More Family Fun With Disney On Ice

Last month, thanks to MomCentral, The Knight and I were able to take the girls out for a fabulous night to a showing of Disney on Ice.

Mom Central has done it again! We are so excited to be taking the girls this weekend to see Disney On Ice's newest show, Let's Celebrate!!

Not only that, but you can also take advantage of the great offers on ticket prices!

Let me know if you plan on going, I'll keep an eye out for you!!

TD Garden - FEB. 12 - 21

SCHOOL VACATION WEEK!

Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they celebrate a Very Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; a Royal Valentine’s Day Ball with the Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel and Tiana; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a winter wonderland with Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story; a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe. Come join the party when this spectacular

ice show visits your hometown!

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows, or

receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the promotional code:MOM.*

TD Garden show dates:

Friday, February 12 - 7pm**

Saturday, February 13 11am and 3pm

Sunday, February 14 12NOON and 4pm

Monday, February 15 - 11am and 3pm

Tuesday, February 16 - no shows

Wednesday, February 17 - 1pm

Thursday, February 18 - 11am and 3pm

Friday, February 19 - 1pm and 7pm

Saturday, February 20 - 11am and 3pm

Sunday, February 21 - 12NOON and 4pm

*Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday-Friday matinee or $4 off weekend Friday evening – Sunday. Use promo code “MOM” at time of purchase by phone 1-800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Minimum purchase of

4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row, VIP or CLUB seats. Cannot be combined with other offers. Additional service charges, facility fee, & handling fees will apply.

**Friday, February 12th 7pm performance is our Opening Night performance and all Tickets are $15 (no code required and excluding Front Row, VIP and CLUB seating)!!!

More Family Fun With Disney On Ice

Staycation, Continued

Our third day of Staycation was also the Mermaid's birthday. We took the girls to Roger Williams Zoo, and the Mermaid wore her birthday crown the entire day. The girls loved seeing all the different animals and they both got to pick out a little present from the gift store. Afterwards, we went to Roger Williams Park and had a picnic and family walk before heading home. For all the pictures from the zoo, click on the picture below.
For the rest of Staycation, we went to the Woodstock Fair (where I forgot my camera) and then relaxed at home. The Knight is taking a second Staycation in October and we can't wait!

Staycation, Continued

Disney On Ice!!!

Have you taken your kids to see Disney on Ice yet? The Knight and I haven't, but it looks like a fantastic show!

The excitement, drama, and thrill of Disney On Ice sweeps in this fall along with the new school year! Feld Entertainment's Disney On Ice live spectaculars feature iconic Disney stories, characters, music, and world-class skating; providing families with a unique entertainment experience to which they can look forward to this fall and winter.

Your kids will be wowed by the opportunity to locally experience their favorite Disney characters live, right in front of their eyes. With spectacular ice shows featuring the magical Disney characters: such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Cinderella and Tinker Bell to favorites from Disney's Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, and the new film, The Princess and The Frog; there is a performance to delight everyone—big and small alike. These action-packed shows will certainly be a family treat, and will create childhood memories of special times together.

Best of all, Disney on Ice is teaming up with Mom Central to offer great discounts on tickets! Just look for the box labeled MC Promotion when purchasing your tickets. The following three offers are available:

*Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.

*Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price

Offer #3: Get the best Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in the Front Row and VIP sections just for you! No discounts available on these seats. Use the code MOM.

*Not valid on Front Row or VIP seats or combinable with other offers including opening night offers. Other fees may apply.

The above offers are good in the following cities:

St. Louis: September 3-6, 2009
Chicago: September 8-13, 2009
Sunrise: September 17-20, 2009
Dayton/Cincinnati: September 17-27, 2009
Miami: September 23-27, 2009
Auburn Hills: September 30 – October 4, 2009
Charlotte: October 8-11, 2009
Philadelphia: October 14-18, 2009
Atlanta: October 14-18, 2009
Oakland/San Jose: October 14-25, 2009
Fairfax: October 21-25, 2009
Sacramento: October 28 – November 1, 2009
Baltimore: October 28 – November 1, 2009
Uniondale: November 10-15, 2009
Houston: November 11-15, 2009
NYC: November 17-22, 2009
East Rutherford: November 24-29, 2009
Denver/Broomfield: December 3-13, 2009 *available for purchase on 9/12/09
St. Paul: December 9-13, 2009
Los Angeles: December 17-20, 2009
Toronto: December 18-27, 2009
Anaheim: December 22-27, 2009
Philadelphia: December 23 – January 3, 2010 *available for purchase on 10/12/09
Boston: December 26-29, 2009 *available for purchase on 9/3/09
Ontario: December 30 – January 3, 2010
Cleveland: January 8 -18, 2009 *available for presale on 10/2/09

This year Disney on Ice is running three shows:

Disney On Ice presents Celebrations! It's one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Enjoy a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe.

