Instead of Disney

Yesterday we took our whole gang over to the Library Summer Reading program kick-off party.  The event was held at one location for the entire county library system so it was quite the shindig.

Now to be honest, I don't know what an event like this has to do with getting children to read.  But who am I?  I'm simply a homeschool mom who has successfully taught 4 children to enjoy reading.  It seems like a lot of money was spent for a fun day, but I'm not sure I think this is how tax money should be spent.  Sorry to wax political on you.  I suppose that's another post for another day.  That being said, I was glad we went.  It was as close to a trip to Disneyland as we're going to get this year.

The train ride was the highlight.

I don't think I've ever seen Georgie so excited as when he was looking for the train.

Oh JOY!  To an (almost) 2 year-old happiness is a train!

And from the looks of it, "happiness is a train" is true for an (almost) 13 year-old as well.
As we were waiting in line we asked Clark if he was planning to ride.  His response? "I waited in line didn't I?"

At this point we thought we might really be in Disneyland when we saw Po and Tigress from Kung Fu Panda.  What luck!

But then--- JACKPOT!!!  Cannon was speechless and nervous and suddenly very serious to be in the presence of such pure awesomeness. 

Elinor didn't really like Ariel that much and in fact might have been somewhat disturbed by her.  But I like it when she saw her from a distance and said, "I'm going to freak out if she comes and talks to me because she is not supposed to be able to talk in her human form!"

That is one yummy leg!

What Disney experience would be complete without a show in the evening?  Bethany had her dance recital last night.  It was lovely.  She was lovely.
I may or may not have cried during it.  All right, all right, I was weeping at one point when a group of girls about 2 or 3 years younger than Bethany's group danced to a sweet song about caterpillars becoming butterflies.  They looked like little girls and my Bethany is becoming a young woman and there's no going back.
I tease my kids about not allowing them to get older and how dare they continue to disobey me! This business of children growing up and becoming their own persons is going to be rougher than I anticipated.  If last night is any indication I don't think I'm going to handle this very gracefully.   And it has only just begun! 

Bethany was so excited to get to do a ballet dance as well as a lyrical dance this year.  And once again, she was just lovely.  Too grown up, but lovely.

Here are a last few pictures of the day that make me smile.

Faith was happy to get to ride in her own seat and be the first car in the train.

Did you know that the man-child is almost as tall as me?  Quick, grab me the tissues.