Emelie turns the big 4, oh!
October 8, 2004 -- With much planning and anticipation, Emelie turned four with style. What was intended to be just a birthday celebration turned out to be a really great and memorable mini-vacation for all of us.

We celebrated by staying at the Paradise Pier Hotel at Disneyland. Actually, California Adventure, to be exact. Sometimes it's easy to become complacent with, or completely forgetful of, the fact that we live so close to Disneyland. What use to be a full day excursion across the Arizona desert is now a 20-minute jaunt up the 5 Freeway. We aren't season pass holders, and probably only go twice a year. To amp up the significance of the event, we decided to go to the hotel on the Friday before her birthday. The hotel definitely upholds the Disney commitment to customer service. Emelie was greeted with balloons and a signed autograph from Minnie Mouse. Even better, the October offseason allowed them to upgrade our room to a full suite -- on the top floor, no less.

That Friday, we spent most of the afternoon poolside. Though the pictures don't do it justice, the pool area featured a gigantic waterslide. Three stories tall, it snaked downward in some crazy configurations. Although it was a little overcast and cool, the girls went nuts for that thing. Both have had their moments of reticence with a new activity such as the slide -- particularly something that even intimidated Drew. But they both attacked it with extreme eagerness and delight.

Room service and the second Presidential debate closed out Friday night. Actually, technically Friday night (and Saturday morning) were closed out with Lori and Drew being kicked and prodded in bed all night by their respective bedmates...but I digress.

Saturday morning began with brekfast with Minnie. We actually attended that breakfast for Emelie's 2nd birthday, but she was definitely more aware this go-round. Her best friend, Claudia, met us for breakfast and a good time was had by all. We dedicated the remainder of that day to California Adventure, getting special access directly from the hotel. Our first experience with C.A. was uninspiring, to say the least. But in the few years since it opened, they are finally getting it right. There were far more attractions of interest to little kids and a greater general sense of completion.

By far, the most memorable experience of the day was the Tower of Terror. Looking back, I can't believe we subjected our kids to that -- some words of "it isn't as bad as it looks" from a woman in line somehow convinced us to throw our only two children on this contraption. It basically amounts to shooting you (and 20 or so screaming strangers) thirteen stories up in a dark elevator shaft at about 50MPH, then back down, then back up, rinse, lather, repeat. Throw in some holographic ghosts along the way for a surreal scare. Then, for fun, they throw open the side of the building for a view of the surrounding skyline in a blaze of lemur-eyed, retina-frying daylight and take your picture. You can see the results of that below.

Returning home on Saturday night, that still left Emelie all day Sunday to enjoy her new Strawberry Shortcake two-wheeler, which she rode gleefully for hours.

Great planning and execution on Lori's part, I must say. Fun for all.