California boys

Matix has a fun and scary obsession with Mr. potato head. He can frequently be found chanting his name and talking about all the body parts with glee. He loves building and breaking him down in new and creative ways. He lovingly refers to him as ta-to-ed.
  At the beach Matix and the sand were one. from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, he was rolling in it. At one point we found him digging a hole with his head as the shovel. I don't like thinking about how much sand he ingested but his sandy smiles and sand coated, mile-long eyelashes told me that he was just fine with the mess.

  Matix would chase a bird all the way out to sea if I would allow it. His intentions where not to catch the bird, but just chase it. He ran, tripped every ten steps or so, bounced up quickly and was right back at it. Those seagulls got their cardio in. The waves made him a little nervous and for the most part, he spent a lot of time, running away from the dancing waves, but as brother showed him how to pop back up when the waves knock you down, they spent the last few days laying on their bellys while the waves broke over the top of them.

   Disneyland was a real treat for Matix, he would shout "a ride" with his fist pumping the clouds above him with all the excitement in his stout little frame. Seeing THE REAL Mr. Potato head left him staring and speechless and in his own special language, he narrated every ride with excitement and nervousness. We loved watching him on 'its a small world' and pirates, but he's kind of like me...he was happy just walking around. Aside from a very fear provoking Monsters Inc. character who got a little too close to him at the Pixar parade and our poor judgement as parents on the mickey Ferris wheel, he enjoyed every minute and took nice long naps in the middle of the day so we could ride some "mom and dad rides".

Liam backed down from nothing! We had preped him for weeks with Disneyland documentaries, youtube videos of rides and a virtual map so he'd have an idea of what he wanted to do most. He stayed happy and busy. Many rides ended with this conversation...

Me: SO Liam, what did you think!? Did you love it.
Liam: Yeah
*3 seconds later
Liam: I liked it but it was kind of scary.
Me: Well do you want to ride it again!?
Liam: Yeah!
*3 seconds later
Liam: Actually, lets find another ride ok mama?

Liams nervous laugh on Splash mountain made me see myself in him so much! I can remember that feeling and i love it! He loved watching Matix loose his mind on the Mickey Ferris wheel and it made him want to teach Matix how fun worked (Something he is still very much figuring out himself). Pirates was another ride I could have rode on 12 more times just to enjoy it over and over with Liam who was most excited to ride it before we even stepped into Disneyland. The boys could both be heard singing the "Yo Ho"s from that song for weeks after.

  Liam loved going through Mickeys house and meeting him...any character really...they're real to him, and magical and kind and good and I just wish I could give him more of that every day. He complimented Anna on her dress and danced with Woody and Jessie while we waited in line for the submarines.

   Liam and Millie were not too keen on sharing the magic. We laughed and screamed internally at the petty fighting and personal bubble breaking that occurred but we expected a little naughtiness from spoiled rotten kids that week. On occasion they would wise up and dance with each other or even share the front seat on a ride. We're so grateful Liam and Millie, cousins are a blessing.
   Liams didnt slow down, he was always up for the next ride and wanted to ride with mom on all of them. I never turned down the offer. His favorite rides were plash Mountain, Pirates, Radiator Springs and the Ferris Wheel but to be fair , he loved them all. I got all 'mama Bear" when he wasn't aloud on rides like Goofys flight school or my personal favorite, the River Rapid ride but we had our share of fun and we have some memories still to make next time.

Beach days were heavenly. We relaxed, played sand games , made heavily fortified and beautiful castles as a family and body surfed to our hearts content. We caught crabs, we prayed for them and then we fed them to seagulls. We ate pizza, sandy sandwiches and Cessys tacos and we watched the sun set. There are few things i love more than a good day at the beach. Liam loved playing in the waves an burying him self and Millie in the sand...on the beach, they were the best of friends. We got to fly our beach kite which is a job that Liam takes very seriously, but he made sure everyone got a turn and was so proud of their success...i hope he never finds out just how little skill is required to fly a kite on the beach.

   I loved being under the same roof as a big happy Guttery family again...its like we've never changed and we could all live that way forever...maybe im speaking for myself...infact, i'm sure i am, others were probably ready to be back in thier own beds but i loved waking up to a kitchen full of sisters and jumping into bed with them to giggle and talk at night. I love our traditions and the unity and love that we've built through them.
   Disneyland was way better than I imagined and a lot of that is credit to Breea and Cody who are frequent flyers there. They helped us get the most out of our day and we never waited in lines thanks to their hacks and tricks.
   I'm so grateful to my parents who funded and organized the whole trip. they know that the time we spend together, really focusing on family, is the time we value most and cherish. I love my people.