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy: Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney/Pixar's CARS race across the ice. Dive into The Little Mermaid's enchanting undersea kingdom and experience the 'Circle of Life' with The Lion King. Then enter the mystical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and the Disney Fairies as they reveal the magic that lies within!

Special Bonus! Come see a Disney princess and a dazzling display of gorgeous gowns at the Disney Princess Pre-Show starting one hour before show time! Complimentary to all ticket holders.

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic: Join the celebration as 65 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You'll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you'll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics: Dreams really do come true! Disney On Ice is proud to bring you a dazzling tale of hope, heart, heroism and hilarity as Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics. This stunning spectacle is an awe-inspiring and fun-filled journey to the magical lands of Disney's classic fairy tales. Travel to a kingdom under the sea, an enchanted palace in France, an Arabian castle and more! Enter the fantasy worlds of your favorite Disney princesses – Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and Snow White – as they bring magic to your city in this royal skating extravaganza.

The Knight and I are definitely taking the girls. Now we just have to decide which show! If you've taken your family to Disney on Ice, I'd love to hear from you!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Disney On Ice!!!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus

Last year the Knight and I had the chance to take the girls to the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus in Boston. What a treat!! The girls loved the elephants, tigers, trapeze artists, and of course, the clowns!

This year, The Greatest Show On Earth is providing the chance to create even more amazing memories with their All-Access Pre-Show, which begins an hour before the show starts live on the circus floor. Your kids will have the chance to meet the performers, try on costumes, and get close and personal with the circus! The All-Access Pre-Show is FREE to all ticket holders and is a must see!

Best of all, The Greatest Show on Earth is joining up with Mom Central to offer families discounts on their tickets. There are three offers to choose from; just look for the box marked MC Promotion when purchasing your tickets. The offers are:

*Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.

*Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.

Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.

* Not valid on Circus CelebritySM, Front Row or VIP seats and may not be combined with other offers including special Opening Night pricing. Other fees may apply.

The above offers are good in the following cities:

Denver: September 30 – October 11, 2009
Boston: October 14-18, 2009
St. Louis: October 15-18, 2009
Cleveland: October 21-26, 2009
Rosemont/Chicago: November 5 – 29, 2009 *available for purchase on Sept. 8. 2009
Auburn Hills: November 18-22, 2009
Charlotte: January 27-31, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
Atlanta: February 12-21, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
Cincinnati: March 10-14, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009
Dayton: April 29 – May 2, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009

Have you taken your family to see the circus? What is your favorite part?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus

Staycation, Day 2

For day two of our Staycation, we took the girls to the Ecotarium. Since we have a family pass, the girls and I go there almost every week already. But this time, the girls were so excited to be able to show daddy all the fun stuff they get to do!

They started off with craft time, making skunk puppets.

Craft time was followed by story time, where they got two meet two real adorable skunks!!

Next we headed over to visit Kenda, the polar bear. We then visited all the other animals outside and played on the playground.

Then we headed back inside to play and learn about biospheres, air, etc.

The Ecotarium is such a wonderful place for children to have fun while learning, we love going there. I highly recommend the family pass to anyone who lives in the area!

Staycation, Day 2

The Ride of Your Life

My Dearest Mermaid,

Earlier today, you made a decision. Mommy, I want to ride the roller coaster.

I hesitated. Last time you had tried to ride the roller coaster, you got frightened and cried the entire ride. You must have sensed my hesitation, because you quickly reassured me.

Don't worry Mommy, I won't be scared. I'm five now, I'm a big girl.

You head up the steps and to my surprise, immediately head to the front car. You wiggle anxiously while the others are loaded in, and then grip the handlebars tight as the cars start moving.

The cars go around the tracks three times...up and down, up and down. The first time, you cling tight to the handle bars and your eyes open wide...but you don't cry. The second time, you smile slightly and tentatively raise one arm in the air. By the third trip around, you have both arms straight up in the air and your face is beaming with joy and exhilaration.

You come bounding off the platform and jump into my arms. Mommy, I did it!! I didn't get scared, I really am a big girl!!

You skip ahead of me the rest of the night, too old to hold my hand as we weave through the busy crowd. It starts getting dark, and when we ask what other rides you want to go on, you clutch my hand, pull me close and whisper in my ear.

I know I'm a big girl now, Mommy. But, I am getting really tired. Can we go home so you can tuck me in?

