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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The Messy Things

I'm pretty easy going about letting my kids do things for themselves, letting them learn by doing, and  letting them figure things out without my help.  There are some things, however, I've been too strict with. Things that might delay things, and this is why.

I am a clean freak! Something I actively work on. The idea though, of juice all over the floor is why I usually don't let my son pour his own. The idea of body fluids all over the floor is why I usually didn't/don't let my kids crawl around without a diaper to cure their rash. The idea of food on everything is why it usually took me way too long to let them feed themselves. The key word here, is usually. I let them do these things, just not as much as others might. I work on it.

Tonight I tried. I tried to let our daughter crawl around without her diaper for about 15 minutes before her bath. Well, pee isn't that big of a deal, and since I just removed and cleaned a poopy diaper, I figured "what time would be better?" Not 5 minutes in to the nakedness, she crawled past us and had one huge explosive fart splattering everything behind her, almost including her brother. That my friends, is why I refrain from doing these things.


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Be Mindful of What You Say

Sometimes, you get so caught up in the adventures of the day, that you forget to pay attention to details. That is right about when your kids pop in and send you a big ol' eye opener to remind you to watch it! That happened to me today. 

We were having a busy day, which means of course, that the baby was getting into everything she could. She was being a curious little one year old all day. When we were sitting in the van waiting for their dad to run an errand, I turned around to talk to the kids. I was playing by asking the baby, "Baby Girl, why you being so naughty?" Immediately, my son chimes in, "Because, she's a b*tch!". Ok, I'll admit, it was so shocking and unexpected that I chuckled a little. Then I calmed myself and explained to him that it wasn't a nice thing to say and we should not speak that way about our sisters because we love them and should respect them. I could tell he knew right away the right from wrong in the situation. 

I can honestly say this didn't come from me. I never call people this. However, I do curse, and I am still responsible for being mindful of the things I say in front of the kids, as well as the things others say in front of them. I have witnessed them copying other people they are around often. (case in point) Thankfully, our son is very receptive when we tell him some words are not good words, and we should not say them.  My awareness has been turned back on for now though. I am still shocked he said that. I will aim to be more mindful of my words for the kids.

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