We went, we saw, we had fun

And here is my helpful advice:

• All passes and tickets have fast pass. All of them. We were 1/2 way through day 2 when I thought to ask how to get said things. Apparently they are free with any ticket.
• They will give you free cups of ice water if you ask at the restaurants. You don't have to haul a day's worth of cold water bottles with you. 
• Avoid the parking garage, aim for the surface lot
• Go to the fireworks show and stand/sit in front of the castle. Pick your spot an hour ahead of time and bring stuff to do while waiting. It's worth it, it's super cool. 
• Check the seat of the roller coaster after you and your kids get out to avoid the panic of returning to try to find a lost cell phone. 
• If you scream like a girl going down the roller coasters, you won't pass out from holding your breath. 
• Extra memory cards for the camera
• Avoid the pizza place there. It makes little ceasar's look and taste gourmet.

I actually purchased the striped down season passes available to southern ca residents. We can't go on any of the school vacation days or Saturdays, but we can go a good chunk of the year and gives me a reason to keep the kids out of school randomly. This of course is a good case to homeschool, however.. I learned that as long as they are in their seats at 8:15 when attendance is taken, they are considered present for that day. Besides.. it took a week of bribing Sonia with going for her to learn her multiplication facts. I forsee the threat of leaving her in school for not getting her homework done a valuable tool in the ADD toolbox.

In other news.. We had kindergarten orientation yesterday. Nothing has changed, and just incase it did with the increased insanity at the school with the parking/cones/etc... in the parking lot, I wondered... will they address the cones - are you allowed to go around or not go around the cones? Exactly what is the right way to access the kindergarten gate? Yeah. They skipped that part.  The school sends out automated recorded messages and the principal already sent a "we know the parking lot is going to be crazy, please plan ahead" message. Considering there wasn't an open parking space the day of kinder orientation, I can't wait.

So we found out that Jon has Kayla's kindergarten teacher. Who knows him as JonMichael. So after all the drama of "what are you going to be called in school" being Jon Cowles, he is in fact still going to be JonMichael this year. So says his cubbie and folders at school. Lovely. I signed up to be classroom garden parent. It appears she had other volunteers for the stuff I used to volunteer for. Besides, I'm planning on working. And I'm already involved in the garden.

The garden- I think it's a great idea, frankly, for the kids to learn where their food comes from. I've been surprised that people think my offering them fruit or veggies or eggs from our yard is either great or gross. I'm not surprised by the great response- I mean who says no to free, fresh food? It's the "you grew this? and you expect me to eat this? That's gross" response that shocks me. So the school, in following our example, has started installing solar panels, and the garden is started so that they can start growing food for the cafeteria. And compost. I can't tell you how happy I am to hear they will be composting. I'm hoping they'll switch to non-disposable trays and silverware -the amount of trash that cafeteria produces is shocking. Of course I'm a weird crunchy granola-y libertarian odd ball.

Back to school: the rest of the school's class rosters were posted today. Joey has a teacher no one has heard of before. I'm going to guess she's new. I'm hoping optimistically that this is a good thing. After last year with a newer teacher, I hesitate. Sonia has a tried and true teacher with a bunch of kids she knows. Joey has at least 2 friends/acquaintances in his class. And the fun begins on Monday. whoo hoo!!  I'd say let's party but in actuality I'll be heading to work after I drop them off. This reality stuff isn't much fun.