04
Oct, 2011

If you’ve ever wanted to witness several thousands of people attempting to collect $49 – $64 worth of free candy, then have I got the party for you!


This past Friday, the fine folks of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim invited Lee, Aubrey and me to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland for the second year in a row. We had SO much fun last year and this year was even more fun because Aubrey was old enough and brave enough to go on some of the scarier rides!

She wore her Michael Jackson costume (sans homemade sparkly glove & wig – too much hassle on the rides) and we went on tons of rides including the Haunted Mansion Holiday, Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, the teacups, the Matterhorn, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo and more and of course, Aubrey had to see the Captain EO movie!

MJ, I mean Aubrey, all ready to Rock The Night Away!

There are only eight more nights to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party and it is a separately ticketed event during the evening/night time hours. You’ll be treated to a special Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade parade, photo opps with Disney characters in their Halloween garb, and a really kick-ass Halloween fireworks display. They have also added scary elements to Space Mountain and there are two really fun dance parties with characters which Aubrey really enjoyed.

Aubs Shakes Her Body Down at Buzz Lightyear’s  Intergalactic Space Jam!

Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade Parade

The best part of all was the Trick-Or-Treat Trails. Throughout the park there are candy stations and when you check in you get a huge bag to collect as much as you want. And the people handing out the treats were very generous too – handfuls at each stop! Oh and there are raisins, carrots and apple slices in addition to the candy so you can eat one of those and then feel justified in downing a pound of peanut butter cups. We now have so much candy at our house…we should be put out of our misery. I’m expecting love letters from our dentist to start arriving any day now.

LOTS of candy, people. Lots.

Check event details, dates and prices here and I would suggest buying tickets in advance. The night we were there it did sell out! Get those costumes on and have a great time!

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Tags: Amy Anderson • Aubrey Anderson-Emmons • Disneyland • Michael Jackson • Mickey’s Halloween Party • trick-or-treating

11
Sep, 2011

OK – So I started writing this last week and am just now getting around to posting it… so imagine it’s Monday, September 5…

Stacy and I have been friends since 7th grade. Like over 20 years. Wild. Through umpteen moves and life changes, we have managed to remain friends. This weekend, she and her two boys (Brendan, 9 and Keenan, soon to be 5) made the mini van trek all the way from Tucson to visit. Being true Southern Californians, we took them to the beach on Saturday and The Happiest Place On Earth on Sunday.


Malibu was beautiful with impressive surf rolling in all the way from New Zealand, putting on a fantastic water show. The weather was perfect and the kids would have frolicked in the sand all day if we had let them. Grilled burgers and dogs on our patio that night for dinner.


The next morning took us down to Anaheim. Our visitors had never been to Disneyland, so it was a real treat to see them experience “Disney Magic” for the first time. Aubrey, now 4 years old and having been to Disneyland exactly three other times, is an old pro. She told me this morning she would like to go every day. Ha! Better book another tv show then, kid.

I’ve been to Disneyland 5 other times before yesterday (Excluding the time my family drove there circa 1976 and it was closed. Couldn’t make that shit up.) and each time I experience something new. There is so much to do and see, and depending on who you are with, it can be totally different each time.


Firsts for me this time were:
– Mr Toad’s Wild Ride
– Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
– Ate at the new Paradise Garden quick serve restaurant – surprisingly AWESOME! The chicken kabobs were delicious!
– Saw Captain EO – shamon! Hee hee!


The main crazy of the day was that the Disneyland Half Marathon was that morning and many of the roads into the park, resort, etc were closed off, so it took us about an hour of driving around and around and around the park in bumper to bumper traffic before we were able to get to where we were supposed to be. But it was smooth sailing after that.

All day, Stacy and I kept freaking out about the fact that were were at Disneyland…with our KIDS! WHAT?! How did that happen? It feels like it was just yesterday that we were wearing stirrup pants, forgetting our locker combinations and taking off our shirts for that awkward scoliosis test. OK, maybe not YESTERDAY, but where do the days, the years go? And how did we turn into adults with children tall enough to ride most of the rides at Disneyland? Yikes!


Time certainly does fly, but it sure is fun with good friends and having Aubrey allows me to experience life and SoCal in a whole different way. I probably wouldn’t have built a sand castle and caught sand crabs at the beach and I definitely wouldn’t have bought and tasted cotton candy at Disneyland. She reminds me to enjoy the simple things and to savor the sweetness that is all around us. Lucky me.

I was recently talking to a good friend about balance in life. Career, relationships, parenting, health. There are only so many hours in the day and in the past, most of my hours were spent on career. I said I felt that Aubrey came into my life to give me better balance. I’m not sure I’ve figured out the balance yet – or really, I’m not sure I ever will – it’s more like I just try to squeeze more into each day so I can do it all, but this weekend with friends, with family, with children, with Mickey Mouse… it was a good step back from our busy lives and a nice break for fun together. I hope you all find the time to let fun and joy in your lives. If you’re not sure how to do it, just ask yourself, “What would Aubrey do?” 

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Tags: Amy Anderson • Aubrey Anderson-Emmons • Disneyland • SoCal

16
Nov, 2010

Here’s the special ticket deal – get a special $48 Family Four-Pack offer or $4 savings on ticket prices ($12-$16-$21) for select performances! Regular ticket prices are $16-$21-$25.

Use the code “MOM” at TicketMaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000, to redeem your savings! Savings to not apply to front row or VIP seats. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

We’ll be at Staples center! Hope you and your little ones can make one of the performances too! Happy holidays!

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Tags: Citizens Business Bank Arena • Disney On Ice • Disneyland • family entertainment • Feld Entertainment • holiday entertainment • Honda Center • Long Beach Arena • Staples Center