I realize then that watching you grow and become independent is like being on my own personal roller coaster with you. It has its ups and downs, and we don't throw our arms up in the air all at once. We take our time and wait until we are ready for the next step...ready to put one arm up and then the other...

...ready to let go.

And when we do, its a moment filled with joy and exhilaration.

Happy Birthday, my Mermaid. I love you so much.

The Ride of Your Life

Staycation, Day 1

The Knight has taken this week off from work and we are on Staycation. Our first trip was yesterday to Boston. We visited Quincy Market, walked around the harbor, and then went to the Children's Museum. We decided to take the train because the Mermaid LOVES trains and keeps begging us to go on one. It was a loonnggg ride.

Here are some pictures:

Staycation, Day 1

I Feel Much Older Than I Am..

Sunday was Father's Day (Happy Father's Day to my shining knight!). It was also my birthday.

On Saturday we had a cookout and invited family and friends to celebrate. Thank goodness we picked the one day in the past TWO WEEKS that it hasn't rained. Because really? Two weeks straight of rain? But that's a whole 'nother post...

Anyways, we had lots of fun visiting with each other and that mystical ball of light called the Sun. It was the first cookout we've held at our house and I must say, it was a success. I got some great presents, too:

New sneakers for running and exercising; a teapot for brewing my lovely tea; the book Spiritual Midwifery; the movie The Business of Being Born; and incense stick thingies. And, my mom got me my absolute favorite flowers, sunflowers!I love it when my family takes the time to get things off my wish list. A guaranteed hit for me. Plus, I also got lots of cash. I love cash for presents....so many possibilities.

I didn't know how nice the sneakers were until I wore them while doing my paper route this morning instead of my cheap payless sneakers. OMGoodness, what a difference; it was the first time ever that my legs were not screaming at me by the time I finished the route.

Which was a really, really good thing, because my jeep broke down on me. In the middle of my route. I know I like to strive for balance in my life, but having a crappy day after a wonderful day is not the type of balance I had in mind. But, my wonderful mother has AAA, so we got it towed and the Knight took the day off, which is always fabulous.

Plus, my feet look really cool in my new shoes.

I Feel Much Older Than I Am..

My Favorite Part of Summer

My favorite part of summer is going to all the local fairs. To me, a fair is the essence of summer; spending time outside, animals, games, and food. Spending time with family. Love it.

This past weekend we went to the local Woodstock Fair.

Getting lost in the kid's maze.The Guppy was more interested in the stuffed chickens.Standing next to the 1,000 lb pumpkin.Learning about baby chicks.The Mermaid went on a ton of rides, she loved it!The best ride of all: the Ferris Wheel

The Mermaid was fearless.
So was the Guppy.The View

Which brings me to #5 on my List of One Thousand Gifts......

#4. Summertime at the fairs.

My Favorite Part of Summer

Swings and Bats and Stories by Firelight...

This weekend the Knight and I took the girls to the park and then we went to a cookout at my Aunts. Then, Saturday night the Knight set up a tent in the backyard and we took the girls on their first "camping" trip.

The girls loved camping out in the tent. The delight and surprise on their faces was incredible. We told stories by firelight (and not by tv light) and just talked and laughed and tickled. With no electronic gadgets around to distract us, we were able to really connect with each other and enjoy each other's company.

The Mermaid loved the sound of the frogs and crickets. When we went to lay down in the tent, I positioned myself next to the Mermaid while the Knight lay down next to the Guppy. Usually, the Mermaid sleeps on her little mattress next to our bed and I spend the night nursing the Guppy back to sleep. But for some reason, the Guppy did not ask to nurse to sleep. Instead, she cuddled with the Knight and I smiled to hear them laughing and giggling and making silly faces at each other.

Meanwhile, it was so incredibly peaceful and delightful to be able to cuddle with my little girl. She isn't used to having someone to cuddle with anymore, and it was a delight for her as well. We listened to the frogs and screeched and then laughed when we saw a bat land on the tent, right above us. We whispered in the dark, talking about the sounds of nature that we were hearing, talking about what her toy dog likes to eat and how he hates to have the blankets over his head, and most importantly, just talking. It was just the two of us, without the Guppy clamoring for attention or for na nas.

I felt like I was rediscovering who the Mermaid was; rediscovering that she is her own little person with her own little personality. As I lay there with her and listened to her talk about the stars and moon, feelings of awe and love for her just hit me and it was so incredibly overwhelming. Here is this sweet, beautiful, smart little girl and she is my daughter. I carried her in me for nine months, and now I carry her in my heart and in my arms. She is my daughter, and I could not be prouder, or more blessed.

Swings and Bats and Stories by Firelight...

