Happy Birthday, Frankie!

Click on the link to watch the video chronicling Frankie's first year:

Frankie's First Year


We love you little man!  Thanks for a wonderful year full of so much joy and laughter! 

Happiest Birthday on Earth - Part 2

January 18, 2014 –

Doug and Ashley gave us a ride home on Friday night.  I was a little worried what shape TJ would be in heading into day two.

I thought the previous day of non-stop walking and doing would render the little guy “exhausted” on day two.

I forgot day two was also his birthday.  By the time 9 am rolled around he was ready and raring to go.

Day Two at California Adventure

Parking was a nightmare to say the least.  That’s why I walked.  The So Cal Martin clan met Daddy at the gate and we quickly entered California Adventure and got in the Cars Racers Fastpass Line.  It was only around 10 am, but the Fast Pass was giving out times around 5:30 and later.  I was able to secure 6 Fast Pass tickets for later that night.  This would prove to be a very wise decision.  But I’ll get to that later.

By the time I had gone through the Fast Pass line twice, Rory and I were ready to meet up with the rest o our family.  TJ, Mommy, Frankie and Grandpa and Grandma were a little on edge from the parking delay.  Thankfully the Disney/Pixar dream team had something to cure their “ails.”

Carsland

Uhh… in writing this I am still speechless how the designers of Carsland pull it off.  If you ever imagined walking into Radiator Springs, this was everything you could have imagined.  Flo’s, Luigi’s, Mater’s, etc., etc.  It was all there and very impressive. 

The first ride of Carsland was Luigi’s Flying Tires.  TJ was so excited to go inside Luigi’s shop, and when he saw the white wall tires, he couldn’t contain his excitement!

I’d like to think the site of walking into Carburator County will never fade from TJ’s mind.  But if it does, we do have the greatest picture ever to commemorate the moment.  Almost immediately after Luigi’s ride, we noticed Lightning McQueen was taking pictures.  Mater does this as well throughout the day.  

TJ got in line and when it was his turn, snapped off this classic.  Unlike his photo with Mater, he didn’t want it to be a family photo, but just a pic of him and Lightning.  He walked up to him, said, “Nice paint job,” and was so cool as he propped his hand on the race car.

Much of the day was a blur.  Seems like we could have stayed there for days.

We rode the Mater Ride – Tire Ride, Little Mermaid ride, and the Toy Story Midway ride.  

All the while finding time to dance in the street with Phineas and Ferb themselves.

All the kids were having a ball.

It was glorious.

When the So Cal Martin’s left for a group nap, we decided to grab some lunch at Flo’s C8 Cafe.  Les ordered a liter of their finest chocolate milkshake and TJ happily sucked it down in record time.  

How times flies when you are having fun.  We decided to split up after lunch and kill time in different parts of the park.  Grandma and Grandpa watched Frankie while Les and I took TJ on the Monsters Inc ride. 

A shout out to Roz for providing one of the best moments of day two.  At the end of the ride, Roz made it a point to mention that we had a cute little monster with us in the back row.  TJ ate it up.  It was a nice touch.

By that time it was getting later in the evening.  Right about the time TJ’s nap time. It was also the time for our Fast Pass tickets on the Carsland Racers Ride.  Before we could do it though, TJ needed to pass one more test.  Our little man of four, need to break the 40 inch threshold.  That was the height limit for the ride.  Were we worried he wouldn’t get on?  You betcha, in fact, if it wasn’t for generous park staff we might not have ridden the ride.  TJ was exactly 40 inches.  It could have gone either way.  But, they let him on.  Thank the heavens for that.  And thank the heavens for the Fast Pass as well.  We were able to walk right up to the gate and get on in a relatively short period of time.  I’d say no more than 10 minutes which is considerably shorter than the half hour it takes without a FP.

The ride was worth all the tests and wait.  Having seen the movie Cars 237 times, let me tell you it’s pretty much like being in the movie.  TJ was a little short, so he couldn’t see everything.  But from what I saw of his face, I can tell you he had a blast.

When we got off, Grandpa and Grandma took TJ for another turn on the Racers.  Easily the best ride of the day.

That’s Frank!

