Tippy Toes and Tantrums

Lessons from Lacrosse Camp: Everything is in a Name

Kimberly Kauer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:50:00 -0700

Driving home from lacrosse camp, Rocket told me about their mixed (boys and girls) game of capture the flag. With boys and girls on the same team, they had to compromise on a team name.

Him: You know how in stories when people make fun of something, then that team, the team they made fun of, wins? Like they get mad about being teased and they just win or something? That's what happened.

Me: Was the other team making fun of your team?

Him? The bigger kids kinda laughed at our name. Then we won. Because of it, I think.

Me: What was your name?

Him: The Fiery Unicorn Balls.

It would make the best team banner ever.

Nothing Remarkable Revisited

Kimberly Kauer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:08:08 -0700

The end of the school year crud has hit and mostly is gone, although I would pay good money to spend a day napping because this exhaustion that too comes with the end of the year, is winning.

The other day a safety expert asked to use one of my photos in a presentation he is giving on ladder safety. Of course it was a photo of my kids running under a tall ladder, which I imagine will draw laughs accompanied with the bold word, "FAIL!" Once I got beyond that, I only saw Clover's little braids, and Rocket's diaper-puffed bottoms. He was two, she was six, and the post is about me trying to figure out my greater purpose in a harried life. It was a reminder of how life orbited around two young kids, and while that is still true, there is so much more out there circling, too. Life was always full, but somehow our universe expanded to accommodate more.

Maybe this fullness is why I cannot wait for the schedule shift that summer brings. Summer begins tomorrow afternoon! Although, due to a busy day, the freedom won't kick in until Thursday morning.

End of School Old Shoes

Kimberly Kauer — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:56:06 -0700

These shoes could not make it until the end of the school year. Both pairs of shoes went into use during Christmas break, and they could not make it the 7.5 days left in the school year. The shoes got the kids to the finish line, but couldn't cross it with them. Be happy it's impossible to smell these photos. I couldn't stand being closed up in a car with these shoes for one more minute.

As it was noted, the soles of the old TOMS used to be the same color as the soles of the new TOMS. (shudder)

Other than cleats and the occasional flip flops when near water, my kids only use one pair of shoes each. Even though they own other shoes, the same skanky pair gets put on day after day. That's a big burden for one pair of shoes to carry.

Disney Desserts and Why Caramel Apples are the Best

Kimberly Kauer — Wed, 29 May 2013 11:53:34 -0700

My sister and I have an unspoken rule that whenever one of us goes to Disneyland or Disney World (although neither of us have been to Disney World in years), we bring back the other a caramel apple. Last week we were at Disneyland for the 24-hour Monstrous Summer event, and I brought back my sister a Sully caramel apple.

He reminds me of the line from Where the Wild Things Are: "We'll eat you up—we love you so!"

Sully led to a conversation about why Disney caramel apples are the best. My sister said it's good caramel, and I agree, but think the fact that they are freshly made helps, too. (You can watch the caramel apple making in the windows of Marceline's Confectionery and other Disneyland candy shops.) Fresh + good caramel + a dash of cute = the best caramel apples ever. Disney will put the apples in a little plastic container that allows for safe transport. They are the yummiest souvenir. We spied the new Sorcerer Mickey caramel apples, too, but the hat made him too tall to fit into the to-go containers. Sully was the perfect size.

Here are some of the noteworthy treats that made it into our bellies:

Our first Dole Whips! This one was the float.

A design-your-own ice cream bar at Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream in California Adventure.

A late night snack of churros bites from Cozy Cone Motel in Radiator Springs at California Adventure.

Mint Juleps with (unpictured) Mickey-shaped beignets, enjoyed while listening to live jazz music at the Mint Julep Bar in Disneyland's French Quarter. It's the perfect afternoon break.

Finally, after a few mentions that Kevin and Rocket did not look happy in the last post, here's a happier picture taken with my iPhone. The less happy photo was photo number 19, using two cameras, that I'd taken at one location, not including the accidental video when I pressed the wrong button. They weren't tired of Disneyland, but tired of me

Party at Disneyland, Go Easy on the Popcorn

Kimberly Kauer — Tue, 28 May 2013 14:41:15 -0700

We shut the party down! Then got sick in our bed! Well, one person pictured did that. The good news is that Disney is prepared for the good and the bad. Our midnight call to housekeeping was quickly answered by a team prepared for action. Within minutes, the victimized bed was stripped and re-wrapped in fresh bedding and our bathroom floor had been mopped. It's clear they had been through the drill before. Truly, minutes after the whole thing began, we were back in bed ready for sleep. Pro tip: don't let your kid eat an entire tub of popcorn by himself, then go on rides.

Luckily, the sick kid woke up with no memory of getting sick or the clean up. His first question was, "Where are my pants?" I'm worried about what he'll be like in college.

We were guests of Disneyland to get a sneak peek of Mickey and the Magical Map, which is an awesome new live show that's part of a revitalization of Fantasyland.