great deal this last century. I find it amazing though how much things have changed from my own childhood to his. Only a 20 year difference. I gave him a little (Google searched) quiz. My generations typewriter.... "a computer.... with paper in it". A VCR... "a computer". A record..."a CD". When I mentioned CD's are shiny and silver he says, "Then they must be black CD's".

Computers do a lot, and help us in many beneficial ways. I do not wish them to go away. My only concern in all this would be the day computers take over to the point that kids no longer learn how to hand write, on real paper. I'm sure in just another year or two he will know what a handwritten letter is. But for now, this four year old thinks everything is a computer.

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Affording Disneyland

 The Happiest Place on Earth... if you can afford it. Disneyland is a fun filled place created to entertain children of all ages, and that it has for the last 56 years. However, as the cost of living has gone up dramatically since it's opening, the price of a ticket has gone up even more than that. 

I can't really go back and say how I remember when the price of a ticket was cheap and affordable. Up until I was 18, a family member would always be the one taking us and paying for the tickets. I do remember the tickets being about $65, and that price also isn't quite as harsh when you are a youngster without children, and barely any bills. 

Right now the price of a one day one park ticket is $81. If you want to "park hop" between both Disneyland and California Adventure that'll set you back $105. As a young couple with two young children, we don't really have a lot of extra spending cash on hand. Going to Disneyland can set us back over $300 a visit on tickets alone. But as a Mom, I really want to give my kids the joy of visiting this happy place. 

I came up with a brilliant idea. This past Christmas I got the idea that the kids have too many toys as is. We try to raise them not to be too materialistic, and I was hoping there would be a great way to get through the holidays without a big, new shipment of toys to clutter the already small house. That idea came to me just in time. 

Realizing how much we enjoy Disneyland, and how we don't go often due to lack of funds, we decided to ask everyone that instead of gifts, would they please give us Disney giftcards. It was fantastic. We have two large families and when everyone applied the same amount they would have spent anyway, to a Disney giftcard, we came out with enough money to buy the So Cal Select passes we wanted. 

The passes are only $199 a piece, and they are park hoppers, so two visits and you start saving money. The downside some might see with those passes (the cheapest they offer) block out all weekends, holidays, and summer. The bright side to us.... we really don't like going during those busy times anyway. 

It worked out perfectly and allowed us the chance to afford going to Disneyland as a family at least a couple times this year. We are very blessed and happy. And we also do not have a big, new shipment of toys cluttering the house. Win/Win!

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