After the ride, we headed back toward the center strip and set up in a prime spot to catch the Pixar Pals Parade.  TJ had about had enough an was fighting off sleep by that point.  Les, Grandma and Grandpa were troopers though.  They had a good time watching the parade and TJ woke up just enough to enjoy it too. 

I had had my “this is the best day of my life” moment a little earlier so it was safe to say everyone was happy.

My brother called and said the kids wanted to ride Small World and show TJ some other stuff, so we bid adieu to Grandma, Grandpa and Frankie and took TJ back into Disneyland.

By that time it was getting late, so we rode the train to It’s a Small World and rode the ride with Mary, Joseph and Rory. 

We told TJ he could pick two more rides and he chose the Tea Cups and Buzz Lightyear.

Conquering The Tea Cups

So earlier I told you that the tea cups weren’t my favorite.  I had ridden them once when I was really young.  Since it was my son’s 4th birthday, I decide to break my boycott.  Never say I don’t love those kids.  Ha

We made it off the Tea Cups without incident, said good bye to Joey and the kids and headed for Buzz Lightyear.  Once again, the ride did not disappoint.  TJ and Les had a blast (pun intended) and when the ride emptied into the Store Command toy shop it was time to get TJ his birthday toy. 

The trip was coming to an end, an while it was sad I will always remember the final few minutes.  I have to give it up to the Imagineers at Disney. 

The fireworks were starting to go off over Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Tinkerbell was flying through the air.  Tj was sleeping in the red umbrella stroller gripping his toys, smile on his face.  The song, “When you wish upon a star…” started to play.  And at that moment, I thought to myself…  it’s almost like this was all meant for just my family.  Thank You.

And we all left happily ever after.

Happiest Birthday on Earth - Part I

Happiest…

There was a moment, during early evening hours of day two of our family trip to Disneyland, when I just had to stop… look around… and mentally catalogue every detail of what was happening around me.

We had just gotten done riding the Toy Story Midway ride in California Adventure.  Lesley and TJ were laughing, Grandma and Grandpa Reno too as we made our way toward Flo’s Café for a late lunch.  While they weren’t there at the moment, I imagine smiles adorning the faces of Nana and Ba.  Even the So Cal Martin clan, who had retired to their hotel room for a nap, were probably smiling.  Baby Frankie was strapped on my chest and I couldn’t resist taking a picture. 

I was probably smiling too… Everything I had hoped for was coming true.  Our trip to Disneyland, was a success.   It may be crazy to say, but it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Backstory:  I might need to rewind here.  I grow up in Southern California, so Disneyland was a different experience for me than it will be for my kids.  For one, “being at” Disneyland was Special, but “going there” wasn’t.  The reason was we did it so often that I don’t even remember my “first trip” to the magic kingdom.  I remember early trips, but not the first.  I wanted TJ to have a different experience.   I wanted him to remember his first trip to Disneyland and I wanted him to have the time of his life.

At first we weren’t going to take TJ until he was 5 years old.  Back in 2010, when we knew everything about everything… Les and I surmised that at 5, TJ would be able to fully comprehend and recall everything.  After 18 months, we knew we were wrong and that TJ would be ready sooner than 5.  Since that time, we have been contemplating what would be the best time to break his Disney seal. 

January 16, 2014 –

After driving down from our Daly City home, we arrived in Southern California (LA Area) on a Thursday evening.  Before hitting the OC, and after 5 hours of driving, we stopped at a Rite Aid in Castaic, CA.  It was supposed to be a “pit stop.”  Stop, eat, drink, pee, and get back in the car.  An hour and a half later (after the aforementioned, plus shopping and riding mechanical helicopters) we were back on the road. 

A couple hours later (thanks traffic) we checked into the BEST WESTERN PLUS Raffles Inn & Suites on Harbor Blvd.  I quickly unloaded the car and headed to the LAX airport to pick up Grandma and Grandpa Reno. 

Thankfully, LAX is just “15 minutes away” from Disneyland.

By 8:30pm or so, I was back in Anaheim and the entire family got together at Denny’s for a pre-game meal.  TJ was ecstatic as always to see Grandma and Baby Frankie calmed down from running roughshod through our hotel room to play with Grandpa.  By 10 or so we were all in bed, ready for the next day.