That's Much, Much Better...

Last night I went out for a girls night to celebrate my birthday. We went to Clay Time Studio, and it was a blast. They let you bring your own snacks and adult beverages, so I brought some wine and chips and dip. You basically pick out the piece of pottery that you like, paint and decorate it, and then they fire it in the kiln and you pick it up a week later.

I picked out a giant coffee mug and decorated it with a baby foot, baby hand, spirals, a pregnant belly, and on the bottom, a vulva. It's my new doula cup. I'm not artistic, but I'll take picture of it when I get it back.

Having a girls night out was just what I needed. We drank wine, talked girl talk, and expressed ourselves creatively. It was just perfect; talking about things that you can't speak to your husband about; laughing continuously all night, the kind of laugh that makes you throw your head back and you can feel the laughter bubbling and rising up from your heart and flowing gloriously out into the air. Feeling free because there are no children climbing on your lap, demanding "na nas" or juice or lovie or whatever else they can think of. Feeling pretty because you are wearing nice clothes and jewelry and your hair is done up and you have makeup on and you aren't worried about getting spit up on or having apple juice spilled on your nice clothes. Towards the end we even got into quite a lively and invigorating discussion about the maternity system and how broken it is.

I also got a few gifts from my generous friends, which is always great! From my lovely SIL I got two books: God of Animals and Say You're One of Them. From my friend K, I got lovely candle holders and candles. And from my friend J, I got a most lovely card and a gift card to Kohl's, my all time favorite store.

I also got some lovely jewelry from the wonderful Knight. I wore it to the Girls' Night Out and got so many great compliments!

I came home feeling refreshed and energized. The Guppy was still awake and demanded "na nas" and instead of the annoyance that I had been feeling about nursing and cleaning up vomit all week, I swept her up in my arms and kissed and tickled her and listened to her laughter as it rang like a fairy bell through the house. I didn't mind nursing her. I am her mother and she is my baby and I love her dearly, but I am also a woman and I think I had forgotten to nurture that side of myself this week. The night out had done that and more, so I was ready to snuggle and tickle and even wipe some noses as we settled down for the night.

Tonight is part II of my birthday celebration, dinner with the family at Fire and Ice.

That's Much, Much Better...

Starbucks Employee of the Month

I personally, found this video hilarious!



I especially love the guy at the end who asks to be topped off!

Starbucks Employee of the Month

Off To The Circus We (Don't?) Go!

The Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town this weekend. My dear FIL was given four free tickets to go, and he gave them to us.

Now, I really didn't want to go. I do have serious issues with the way B&B circus treats their elephants and other animals. I had always planned on taking the girls to see an animal-free circus.

However, the Knight really, really wanted to take them. We ended up getting into a little argument about it. But, I realized that it was a stupid thing to argue about. Here is this wonderful man, who supports me in every way possible, who cringed when I said, "I think we should use cloth diapers" but went along with it because he knew it was important to me. Who looked at me like I was crazy when I said, "I want a homebirth. Do you think a birthing tub would fit into the living room?" but supported me completely because, again, he knew it was important to me. The same thing for homeschooling, extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing, etc.

What got to me was when we were arguing, he said, "Does everything have to be an issue with you? Can't we do something normal for once and just take our kids to the circus?"

He has a point...

So, we went, with the understanding that in the future we would attend the animal-free shows and that when the girls are old enough, we will explain why we don't support the ones that keep animals. And, it was fun. The Guppy got a little overwhelmed, but the Mermaid was completely blown away and had a blast. She is still talking about the things she saw. So, I'm glad we went.

Off To The Circus We (Don't?) Go!

This Girl is Fearless

Yesterday the Knight and I took the girls to a large local fair, the Big E. The Big E is something we look forward to every year, and this year was the first year that the Mermaid was old enough to go on the kiddie rides. The Mermaid is absolutely fearless and went on all the rides she could, and wanted to do them by herself. We all had a really good time, the girls especially.

Biker chick!
Love that smile!
Monster Truck
The Guppy and I
The Knight and the Guppy
The Mermaid on the "Mary Poppins Ride!"
The Knight and the Mermaid.
The Guppy with my SIL
The Mermaid going down the Super Slide with the Knight

I went down the Super Slide with the Mermaid as well, and let me tell you, that slide is fast and fun!! I also went on one "adult" ride with my SIL and it has been sooo long since I've been on a ride, I was surprised at how nervous I was. But it was all in good fun!

We also stopped for a bit to watch the horse show, particularly the jumping classes. The Guppy really got excited when she saw the horses, I couldn't believe it! Maybe we have a future equestrian in our midst? ;o)

This Girl is Fearless