Life with Dylan

Month: August 2011

  • Summer Vacation – Day 1 at @SanDiegoZoo

    A few weeks ago Dylan and I packed our bags for a fun-filled vacation in San Diego. The goal was to leave all computers and work at home and just have fun! Three parks in three days – World Famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World San Diego, and Legoland California – can we do it? Of course we can, we have annual passes to all three! Nothing was going to stand in our way.

    We left home early on a Tuesday morning and drove straight to the San Diego Zoo. Yes, we were just there last month, but this time we were on a mission … to see the baby tiger cubs!

    We walked right to the Lost Forest, but sadly, the tiger cubs were not out on exhibit this morning. However, there is always something to learn when you are at the San Diego Zoo!

    Did you know that you can find parts of the Rain Forest in your Cupboard? All of the products in this display come from some sort of plant found in the Amazon Rain Forest.

    From Tiger Trail, we headed to Hippo Trail and we got to watch the Momma and Baby Hippo play for about 20 minutes!

    We even managed to get his cute video of the Momma Hippo teaching the Baby a thing or two.

    Dylan loves the area by the Hippo exhibit. He always wants to climb in the tree and pose for pictures on the bronze hippo sculpture. I think I have about 20 pictures on this hippo (spanning over 6 years) Yes, I guess you can say we go to the zoo often … but it’s always worth it to see the look on Dylan’s face when he is near animals.

    Now off to the Discovery Outpost Children’s Zoo to see all sorts of cute and furry animals.

    Black Marmoset

    Playful Meerkats
    Scarlet Macaw Parrot
    Now as much as Dylan loves our next stop, I normally choose to wait outside … but he begged me to come inside the Insect House. The least I could do was take some pictures for him.
    And if this wasn’t enough to show how much I love my child, we headed over to the Reptile House next! However, this time I stayed on the outer edge and handed the camera over to Dylan. These are a few of the pictures he took.

    There was one little guy that I thought was kinda cool though … well, maybe not so little.

    Green Tree Frog

    Feeling a little hungry after the long drive and walking around the zoo for 3 hours we stopped at the Safari Kitchen for lunch. They have the best burgers! Not to mention some brightly colored neighbors.

    Dylan was so excited about staying in a hotel (it’s the little things you know) that we decided to drive over to the hotel and check-in, give our feet a rest, and maybe hit Sea World for some night time fireworks!

    But that’s for another post …

  • Date Night at #Disneyland

    This week has been so crazy with basketball camp and science projects that I thought it was time for a mother and son date night. Disneyland style!

    So last night with no planning, we grabbed our annual passes and headed to the “Happiest Place on Earth” for some fun and laughs. Just the two of us. No backpacks, no sunscreen, no camera (well, we had the cell phone, but not the real camera). We normally go to Disneyland during the day and Dylan is wiped out by 7 or 8 pm, so this was a whole new experience for him. Disneyland after dark.

    Since we haven’t been to Disney California Adventure Park in a few months, we started there.

    With all the construction going on for the new attractions we couldn’t take our normal route, so we walked around the long way … which turned out to be a fun adventure at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

    Dylan was excited because when we have come before this area is so crowded. Tonight it was perfect. Not too many kids and Dylan got to have some fun – Wilderness Explorer Style!

    Um, watch out for these stinky critters …

    Dylan had the best time running through the area and all the moving bridges. The only bummer was we were too late to get the Wilderness Explorer Badge. (The last ceremony is at 4:30 pm – next time for sure)

    Dylan even got to connect with his true “Animal Spirit” …

    After spending a good hour at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail it was Mom’s turn to pick something. If Dylan only knew what he was in for …

    My 8 year-old LEGO loving, Star Wars fanatic, 100% boy was about to go under the sea on the ride I have been dying to go on since it opened. Yes, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure I have the best son ever! He huffed and puffed, but I know that he secretly enjoyed the ride.

    I went right into Little Mermaid mode, singing along and eyes wide open like a child. I was so entranced, trying to take everything in that I totally forgot to take pictures on the ride! haha

    The payback for going on the ride with me was that he got to ride the dolphin (my all-time favorite animal) on King Triton’s Carousel of the Sea

    We had a wonderful mother-son date night and will definitely do this again soon!

  • Fill In The Blank Friday


    Photo courtesy of Disney.com

    Random, but completely necessary!
    1. My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is … I don’t have one 😦 But then again, I don’t go to many dress-up occasions.
    2. This week has been … crazy, hectic, and filled with late nights of working on the computer.
    3. When it’s dinner time and I’m feeling lazy I usually eat … whatever I can find in the fridge that doesn’t require a pan to cook it in.
    4. My favorite pair of shoes is … my flip-flops! Gotta love living in Southern California and wearing flip-flops year round!
    5. A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with is … my collection of Sleeping Beauty things. Figurines, pins, prints, and most recently I got a copy of the original blueprint to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland!
    6. My favorite person is … duh, my son Dylan! 
    7. If I were to write my own blank it would say … What is your go-to makeup product? … Lush Mascara by Shel Cosmetics (of course) 😉
    Share your random thoughts in the comments below 
    or over at the little things we do …

  • Wordless Wednesday – Stone or Fish?

    Head over to Angry Julie Monday for more Wordless Wednesday fun!

  • Everyone Needs Validation at One Time or Another

    Validation is something that I believe we all strive for at some point in our lives. Whether it is consciously or subconsciously, everyone desires their work or actions to be validated by family, friends, or society.

    For a child, validation can be seen in the smile on a parents face or heard in the clapping of hands for a job well done.

    For a student, validation can be seen in the grade received on a test or by achieving the honor roll.

    Once we reach adulthood, these acts of validation become harder to come by. Sure, as adults we receive a paycheck from our employers for a job we have done – but this is something we are told to do. Go to school, graduate, get a job, get paid, and be self-sufficient. This is what society expects of us.

    The type of validation I am talking about is much greater. The kind of validation that I am not really expecting; let alone looking for at this point in my life. The validation from a father, who I do not have the best relationship with, and have not seen in years. The father who left when I was only two years old; the father I have subconsciously yearned to get some sort of praise from since I was a young child.

    Last week I received not only praise and recognition, but validation on more than one level from this man. I am 41 years old and this man brought me to tears as I read his email. Tears of a little girl who loves her Daddy.

    Yes, I am a good mother.

    Yes, he is proud of his grandson.

    Most important, he is proud of his daughter. The validation I have been longing for all my life came today. This man, my father, sees me for me and has validated all of the little things I do in a way that no other person has. Ironically, the person I thought didn’t know me at all may be the one person who really does.

    He gets it. He gets me. He understands my purpose, my writing, and what drives me to do the things I do. No matter how small your actions may be in this world, no matter how much support you receive or do not receive, always remember that somebody out there is watching you from the sidelines. Anticipating your next accomplishment and waiting to give you that validation that you so desire, but would never dream of asking for.