January 17, 2014 –

After waking and dining at the Contiental breakfast provided by our hotel.  The Martin-Reno clan began the walk to Disneyland.  Mapquest says the trip is only 0.95 miles.  Not going to lie, It seemed a little farther.  The cool thing was as we got closer to the park entrance, more and more people started joining the pilgrimage and TJ’s excitement level began to pick up. 

We finally made it into the park and that’s when the real fun started.  Immediately Grandpa set out to buy the boys first Mickey ears hats.  While he was in the store, TJ got to meet Mickey Mouse.  Of course, I tried to get both video and still of the event.  It didn’t go well.  I messed up the Mickey shot but that just means we get to go back and try it again.

Interestingly enough the most unexpected interaction came from Chip ‘n Dale.  The chipmunks practically jumped into Baby Frankie’s stroller.  While, I fumbled with the video camera they played peek-a-boo and entertained.  I was able to squeeze off a few seconds of the interaction.  It was a great way to start the day.

As we made our way down Main Street USA, I took the family inside the Main Street Cinema.  The theatre is likely the least exciting or populated attraction at the park, but for some reason I start every trip to Disneyland there.  The Bill actually showed it to me the first time my mom and him took me to Disneyland.  It’s something I did with Lesley the first time she went.  The cinema shows 6 of the oldest Disney cartoons on constant loop.  Including “Steamboat Willie.”

From the Disney website:  Walt Disney opened Main Street Cinema on July 17, 1955 to both introduce a new generation to the bygone era of early moviemaking and rekindle a nostalgic spark in those who had witnessed it firsthand. Today, the theater—and films that play there—provide an eye-opening glimpse into what movie-going was once like.

Remember where you came from, right?

Anyway, the first “ride” of the day took the form of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at the front of Fantasyland.  C’mon the castle is iconic.  TJ loved walking through and seeing the 3d dragon.  Loved it so much he didn’t want to leave. Ha!  After convincing him there was much more to see, it was off to “Dumbo.”  TJ rode this while I stood in the Storybook Land Canal Boat line.  TEAMWORK.

Because that line was so long, TJ had time to fall in love with the Mad Tea Party teacup ride.  I’m not going to lie, I hate this ride.  It literally makes me sick… TJ rode it three times in two days. 

Next was the Casey Junior Circus Train ride.  “All Aboard!”  Les and I had so much fun puffing around storybook land with our two boys. 

I think I can, I think I can… I thought I could, I thought I could. 

All that was missing was Uncle Justin singing “Casey Jr. coming down the track, coming down the track…!”

After disembarking, we headed toward Frontier Land.  The family boarded the Mark Twain riverboat and steam sailed our way around Tom Sawyer’s Island.

That’s when my mom showed up with Bill.  Nana and Ba walked us around Adventure Land.  TJ got to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and climb Tarzan’s treehouse.   I don’t know which he liked more.  I can tell you Baby Frankie’s favorite part of the Pirates ride was the giant Skull and Crossbones that talks to you at the start.  That and the two drops…

We did the Jungle Cruise, ate, rested a bit and noticed that time was starting to catch up with us, so we decided it was time to head toward Mickey’s Toon Town. 

TJ fell asleep on the way and stayed out for two hours.  

Because Daddy had grown up in the area, I had lots of friends who wanted to see us while we were close.  We planned a “birthday dinner” for that night.

Dinner with Friends – Rainforest Cafe

We are luck to get a table at the RC with all the people that were there.  But it was worth the wait.  Rocky and Sammy made it.  Matt and Jenn Hillman brought Liam and Mia.  Uncle Justin and Uncle Rody were there.  Even my good friend Doug and Ashley were able to stop by. 

TJ played toys with the kids and even got the celebratory “Volcano” at the end of dinner.

It was getting late and grandpa and grandma volunteered to take Baby Frankie back to the hotel for the night.  That gave Les and I a chance to take TJ back to Disneyland ourselves.  Doug and Ashley were nice enough to come with us. 

We hit up the Buzz Lightyear – Astro Blasters and made another trip to the Mad Tea Party teacups. 

After that it was time to call it a day.